Chapter 45

Edelis’s eyes widened, thinking how fortunate she was to have her face hidden under the robe. When she didn’t respond right away, the vigilante captain—face flushing in a way that didn’t suit his usual demeanor—spoke up again.

“I don’t need an answer right away! Just think about it!”

But Edelis didn’t hesitate.

“I’m sorry.”

She didn’t know what kind of misunderstanding had occurred, but she was already married. She hadn’t expected to receive something that was practically a proposal.

“I said you don’t need to answer now! Just think about it!”

Trying to remain composed, the vigilante captain backed away and left the apothecary. But Edelis’s mind was filled with thoughts of Lehan instead.

‘I should head back soon.’

Most of the customers had left, and the place was quiet enough that Tom could manage alone. So she entrusted the apothecary to him with a parting word.

“Please take care of the shop.”

“Of course. I’ll do my best.”

***

Back at the palace, Lehan was growing increasingly certain that something was wrong. There was no way Edelis would forget the lunch they had planned to share. When he went to the knights’ quarters to ask where Sir Raiden—the one assigned to her today—was, Johannes delivered an unexpected blow.

“She went to the slums with Ferrin, Pasis, and Raiden.”

“The slums? Again?”

Lehan frowned. Even with guards, the slums couldn’t exactly be called safe. And yet, she still hadn’t returned. He was starting to worry.

“I actually followed them secretly once. She’s got the vigilante captain himself guarding her. She’ll be fine.”

“What?”

“Looks like the captain’s smitten with the Empress.”

That was all Lehan needed to hear. Leaving Johannes behind, he dashed out, grabbed a horse from the stables, and galloped toward the slums. Outside the apothecary Johannes had described, a man stood watching him warily. That was likely one of the vigilantes.

“Is this the new apothecary?”

When the man nodded, Lehan dismounted and entered.

“Welcome—”

The bell on the door jingled as Edelis’s familiar voice called out in greeting. It sounded pleasant to his ears.

“I’ve come to buy some medicine.”

“……”

Edelis seemed visibly flustered by his sudden appearance. Seeing her wrapped tightly in her robe pleased him. But she still hesitated, slightly lifting her hood as if to confirm it was really him. Catching a glimpse of her face through the gap, Lehan gently took her hand and lowered it.

“Don’t show your face.”

Edelis didn’t respond, clearly taken aback. He was enjoying this new view of her when an unwelcome interruption came.

“Don’t touch her.”

“…What?”

“I said, don’t touch the staff.”

The man from earlier was now between them, grabbing Lehan’s wrist and pulling Edelis toward himself.

‘So this must be the vigilante captain Johannes mentioned.’

Lehan was aware that Edelis had been doing good work here. But he hadn’t expected some pest to be hovering around in his absence. Good thing he had come.

‘What were her guards even doing?’

He knocked away the man’s hand and drew Edelis back into his arms.

“I appreciate your concern, but I’d prefer it if you didn’t lay a hand on my wife.”

“Wife?”

The man looked stunned as he took in the sight of Edelis nestled against Lehan.

“Edelis, did you forget we were supposed to have lunch together today?”

“Oh.”

“So you completely forgot.”

“I only meant to stop by for a moment, but then I couldn’t get away…”

“I told you to do what you wanted, but I’m a little hurt.”

“I’m sorry.”

Lehan opened the door for her, and Edelis let him escort her outside.

“Ah, wait a moment.”

She asked him to wait and turned back to the vigilante captain.

“Thank you for helping. I was able to open the apothecary thanks to you.”

“It was nothing.”

“I’m still a bit worried, though.”

“What are you worried about?”

Lehan couldn’t help but interject. He had planned to stay silent, but he couldn’t let something trouble her.

“Just that the area isn’t exactly safe. The captain’s been guarding the place.”

“Captain?”

Lehan’s gaze turned sharply to the man. So he was the vigilante captain. Well, it wasn’t like he’d follow them to the palace. Still, if this situation would continue to weigh on Edelis’s mind, he had to resolve it now.

He could assign imperial knights to the slums to restore order. But the knights wouldn’t understand the unspoken rules of life here. And being nobles, there was no guarantee they’d behave properly in the slums. It might be better to leave things in the hands of someone like the captain who understood the community.

“What’s your name?”

“…Ed.”

“You’re the captain of the vigilantes?”

“Yes.”

“Would you be willing to handle security for this place?”

The captain seemed to seriously consider the offer. Lehan was eager to resolve this quickly and return to the palace.

“We’re short on people. It’s hard to recruit when no one expects compensation.”

