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The arrow flew quickly and pierced the outer edge of the target.
Soon, silence fell upon the training ground.
Thump, thump...
Except for the sound of my rapidly beating heart and Idris's breath brushing past my ear.
At the same time, the warmth on my back and the scent that had grown so close became even more vivid.
It was as if every cell in my body was drawn to Idris.
I swallowed hard.
'…Am I supposed to answer?'
Organizing my mind, which had gone as blank as a sheet of paper, I was frozen in place.
Then, I heard Idris chuckle.
"Not that I'm rushing you."
"……."
"I'm expressing myself. I'm waiting."
The moment I heard those words, something Idris had once said came to mind.
"The person who truly loves you will wait. Forever."
Only then did I realize that what Idris had said back then was his own story.
Or perhaps...
'Maybe I had already subconsciously guessed Idris's feelings since then...'
But I was afraid to trust and rely on someone again, so I just didn't try to find out anymore.
'Then, what about now?'
With a confused heart, I turned to face Idris.
Whether Idris had sent Lord Lenoff out when he came in, she was nowhere to be seen.
After looking around, it was time to face him, inescapably.
Idris's golden eyes, as always, were filled with a hint of playfulness and a gentle light as he looked at me.
Even if I didn't answer and changed the subject, he would wait for me.
Just like he had always done.
'…It's actually a simple thing.'
Accepting Peidun's confession had been without hesitation.
Was it because it was a predetermined happy ending regardless of my will or feelings?
But why was it so hard to answer Idris's confession?
"I'm..."
Just as I parted my lips, which had been constantly twitching,
"Leticia!"
Rudian burst into the training ground as the door opened.
"Crown Prince?"
Rudian's appearance itself wasn't surprising.
Yesterday, Rudian's notice (?) that he would come to visit his uncle's sickbed tomorrow had arrived.
However, what surprised us was...
"I heard you were still lying in bed, but it seems you were feigning illness after all."
'Your Majesty the Emperor?!'
Following Rudian, His Majesty the Emperor appeared.
I had already sent a letter asking if it would be okay to visit the Imperial Palace soon to talk about the Deon incident...
'I never expected him to come in person!'
When meeting the Emperor, it was customary for a subject to ask for a convenient time and visit him.
The Emperor leaving the Imperial Palace was a big deal for the Knights as well.
So, him coming to visit someone's house was a very rare occurrence.
"……Brother, your timing is truly impeccable."
Just as I was about to listen to Idris's mutterings, Rudian ran up, spreading his arms wide.
Come to think of it, I hadn't met Rudian today because I was preoccupied since the hunting festival.
Remembering Rudian's tearful, guilty face when we last parted, I greeted the child with a smile and hugged him.
"Welcome, Your Highness. I completely forgot about the appointment time. I'm sorry."
"It's okay! I came thirty minutes early."
"I heard you were coming to visit my sickbed, but you don't seem very interested in me. Your Highness?"
"Hehe."
Rudian smiled awkwardly at Idris's playful grumbling, but didn't leave my arms.
Behind Rudian, His Majesty the Emperor approached.
"It's because you're too healthy. If you were lying down, I would have rushed to your side first."
"That sounds like you were hoping I was still lying down?"
When Idris playfully complained, His Majesty the Emperor added with a smile.
"It means I was relieved."
Then, he continued to ask.
"I'm very sorry to interrupt your time, but would it be alright to have a cup of tea?"
There was no way to refuse an imperial command.
I let out a chuckle and nodded.
"Gladly."
We moved to the drawing room.
His Majesty the Emperor stared at Rudian, who wouldn't leave my side, with an absurd look, then opened his mouth.
"Rudian, if you cling to Miss Chloe like that, your uncle will be jealous."
His Majesty the Emperor gave a joking scolding, and Idris also playfully glared, as if responding to it.
But the quick-witted Rudian, knowing that the two were joking, just grinned and didn't leave my lap.
"I was worried every day! I was worried Leticia was hurt too..."
