Chapter 95

Lehan once again closed his heavy eyes and fell into a deep sleep, as if losing consciousness. Edelis was relieved that he had come to his senses. It was a shame that he couldn’t remember the time they spent together after their marriage, but it was a relief that he at least remembered the time they had spent together in the past. She wished his memories wouldn’t vanish again, but she couldn’t help but feel anxious, since the book was no longer in her hands. To shake off her anxiety, Edelis decided to deal with the piled-up work while Lehan was unconscious. She sorted the documents into three categories: those the Emperor, Lehan, absolutely had to review; those she could handle on her own; and those she could handle but Lehan needed to be aware of. She called the chamberlain and sent the completed documents back to the prime minister and other officials.

‘To think he handles so many documents…’

Just how busy had he been? Lehan had told her that she didn’t have to do anything and could just stay by his side, but she decided she should also lighten the burden on his shoulders. As she was processing the documents, one by one, someone knocked on the door, and she came to her senses, realizing that a lot of time had passed and the sun was already setting.

“Come in.”

“Is His Majesty still asleep?”

“No.”

“When did you wake up? I didn’t even notice!”

“Not long ago. You were so focused I couldn’t bring myself to speak to you.”

Edelis’s face turned crimson. She would have been less embarrassed if he had just said something. But it was impossible for them to have a longer conversation. The prime minister’s reason for coming all the way to the Emperor’s bedroom was not just because he was worried about the Emperor’s well-being.

“Your Majesty, there is someone who has applied for entry into the empire.”

“Who?”

If it were a simple entry permit, the prime minister wouldn’t need to know, nor would he need to report it directly to the Emperor. Lehan, who immediately understood this, hurried him for an answer.

“…The Pope.”

“The Pope?”

“Why is the Pope coming?”

“I’m not sure.”

“The Pope doesn’t have a good relationship with the Saintess, so he wouldn’t just come here.”

“He doesn’t get along with the Saintess?”

“That’s right. With the Saintess’s appearance, he lost a certain degree of power within the Holy Empire. The Pope is a very greedy man.”

“…Could I, perhaps, meet the Pope once?”

“He’ll come to the Imperial Palace first as soon as he arrives in the empire. But is there a specific reason you want to meet the Pope?”

Edelis hesitated, glancing at the prime minister. Sensing her reaction, the prime minister immediately bowed.

“It is a relief to see Your Majesty has recovered. I will take my leave to attend to other matters.”

Lehan nodded, and the prime minister immediately left the room.

“So. The reason?”

“Do you trust me?”

Lehan could now answer her question. He trusted her. He trusted her more than anyone else. He trusted the woman who had saved his life. He trusted the woman who had stayed by his side even when his memories were gone. He realized that the greatest thing he had done before losing his memory was marrying her. As he had a long dream, he remembered the time and feelings he had shared with her. How could he have forgotten her? He had loved her so much. This feeling had lasted for such a long time.

“…I do. I can trust anything you say, Edelis.”

“Even that the Saintess tried to kill me?”

“Yes.”

At her question, Lehan’s eyes sharpened. He had believed the Saintess would never do such a thing, but the basis of that belief was his own false memory. And there was no reason for Edelis to lie. He felt a chill run down his spine at the thought that she might have been harmed by the Saintess. What had his past self been doing? If someone were to ask Lehan what the most foolish thing he had done before losing his memory was, he would immediately answer that it was not beheading the Saintess and holding the Holy Empire accountable.

“I think the Saintess tampered with Your Majesty’s memories.”

“…How?”

“Do you remember the book? The one I used to read every day in the study.”

“I remember the book you read that made you cry, the one I considered burning several times.”

Edelis, who had been completely unaware of this, flinched in surprise and then continued.

“She kidnapped and tried to kill me to get that book, and after she took it, Your Majesty’s memories changed.”

“That’s a plausible suspicion.”

Especially coming from Edelis.

“So, what are you going to do when you meet the Pope?”

“They say the enemy of my enemy is my friend. I’m going to try and win him over.”

Edelis raised one corner of her mouth in a wicked smile, but even that looked endearing to Lehan. He thought it would be simpler to just capture the Saintess, behead her, and then find the book slowly. Lehan sent an Imperial Knight order with the person delivering the decree to allow the Pope’s entry, and the Pope arrived at the Imperial Palace that night, traveling by gate with the Imperial Knights. When he arrived at the Emperor’s audience chamber, Edelis was with Lehan.

“May the grace of God shine upon the path of the Cronad Empire. I am Bellet, a child of God.”

“Welcome. You may stay as comfortably as you wish in the Imperial Palace.”

“No. It is my duty to stay at the temple. Thank you for your consideration, Your Majesty.”

The Pope, who had bowed his head in greeting, made eye contact with Edelis and offered a warm smile. Edelis thought it was difficult to judge a person’s character by their appearance, as the Pope, who looked so kind and benevolent, was a symbol of power.

“If there is anything I can do to help you in the empire, please feel free to tell me.”

“I appreciate your goodwill, Your Majesty.”

