Even after gaining power, she hadn’t changed. He loved Annelia’s character, and that was part of why he gave her his heart.

“Where should I go with Laysia!”

Reytan was excited too.

It had already been two years since he and Laysia became lovers. However, they hadn’t progressed beyond kissing, so Reytan’s frustration was immense. Luden nodded in agreement.

He too wanted to spend a very deep time with his beloved wife.

* * *

I took deep breaths while riding in the carriage. Anan’s health had improved much more than before, so she could have come along, but she didn’t. She said she didn’t want to thoughtlessly intrude on a meeting between Luden and me.

“Really, what should I do?”

Lella laughed. She had come along this time, saying she wanted to see the knight training grounds too.

“About what?”

“When Luden arrives, we might have to go to parties first.”

This was leave given to spend time with family, but countless invitations had arrived to match that leave schedule. They begged me to at least show my face, saying I didn’t need to stay long, just brighten up the occasion.

This is all the emperor’s fault. He did things like this in the early days of running the consultation office too.

“His Majesty cherishes you, my lady!”

Lella said excitedly.

“He recognizes your value.”

My value.

“My value is precious only to a few.”

Lella laughed.

“That’s why His Majesty likes you.”

At Lella’s words, I frowned.

“The Marquis likes you too. You like hearing that, don’t you?”

I drank water silently.

How does she even know that?

Lella smiled gently and said proudly.

“I’m very proud to work under a lady like you.”

If Lella liked this side of me, that made me feel good in its own way. I glanced at her while drinking water. Lella silently offered me a cookie with chocolate in it.

As expected, sweet cookies are essential for long trips.

After eating cookies and repeatedly sleeping and waking, we soon arrived in front of the knight corps. Carriages that had come to pick up family members were lined up there.

I read a book while waiting for the line of carriages to thin.

It was boring time, but I endured it thinking of Luden.

After some time passed, the carriage I was in entered the knight corps.

What feelings was Luden waiting for me with? I hoped his heart was pounding as much as mine was.

I got out of the carriage with that small wish.

A cool breeze blew gently. Nature seemed to welcome my visit.

Because it was spring, the sunlight was warm. Walking through this place fragrant with spring, I searched hard for Luden.

But as I walked, I felt gazes from here and there. Probably… because of what the emperor did, right?

Being alone, I felt overwhelmed by people’s stares.

Then, from afar, a man was walking straight toward me. Black hair swaying beneath, burning red eyes.

Seeing him, I recognized once again.

Luden is so handsome.

As soon as Luden approached, he pulled me into a tight embrace. I could smell the good scent from his body.

That scent unique to Luden.

“Annelia.”

He called my name quietly. He didn’t say much, but from his attitude I could tell how he thought of me, what feelings he waited with.

“I missed you so much, Luden.”

I conveyed my heart to him.

“Me too.”

Luden answered right away. Then he released me from his arms.

“A passionate reunion?”

Reytan approached from the side.

“I greet Your Highness Reytan.”

“Yes, it’s been a while.”

He looked between me and Luden alternately, then sighed.

“I’d rather have Laysia come than be greeted at the imperial palace too.”

He grumbled.

“Anyway, see you later, Luden. Have a fun vacation!”

Reytan, who envied us, said goodbye without long words.

Walking to the carriage, I held Luden’s hand tightly. But his hand was so hot.

And that look in his eyes when he embraced me earlier was the strange feeling Luden showed before kissing.

It doesn’t seem like just my imagination.

Lella moved to the carriage behind, and Luden and I rode alone together.

As soon as we entered the carriage, Luden urgently sought me out. Sitting across from me, he grabbed my face and pulled me close.

“Now I can kiss you to my heart’s content.”

Longing for me dwelled in his eyes. I raised my hand and gently stroked his eyes. Then he kissed my cheek with his lips and laid me down.

“I might be rough.”

He slowly claimed my lips.

Hot heat lingered on my lips for a very long time.

* * *

Lorina opened the door leading to the emperor’s office and entered. No matter how much she petitioned Kajian to participate in the war, he wouldn’t grant it, so she had no choice but to come directly like this.

Kajian turned his head toward Lorina who had entered.

“What is it?”

“I want to tell you once more. I will also participate in the war.”

Lorina stated her will clearly. Kajian looked at her and asked something he was curious about.

“What is your reason for wanting to participate in the war?”

“For the empire, of course.”

“Lorina.”

Kajian called her name and stood up.

“You might act there like you troubled Marquis Charlot who came for knight training. So it’s right not to send you to the battlefield. Your father has judged so.”

“It won’t happen this time.”

Lorina bit her lip.

Reytan was said to be participating in the war. If he distinguished himself greatly, Kajian would notice him and might even appoint him as crown prince.

That’s why she also had to participate in the war to not fall behind Reytan.

“Reytan is extremely skilled in swordsmanship. But as far as I know, you haven’t properly trained in swordsmanship?”

“But you sent me to knight training.”

“Knight training during peacetime and sending you to a battlefield are different matters. So I absolutely cannot permit this.”

