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“From now on, don’t let anyone into my room.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Returning from the amusement park, Lucy immediately entered her quarters in the imperial palace and locked the door.

Outside the window, dusk began to fall.

It seemed like she had timed it just right.

“Phew…”

Lucy took a deep breath.

Then, in the quiet room where only she was present, a voice echoed.

“…You’re here?”

“Yeah.”

Lucy approached a large mirror in the corner of her room.

There stood a woman who looked exactly like her. But she was more solemn and dignified than Lucy.

“You look like a mess.”

The emperor in the mirror, Luna Meikhael, stared at the emperor outside the mirror, Lucy Meikhael.

Lucy avoided Luna’s gaze.

“I’m just a little tired…”

“Is your heart wavering?”

“…No.”

“Don’t try to hide it. ‘I’ am you. You are ‘me.’ I know your thoughts. Because they’re ‘my’ thoughts.”

“I know…”

The figure who looked exactly like her, Luna, smiled—a smile Lucy would never make.

But this was no illusion.

“Did you really think of that brat as a friend?”

“……”

“That’s pointless. Did you forget who you are just because you went to school? You are the emperor of this nation. You’re nothing like those lowly beings.”

Luna in the mirror looked at Lucy with a serious expression.

“Surely you haven’t forgotten? Our oath to annihilate the Ruelberta family, no matter what.”

“No…”

“Lucy, can’t you hear Father weeping from the afterlife?”

“No!”

Lucy shouted.

“I haven’t forgotten!”

“Then why are you so shaken?”

“…I think we must bring Wendy to our side.”

“Is it because you think of that brat as a friend?”

“No, it’s not. This isn’t about personal feelings. It’s for the sake of the nation Father left us.”

“Hmm…”

Luna in the mirror stroked her chin.

“Go on.”

“If a Demon Lord appears in this world, we’ll need the hero’s cooperation. Only a hero recognized by the gods can stop the Demon Lord.”

“No. Lucy, you’re wrong. The Demon Lord doesn’t necessarily have to be defeated by the hero. We have the Izakhel family. The descendants of Hero Alonso Izakhel, who defeated the second Demon Lord in place of the hero, are with us.”

As Luna said, the Izakhel Duke Family had Bella Izakhel. Though her beauty often overshadowed it, her martial prowess had reached a level befitting the descendant of Hero Alonso.

Moreover, as far as Lucy knew, Bella had a righteous personality. If a Demon Lord appeared, she would be one of the first to take up arms.

But Lucy shook her head.

“Luna. Haven’t you heard? The rumors that Bella is going to re-engage with Tristan.”

“…I’ve heard those rumors. But it’s not Bella’s will. Tristan is a greedy man. He’d stop at nothing to have her.”

“Right. That could be. And I want to trust her righteous judgment. But what if Bella, like Wendy, sides with Tristan?”

“Hmm…”

Luna’s expression darkened beyond the mirror.

Lucy stared at her and continued.

“Moreover, Tristan saved Bella’s life not long ago. In this situation, it wouldn’t be strange for her to side with him.”

“Huh… I can’t figure it out. What on earth did that man do to make both the hero and the descendant of the hero side with him…?”

“Well… I don’t know either. What I’m saying is that it’s better to cooperate with the Ruelberta family for now. It’s not about forgiving them. They must be punished. But not now. For now, we have to cooperate, even if it’s against our will. Especially since the hero has declared his support for Tristan, we can’t touch him.”

The hero is one chosen by the gods and enjoys the fervent support and trust of the people. Even the emperor of the empire couldn’t treat him lightly.

At Lucy’s persuasion, Luna quietly nodded. It wasn’t her usual solemn and stubborn demeanor but a genuine acceptance of Lucy’s words.

“Listening to you, it makes sense. I didn’t realize you were thinking like this. I regret not listening to you more carefully before.”

“No. I’m more timid than you, and I’m still afraid of sitting on the throne. I don’t have the confidence you do. I’m just stating my opinion. I want you to make the choice.”

“Hmm… Thank you. But… there’s a problem.”

“Huh?”

“I made a promise with the count. To play a game once a week where I bet my neck.”

“Ah. Don’t worry about that.”

Lucy offered a simple solution to Luna’s concern.

“Just lose every time.”

“What?! Don’t joke around!”

“Why not?”

“You want me to be humiliated by him?!”

“You only have to endure it once a week.”

“No!”

Luna, who valued the majesty of the emperor, jumped up.

“I’d rather win and spare his life as a special favor!”

“Speaking of which, you haven’t paid the penalty for losing the last game.”

“…Huh?!”

Lucy couldn’t help but be surprised. It was the first time she’d seen Luna so agitated.

What on earth had made her so restless?

Thinking about it, Lucy remembered something.

“Ah, is it because of the gift you gave last time?”

