Selvia’s expression immediately crumpled, though she had naturally expected it to be the maid.

Though his face was covered, she could instantly tell who it was.

The mask covering his face, the tall stature, and black hair.

“I thought you might need help.”

“Wouldn’t it be better for you to maintain your position at the banquet and let the maid handle this?”

Along with her stiff voice, Selvia’s lips trembled.

Beatus approached Selvia with slow steps and set down the dress he was holding.

“I should have known better than to dress you up too prettily. Seeing how the flies are gathering.”

“……I don’t know what you mean.”

“Belrocan Bommel seems quite interested in you. Seeing how he even sent an imperial knight to escort you.”

Ah, did he follow because that displeased him? But he shouldn’t be interested in her.

Selvia looked at the dress placed beside her and stood up.

“Please call the maid back. Your Highness can’t help me anyway, and it’s impossible to put on the dress alone.”

Beatus had clearly chased away the maid. He probably told everyone not to come near.

“Shh. I said I would help.”

Beatus strode over and roughly grabbed Selvia’s chin as she sat on the sofa.

“Ugh.”

A groan escaped involuntarily at the stinging pain.

Seeing how angry he was, it seemed Leliana had done something.

Why did he come to take it out on her?

‘Tsk, how annoying.’

Selvia looked up at Beatus while being roughly held.

His cold eyes were staring intently at her.

“It’s not good to talk back to me.”

“Your Highness, you’re too agitated right now.”

She whispered soothingly in a calm tone.

However, Beatus disliked Selvia’s indifferent attitude even in this situation.

“Everyone else is enjoying the banquet anyway, so why don’t we enjoy ourselves too? Since your dress is already soiled.”

Beatus immediately climbed on top of Selvia.

He’s not some beast cub, yet does he live thinking only of such things every day?

Selvia pressed her lips into a hard line while pinned under him.

“People will think strangely of us.”

“What does it matter? We’re husband and wife. Don’t worry about it, there are others sneaking off to roll around after making eyes at each other.”

Selvia’s face twisted involuntarily at Beatus’s vulgar words.

“I see, something must have upset you.”

Selvia smiled with crescent eyes while slowly stroking Beatus’s back.

Madness glazed over his eyes before he buried his face in her neck and opened his mouth.

“However, I’m not in the mood.”

Her gentle touch had already reached Beatus’s chest.

She could feel the firmly set muscles, but that was all.

Thud—

Once again, Beatus lost consciousness.

Though his body was still wandering in delusion seeking pleasure.

Selvia covered her eyes with her hand and let out a long breath.

“How tiresome. Remove him.”

At her call, shadows enveloped Beatus’s body and pushed him to the floor.

Selvia stared blankly at the door.

If Beatus came here, did Harwin see him?

Somehow it felt like her shame had been exposed. It was something she didn’t want shown.

“Good timing, help me change clothes.”

At her command, the shadows helped her remove her dress with practiced ease.

After pushing her hair back and perfectly donning the new dress, Selvia looked at herself in the mirror.

“You have it rough too.”

Not the power of light but the power of darkness. Having power that couldn’t be shown to others meant living in hiding.

The shadow returned to its place without showing any sign of sadness at Selvia’s words.

As if nothing mattered.

Selvia glanced at Beatus.

“That person must have left, right?”

Having seen a strange man enter, he would have moved away.

“What should I do with this trash.”

Taking him to his room would be strange, so I’ll say he fell asleep from exhaustion.

Selvia left the room, leaving Beatus behind.

And as she expected, Harwin was nowhere to be seen.

Though it was natural, somehow she found herself looking around.

Soon resigned to Harwin’s absence, Selvia turned her steps toward the banquet hall.

And not long after, Selvia stopped abruptly as she was about to pass a corner.

“……You didn’t leave?”

“I said I would wait, didn’t I? I’m someone who keeps his word.”

“Then, why……”

Why didn’t he take any action?

To Selvia’s question, Harwin spoke softly while staring at the path she had come from.

“Because I thought it would trouble you.”

Besides, knowing who that man was, there was nothing good about getting involved.

“Ah, did you want me to intervene? If I had known that feeling, I would have gone and twisted his neck right away.”

Harwin’s eyes remained steadfast even as he spoke so casually.

