So, Sinclair had been acting strange lately.

“……”

Around noon, Elaina, who had just woken up from sleep, blinked her drowsy eyes slightly. Then, as if out of habit, she turned to look beside her, but Sinclair had already left.

‘…… In the past, he used to wait until I woke up.’

Could he be very busy? But according to Schuler, all the urgent matters had been dealt with, so he should have plenty of time for a while.

…… A lot had happened since then. After many twists and turns, Sinclair became the emperor, and Elaina became the empress.

As if the civil war had never happened, Edenbell was very peaceful. Now the empire was politically stable, and it was no exaggeration to say that the lives of the commoners, which had been unfortunate due to the tyranny of the previous emperor and nobles, had been greatly restored.

Everything was perfect that way.

If only it weren’t for this inexplicable, nagging feeling that kept bothering her.

“Lady Elaina! It’s Judith and Anna. Are you awake?”

“Ah, yes. Come in.”

As soon as the answer was finished, Judith and Anna, who always had bright smiles on their faces, stepped into the bedroom.

“Did you sleep well? These days, the temperature drops a lot at night, so it’s a bit chilly. You weren’t cold or anything, were you?”

“Is there anything you would like to eat? Please tell us anything! I’ll bring you a meal as soon as you’re done getting ready.”

Seeing Judith and Anna, who were always the same, Elaina unknowingly smiled.

“I slept well, and I don’t mind anything for the meal. Thank you for your consideration.”

“Oh, don’t mention it.”

“First, I’ll comb your hair for you!”

Elaina got out of bed and carefully walked over to sit in front of the dressing table.

Soon, Judith picked up a comb adorned with beautiful jewels and began to very carefully comb Elaina’s hair, which was as black as ebony, while Anna, who was standing next to her, prepared accessories to put in her hair.

Elaina silently looked at the two of them through the mirror, then slowly parted her lips.

“By any chance, when did His Majesty the Emperor wake up?”

“Pardon?”

“These days, it seems like I’m the only one waking up late. I’m a little worried……”

“Well…… It seems he’s a bit busy with work. Right, Judith?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“But Schuler said that he has a lot of free time these days.”

For a moment, the two became as silent as if they had honey in their mouths.

Elaina, who didn’t miss that sign, made a bitter expression.

“…… It’s already been a month since His Majesty the Emperor ascended to the throne and I became the empress.”

Then she began to speak in a small voice.

“It’s been even longer if you count the time since I came in as the crown princess, but I still thought we were newlyweds.”

“……”

“But it seems His Majesty the Emperor’s thoughts were different from mine. Is this how married life usually is?”

From Elaina’s point of view, it was a very reasonable disappointment.

In the past few days, Sinclair had spent very little time with Elaina, not only when waking up in the morning.

Not to mention that he ate alone more often, but Sinclair would go out early in the morning and return late at night, although she didn’t know what he was doing.

They hadn’t even been married for a full year yet, and he was already acting like this……

“I actually asked Rex as well. But you all know, Rex is usually not very talkative. As expected, he didn’t give me a proper answer either.”

“Well…… hmm……”

“Yesterday, I went to the temple to see if the relief supplies had been delivered properly and met the High Priest. But the High Priest just smiled and brushed it off too.”

“……”

“Prince Chaz is the same. I know the matters related to the Aztecs have already been resolved, but he uses that as an excuse and refuses to meet me. How could he do that?”

It was already strange just looking at Sinclair’s behavior, but when the people around him were also acting suspiciously like this, it made it even more difficult to figure out what was going on.

So after holding it in and holding it in, Elaina tried talking to Judith and Anna, but their reactions weren’t very different either.

Elaina made a slightly sullen expression.

“Um…… Lady Elaina……”

As if she couldn’t help but feel concerned about Elaina’s appearance, Judith carefully parted her lips while quietly watching her reaction.

“Ah, you don’t have to worry. Anna and I can assure you. So don’t think about anything, don’t worry, and just rest comfortably. Okay?”

