Let’s say other nobles don’t know about Forcite’s wrongdoing, so it was quietly overlooked.

‘Still, shouldn’t he have mentioned something to us in the drawing room earlier?’

Whether apologizing or discussing what would be done about Forcite.

Why?

Was he embarrassed that his son had done such things?

Or was the disappearance of all magical beasts the priority right now, making such matters secondary?

There was definitely a feeling that he was trying to bury this under the magical beast subjugation.

He had even put Forcite forward as the host of the meeting, but then didn’t send him on the subjugation. Why?

“Merri. Are you very tired?”

“Huh? No. Not really… Wait, what?”

Merrien answered absentmindedly before noticing Ariel behind her and quickly recoiling.

However, she didn’t realize that moving back any further would cause her to fall off the bed.

Only when her tilting body was precariously perched at the edge of the bed did her eyes widen.

‘…I’m falling!’

It was already too late to grab onto anything, but.

Fortunately, Ariel barely managed to catch her by the waist.

As a result, they were pressed together so closely that their noses nearly touched, but that wasn’t what Merrien was concerned about right now.

“…You, you. When did you get here?”

“Hmm?”

“I asked when you got here! And like this. Without making any sound. Right next to the bed!”

Merrien pointed accusingly, speaking in staccato.

“A while ago.”

Ariel gave a simple answer.

He even squinted one eye, as if genuinely surprised she hadn’t noticed.

“You’re lying.”

That can’t be. Merrien waved her hand dismissively.

No matter how stable and comfortable the bed was, it was impossible not to feel anything at all.

He always came without making any sound, so he must have secretly teleported this time, too.

He must be trying to tease her.

“You just came now. Don’t lie.”

“I saw everything – you clutching your head, shaking it, and putting your fist to your mouth.”

“……”

Merrien’s eyes rolled.

It seemed his words were true after all.

Once she accepted this, other concerns began to bother her.

Until just now, Ariel had been quietly lying beside her, but…

Because she had been startled and nearly fallen off the bed, she ended up completely in his arms.

This meant that only a thin nightgown separated them now.

Was he conscious of it? She could feel his blatant gaze looking down at her head.

His breath touched her face directly, making her fine hairs stand on end.

‘Ah, the atmosphere is strange.’

Merrien turned her head while suppressing the urge to swallow, but this wasn’t a good choice.

As if he had been waiting, Ariel whispered in her ear.

“Merri, you said you weren’t tired, right?”

“Huh? Yeah.”

“We didn’t finish what we were going to do last time.”

“…What?”

“What we agreed to do after the magical beast subjugation ended.”

Merrien’s face flushed hot, and she quickly covered her ears while bowing her head deeply.

From her neck to her forehead, everything quickly turned red. Her ears had long since turned red, feeling like they were burning.

Actually, because of what happened in the tent that day, she had been cautiously watching Ariel’s mood.

There had been an inexplicable awkwardness throughout, but perhaps it was mixed with feelings of guilt.

Anyway, it was definitely not this strange atmosphere she was feeling now.

Merrien continued to fiddle with her ears, trying somehow to calm the peculiar atmosphere.

Without even being able to look at Ariel.

Then.

“!!!”

Ariel gently caressed her ear.

Reflexively tensing up, Merrien’s back straightened rigidly.

Feeling drawn into him, she froze her entire body without even blinking.

Her efforts to change the atmosphere had become futile.

“Hmm? Merri.”

A voice as soft as cotton candy stuck to Merrien’s ear.

“……”

By the time she came to her senses, her hands were already wrapped around Ariel’s neck.

***

The day after the welcoming ceremony where they received cheers from all the Empire’s citizens.

The Imperial banquet was held as scheduled.

The banquet proceeded magnificently, as if it had been prepared for a very long time.

Even if they had prepared early, it would have been only after receiving Ariel’s message.

“Magical beasts have finally been completely eliminated from the Empire.”

The Emperor’s expression as he stepped forward to the platform was different from the solemn expression he had shown at every banquet until now.

With a bright smile, as if all his wishes had been fulfilled, he exclaimed without hiding his joy.

“This is all thanks to our Empire’s Tower Master, Duke ‘Ariel Hartez’.”

The Emperor, who would normally have said just a word or two and stepped down, continued speaking.

Starting from how the great contract between the first Emperor and the Tower Master began when the Empire was established, to Ariel’s achievements.

In the end, he also expressed gratitude to Agnes and the knight orders who had put the final period on the magical beast subjugation.

The story was quite long and could have been boring, but most nobles listened attentively, applauding intermittently.

Perhaps because they had been suffering from fear due to magical beasts that had invaded where people lived.

“…Well then, I hope everyone enjoys the banquet!”

Clap, clap, clap-. As the Emperor finished speaking, the Imperial orchestra, which had been watching breathlessly, began to play.

Forcite, who had been watching with his hands behind his back behind the platform, left with the Emperor.

‘Huh? Where’s he going?’

Merrien, who had been watching Forcite while applauding, became puzzled.

It was understandable for the Emperor to leave, but it was impolite for Forcite to leave with him.

Even if he hadn’t distinguished himself in this subjugation.

‘Moreover, if Forcite doesn’t dance now…’

She rolled her eyes to look around. Everyone was pretending not to, but they were looking in her direction while hiding behind their fans.

‘Today is really not possible. Absolutely not.’

Merrien firmly resolved.

Already, all attention would be focused on Ariel, today’s hero.

Who knows what would happen the moment the two of them danced defenselessly.

The fact that Forcite had left his seat in this situation made it even more necessary to be cautious.

‘I can’t let my guard down until the very end.’

In fact, she had attended the banquet to keep an eye on Forcite.

‘And also…’

Merrien needlessly caressed her waist, which had long since become robust thanks to the infusion of Holy Power.

Of course, her body was fine.

However, due to mental fatigue, she felt like she could fall asleep immediately if someone gave her a pillow.

‘Of all times, Ariel came the night before the banquet.’

Her mind kept recalling what had happened last night.

Ariel had openly seduced her, but for her to have fallen for it so easily…

Afraid of being consumed by those thoughts, Merrien quickly shook her head to clear them away.

“Merri.”

Whether he knew her thoughts or not, Ariel wrapped his arm around her waist and whispered.

…Isn’t he tired? More than that, does he have no thoughts at all?

Merrien glanced at him sideways before quickly turning her head away.

It seemed like she was the only one worried about what might happen.

“I’m not going to dance.”

“…Why?”

A shocked response came back, but Merrien immediately moved away.

With very quick steps.

“Where are you going, Merri.”

She didn’t answer. She needed to get away from here first.

But the banquet dress was too cumbersome to walk quickly, almost like running, and her three steps equaled one of Ariel’s.

She was soon caught up by him.

“Merri, where are you going?”

Ariel carefully grabbed Merrien’s arm.

Judging by how he was reading her mood, he seemed to be wondering if he had done something wrong.

“Perhaps last night I…”

Merrien hurriedly covered his mouth as he muttered with a serious face.

She wanted to slap his lips, but that would immediately draw attention, so she just glanced around quietly.

They had already moved away from the center of the banquet hall and were quite far from people’s gazes.

Though she could still feel the persistent gazes of a few who had followed them.

‘But this should be enough.’

Merrien pulled on Ariel’s cravat sharply and whispered quietly.

“I’m going to the terrace.”

“……”

But Ariel was covering his mouth with both hands.

His large hands were even visibly trembling.

“…Why?”

“The terrace… can be seen from outside.”

“What are you talking about?”

“I didn’t know you liked secret meetings outdoors.”

“……”

He almost mumbled, avoiding her gaze.