No matter how much I thought about it, this was the only way for me to investigate Ian Belot without inviting his suspicion. This was also necessary to find out those who dared to poison the emperor if he was not the real criminal.

When I was done sorting out the immediate thing to do, the butler came in, saying that a couple of royal knights were here. Come to think of it, I remembered that they would escort me for the time being, starting today. I nodded slightly and headed to the drawing room to meet them.

When I stepped in, the two knights sitting on the sofa got up and greeted me.

“It’s been a long time, Sir Monique.”

“Sir Seymour, Sir Lank, hello. Are you escorting me? ”

When I asked with a light smile, Sir Seymour shook his head lightly and said, “No. You will be escorted by six royal knights on three shifts. Even if you are a little uncomfortable, I hope you can understand. ”

“Six? Then, who is going to escort the emperor?”

“I was told that this time about 15 would be chosen to escort the emperor. So there will be no problem. ”

“I see. By the way, Sir Seymour, have you changed your partner? I remember that you used to work with Sir June.”

“He’s off duty now. He will probably come back to me next time. ”

“That’s right. Thanks to the emperor’s order, everyone has more break time, ” said Sir Lank who didn’t look like a noble at all, with his dark blue eyes sparkling. He looked very happy. When I saw him, Sir June came to my mind, who was quite a cheerful knight with reddish-brown hair and the opposite of the reticent Seymour.

“Emperor’s order?”

“That’s right. Three days ago, he seemed to be very pleased three days ago and gave us off-duty orders for the first time after he was inaugurated. Thanks to his order, we all had a good break. That’s why Sir June is now off duty. ”

“Stop it, Sir Lank.”

“Thank you very much, Sir Monique. All thanks to you.”

“Pardon? What do you mean…? ”

Thanks to me? What is he talking about?

When I asked with my eyes wide open, Sir Seymour cleared his throat and said, holding onto Sir Lank’s shoulder, “Hey, stop it, please.”

“Why not? I have something to say to her.”

“Really? Just go ahead.”

“Please take good care of His Majesty… ”

“Can’t you stop it?”

Sir Seymour, who hurriedly stopped him who was about to speak passionately, said, “It’s nothing special, Lady Monique. Never mind.”

“But…”

“Just ignore it. It really is nothing special.”

“Are you kidding me, Sir Seymour?”

“Sir Lank, can’t you shut your mouth?”

I looked puzzled about Sir Seymour who made a sinister expression, which was something unusual because he was always calm. What happened?

He told me not to mind, but I was bothered by Sir Lank’s attitude.

Did he mention three days ago? On that day, the ceremony for the new knights was held. Major figures came back a bit late, I was stopped while trying to swear the oath of blood to the emperor, so I went back to the Central Palace to persuade him on that day.

Suddenly, something came to my mind. He hugged and kissed me passionately.

No way! Did the emperor look quite pleased because of that on that day?

When Sir Lank noticed I was trying to say something, he just smiled at me.

Oh My God!

Did they already know that? I blushed more and more.

How can I face them from now on? Of course, it’s hard to think that as they always followed the emperor, the royal knights might have smelled a rat, but I really didn’t expect they saw him kissing me.

When I was at a loss about how to react, Lina came and said dinner was ready.

I sprang to my feet gladly at that, and came to the dining room downstairs, but stopped suddenly. I asked her to bring the food to my room. If I went downstairs now, I would have to eat with the two knights. How could I sit face to face with them?

When Sir Lank, who looked at me with sparkling eyes, disappeared, saying that he would go and eat first, Sir Seymour left the room after asking me to call whenever he was needed.

I let out a sigh of relief unconsciously. I thought I could breathe freely now.

What should I do now? I have to go to the Central Palace tomorrow. Oh my God! Rumors about me and the emperor must have already spread.

When I was biting my lips, my face blushing, Lina came up with plates and put them on the table. When I saw steam coming up from the dishes, one thing suddenly crossed my mind.

After hesitating for a moment, I asked her in pasing, when she was about to leave.

“Well, Lina.”

“Yes, my lady.”

“Is this hard to make?

“Pardon? What?”

“Well, I mean this food.”

“Pardon? Cooking? Why are you suddenly asking that?”

I sighed, looking at her who opened her eyes wide open.

What the heck am I talking to her about now?

Somehow, I felt so pathetic about myself, so I told her not to care about it and let her leave.

Why am I being silly like this today? I made a series of mistakes and even lost my composure.

After taking a deep breath, I picked a silver fork. I took the food to my mouth silently, but put the fork down because I found myself thinking of something.

Is it because I heard what the royal knights said a little while ago? I kept recalling what happened that night the other day.

He hugged me so tightly, he caressed my hair softly, and he kissed me passionately.

Suddenly, my breathing was fast, and my heart beat quickly.

‘Come to your senses, Aristia. Why are you so silly today?”

I tried to shake off my idle thoughts, but couldn’t because what he did was embedded in my mind already. Rather I was reminded of other things because of that.

I clenched my teeth to shake off such memories, but flinched because I recalled what happened today.

I was crying beside the emperor who fell, with his face turning pale.

Whenever I saw him with Jiun, I was angry and anxious, but I managed to put up with it.

But the fear I experienced when he fell into my arms and breathed roughly was far more than when I saw him with Jiun. So much so that I called God again, whose name I was erasing from my mind unconsciously.

Why did I do so? Why did I fear so much as to tremble like that?

Come to think of it, I had no worries about the complex political situation or other situation at that time. I was just worried and scared that I would never see him again.

When I put down the fork with a sigh, I suddenly noticed the Orgel, the music box, on the bedside table. Decorated with platinum and sapphires, it was shining in a soft silver-blue color under the light.

When I winded the spring and opened the lid of the music box, the doll in her light blue dress spun. The sapphire tiara, reflected the flickering candle and shined blue in her silver hair like his eyes.

I put my hand on my pounding heart.

The more I thought of his kiss, the more I recalled him smiling at me, I was thrilled.

I knew I shouldn’t do this, but I was a little afraid I might lose him. I was afraid he would leave me forever.

Looking down at the doll dancing with a smile, I slowly lay on my bed. I winded the doll once again, and pulled the blanket while listening to the music echoing softly.

It seemed that I wouldn’t sleep today anyway.

“Your Majesty?”

“Cough, cough, cough!”

“Your Majesty!”

When I rushed to support the emperor, I smelled something stinking of blood.

Stunned, I raised his neck. I saw blood dripping from his mouth.

My heart sank.

“Your Majesty… ? ”

When I called him with a trembling voice, his tightly closed eyelids slowly opened and his blurred eyes turned towards me.

“… Ari…”

“Wait a minute, Your Majesty! I’ll call someone immediately …! ”

“Cough! ”

Blood was flowing down again.