Being under the influence of the sleeping pills felt similar to the symptoms when he was once intoxicated.

The marble floor repeatedly rose and fell before Duke Martens’ eyes.

The servants saw Duke Martens appearing drunk, but no one suspected that he had taken sleeping pills.

The Duke ascended to the 6th floor, where dignitaries of the Parsa Empire stayed.

The stairs seemed to move around like the floor.

He knew the location of the room where Prince Norton stayed, but it wasn’t certain if his steps were heading in the right direction.

Thinking that he shouldn’t waste any more time, he grabbed a passing servant and asked.

“Where is the room of the prince… Prince Norton?”

The servant of the Parsa Empire frowned upon seeing Duke Martens, who seemed like a Northern Continent dignitary.

“Why are you looking for Prince Norton?
The servant considered sending Duke Martens away, thinking that he was heavily intoxicated.

Realizing this, Duke Martens shouted while wandering through the corridor, “Prince Norton! It’s Martens!”

Since it had come to this, the Duke created a commotion, pretending to be drunk.

If Prince Norton was in his room, he would undoubtedly come out to see what the commotion was about.

“You shouldn’t behave like this here!”

The servant hurriedly tried to restrain Duke Martens.

“I don’t know what’s going on, but it would be better if you sober up and come back.”

“Let go of this, Prince Norton!”

There was no time left. The blurry vision was about to turn into darkness.

At that moment, from the opposite corridor, a creaking sound of a door opening was heard.

Linel raised the phrase ‘acting empress’ nonchalantly, but every time I heard it, my heart skipped a beat.

“Are you curious about me?”

“Yeah.”

“Yes, ask me anything.”

She answered with a dignified tone, acknowledging her sins.

She took a deep breath and carefully opened her mouth.

“Did you really… consider leaving me?”

It was a question easier to answer than I thought.

“At first, yes. It had to be that way.”

Linel’s expression sank into the abyss.

“But without realizing it, I gradually fell in love, and every time Your Majesty called me Empress while looking at my face, I wanted to be a real Empress.”

“It was ridiculous.”

“… I’m really sorry.”

She bowed her head over the mattress, placing her forehead and hands above it.

“Huh, I didn’t tell you to laugh. I didn’t mean for you to put on a forced smile.”

When I raised my head again, he waited and lifted the corners of my mouth with both hands.

The expression seemed to force a smile, but I maintained seriousness.

“It was really scary and frightening. I was afraid you might be hurt by betrayal.”

“Refusing my love is a betrayal. Regardless of what position you came to me, I couldn’t help it.”

“What does that mean?”

“Inevitably, I would have fallen in love.”

As he looked at me with a sideways glance, his expression was like that of a shy boy who had lived his whole life without knowing betrayal.

“Did you really feel that way?”

“Whether it was Empress or just a concubine… Because you’re Zelda.”

I realized that even in extreme happiness, the heart could ache.

“And you? Would you have loved me even if I weren’t the emperor?”

“Well…”

I took a moment to think for a more emotional response.

“Isn’t it quite dangerous to contemplate at this point?”

Linel squinted her eyes and asked with a resentful look.

“I don’t know. After experiencing the taste of power and wealth so thoroughly.”

“Huh? You’re a frightening woman.”

“I told you to laugh.”

I also lifted both corners of her mouth with my fingers.

“It’s too late. I just saw gold coins pouring from your eyes.”

He spoke with a tone of complaint, making his face lovely as I embraced it with both hands and laughed.
“To be honest, did you fall for my face rather than my power or wealth?”

“That expression is much better.”

Intentionally sweeping his hair back, he tilted his face at a 45-degree angle.

It was an angle that couldn’t be breathed without kissing.

Without hesitation, I kissed him.

As the rustling sounds emerged, I gently opened my eyes to find that he had already removed his robe.

“Being handsome is a well-known fact for everyone, but does anyone know that you’re so good at kissing?”

Since I had already opened my eyes, I brought up something I had wanted to say for a while.

“Is that the only thing you want to hear?”

With closed eyes, he continued to focus on the kiss and replied, “Hmm?”

“I want to hear other compliments besides kissing.”

He detached his lips from mine and, with an air of someone expecting more compliments, said, “What?”

“I don’t know what you mean?”

“Do you know… but can I tell you about that tomorrow morning?”

“Why? Why on earth?”

“I can’t remember well.”

Of course not.

It was awkward to openly state embarrassing compliments, so I subtly changed the topic.

Upon doing so, a disappointed look flickered in his eyes.