During the meetings with the ministers on the troublesome issues, he would be lost in his own peaceful thoughts.

Raphael, as his closest aide, could tell that this smile had a completely different meaning from the one he usually had when he was sarcastically laughing at the ministers.

“You wouldn’t understand because you haven’t married yet.”

Rinel answered, waving his hand at Raphael.

“It may sound rude, but although I haven’t married yet, if we compare our romantic experiences, your married life is nothing compared to mine…”

“Ah, right. Wasn’t your nickname the open trousers of the palace? I forgot.”

Rinel readily admitted Raphael’s argument.

“Your Majesty, I was the open wallet of the palace, but I’ve never been the open trousers!”

“Well, I remembered it wrongly. That was a bit obscene.”

“…Anyway. I’ve clearly told you before that although my partners change frequently, when I date someone, I concentrate on them, didn’t I?”

“It’s not important how you date now. Try to diagnose why I’m like this.”

Rinel, with one hand on his chest, sat on the desk and spoke seriously to Raphael.

“What… Diagnosis do you mean? Should I call a doctor if your heart is not well?”

“Why would we need a doctor?”

“Oh, it would be better to bring the Empress instead.”

“You are being a physician.”

“Today, of all the compliments you’ve given me, this is the most generous one. It’s all thanks to the Empress! Should I bring her now instead of waiting until the evening?”

“As expected, you’re efficient.”

More satisfied with Raphael’s opinion than ever before, he patted his shoulder.

“But… Hearing that makes my heart beat faster.”

Rinel mumbled again, tapping his chest with his hand.

“Your Majesty, I’m sorry to say this again but…”

“What makes you sorry this time?”

“Does it make you nervous that the Empress would come to your royal bedroom?”

“…Ah, stop! Don’t say it so directly.”

“Yes? Why?”

“I can imagine it already…”

Rinel’s cold face turned red.

“Exactly what are you imagining that makes your face turn as red as the barbarians of the southern continent…?”

“It seems that my face shows that I’m having a barbaric imagination.”

Rinel, blushing, stroked his hot face with his hand.

“Well, there’s never been a woman visiting your bedroom before, right?”

“Yes, there hasn’t. Except for my mother and nursemaid, and that was when I was young, so I barely remember it.”

“And there has never been a woman visiting at night.”

Rinel responded vehemently to Raphael’s words.

“That’s it!”

The reason why his heart was beating.

“Yes, today will be a historic day.”

In response to Raphael’s comment, Rinel nodded with a serious expression.

“But why would the Empress suddenly… come to my bedroom? Does she have something important to say?”

“If she had something to say, she wouldn’t have come to your royal palace, let alone your bedroom, at this late hour.”

Rinel’s eyes sparkled at Raphael’s opinion.

“That would be the case, right?”

“But we don’t know.”

When Raphael reversed his opinion like flipping his palm, Rinel’s eyebrows narrowed.

“What don’t we know?”

“Maybe she’s coming to quietly discuss the issue of your concubines.”

“Ah, that’s right, that issue. Is that it? Is she coming because of that?”

Emperor Rinel, who had been smiling, let the corners of his mouth fall.

Then, the corners of his mouth slowly rose again.

“But the fact that my heart is still beating, it must mean that I’m not really in my right mind now, right?”

“……Wow! As always, your objective and wise judgment is something I admire greatly, Your Majesty. If you’ll excuse me, I shall take my leave now.”

“Sure, you may go.”

Rinel, who had been gazing out the window, called to Rafael, who was exiting the office.

“Rafael.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“So, you agree with what you just said, that I’m not in my right mind right now?”

“……I love you, Your Majesty.”

Rafael sent a heart with his fingers to Rinel and swiftly exited the office.

Time was passing too quickly.

She had conveyed that she would visit Rinel’s bedroom tonight, but worry already overshadowed her before even heading to the palace.

Sharon, who had met Secretary Rafael at the palace and returned, repeated the same story multiple times, mimicking Rinel’s reaction like a parrot.

“I never dreamed that His Majesty, who was in his office, would come out to the secretariat!”

When I told Sharon, ‘It’s about time to go to the palace, isn’t it?’ she started reenacting the scene again.

There seemed to be a replay button hidden somewhere in Sharon’s body.

“Did His Majesty come out asking, ‘What’s the matter?’ with such a stern chin lift? Even though I deliberately raised my voice at the gap of the office door, I never thought he would come out and see for himself!”

Sharon narrated the moment Rinel opened the office door most dramatically.

Surprisingly, Solly and Teresa also found this part most interesting every time.

“His expression wasn’t… really bad, right?”

I was asking this question for the fifth time.

“Of course! His Majesty was surprised, but not at all upset. He asked me directly with wide open eyes!”

Sharon’s eyes also grew larger as she imitated Rinel’s expression.

“Oh dear, it’s already time! Your Majesty, it’s time for you to get ready.”

Sharon spoke combatively, rolling up her sleeves.

The three maids began to actively use their specialties.

“Your Majesty, I’ll sprinkle adeline petals in the bath that emit a faint scent! It’s also beneficial for the hair.”

Solly, the gardener who handles my hair styling, ran to the bathroom.

“I will also prepare fragrant oils in advance! As soon as His Majesty touches your shoulder, His Majesty’s hand will slip all the way to your toes because of the smoothness!”

Teresa, the painter who takes care of my makeup, also moved busily.

“While Your Majesty is bathing, I’ll select the dress you will wear. The robe you’ll put on, too!”

Sharon, with her excited face, headed to my private dressing room, then hesitated and turned back to me.

“Uh… Your Majesty, can I prepare a very, very simple dress that is easy to put on and take off?”

Sharon was waiting for my command with a hopeful expression, her hands clasped together.

After a brief pause, I spoke solemnly to Sharon with a firm voice.

“Sharon, I’m disappointed. What on earth are you talking about!”

“Yo, Your Majesty……?”

Suppressing my laughter at Sharon’s surprised face, I continued speaking.

“I… I always trust your judgement, Sharon, and don’t I always wear what you suggest? What’s with the sudden question?”

As I winked and whispered to her, Sharon covered her mouth with both hands and laughed, then dashed straight to the dressing room.