“I… I…”

“Ha, hahaha! Is it awkward to say, ‘Your wife.’ Is that why you hesitate?”

He spoke in a slightly hurt tone.

Haah, how surprising.

“When you suddenly ask who I am, what’s my identity, it’s like that.”

“Isn’t it just to say it as it is? No. Maybe I’ve been too pressing and asked.”

Fortunately, he found the reason I couldn’t answer immediately in his sudden question.

“But why did you suddenly ask that?”

“Watching you command the servants about what I need made me feel strange.”

“Did I perhaps give any wrong instructions?”

“No, not like that. Ah, there was indeed a mistake.”

“What is it?”

“Wine. Wouldn’t a glass of wine have been better instead of warm lemon tea?”

“Ah, I’ll tell them to bring it right away.”

As I turned towards the bedroom door, he grabbed my wrist.

“In the Lapion royal family, I am the only one who can torment the servants. So just lie down.”

At his words, I climbed onto the bed he wanted with a faint smile.

Inside the blanket was cold, like entering an ice cave.

It’s cool.

“As expected, it’s getting warm. Will it get warm faster if I hug you?”

He thought the opposite and stroked my hair.

“Come here.”

He pushed one arm under my neck and tapped his chest.

I brought my face close to his chest.

My heart was pounding and my shoulders tensed up.

“You were talking so much just now, why are you quiet again?”

“Talking so much?”

For a moment, I lifted my head and asked at his words.

“No, was it a lot of chatter?”

“Wouldn’t it have been nagging?”

When I retorted with a sullen response, he laughed.

“Huh, you only respond when teased like this.”

I’m exhausted.

Looking at his satisfied expression, I ended up laughing as well.

Then, an indescribable look came into his eyes and my laughter faded.

It seemed to be full of affection…

It must be a misunderstanding. I hope it’s a misunderstanding.

That would make it less painful when I have to leave him.

“Do you find it fun to tease me?”

“Very. Your reaction is more satisfying than winning a war.”

When I looked at him with a stupefied expression, he shrugged his shoulders and laughed.

Then his chest muscles also shook.

“Since I found something more fun than war, there might be fewer wars in the future. Zelda, as long as you are by my side.”

At Rinel’s words, my heart hurt.

I knew full well he was joking, but my heart kept pricking my conscience.

“If I disappear then….”

“I have to live as a warmonger, what else can I do? I have to do that to bring warmth to my body.”

He answered my question, which didn’t sound like one, quite seriously.

Is he sincere? He could be.

But he will soon welcome four beautiful concubines.

Moreover, he has no choice but to fall in love when he sees the dazzlingly beautiful Princess Resilia.

There will be many things to heat up his life other than me in the future.

Then naturally he will lose interest in me.

“Don’t move away from me.”

“…..”

Like someone who just entered my mind, Rinel quietly warned me.

I cautiously lifted my head and looked up at his handsome face.

Contrary to his stern voice, he smiled brightly when our eyes met.

Has anyone ever smiled so brightly at me before?

Even Prince Tesla, who used to boast about loving me the most, never smiled at me without asking for something in return.

Why this man…

“If you want peace on the continent, it’s better not to move away from my side.”

Again with a serious look on his face, he said with strength in his voice.

“I’m likely to be distanced because of the concubines, right? That won’t be my fault, so don’t associate it with the war.”

I was able to retort like this because he was closing his eyes with a smile and embracing my shoulder.

“Ah, I forgot. As you say, there will come a day when we’re distanced because of them.”

He replied in a voice that seemed to be falling asleep.

“Don’t fight with the concubines.”

Rinel commanded as if speaking.

He seemed to have already fallen asleep, but the will to deliver that message accurately was clear.

I was a bit hurt by his commanding tone.

Is he saying not to casually mess with the women who are also the emperor’s women, even though they are concubines?

I just kept my mouth tightly closed and nodded in his arms.

“You are the Empress, my wife. You’re different from them…”

“…Yes.”

I responded quietly.

A smile naturally formed on my face.

“I’m feeling sleepy because it’s warm. Zelda, you’re not glaring at me now, are you?”

Rinel asked me with his eyes closed.

“No.”

“Good. Originally, there is no need to argue with others over what’s mine… So, the Empress should leave me and the harem…”

His voice faded as he spoke, and his hand that had been around my shoulder fell onto the pillow.

Only then could I comfortably gaze at his sleeping face.

You’re not even holding my hand today?

…Am I feeling disappointed right now?

Bowing my head, I timidly pulled his waist towards me with both hands.

Just so he could sleep more warmly.

That’s all.

Really.

Morning, huh?

I woke up to the feeling of someone touching my head.