Chapter 80
“Ah, well, that’s true, but…”
I didn’t expect you to come on this strongly…!
I only wanted Derachi to hear rumors that we were dating…!
“Isn’t this a bit too much…?”
“Why would it be too much?”
We whispered quietly to each other.
I tried my best to ignore the gazes of Captain Henkel and Dune, who seemed to be watching us.
“Pardon?”
“If we’re lovers, it’s natural to want to spend time together.”
“Yo-, Your Majesty. Did you forget Clause 5? ‘We won’t deny the rumors, but we’ll behave as usual.’”
The phrase “behave as usual” had been my suggestion.
Since spreading rumors was my real objective from the start, I had proposed it to ease His Majesty’s burden regarding the fake relationship.
‘I never thought I’d end up using it defensively myself.’
His Majesty spoke with a faint smile.
“And that’s exactly what we’re doing.”
“How is this ‘as usual’…?!”
His Majesty might find this situation amusing, but I felt like I was going insane.
“The Saintess…”
I know this voice.
Alarms rang loudly in my head, warning me that I absolutely must not look.
But I was being given the chance to witness a rare moment of my favorite person—one I thought I’d never see again…
Could I really resist?
‘I can’t. I definitely can’t…!’
As if bewitched, my gaze turned back toward His Majesty’s face.
His slightly drooping brows, eyes like blue glass beads shimmering in the sunlight,
and even the bittersweet smile on his sorrowful expression.
That wounded-puppy look…!
“So you don’t enjoy spending the morning with me.”
What is this? Was I destined to win the lottery today, and this situation replaced it instead?
Clutching my fading sanity, I screamed internally.
Why are you doing this, seriously…!
The Emperor’s office.
Allend sat at his desk, recalling the events of the morning.
“Ugh…”
Even at the chapel, he had actively made use of his appearance and acting skills, and in the end, the Saintess had become so startled that she began avoiding him.
‘That was quite the expression.’
Allend chuckled softly.
Seeing this, Henkel spoke.
“You seem to be in a good mood.”
“Do I?”
“Yes. It seems spending time with the Saintess has a positive influence on Your Majesty.”
At those words, Allend’s smile stiffened awkwardly.
After considering how he should respond before his trusted retainer, Allend chose to speak honestly rather than pretend.
“It is… enjoyable.”
“I see.”
Henkel felt a quiet sense of pride at the news of his lord’s romance and fell silent again, returning to the demeanor of a guard knight who did not interfere with imperial duties.
Allend picked up the letters on his desk.
Only correspondence from individuals of sufficient status or those personally approved by the Emperor were delivered to him.
“……”
After checking the sender of one letter, Allend smiled faintly.
Henkel sensed something unusual from the Emperor’s reaction.
His gaze shifted to the letter in Allend’s hand. The seal stamped in wax looked quite familiar.
The crest of the Grand Duke Derachi’s house.
“Your Majesty.”
“Let’s see what nonsense they’ve written.”
Rip.
The envelope split cleanly in two in Allend’s hands.
The letter inside tore halfway as well, but that hardly mattered.
He skimmed the damaged contents with an indifferent gaze.
“May I ask what it says?” Henkel asked.
Allend tossed him the tattered letter.
With his fingers interlaced, Allend spoke in a voice tinged with mockery.
“An invitation. The Grand Duke Derachi must have far too much free time.”
That afternoon, after the shocking morning.
I was receiving a lesson from Chancellor Ebon in an empty meeting room.
Why a meeting room?
Because among all the leisure spaces, this was the only place where we could sit this far apart.
The Chancellor and I sat at opposite sides of a large conference table, six empty seats between us.
“Chancellor, what makes a person suddenly change?”
When question time arrived at the end of the lesson, I immediately voiced my concern.
I simply couldn’t understand His Majesty.
Just yesterday, during the contract, he seemed reluctant.
But today he suddenly appeared like a completely different person, actively acting like a devoted lover…!
I did get to see many rare expressions, which was nice, but…!
It was too much to handle.
I couldn’t look at His Majesty with pure fangirl devotion anymore… sob.
Forget a month.
At this rate, my heart wouldn’t last even a week.
‘I should drink a potion tonight too…’
I’d have to rely on medicine if nothing else.
“What makes a person change, you say?”
“Yes. Generally speaking, what would cause that?”
Of course, His Majesty hadn’t changed for any ordinary reason.
But if I asked too specifically, the Chancellor might realize I was talking about him.
“People don’t change easily, but if they do…”
“And then?”
“Would it not be when they experience a great shock in life? For example, accumulated abuse from their family finally erupting, or losing something precious they wished to protect right before their eyes.”
Chancellor Ebon spoke with firm eyes.