“Yes! That damn guy took my glove, and I can’t stop thinking about what he might do with it…!”

“Eh… Aren’t you overthinking it?”

“How can you be so calm? It’s my body, but it’s also yours!”

“Ah, yeah… That’s true.”

Lucy couldn’t understand, but Luna had a touch of obsessive-compulsive disorder.

To Luna, who pursued cleanliness to an extreme, it must have felt like a great humiliation.

“Anyway, I’ll think about losing! For now, the game is on hold! If you think you won’t have to pay the penalty so easily—”

“Alright, alright. I’ll trust you. Then I’ll go to bed now.”

“What?”

At Lucy’s words, Luna realized she had stepped out of the mirror.

Outside, it was already dark.

From the other side of the mirror, Lucy yawned and waved her hand.

“Good night then.”

“Wait…! I’m not done talking yet?!”

When Luna’s hand touched the mirror, she finally realized.

Her hand was drenched in sweat.

*

In the carriage on the way back.

I was watching the sunset through the carriage window.

Duke Fred had lost about 3 billion kaels of the 10 billion kaels he borrowed from Arthur through gambling.

Coincidentally, Bella had won a little over 3 billion kaels at roulette.

“Here, Count. I’ll return the 10 billion kaels Father borrowed.”

Bella handed over the money without hesitation, as if she had planned to use the gambling winnings to pay off the debt from the start.

Of course, the Izakhel family still had a debt of 50 billion kaels… but at least the debt hadn’t increased.

At this point, I couldn’t help but be curious.

“Bella.”

“Yes?”

“Was it really just luck earlier?”

“Hoho… Who knows?”

Bella covered her mouth and let out a mysterious smile.

Honestly, I still couldn’t believe it.

It felt like I was still in Bella’s dream…

“With that kind of luck, you might be able to pay off the rest of the debt.”

“No. I can’t end up like Father. And… I need to save my luck. For you.”

With those words, Bella returned to the mansion with Fred.

I also got into the carriage with Wendy and headed back.

But… Wendy, sitting across from me, was dozing off in a precarious manner.

“Are you tired?”

“Ah, no!”

Wendy, who had been nodding off, shook her head vigorously at my question.

She seemed quite exhausted from playing at the amusement park.

She had looked drained for a while now.

I sighed softly and gestured.

“Come here.”

“Huh…?”

“Quickly.”

“Okay…”

At my sudden call, Wendy sat next to me with a question mark over her head.

I pointed to my lap.

“Lie down.”

“Count…?”

“If you get hurt from dozing off, it’s my loss.”

“But how could I dare…”

“I won’t hear any objections.”

“Ugh…”

Reluctantly, Wendy lay down sideways toward me. She placed her head on my lap.

About 1 cm above it.

Her slender neck trembled as she tried to maintain some distance.

She’s really trying…

I gently placed my hand on her earlobe.

“Eek?!”

Wendy made a strange sound and dropped her head onto my lap.

I gently stroked her head, lest she lift it again.

“Count…?!”

Wendy twitched at my touch.

Her trembling form on my lap reminded me of a small animal, stirring a protective instinct.

“Rest your eyes until we reach the mansion.”

“Ah, but still……. Okay…”

Wendy tried to say something but stopped.

She seemed to realize she couldn’t refuse my orders anymore.

Eventually, Wendy closed her eyes tightly and entrusted her head to my hand.

How long had it been?

After a comfortable silence, Wendy spoke.

“Why… why does everyone dislike you, Count?”

Huh?

It was an unexpected question, but I answered casually.

“It’s not that strange. Considering the infamy of the Ruelberta family, it’s only natural. Especially me, as the head, I’m bound to be a target of hatred.”

“But still…”

“There have been many who’ve sought my life since long ago.”

“R-really?!”

Through my lap, I could feel Wendy’s shoulders trembling.

As my exclusive maid, she seemed worried about me.

Touched by her concern, I gently stroked her head.

But suddenly, Wendy spoke in a small voice.

“I… I’ll protect you…”

“What?”

“I’ll protect you, Count!”

“…Protect me?”

“Yes, yes!”

Wendy spoke with a determined voice.

She seemed ready to jump up, so I gently stroked her head with my palm.

“…I appreciate the sentiment, but Helga, the bodyguard knight, is here, so it’s fine.”

“I, I can protect you too! I’ve learned magic and martial arts from Myohail and Blanshe! I can do anything!”

Something was off with Wendy today.

She had never been this persistent before.

Did something happen at the amusement park?

I quietly chided her.

“Wendy… Don’t be stubborn. You’re still young. If you try to protect me…”

“I, I am!”

At that moment, Wendy grabbed my wrist and sat up.

“I’m not a child anymore!”

Her teary eyes looked up at me.

 

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