Selvia slumped down after returning to her room.

Though Ratius tended to keep conversations light, he had clear boundaries.

“Maybe I can live.”

Though she tried not to have expectations, she found herself harboring hope again without realizing it.

She quietly watched the shadow rippling beneath her feet.

She kept comparing the attitudes between the kingdom and this place. Selvia placed the communication orb she had been holding onto the table.

Selvia tilted her head back to look at the ceiling.

She took out the contract she had kept safely stored.

“It doesn’t feel real.”

She smiled and opened the window.

When she stretched out her hand, a bird flew from somewhere and landed on the back of her hand.

Selvia quickly wrote a letter, tied it to the bird’s leg, and sent it flying.

* * *

The Kingdom of Delpheron was peaceful without Selvia.

The castle seemed peaceful as if nothing had happened even without her.

There, Leliana was swimming like a fish in water.

Thanks to Leliana raising questions about Selvia’s power in the newspapers, speculation about her never ceased. So this was an opportunity while she was away.

Leliana began gradually taking control of and manipulating the royal household affairs.

“Are you telling me to eat this?”

“That’s enough. There are many eyes watching.”

Leliana pursed her lips at her father’s words. To be scolded about propriety in front of a maid.

“What brings you here?”

Leliana dismissed the maid.

She had wanted to replace the maids who served Selvia with others she chose. But that seemed impossible today.

‘Just how did she train them to be so flawless.’

Leliana was displeased with the whole situation.

Perhaps that’s why her father’s visit was unwelcome.

What could he be so anxious about when everything was proceeding according to plan?

There was nothing to worry about as she was climbing the steps steadily.

Beatus loved her and the child in her womb.

It was natural since he thought Leliana was the child of prophecy. So he would eventually place her on the queen’s throne.

“Things will get noisy when Selvia returns. There’s a limit to what the newspapers can say. And your belly will keep growing.”

“……Then what should we do? There’s no way…”

“No way? Why wouldn’t there be?”

Duke Flandre raised the corner of his mouth.

“Do you have a plan?”

“It’s not difficult. I have everything thought out, so don’t worry. You just need to take care of yourself.”

Leliana nodded at her father’s words.

There was no trace of regret in her eyes as she gently rubbed her belly.

“You need to pay more attention to your image. Of course, capturing Beatus’s heart as well.”

“Don’t worry. His Highness is completely infatuated with me now.”

She was confident.

She held what he wanted in her hands. Moreover, didn’t she have power too?

Leliana was simply fulfilling her duty for the kingdom. The people would blame him rather than her.

Leliana had the power of light. Even if all kinds of insults flew at her, she could just use her power and that would be that.

They would all love her as if nothing had ever happened.

If she declared that she was the child of prophecy who would save the world, public opinion would easily change.

Meanwhile, since Beatus hadn’t revealed himself, speculation would obviously continue to grow.

“How are the nobles doing?”

“They will support us. After all, more people believe you have the power of light rather than Selvia, so it was possible.”

“If only Selvia would disappear……”

Leliana smiled happily. The thing she had longed for was coming true. She rose from her seat.

“Anyway, I understand. Please leave now. I’m tired.”

Duke Flandre silently walked toward the door watching his arrogant daughter.

It wasn’t that his daughter’s indulgent behavior didn’t bother him. However, since she was a card that maintained his power no matter what, he had to at least pretend to listen.

The moment he left the palace, he gestured to those waiting.

“Put the medicine in Leliana’s tea tomorrow as well.”

“Will that be alright?”

“She won’t die, so it will be fine. That way she’ll understand how serious the situation is. If her bloodline matters to her, that is.”

Though he didn’t show it, Duke Flandre was inwardly anxious.

If Selvia returned after successfully completing her friendship with the Karina Empire, it was obvious Leliana’s position would become even more precarious.

Beatus appreciated the many facets of Selvia’s personality.

That must also be why he hadn’t removed Selvia from the queen’s position. So they had to make her return before she finished her schedule.

Because public opinion was still on Selvia’s side for now.

* * *

The palace was bustling with banquet preparations.

Selvia had spent the night almost completely awake. That was because her mind had been quite unsettled, making it impossible to sleep well.

‘It should be time for them to make their move by now.’

Since several days had passed since she came here, Leliana and her father must be getting anxious.

Her father, Duke Flandre, was someone who would cause trouble even before she returned to the empire.

Perhaps it would start from today.

If Leliana was carrying Beatus’s child, he would have surely taken her younger sister’s hand immediately.

‘Then that’s even better?’

Since the Karina Empire would be displeased about the unfinished friendship, she could use that.

It had dragged on insufferably. If Ratius hadn’t extended his hand to her, it would have been an opportunity she wouldn’t take.

“Hmm, what should I do?”

Demanding her as a trophy wasn’t good. It had forced aspects and high risks.

Tap tap.

The sound of tapping on the table filled the room.

