“So I thought she would be fine……”

As his worries deepened, Leticia’s bright smile came to mind, making his heart heavy.

If she had been an ignorant sister, he would have thought it was just a tantrum, but she had endured for so long before finally pleading with him, which added to his complicated feelings.

—But if those feelings remain even after becoming a couple, having a child, and raising it together…… then, I think…… there must be clear reasons why she can’t help but hate it.

“There must be reasons to hate?”

Elia was always honest. When she spoke kind words and when she spoke harsh ones. So this time too, she must have spoken her true feelings.

“Victor, is Jayden outside?”

When Rockfort raised his voice to ask, the grand chamberlain soon entered and bowed.

“Yes, Your Majesty. Shall I call him in?”

“Yes, and bring more wine.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Jayden, with a less sulky face than before, entered and bowed before Rockfort. Rockfort silently filled the glass in front of Jayden and then his own.

“Your Majesty.”

“It’s just the two of us, no need for formalities.”

Jayden nodded silently and drank the wine. Rockfort immediately refilled his glass. The two men emptied several glasses in succession without saying a word.

And when almost a bottle was gone, Rockfort finally spoke.

“I must go to the battlefield with you again.”

“Yes.”

Jayden answered without a moment’s hesitation. It didn’t matter where or why they were going. If Rockfort went somewhere, Jayden would naturally go too.

“You always follow me without asking why.”

Rockfort emptied another glass of wine.

“Don’t you think that…… this decision might not be right?”

“For me, following Your Majesty is the right thing to do.”

He had aspects that were stubborn and not delicate. Others called such a Jayden a man like a rock.

“Because for me, Your Majesty is always right.”

At those words, a faint smile spread across Rockfort’s lips.

Some said Jayden was too blunt and lacked tact, but that was foolish talk. He only said what was necessary, and the friendship between them was as solid as his loyalty.

“Will you bring back the princess?”

“Yes.”

Again, Jayden nodded. Though his expression was indifferent and hard to read, only Rockfort could tell he was inwardly relieved.

“You’ve watched Leticia for a long time too.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“That child is wise and strong. She must know the relationship between the Grand Duchy and the Empire, and my situation too. Yet she begged me. I can’t even imagine…… how harsh her situation must be for her to send such a letter.”

Jayden’s jaw tightened.

“No one will support this decision.”

“……I do.”

Rockfort nodded quietly. With such a reliable aide, he could simply ignore the nobles who wouldn’t even fight directly.

“I plan to request the princess’s divorce from the Papal Office and bring her back to the Empire immediately. Then the Grand Duchy’s cooperation will loosen.”

The remnants of last year’s war still occasionally maintained their existence. He knew they were recruiting mercenaries and trying to start another war in the ownerless land between the territories of the Empire and the Grand Duchy of Ern.

“Until now, under the close cooperation of the Empire and the Grand Duchy, we’ve been gradually annihilating them with each other’s defense forces, but…… when Leticia returns, that cooperation will end.”

“Your Majesty’s prediction is correct. The Grand Duke of Ern was reluctant to station defense forces there from the beginning.”

The region in question had quite complicated issues. In the case of the Empire, subjects lived nearby and territories were being operated, but the Grand Duchy operated that area of territory as logging grounds or hunting grounds.

But it wasn’t a highly profitable business, so the Grand Duchy saw no value in protecting it with defense forces.

“We just arbitrarily named them defense forces, but in reality, military forces from the border regions of the Grand Duchy and the Empire have been gradually cleaning up the remaining enemies. It was a good decision for me to return to the capital quickly, but……”

How efficient the system of political marriage was could be seen just from this situation.

They accepted somewhat unreasonable demands on the condition that the Empire’s princess would soon become the Grand Duchess. Underneath was also the calculation that the next Grand Duke would have a child through Leticia, sharing blood with the imperial family.

“I should have ended the war myself after all.”

