Chapter 60
“ You want to take classes? What kind of classes?”
“Things like history or society? Classes where I can build more knowledge about this world.”
“Why?”
“You never know when the temple might call me to lecture again, right? I figured I should at least have as much common sense as the kids to hold a proper conversation.”
That was an excuse.
Hazel said so, didn’t he? That ignorance is poison.
Regardless of His Majesty’s past or Derachi, those words lingered in my mind.
They were true.
Unless there’s a guarantee that life will stay peaceful until the day I die—
If not, it’s probably better to have a certain level of knowledge.
“…Have you found a new interest?”
“Pardon?”
“It’s nothing. I’ll assign you a teacher right away.”
His Majesty looked genuinely pleased.
For a moment, I felt an untouchable boyish charm from him that made my vision spin.
I don’t know why, but… I saw something precious.
Anyway.
Apparently, “right away” wasn’t just a figure of speech. I was assigned a teacher in less than a day.
“…I am Ebon Hyben.”
“Teacher, you’re too far away. I can’t hear you very well.”
“…”
“Ah, I’m kidding! I can hear you perfectly.”
I almost lost my teacher that very day because of a joke.
Since it would be difficult time-wise for the Prime Minister to handle every subject, I was later introduced to two more teachers.
My self-studied divine power training was going smoothly, and I had started new classes as well.
Everything was progressing according to plan.
And the next plan was…
“Ah, Saintess! You’re up.”
Early in the morning.
When I opened the door and stepped out, Kadiyan, who had been on guard duty the night before, greeted me as if he had been waiting.
“Are you heading straight to His Majesty’s study?”
“Yes. That’s the plan.”
Kadiyan followed without asking further questions.
Since the destination had been the same for five days now, he seemed to think of it as part of my routine.
In the past, I wouldn’t have even dreamed of going to His Majesty’s study at dawn with an escort knight.
But now, I had a reasonable excuse!
“It can’t be easy to go every day and study. You’re remarkable, Saintess.”
Heh. Why hide it?
One of my two teachers was His Majesty.
It wasn’t that His Majesty brought it up first—it was something I requested.
Since he’s always busy, it would be difficult for him to set aside separate time for my lessons.
So before the start of the day, we decided to spend about an hour together at dawn.
‘Yes, the key point is the “time spent together”!’
This plan was: ‘Don’t give His Majesty any chance to feel lonely!’
I got the inspiration from my conversation with Hazel last time.
“Do you know that His Majesty has seemed more lively these days?”
“…Lively?”
I had no idea.
Hazel said it should be fine to show me this much and brought out a painting.
It was so vividly detailed, like a hyper-realistic piece, down to every strand of hair.
In the painting, ten children stood with the Niseporel Temple as the backdrop.
As the current temple children overlapped in my mind with the unfamiliar children in the painting, I felt a strange sensation.
Unlike the other children, who were smiling happily, one child stood expressionless.
Goodness, whose child is that…?
“This child is an angel, isn’t he? Did you leave this behind to commemorate his visit to earth?”
“That’s a word I’ve never heard before. Angel?”
“Ah, in your terms… a messenger of God?”
“It’s His Majesty the Emperor.”
“Ah.”
I had no idea.
I never imagined there could be a child who looked that perfect.
Ugh. His Majesty was so adorable when he was young…
If Hazel hadn’t been there, I would have already clutched my heart and cried.
“I understand why you’d see him as a messenger of God, Saintess. How often do you see a child wearing such an expression?”
No, even with an expression, that face is on a heavenly level.
I wanted to argue, but the atmosphere wasn’t right, so I held back.
“He lived like that for ten years. His Majesty did.”
Hazel spoke with a sorrowful tone and expression, as if he were determined to stir my sympathy.
Then he told me a little about His Majesty’s school days.
At the beginning of his enrollment, he couldn’t adapt to the unfamiliar environment and grew up without friends.
He’s someone who naturally likes people, but he gradually became isolated.
One day, saying he was lonely, he came to Hazel’s room holding a pillow and asked if he could sleep beside the Headmaster…!!
At that part, I clenched both fists tightly.
I should have been born as the Headmaster’s cornea…!!
Show me that too. What was it like? I want to see it!!
“At that time, I was very worried as well.”
Hazel said this while pressing a handkerchief to the corner of his eyes.
He looked like a grandfather worrying about his grandson, and my chest ached along with him.
Our His Majesty… was lonely.
It’s sad even just hearing it, and since my emotions have been all over the place lately because of love, it felt even sadder.
Without realizing it, I sniffled, and Hazel, as if he had been waiting for this moment, pulled out a new handkerchief and handed it to me.
“Still, I’m glad that now you are by his side, Saintess.”
“Because I’m here?”
“Of course. His Majesty likes you very much. Even I, Hazel, have never seen him like that. Please continue to stay by his side.”
Hazel and I clasped each other’s hands, each holding a handkerchief, and nodded repeatedly.
Right. Even if it wasn’t a confession of love, I’m someone who heard ‘I like you’ from His Majesty!