It wasn’t bad that they were moving according to her thoughts.

Knock knock knock.

With the knock, the Karina Empire’s maids entered the room.

Selvia deliberately erased the shadow cast over her face.

“I will help you prepare. I am Mellin.”

Though she should be trustworthy since Ratius sent her, Selvia wasn’t at ease. Being in a foreign country meant danger could lurk anywhere.

Mellin and the other maids immediately helped with Selvia’s preparations.

She wore a dress with a subtle blue tint adorned with silver embroidery that made it look radiant. It was neither plain nor overly fancy, just the right level of elegance to Selvia’s taste.

“What kind of person is His Majesty?”

“I apologize. I dare not……”

Mellin lowered her head and avoided answering. It wasn’t strange.

“I seem to have asked something unnecessary, so forget it.”

“……He is a benevolent person. Though they say sometimes it’s hard to know what he’s thinking.”

Selvia nodded at her words.

“Just the finishing touches left, Your Majesty.”

Mellin pinned up her glossy black hair that flowed beautifully.

It was a rare hair color in the Karina Empire.

As darkness was consuming the entire continent including Karina, people generally extremely disliked black.

However, strangely, Mellin received a different impression from Selvia.

The queen emanated an unknowable power.

Just looking at her golden eyes somehow gave a feeling of hope growing.

The reason was unknown. It was just a feeling that came naturally.

Feeling peculiar, Mellin finally finished the preparations by placing a moon-shaped ornament on top of Selvia’s hair.

* * *

On the way to the banquet hall, she saw a familiar face. Discovering Selvia, Ratius approached her with a bright smile.

“It suits you well.”

Didn’t he have work to do? Was he free enough to hover around her?

That couldn’t be. Perhaps he was so capable that he finished his work quickly.

Selvia slightly covered her face with her fan and stared at him.

“I greet the sun of the Karina Empire.”

Ratius raised his eyebrows as he accepted her greeting.

She quickly looked over at him who had already approached before she knew it.

In his formal uniform, his appearance was dazzlingly handsome. Golden hair and blue eyes……

Even looking again, he had looks that would win everyone’s favor. To be honest, she kept wanting to look at him as it was difficult to take her eyes off.

“I’ll be your banquet partner while you’re here.”

“……Your Majesty?”

“It’s natural since I invited you. In the empire, we have a law that the host is responsible for everything.”

“Hmm, what an interesting law.”

Though she didn’t believe it, Selvia took his hand pretending to give in.

How many times had she held his hand now? It no longer felt uncomfortable.

Naturally, Selvia entered the banquet hall holding Ratius’s hand.

As the doors opened and they entered together, the music stopped.

All eyes turned toward them, and everyone bowed to the emperor and the queen standing together.

Selvia grew quite tired of receiving endless greetings. Finally, she headed to the terrace to rest.

‘Though she wanted to throw off her shoes and rest, that would be quite unseemly.’

As she was spacing out looking at the sky for a while, a bird flew over.

Flap.

A bird flew and perched on her shoulder. She placed the bird on her finger and untied the letter from its leg.

“The play seems to have begun. How hasty.”

The letter stated that Leliana had consumed poisoned tea and was fighting for her life.

Selvia, who had been lost in thought after reading the letter, turned her head at a rustling sound.

“Your Majesty.”

Her eyes glinted with a strange light.

Before she could continue speaking, Ratius immediately approached Selvia and examined her condition.

“You don’t look well. You should go inside and rest.”

“I’ll have to visit the temple another time. The kingdom will likely request my return soon.”

“……Do you have to return right away?”

Selvia nodded.

“I wanted to enjoy the banquet, but I can’t even rest for this short time.”

Ratius frowned at her words.

He knelt before Selvia, who appeared somewhat tired.

Then he removed her shoes.

Startled, Selvia pushed Ratius away.

The wavering shadow once again tried to bind him, crawling up his feet.

“You’ll feel better after I massage them a bit. Or if you don’t like that, you can rest in my arms as we go to your room.”

“An opportunity has come. The kingdom will summon me as a criminal. When that happens, our friendly relations will be ruined. By the way, what is the most precious thing in the Empire?”

Selvia spoke while watching Ratius massage her feet.

“If you’re asking about the most precious thing, that would be me.”

He answered with his usual mischievous smile. Selvia narrowed her brows and pulled her foot away.

“……I’m asking about something other than Your Majesty. We should go to the audience chamber instead.”

There must be plenty of precious things there. It’s the Emperor’s chamber, after all.

“Have you thought of another way?”

Selvia slowly nodded.

Ratius breathed a sigh of relief.

Taking her as a war trophy or starting a war to claim her would have been the easier method. However, he didn’t want to tarnish her reputation.

Ratius set down Selvia’s foot. Then he put her shoes back on one by one and shrugged.

“You can rest a bit more. There’s no rush.”

He sat beside Selvia with a relaxed smile.