As if he really could kill him for her sake.

“But it seemed you still needed him, so I left him be.”

He gently took Selvia’s jet-black hair between his fingers and let it flow through.

Her golden eyes sparkled in contrast to her dark hair.

Whenever this happened, Harwin thought Selvia looked just like a star shining in the night sky.

“Stop it.”

Selvia sharply knocked his hand away. However, Harwin spoke with a bright smile.

“I seem to have overstepped again. I’ll wait quietly from now on.”

He stood beside Selvia with his hands behind his back, like an obedient dog.

As they reached the banquet hall, Harwin pulled his cloak over without fail.

Soon after, Leliana spotted Selvia and hurriedly approached to grab her arm.

“Where have you been? It took too long just to change clothes.”

“I had some business.”

“What business? You weren’t with His Highness, were you?”

Selvia stared blankly at Leliana’s hand gripping her arm.

“Would that be wrong?”

“You, you……! Listen. Beatus went looking for you because I was dancing with another man and having intimate skinship.”

“You should have kept better control then. He’s going around drooling like a beast.”

Leliana ground her teeth while looking at Selvia’s expressionless face.

She was under the delusion that she had won.

Because it was Selvia who stood beside him as queen.

“Don’t act so high and mighty. You’re just a queen in name only.”

“Leliana, you’re the one desperate because you couldn’t get that position. Go ahead and take it.”

Selvia peeled Leliana’s hand off her wrist.

Her grip was so strong that Leliana’s arm trembled in pain.

“Ugh, l-let go!”

“Lower your voice. What will you do if others look at us strangely? Are you going to throw away everything you’ve built up?”

Leliana bit her lip hard before looking at Harwin standing beside Selvia.

“Heh heh. I was mistaken. You might have been rolling around with him instead of His Highness.”

At her words, Selvia’s face turned cold. I can’t listen to this anymore.

“Leliana, how long will you keep having such vulgar thoughts? Your level is too low, I can’t keep up with you anymore.”

Selvia pushed Leliana’s hand away as if she’s removing something dirty.

Fortunately the singing in the banquet hall was loud, otherwise others would have heard her conversation with Leliana.

Watching Leliana’s flushed face, Selvia wore a self-deprecating smile.

She glanced at Harwin standing beside her before whispering to Leliana.

“His Highness is in my room. Go see if you’re so curious. Though I wouldn’t recommend it.”

Leliana immediately left the banquet hall with a twisted expression.

It was an action showing she wouldn’t believe without seeing with her own eyes.

“Things should be more comfortable now, right?”

At Selvia’s words, a smile spread across Harwin’s face again.

Though she pretended not to care, her heart seemed different.

“I’m grateful for Your Highness the Queen’s consideration.”

He lightly kissed Selvia’s hand before turning his steps toward where Belrocan was.

* * *

The banquet ended successfully. Belrocan showed a positive response, saying he would contact them.

“Then, I’ll be in touch soon.”

Behind Belrocan, Harwin stared intently at her.

The banquet hall was full of people, and both the noisy sounds and surrounding air were quite different from before.

Nevertheless, Selvia felt like she was alone with Harwin.

She could tell he was persistently looking only at her, as if unaware of the surrounding gazes.

Because those clear blue eyes in the darkness were directed only at her.

“Then, have a safe journey back.”

“May the light’s blessing be with you……”

Belrocan lightly kissed Selvia’s hand.

Was it just her imagination that Harwin’s eyebrow twitched at that moment?

As she watched the two heading back to their carriage, Harwin suddenly turned and approached her.

“Did you forget something?”

Selvia asked with round eyes.

Harwin nodded gently while maintaining his smile.

“Yes, I found there was one thing I forgot.”

Harwin approached Selvia closely and bent down to meet her eyes.

“If we leave like this, there would be no way to contact you. Though I said I would wait quietly, I think I’ll miss you.”

His sweet voice settled languidly in her ear.

“……That’s true.”

Selvia found herself growing accustomed to his behavior.

Though it was a short time, it scared her how quickly he had burrowed in.

Before pulling away from Selvia, Harwin handed her a note.

“Then, please think of me from time to time.”

Isn’t that too intense for asking to be thought of occasionally?

Selvia smiled faintly as she watched him climb into the carriage without looking back.