“Yes, we will obey your command!”

The servants, as a group, responded in chorus and collectively began to admire the full moon, their heads raised high.

As I was about to raise my head to look at the full moon like the servants, Rinel placed his hand on my forehead and exerted some force.

Because of this, my raised head was once again lowered.

My gaze met his face, shining brighter than the full moon.

“You said you wanted to know.”

He whispered.

“Yes?”

“Where the empress should roll.”

“Oh, where’s that… Huh?!”

Suddenly, Rinel’s lips pressed deeply against mine, then pulled away.

“Here.”

“Is this where I should roll?”

I pointed to my lips with my finger and asked.

“Yes.”

“But that’s…”

An absurd idea? …that’s what I thought.

But while my mind was resisting, my body was responding.

Just as my lips were about to part, he pulled his lips away and said,

“The full moon is really bright.”

He held me from behind and whispered.

His breath tickled my ear.

Rinel turned my face slightly to the side with his hand.

His cool breath, laden with silence, filled my mouth.

His kisses never acted alone.

They were always careful and soft, taking care of me.

Kissing him felt more dangerous and thrilling than tumbling down the stairs.

We enjoyed the thrill right in front of the many servants.

The servants, unaware of what the emperor and empress were doing behind their backs, were joyfully admiring the full moon.

I was on edge, wondering if the servants might suddenly turn around.

“No one is looking. They’re following the emperor’s command.”

Rinel detected the worry on my face and chuckled as he whispered.

But when I kept sneaking glances at the servants, he changed positions again and stood in front of me.

He used both his hands to cover the sides of my face and said,

“Look only at me.”

His smile, lit up by the moonlight, was mesmerizing.

I felt as if I was going blind.

Not just my eyes, but I felt as if I was losing my senses, and it scared me.

I wanted to run away from his perfect face looking at me.

So, I closed my eyes completely.

Unable to see him, I found courage. Suddenly, I wanted to feel him.

I raised my chin and offered my lips to him.

I knew Rinel was looking down at me with a smile.

He was never one to hesitate for long.

Into that place where only the two of us could share a sense.

Without making me wait, he entered sweetly, and I liked that.

I was so happy that I completely forgot about the servants in front of us.

After a moment, I slowly opened my eyes.

“Rinel…”

“Don’t call me with that look in your eyes. Not if you don’t want to shock the servants here.”

Rinel lifted my chin and flashed a subtle smile.

The smell of lavender came with the wind.

A grateful fragrance that calmed my rough breath.

I almost collapsed on the ground as my legs were about to give in.

I felt a distant sensation. I needed something to hold me up.

Instinctively, I gently grabbed his waist with both hands.

Then, his firm arms brought me into his embrace.

It was warm and comfortable.

It was a distinctly different feeling from the usual heat I feel.

For a moment, I almost blurted out a word I hadn’t even thought of at the sight of Rinel looking down at me.

“Is it love?”

That word, which had been spinning in my head, came out of Rinel’s mouth first.

“What… did you just say?”

I was surprised that he had the same thought as me.

And it was even more surprising that he had voiced it.

“I’m sure I like you, but I thought if I said I loved you already, I would seem too frivolous, so I put a question mark at the end.”

Is it love already for us?

If there were a house of love, he seemed like someone on the verge of opening the main gate.

I couldn’t believe the lovely gaze he had on me at the moment.

“Is it in progress? If that’s the case, you’ll need to speed up.”

He put his forehead against mine and spoke in a pleading manner.

The emperor of the Lapeon Empire.

“I think I’m almost there.”

“…Where?”

“To that emotion. If you come too slowly, I will suffer too much alone…”

“Suffering?”

“Yes, enduring. Here.”

Rinel took my hand and brought it over his heart.

“So, speed up your emotions.”

“I’m confident about speed.”

Feeling awkward, I laughed and spoke like a joke.

“Huh, what speed for such a tender body?”

He disparagingly commented on my stamina while holding my waistline with both hands.

I was about to retort to Rinel, but I just put on a placid expression.

Because of the story that Sharon, Sollie, and Teresa had drilled into my ears on the way back from the greenhouse today.

.

.

.

‘Your Majesty, I say this with no offense, but you should not boast of your strength in front of His Majesty. You understand?’

‘Right. Some women often tap others when they laugh, but Her Majesty must absolutely! You must not do this. Promise!’

‘Sometimes you drop your fork while eating, can you do that?’

Listening to their advice in silence, I asked when I came across a point I didn’t understand at all.

‘Why drop a fork?’

‘It’s evidence of being weak.’

‘Ah, men like that?’

When I asked with a puzzled expression, they collectively nodded their heads.

I couldn’t understand.

Men’s ideal types are women who are on the brink of collapse?

‘It arouses a protective instinct.’

‘You want to protect them, if they’re weak.’

Ah, so that’s why I never had anyone to protect me in my life.

The mystery of my lonely life was solved like this.

.

.

.

Anyway, surprisingly, Rinel saw me as a weak wife.

Then it would be better to let him believe that, right?

But I didn’t want to look too weak.

“My body may be tender… but I’m not really weak compared to what you see.”

“Really?”

“Yes.”

“I can’t believe it until you prove it.”

“…Proof?”

I looked around the garden.

Oh, there was a rock at a distance suitable for lifting.

Should I try lifting that rock to prove it?

That can’t be. Then I can’t drop my fork later…

While I was hesitating and staring at the rock, Rinel quietly spoke as he watched me.

“Over there, that rock.”

He must have had the same thought as me.

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Shall we take a rest there for a while?”

“…Ah!”

Was that what he meant?

I had been secretly relaxing my wrist and stopped.

I was about to throw that rock towards the full moon.