“So it was really true.”

Even the greetings that most people write as a formality, Elia had written sincerely. She had truly been doing well with all her heart.

Rockfort still found this fact fresh and fascinating.

He was curious and wanted to see her. That was simply how he felt.

Yes, Elia. He was so curious about her and wanted to see her.

To the point of resenting the clock, with this burning impatience.

Finally, the clock hands pointed to where Rockfort wanted. Without any delay, he slowly walked along the corridor toward the banquet hall.

For just two people, the spacious banquet hall was lit with candles and lamps, and court musicians had taken their places to provide musical accompaniment.

“We are honored to see Your Majesty the Emperor.”

As Rockfort entered the banquet hall, all palace servants, including the musicians, bowed their heads. He casually sat in his designated seat.

At the far end of the long, distant table, he could see Elia’s empty seat.

“……The lady?”

“She should be on her way now.”

Victor bowed his head and poured water and wine into the glasses arranged in front of the emperor.

“I’ve heard it’s customary for a woman to deliberately arrive 10 minutes late…… I don’t particularly like it.”

Great status comes with heavy responsibilities. Rockfort could understand that perfectly, but he didn’t appreciate customs that involved needless waste.

Well, was that the only thing he disliked?

Women deliberately arriving 10 minutes late despite being fully prepared, serving three times more food than the diners could eat, ensuring leftovers, and the more than ten sets of forks and knives—all these customs bothered him.

“Even knowing this, I came on time, so I can’t blame anyone.”

These were familiar customs to Rockfort, who was born and raised in the imperial palace. Also, as emperor, he had the right to arrive later than anyone else. The fact that he ignored this and came to this place first was simply because he wanted to.

“Victor, serve an aperitif to make the waiting time less boring.”

“Yes.”

Shortly after, a few cheeses and fruits, along with a crystal bottle containing an amber-colored liquid, were placed in front of Rockfort.

Rockfort emptied his glass repeatedly and then asked for more aperitif. Though it was a small bottle, he had finished the entire drink, yet only 5 minutes had passed.

“Huh……”

The musicians, sensing the mood, selected an appropriate piece and produced rich tones. However, no matter how skilled the musicians were, they lacked the ability to produce the sound Rockfort wanted to hear.

That was the voice of one person.

Only that person, Elia, could satisfy the emperor.

“Your Majesty, Lady Elia is entering the banquet hall.”

Rockfort, known for his usual composure, quickly glanced at his watch. Only 5 minutes had passed since the appointed time. By common sense, she was late, but by court etiquette, she had arrived relatively early.

“We are honored to see Lady Elia, the acting empress.”

All the palace servants in the banquet hall bowed at once to welcome Elia.

Elia was walking leisurely and elegantly, leaning her weight on the arm of her head lady-in-waiting, without a cane.

“I am honored to see Your Majesty. I apologize for being late.”

“Skip the formalities. Your legs must still be uncomfortable. I’ll excuse you from formalities until you’re fully recovered.”

“I am honored.”

Rockfort stared at Elia’s face as she was about to pay her respects to him. Saying he missed her would be too obvious, but that was exactly how he felt now.

“The lady’s seat is this way.”

Elia and her supporting lady-in-waiting gave a light bow and walked a long way along the lengthy table.

Rockfort observed her retreating figure with concern, and it was clear she was limping on her left foot.

“Then, let us begin this banquet.”

After the grand chamberlain’s announcement, soft melodies played and servants brought out food on silver plates. The numerous pairs of forks and knives were already overwhelming.

Moreover, the table where the two sat facing each other was extremely long. According to imperial protocol, the most noble emperor sat facing the direction of the rising sun, and the empress sat directly across from him in the second most honored seat.

The marble table was so long and extended that it was almost embarrassing to call it “across from each other,” making it difficult to even meet each other’s eyes.

“It is a great honor to be invited to Your Majesty’s dinner while I am still recovering in the inner palace.”

Elia’s clear voice barely reached him. Additionally, with candelabras lined up to keep the table from being dark, he couldn’t even see her face properly.

“Hah…… Victor.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Since we’re dining alone, isn’t this too much?”

“Your Majesty said you would dine in the banquet hall.”

Since his ascension, Rockfort had always dined here unless there was a special occasion. Since he was always alone, he hadn’t even realized how strange the table’s structure was.

