Niel raised his head and looked at Hayden.

“…I see.”

Hayden carefully observed the subtly misaligned smile that appeared on the Emperor’s face, not knowing how to react.

“Your Majesty, if you’re truly worried, perhaps you should inquire about Miss Jella’s whereabouts…”

“No, Hayden. I already know her whereabouts, don’t I? I can’t bother her.”

Niel composed his misaligned expression and gently curved his eyes.

“Thank you for taking on this troublesome task. Please continue to keep an eye on things.”

“…Yes, Your Majesty.”

However, his smile evaporated as soon as Hayden left.

Several days had passed since he had confessed to Jella like that.

And that night, she had left the Grand Temple, saying she had somewhere she needed to go immediately, and still hadn’t returned.

Therefore, he still couldn’t hear her answer to his confession.

But Niel sensed from Jella’s failure to return what her answer would be…

“…”

Niel habitually felt inside his drawer.

His fingers touched the hard ring case he hadn’t been able to give her.

While waiting for her to return and give her answer, he also hoped she wouldn’t come back.

Because if she returned, then surely to him…

“Your Majesty, guests have arrived!”

At that moment, the voice of the head servant calling for him from outside interrupted Niel’s thoughts.

“Lord Cail Aleret from the north and Miss Jella Irene of the Capital Pharmacy have…”

The ring case that had been slowly rolling in Niel’s hand stopped.

Niel immediately stood up and opened the door himself before the head servant could finish speaking.

And there she was in front of the open door.

“Jella…!”

Just as he called her name with an unconsciously brightened face.

As Niel approached her, he suddenly noticed another man standing beside her.

Cail Aleret, that man was standing next to her.

Pause.

The atmosphere flowing between the two was subtly different from usual.

‘Did that man always stand beside her like that?’

Along with the rising question, Niel realized the nature of the discomfort he felt.

That man had always been one to stand behind her.

He was a man who had never stood shoulder to shoulder with her like that, not even once.

***

“So, you’re saying the dragon’s body is sealed in the underground of this palace?”

Niel asked in disbelief after hearing the whole story from Jella.

“Yes, that’s why I need your help.”

“…Five years ago, when renovating the palace, we also inspected the underground of the imperial palace. There was nothing there.”

“I’m not talking about the imperial palace.”

Jella shook her head lightly and explained.

“There should be an abandoned palace in the northwest. Please guide us there.”

“That place…”

Niel frowned briefly, lost in thought, then nodded and guided Jella and Cail there.

And in the underground of that place, they discovered a massive dragon body bound by thick iron chains.

[It’s my body! My real body!]

Helasio, excited at discovering his physical form, rushed toward it but was immediately repelled by an invisible force.

[Aaaah!]

Poor Helasio rolled on the ground in agony, but the cruel humans paid no attention to him and instead looked at the massive dragon body while conversing among themselves.

“It really… was here.”

“Although now it looks unremarkable since all the gold that was embedded in the outer walls has disappeared, it was once a luxurious palace where the first Emperor of Shunaibel held his coronation.”

Jella added that the ancestors of Shunaibel had gathered all the royal treasures in this place, which appeared to be an abandoned palace, in preparation for possible invasions or theft.

“So now, if we just transfer the dragon’s essence to that body…”

If that could be done, there would be no more dragon rampages, nor would Cail have to risk death to prevent them.

The three people left Helasio, who was overcome with emotion at reuniting with his body, and returned to the surface.

“It seems there’s a spell on the dragon’s body. I’ll call for a priest.”

“Since Arne sealed it himself, the power of ordinary priests won’t be enough. Call for Yuphe.”

“I’ll send someone to the Holy Country.”

Niel nodded and replied.

“The damaged portal hasn’t been repaired yet, so it will take some time for the Pope to arrive. While waiting for the Pope, perhaps some refreshments…”

“Niel.”

At this point, Jella looked intently at Niel’s face and said.

“I need to talk with you for a moment.”

“…”

For an instant, Niel’s eyes subtly hardened.

After quietly gazing at her, he nodded with a short sigh.

“…Very well.”

Having received his answer, Jella glanced at Cail standing beside her.

Cail met her gaze, then gently curved his eyes. It was a look imbued with unbreakable, solid emotion.

Jella also gave him a calm smile in return.

Eventually, Cail gave Niel an indifferent glance, then turned and left them alone.

Watching this, Niel’s eyes grew increasingly rigid.

“Niel, about what you said last time…”

Just as Jella, now alone with Niel, began to speak to him.

“You came to the palace with that man.”

Niel abruptly cut off her words.

“I don’t mind if you love that man. It’s okay if you don’t love me.”

“Niel…?”

“If necessary, I’ll create a room for that man in the palace. I won’t interfere with whoever you want by your side, not just that man.”

“Wait, Niel. I…”

“Just like the young lord of Alpenhayer who guarded your side long ago, I’ll simply exist quietly by your side. So…”

Jella tried to say something, but Niel stubbornly interrupted her voice as if he couldn’t hear her, only saying what he wanted to say.

“Niel Alpenhayer.”

Finally, unable to bear it anymore, Jella raised her voice and called his name.

“…”

Only then did Niel stop speaking and look at her.

His green eyes that held her image were flickering anxiously.

Jella saw for the first time that this man, who had always been perfect as if painted, could have such an unstable gaze and expression.

He, too, was guessing what answer she had brought.

But now was the time to give the answer.

“I came to properly respond to your proposal from that day.”

So Jella spoke to him in a firm voice.

“I’m sorry. I think I’m too inadequate to be your Empress.”

“No, that’s not true. You…”

“And I’ve found a man I want to protect.”

“…”

Niel’s mouth closed.

“I like that man. I love him very much. So in this life, I want to watch over that man, not the empire or world peace.”

“…”

“So I can’t accept your proposal. I’m sorry.”

“…”

Niel looked at her with intensely shaking eyes.

It was a perfect and resolute rejection without any excess.

She’s never going to choose me.

She’s going to leave with that man.

Because she loves that man, not me…

The moment his thoughts reached that point, his lips moved on their own with a surge of emotion.

“I said it’s okay.”

“Niel…?”

“I said none of it matters. Keep loving that man. Just use me while staying by my side.”

He couldn’t understand.

He was willing to return everything that was originally hers, everything she rightfully deserved.

But why.

Why should she give up all of that just because of that man?

“I’m offering to return everything that was originally yours, so why…!”

Niel shouted with an agitated voice.

The man who had kept his emotions tightly hidden his entire life was now revealing his feelings completely, almost pleading.

Jella suppressed her somehow desolate feelings and slowly opened her mouth.

“Even if you’re okay with it, I’m not.”

“…”

“That would be wrong to both you and Cail.”

“…”

Niel stared blankly at her face.

The slightly drooping eye corners and awkwardly curved lips.

The emotion filling her face was clearly apologetic.

‘She feels sorry toward me. So if I stimulate that emotion and shake her…’

While turning over in his mind how he could hold onto her, he suddenly came to his senses.

‘What am I thinking?’

A hollow laugh escaped between his lips.

‘She’s saying no, and here I am plotting sinister schemes to forcibly keep her by my side.’

Niel closed his eyes tightly, self-deprecating at his unsightly appearance.

A brief silence passed.

Jella quietly waited for him.

After a stillness so quiet that even the passing wind seemed to have stopped, he raised his eyelids again.

“…Alright, Miss Jella. Because I want you to be okay, do as you wish.”

He spoke in his usual polite and elegant voice, as if nothing had happened.

“In this life, protect the man you love.”

As he said this, his eyes were gently curved toward her.