“By the way, I hear that many people are leaving the temple these days? I heard the conditions for leaving the temple are quite strict.”

“…”

“It’s either when one has committed a sin that should not be committed as a servant of God, or when one has lost their divine power, isn’t it?”

The Pope’s face visibly hardened. He no longer looked like a kind, friendly uncle. The air grew cold, but Lehan continued to speak with a deep smile.

“I doubt that many people commit sins that shouldn’t be committed.”

“…”

“And it’s not common to use so much divine power that you lose it. Are you preparing for a war?”

“That can’t be.”

The Pope answered Lehan with a calm smile once again.

“Is it… related to the Saintess?”

Edelis didn’t miss the subtle crack on the Pope’s face when she mentioned the Saintess. He didn’t have a good relationship with the Saintess, so she couldn’t miss this opportunity.

“You may not know, but the Saintess was under suspicion for kidnapping and attempting to murder me here.”

“I am very sorry to hear that, but I was told that His Majesty later declared her innocent.”

“That, that was…”

“At that time, His Majesty was experiencing a great deal of confusion, but we couldn’t find the cause. I suspect the Saintess may have been the cause of that as well.”

“I don’t understand why you are telling me this.”

“As His Majesty said earlier, I hope that if there is anything I can do to help you in the empire, you will feel free to tell me, Your Holiness.”

“…”

The Pope stared at her for a long time to determine if her words were true. Lehan was displeased by this, but Edelis didn’t avoid the Pope’s gaze and looked straight at him.

“…May I ask what kind of help you can offer me?”

“If our goals align, I will help you to the best of my ability.”

“…”

The Pope seemed to be thinking about Edelis’s abstract answer. That’s when Lehan stepped in again.

“I will help you become the brightest star in the Holy Empire.”

“You mean…”

“If you help the star of the empire continue to shine.”

The Pope’s mind was racing. And with the Emperor and Empress’s proactive answers, his lips soon parted.

***

Following Edelis’s suggestion, the Pope decided to stay within the Imperial Palace instead of the temple. As soon as the conversation with the Pope was over, Edelis wrote a letter to Frache in her study next door. She wanted to meet him tomorrow, but told him he didn’t have to come; she would go to him. She knew Lehan would object, but this was one time she couldn’t back down. By the time she had sent the letter, it was very late at night. She thought she should head back to her bedroom, and when she came out of the study, she was surprised to find Lehan standing there.

“Your Majesty?”

“…Are you going now?”

“Yes.”

Lehan then held out his arm to Edelis. It was a gesture for an escort. Edelis let out a small laugh and placed her hand on his arm. Lehan, as if it were the most natural thing, led her to his bedroom.

“Why?”

“What’s wrong?”

“Weren’t you just escorting me?”

“…Why would I?”

“…”

Then why had he offered to escort her in the first place? Edelis took her hand off his arm and bid him farewell.

“Then please rest well. I’ll be going now.”

“You seem to have misunderstood. Where are you going?”

“I should go and rest now, too.”

“So, where are you going if not here?”

“…You told me not to sneak in at night.”

“You’re not sneaking in; we’re coming in together, so it’s fine.”

Edelis wondered what kind of logic that was. Didn’t he tell her not to come before?

“You’ve already gotten your memories back, too.”

“No. I have my memories from before my coronation, but not the ones from after we got married.”

“…Really?”

“Yes.”

“But your memories didn’t come back just from sleeping and waking up together before.”

“I can’t say it had no effect.”

Edelis hesitated for a moment. What he was saying didn’t seem wrong. His thoughts could have returned as she acted as she used to. But they lost consciousness right after having a conversation… If talking about old times worked, he would have gotten his memories back when he saw the diary. She couldn’t come to a conclusion.

“Let’s do things like we used to, and talk about what happened in the past.”

“What if that doesn’t work?”

“Then we’ll have to try kissing.”

“…And hit me over the head with a shield, too?”

“Let’s leave that part out…”

Lehan suddenly recalled the pain to his head and rubbed the back of his neck where Frache had hit him before. That sight made Edelis laugh.

“Let’s go in, then.”

As soon as she gave her permission, Lehan immediately opened the door and let her into the bedroom. And as soon as the door closed, he pressed his lips against hers. Startled by the sudden kiss, Edelis blinked and met his eyes. Meeting his burning gaze, she immediately closed her eyes. Hot breaths escaped between their lips that had met multiple times. And before she could even catch her breath, Lehan’s lips covered hers again. Edelis felt like she was running out of air and wanted to escape. Before, even when he chased and clung to her when she pulled away, she could at least get a moment to breathe. But now, she was backed against the door, with nowhere to run.

“Your, Your Majesty.”

“Lehan. Call me Lehan.”

“You told me not to call you that.”

“That was because I didn’t know you were you. That’s why.”

It was hard for her to understand what he was saying, but one thing was clear. He wanted her to call him by his name, not “Your Majesty.”

“…Lehan.”

“Yes.”

As if that word were a signal, Lehan embraced Edelis once again and began to kiss her deeply.