Cain gradually adapted to life in the imperial palace.

No longer a slave, he was free to come and go outside the palace.

In other words, he had become someone who could leave and run away whenever he wanted.

‘Leave, huh…’

Cain lay in his quarters, staring at the ceiling with wide-awake eyes, thinking.

When he first came here, he had resolved to somehow escape from this place and run far away. But…

‘Is there really any need for that?’

This place was so cozy, with warm food, and also…

“Become a knight who protects me.”

There was also the kind Imperial Princess who told him to become a knight who protects her.

The moment his thoughts turned to her, Cain was startled.

…He had become strange since coming here. Ever since meeting that Imperial Princess, he kept having soft thoughts.

It was an extremely unfamiliar and novel feeling.

However, the Imperial Princess who had brought him to the imperial palace didn’t particularly seek him out or summon him.

She would occasionally glance over his training, exchange a few brief words with the Knight Commander, and then leave.

It felt as though she was assessing his usefulness, and whenever that happened, Cain’s clenched jaw would tighten.

Today too, as he secretly watched her talking with the Knight Commander after nearly two weeks, their eyes suddenly met.

She noticed him and gently curved her eyes. Just like she was smiling.

Flinch.

Not expecting their eyes to meet, he felt heat rising to his face without realizing it, while she elegantly turned and left.

Cain tightly gripped the sword handle in his hand and thought as he watched her retreating figure.

‘What a strange person…’

She was a strange person.

Was taking him in truly just a simple whim? If not, how could she be so disinterested in him?

But stranger than that woman was himself, who was dedicating himself to training like someone desperate to prove his worth.

Even while half-thinking her words about becoming a knight were just her capricious entertainment, he still tried to catch her eye.

Despite knowing that now, when she had lost interest in him, was the perfect time to run away with his collar removed.

Some time later, she caused a storm within the imperial palace and became the Emperor. Perhaps busy with that, she didn’t come to see Cain at all for a while.

In truth, Jella had excluded him from the process of usurping the throne so that the name of Cain, who was to become a hero after she left, wouldn’t be tainted, but not knowing this, Cain couldn’t shake off the gloomy feeling that he was of insufficient use.

And just when he thought he had finally been forgotten by her, Jella, now the perfect Emperor of Shunaibel, came looking for him.

“It’s been a while, Cain.”

Meeting her again after several months, she had matured a bit more in that time.

Hadn’t they said she had slaughtered everyone bearing the Shunaibel name? The unfathomable shadow in her deepened eyes kept capturing Cain’s gaze.

“So, are you ready to protect me?”

“…I will serve your command anytime.”

Jella smiled with satisfaction at his calm response.

“In a week, there will be your knighting ceremony, so be aware.”

Like putting a collar around his neck, she made him her knight by bestowing a new family name upon him in front of many people.

While it was not uncommon for knights of commoner origin to prove their skills and serve nobles, it was unprecedented for someone of slave origin, lower than a commoner, to become a direct knight of the imperial family, especially of the Emperor.

Opposition arose from everywhere, and all kinds of jealousy was poured upon him.

Nobles who hated Cain would whisper malicious words to his face whenever he passed by.

“That’s the one. The Emperor’s new plaything. I hear the Emperor even allows him into her bedroom.”

“Why would the Emperor, who has His Grace Duke Alpenhayer as her fiancé, keep such a worthless slave boy by her side?”

“Being of lowly origin, he must please the Emperor with equally lowly acts.”

Cain silently let the sharp words directed at him flow past.

‘What plaything? That woman doesn’t care what I do.’

Contrary to their words, the Emperor’s attitude toward him was utterly plain.

Though he was permitted in her bedroom, it was strictly within the realm of guard duty.

Above all, she was strong enough not to need a guard.

‘Why does she keep me by her side?’

Cain’s doubts gradually grew. But unable to dare ask, he was frustrated when…

“Oh, who do we have here? Isn’t it Sir Cain Aleret, busy pleasing our Emperor day and night?”

“Just tell me if it ever gets too hard. I’ll please the Emperor in your place.”

He was trying to ignore the nobles who were picking a fight as usual, but unfortunately, they brought her up.

“What is the Emperor like in bed? I suppose with her thin waist, if you put her down… ugh!”

Thwack!

Unable to hold back, Cain threw a punch.

“Lo-lo-look at this madman!”

“Arrogant slave bastard…!”

Those who had been giggling together, sharing lewd talk just moments ago, joined forces, and the situation was escalating when…

“A physical altercation within the sacred imperial palace, how unsightly.”

In the middle of their dirty scuffle on the filthy ground, she appeared.

The Emperor, who usually paid no attention to what he did, frowned at the sight. It was shameful.

“Yo-Your Majesty…!”

“We greet Your Majesty…!”

The nobles who had been fighting with Cain hastily stood up and greeted her, but she lightly ignored them and beckoned to Cain.

“Come here, Cain.”