At that moment, a maid came in, carrying tea and dessert.
"Pudding!"
Rudian's eyes twinkled as he saw the pudding that was served as dessert.
Looking at the rabbit-shaped pudding, it seemed that the chef had specially prepared it after hearing the news that Rudian was coming.
As I watched Rudian eat the pudding, I noticed His Majesty the Emperor looking at the child with equally loving eyes, and I started talking.
"Thank you for your help the other day, Your Majesty."
Then, instead of asking 'For what?', a questioning look came back.
"The divorce approval. Thanks to you sending it right away, I was able to finish it well."
Being able to throw the divorce approval at Peidun was thanks to His Majesty the Emperor listening to my request.
"Since it was something my foolish brother did, I had to do it as his older brother."
His Majesty glared at Idris, but Idris just smiled.
"Was the reason the young lady wanted to meet me to thank me for that?"
"Ah, of course, it's also to thank you, but I have something more important to say."
"What story is it?"
"It's about the hunting festival and His Highness Grand Duke Zahir."
I deliberately brought up the topic, watching the eyes of His Majesty and Rudian.
If it was a story that Rudian shouldn't hear, I would have him leave.
But His Majesty didn't change the subject and waited for me to continue.
I was reminded by his attitude that the two were raising Rudian to be the Emperor and continued to speak.
"As you may have already guessed, the real mastermind behind this is Grand Duke Zahir."
"…Yes, as I expected."
"And since the plan failed, he will continue to look for opportunities in the future. Before His Highness the Crown Prince grows up more."
His Majesty the Emperor's brow furrowed.
Idris took my words and continued to speak.
"However, since the previous incidents were all aimed at Rudian and failed after making things big, he will change his target this time."
"That target will be me."
His Majesty countered, as if he had already read our thoughts.
If only His Majesty was dealt with, the throne could be taken away on the grounds that Rudian was still young.
Of course, it would be difficult if Rudian grew up, so he would try to deal with him after that.
I carefully told the speculation that Idris and I had made.
"And he will try to work as quietly as possible. For example... Poisoning disguised as an illness."
In my previous life, His Majesty the Emperor fell ill with cold symptoms and died.
However, traces of poisoning appeared immediately after his death, and Idris was pointed out as the culprit.
Of course, it was a fact that I knew from my previous life's memories, but it was a deduction that could be made even by grasping the current situation.
"And he will try to make it look like Idris is suspected as the mastermind. Even if something happens to His Majesty, as long as Idris is safe, the Grand Duke will not be able to seize the throne by pushing aside His Highness the Crown Prince."
"……."
"Until now, His Majesty has shown mercy and responded by defending when the Grand Duke made things happen, but I would like to ask for your opinion on whether it would be better to move first this time before he makes things happen."
His Majesty the Emperor seemed to be lost in thought for a moment at my opinion, but soon made a decision.
"……It's time to punish that child's arrogance."
It was time to lay a trap this time.
After the future plans were somewhat finalized.
His Majesty the Emperor and Rudian, who leisurely enjoyed tea time, boarded the carriage returning to the Imperial Palace.
Rudian seemed very disappointed to be returning early, but readily gave up when His Majesty joked, 'Can't you see your uncle glaring at me for blaming his father?'
"Letitia. I'll come play again!"
"I'll go to the Crown Prince's Palace soon. With the rabbit pudding that Your Highness likes."
Rudian nodded and waved his hand.
I smiled and waved back at Rudian.
Just as the Imperial Palace carriage carrying the two left the gate, Idris's arm wrapped around my shoulder and his head leaned over my head.
"My wound seems to be throbbing after moving for a while..."
……For someone who's in that much pain, your timing is impeccable?
Looking at him with squinted eyes, I suddenly remembered a past memory that came to mind during the conversation with His Majesty a while ago, and asked what I had been wanting to ask all along.
"Idris."
"Yeah."
"Is there a magic that goes back to the past among the magic?"
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