‘Once should be okay, right?’

Sensations were triggered in her reflexively. Her head felt dizzy, lips tingling with tension. The kiss, after such a long time, felt even more thrilling.
As if trying to compensate for what had been restrained, Hersis quickly rose passionately. There was no time to leisurely enjoy the pastime. The hand that had been moving up from under the blouse stopped at the midpoint. Lips gradually descended down the neck. It seemed there was no hesitation to go even lower.

At every place the lips slid, the lush hair touched the bare skin. The combination of strangeness and tickling produced a peculiar sound from the lips. Trying to stay true to instinct, Liz bit her lower lip to suppress the sound.

When she opened her eyes, everything looked dreamy. In the eyes that were shaking restlessly, something suddenly flashed.

‘Why is that… there…?’

There was a black tulip on the windowsill! She had definitely discarded it, yet there it was. A shiver ran down her spine for a moment.

“No!”

Liz screamed involuntarily and pushed Hersis away.

In the sudden situation, Hersis looked at Liz with bewildered eyes. In the swirling lips and roughened breath, only confusion was reflected in his gaze, creating a strangely eerie feeling.

Liz realized that it was an illusion. There was no black tulip.

However, she couldn’t bring herself to continue the intimacy.

It felt like now was not the time to go to bed.

“…Sorry. I’m not feeling well.”

Liz apologized, bowing her head deeply.

“I think something I ate during the day didn’t sit well. I’m really sorry.”

Hersis’s affectionate voice echoed above Liz’s head.

“I should be the one apologizing. I didn’t know about your health condition.”

“…”

“Shall I call the physician?”

“Ah… No.”

“Then you should rest a bit.”

Hersis gently closed Liz’s eyelids. His gaze, which seemed perfectly rational and gentle, only a moment ago, was now strangely exotic.

‘Was he really a man who controlled lust so well?’

Liz wondered, but fortunately…

He was more understanding than she thought.

She thought she would feel upset, but she didn’t. He was a man much more open-minded than she had thought.

The palace officials had to be sweet from morning onwards.

“Who wrote this?”

It seemed like an arrow was shot from Hersis’s eyes reviewing the military supplies report.

“You’ve cut the numbers by hundreds, not even tens.”

“Well… it seemed easier to read if we cut it into hundreds.”

Hersis slowly raised his eyes.

“Why do you decide that?”

The officials turned pale.

“Rewrite the report and submit it again. Don’t miss any numbers and do it properly.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“And what about the repair of the dam in the Randel River? It should have been done quickly without postponing day by day.”

“That is still…”

“Do you plan to do it when the village is submerged?”

“That’s not it…”

There might have been something to say about the other matters, but there was silence regarding that one.

However…

“Do it.”

There was something to say, even though nobody answered, they just passed the responsibility to each other.

‘You do it.’
“Are you crazy? You came without even writing a will.”

“Who wrote it?”

At that moment, someone stepped forward.

“Didn’t you mention that yesterday? The messenger who set out with a testimony will arrive around tomorrow dawn, assuming they don’t sleep, of course.”

He calmly reported the facts as they were, but no one was worried.

Because he was a person whose life was guaranteed.

“I see.”

When Hersis accepted Ishar’s words, the officials sighed in relief… but only for a moment.

“It would be great if we had a faster means of communication for testimonies. Hey, all of you.”

“Yes… Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Pigeons can’t fly for long, and if hawks get hungry, their eyes roll back, so let’s raise some crows. Set up a breeding ground.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

The relief turned into a scary increase in tasks.

“Also, investigate the shortest route from the palace to each garrison. Include the number and status of border forts and the scale of bandit groups that frequently appear.”

“Yes, Your Majesty. Leave it to us.”

They shouted energetically, then turned and confidently went out.

But as soon as they stepped out, everyone swayed.

‘Going home today was a mistake.’

‘What day is it today? It hasn’t even been a week yet?’

Meanwhile, inside, a calm conversation was taking place to the point of being cold.

“Why not just call a magician?”

Ishar spoke with an indifferent voice. His voice was so calm that most people wouldn’t even realize he was being blamed.

“The magicians of legend can communicate with people at the end of the continent face to face.”

“Let’s talk about it later. We don’t have time for that now.”

This time, Ishar also followed the words quietly. It was because he agreed with the statement that there was no time.

“You dispatched about ten members of the Royal Guard. And they are elite members.”

Ishar walked forward and asked.

“What’s the matter?”

“The Empress wants to go out a bit.”

“Go out?”

“She wants to bring in a maidservant.”

Hersis said without even looking up from the documents.

“Indeed, a maidservant is needed. Originally, it should have been arranged before the national marriage, but I didn’t have time to take care of it.”

“So, there is someone you have in mind.”

Hersis nodded.

“But if that’s the case, you could have just called her to the palace. Why did you go there yourself?”

“She said she wanted to go out. So, if I went with her, it would be good. But I have work to do, so I sent a trustworthy member of the Royal Guard with her.”

“That is to say, you entrust her with the authority for prompt action?”

“The world is vast, people are many, and dangerous people are even more numerous.”

‘I can’t stop him.’

Ishar inwardly clicked his tongue.

“By the way.”

Hersis made eye contact with Ishar.

“How did people react to the banquet yesterday?”

‘He only gets sparkly-eyed when he asks about things like this.’

Ishar responded with a concealed sarcasm.

“It was not bad.”

“Is that all?”

‘That’s enough. What more do you want?’
Once again, hiding my thoughts, Ishar spoke.

“Just the fact that it wasn’t bad seems sufficient. Especially considering the sentiments of the elders.”

“Then the elders are settled.”

Hersis, resting her chin on her clasped hands, spoke.

“What about your thoughts?”

Ishar asked, frowning.

“Why does my opinion matter?”

“Right. It doesn’t matter. But what you will do is important.”

“…?”

“Tell the Empress about the impression you got yesterday. Even if she doesn’t believe me, she’ll believe your words.”

Ishar felt even more trapped in a maze.

“What impression did I get… what are you talking about? I didn’t get anything from her…”

“I saw you clapping. You’re not someone who applauds for just anyone, right?”

“…”

“The Empress thinks too little of herself. To boost her self-esteem, she needs praise from someone other than a husband who has lost objectivity. Praise from someone who is the most rational, cold, and unlikely to praise even if they come back to life. That would be praise from someone like you, Ishar.”

“…”

As Ishar continued to remain silent, Hersis sighed briefly and said, “As expected, you’re difficult. Alright, go out and work…”

“Understood.”

He finally opened his mouth.

“I will soon meet and speak with Empress Your Majesty.”

Ishar made a resolution for the Emperor. And… there was something he wanted to ask her.