So Calix felt suddenly afraid. 

Because Ivona, held in his arms, felt distant. Thanks to the tears that had formed rolling down her pale cheeks, Calix could finally feel the reality that Ivona before him wasn’t a dream.

Still, Ivona never gave him an answer. At her unmoving state, feeling his lips burn dry, Calix changed his question.

“Were you… worried?”

“…Yes!”

Striking his shoulder painfully with her other free hand, Ivona cried out resentfully. Along with the sharp pain, Calix felt uncontrollable joy. Because he could feel Ivona’s heart, her true feelings, vividly like touching them.

“Y-you arrogant thing! You terrible thing!”

“Yes, I’m terrible. A completely shameless wretch. I dared leave my lord’s side without explanation. I appeared without telling you and then disappeared again on my own.”

At how he recited his faults one by one on his own, Ivona’s face twisted in disbelief. Her face, which had softened along with her subsided pheromones, seemed to think Calix was joking. 

But Calix was more serious than ever. Setting down the body he’d been supporting respectfully, Calix knelt before Ivona with a serious expression.

“It’s shameless to ask, but if you’ll give me a chance.”

“…”

“I’ll explain everything that happened. If you’re not convinced, I’ll gladly accept any punishment you give.”

“…”

“Even if you don’t forgive me, I’ll beg until you do.”

“…What nonsense are you…”

“Just please allow me to remain by Your Majesty’s side.”

Then he carefully drew her other hand and kissed it while looking up. But unlike his submissive words, the golden eyes fixed on Ivona were full of boiling possessiveness and desire for dominance.

In the training grounds of Castillia Castle where they first reunited, and in Ivona’s room. Those very eyes that had seduced her were gazing desperately.

The moment she recognized the longing in those eyes, Ivona felt like a spear of pleasure pierced through her body. The moment she averted her gaze, unable to face it, the beast who caught the opening gently bit her fingertips without hurting her.

The moment startled Ivona’s gaze turned back to Calix, a hot tongue licked where he’d bitten. Feeling her face heat up, Ivona answered hurriedly.

“I allow it, I allow it. So…”

Having finally obtained the answer he wanted, Calix smiled, curving his golden eyes prettily.

“Thank you for your generous decision.”

The Electors and other shapeshifters watching this had to feel an inexplicable sense of exclusion. But seeing Ivona’s reaction, no one dared raise objections.

The coronation was held on a rarely clear winter day. The former emperor couldn’t dare object to the Electors’ decision and quietly left the imperial palace.

Ivona’s appearance in a dress of multiple layers of subtle tulle like dawn clouds with a golden sash looked like a goddess of spring. Walking into the center of the temple wearing a pure white fur cloak, she was both lovely and authoritative.

The moment she passed before him, Palmellano couldn’t help but sniffle. Though Caldeon’s contemptuous gaze flew from beside him, he didn’t care.

“Sob, Lady Ivona. How lovely you are.”

It was quite a sight how he even swallowed his breath with emotion. Unable to watch anymore, Caldeon rebuked him in a low voice.

“Control yourself. Is Her Majesty your daughter? You’re going too far.”

At those words, Palmellano’s eyes narrowed sharply.

“What about you? The children of your family are crying so much from how harshly you’re treating them for failing to win Her Majesty’s heart that I can hear it.”

At the embarrassing family matters flowing from another family head’s mouth, Caldeon deliberately coughed. But when it came to being ridiculous, none of the Electors present were in a position to blame others.

Arabenya’s young family head, who’d lost his words from shock that day, stood in a daze. 

Still, only his silver eyes persistently followed Ivona. Though barely audible, incomprehensible words constantly flowed from his moving lips.

“Won’t lose, leopard… I’ll get the most beautiful jewel… No, perhaps food would be better… To capture that person’s heart…”

Either way, he wasn’t in his right mind. At least Orsenath, the most rational one, stepped forward to mediate between the two Electors.

“Now, you two. Please calm down. Didn’t we agree to follow Lady Ivona’s will for now? The ceremony is still in progress.”

When thick muscular arms blocked their view, the two Electors closed their mouths with sullen faces. But there were no more complaints. Anyone who’d seen what happened in the audience chamber would feel the same.

‘Where the h*ll were you, you idiot!’

Ivona had leaped into Calix’s arms in one bound from atop the five steps where the throne stood. 

Unlike giant beasts, Ivona’s small body was slender and fragile like glass. The hearts of those watching sank, worried an accident might happen.

But Calix caught such an Ivona lightly like it was natural. The way they clung to each other like they’d never part again clearly showed mutual trust to anyone watching. 

On top of that, her pheromones calmed instantly. No one could deny that Ivona needed Calix by her side.

The Electors acknowledged this fact intellectually. But the heart doesn’t always follow reason. Either way, their instincts were engraved with the desire to receive Balboa’s love.

Because of that, all their needlessly overflowing enthusiasm was poured into cleaning up after the rebellion. 

Not only Marquis Castillia himself but his direct bloodline and even distant relatives got caught in the fallout. Since Castillia had controlled distribution networks throughout every corner of Alvidion, many retainers had received favors.

