Soon, the empire’s castle came into view.

“Well then, it’s time for them to wake up.”

Selvia loosened her grip on Harwin’s hand.

Come to think of it, there was no need to keep holding hands until here, but she wondered why they had continued to do so.

Her face burned hot and her mouth felt parched.

Whether he’s aware of Selvia’s feelings or not, Harwin seemed to let go of her hand but lightly held just her fingertips while smiling.

“How disappointing. If not for them, I would have kept holding on.”

Despite his intention to approach within bounds, Harwin’s true feelings spilled out plainly from his mouth.

But even while doing so, he didn’t miss Selvia’s expression.

Selvia said,

“Stop with the unfunny jokes and let’s go in.”

When their touching hands separated, a cool sensation swirled between her fingers.

Glancing briefly at her empty hand, Selvia quickly turned her gaze away and pointlessly clenched and unclenched her fist.

“Can you make me one promise?”

Selvia nodded.

“Trust me.”

She couldn’t answer right away. However, having decided to take his hand, she had no choice but to trust him.

“That’s what I wanted to say too. We should trust each other. No matter what happens.”

When she smiled brightly, Harwin smiled back in response.

As soon as Selvia answered, the knights appeared in front of the imperial palace.

The knights immediately woke from their dream.

They were dazed as if they had just had a long dream.

Not even realizing they had fallen asleep for a moment, they followed behind Selvia as if nothing had happened.

* * *

“It is an honor to receive you like this. I hope there were no inconveniences on your journey.”

Belrocan welcomed Selvia warmly.

However, Selvia was more interested in something else.

Her gaze kept being drawn to the architectural structures of the Karina Empire, perhaps because they were different from the Kingdom of Delpheron’s style.

For Selvia, who had never left Delpheron since birth, everything was a new experience and joy.

But she soon gathered her gaze and spoke with proper courtesy.

“I have come as part of the delegation to reciprocate for the gifts sent by the empire. I hope this will improve our relations further.”

“I think the same. His Majesty the Emperor is away, so I will be acting in his stead. Please understand.”

“I see. That’s fine with me, don’t worry about it.”

“I will guide you to where you’ll be staying. As for the maids……”

“Three came with me.”

Beatus had assigned different maids besides her personal maid to monitor her.

Belrocan blinked for a moment.

‘This is troublesome. There’s no point in bringing her here then. We need to separate them.’

Noticing Belrocan’s troubled look, Harwin smiled and joined the conversation.

“I apologize, but during your stay in the empire, you must be attended by maids we have prepared.”

At Harwin’s words, the maids wore bewildered expressions.

“But we are Her Highness’s maids sent by the kingdom.”

The maids immediately objected. However, Harwin hardened his expression and said.

“This is the empire’s law and His Majesty’s order. If you cannot accept this, you may return to the kingdom.”

At his words, Selvia, who had been quietly observing the situation, shook her head and said.

“No. We will comply.”

“But, Your Highness!”

“Then what will you tell His Highness if we return like this?”

The maids shut their mouths at Selvia’s words.

By this point, Harwin started to worry.

Whether Selvia would still maintain a favorable attitude toward him after learning of his existence.

She was already uncomfortable with him, and what if she ran away after he revealed his full identity later.

Belrocan, who had been watching Selvia and Harwin, carefully said.

“We will immediately select and send our maids to you.”

“Yes, I understand. But please send the ones from the kingdom back to me once their safety is assured.”

Selvia smiled brightly and answered Belrocan’s words.

“I will have dinner prepared. Please rest comfortably until then.”

With those words, Belrocan pulled on Harwin’s arm.

“Then you, come with me for a moment……”

“I’ll see you later.”

Harwin turned his head and smiled broadly at Selvia as he spoke.

Though the sight of him being dragged away was funny, Selvia deliberately erased her expression.

* * *

Selvia felt at ease for the first time.

Despite being in a foreign country, she felt no other worries and seemed to have a space purely her own.

“Shall we go for a walk?”

The shadow at Selvia’s feet rippled. The shadow seemed curious about the surroundings just like her.

Above all, perhaps because the darkness was deeper than in the Kingdom of Delpheron, her power had grown stronger.

