Though the orchestra’s melody gently enveloped the ballroom, she couldn’t hear any of it. She was too busy moving her feet while relying on him before her.

Yet strangely, as they danced more, her once-clumsy body found its place as her legs moved naturally. At some point, her body was smoothly drawing circles.

Surprise briefly spread across Claude’s expression as he watched Flora’s movements following the steps with familiarity.

“Have you learned to dance before?”

“……I don’t know either.”

Her large eyes blinked slowly. Since she had no memories, Flora couldn’t deny it and answered honestly.

“You don’t know that either……”

His slightly widened eyes soon returned to normal.

Flora was clearly not moving according to his lead, but moving with her own will that must have learned to dance. In that moment, he acutely realized he knew nothing about her.

Meanwhile, the dance music changed to a different tune. As it reached the time to switch partners, other ladies who had been waiting nearby immediately surrounded him.

Just then, the servant who had visited earlier appeared behind Flora and quietly informed her of the time.

Flora looked at him with eyes asking what to do.

Staring at her clear eyes waiting for her master’s answer, he abruptly let go of the hand he had been holding.

* * *

Walking down the corridor guided by the servant, Flora let out an invisible sigh.

It was because of the Duke who sent her away without any explanation until the end.

‘Go ahead.’

He casually withdrew his hand and turned away with just those words. As if it had nothing to do with him.

Following the servant, Flora thought she must have made a serious mistake today.

Lost in thought, she suddenly came to her senses and looked back. Strangely, they were getting further away from the banquet hall.

“Is it still far?”

“We’re almost there. His Majesty said he wanted to have a quiet conversation and asked to escort you to the Emperor’s private reception room.”

Flora, who knew nothing about the palace routes, nodded at those words. Thinking that perhaps the Emperor’s quarters were quite far from the banquet hall.

After walking for quite a while longer, they arrived at a door with strict security.

“Please enter through here.”

“Yes.”

As she entered following the guidance, Flora steadied her breath. Until just now she had been fine, but her fingertips trembled slightly at the realization she would be facing the highest person in this country.

As she walked inside, decorated with luxurious interior decorations and elegant artworks, a man with sun-red hair sat between drawn red curtains.

Though she had glimpsed him at the banquet hall, the Emperor had a younger appearance than expected. Perhaps a year or two younger than her master.

Flora awkwardly bent her knee slightly and greeted him.

“I greet Your Majesty the Emperor. I am Flora.”

“Welcome. You’ve changed unrecognizably.”

The Emperor’s gaze, which welcomed her with a bright expression, slowly examined Flora’s appearance.

As the Emperor took a step forward, Flora hesitantly stepped back. At his uncomfortable gaze that seemed to examine her piece by piece, Flora quietly opened her mouth.

“However…… I would like to ask why you called for me.”

“Why, you ask. What reason would I need to call for my own person?”

My person?

Flora looked at the Emperor with slightly puzzled eyes. Since she entered this place, the Emperor had been unable to control his twitching lips, constantly smirking.

No one had ever grinned like that in front of her, and she truly wanted to ask why he was smiling so much.

The young Emperor, Max Yehemd Lezentra, couldn’t say he was in a good mood until just recently. His mood had been ruined by having a battle of nerves with the envoys.

Though it had improved somewhat after entering the banquet, establishing his authority as Emperor and receiving congratulations, he was still uncomfortable. But upon seeing Flora, his mood improved instantly.

He looked down at Flora with very satisfied eyes. Though no one had directly mentioned it, Flora’s appearance shone brighter than anyone else in the banquet hall, and he saw it the same way.

‘Duke Heinst prepared her for me.’

He defined it as the Duke carefully preparing Flora and deliberately bringing her before him.

“Come, sit.”

The Emperor gestured toward Flora to sit quickly.

Following that, maids entered, set down tables full of refreshments, and withdrew. Flora looked at the Emperor at the appetizing refreshments that looked delicious at first glance.

