Sue. The Akarti Kingdom’s mage, from the Monk Principality, master of the ‘Dia’ trading company, hypnotist—what else was there?

What angered Dion most among these was that Sue knew about Clementina well. She might know more than he did. That unbearably grated on Dion’s nerves. However, he could guess how Sue knew about Clementina.

Caroline Sustain.

Dion had also learned of Clementina’s existence through Caroline. If Sue knew about Clementina, the only connection was Caroline.

“And though it’s late, thank you.”

“Thanks? For what?”

Dion’s eyes widened with an expression that said he couldn’t understand.

“Bella. You didn’t kill her and even found her a marriage match. I heard you gave quite a large dowry too.”

“She’s only a viscountess at best. He has no territory. Naturally no decent castle either. Bella cried saying she’d never marry a man without his own castle until her dying day. Castles aren’t a big deal. They’re just hard to manage.”

“But it means a lot to Bella.”

“I know. Haha. So that’s the punishment I gave. That’s all I did for Bella. But it’s generous compared to what she did.”

‘And considering my promise to Caroline, I did the best I could.’

Dion swallowed the words he couldn’t quite spit out to Clementina. Even if he said it, she’d laugh and let it pass, but he thought there was no need to hurt her. He wanted to stop looking like a bad guy too.

“Thank you for not killing her.”

‘I absolutely couldn’t. Caroline would curse me if I did.’

Dion hurriedly continued while hiding his true feelings.

“How could I kill your sister?”

Clementina smiled awkwardly. That he couldn’t kill Bella because she was Clementina’s sister held great meaning. The church, which strongly opposed divorce, finally accepted Clementina and Dion’s divorce issue because they recognized Bella’s wrongdoing.

They’d rather tried to bring up Clementina under collective punishment, but Dion’s sharp rebuke toward certain figures ended it at this level. Dion’s momentum was unstoppable by anyone.

Wind blew through the window and shook Clementina’s loose lemon-gold hair. The breeze seemed too cold for her, as her finely trembling shoulders looked pitiful. Dion tried to take off his clothes to give her, then realized he had nothing and panicked. The clothes he wore now were utterly ridiculous.

Still, he removed the cloth draped over his shoulders and placed it on Clementina’s shoulders.

Seeing Dion’s bare shoulders fully exposed, Clementina burst into laughter.

“Hahaha. Were there any dancer’s clothes that fit you?”

“There’s a dancer from the north. A very large woman. That’s why I liked her.”

“So you had a dancer you liked. You liked that dancer that much?”

When Clementina pouted, Dion poked her cheek with his index finger.

“Of course I liked her. Her clothes are the only ones that fit me. But we’re not the kind to spend nights together, so you shouldn’t worry needlessly.”

“Wh-who said I was worried?”

“If not, I’m disappointed, because thanks to someone, I’m suffering through terrible celibacy.”

“Are you saying that’s my fault? Who told Your Majesty to do that?”

Clementina’s golden eyes wavered. She’d thought she’d never shown jealousy or desire for Dion. But she’d revealed her true feelings without knowing. When by Dion’s side, she’d never truly been jealous of the women around him. Because Dion’s heart had pointed so clearly toward her.

“Until now, I’ve only spent nights with one person.”

Clementina’s golden eyes wavered. No matter how many rumors she heard about him chasing women away, she’d thought it natural that he’d eventually keep women close since he’d become Emperor. Because even if he disliked it, those around him wouldn’t just leave him be.

So Clementina became genuinely curious. Dion had readily agreed to divorce. It made no sense for Dion to distance himself from women because of her. He was even Emperor now. If he wanted, he could receive any woman’s service.

“Why?”

Clementina’s voice trembled finely.

“Why? Are you really asking because you don’t know? Would you be okay with me rolling around with just any woman?”

“You shouldn’t roll around with just anyone. But you must welcome an Empress. You need to have descendants. Why haven’t you married yet? Why do you keep women at a distance?”

Dion’s blue eyes had turned cold before she knew it. The blue sea that seemed to resent Clementina looked like waves were churning and bringing a cold storm.

“You seem to want me to play around with women. Is that what you want?”

“……”

“Then that’s unfortunate. Nothing will go as you wish.”

“You know I didn’t mean it that way. I’m asking why you deliberately keep women at a distance. There’s no need to.”

“I’ve never kept women at a distance.”

“What?”

Clementina frowned. She’d heard the rumors about the Emperor circulating in the Ronakia Empire too. Countless women had been chased from Dion’s bedroom.

The three women mentioned as Empress candidates still hadn’t found their place. They couldn’t become Empress under the name of candidates, nor could they marry anyone else.

