“He wouldn’t wake up this early for no reason.”

Rene, who had been circling around the queen’s palace for morning exercise, noticed that the light was on in Liz’s bedroom, something unusual lately. Liz had been increasing her sleep duration as her appetite grew.

Rene changed his mind about doing one more lap and headed towards the entrance. It was out of curiosity to find out what was going on.

Knock, knock.

“…Come in.”

There was a hint of confusion in the voice coming from the queen’s chambers. It sounded like something wasn’t going well.

As soon as the door opened, the reason became apparent.

Liz’s riding pants’ buckle wasn’t fastened.

While Rene stared in astonishment, Liz took a deep breath and exerted force, but the buckle didn’t meet.

“Hoo…”

As Liz released the tension, the seam of her pants opened wide, revealing her recently plump lower belly.
She slapped my palm as if she were sighing.

“Why does everything else fit except for my belly?”

“Hmm…”

Rene scrutinized her appearance carefully and said, “I think I know the reason.”

“Why? What’s the reason?”

“Because you keep eating and just spreading out to sleep.”

“…”

Liz squinted her eyes as if she was about to retort but stopped herself from saying anything. She knew it was an undeniable fact.

Looking at her colleague, who quickly turned gloomy, Rene took a deep breath and said, “Wait. I’ll get something for you.”

“Something for me?”

Liz’s twisted expression as she scanned her opponent’s body seemed to convey a certain meaning… It looked like she was saying something.

Then Rene explained, “It’s a tradition in our family to pass down riding attire. Luckily, my aunt left me her riding outfit. It might be a bit big for me, but it should fit you perfectly now.”

“Oh… really?”

It was genuinely good news.

Fortunately, she didn’t have to announce the humiliating fact that the riding outfit she had fitted three days ago had become too small.

Suddenly, she became curious.

“Why did you bring clothes that don’t fit you? Didn’t you expect this to happen?”

To this, Rene replied, “I thought coming here might change your taste and make you gain weight. You know, when you live freely, your appetite tends to return, right?”

It was a pointed remark. Liz could easily understand the reproach contained in his words.

“Wait a bit. I’ll make your appetite return.”

“Of course, I’ll wait. Is there still one season left?”

“Half a season.”

“Okay. Half a season.”

Rene smiled smoothly.

“I’ll wait quietly until then.”

The phrase “until then” sounded very meaningful to Liz’s ears. After that, meaning that if she caused a commotion this time like she did on the Tener Mountain the day before, she wouldn’t wait quietly. Rene Esmond was indirectly expressing that there would be no room for quiet waiting if she made the same mistake again.

“There won’t be the same mistake as last time. You will definitely fulfill your role.”

Liz spoke with conviction. It was a resolute expression that seemed to say she might kill if any more doubt was expressed.

“Okay, got it. If you say so.”

Rene shrugged his shoulders and turned away, bringing the conversation between the two to a close.

Returning directly to his quarters, Rene found a crimson riding outfit in the corner of the drawer. When he came back and handed it over, Liz tried it on right there.

Fortunately, the buckle was fastened.

⭐⭐⭐

“Is it about ten years?”

Hersis spoke, looking out over the vast pasture.

The last memory related to this place was the horse race he participated in just before leaving the royal palace.

“When I was young, I often rode horses here with Queen Sunhwang and friends just before leaving.”

“I remember that too.”

Ishar, standing beside him, said, “It was when I was just learning to ride horses.”

“Were you unskilled? I’m not sure.”
“Perhaps it’s because I didn’t run as hard as I could.”

It wasn’t an act of humility; it was a fact.

Ishar cleverly concealed his weaknesses by only demonstrating his skills to the extent that his incompetence in certain areas wouldn’t be revealed. That’s why people thought of him as versatile.

“Did you carefully check everywhere the grass is knotted? In case you trip and fall due to a tangled rein.”

“I’ve examined every single tuft.”

“Well done.”

Hersis wore a satisfied smile.

A cool breeze blew, tossing the bangs of the two at a slant.

On the left, there was a dense forest at the beginning of the meadow, and the breeze seemed to come from there.

“What will we find if we follow the forest path?”

“A shallow creek appears. The path is smooth, and the ground is not rough, so it’s often used as a popular walking trail.”

“Is that so? Good job.”

Ishar looked around with round eyes, and Hersis spoke.

“The empress can leisurely take a forest walk.”

“… Surely, you’re not thinking of not participating in the mounted race, are you?”

Ishar asked with a worried expression.

“Of course, I’m not planning to. If I participate, the empress will be left alone.”

“…”

At Hersis’s response, Ishar suddenly felt a lump in his throat.

Everyone is looking forward to it.

The nobles, who consider equestrian skills as important as the emperor’s basic abilities, are eagerly watching. It’s not easy to casually withdraw when they’re anticipating it so much, leaving only one wife.

Ishar would have preferred to express that he would stay by the empress’s side and encourage her to show her skills to her heart’s content.

It wasn’t something he particularly wanted to do, but for the lord’s sake, he felt he could do that much.

“Your Majesty, please, let me…”

“I know what you’re going to say. It’s okay.”

Her tone was gentle and mild, but there was no hint of room for reversal in her gaze.

“… Yes, understood.”

For Ishar, there was no choice but to comply.

Whether he liked it or not…