“A disadvantage…?”

“Yes.”

Wanting her body? What could be easier for Nergal to obtain than that?

Hadn’t she personally seen how many women lingered awkwardly in his office, eyeing him hopefully? Honestly, if he wanted men instead of women, they would strip and kneel before him too. Perhaps even more than the women. After all, they desired and envied what Nergal possessed even more.

‘Compared to helping with revenge, this is really nothing.’

Helping with revenge – that was absolutely not a simple or easy matter. Sure, it sounded easy to just go and cut someone’s throat, but first they needed to find out who deserved that fate. To do that, they needed to return to the capital and enter the Imperial Palace.

Naturally, not just anyone could enter the Imperial Palace. One either needed to be a member of a high noble family with their status as guarantee, or earn qualification through ability.

Of course, even with ability, all surrounding relationships needed to be verified, and if any problems arose, the department that recommended or admitted them would be held responsible.

Saying he would help with revenge meant he would take responsibility not only for bringing her into the Imperial Palace but also for whatever happened afterward.

Obviously, once inside the palace, she had no intention of staying quiet.

‘My appearance has changed, and everyone thinks I’m dead. Even if they think I might be alive, they’d assume I fled.’

No one would expect such a person to return and be inside the palace. This would make it easier to move around freely and gather information. And once she identified the target, she would immediately cut their throat.

Though she would try to be careful and kill without being discovered since there might be others involved, if such caution proved impossible, she was prepared to be caught after ensuring her target’s death. Naturally, the responsibility would fall on Nergal.

To receive just one body in exchange for taking such an enormous risk.

‘What an incredible loss.’

Unless he wanted something more.

Ir remained silent as she looked at him. Those blue eyes that had never left her became entangled with her gaze.

Even in this situation, as she met his calm, serene eyes, Ir suddenly realized how long it had been since they had looked at each other like this. When they were young, there were times when they would look at each other like this daily. Of course, that was only in Ir’s memory, and Nergal probably wouldn’t remember.

As proof, after the Kingdom of Levant fell, Nergal had never spoken of the past with her and treated her only as a superior in the Imperial Palace.

Ir pushed back the old memories that tried to surface. There was no need to recall something so old that even she rarely remembered it now.

Instead, she looked at Nergal before her, who was offering such an unbalanced proposal.

“What are you thinking about so deeply?”

“I was wondering why Your Highness would make such a disadvantageous proposal.”

“…You actually say that out loud while thinking about it?”

“I believe answering with proper etiquette is better than asking if you take me for a fool. Besides, I cannot lie to Your Highness until the mission is complete.”

“So you would lie if the mission were over. And if I weren’t your superior as well.”

“Isn’t that obvious?”

It wasn’t that she couldn’t lie. She simply chose not to. Besides, she knew clumsy lies wouldn’t work on Nergal. Rather than constantly racking her brain to converse with him, it was better to be completely honest and earn his trust.

“I suppose so.”

Though it didn’t seem like a particularly problematic answer, strangely, Nergal’s mood seemed to have dampened compared to earlier. Not that it made him release his hold on Ir.

“Your guess is right. There are a few more things I want to demand besides your body. But since they’ll be resolved automatically once I have you, I didn’t bother mentioning them.”

“What are they?”

“I need someone to marry.”

“…?”

What was this now?

Once again faced with an unexpected answer, she momentarily stopped thinking. Nergal slightly raised his upper body. Thanks to this, Ir let out a small breath. But only her upper body felt relieved. Nergal still held her wrists, keeping her trapped between his legs.

Nergal’s gaze slowly traced over Ir. His eyes lingered for a long while on her chest after passing her face. Something formless examined every corner of her body. This made Ir feel her body hair rising. Finally, feeling an unfamiliar embarrassment, she unconsciously turned her head away from his gaze.

‘This is strange.’

It wasn’t her body’s response that was perplexing. His gaze on her was strange.

Though persistent, it lacked any sense of lust.

