Don’t Concern Yourself With That Book

With just a glance, Rebecca had gazed upon Hernan with disapproval. Of course, there was no way she would have forgotten the way he acted while he had been egoless.

‘It’s best I don’t leave the two alone.’

I had called Hernan over because I had business to discuss with him. It wasn’t something that needed to be some big secret.

“Hernan.”

“Yes!”

“… Take a step back.”

“Yes!”

“Stop making your eyes twinkle like that.”

He first tilted his head as though he did not understand before quickly nodding.

‘No. I was trying to tell him to stop making that expression.’

I asked for his understanding for doing this in the middle of a hallway before discussing business.

“The current public opinion of you is not the best.”

“Yes.”

“I will summon you to our next meeting.”

With a serious expression, I revealed my plan.

“Will it be alright?”

He answered clearly and politely without a hint of tension in his voice.

“Of course it wouldn’t be.”

I furrowed my brows.

“But you have to make it right no matter what. You have to show that you’re harmless and convince them that you are needed. Do you understand what I mean?”

“Yes. I have to show the other templars and ministers my determination.”

“… We’re discussing your future right now, why aren’t you anxious at all?”

Hernan had been Castor’s close ally and had just been heeding the emperor’s commands.

‘Still, all he did was capture the rebels.’

He had not been acting according to his will but we could not change what happened.

I had also received a petition for Hernan’s immediate execution. There was an especially significant amount of resentment from the templars who followed the 2nd Prince.

“Ah. Should I be more anxious?”

Hernan smiled meekly before dropping his innocent expression.

“I am just so happy right now.”

His expressions brightened to the point he almost looked like a large beast happily wagging its tail.

“Your Majesty. The world looks different now.”

“Hm?”

“Who knew all it took was for you to believe in me.”

“Stop.”

Hernan could only stare as I physically blocked his mouth. He looked surprised.

“I never gave you permission to say any more.”

His eyes that were the colour of a lake moistened slightly by my firm words. His eyes drifted for a long time before returning to me. His blue eyes seemed to be at a loss for where to look before he lowered his gaze.

The moment he tried to carefully grab my wrist.

“It seems there has been a delay.”

Whistle.

Vines whipped around his wrist. With the one reaching out to me being bound much faster. When I turned around, I found Amor smirking.

I removed my hand from Hernan before laughing awkwardly. Before walking past Amor.

“Rebecca, where are we heading to next?”

“Huh? Yes. The Head Templar of Rivers has requested for your audience.”

***

That very night, a round moon rose to the sky.

“The moon in this world has always been full.”

Amor, who had just been leaning against the wall, commented.

“It’s strange to refer to this place as a world. Well. It does always have a full moon.”

If I continued to stare at the pale moon blankly, it felt as though my eyes would turn pale as well.

“But it’s not always full. Have you ever come across a night when it wasn’t?”

“Hm, I’m not sure?”

“The moon here is influenced by the divinity of the emperor. To be more precise, it is the barriers surrounding the Empire that causes the moon here to look like it’s full. So, the day the moon is no longer full is the day the emperor’s divinity wanes.”

Come to think of it, when I had visited the Kingdom of Ripe, the moon had been crescent-shaped.

“What about now?”

“It no longer matters now. Because the barrier has broken”

“Ah. So the moon we are watching now is a real full moon? This is my first time seeing a full moon that had not been filtered through the barriers.”

I didn’t like much in this world but I did like the moon. Because the full moon always accompanied me on my way to Amor. My path to him had always been lit by a bright night. Even if the moon was just a trick played by divinity, I was still grateful.

“However, if you could allow me to address you comfortably.”

“Haha. It’s weird to hear you address me so formally. If you really feel uncomfortable, you can just address me with my title. To make things fair.”

I stared at the familiar sight of Amor approaching me.

“If that is what you want, shall I? Rosé.”

Hold on, this was not what I was going for.

“Wait, wait. It’s a little weird now.”

“What is?”

“Because you’re speaking so formally, it’s a little…”

“A little?”

My back was buried into a fluffy pillow. No, rather than saying it was buried, I had merely shifted backwards as he approached.

His weight laid atop me. His shadow swallowed me whole and as per usual, the owner of the shadow stole my lips.

“Hmph, mff.”

“As the one who serves you, I’ll have to make sure you enjoy all that you deserve.”

My lips were soaked with smacks. His hand swept up my skin. The way he delicately held me dotted the skin at the back of my neck with goosebumps as if he was holding my neck but he was not.

“Your Majesty, I wish to be with you wherever you are.”

“Hm, I told you not to use honorifics with me…”

“I guess you don’t know me that well yet. The more you tell me not to, the more I want to.”

Perhaps because he was touching places I was sensitive in, my toes curled even though all we were doing was kissing.

Soon, his hand slipped through my waist before sweeping down my back. The hand that was holding me felt firm.

“Shush. Relax.”

I wondered how long had passed for me to gasp for breath once we parted.

“Amor?”

There was only a short distance between our lips.

“More.”

He stared at me as I was left there gasping before begging. He never forced anything on me and he merely gripped my waist with his hands but his gaze looked different from usual.

Like a beast, Amor rubbed his forehead against mine before urging me.