“Eat comfortably.”

The Emperor said kindly.

Though she wasn’t particularly hungry, she reached for it since she hadn’t eaten properly all day. Flora nervously watched him as she picked up a madeleine and took a bite. The sweetness spread gently across her tongue.

Meanwhile, the Emperor did not withdraw his gaze from her to an uncomfortable degree. Since he welcomed her so warmly, she found this situation even harder to understand.

“I heard you like to eat.”

“Did my master tell you?”

Flora asked as politely as possible.

“Master? You call the Duke…… that?”

“……Yes.”

For a moment, the Emperor’s kindly smiling eyes frowned slightly.

“It’s unpleasant to hear, so don’t use it in front of me.”

The Emperor waved his hand, seemingly disliking that title, and changed the subject.

“More than that, seeing you come to see me looking like such a beautiful woman, you must have wanted to see me too.”

“……Pardon?”

Flora almost dropped the madeleine she was holding. The Emperor’s lips twitched as he had been saying incomprehensible things since earlier.

“Do you remember me?”

“I’m sorry but……”

“Yes. You wouldn’t have known since I hid my identity.”

The Emperor’s eyes became dreamy as if recalling past events. Meanwhile, Flora couldn’t understand a single word the Emperor was saying.

“Two years ago, when I visited Filheim Stone Castle, you saved me.”

The Emperor who had been speaking of memories she didn’t have leaned his body closer.

“At that time, you ran into enemy lines for me. You did so for me alone, no one else.”

As the Emperor’s words continued, she searched hard through her memories but nothing came up. Just as Flora was about to correct him, thinking he must have mistaken her for someone else, she finally recalled one fragment of memory.

Ah, that day.

There was a time when the camp was briefly bustling with rumors that someone very precious in the Empire would visit the Filheim garrison.

Some said it was the Senate President, others said it was a high noble from the north. Someone also seemed to say it was the Palace Count who served the Emperor.

Because it was thoroughly hidden by the superiors, everyone only made guesses and no one knew that person’s identity.

And that day, urgent reports came that enemies had entered deep into the Filheim forest.

In that situation, the commander assigned her to guard that precious person. Even though they needed every single hand to block the enemy, he ordered to divide the forces in half to guard someone.

‘Flora will join the escort detail for that person.’

‘The soldiers from other divisions are enough for escort duty. Why must I do it?’

Flora immediately protested.

The 8th Division usually handled escort duty for visiting leaders. However, excluding Flora, a key member of the 12th Division that typically led such missions, felt oddly out of place.

Though tremendous complaints agreeing with her words burst out among the soldiers, the commander did not withdraw his order.

Like that, as soon as they left Filheim Stone Castle as escort for that precious person, they were attacked by enemies lying in ambush. Fortunately, since there weren’t many, it didn’t take long to suppress them.

Now she saw that precious person from then was the Emperor.

“That day, I was impressed by you who protected me with your life.”

When he saw Flora wielding her sword at that time, Emperor Max trembled.

No beautiful woman had ever given him such an impression until then. Her strong appearance left a deep imprint in his mind.

Though the Emperor praised her, deeply impressed by that day’s events, Flora only felt awkward. Rather than fighting for him, she had only acted according to the urgent situation.

Just then the Emperor suddenly stood up, and returned carrying a long sword displayed under an impressive mounted hunting trophy with horns.

“……There is something you can do for me.”

* * *

After the Emperor left his seat, the banquet atmosphere was growing even more lively. Several nobles came to Claude in turns to give their greetings.

Heriot nervously glanced repeatedly at the second floor indoor balcony where the Emperor’s reception room was. Of course, he couldn’t see inside past the thick drawn curtains.

“Your Grace…… Are we really leaving first like this?”

“His Majesty personally said to go ahead.”

Claude answered dully, relaying exactly what the servant had said.

“Though he said that…… Hah…… This is worrying.”

Looking more than a little concerned, Heriot continued muttering to himself beside him.