His eyes were filled with a desire that did not suit the place and situation.

“Indeed, it’s delicious.”

“!”

I couldn’t help but glance at the expressions of the concubines.

They were surprised by Rinel’s surprise kiss, and even more surprised by the words he whispered to me after the kiss.

Even as I watched him, I could hear the sighs of the concubines in my ears.

“Shall we finish the meal a bit early?”

Rinel glanced at the concubines and spoke.

“The Empress seems very tired.”

“Your Majesty, I am fine.”

I rose from my chair to bid him farewell again.

“Sit down. I’m not okay.”

“Huh.”

He kissed my shoulder and pressed it slightly with his hand.

At the same time as my shoulder, where his lips had touched, flinched greatly, my legs lost strength.

Because of this, I had no choice but to sit back in the chair as he said.

“Seems like you’re out of energy because I bothered you too much last night.”

At Rinel’s words, the concubines’ faces turned red all at once.

I have to let him go quickly.

“Your Majesty…… Please take a look at Stian’s expression.”

I quickly pointed out the steward, who was making an urgent expression behind him.

“Why.”

He turned to look at the steward at my words.

“Your Majesty, if you don’t want to run like before, you have to hurry now!”

The steward pleaded, reaching out towards the outside of the dining room with both hands.

“Please go now, Your Majesty.”

I also took his arm and gently pushed him away.

Then he put his hand on mine, which had grabbed his arm, and replied like this.

“I can run even when I go.”

“……You’re tired.”

“You don’t need to worry about the Empress. Anyway, these days my heart beats at the same pace whether I walk or run.”

“What do you mean?”

“You’re better off not knowing. It would be a hassle if you knew.”

“Your Majesty, if you’re not feeling well, you should get treatment!”

“That’s why I came.”

“Yes……?”

Crack.

“This is treatment for me.”

He kissed my cheek and said in a serious voice.

“The trap is that the symptoms get worse when you get treatment.”

A red rose blossomed on my cheek where his lips had touched.

I didn’t want to show my flushed face in front of the concubines, but it was an inevitable situation.

“You don’t need it because the Empress just ate dessert, right?”

He picked up a croissant that had been placed in front of me.

“I’ll take this since if I run, I’ll get hungry right away.”

Rinel licked his lips slightly and winked.

“Yes? Oh, yes……”

I was staring at his slightly open lips and quickly answered.

“I can’t kiss anymore because I’m running out of time. For now, bear with it while eating this.”

He tore a little croissant and put it in my mouth and whispered in my ear.

As I glanced at Rinel’s playfulness, he laughed and turned to look at the steward.

“Stian, you’d better start running now. I’m going to catch up anyway.”

At his words, the steward hurriedly greeted me and the concubines, and darted out of the dining room.

“I think I’ll be busy all day today.”

He leaned back and spoke.

“I heard.”

“You might need a latenight snack.”

He leaned his upper body towards me again and whispered.

“Not this kind.”

Wondering what he meant, I blankly stared at his face, and he shook the croissant in his hand, sending a ‘you know what I mean, right?’ look.

When I shook my head from side to side with a ‘I don’t know?’ expression, he pointed to my lips with his finger.

“I mean this.”

“……Really?”

“Yes. So, let’s finish the meal and rest in advance.”

“Is it an order?”

“It’s a request from the Emperor.”

Rinel answered seriously and turned around.

The concubines greeted him again, but this time he just waved his hand and left the dining room with a quick stride.

Rinel left after leaving me words that could not be shared with the concubines.

They seemed very curious about what he had whispered to me.

I didn’t want to show off.

However, seeing the longing eyes of the concubines towards him, I couldn’t help but straighten my shoulders, that was true.

After Rinel’s surprise visit, the expressions of the concubines fluctuated between complex and embarrassed.

The already awkward situation with the concubines became even more awkward after Rinel’s appearance.

There was a need to break this subtle atmosphere and change the subject at this point.

While thinking about how to reconnect the conversation that had been cut off due to Rinel, I caught eyes with Rosie, who was sitting next to Melanie.

“Rosie, you seem a little tired today?”

A dark circle like a fountain pen nib was drawn under Rosie’s eyes.

“Ah, I went to bed late last night… I look terrible, don’t I?”

Rosie laughed bashfully and vigorously rubbed under her eyes to erase her dark circles.

“Oh my goodness. What are you doing?”

Melanie slapped Rosie’s hand away and said.

“Wrinkles will form! You already have fine lines under your eyes.”

Melanie exclaimed ‘This is impossible!’ and repeatedly tapped the back of Rosie’s hand as she asked her.

“But Your Majesty didn’t visit Rosie’s quarters either, why did you sleep late?”