Instead of replying, I grabbed his hand.

“Did something happen?”

“… Did anything? You must know better than me.”

With eyes that were not looking at me and a voice that was creeping closer to the abyss.

Seeing how uncomfortable he was, I wondered if I had done anything wrong. I thought back to what had happened throughout the day.

Immediately, I grabbed his clothes and sat up.

“Uhm, uh. Don’t tell me… was it Hernan?”

“…..”

Impossible.

“Were you jealous?”

I could only blink as I questioned him. There was no answer. Instead his sharp lips captured mine.

As if he didn’t want me to say it out loud.

“Woah, seriously…”

I couldn’t stop smiling. I accepted his lips without protest. I did not want him to step out of my amusement but he eventually pulled them off me.

“What are you so happy about?”

“Ah, I mean, I never thought you would get jealous.”

“I don’t think this is the first time.”

“Really?”

Looking up at him as though this was my first time ever hearing about this, he sighed with a complicated mix of emotions on his face.

“How can you be so quick-witted in other matters? But when it comes to love, you become so slow.”

Was I?

“Well.”

I didn’t particularly think I was dull but if he thought so, then I guess I was.

“Shouldn’t one only be affected by the affection of one other?”

“Rosé.”

“For me, that’s you.”

I found his hand before placing it on my cheek. His hands had always been cold to the touch but perhaps the warmth from his body had spread, making his hands feel hot as well. Like the way he was staring at me now.

“You’re the only one in this world who can call me Rosé.”

Turning my head, I kissed his hand.

“You want me to be satisfied with this?”

“Mhm. Why not? Can I not peck you?”

“Why don’t you just admit you don’t think of me as a man?”

His approaching lips were stopped by my index finger. No, this much progress was scary after all. Frowning as though he was dissatisfied, he leaned his head against my shoulders as if he had given up.

“Are you having fun teasing me like this?”

Recollecting my memories of him through his deep voice, I held his cheek with a chuckle.

“Of course I am. I have the most fun when I am with you.”

He raised his head to stare at me like a tamed beast.

“… Do you really think so? Really?”

“Of course I do.”

I nodded firmer than I usually do to assure him.

Amor, who had been staring at me, soon tilted his head before smiling.

“Well then.”

Slip.

The string that had been holding his top together loosened before the fabric fluttered down.

“Why don’t we have some more fun?”

“W-Wait, wait wait. Amor!”

His hands move faster than that of the God of Lightning’s and his gaze was fierce and burning as if flames had replaced his pupils.

“Your Majesty, there is an urgent message.”

If it had not been for Rebecca who had arrived just in the nick of time…

Rebecca appeared and stared at Amor.

“I am not wrong to say that it’s well into the night.”

“Hm? Well, it is.”

“I was sure Her Majesty had entered her chambers alone.”

“… You’re right about that too.”

“But there are now two people on your bed.”

“…..”

My lady-in-waiting launched homing missiles with no hesitation.

“Has anything I should be notified of occurred yet?”

“N-no!”

“Not yet.”

“Right, not yet… Amor!”

Rebecca had been authorised to enter my chambers without knocking. I winced before lowering my head.

‘I’m not regretting this but…’

Glancing at Rebecca, I noticed that she was gazing upon Amor disapprovingly.

“It wasn’t something I had not expected. But wouldn’t it trouble you if this were to occur before your marriage?”

“Who cares? I belong to her anyway.”

He smirked.

“We are going to live together.”

Amor had his usual expression on his face as if to say he found nothing unusual about the current situation.

I tried to ease the tension.

“So what’s the urgent message?”

Rebecca accepted my offer to move on to another topic.

“Someone has come looking for you.

Rebecca emphasised on the fact that it was urgent without revealing who the guest was. Did she not want Amor to know? It seemed to be the case based on her disapproving glare. As mean as she was being.

‘Rebecca, you look like a mother reluctant to marry her daughter off.’

It was like a mother had walked in on her daughter’s immature incident. Seeing her now, it seemed like she still treated me like a child regardless of whether I awakened or not.

‘Anyway, this was not the time for that.’

Even before returning to my chambers, I had heard that someone came looking for me a while ago.

“Usually, you would kick them out given the time of day. So, what’s the matter?”

“… That is true.”

Rebecca sighed.

Based on her sigh alone, I could tell that it was because this person had forced Rebecca to ignore all her principles.

Eventually, I wore a gown before heading out. Of course, Rebecca would have preferred if Amor remained behind but you could not keep a blowing wind still.

“I greet Your Majesty, the noble root of the Empire.”

To my surprise, it was the Head Templar of Wisdom who came looking for me.

‘Why is he here at this hour?’

The Head Templar lowered his head as if he had noticed my displeasure.

“Our great traditions have been kept in our code of law. Women cannot be emperors.”

The Head Templar who had uttered those words knelt obediently before me without a hint of arrogance in his expression.

“Don’t you think it is a little too late to visit?”

“… I deserve death. This humble servant pleads for your mercy that is as bountiful as the seas and rivers to hear me out.”

I raised my eyebrows.

“I have something to tell you.”

“What is it?”

“It’s about the barrier.”