After thoroughly processing everything, ironically only Ivona remained among those with Castillia blood to inherit the massive wealth. Because the Marquis had allowed her the Castillia name, though she was illegitimate, for the purpose of seizing the throne.

Finally reaching the altar, Ivona knelt. Linea, wearing dazzling cream-colored priestly robes, asked in a solemn voice.

“You, last remaining descendant of Balboa. Do you swear as the successor of Alvidion passed down through generations to have courage and uphold the law?”

“I swear.”

A careful yet clear voice rang through the high temple. At the quite stable voice, even the Electors felt their hearts become peaceful. Because peace in this land was only possible when Balboa’s heart was at peace.

“As master of all knights, do you swear with a merciful heart to protect the weak and punish the wicked?”

“I swear.”

An assistant priest brought a sword, scepter, and orb supported on a large cushion. Linea lifted the sword and fastened the sword belt around her waist, declaring:

“The courage passed down from the beginning to you.”

Then she handed over the scepter.

“Also the monarch’s mercy to you.”

The orb was handed over next.

“The right to rule permitted by God to you.”

Finally, the emperor’s crown was brought. The moment the crown was placed on her sparkling golden hair, the temple fell into breathless silence.

“I hereby proclaim the birth of a legitimate emperor in Alvidion.”

The moment the clear voice rang out, thunderous cheers erupted.

“Long live Her Majesty the Emperor!”

“Long live Her Majesty Ivona!”

“Glory to Alvidion!”

When Ivona rose from her seat and waved to the crowd, the cheers grew even louder.

Calix walked forward first before the newly crowned Ivona and knelt.

“Lihillant swears loyalty to Your Majesty, master of Alvidion.”

Ivona suppressed her pounding heart and responded with a smile.

“I gladly accept the loyalty of Lihillant, who became my first knight.”

Calix rose and took Ivona’s hand, carefully placing it on his arm. It was an escort in public that only the emperor’s consort could do. 

Though the action was courteous, it was no different from a provocative territorial marking showing he had no intention of yielding the emperor’s side.

The eyes of the Electors who came forward to swear loyalty afterward couldn’t be pleasant. They hid their boiling feelings and knelt before the new emperor. 

Following the Electors, all shapeshifters permitted to enter the coronation bowed their heads.

“We swear loyalty to Alvidion’s new master.”

Leading them out of the temple, an endless crowd had gathered to see the new emperor. Among those gathered regardless of age or gender, some shed tears of emotion.

‘Can I truly meet their expectations?’

A burden different from fear pressed heavily on her chest. She thought she showed no sign of it, but apparently she couldn’t hide it from Calix. The hand firmly supporting her waist tightened. She had no idea how he noticed.

A low voice whispered so only she could hear.

“If there were no watching eyes, I’d have you throw away what you’re holding and embrace you.”

It was utterly presumptuous talk. If the Electors had heard, they would have raised an uproar. Just imagining it brought laughter, and Ivona ended up raising the corners of her lips slightly. 

Since she still stood before the crowd, those spectators who saw erupted in fierce cheers. When the cheers subsided, Calix whispered again.

“Don’t act pretty. It’s hard to endure.”

The temperature of the hand squeezing her waist was hot, like it wasn’t a joke. Strangely, feeling that body heat calmed her stirring heart. 

Thanks to that, the relaxed Ivona could maintain the dignified monarch’s appearance until leaving the temple and boarding the carriage.

When the carriage door closed and only the two remained, she whispered playfully.

“How presumptuous. When I return to my palace, I’ll give you a great punishment.”

Calix raised one drawn eyebrow like he was surprised. Because he knew best how burdensome she found the position of emperor. 

Revealing Ivona’s existence to the imperial palace was the best way to save her. Still, watching her unable to sleep from the burden as the coronation approached made him worry.

Careful golden eyes slowly traced her beautifully adorned clear face. Calix’s lips, examining her like he wouldn’t miss even a small clue, curved with mischief. He realized she’d finally accepted her position and adapted enough to even joke.

“That’s quite an enticing statement.”

At the shameless retort, Ivona couldn’t suppress her burning cheeks. But as much as her cheeks burned, a corner of her heart warmed. 

Because he would remain by her side from now on. So Ivona answered in an equally shameless voice.

“Yes, you should be well prepared.”

“Of course, my Majesty.”

The voice sticking to her ear, unable to suppress laughter, was more reassuring than anything in the world. Even if things wouldn’t always be okay. With him, she could overcome any difficulty.

“But, must we really return to the palace?”

“What?”

The moment he saw her blue eyes widen like asking what he meant, Calix could no longer hold back. The cravat tied neatly to escort Ivona came undone with rough movements. 

Unrestrained hands burrowed under the voluminous skirt.

“Indeed, shouldn’t Your Majesty’s stern command be carried out without delay? I’ll receive my punishment now.”

The hot body temperature climbing up her stockinged legs finally burrowed into her thin undergarments. Ivona ended up whimpering, forgetting her dignity.

“Wh-what kind of punishment is this—!”

But her beast never released prey once caught.

fin.