If someone asked how she could know that when she’d never experienced such a gaze before, she would have no answer. But during the past few days at the auction house, she’d received enough looks to last a lifetime. From those who brought food to those who administered drugs.

Their gazes as they examined her body were full of disgusting lust that made her nauseous just from meeting their eyes. Greasy and sticky, like looking at a piece of delicious meat.

But Nergal’s gaze was different from theirs. His gaze was closer to one checking for injuries or searching for any painful spots. His expression was like someone worried about something they had lost and found again, making Ir feel puzzlement rather than discomfort.

While still not taking his eyes off Ir’s body, Nergal continued speaking.

“The palace has become quite chaotic in these six months. With the Holy Sword gone – the one that could immediately determine the next emperor when obtained – distrust, suspicion, and conspiracies are rampant among the royal family. The anxiety has strengthened alliances, and factions have formed around three people: the First Prince, Second Princess, and Sixth Prince. And those three no longer intend to leave neutral parties alone.”

The moment she heard Nergal’s explanation, Ir understood why he suddenly brought up needing someone to marry.

Not all royals aim for the throne. Like Nergal, there were quite a few who declared neutrality.

Not everyone declared neutrality because they were busy with other matters like Nergal. Most cases were those who, despite wanting the throne, lacked either the ability or support base to have any chance of obtaining it.

Until now, remaining neutral had been good for them. The main power-holding royals would try to win them over with favorable persuasion.

‘But that balance was broken when the Holy Sword appeared and disappeared.’

It wasn’t difficult to imagine the palace’s situation. The royals, realizing that all their power-building could become meaningless in an instant because of the Holy Sword, would have rushed to solidify their positions more definitively.

Then they would have asked the neutral royals: whose hand would they take?

It was obvious that the question would have been directed at Nergal too.

“Because of that, the pressure keeps coming. There are several women standing in front of my office every morning.”

Everyone wants to draw Nergal to their side. That’s why they sent women from families connected to them. And Nergal doesn’t want to be connected to any of them.

“So you need someone to set up as a false front to avoid more suggestions.”

Nergal nodded briefly at Ir’s response.

Ir could understand why Nergal wanted her as that person. Even if he brought in a woman with no apparent connection to the royal family, there was still a possibility that her family could become connected to other royals. Even if through coercion.

Then it would be more convenient to have someone with no connections at all by his side. Especially someone who wasn’t in a position to think of anything else.

In that respect, she currently met his conditions.

Someone who couldn’t ask others for help, while absolutely needing Nergal’s assistance.

“Yes. And with your current appearance, everyone will immediately understand why I rejected other women – because I’m completely smitten with you.”

At his answer, Ir liked her appearance changed by the Holy Sword for the first time. At first, she had missed her previous body. Though unsightly, her former body was strong and better at enduring pain. That was the kind of body needed for revenge.

But now she realized this body was more necessary for her. Though she shouldn’t say it herself, this body was quite beautiful. Beautiful enough to maintain a strong presence even at Nergal’s side.

“So, Ir.”

Nergal released his grip on her wrists. But her body, exhausted from trying to escape while still not fully recovered, could only remain still.

Nergal’s hand slipped between the floor and her back, lifting her n*ked body into his arms. As a result, Ir ended up cradled in his embrace.

Nergal’s other arm wrapped around her waist, holding her firmly. Perhaps because some tension had eased, when his firm body touched her slightly relaxed form again, she involuntarily shuddered.

Nergal slowly ran his hand down along the hollow of her spine. Though it shouldn’t have hurt, Ir felt her mind growing hazy.

“Your answer?”

“I’ll do it.”

It was a contract she had to accept anyway. He was the best card Ir could get right now. If she refused, she couldn’t even begin her revenge. So there was no reason to hesitate.

“Good, then we should write up the contract.”

Nergal stood up while holding her and went straight to the bed. After setting Ir down, he casually brushed her hair back into place and said nonchalantly.

“There’s no need to write it on paper.”