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Gilbert, who had arrived in the capital, immediately headed to the Imperial Palace to meet Seraphina.

The path to meeting Seraphina had become incomparably more complicated than before.

Not only were the procedures to meet her more stringent, but the heightened security made it clear that she had indeed become the heir.

It was only natural that the Imperial Family would be cautious, given that she had become the Empire’s long-vacant Heir Apparent.

If anything were to happen to her, not only would the Imperial Family’s authority be undermined, but the chaos that would ensue from the Heir’s position becoming vacant again would be unimaginable.

The likelihood of intensified conflicts among other claimants trying to seize the opportunity was extremely high. Considering this, prioritizing Seraphina’s safety was a natural course of action.

After surrendering his weapon, Gilbert couldn’t help but feel annoyed by the multiple security checks he had to go through. He had anticipated this would happen if she became the heir, but experiencing it firsthand was more troublesome than he had imagined.

This process would likely be simplified once the official Heir Designation Ceremony took place, but for now, he had to endure this cumbersome procedure.

Come to think of it, the Heir Designation Ceremony was approaching.

Gilbert recalled a story he had heard recently.

Although the official ceremony hadn’t taken place yet, rumors were circulating that a grand Heir Designation Ceremony would be held soon.

Announcing the heir to a Colossal Empire that wielded influence across the continent required more meticulous preparation than ever before.

Considering the time needed to assemble envoys to send to various nations and to prepare the ceremony stage, it was clear that this couldn’t be done in a short time.

Moreover, traditionally, the envoys delivering the news of the Heir Designation Ceremony had to travel by land rather than using Warp Gates. Calculating their arrival time, it would take at least three to four months.

Factoring in the time each nation would need to prepare their envoys, it could easily take half a year.

*Knock knock*

“Your Highness, Sir Gilbert has arrived.”

“Let him in.”

As the office door opened, Gilbert saw Seraphina, as usual, busy with paperwork. With her position as the Heir Apparent secured, the amount of work she had to handle had increased.

However, having been gradually involved in the Empire’s affairs for some time, she seemed to handle her duties with ease.

“I’ve been waiting for you.”

“Your Highness, Princess.”

“There’s no need for excessive formality between us. Please, take a seat.”

After finishing her paperwork, Seraphina approached the reception table in the office.

“I heard you were looking for me.”

Gilbert asked, watching Seraphina elegantly sip from the teacup prepared by the maid. He reflexively checked the Twisted Index of the Sub Scenario.

Fortunately, the index hadn’t risen yet, but it was still at a precarious level. Once the Twisted Index surpassed 90%, it was like a ticking time bomb that could explode at any moment.

“Ah, that’s right.”

“Is there something you need?”

“How cold. Priest. Must there always be a reason for us to meet?”

“That’s not what I meant…”

Gilbert could sense a deep longing and a desire for possession in Seraphina’s words.

Whether it stemmed from affection or some other emotion, it didn’t matter much.

“I just wanted to see your face. You played a significant role in me becoming the Heir Apparent.”

“Not at all. It’s all thanks to Your Highness’s excellence.”

Gilbert chose his words carefully to avoid upsetting Seraphina. He was certain she had called him for a reason.

With the Heir Designation Ceremony approaching, she was too busy to spare time for personal matters. Especially for the Heir Designation Ceremony of the Colossal Empire, Infractus, there must have been a significant reason for summoning him.

“It makes me very happy to hear you say that. You, who have begun to be revered as the Empire’s hero.”

Seraphina’s eyes curved into crescents. Her joy was genuine, and a warm aura, like a spring breeze, emanated from her.

“Though I said that, it’s true that I have something to discuss with you, Priest. I wanted to call you sooner, but I needed time to prepare.”

“Please, go ahead.”

“As you know, the Empire’s Heir Designation has been delayed longer than ever. This is likely due to His Majesty the Emperor’s caution. But now that the Heir Designation Ceremony is approaching, there’s something that can no longer be postponed.”

