Chapter 60

Edelis immediately hid the book she was holding behind her back.

“Hello.”

“Yes, Your Majesty. It looks like you’re out for a walk.”

“I was just finishing up and heading back.”

“Oh, I see.”

As the Saintess spoke, her eyes drifted to Edelis’s hands hidden behind her back. She looked at her with an expression of curiosity. But Edelis was not giving in.

“Then, please excuse me. I have an appointment to have tea with Lehan.”

She spoke as if a plan had already been made, even though it hadn’t. She had no choice but to say that to get out of the situation. And she trusted that Lehan wouldn’t refuse to have tea with her when she arrived. Edelis started to move, carefully considering how to walk so the Saintess wouldn’t see the book.

“Just a moment, Your Majesty.”

“…Yes?”

It was an extremely awkward situation—she couldn’t bring the book to the front, nor could she keep it behind her. Edelis had to turn and walk away, but then the book behind her would be visible. Her worries were unnecessary, however, as the Saintess spoke first.

“What is that book you’re holding?”

It seemed there was a reason the Saintess was holding her back, wanting her to stay a little longer. Edelis felt a prick of anxiety, wondering if she’d been caught. But hadn’t the Saintess just acted as if she hadn’t seen the book?

“It’s a book from the library.”

“May I have a look at it for a moment?”

Unlike her usual self, the Saintess’s gesture seemed a little desperate. Because Edelis was so on edge, it wasn’t hard for her to notice this.

“I’m sorry. I don’t think that’s possible.”

“Just for a second is all I need, please wait.”

The Saintess reached out her hand toward Edelis, but Edelis evaded it.

“What on earth is my guard doing?”

“Ah…”

“Shouldn’t he have stepped in by now?”

Since Sir Pasis was a follower of the Saintess, it was likely difficult for him to step in. She understood that he was caught between the two of them, observing the situation. But given the circumstances, she rebuked him with a more authoritative tone than usual.

“Sir Pasis.”

The Saintess called out to Sir Pasis as if asking for help. Seeing this, Edelis was dumbfounded and called the Saintess by her title in a cold tone.

“Lady Saintess. This is not the temple. And he is my guard.”

“…”

“You simply requested to see my book, and I simply refused.”

“Why? I only need a moment!”

“Is there any reason I must grant your request, Lady Saintess?”

“I, I gave medicine to the Empire.”

“I wasn’t aware you did so expecting something in return.”

“…”

As Edelis’s words left the Saintess speechless, Edelis turned and headed for the Emerald Palace. Just then, some guards came out from a distance to see what the commotion was. She called them over.

“Sir Pasis, please escort the Lady Saintess back to her quarters.”

“Yes.”

“You should also be clear that this is not a temple.”

“…Understood.”

Edelis entered the Emerald Palace with the guards. She still couldn’t understand why the Saintess had suddenly become so interested in her book.

‘Was it because the cover was pretty? That seems like an overreaction.’

She didn’t think the Saintess knew that the book showed the future. If she had, there would have been no reason to talk about the book in front of her. Edelis didn’t bother to look back at the Saintess and went straight to find Lehan, unaware of what they were saying behind her.

***

When Edelis arrived at the office, Lehan was gone, having entered a meeting. She thought it was for the best. The book flashed the moment she stepped inside. Edelis thanked the guards for bringing her, then held one back and told him to inform Lehan that she was here. She had another stay as her guard, and sent the last one back to his post.

‘I should have a guard with me, no matter what. At least one.’

After making her preparations, she took a deep breath before Lehan arrived and opened the book. In the latter half of the book, a video appeared showing the Emperor and the Saintess embracing each other.

『Elaine.』

『Keirhan…』

Edelis stared at the two people, who looked so deeply in love, with a cold, detached expression and immediately closed the book. Even with the book closed, the video continued to play. She didn’t want to keep watching the two of them, lost in their own world, exchanging affection. She wanted to go outside, but the door wouldn’t open in the stopped time.

『Keirhan, I…』

When Edelis briefly looked away, the Emperor was stroking the Saintess’s cheek, and they were gazing into each other’s eyes. It was a gesture that felt just like what Lehan would do to Edelis. That loving touch was something only she knew, but even though it was just a book, the sight of Lehan touching the Saintess made her feel sick.

“I can’t stand the sight of this.”

Edelis went to a corner, hugged the closed book, and covered her eyes and ears. She knew the story in the book was just a story in the book. Still, she didn’t want to see a person with Lehan’s face and Lehan’s voice whispering sweet nothings to someone else. She opened her eyes slightly, wondering if it was over, but it wasn’t.

“It’s too much to make me watch something like this.”

She wondered how long it would show the two of them clinging to each other. She knew that the real Lehan loved her, but her current situation felt pathetic. She had to helplessly watch as the Saintess and the Emperor shared affection. Just as she was feeling dejected, as if curling up in the corner was no different from before…

“Edelis.”

Lehan called her name and carefully took her hands away from her ears.

Startled by the sudden touch, Edelis confirmed that the person in front of her was Lehan and wrapped her arms around his neck. In the process, the book fell to the floor, but Lehan was more important than the book right now.