Rockfort was concerned about being away from the Imperial Palace for too long, but he had to return because of Cecilia’s incident, and since the Grand Duchy with whom they had strengthened their alliance through political marriage was nearby, he was able to obtain cooperation almost forcibly.

“When day breaks, quietly prepare the elite of the knights and check the troops without anyone knowing. I will annihilate them until the remnants are completely eradicated.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Right now, Rockfort had one reason why he didn’t want to leave the Imperial Palace.

But he couldn’t ignore the situation of his sister, who had once been his only supporter and salvation.

If he ignored that, what difference would there be between him and the empress dowager, and would he truly deserve to take a wife with feelings of affection?

“I don’t need the help of that pathetic Grand Duchy.”

He had the power to return the salvation Leticia had given him in the past. His fierce establishment of his position as emperor over the past seven years was a major foundation.

“If I forget what I became strong for, I’ll end up just like everyone else.”

Rockfort murmured bitterly in a low voice.

* * *

Elia also spent a sleepless night. Today, Rockfort carried himself as if he might simply disappear from her life.

“This is clearly what I wished for.”

She should normally feel relieved and fortunate. She said she hated him to death, so how grateful would she be if he disappeared.

Yes, if he disappeared like this…… and never appeared again……

—Perhaps, would you be a little curious and worried about me?

Elia was curious too. Whether she would wonder about his well-being. And what her future would be like without him.

“Does he want me to wonder about his well-being…?”

Yes, she would be curious. While he was gone, it would be difficult to endure alone in the Imperial Palace as the empress-to-be.

If he intended to dismiss Elia, it would be even more bleak as she had nowhere to go.

But all of this was a foolish excuse.

Elia sighed, disgusted with herself.

In truth, the question that captured her heart wasn’t about her practical situation.

She was just curious and wanted to know. If Rockfort and Elia were separated, would that man, the emperor, still wonder about her and want to know about her?

She told herself she wanted nothing more and had no lingering attachments, but she was afraid of being forgotten. Just imagining disappearing like dust without leaving any trace on him was unbearable.

At that moment, something knocked on the window. It was difficult to imagine this happening in the Imperial Palace, of all places, after midnight.

“No way……”

Though thinking it couldn’t be, only one person came to mind. The only person who could do this and remain safe.

“His Majesty……? No. Why would he use the window……”

They say words become reality, and soon the window slid open, and Rockfort, wearing a disheveled shirt instead of the formal attire she had seen during the day, quickly climbed through the window and approached Elia’s bed.

“I clearly knocked, and since you can’t get up, I came in.”

His low voice resonated somewhat strangely, unlike usual. She soon understood why—a strong smell of wine wafted from Rockfort’s breath as he approached with his collar disheveled.

“Your Majesty, how…… through the window…… this is the second floor.”

She couldn’t bring herself to ask why he was acting like a thief.

“Can’t I climb a mere tree? Your head lady-in-waiting was concerned, but…… those were unnecessary worries.”

There were many palace people guarding this palace, and he had climbed the large tree right in front of the bedroom, so it must have been quite a spectacle.

“You seem drunk.”

Rockfort didn’t respond to that and plopped down on Elia’s bed. Her hand, tightly gripping the edge of the blanket in tension, turned white.

What could she do if something happened now? Everyone had already tacitly allowed him to climb through the window.

“Um…… Your Majesty, you seem very drunk, so tomorrow……”

Thud, Rockfort’s hand fell heavily onto Elia’s wrist, then found her hand and held it tightly.

His body temperature felt hot, and a slight trembling could be felt. Just like when he had kissed her on his own.

But before Elia could push him away, he extended his long fingers and intertwined them with hers.

What his hand contained was not just desire. While he desired Elia, he was also desperately holding onto her.

Through their interlocked fingers, feelings deeper than any words were conveyed. Elia didn’t want to reject the desperation she felt in his hand.

“Even if I leave for a while, and so…… we can’t meet for some time…… will you still think of me?”

In the dim darkness, his purple eyes carefully looked at her. As if he, the emperor, was asking her for a favor.