Ascan looked at me inquisitively and said in a low voice, “If I really liked you, I wouldn’t have avoided you. Even if you ran away, I would have chased you to the end and kept you by my side. If it wasn’t mine down to a single hair, I wouldn’t have been satisfied with it.”

Listening to Ascan’s words, forgotten memories resurfaced.

─From now on, please stay by my side and protect me as you do now.

─Huh?

─I’ve decided not to run away. There doesn’t seem to be a safer place than here.

When Ascan said he would stay by my side after the academic festival, the possessive gaze he had when he looked at me came to mind.

─So I’ll be by your side.

It wasn’t a request or a wish. Looking back, it seemed more like a unilateral notification.

Now that Ascan’s words matched in many ways, I couldn’t refute them.

Lost in thought, I looked at Ascan in front of me and asked, “But why did you suddenly have such thoughts?”

“…I thought of it while looking at you.”

Huh?

Does that mean that even if I run away, he wants to keep me by his side?
However, even if it was just for a moment, Ascan’s expression remained unchanged, despite feeling such emotions. I couldn’t help but smile wryly.

A while later, the carriage carrying Ascan and me arrived at the Kalua Imperial Palace.

Ascan got off first and escorted me. Following the guidance of the waiting chamberlain, we walked towards the deep Star Palace of the palace.

Jen, unfortunately, had to stop in the middle due to being blocked by the guards.

“I will wait here, Miss.”

“Sure. It shouldn’t take long, but if you find it difficult, you can go back first.”

Jen nodded in response instead of answering.

Even though I knew Jen wouldn’t leave first, I couldn’t help but say it in case. We arrived at a charming place overlooking a well and a beautiful garden at a glance.

A man sitting at the end of a long table came into view.

The man in his thirties had a dignified appearance that was out of the ordinary at a glance.

With dark brown hair, green eyes, and not a handsome beauty but a strong masculine charm, his face exuded a different vibe. Looking at him, it felt like facing a large beast.

It was Helcyon.

Helcyon, who had come first and was waiting, stood up and greeted me warmly.

“Welcome. Are you the Brellopf Young Lady?”

“It’s my first greeting. Your Majesty.”

As I slightly bent my knees and greeted, Helcyon gestured for me to sit as if telling me to stand up.

“I heard it through rumors, but you’re much more beautiful than I imagined. It’s hard to believe that you created numerous magical engineering weapons with those delicate hands of yours.”

“Thank you for the compliment.”

Helcyon seemed satisfied, squinting his eyes, perhaps pleased with my polite attitude. Then, sitting back down, he spoke quietly.

“Sit.”

Upon his words, Ascan also bowed his waist, assuming a posture, and took a seat.

Finally, as I sat in the designated seat, Helcyon smiled broadly and said, “Haven’t you been curious on the way here? Why I called the Brellopf Young Lady all the way to the Kalua Empire.”

“I was actually curious. I was planning to ask when I saw Your Majesty.”

A somewhat ambiguous smile appeared on Helcyon’s lips. When he casually gestured, all the attendants who were about to serve food withdrew.

As it was supposed to be a dinner gathering, I couldn’t understand the reason for suddenly avoiding the food.

As I stared at Helcyon with a puzzled mind, he continued to speak with the same smiling face.

“I’m impatient by nature. I don’t put off saying what I want to say. What I want to say now is…”

“Yes, please speak.”

“Brellopf Young Lady, will you become my empress?”

I couldn’t help but widen my eyes at the proposal I never thought of.

I wasn’t the only one surprised by Helcyon’s words. For some reason, a surprised look flashed in Ascan’s golden eyes across from me.