“Lehan, Lehan. Lehan.”

“Yes, Edelis.”

“Where did you go…”

Edelis had opened the book right after confirming he was gone, but she found herself whining to him anyway.

“I had some business. What happened while I was gone?”

“…Nothing.”

“Are you saying you were like this for no reason at all?”

“I’m okay now.”

“…If you don’t want to talk about it, you don’t have to. But if you ever feel like talking about it, tell me anytime.”

“Okay, I will.”

For now, she just wanted to feel Lehan’s warmth like this. The fleeting memory of the Saintess and the Emperor embracing made her arms tighten around him without her realizing it.

“Edelis?”

“Oh, no, it’s nothing.”

She loosened her arms, acting as if nothing had happened. And she found peace of mind again in his embrace. But the stability didn’t last long.

“What about that book?”

“Huh, what?!”

“I remember you were holding that same book the last time you were in the library like this.”

Edelis hadn’t expected Lehan to remember that. It had been a long time ago. It was shortly after Lehan had first come to the mansion. It was when she had seen the scene of her family’s downfall.

“I recall the book had nothing written in it.”

Lehan’s hand, which had been patting Edelis’s back, reached down and picked up the book.

“May I have a look?”

“Um, maybe.”

“What do you mean, ‘maybe’?”

Lehan chuckled at her ambiguous permission, and Edelis smiled with him. Lehan opened the book, then closed it again right away.

“Why are you carrying a book with nothing written in it?”

“…Just think of it as a comfort object.”

She thought it was similar in that she felt at ease when it was in her sight. Of course, the contents of the book were anything but comforting, but no other excuse came to mind.

“That book is always there when you’re unstable. Is that really what a comfort object is?”

Lehan looked at her with a worried gaze, but Edelis had nothing to say. Instead, she wanted to quickly change the subject. Lehan had wanted to send the book to a research lab before. But now that he was the Emperor, he could do it much more easily. However, that was out of the question, as her priority was to gather information from the book around the palace.

“Yes. But Lehan, do you love me?”

“Yes.”

It was obvious that Edelis was changing the subject, but Lehan answered without hesitation.

“How much do you love me?”

“Should I be honest, or should I sugarcoat it a little?”

“…Sugarcoat it.”

She didn’t know what he was going to say that he needed to sugarcoat it.

“My love for you is greater than your love for me.”

“How do you know that?”

“I just know. I’m certain of it.”

Lehan said it very firmly. And Edelis couldn’t exactly deny it. Just looking into his eyes, she could see the love overflowing from them. So, even though she felt sad and angry just from seeing the Saintess and the Emperor hugging, she was able to endure it by thinking of Lehan.

“If that was the sugarcoated version, what’s the honest version?”

“I love you so much I want to devour you right now.”

“…”

“Without leaving a single thing behind, in one bite.”

“Th-That’s incredibly honest.”

“Yes. Honest enough that I’m restraining myself. Do you understand now why I said my love for you is greater?”

“Yes, I understand perfectly.”

Edelis avoided Lehan’s intense gaze. She didn’t want to be “devoured” by Lehan right now.

‘I don’t want to be pushed into this because of the Saintess!’

When Edelis’s eyes darted around in distress, Lehan hugged her tightly once, then let go. And, so that she wouldn’t feel uncomfortable, he smoothly changed the subject.

“So, Edelis, why did you come here?”

“…Because I missed you.”

She had come because she thought there would be more to the book’s story, but she omitted what she had really been looking for. Just as Edelis expected, Lehan was delighted.

“Is that so? Then, since you’re here, how about we go to the treasure vault to get something?”

“Huh? No, I was just planning to have some tea…”

“I think it would be even better to have tea wearing a necklace that suits you well, especially since the weather is so nice today.”

The weather outside was by no means nice. In fact, it was a little gloomy, and even a bit muggy, as if it were about to rain.

“The weather is nice?”

“Don’t worry about the small details. Let’s go pick one out.”

For Lehan, any day he spent with Edelis was valuable just for that reason. Edelis took it as “the weather is nice,” but Lehan didn’t bother to explain. He was too busy thinking about which of the necklaces would look good on her, who had come saying she missed him. He thought he should probably have the latest catalog from the auction house brought over.

***

Edelis sent Lehan, who wanted to be with her, back to his office and came to the library. It would have been nice to spend time with him, but Edelis wanted to solve the problem by understanding the book’s contents, and then spend some relaxing time with Lehan. She wanted to fill her heart completely with Lehan, without having to worry about the book and the story it had shown her.

‘So, where should I go now?’

The story progressed in places where the main characters were. Therefore, the temple and the imperial palace must be the main settings. Going to the Holy Empire was practically impossible. But if she went to the temple, the chances of running into the Saintess were too high. So she would have to travel around the imperial palace after all…

‘The Empress’s room, the Emperor’s office, the hallway in front of the Emperor’s office, the garden is already done. I’m definitely not going to the bedroom.’

Edelis’s hand, which had been quickly flipping through the book, stopped.

‘Maybe… in this place, it will appear?’