I froze at his unexpected action.

It was quite bewildering, and my mind told me I should pull away.

But I simply couldn’t move.

No, perhaps I didn’t even want to.

“……”

It wasn’t because he was holding me tightly or using force.

Quite the opposite.

His strong arms embraced me gently and carefully. An elegant yet languid fragrance washed over me like the tide.

My precariously wavering emotions began to settle calmly.

I closed my eyes and buried my face in Ainberg’s chest.

Perhaps because we weren’t facing each other.

I felt that if I stayed like this, I might be able to pour out all my complicated feelings.

Meanwhile, Ainberg’s warmth intensified slightly.

Still embracing me, he continued in a languid voice.

“Long ago.”

When Ainberg spoke, I could feel the vibrations completely.

A pleasant baritone.

I slowly closed my eyes as if listening to music.

“The former Emperor was ruthlessly strict. Before I was a boy, I was the Crown Prince who had to inherit the throne.”

I knew his childhood had been unfortunate.

And that even after reaching adulthood, he rarely smiled and couldn’t express his emotions.

‘What is he trying to tell me?’

This was the first time we’d had such an emotional conversation.

Especially in this position.

“That must have been difficult for you.”

Trying not to let him hear the trembling in my voice, I could only answer briefly.

“What comforted me then.”

What could have comforted Ainberg?

Just as I opened my eyes out of curiosity about that presence.

“Was hugging my hunting dog.”

At this unexpected answer, I slightly pulled away from his embrace and looked up.

“Your hunting dog?”

“Yes, it was the only one that embraced me completely.”

“……”

“Though we couldn’t communicate with words, strangely enough.”

Ainberg seemed to take a moment to steady his breathing before continuing.

“It was more comforting than any consoling words.”

What was Ainberg like as a child?

I imagined a small but noble-faced boy.

It wasn’t hard to imagine.

He would have had the same soft silver hair and intelligent features as now.

When I pictured the boy hugging a large dog, I couldn’t help but laugh lightly.

“You had a good friend.”

“Yes, a friend. But it would have been nice to have a person to hug me too.”

I lifted my head to look at Ainberg’s face.

Did I look anxious, like I needed comfort?

Is that why he hugged me?

‘I’m a bit surprised and bewildered, but I don’t need comfort.’

If anyone looked like they needed comfort, it was Ainberg.

I knew it would be good to say something like “You have me” or something similar at a time like this.

If it had been acting, I might have actually said it, but because it was somewhat sincere, the words wouldn’t come easily.

But at that moment,

“Was Miamo that kind of meaning to you?”

“……”

At his sudden words, the smile that had barely formed on my lips instantly faded.

I couldn’t remember any of the words I had practiced on my way to meet Ainberg.

‘How did he know?’

Oz had returned to the secretariat after talking with me, and Millean hadn’t come to see Ainberg either.

“Your Majesty.”

When I finally managed to speak, he slowly raised his hand and pulled me closer to him, more firmly than before.

It was clearly different from his initial careful and delicate gesture, as if handling something precious.

“I’m sorry.”

“……”

The words caught in my throat.

“Sorry” was also a word that didn’t suit us.

The same went for “it’s okay” or “don’t be sorry.”

I just slowly shook my head in his embrace.

‘…His memory has returned.’

When I peeked up at him from his embrace, Ainberg lightly kissed the top of my head.

“I hope the High Priest didn’t say anything unnecessary.”

“…How did you—”

“He told me right after he came to find me. That he would meet you immediately.”

What, what?

That guy, when leaving Ainberg’s bedroom, he was already planning to meet and talk to me.

And then he acted so shamelessly?

Remembering Millean’s cynical and arrogant expression, I couldn’t help but clench my fist.

‘He really has a strange personality. Would it hurt him to just speak nicely? Is he allergic to it or something?’

As I trembled with indignation, Ainberg spoke in a puzzled voice.

“It seems he said many unnecessary things.”

I was tempted to tattle on him right there, but I held back.

‘Fine, accept it. That’s just how he is. That’s just the kind of… bizarre person he is.’

There was nothing to gain by detailing my interaction with Millean here.

“He told me everything I needed to know, from beginning to end.”

“That doesn’t sound like him.”

When I let out a light laugh, Ainberg spoke again.

“Seeing you laugh, I guess it’s true.”

“That’s not what’s important.”

Just as I muttered in a small voice,

“Then what is important?”

Ainberg asked.

But this time I wasn’t excessively nervous or anxious.

I relaxed my hands that had been stiffly tensed until just now and wrapped them around Ainberg’s waist.

“Just this moment, right now.”

Then his strong, large hand embraced my head.

After that, no words were necessary.

There was only time for the two of us, needing nothing but each other’s warmth.

❀❀❀

“My lady, are you alright?”

When I returned to my room, Soniel asked me with a very worried face.

“What? Yes, of course.”

All I had done was meet with Ainberg.

Why is she asking if I’m alright?

Perhaps because I felt oddly guilty, my voice cracked at the end.

Soniel approached me with an even more surprised expression.

“Your face is so red. I think you have a fever.”

“Fever? Not at all.”

I waved my hand and laughed, but Soniel didn’t relax her expression.

“Could you have caught a cold? I’ve heard you can catch colds even when the weather is warm.”

“No, Soniel. I’m perfectly fine.”

“But your face—”

“My face? Haha, how strange.”

I pressed both my cheeks firmly with the back of my hand.

I wasn’t sick or catching a cold, but I could clearly feel the heat in my face.

When I made a flustered expression, Soniel opened her eyes wide.

“I think I should call Sabine.”

“That’s absolutely NOT necessary! I’ll just rest a bit. I need to lie down right now.”

It would be really troublesome if Sabine joined in too.

Sabine is quick-witted and would figure out my mood after exchanging just a few words with me.

Besides, why is my face getting so red like this? How embarrassing!

“Are you sure you’ll be alright?”

“Yes, really.”

I was able to calm Soniel by roughly flopping down on the bed.

But that didn’t last long.

Lying in bed looking at the ceiling, everything that had just happened flashed before me like a panorama.

The truth that seemed like a lie,

And finally, being held in Ainberg’s arms.

“……”

Argh, no.

This isn’t helping me calm down at all!

Just as I bit my lower lip firmly and lightly patted my cheeks,

“Miss, there’s a big problem—”

Sabine rushed into the bedroom but stopped mid-sentence.

“Miss, are you alright?”

Yes, completely fine.

I was about to pull the blanket over my head instead of answering.

“Miss, such a thick blanket isn’t good when you have a fever.”

“I don’t have a fever.”

Sabine carefully reached out to feel my forehead and then spoke.

“You’re right. You don’t seem to have a fever, but could there be some skin problem?”

I shook my head vigorously and cut off Sabine’s words.

“Sabine, what were you about to say just now?”

“Ah.”

Sabine seemed to remember what she was going to say and covered her mouth with both hands.

“Miss, something terrible has happened.”

“What is it?”

In truth, even if Sabine was stomping her feet saying something terrible had happened, I wondered if anything could be more shocking than what I had just heard.

For that reason, I was waiting for her next words with a somewhat indifferent expression.

“They say the Empress has disappeared.”