Translator: Aura

/ Editor: SaWarren

Come to think of it, I think I treated Heinley more coldly than I should have during the day.

Lately, not only had I increased the number of times I went to the bathroom, but I had also increased the number of times I became angry in an instant, unable to control it.

Thinking about this made me feel suddenly guilty, I considered that I had been cruel and heartless to treat a lovely eagle like Heinley so coldly.

“Countess Jubel.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Did you ever fight with Count Jubel?”

“Ugh, more than a few times. I can’t stand to see his face. I’m sure it’s mutual.”

“How did you used to fight?”

“We used to insult each other.”

“Oh…”

“Did you fight with the Emperor?”

“No, we didn’t have a fight. His Majesty didn’t get upset with me. I was the one who treated him coldly.”

Countess Jubel laughed and handed me the cup of tea she had brought.

“Pregnancy can cause a lot of emotional ups and downs.”

I hope Heinley thinks the same so he doesn’t feel hurt.

However, I’ll apologize to him at dinner time. I shouldn’t have treated him coldly, since he did it to take care of me.

“Um, Your Majesty?”

“Tell me, Miss Mastas.”

“Your Majesty usually seems cold, so I don’t think you should worry about that.”

What?

At that moment, Rose tapped Mastas on the back with the chessboard she brought,

“Ouch! What did you hit me with on the back? Why do you hit me all the time?”

When Mastas complained, Rose glared at her and waved her hands.

I was able to interpret it as, ‘there was no need to say that.’

… I always seem cold.

I smiled awkwardly and drank the tea Countess Jubel gave me.

Heinley will be here soon. It’s better not to worry too much. I just have to express myself properly while looking him in the eye.

However, it was McKenna who appeared ten minutes later with a serious expression.

I was surprised because McKenna rarely came to see me. He even asked my ladies-in-waiting to step out for a moment.

Did something really happen?

Once we were alone, McKenna quickly approached me, put his hand around his mouth and said,

“Your Majesty, Your Majesty. What I will tell you now must be kept absolutely secret. Can you promise me that?”

Although I nodded, I looked at him with a puzzled expression. Then McKenna quietly confessed,

“His Majesty Heinley made a strange request to Marquis Ketron.”

“A strange request?”

“Heinley told him he wanted his body!”

McKenna shook his head wildly and continued,

“At first I couldn’t understand what he meant. After that, His Majesty Heinley told me to leave the office because it was hard to concentrate.”

Looking at me with quizzical eyes, McKenna asked,

“Your Majesty, do you know what it means?”

Heinley wanted Marquis Ketron’s body. Besides, he had to concentrate.

Earlier, he had told me that he needed someone to test his mana control.

Ah, I think I know.

Marquis Ketron was a mage. He intended to use his body to practice what he had learned from Grand Duke Kapmen.

I nodded at McKenna’s question. Then he pounded his chest with his fist and said,

“My goodness! I’m definitely on the Empress’ side on this. You believe me, right?”

“On my side?”

“Absolutely!”

“Thank you.”

Although I didn’t understand why he seemed so anxious, I thanked him for being on my side.

Come to think of it, McKenna has helped me a lot since he was just a blue bird to me. Even if he just wanted to help Heinley, he was also helping me.

“I appreciate you telling me about it. Now I can happily wait for Heinley.”

“What?!”

However, McKenna was startled at my words and took a step back.

“Happily?”

He had an expression of disbelief.

Could it be that McKenna didn’t agree with Heinley using someone else as a test subject? Is that why he seemed uneasy?

Well, I didn’t think much of it because it was Marquis Ketron, but it was terrible that Heinley would experiment on someone else for my sake.

“I’m sorry, McKenna. But you shouldn’t be so surprised. His Majesty does this for me.”

“He does this for the Empress?”

“Oh, you didn’t know?”

“It’s not normal to know!”

“I see. In fact, I don’t know much either. Still, His Majesty is right to ask for Marquis Ketron’s body for me.”

“It was the same earlier with Grand Duke Kapmen…. Your Majesty, I don’t understand what’s going on?”

“Nothing special. I just want to learn something new, McKenna.”

McKenna startled again and stepped back.

“Are you all right?”

When I stood up bewildered, McKenna hurried to the door and asked from there.

“Your Majesty, do you also want me to be part of your ‘new knowledge’?”

“I’d like to. If you can help—”

Before I could finish my words, McKenna bowed his head hastily, and rushed out saying that he needed to go to the bathroom urgently.

As I stared blankly at the swinging of the door, Laura walked in and asked,

“What happened to McKenna? His face was pale.”

“I don’t know.”

I shook my head.

It was just like the time he mentioned about the jam. What was he thinking?

“By the way, Your Majesty. I ran into Lady Nian today when I went downtown! She was fighting with Viscount Langdel!”

“Really?”

“Yes. I didn’t believe it either because I thought they would never fight. I don’t know why they fought.”

Come to think of it, wasn’t Viscount Langdel concerned that Marquis Liberty was courting Nian?

I hope it’s not related to that.

“Your Majesty, do you have any ideas?”

“No.”

“Didn’t you have an ‘it can’t be’ face a moment ago?”

“No.”

As I moved from one side of the drawing room to the other to avoid Laura’s bright eyes, fortunately Heinley then appeared.

“My Queen? Are you playing tag?”

I had to apologize to Heinley, so I rushed him into the shared bedroom and closed the door.

Although Heinley was puzzled, he didn’t object. However, perhaps because he remembered what had happened earlier today, he kept his eyes fixed on my expression.

“I’m sorry about what happened during the day.”

Then Heinley and I apologized almost at the same time.

“You don’t have to apologize. I’m the one who has to apologize for childishly losing my temper.”

“My Queen, that I acted with your welfare in mind is no reason for you to put up with what you don’t like.”

“Heinley, this time it was definitely my fault.”

“No, I should have expressed myself better. Besides, you spoke calmly even though you were angry. You didn’t lose your temper.”

We quickly let our feelings flow to the point that our worries faded away. In the end, we smiled at each other.

It was all thanks to Heinley. Although if I were to say this, he would say that it was thanks to me…

“Well, My Queen. I think I can safely help you feel the flow of mana now.”

“Really?”

“Of course. I’m sure. I checked several times. I’ve improved a lot.”

He is not going to tell me that he has experimented with Marquis Ketron?

I don’t know if I should say it. If I do, wouldn’t McKenna get in trouble?

As I hesitated, he grabbed my hand and kissed the back of it.

“I’ll start with this.”

“Is kissing also part of the procedure?”

“It is.”

“Is it absolutely necessary?”

“It’s helpful to do it.”

“Who told you that?”

“I myself.”

He is as sly as a fox. As he chuckled, he kissed the back of my hand again and asked,

“Don’t you like it?”

To be honest, it felt good.

“I can’t stop you if it’s helpful, so it’s fine if you do it.”