I had forgotten for a while because he’d been so gentle, but originally, His Majesty had a bad personality.
And if I’m the person who even heard him say ‘I like you’ (emphasis)—
‘Couldn’t I at least make sure he doesn’t start his day feeling lonely!’
Honestly, it was 100% personal desire and 20% part of the plan.
Why 120%?
Because my feelings toward His Majesty can’t be filled with a mere 80%…
Heh. I’ve babbled so much nonsense that words like this don’t even embarrass me anymore.
I’d love to say them to His Majesty, but unfortunately, the condition attached to the dawn lessons made it difficult.
“Don’t do that from now on.”
“Do what?”
“The strange things you’ve been saying lately.”
“Strange things? Oh, right. Did you know your face contains the beginning, development, turn, and conclusion?”
“…”
“Because… Your Majesty’s face is practically a masterpiece.”
“I’ll look for another teacher.”
“I won’t do it.”
In my life, what I need to be careful of isn’t Derachi or whoever that person is—it’s my loose mouth.
From the crossbody-shaped bag Siana made for me, I took out two potions.
I drank one and handed the other to Kadiyan.
“Alright then, Sir Kadiyan, let’s do our best today too!”
And on the eighth day of dawn lessons.
“Your Majesty.”
As usual, I was in His Majesty’s study.
It wasn’t anything grand in the name of “lessons.” I would read books I was interested in, and when I had questions, His Majesty would answer them.
For convenience, instead of using his massive desk, we had placed two small desks facing each other to one side—
“Ask.”
Sitting across from me, His Majesty spoke without lifting his eyes from the book he was reading.
“What exactly is love?”
“…What?”
Only then did he lift his head, and the disbelief was plainly visible on his face.
You’re dumbfounded, right? Me too. I have no idea what love even is.
‘What on earth is it… that makes me suffer like this!’
If it came suddenly, couldn’t it just leave suddenly too…?
Instead of disappearing, it seems to grow deeper day by day—that’s the problem.
I’ve been practicing controlling my expressions lately, but inside, it’s complete chaos… sniff.
‘Did I indulge my personal desires too much…!’
Should I reduce it from seven days a week to five?
If I lower how often I see his face, would it get better? But there’s no way I can give up two days…!
“I don’t know where love came from in the Ober Mine.”
His Majesty said, looking at the page of the book I had open.
Love…
Came from Your Majesty’s face!
What does that book know! I’m the one in love!
Ugh. Maybe it’s because of the potion I drank this morning—I’m overflowing with energy.
I can’t control these overflowing emotions—!
‘Let’s just not cause an accident, not cause an accident.’
This afternoon, I would probably have to borrow Chobi’s underground laboratory again.
This boiling blood—I’ll sublimate it through divine power training…
‘What would I have done without the laboratory?’
Within the Imperial Palace, there was no place better suited for training divine power.
It was spacious, and thanks to the protective barrier, there was no worry about destroying the building.
Besides.
“The research staff? They do come to work, but you probably won’t see them.”
“Why?”
“They’re told not to come out of their rooms—no, they don’t come out. They’re each busy with their research. Hahaha.”
Thanks to that, I could sneak around freely. That was nice.
“Ah, right. Your Majesty, may I ask something personal?”
“…Let me hear it first.”
With a suspicious expression, His Majesty tilted his head slightly.
“It’s nothing strange.”
I made a plan to support His Majesty’s happy life, but the problem was the conclusion.
I don’t know what kind of happiness he desires.
No matter how much I agonized over it alone, it was useless.
There’s nothing to do but ask the person himself.
“What should one do to live happily?”
“…If you live the life you want, you’d become happy.”
“Then what kind of life do you want, Your Majesty?”
“…”
His Majesty paused for a moment, seeming to fall into thought.
Even with such an out-of-the-blue question, he was trying to answer sincerely. So kind…
Maybe he’s actually a sweet man, and I was just blinded by his looks and didn’t realize it!
No.
Let’s not let our guard down.
If that’s true, my life would be beyond saving.
Instead of a revolving-door life where I wander around and end up with His Majesty anyway—
I’d have to live like a tightly locked fixed door, unable to even attempt to leave…!
“One of the two is already a fixed door…”
“What?”
“Ah, I didn’t say anything. So, what kind of life do you want, Your Majesty?”
“I don’t know.”
“You don’t have a life you want?”
“Personally, I’ve never wished for any particular life. Perhaps for Jendal’s future, but not for myself.”
“That’s true. After all, I—”
“You?”
“—also like Jendal! Oh dear, I can’t just sit still worrying about its future. Let’s see, the Ober Mine…”
I almost blurted out something like, ‘Since a war might break out—.’
This is why my mouth…!
Flustered, I buried my head in the book, pretending to read, when I heard His Majesty let out a small laugh.
Fortunately, he didn’t seem to notice anything strange.
I gave an awkward smile and cautiously continued my question.
“Then what would make you happy, Your Majesty?”
“Happy?”
“For example, dating?”
“Nonsense.”
With his index finger, His Majesty lightly pushed my forehead.
