CH 173

Things went quite peacefully for a week, but it felt like the calm before the storm. During the day, I worked with aides, nearly screaming myself hoarse, and spent serene times with Ridrian at night. He seemed more attached to me than before and would hug me the second I walked into the room. He wouldn’t let me go, not even in the morning.

But that didn’t mean anything happened.

I fanned my face, trying to calm down.

For some reason, he seemed to have been restraining himself from all the touching since he kissed me on my birthday. Because of that, I was the one who longed for him. I gulped in spite of myself whenever I caught myself staring at him.

Can’t I touch him, since he says he likes me—ah! I’m like a pervert!

No, since I’m thinking this, am I already a pervert? I bumped my head against a window with that thought. A familiar figure walked in through the door.

“Iona!”

“Ah! Uh…E-Eris?”

I blinked at her in surprise. I was half locked up in the Palace. Had she come to see me with the Emperor’s permission?

“How did you…?”

“That damn man! I knew it! Are you okay, Iona? It’s hard being locked up right? Look at your forehead. We have to leave now…”

I grew flustered quickly. Eris was basically about to drag me out, but before she could, Ridrian spoke from where he stood, leaning against the door.

“Where do you think you’re going?” he said. “I followed you for a reason.”

“Y-Your Majesty?”

“You call your Emperor by names. What a loyal knight.”

Eris froze at his joke. I drew his attention on purpose.

“Rian, why is Eris…?”

“She just barged in and threatened to give up on border defense unless she saw you.”

“Eris.” I rubbed my temples. Why does she like me so much?

“B, but isn’t it normal for me to feel worried after not receiving a message for a whole week!”

“Ah, sorry about that. I forgot—I was too busy.”

Work during the day, play with Ridrian at night.

“Well, I allowed it because I thought it’d be better to have a female knight for you to have a walk with. I’ll allow you to stay in the palace for a while, so guard her.”

“Order received.” Eris looked a bit pale as she showed her acceptance of order. It looked a little weird but seeing this made me a bit glad.

“Rian, Eris is…”

“I told the margrave already. She’s your personal guard now, so you can use her as much as you want.”

I blushed a little. Why did his words sound a little harsh?

“Don’t worry. I won’t lose Iona, either to the Theres group or demons. Iona has to be by your side, Your Majesty.”

“Good that you know.”

“Of course.”

I smiled. They were on the same page on some weird things.

“Your Majesty.”

Chancellor Ivan showed up just then and shot me a nod.

He barely acknowledged me when I was a doll, but now that I’ve been reinstated, everything has changed.

Did he still think I was a bit too much?

Of course—I’m a female viscount that’s close to the Emperor. That would be a bit too much.

Ivan gave Ridrian a message while I was thinking all this.

“From the group? Seems like they really want to die.” He frowned as he opened the message. Then his face contorted even more, and he crumbled the paper.

“Let’s see their faces now.”

“Your Majesty?”

“Iona, don’t come out of the room today. Deron. Okay?”

“Okay.”

Ridrian nodded and left the room. I couldn’t even react. This was the first time I’d seen him half-ordering.

“What do you think is happening?” I asked.

Eris scoffed. “The group couldn’t hold back, so they sent someone.”

“Pardon?”

“There was a seal of the group on that letter just now. The only thing that would make him frown like that these lovely days has to be related to Theres group.”

Lovely days…

I knew Eris was being serious, but I was happy to hear those words. Then I glanced at her. She was staring at the door, where Ridrian had been standing a moment ago. What was going on in her head?

“What do you think of the Emperor, Eris?” I wanted to know.

“Why, all of a sudden?” she replied, a mischievous look on her face. “Does it bother you?”

I smiled awkwardly. “A little?”

“I don’t know if you’ll feel better about this, but I really have no feelings for the Emperor. I have a soft spot for him, but it isn’t that great a spot. Honestly, if he wasn’t stronger than me, I’d steal you and take you to my estate.”

Mm, isn’t Deron Estate where demons show up a lot? There were dregs from the demonic war, and some people who hid in that mountain had become demons and attacked the estate.

“Speaking of your estate, how do you fight the demons without having any divine power, Eris?”