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Certainly, important stories came and went, but what stuck in my mind even deeper was the soft touch I had caressed with my hands, the sweet voice lingering in my ears, and the still vivid spectacle of flesh-colored beauty before my eyes.

I felt guilty about my conscience, but it was a proposal I simply couldn’t refuse. It was not an excuse, but a clear fact.

After that, there was nothing particularly problematic. Glen was definitely dead, and there were no longer any infected beings. They weren’t really rebelling either, so it was unlikely that enemies targeting her, the Emperor, would remain in the castle.

By evening, aside from the attendants who were injured or tragically lost their lives, the attendants who had managed to hide began to return one by one, so there was no real sense of discomfort.

I considered taking this opportunity to treat Cecilia to my cooking if the chef was absent, but fortunately, the chef passed through the kitchen without any knights barging in, so he managed to escape without a scratch.

It was unfortunate for me, who had been hoping to show off my culinary skills to Cecilia, but I should be thankful that people are safe first. After all, opportunities like this wouldn’t come just once.

“Hehe…”

While sitting side by side at the dinner table and wiping sauce from the corners of her mouth with a napkin, Cecilia suddenly began to laugh.

Speaking of which, dining with the Emperor. I’ve really made it big.

“What’s so funny?”

“Well, your friends must be restless right about now. I can clearly picture the expressions they must be making, and it made me laugh without realizing it.”

I could teleport alone. As a result, all my other friends were left behind beyond the mountain range.

If I could at least contact them, I would tell them there’s no need to worry, but the magical crystal that had served as the medium shattered under the burden placed on it.

Thanks to the contract with Frecia, I could relay my condition to her, which would be some comfort to those who were unaware of the situation, but it was merely a little.

They had to cross the mountain range, and with the teleport gate in the capital destroyed, it would probably take them at least a week to return. Thinking about how they would worry about me for an entire week made me feel both guilty and frustrated.

“Well, now that all the bad things are resolved, I hope you won’t worry too much. Rather, as they head to the capital, think of it as a vacation for yourself after running non-stop for the past three years, and take a good rest. It might actually help you for the upcoming arduous journey.”

Indeed, there was nothing wrong with Cecilia’s words. As communication and immediate reunification were impossible, the only thing I could do was wait.

Then again, waiting while worrying about them was foolish. There was no way they would be in danger just because I was missing, especially since I had already dealt with Glen.

Of course, the remaining Four Heavenly Kings and the Demon King were still threats, but they would surely be holed up in the Demon King’s Castle.

“Of course, the truth is I’m only saying that formally. My true feelings are that I want to spend just a little more time with you.”

However, just as I was leaning towards Cecilia’s words, she said something completely unexpected.

“You are my first true friend. So, I want to indulge just a little today.”

I was momentarily flustered by her unexpected confession. I could empathize with her feelings.

Though our reasons were different, I had lived without knowing what a friend was, just like her. Growing up in the Assassin Guild since childhood, I had no concept of friendship. Rather, I had to step on each other to survive among peers in the guild.

Yet, when the guild collapsed and I made my first friend, how thrilling it had been! I still couldn’t forget that feeling. Of course, even before being kidnapped by the Assassin Guild, Yuli and I had been close siblings, but I had forgotten that due to memory manipulation.

I felt a bit guilty towards the other friends who were still worrying about me, but I couldn’t refuse when Cecilia, shedding her status as the Emperor, spoke so openly.

I was sure the other friends would understand once they heard the circumstances.

“I’m glad you said that. Then let’s accept the Emperor’s proposal and take a rest without worrying too much.”

“Yeah. Good thinking, Elysia.”

*

“…Your Majesty, even so, this is a bit….”

That determination of mine crumbled within just a few hours.

With no particular schedule, as I casually strolled and chatted, before I knew it, it was midnight, and naturally, Cecilia moved towards her room. I also followed her out of the self-appointed role of protecting her today.

Even if it was a guard, I wouldn’t go into her room; I would stay outside as befits a guard. No matter how much I had to protect her, a private life should be respected.

However, she commanded me to enter her room. Well, up to this point, it wasn’t that special.

Helping her change into her nightgown wasn’t much of an issue for me, who had already undressed and dressed her before.

But when she turned off the lights and got into bed, inviting me to come in under the covers, that was a whole ‘nother issue.

“After all, you also need to sleep, don’t you?”

“No, Your Majesty. Just sitting beside you and lightly dozing off is enough for me. I’m fine, so you should sleep well.”