“If you were officially employed, could you find more people?”

“…That would be possible.”

“Lehan, we can’t afford to hire that many people from the apothecary.”

Lehan recalled what Edelis had told him—that she wanted to sell medicine cheaply and teach hygiene in the slums. Naturally, there wouldn’t be much profit to support staff.

“Why would they be hired by the apothecary?”

“Then by whom?”

“By the imperial household.”

“The imperial?!”

***

Ed was certain he’d misheard.

“Did he just say ‘imperial’?”

“That’s what I heard.”

“The imperial?”

“Did he really just say that?”

The other vigilantes whispered in disbelief. But as Ed looked around at their reactions, he realized he hadn’t misheard after all.

“It’s the Empress’s first national project. Naturally, we’ll support it.”

“The Empress?!”

Everyone’s eyes turned toward Edelis.

“But it’s not a national project. I’m funding it myself…”

“Then I’ll also use my own funds to hire them.”

“…”

“You don’t think I can hire a few guards with what’s allocated to the Emperor, do you?”

His calm remark left the vigilantes speechless. He had referred to his own money as what’s allocated to the Emperor. That meant he was the Emperor. And a moment ago, he had said, “Don’t touch my wife.” Which made it clear who Edelis really was.

“Th-the Empress?!”

Edelis, caught up in her conversation with Lehan, suddenly noticed all eyes were on her and instinctively tried to move out of his arms. But it was too late—everyone had already dropped to the floor in a panic.

“Thank you for everything. There’s no need for this formality.”

Those who had collapsed to the floor were visibly shaking.

“Um, Ed? I’d appreciate it if you could take care of the apothecary’s security. I think it’ll run smoother than having knights involved.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“It’s not a command.”

“No, but since it’s a request from Her Majesty, I will do my utmost.”

The way people treated her had changed. Edelis sighed and offered a farewell.

“Everyone, wash your hands often and remember to take your medicine.”

With that, she rode out of the slums with Lehan. Behind them rode her brother Ferrin and Sir Pasis, who had been introduced earlier.

“Whoa, that scared me…”

“The Empress?!”

“No way.”

As everyone whispered in disbelief, the vigilante captain said nothing—thinking back to who he had just proposed to.

***

“Will you be starting similar projects in other slums as well?” Lehan asked as they lay in bed that night.

“I’d like to.”

“May I ask why?”

“Because the poor are most likely to get sick and least likely to receive treatment. Their mortality rate is the highest.”

She’d learned this while studying with Lady Eliana and Count Reynold. Focusing on vulnerable populations would help counteract the Saintess’s influence in the short term and benefit the empire in the long run.

“If we do this right, disease transmission during outbreaks could drop significantly.”

“Hm. Then I’ll try to make it an official national project.”

“Really?”

“Yes. It will take time, but if the data shows meaningful results before and after implementation, we can roll it out more widely.”

“Thank you!”

She knew the results would be meaningful. That was the whole reason she was doing this. And with Lehan’s full support, they could achieve even more. It would be better to move quickly, but even this first step was satisfying. Smiling brightly, Edelis hugged him.

“But weren’t you supposed to be the Empress who does nothing?”

“…Would you prefer that?”

“Yes.”

“Why?!”

She hadn’t expected him to answer so seriously, and it caught her off guard.

“I want you to focus only on me.”

He pressed a kiss to her hair.

“Spend the day thinking about me. Wait for me to come home. Smile when I arrive. As if I’m the only one in your world.”

“B-but you can’t even do that.”

“If I did, the empire would fall.”

He chuckled, but Edelis couldn’t bring herself to laugh.

“Then I’d be the Empress who destroyed the country and got executed.”

“In that case, shall we run away together?”

“The Emperor and Empress, running away?”

“Yes. Like you once said—with pockets full of jewels.”

He was referring to the day he left, when she had imagined escaping with stolen jewels to a quiet countryside life. But she didn’t need that anymore. The Emperor who tried to kill her was gone. Only Lehan, who cherished her, remained.

“I’m not going to run away.”

“I see. That’s a shame.”

“B-but.”

Hearing the genuine disappointment in his voice, Edelis hurried to add, “I’ll try a little harder with what you said.”

“What I said…?”

“Yes. Thinking about you all day, waiting for you, as if there’s no one else in the world but you.”

Lehan’s arms tightened around her. Hearing her promise to give him exactly what he wanted took his breath away. Before he realized it, he was hovering above her, golden eyes fixed on her face. Slowly leaning down, he whispered, “Close your eyes.”

She had waited. He had waited. This much was allowed.