Ascan paused for a moment but then continued with an indifferent expression, “Since it’s a party attended by the Empress, be careful. It’s better not to go at all.”

“If there’s really a puppet master, I’ll use my skills to make sure I can’t refuse the invitation.”

“That might happen. Let’s see how it turns out.”

“Right. I have no intention of becoming a queen, but I can’t fall into traps either.”

Whether I wanted it or not, I had already become a target for the Empress Serena and the Manoko family, and I couldn’t just sit idly by.
It was good that Ascan was protecting me like this, but I felt that I would have to decline the position of Empress to Helcyon soon.

“How many days should I give to refuse the position of Empress?”

It bothered me to flatly refuse the Emperor’s proposal. Since I couldn’t avoid even a moment of consideration, I needed at least a minimal grace period.

For some reason, Ascan answered with a faint smile.

“There’s no need to drag it out. Ten days should be enough.”

“Ten days? Still, wouldn’t it seem like I haven’t thought about it if I take at least two weeks?”

As I pondered, I looked suspiciously at Ascan.

“Is it because you’re tired of protecting me?”

For a moment, Ascan looked at me with an absurd expression. However, there was a slim possibility, although I couldn’t be sure.

“Tell me honestly. Are you doing this because you want to be rid of me?”

“…Think whatever you want.”

Ascan turned away awkwardly, avoiding eye contact as if it was difficult to respond.

When he approached me as he pleased but left just as abruptly, I followed him, puzzled.

“What? Why are you avoiding the answer?”

“Who said I’m avoiding it.”

Although Ascan denied it, his current actions were undoubtedly suspicious.

While Ascan and I were walking towards the mansion in a tense atmosphere, the wind blew.

The fragrance of the flowers I planted in the repaired place spread with the wind. As I inhaled the sweet scent, I unconsciously stopped walking.

As I stopped abruptly, Ascan looked at me with a puzzled expression.

“What’s wrong?”

I silently gazed up at the Ascan in front of me.

I remembered.

What happened that night when I was drunk.

When I came to my senses, I was inside a carriage.

It seemed like I had dozed off. When I lowered my head, I saw Ascan covering me with his coat.

As I tried to get up, nausea overwhelmed me.

“Ugh!”

Covering my mouth with my hand and retching, Ascan urgently spoke to the driver in a low voice.

“Stop the carriage right away.”

“Oh, yes, Your Grace.”

So the carriage stopped in the middle of an unexpected street.

As Ascan lifted me up and immediately came out, I couldn’t endure it any longer and bent my waist before reaching the destination.

“Ugh!”

The only fortunate thing was that the place seemed deserted. As I began to retch, I couldn’t stop.

At that moment, I felt an unexpected warm touch on my back.

Tap, tap. Ascan gently patted my back.

Without saying anything, I vomited everything inside me. Only after emptying my stomach could I raise my head with a weak expression.
Ascan gently wiped my mouth with a soft touch, then scolded me with a stern voice.

“I told you to drink slowly.”

“…It hurts.”

“Where does it hurt?”

“…In my stomach.”

As I patted my belly with a distressed expression, Ascan embraced me again with a serious look. Quickly returning to the carriage, he said,

“I will get back as soon as possible.”

“…It hurts.”

Although the carriage started, it stopped several times due to my upset stomach.

By the time we barely arrived at Ascan’s mansion, I was in a heavily intoxicated state.

Everything seemed so beautiful, and I felt good. My chest swelled as if I could touch the sky with just a thought.

Ascan cautiously supported me and said,

“Take the medicine and go straight to bed…”

“Ascan, how about a race to show how fast I can run? Let’s have a competition to see who reaches there first.”

“What nonsense is this…!”

Without waiting for him to stop me, I leaped around the mansion.

I ran barefoot, even taking off the shoes I was wearing, and for some reason, it felt so enjoyable.

The cold night air was delicious, and panting for breath felt remarkably pleasant.

Thud, thud, thud!

In the dark night, the sound of my footsteps echoed through the silence.

Ascan quickly caught me, but feeling amused as if it were a game, I wriggled out and repeated the process of running.

Suddenly, I noticed people dressed in black hiding above the wall.

Despite being heavily intoxicated, I could tell that someone had intruded.

Ascan seemed to have noticed it earlier. He confined me in his arms and whispered in a low voice,

“Please, stay still.”

But I had no rational judgment left.

I looked up at Ascan, covered his cheek with both hands, and laughing heartily, I said to him with a surprised expression,

“This time, I’ll protect you.”

With the bracelet on my wrist, I summoned a magical engineering weapon stored in the mansion.

Wooong!