It sounded oddly specific—almost like personal experience…
“…I don’t think it’s anything that dramatic…”
No matter how I thought about it, the only reason His Majesty changed overnight was the fake relationship.
But would that really cause such a drastic change…?
Honestly, even on my way here after leaving the chapel, I was nervous.
I worried His Majesty might suddenly appear and attack me with his looks again…!
Thankfully, he was busy.
‘Did something really happen to His Majesty besides the fake dating?’
Something shocking enough to change him, like the Chancellor said…
“It seems my answer wasn’t helpful to you, Saintess.”
“Oh, no! It helped a lot!”
I hadn’t gained much, but I couldn’t let my teacher look discouraged!
I shook my head.
Then I changed the topic to chocolate.
I had brought some during the last lesson for him to try, and he had quietly admired it until I caught him.
“Is it good, Chancellor?”
“…Yes.”
“How exactly? Is it the kind of taste you like?”
“……”
I wanted to tease him more but held back.
Anyway, while discussing it before, he suggested making it into a specialty product of Zendal, and lately we had been talking about ways to develop the idea.
“Oh, that reminds me.”
While we were deep in chocolate conversation, Chancellor Ebon brought up something else.
“You will be attending another class starting next week.”
“Huh? Me?”
“Yes. Together with His Majesty the Emperor…”
Gasp. Were morning lectures starting again?
My heart briefly raced as I remembered the unfinished materials hidden under my bed, but—
“You will be taking dance lessons.”
For a moment, I stopped breathing.
Did I hear that wrong?
Pointing at myself, I tilted my head.
“Me?”
“Yes, Saintess.”
“Dance?”
“Yes. Dance lessons.”
“Da-, dance…”
Dance lessons—?!
I clamped both hands over my mouth to stop the scream that nearly escaped.
“You hadn’t been informed, Saintess…? Perhaps… since it’s a cultural subject… I have another duty, so…”
I tried pressing Chancellor Ebon for answers, but he subtly widened the distance I had closed and quickly left.
‘Even if it’s a cultural subject, still!’
In my life, dance—dance is absolutely impossible…!
Memories of the disastrous “first dance” at a ball, filled with nothing but awkward creaking movements, flashed through my mind.
Did they think I’d never taken dance lessons since coming here?
‘Even after learning… it didn’t work…’
Left alone in the meeting room, I immediately rushed to His Majesty.
Seated at his desk in the office, His Majesty greeted me with a bright smile, as if he had been waiting.
“Saintess, we meet again.”
Ugh. What is that refreshing smile?
I hesitated briefly, but dance was unacceptable.
Planting both hands on his desk, I spoke seriously.
“I oppose the dance lessons.”
“If that is what the Saintess wishes, then so it shall be. Understood.”
“…Pardon?”
He agreed that easily?
O-our His Majesty isn’t the type to do that!
Lowering my head slightly, I glanced behind him and saw Captain Henkel and Sir Slin.
Instead of speaking aloud, I began writing letters on the desk with my finger.
I was standing opposite him, so the direction wasn’t ideal, but His Majesty’s dynamic vision should be far better than I imagined…!
[Why? Do I really not have to take dance lessons?]
I had been certain he arranged this just to tease me.
Yet he withdrew so gently.
I was glad I wouldn’t have to dance, but I couldn’t help feeling suspicious.
His Majesty read what I wrote and answered smoothly.
“Now that I think about it, I never asked for the Saintess’s opinion. If you dislike it, it cannot be helped.”
Something really serious must have happened to His Majesty…!
In the past, this would have been the perfect timing for a looks-based attack to force me into dance lessons!
At this point, I began to feel genuinely worried.
[Did Your Majesty perhaps hit your head hard yesterday—]
While I moved my fingers anxiously, His Majesty’s elegant fingers entered my view and tapped lightly on the desk.
“Saintess, you seem to have much to say. Could it be that you still regret not taking the dance lessons?”
“N-No, I don’t!”
Gasp. Was I digging my own grave just now?!
I quickly pulled my hands away from the desk and stepped back.
Then I spun my brain rapidly, trying to predict His Majesty’s next move.
But—
‘I seriously have no idea. I’ve never seen His Majesty like this before…!’
Could it be like a game skill awakening—did he awaken a gentle version of himself?
I could already imagine a future I wouldn’t be able to handle…
While I worried, His Majesty spoke.
“If you truly feel regret, shall the two of us go on an outing instead?”
My brain must be hallucinating now.
Smiling awkwardly, I said,
“Ah, I was distracted and didn’t hear. What did you say?”
“I said we should go on an outing together.”
Why is this actually real…?
At His Majesty’s voice, sweeter than pure natural honey, I stammered with a flushed face.
“W-why?”
“Well. Because we’re dating.”
Heh heh…
…Was there a section in the beginner’s handbook about identifying people mentally manipulated by divine power…?