But as a bonus, her body had gotten worse in proportion.

Finally, she stood up.

There was still time until dinner, so a brief walk should be fine.

With knights outside the door, there would be no problem with her safety.

Even without the knights, she wasn’t particularly worried. Who could threaten her when she had power?

But when she opened the door to go out, the knights hurriedly blocked her way.

“It’s dangerous. If you’re going out, we will accompany you.”

“Do so.”

She didn’t particularly refuse. After all, she could just put them to sleep if they became annoying. So she readily permitted the knights to accompany her.

After walking just a few steps, a weak light flowed from her chest. It seemed something had happened again.

“Ah, right. Send word that I’ve arrived safely.”

“Yes, understood.”

That way they would know she wasn’t thinking of anything else.

By now they would have held the wedding with Leliana, with her personality, she would have hurried thinking this was the right time.

“I will send subsequent messages myself, so wait for separate orders.”

The knights shouldn’t secretly send unnecessary information to the kingdom.

They nodded with reluctant expressions.

Then they silently began following behind Selvia.

While protecting her safety was the knights’ duty and not their fault, from Selvia’s perspective, they weren’t very welcome presences.

She thought she had finally escaped Delpheron, but it still felt like being in Delpheron. Her chest started feeling tight again.

‘Just leaving that place doesn’t change anything…… what was I excited and expecting?’

Selvia’s mood sank.

The surrounding grass withered, unable to maintain its vitality.

“Stay a bit further back. If you don’t want to disturb my time.”

The knights stepped back at Selvia’s sharp voice.

They thought the queen somehow seemed quite different from when she was in the kingdom.

* * *

Harwin listened to the voice coming from outside the window.

At Selvia’s voice, he turned his body and moved toward where her voice came from.

Though the dense forest made it hard to see clearly, it was obvious she was heading to the garden.

He felt an urge to run to her immediately and walk together.

He hadn’t noticed when she was far away, but now that she was close, he wanted her even more.

He had told Belrocan it was to repay a debt, but that was a lie.

“Are you listening to what I’m saying?”

“Yes, I hear you well. So why don’t you lower your voice?”

Harwin didn’t even glance at Belrocan chattering beside him.

He concentrated, like he’s trying to capture every footstep, voice, and breath of hers without missing anything.

“Your Majesty!”

Finally, unable to bear it anymore, Belrocan shouted.

Though they would meet Selvia again at dinner anyway, his lord seemed so in a hurry he looked ready to go to her side right now.

‘We could talk while looking at each other’s faces then, it wouldn’t be too late.’

The Emperor of the Karina Empire was quite an elusive figure.

Because he was absent almost daily, it was difficult to find time for them to talk.

So Belrocan desperately tried to capture Harwin’s attention.

“The nobles will strongly object. If we accept Her Highness’s request, your dignity will fall.”

“That’s true. But if it’s what she wants, I must do anything. Besides, it’s not strange at all. He would accept it too, since it’s better than being devoured by other kingdoms.”

Harwin followed Selvia with his eyes as she walked in the garden, fingering his faded necklace.

When he held her hand, he felt his darkness lifting.

His head cleared, and his heart became peaceful.

“Here is a letter from the shadow in the kingdom.”

Harwin briefly scanned the letter from the spy planted in the Kingdom of Delpheron that Belrocan handed over.

Though it happened today, they could receive letters this quickly thanks to the communication orb.

Given the distance, letters from Delpheron normally took quite a long time to arrive. However, the Karina Empire could transmit quickly using their communication orbs.

“What a petty method. Questioning Selvia’s qualifications……”

From the Karina Empire’s perspective, this wasn’t bad.

If they self-destructed, Harwin could obtain her easily without using force.

Moreover, Selvia had accepted his proposal.

Harwin stood up with a satisfied expression.

“Well then, I should go make the queen smile.”

“……The banquet is in 3 days.”

Harwin waved his hand at Belrocan’s words.

Three days—he felt rushed by the time that was shorter than he expected.

Selvia was quite careful and sensitive, and if she became displeased even once, she wouldn’t let anyone near.

So during her stay, he had no choice but to win her heart, even if he had to flatter her.