Kajian cut off Lorina’s request with one stroke.

* * *

The leave was three weeks, but with travel time coming and going, it was awkward to go anywhere.

“It’s been a while since I’ve been in the capital.”

Luden looked at the capital from the carriage. He looked at the streets that hadn’t changed much from before he entered knight training, then turned his gaze to me.

“So much hasn’t changed that it feels like I haven’t been to knight training. I feel that way even more because my precious person hasn’t changed.”

At the words “precious person,” my face heated up. Luden stroked my cheek beside me and placed his lips on mine. His kiss filled with emotion was sweet and seemed addictive. I accepted his presence and closed my eyes.

The sensation touching my lips, and his heart, his touch that longed for and cherished me—I breathed roughly.

“Did I survive in the future?”

At his question, I nodded and added this too.

“Yes, but you came back alive and demanded a divorce. Saying you couldn’t forget another woman you met there.”

Luden frowned.

“That won’t happen in the future.”

Right, I changed the original work completely so Luden came to have feelings for me and we even kissed deeply.

And more than that, ahem!

“Just kissing isn’t enough.”

While I was thinking about kissing, Luden also talked about kissing. At his words, my face heated up more. No, he didn’t realize I was thinking other thoughts, right?

But a husband with a good body and handsome face is right in front of me. And we’re a very good married couple and meeting after a long time! So naturally thoughts flowing that way can’t be helped.

“If you say such things so blatantly…”

I grabbed his hand and stuck right next to him. Then I placed my hand on his shoulder and made the most seductive expression I could.

“Luden, it’s so good.”

Luden turned his head. Whenever he was embarrassed, his ears heated up first.

“Seduction should be done at home. We have to see Mother too.”

“And after that?”

Luden turned his head again. His expression contained a thirst for me.

“Shall we have a glass of wine while having an honest conversation?”

“Good.”

Wine with my lovely husband—really good!

I looked forward to tonight.

* * *

Anan saw Luden entering her room, pulled him into her arms, and cried. Although the poison had been treated, Anan, whose body had been so weak, hadn’t been able to go see Luden during that time, so it had already been two years since she saw Luden.

“You really worked hard.”

Anan held Luden in her arms and kept saying. Luden also held Anan’s waist and nodded.

“It’s late today, so let’s have tea tomorrow.”

Anan seemed to want to talk more with Luden, but when she saw me, she smiled brightly.

“You should talk with your wife first.”

Anan took care of the parts Luden should do as a husband like this. I also really, really liked this aspect of Anan. Of course, talking more with his mother would be good, but I have feelings of wanting him to take care of me, his wife, too.

I was satisfied with Anan’s attitude but also secretly sorry.

“Talk more.”

Anan shook her head.

“We have over a week, so we can talk tomorrow. Tomorrow let’s have tea time together, the three of us—Annelia, you, and me.”

Just thinking about having tea time tomorrow with the three of us—Anan, Luden, and me—already excited me. I nodded and left the room with Luden.

A healing spell magic circle was still installed on Anan’s door.

Even after the poison was detoxified thanks to the dragon, Anan maintained good condition with the healing magic circle.

“Shall we go?”

Luden held my hand. He and I walked down the corridor holding hands.

We went out to the garden carrying wine. Stars were falling from the night sky.

“To think Her Highness Lorina suddenly left the training grounds because of His Highness Reytan.”

I was curious about Lorina’s matter. Only after hearing the detailed story from Luden did I understand why she came out of knight training.

“If I’d had just a little more time, I would have sent her away perfectly.”

Luden muttered regretfully.

“Were you trying to catch His Majesty’s weakness?”

“You never know what will happen in the world, so it’s good to hold things you can bargain with.”

Hearing Luden’s honest inner thoughts, I was momentarily at a loss for words.

No, even though I intended to destroy the original work, I didn’t know I’d destroyed it this much.

Luden, who should have been agonizing in the military, who should have been swayed by Lorina—he was annoyed because of her.

Not that I felt particularly sorry. Lorina was wrong for touching a man who belonged to someone!

Luden is my man.

The corners of my mouth kept rising. Laughter kept coming out.

“Do you like me that much?”

These words finally came out. After speaking, I quickly closed my mouth. Then I glanced at Luden. Luden sighed and pressed close to my side where I sat slightly apart on the bench.

“You don’t do this at the consultation office, right? Seduction should only be for me.”

No, when did I seduce!

Luden kissed my forehead.

We began sharing affection starting with the tipsy feeling and that small kiss on the forehead. Rising from the bench, he urgently took me to the room, pushed me onto the bed, and locked the door.

Lella tactfully didn’t come in even though we woke up late.

* * *

Reytan was looking at Kajian with tense eyes. Kajian was his father, but before that, he treated people with the eyes of an emperor. That’s why even when he called for him, he probably called not as a father but as emperor.

“Sit.”

Kajian sat on the sofa and picked up a teacup. Reytan also bowed his head and picked up a teacup. Perhaps because he was tense, his fingers were trembling slightly.

“Is knight corps training manageable?”

“It’s fine.”