“Raphael, tell Commander Aaron to deploy additional guards at the entrance of the Empress’s palace, especially during the evening hours. Also, have the patrol units rotate throughout the night.”

“Yes, Your Majesty. I will convey that to Commander Aaron for immediate execution.”

“And it would be good to have someone reliable by my side… Ah, there seems to be a suitable candidate.”

Lionel laughed, tapping his fingers as if he had thought of someone.

“Who… is it?”

“What do you think of Commander Macron, whom we saw in the court?”

“What?!”

“Understand what you’re worrying about. But even if Macron has lost his eyesight, he is an exceptional figure beyond comparison with ordinary knights.”

What I’m worried about is not Commander Macron’s eyesight.

Ah, this is not good.

“I’ll think about it…”

As I responded hesitantly, Lionel seemed to think I hesitated because of Commander Macron’s eyesight. He added that we could discuss it later, assuring me that I wouldn’t regret it.

“Your Majesty, there is one more piece of news I need to deliver.”

“Is it another corpse found in one of the palaces?”

He asked nonchalantly.

“It’s not that… but…”

“Well?”

“In about 30 minutes, Emperor Adrian Melin of the Tebelo Empire is scheduled to arrive. The vice-commander of their imperial guard arrived at the palace a little while ago and informed us.”

Emperor Adrian Melin.

I heard that he showed the most neutral attitude during the last war to occupy the Wyvern Habitat.

In fact, the Tebelo Empire is the most active in exchanges with the northern continent among the countries on the southern continent.

According to what I heard from Commander Macron, Emperor Adrian Melin is also an unusual figure in the Tebelo Empire, much like the Cartier Emperor. He is known to be a pacifist, and ironically, the reason he became known as such was because there is no empress in the Tebelo royal family.

All the women chosen by him gather in a palace called ‘Wony’ and live together fairly, unifying the ranks as empresses.

It is unknown whether the empresses living in ‘Wony’ under the principles of Emperor Adrian’s pacifism are getting along peacefully or not.

It was something I couldn’t know unless I went to ‘Wony’ myself.

“Oh really? Everyone seems to be arriving early. I haven’t seen that crazy pacifist in a long time.”

Lionel’s lips curled up with a sly expression, the meaning of which I couldn’t discern.

“Hmm, you’ve left the seat empty for too long. Empress, go back in.”

“Yes, okay…”

Going in like this after being rejected for a kiss by him.

Feeling melancholic, I answered in a gloomy manner.

“Oh, right, Raphael.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Do you have any candy?”

“…Candy? Is there a reason you’re looking for candy after 15 years?”

“I feel like I should put something in my mouth. Preferably something sweet.”

Lionel said, chewing his lips thoughtfully.

“Your Majesty? You look really uneasy right now… You seem like someone going through withdrawal, exactly like a person experiencing withdrawal symptoms.”

Lionel didn’t deny Raphael’s diagnosis.

“As expected, competent.”

“But why suddenly look for candy?”
“I have to endure with that all day today.”

He replied, touching his own lips.

“Yes?”

Raphael, looking puzzled, turned his gaze to me after staring at him.

I pretended not to know and casually touched my neck.

“So, do you have any candy?”

“I don’t have any. Have you had candy in your pocket since you were twelve?”

“Have you seen such an incompetent creator?”

“Just a moment ago, you said he was competent… Why are you calling him incompetent again? Does Her Majesty the Empress know the reason?”

With wounded eyes, Raphael asked me as if pleading.

I just nodded quietly.

This is all because of me and the Empress’s strange insistence.

“Raphael, it would be good to have some candy prepared for Her Majesty. If possible, a very large lollipop, please.”

“A big one? Why is that…”

Raphael looked even more confused at my words.

I glanced at Lionel’s face sneakily. His face seemed a bit more relaxed than before.

If I laugh here, it will only tease him, so I bit my lower lip tightly and endured.

After Lionel lightly ran his lips over the back of his hand, he opened the drawing-room door.

Coming back into the drawing-room, he began eating the sweet cake and cookies that he had ignored earlier.

Even the Cartier Empress, who initially looked at him with a somewhat puzzled expression, picked up a cookie and began eating it, as if Lionel’s eating was appealing.

I turned my gaze to the two handsome men who were watching the two emperors with great interest.

The name of official 1 with green eyes is Deon, and official 2 with gray eyes is Clarke?

“I heard that Deon and Clarke are providing a lot of help to Her Majesty the Cartier Empress, is that correct?”

Official 1 Deon opened his mouth first.

“Yes, Empress. I am assisting Her Majesty with her duties.”

Then, as if in competition, official 2 Clarke spoke louder.

“I am a knight guarding Her Majesty.”

Oh, both of them are not just simple officials of the Cartier Empress.

“Hahaha! Deon and Clarke may have different duties during the day, but they have the same duties at night, right? Isn’t that right, my loves?”

“…”

“…”

Lionel’s straightforward words left Lionel and me speechless.

“Lips forward.”

Following the Cartier Empress’s command, the lips of the two officials turned toward her.

Then, without hesitation, she kissed both officials’ lips, distributing her affection fairly.

Watching this scene, Lionel and I lost words while observing the two beauties.
However, as time passed, my lips and hands began to move restlessly, just like Lionel did.

News came again that the imperial carriage from the Tabelo royal family of the Southern Continent would soon arrive at the main palace.

Lionel and I descended to the main palace entrance once again to welcome the new guest.

The Cartier Empress, who had been conversing in the reception room together, promptly rejected his proposal to go and greet Emperor Adrian together.

She left in a hurry to the detached palace where the guests were staying, citing fatigue. However, it seemed like she deliberately avoided encountering Emperor Adrian, probably because she didn’t want to see him.

I don’t know the exact reason, but the Empress’s expression has not been pleasant since Emperor Adrian’s name came up.

Curious, I asked Lionel about Emperor Adrian as we came out to the main palace entrance together.

“He’s a sinister person.”

That was his opinion of Emperor Adrian.

“Especially that expression, as if he can see through the other person as if he were some kind of god, is really unpleasant to look at.”

“Isn’t it just his expression?”

“Well, expressions are just expressions, but there are times when he accurately reads a person’s heart. That’s why it’s even more unfortunate.”

Does Emperor Adrian practice mind-reading or something?

“But I heard that the Tabelo Empire doesn’t have an Empress, right?”

“So it seems.”

“Then, who will Emperor Adrian bring? Will he come with some consorts like the Cartier Empress brought officials?”

“Whether he does or doesn’t, I don’t know.”

Lionel replied nonchalantly.

“Still, you should show some interest to the guests…”

“Zelda, you are the most beautiful.”

“What?”

“That’s my concern, isn’t it? Shouldn’t I show interest in that?”

“…Even though you rejected a kiss.”

I whispered, pretending to be upset, pulling down the corners of my slightly raised lips.

“I’ll sleep in the main palace tonight.”

He said quietly.