“Move my seat next to the lady.”

“But, Your Majesty…… that would go against imperial protocol……”

“We’re engaged and having a rare dinner together, yet I can neither see her face nor hear her voice. How can that be acceptable?”

Rockfort rose from his seat. After some hesitation, Victor placed the emperor’s table setting on a silver tray and transported it on a silver wagon.

“Your Majesty……?”

Seeing movement from afar, Elia put down her fork and stood with Hannah’s support. Rockfort was approaching.

“Why aren’t you having your dinner……”

“When I can’t see your face or hear your voice, what kind of dinner is that?”

Rockfort examined the seating and decided to sit on Elia’s right. Since this marble table had its highest positions at each end with room for only one person, there weren’t many options left.

“Your Majesty, please switch places with me.”

“This is fine. It’s not an official event anyway, so I can do as I please to this extent.”

Even Elia had laughed when she first saw this dinner table. For an engaged couple to dine sitting at opposite ends of a long table…..

“Even if people gossip about breaking imperial protocol, they can only take it up with me, not you.”

That was why Rockfort had moved himself instead of simply calling Elia over.

“Now I can have a proper conversation with you while dining.”

Elia sat back in her seat and simply nodded.

As Rockfort took his seat, their eyes met.

“Don’t you have anything to say to me?”

“I’m glad you’ve returned safely.”

“And?”

Purple eyes watched Elia. Now that they were close enough to feel each other’s breath, everything felt more real.

“I have something to present to Your Majesty.”

At those words, vague expectations swelled in Rockfort’s eyes. Had she perhaps clumsily embroidered a handkerchief while waiting for her husband’s return?

But Elia took out a white notebook from her possession and placed it on a silver tray. Victor delivered the tray directly to the emperor.

“A notebook?”

Rockfort’s expression remained bewildered at the completely unexpected item.

“While Your Majesty was away from the palace, I organized what I learned in my own way…… This is a notebook containing only useful information I compiled separately.”

“Who did you learn from? And what is your standard for ‘useful’?”

Perhaps because it wasn’t the affectionate gift he had expected, Rockfort looked at Elia with his usual cold gaze.

“For medicine and scholarship, I received help from Sir Alec, and for imperial history and architecture, from books and palace servants who served Your Majesty. My servants, being quick with calculations, also informed me about the inner palace budget.”

He had thought she might have just jotted down a few notes, but Rockfort was secretly surprised by the scale, which was no different from an official state document.

“Though it’s still hypothetical…… if we follow the methods devised in this notebook, we could further reduce and save the imperial household funds.”

Rockfort stared blankly at Elia without even picking up his fork.

“Of course, only if Your Majesty permits it……”

Rockfort frowned and started to flip through the white notebook but paused.

All the pages were faded, showing how much they had been handled…… He realized how much effort Elia had put into this notebook.

Moreover, the content was impeccable, filled with improvements he wanted to implement immediately.

“How could you address so many issues with just one notebook?”

“At first, there were several notebooks. This one contains the most important things from among them.”

This was truly the royal road to learning something. Elia had enjoyed reading books since childhood, and this time, thinking of creating a necessary book herself, she felt a sense of responsibility and found it enjoyable.

“I knew there was something different about you…… You never cease to amaze me.”

After seeing the high quality of the notebook’s contents, Rockfort looked again at Elia’s blue eyes.

With her platinum blonde hair half-braided and adorned with pins matching her eye color, she looked incomparably pure and elegant.

Her subtle blue dress without excessive decoration added to her dignity, and her unique scent wafting faintly from close proximity made his heart race.

“It’s commendable that you researched how to properly manage the inner palace according to your duties and cared for the princess who suffered physical and emotional wounds.”

He wanted to take Elia’s hand resting on the table, but her gloves, which reached her elbows, were an obstacle.

For a woman, the length of gloves typically corresponded to the distance she wanted to maintain from others.

“I happened to pick up a gift for you as well.”

“Happened to?”

Rockfort took out a small package from his br*ast pocket and placed it on the table. It was a flawless diamond raw stone he had found while chasing enemies to the ravine area.

“The grade of the stone is excellent, and it’s so large that they say we could make our wedding rings and still have some left over. A pair of rings made from a single stone would be more meaningful.”

He looked pleased, but Elia didn’t seem particularly happy about getting rings made from precious gems.