“I don’t dislike women. I’ve been obsessed with one woman ever since I got married.”

Dion didn’t take his eyes off Clementina. At a glance, they were the eyes of a man full of desire. It didn’t matter whether Clementina’s body was abundant or withered.

Dion wanted Clementina, one person. Clementina finally turned her head away from Dion’s gaze full of longing. All she could do now was deny that sincerity. She needed a valid reason for running away from him.

“Don’t say such nonsense. Your Majesty couldn’t be like that. Do you know how unsightly I am now? I’ve lost so much weight there’s only bones. No vitality, no elasticity. I have no appeal as a woman at all.”

But Dion didn’t care what Clementina said and only said what he wanted to say.

“So even now I drool like a dog in heat whenever I see that woman. It doesn’t matter if that woman is sick or however thin. She’s always beautiful in my eyes.”

“Don’t lie. Wearing such strange clothes and saying that, I can’t believe you at all.”

Clementina raised her finger and pointed at the dancer’s clothes that strangely suited Dion well. Then Dion swept his brown-gold hair behind his ear and smiled charmingly with a shameless face.

“What’s wrong with me? No matter what strange clothes I wear, I’m still me. The inside hasn’t changed. If you hate these clothes so much, should I take them all off?”

As soon as the words ended, Dion tore off the top that barely covered his chest and flung it into the air.

“You still don’t know me well—some things don’t change. And if it’s not that woman, I have no intention of having descendants at all. You should remember that too.”

“I can’t give you descendants anyway. You know that.”

Dion had learned this while spending countless nights with Clementina. She couldn’t carry not only Dion’s descendants but anyone’s.

“Then I’ll never have any.”

“Your Majesty, you can’t do that.”

“Why not? I’m the Emperor. So I’ll do as I please.”

Clementina’s mouth fell open. Though Dion often acted selfishly, he’d never acted like a whining child like this.

“……I’m really dying. My mother lasted at most six years. I’ve already been like this for about a year. Your Majesty shouldn’t be with me. I don’t want it.”

Dion inhaled and held his breath. His chest felt so tight his head was about to burst. He already knew Clementina was stubborn. But to this extent.

“You said you loved me. Has that feeling changed?”

“This is separate from loving feelings. Knowing I’m dying, I don’t want to ask to be together. Your Majesty, even now I’m ashamed to stand before you. Do you understand?”

Only then did Dion see her two hands clutching her skirt trembling.

“Please don’t make me more miserable. Stop searching for me. Go back and please become a good Emperor. That’s what I want.”

Dion saw a thread of hope. Clementina hadn’t given up on Dion. She was just angry at the current situation.

For now, he had no choice but to retreat. As long as Clementina’s heart hadn’t changed, that was enough.

Releasing Jerbek, trying to capture that mage woman—it was all a trap for Clementina.

Though it was selfish, Dion had no intention of letting Clementina go.

Dion had lost it on Diahart Island, but the bracelet still hung on Clementina’s arm.

He would believe Clementina still wore the bracelet because she loved him. No, even if she stayed by his side out of pity, it didn’t matter. For that, he had to stick by her side unconditionally. Being apart would distance him from that possibility.

“Alright, I’ll do that. But give me time.”

“What time? We’ve already spent countless last moments together. We’ve done enough.”

“That’s what you think. It’s never been the last for me. I can’t accept us parting like this. I’m not convinced either. Try running away again. This time it took a year, but next time I’ll find you in less than a month. I’ll plaster your face all over the Ronakia Empire. If you don’t want that, give me time.”

“How long?”

“One month. Just stay with me for one month. Then I’ll let you go cleanly.”

Clementina reluctantly nodded. Judging by Dion’s firm attitude, if she refused, he seemed ready to drag her to Kentlen Palace immediately.

Clementina didn’t notice at all that the one month Dion mentioned actually meant forever.

Dion decided to spend his leave at Issiliad summer palace in Derin, the southern part of the Ronakia Empire. The knights of the Gold Dragon Order found themselves forced into a summer vacation at Issiliad summer palace following the Emperor.

“Have you given up?”

“Yeah, I’ve given up.”

“So you’ll spend just one month together with the Duchess and then let her go? Without any regrets?”

Despite his disbelieving tone, Berche’s gaze was fixed on the letter from Langberry. Dion sat on the sofa, scratching the neck of Rata, the dragon belonging to dragon rider Sir Arthur Reta, with his fingers.

Rata seemed pleased and sat on Dion’s lap with eyes closed, offering its neck.

Dion now stroked Rata’s face with both hands. Petting a dragon like a puppy was remarkable, but Rata’s changed attitude was also interesting.