Was it just his imagination, or did Seraphina’s gaze seem somewhat mischievous as she set down her teacup?

Gilbert secretly swallowed hard. For some reason, he felt like prey before a predator.

“Does this matter concern me?”

“Indeed, you are the Priest. You understand my intentions better than anyone. Yes, this matter concerns you as well.”

“What is it?”

Instead of answering, Seraphina smiled. Her mischievous gaze and the smile suited each other perfectly.

“What do you think is the most important duty of the Empire’s Heir?”

“Duty, you say?”

The duties of the Empire’s Heir were countless. As the future Emperor, the Heir had to revitalize the Empire and ensure the welfare of the people.

Among the many responsibilities, why was she asking him this?

Could it be?

A thought suddenly occurred to Gilbert. One of the most crucial duties of the Empire’s Heir came to mind.

“You seem to have caught on.”

Seraphina’s smile deepened. The Twisted Index had also increased.

Gilbert sensed a strong desire for possession in her smile. It was akin to an obsession, a manifestation of some intense emotion.

“Gilbert. Become my Consort.”

The Empire’s Heir.

The duty of the Crown Princess.

Ensuring the continuation of the Imperial Family was the most important duty and obligation.

And Seraphina had chosen Gilbert as her partner to fulfill this duty.

***

One hour before Gilbert visited Seraphina, she was reviewing a proposal that had come to her.

Since entering the Academy, her duties had been simplified, but now that the Academy was no longer functioning properly, she was handling the responsibilities she was originally supposed to manage.

Moreover, as the temporary Heir Apparent—soon to be the Crown Princess—she had even more tasks to handle. Until the Academy was restored and the proof of blue blood completed, this grueling workload would continue.

But such things were no obstacle to Seraphina. Born to be an Empress, this was just another part of her daily life.

After a while, Seraphina found herself hesitating to sign off on a particular proposal. This was not something she could take lightly.

A candidate for the Consort… Seraphina’s eyes narrowed.

She had been deliberately ignoring this matter, but it seemed she could no longer do so.

She had anticipated this. The Heir had the duty and obligation to produce the next generation, and as the future Crown Princess, Seraphina couldn’t avoid it.

She reviewed the list of Consort candidates, but none of them appealed to her. Objectively, they were all suitable for strengthening the Imperial authority, but in her eyes, they fell short.

This is all because of the Priest.

Seraphina tossed the list of Consort candidates to the side of her desk, leaned back in her chair, and closed her eyes.

The fatigue from her heavy workload was catching up to her.

Seraphina’s high standards were partly due to her inherently strict criteria, but the bigger reason was Gilbert.

Over the past six months, Gilbert’s abilities had captivated her enough.

Whenever she thought she had set a high bar, he effortlessly surpassed it, leaving her in awe.

The once-notorious Gilbert was no more. He had risen to become the undisputed hero of the Demia Empire Academy and, by extension, Infractus.

That was why.

For the first time, she felt a desire she couldn’t suppress—solely because of Gilbert.

She didn’t want anyone to take him away, the man who had begun to shine like a star in the night sky. She wanted to keep him solely for herself.

Seraphina knew this was an obsessive desire for possession born from a twisted desire for talent, but she couldn’t control it.

She would have him. She wouldn’t let anyone take him away.

Just thinking about it made her breath quicken and her heart race. Her eyes gleamed with mischief.

“Your Highness, Sir Gilbert has arrived.”

“Let him in.”

Seraphina composed her expression and moved the documents she had set aside back to the front. Though her heart was pounding with excitement, she maintained her composure.

Soon, the door opened, and Gilbert, with his golden hair and tanned skin, entered the office.

She hid her overwhelming emotions and greeted him with a harmless smile.

“I’ve been waiting for you.”

And now, the wait was over.

Seraphina concealed her true feelings and welcomed Gilbert.

 

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