Cain got up, straightened his clothes, and approached her.

Jella briefly scanned the faces of the flustered nobles.

“Count Anton and Sir Salvers, is it?”

Despite her monotone voice, the nobles turned pale.

“Yo-Your Majesty…! Th-that fellow, not knowing his place, laid hands on a noble’s body…!”

“His place?”

Jella let out a cold laugh.

“Yes, knowing one’s place is important. That’s why I’m going to find out just how grand your place is, to dare lay hands on the Emperor’s knight.”

Then, as if there was nothing more to hear, she sharply turned around.

“Your Majesty…!”

Cain glanced at them calling out with pale voices and followed Jella.

“Why are such idiots wandering around the palace? Make them properly understand their place. Ensure they can’t cause trouble in the palace ever again.”

Jella irritably strode down the corridor and ordered her aide about their treatment.

Then suddenly she turned her head to look at Cain.

“And Cain, you…!”

Her eyes twitched, and a short sigh escaped between her lips.

“He’s injured. Bring medicine, Calson.”

Jella gave a brief order and entered a room.

“Sit.”

She sat down crookedly and ordered with a nod of her head.

Was she going to punish him?

If so, it would be quite unfair, but not surprising.

Receiving punishment was something very familiar to him.

So Cain respectfully knelt at her feet.

Swish.

She bent her waist. Her hair brushed against his cheek.

Soft fingertips grabbed his chin and lifted it.

‘…?’

Cain’s eyes widened.

She was personally applying medicine to his injured face from the ointment jar brought by the chamberlain.

‘Why…’

His blue eyes lost their way and wavered aimlessly.

Her kindness strangely made his throat dry up.

Finally, Cain asked her in a rough voice, knowing it was beyond what was permitted for a servant.

“…Don’t you ask? Why I was fighting.”

Jella looked at him as if it was obvious and replied.

“Isn’t it obvious? You, being so docile, wouldn’t have fought with them without reason. They must have provoked you.”

“…”

Cain’s mouth remained closed.

He had never met someone like this before.

During the times he was sold back and forth by slave traders, whenever something went wrong, it was always his fault. Even if it wasn’t something he had done.

But this woman, without even asking, says he’s not at fault. While examining the wounds on the body of a mere slave with her noble hands…

Cain felt an overwhelming emotion rising within him at the first trust he had received and the soft warmth enveloping his wounds.

“There, all done.”

She spoke with a satisfied voice after finishing the treatment.

Cain quietly watched her hand moving away from him, and then, in a moment of inexplicable defiance, abruptly asked.

“Why do you go this far for me?”

“What?”

As if finding it absurd that he would talk back after she had treated him, she looked at him with one eyebrow raised crookedly.

“…Having someone like me by your side is not good for Your Majesty.”

Despite feeling somewhat intimidated by her stern expression, Cain firmly said what he needed to say.

At this, she looked at him quietly, then burst into laughter as if she had heard something ridiculous.

“I decided to keep you by my side, so what are you going to do about it? If there are people talking nonsense, bring them all to me.”

It was an answer so arrogant it was as if she had the world at her feet, but at the same time, it was an answer that suited her perfectly.

As Cain stared at her blankly, she curled up the corners of her mouth with a smirk.

“And you too.”

“…?”

“Since I’ve decided to keep you by my side, don’t have any vain thoughts about escaping from me.”

Thump…

His heart beat on its own.

Thump, thump…

It was strange. Really strange.

Cain, who had lived his entire life bound to slave traders, had always wished for freedom.

He truly longed to be free from bondage and not be tied to anyone.

Freedom was the only dream he had ever cherished.

But at this moment.

He felt a desire to be bound to her. He wanted to belong to her. He wanted to hang his neck on a tight rope and place it in her hands.

This was really… such a strange feeling.

“Why are you making such a foolish expression?”

Jella tilted her head at Cain’s blank expression.

“Well, I suppose it’s too much to bring you here at my whim and bind you for life.”

Then she muttered in a seemingly serious tone.

“Alright, I’ll make a special allowance for you. Just stay by my side without moving until I turn twenty.”

She spoke as if doing him a favor.

“After that, I won’t care where you go. Go wherever you want.”

With her words added while giggling, Cain realized with a bitter shock.

That Her Majesty was someone who could let him go at any time. Just like that, without the slightest regret, smiling…

At that moment, the chamberlain knocked and entered.

“Your Majesty, Duke Alpenhayer has been waiting for a while.”

“So it was the day the Duke was coming.”

Jella replied with clear annoyance and stood up.

Cain rose to follow her, but she stopped him.

“You rest.”

Jella left, leaving only Cain behind.

Left alone in the room, Cain stared at the unclosed ointment jar.

Her handprint remained on the opaque solid ointment.

Her indifferent kindness made Cain feel lonely.

If she’s going to be kind, she shouldn’t be indifferent.

If she’s going to be indifferent, she shouldn’t be kind.