“I don’t know how it was before, but I’m not like that.”

Ratius’s eyes changed.

“I can’t promise I won’t do anything if I share a room with you.”

He stepped closer to Selvia and bent down.

Her mouth went dry at the suddenly shortened distance.

“Just looking at you like this naturally steals my attention.”

Selvia blinked slowly at his touch as he gently stroked her hair.

She didn’t avoid it since the touch wasn’t unpleasant.

Selvia felt her heart flutter as she silently waited for Ratius’s next move.

‘No need to misunderstand.’

There was no need to make a fuss about this.

Ratius was just trying to win her heart.

Thinking that way made it easier. Selvia vaguely understood the feelings he had for her.

However, she couldn’t give him what he wanted.

After all, sharing hearts with someone who was dying would only hurt the one who remained.

For this reason, Selvia wanted nothing from the relationship formed by contract.

“It doesn’t matter. Isn’t that included in becoming husband and wife?”

At her bold words, he only moved his lips slightly. His face wore a complicated expression, and his eyebrows were raised higher than before.

Selvia read his mind and spoke without changing her expression.

“I’m fine with it, so do as you please.”

Selvia gently held Ratius’s hand that was stroking her hair and met his eyes. However, Ratius spoke in a firm tone.

“We won’t be sharing a room.”

Ratius somehow looked like someone who was angry.

Though his mouth was smiling, his eyes were cold.

“That’s a shame.”

When she smiled and said this, he shrugged as if admitting defeat.

“You don’t look disappointed at all. You won’t have anything to worry about.”

Ratius lightly kissed the back of Selvia’s hand and smiled with his eyes.

“Unless, of course, you want it.”

Selvia’s body trembled at his melting smile. Flustered, she tried to speak in a calm tone.

“Are you not leaving after saying goodbye?”

At the clear dismissal, Ratius left the room with slumped shoulders.

After he left, Selvia collapsed into a chair and placed her hand over her heart.

Though she had tried to act nonchalant, her tension released as soon as Ratius left.

She took out the glass bottle from her clothes, dropped one drop into her teacup, and drank it.

“……I need to stay sharp.”

Otherwise, she might be enchanted. By the Emperor of the Empire, no less.

* * *

The next morning, Selvia worried about how to face him at breakfast. But that worry was unnecessary.

Ratius was too busy with state affairs to join the meal.

Thanks to that, Selvia had a somewhat comfortable morning. But that was brief as Elena came to visit.

Elena was one of the maids serving Selvia besides Mellin.

“His Majesty has summoned you.”

“……Now?”

If Elena hadn’t come to call her, she would probably have spent a leisurely morning.

Feeling slightly disappointed, Selvia followed Elena. She led her to a spacious reception room.

There were partitions and comfortable sofas. It was even lavishly decorated with flowers.

“Would you like to wait here for a moment?”

“I will.”

After the maid withdrew, Selvia calmly looked around.

Soon after, Mellin entered the reception room with tea and refreshments.

“Lady Selvia, I’ve prepared warm tea and refreshments.”

“Thank you.”

She felt more at ease. Selvia savored the chamomile tea while waiting for Ratius.

After about ten minutes, the door opened and Ratius entered.

“Your Majesty, you called for me, but what is this……”

“You’ll know soon.”

Ratius smiled gently and placed his hand on her shoulder to make her sit down again.

Knock knock knock.

“Labiero Boutique has arrived.”

“Let them in.”

The door opened and someone carrying dresses suddenly appeared.

In an instant, the reception room was filled with dozens of dresses.

As Selvia stared blankly at the sight, Ratius spoke softly in her ear.

“Tell me if you like any of them.”

Selvia nodded while looking at the catalog placed before her.

After all the dresses were moved in, an elaborately dressed woman came forward with a serious expression.

“I am Seronpia, owner of Labiero Boutique. If you don’t mind, we’ll show you the dresses we’ve brought.”

As soon as she finished speaking, people wearing dresses entered one by one and stood before Selvia to showcase the dresses they were wearing.

“This is a newly designed dress.”

The off-shoulder design with lace overlay seemed to emphasize femininity even more.

The line falling from waist to floor was clean without being excessive, and the way the skirt fluttered with movement was elegant.

Next to it was a pure white fabric embroidered with silver thread that captured attention as it sparkled with every reflection of light. It was ethereal, as if stars from the night sky had been scattered across the dress.

Selvia’s eyes widened at the parade of dresses so magnificent she couldn’t even have looked at them in Delpheron.

Her eyes hurt from seeing so many clothes.

Selvia picked out several dresses in a daze.

“Don’t you like any of them?”

“It’s not that…… They’re all beautiful.”

She liked everything—the sophisticated designs, the tasteful decorations, the high-quality fabrics with appropriate patterns.

“So you like them all.”

Ratius grinned and raised his hand to give instructions.

“That’s enough.”

At the Emperor’s voice, the women wearing dresses withdrew.

Seronpia stepped forward with a somewhat tense face.

“Your Majesty. Please tell me if there’s anything not to your liking.”

“I don’t think we need to see any more.”

“Y-Your Majesty……”

She looked at Selvia as if seeking help.

Selvia was also bewildered by her face full of despair. While Selvia was hesitating about what to do, Ratius spoke.

“I’ll take all the dresses shown today.”

“What?”

Selvia hurriedly grabbed Ratius’s hand at his monotone voice.

“All of them?”

“For someone who will become Empress, how could just a few dresses suffice?”

“It’s too much.”

“Nothing is too much for you. You deserve more than enough.”

He waved his hand as if there would be no taking it back.

“It would be better not to sell these designs I bought today to others.”

“Of course, that was my intention. Naturally, we should only show Your Majesty designs that are one of a kind.”

Seronpia smiled brightly and bowed her head. The corners of her mouth showed no signs of dropping.

Selvia spoke worriedly.

“There’s no need to buy so many.”

“There is. Because this will become your dressing room.”

Only then did Selvia realize the purpose of this room. Filling the empty room with just dresses was part of the plan to make it her dressing room from the start.

“……Thank you.”

Ratius was ready to buy anything at her single word.

“Have the next boutique come in immediately.”

Seronpia bowed and left with a bright face.

“It’s not over?”

“Selvia, I am not such a stingy person.”

As soon as he finished speaking, there was a knock.

“Roger Vie has arrived next.”

“Tell them to come in. No, from now on, let them in right after the previous team finishes.”

When the door opened, boxes full of shoes and accessories poured in.

Selvia thought there was only one way to end this shopping.

“Your Majesty, please buy everything. Including everything from the boutiques yet to come.”

Ratius smiled as if he had been waiting for this and answered.

“Anything you want.”

Only then did the seemingly endless shopping come to an end. Seeing Ratius smiling happily, Selvia said.

“You planned this from the start, didn’t you?”

“I couldn’t help it because I thought you’d look pretty in anything. Blame yourself for being born too perfect.”

Selvia was lost for words at Ratius’s shameless words.

But seeing him still smiling brightly, it seemed he was sincere.

“Please understand, as I’m holding back from giving you more.”

More than this?

Selvia felt dizzy. So she immediately answered.

“……That’s fortunate. But next time, I think it would be better if I look alone.”

“Disappointing, but I understand.”

His smile now was clearly teasing her. Selvia looked at him with a sulky expression.

Ratius still hadn’t withdrawn his smile as he extended his hand.

“Then, I shall guide you to your room. This is my personal desire.”

“Then were the earlier gifts not personal desires?”

“Of course not. They were necessary items, so they can’t be called personal desires.”

Though it seemed like everything had been his personal desire from the start, Selvia decided to pretend not to notice.