I appreciated her concern, but for someone who had grown up as an assassin, staying awake for a day or two wasn’t that difficult. I might be sleepy, but it was manageable.

Therefore, I politely declined her suggestion. Of course, there wouldn’t be any more attacks, but if I could reassure her, I was willing to make this effort.

“Ah, don’t be so stubborn. It’s just that I’m concerned for you. Just lie down on the bed quietly. That’s an order from the Emperor.”

What kind of Emperor gives orders for such things? But for me, I truly felt okay, and lying in the same bed as her was much harder than staying up all night.

Of course, it wasn’t that I had never shared a bed with another girl. All my friends had such terrible sleeping habits that when I woke up in the morning, there would always be one of them nestled under my blanket.

That had been a norm since my dormitory days back in the Academy, living in a four-person room.

But in those cases, it was always my friends who had decided to slip into my bed, and I had never taken the initiative to crawl into someone else’s bed.

Beneath the covers, her silhouette glowed beautifully in the moonlight streaming in from the window. The nightgown she wore was so thin that it almost revealed what lay beneath.

The events of the Bathhouse, which I had tried so hard to forget, resurfaced again, and her naked body danced before my eyes. The lingering sensation returned. Her voice echoed in my ears.

In this shameless state, how could I crawl into Cecilia’s bed? Even if she said it was fine, I was definitely not okay.

“Um…. Cecilia? Really, I’m fine, so you don’t need to worry. Honestly, this is more comfortable for the sake of guarding you.”

Thus, I called out her name, which she had permitted me to use. If she ordered me as the Emperor, I could refuse her as a friend.

“Oh? So you’re calling me by that name. Then this time, I’ll ask you as a friend. Please, sleep with me under the same blanket.”

However, what I hadn’t considered was that this choice would backfire on me.

“I’ve already mentioned this several times, but I’ve never had a friend my whole life. You’re my first true friend. Naturally, I’ve never experienced what is a normal routine for others. While I wouldn’t complain about it because I’m the Emperor, I can’t help but feel curious.”

With her being so honest, it was only natural for my heart to soften.

“And, sleeping in the same bed as friends isn’t such a strange thing, is it?”

Indeed, as she said, it wasn’t strange for friends to sleep in the same bed. Of course, between guys, it would easily cross into the realm of uncomfortable, if not unpleasant, but among girls, the proximity of friendship is quite normal. If it weren’t, my friends wouldn’t have wandered into my bed more or less, even if it was in their sleep.

“…Alright then.”

Ultimately, suppressing the shameful thoughts that were creeping in, I carefully crawled into the blanket she had thrown over herself. At that moment, Cecilia smiled faintly. While I had always seen her in her playful Emperor persona, I felt even more guilty seeing her so pure and happy.

“Is it really that boring to just lie down and stare at the ceiling together?”

However, unbeknownst to me, Cecilia pushed on, wanting more as I mustered the courage to climb into bed. Turning to face her, I immediately regretted it.

Of course, she had done nothing wrong. In fact, she was looking at me with a genuinely happy expression, while I was the one filled with improper thoughts.

To be honest, it was hard to be otherwise; if I let my gaze fall even slightly, I would catch sight of her bare skin just beyond her slipping shoulder straps. A faint hint of pink that had peeked out during her bath.

Without needing a mirror, I was sure my face had turned bright red. Consequently, I quickly turned away from her, trying to hide my embarrassment.

“Uh, let’s get some sleep!”

“Hmm?”

I raised my voice without realizing it. Fortunately, it seemed she didn’t find anything odd in my actions, merely snorting softly without complaints.

“Well, I guess this will be acceptable.”

But she only pulled me closer as I turned my back, snuggling up against me.

“Y-Your Majesty…?”

“Isn’t there a day coming when you will look back first? It’s a pity, but for now, let’s settle for this amount.”

I had to sleep in the same bed like this not just today but also tomorrow…? I worried about tomorrow, but what was more pressing was the current situation.

With her pressing her body against my back, I could naturally feel her softness against me. Given her ample curves, it was hard to ignore the sensation.

Every time she inhaled, her breath tickled my neck, and the gentle rise and fall of her chest pressured my back.

However, the Emperor, who already knew I was a man, seemed to pay it no mind, soon breathing evenly as she promptly fell asleep.

In the end, while she was sleeping peacefully, I had no choice but to greet the morning with my eyes wide open.