“Judith is right! And I can even promise this. Even if not just a month but a hundred years pass, the person His Majesty the Emperor loves most in the world will be you and only you, Lady Elaina.”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“…… Thank you for saying that, but……”

It wasn’t something said by the person who made her anxious in the first place, so it wouldn’t work.

However, complaining to Judith and Anna would also be a hardship for the listeners. So Elaina thanked them once again and fell silent, still with a gloomy face.

In the meantime, Judith and Anna finished dressing Elaina and brought her meal.

Even then, the two exchanged glances with each other, avoiding Elaina’s eyes, and held back their laughter, but there was no way for Elaina, who was lost in thought, to know that fact.

It was already past 9 o’clock at night, but Sinclair still hadn’t returned today.

“……”

Elaina, who had been reading a book to distract herself, pressed her lips tightly together and put the book down in frustration, as if she couldn’t take it anymore.

“…… I can’t stand it any longer.”

Whatever was going on, she had to confront Sinclair and talk to him. If he tried to avoid her, she would grab him by force. She was fed up with suffering alone like this.

…… Well, to be honest, it was understandable that her patience would run out at this point.

‘First, I’ll ask Schuler where Sinclair is and go after him right away.’

It was the moment when Elaina, who had made up her mind, was getting off the bed.

“Your Majesty the Empress, it’s Schuler.”

“Come in.”

Yes, you came at the right time. She was just about to call for him, so from Elaina’s point of view, there was nothing to lose by him coming on his own like this.

“It’s a nice evening, isn’t it?”

A faint smile hung on Schuler’s lips as he stood at the doorway. Elaina, who had already put on her outer clothing, asked him in a slightly urgent voice.

“Where is His Majesty the Emperor?”

“Ah, that’s what I came to tell you, as per His Majesty the Emperor’s orders.”

…… He came to convey Sinclair’s words?

“He said to dress warmly in outer clothing and come to the garden behind the imperial palace.”

Elaina’s eyes narrowed slightly as she stared at Schuler.

Even though she had been living in the palace for quite some time now, she had never been to the garden Schuler mentioned.

The reason was simple. That garden was said to be a place where the previous empress, in other words, Sinclair’s late mother, had poured a great deal of affection when she was alive. So even young Sinclair was said to have spent a considerable amount of time there.

She wanted to go together, but she thought that he might not be ready to recall memories of his mother yet. So she had been refraining from saying anything about it until now……

“I will escort you to the front of the garden.”

Then Schuler said with a smile.

“Well then, shall we depart together now?”

The entire time she was heading to the garden with Schuler, questions kept popping up in Elaina’s mind.

‘Why did he suddenly call me here?’

There was more than one thing she was curious about. She was also puzzled about what he had been doing outside so much that he had been sticking to her side like wet fallen leaves, and why he had silenced the mouths of others as well.

‘I definitely won’t back down today. I’m going to hear the reason for sure.’

Anyway, not long after Elaina had been burning with determination on her own, she and Schuler had already arrived at the garden.

The garden she was visiting for the first time was……

Much larger in scale than she had expected.

Countless flowering trees, splendid and beautiful statues. And even a fountain decorated with gold and silver.

Although the flowers had all withered as the weather was getting chilly these days, it seemed like it would be very beautiful if properly maintained.

And the place Schuler brought Elaina to was the inner part of the garden.

In front of a small greenhouse.

“His Majesty is waiting inside.”

Schuler said, looking at Elaina.

“I hope you have a good time. And please forgive me for keeping my mouth shut the past few days.”

“……”

“Actually, I was very frustrated too, but I had no choice. Not only me but Rex, the High Priest, His Highness Prince Chaz, Judith, and Anna must have all felt the same way.”

She had no idea what was going on, but Elaina slowly nodded her head for now.

She had to hurry inside and meet Sinclair.

She was in a rush.

“Then I’ll be going in.”

With a short greeting, Schuler bowed his head in courtesy and turned around with a kind smile. Then he quietly left the place.

“……”

Finally left alone in front of the greenhouse, Elaina unknowingly gulped.

Then she slowly opened the greenhouse door and stepped into the warm interior.

And……

“…… Huh?”

Without realizing it, she made a blank expression.