Chapter 25 (2/2)

“You don’t have to see me when I use excessive magic. Otherwise, would it be better to grant you the right to secretly carry a dagger?”

“Your Majesty.”

His eyes slowly shifted to look at her the third time she tried to get his attention.

Instead of being clear as ever, his eyes looked chaotic. Perhaps, he was still not free from the impulses he felt. But he didn’t seem to have any intention of coming closer to her.

She gave a faint smile.

“As you say so, Your Majesty….. I will come up with another plan. But right now, do you mind if I treat you first?”

“Yeah, but wait for a moment.”

“I will treat you, but I can’t let you be harsh with me. Hugging once or twice is not a great deal. And if I don’t consider it as the right path, I’ll be the first to reject it. That’s what you wanted, didn’t you, Your Majesty?”

He seemed to have a lot more to say, but he sighed quietly before taking off his shirt. Then, he lied down on the bed chair on one side of the carriage. The bed felt so narrow due to his large figure even though the carriage was a huge one.

She placed her hands on the many marks on his back, feeling the heat and slowly dismantling the magic he had used recently. In fact, it was much easier to dismantle the wounds in order because she could see what was exactly spreading the mana and what was written afterwards.

When her hand reached the wound, he let out a low groan, but it subsided soon enough.

However, the magic was so large that its methods were very complicated, but she could cure all the side effects after an hour of disclosure.

Of course, it was to put out the heating effect immediately, and it was not something that would heal in a day. It would have to be treated over and over again the next week to completely quell the pain from the burn marks.

She sat back, pulling her hands off his back.

“It’s done, Your Majesty.”

He sat up. He touched the shoulder, which was the most injured, with his other hand and moved his limbs little by little before nodding.

“Yes. It doesn’t hurt at all now. And that weird impulse…… has also subsided. Thank you.”

He was now looking straight at her.

His consideration was pleasing again. She chuckled quietly.

“Your Majesty.”

“Yes.”

“You’re very sweet, Your Majesty.”

He frowned, still looking at her.

“I’ve never heard anyone say that to me before.”

“That’s from worrying too much for me. You could use your subordinates more to say so.”

His eyes narrowed. Trying to say something more, he sprang up.

“You don’t have to flatter me either. Ask for what you need more confidently. If one asks for something too much, I refuse. That’s how I treat my people.”

“But, Your Majesty –”

“I’m not angry. I am grateful to you. I’m not the person you think I am. What if you ask for more? You’d better be warier of me.”

He shut the door behind him as he finished.

Even after returning to the royal palace after completing all the schedules in the Southern region, the atmosphere was still a little awkward between them. As for her, she wondered if it was something she said that he seemed to be bothered with.

That didn’t mean she couldn’t help and get his treatment done.

That day was also when she was treating his wounds in his room. She heard an urgent knock.

“The Empress is here.”

At the sudden notice, she sprang up immediately, but there was nowhere else to escape from the room. In addition, if one had to exit the Emperor’s door in the middle of the corridor, it was difficult to avoid being spotted by other people because of the vast corridors, which were so surprisingly wide on both sides.

She wasn’t even allowed to leave at that moment anyway, so she sat down on the chair in the drawing room. And almost at the same time, the Empress Dowager proudly stepped inside.

“The Emperor has always stayed in his room after he returns from an expedition and doesn’t do anything, but he’s been working actively for the past few days. Do you happen to know of the reason?”

‘Does she know something?’

Celestia looked at the Empress, but she couldn’t figure out what she was thinking. Horrified, she greeted her more respectfully than ever.

She could feel the Empress’ eyes boring on her back, which made her back sting. She could easily guess how strong her gaze was, even if she didn’t meet her eyes.

“Are you ignoring my question?”

The Empress’ voice was cold. Celestia had no intention of going against this foul-tempered Empress Dowager. But what would she have said?

‘His Majesty has been sick since he usually ventures out to war zones, but thanks to me, you can say he’s getting better now.’

She could now fully feel her gaze getting colder and colder in the slightest moment of silence.

She had no choice but to speak up.

“I’m afraid I have no answer to that question, Your Highness. There’s nothing a lowly servant like me can know about anything like that.”

“It seems you’ve made a lot of achievements in one step. Weren’t you serving drinks the last time I saw you? Then, you danced with that Emperor, and this time, you’re in his bedroom……. That’s too much of a story.”

It sounded like the Empress was saying Celestia had achieved a lot of success.

“Please do not misunderstand. I’m just…..”

Instead of continuing her words, she shut her mouth and quickly decided to finish what she was saying earlier.

“There is nothing I know about His Highness, the Emperor. If it is about his schedule, it is up to His Highness to decide. How would I know –”

“How dare you talk back to me? Who else should I ask other than the maid who was chosen by the Emperor for her unrequited love?”