Looking at me trying to choose my words carefully, he said, tapping the table, Just stay with me and help me with handling small and large things. Dont feel insulted because I tell you to do things reserved for the attendants. I just want to have someone with me I can trust.

Oh, how can I feel insulted? Im okay, Your Majesty. By the way, dont you need a doctor?

I dont want to make a fuss. If my condition gets worse, let me call the doctor.

I believe you have made a promise.

I felt it would be better to call the doctor now. Although he didnt treat me as kindly as he did before I came back from the past, I was distressed to see his health deteriorating day by day.

I felt heartbroken all the more because I knew he was caring for me especially even now, and that he didnt have much time left for survival.

Your Majesty.

Why?

Please be strong and stay healthy. Your Majesty is the parent of all the people in the empire.

Thank you.

Looking at me with a gentle smile, he lifted the teacup. I looked at the lions crest engraved on the silver teacup and quietly put it to my mouth.

Even though the emperor came down to the summer palace for a break, he continued to hold cabinet meetings throughout the day without stepping back from day-to-day duties. As the entire empire suffered from severe drought, he had to help the crown prince who was struggling to tackle it alone in the capital.

It had already been three days since I accompanied the emperor who attended the political meeting. I thought there would be a strong opposition to my presence at the meeting, but surprisingly nobody objected. Perhaps many of the nobles who came with the emperor were pro-emperor faction members.

Please have tea, Your Majesty.

Thank you.

His strained blue eyes wiggled gently.

While enjoying the flavor of delicate lavender, I pondered over the political meetings for the past three days. I thought the emperor would bring up the agenda of Jiun, but he didnt, to my surprise. Instead, topics such as drought and the measures to deal with the worsening public sentiment were mainly discussed.

Oh, yeah, they also discussed the outbreaks of arson in the capital at the meeting.

According to what I heard at the political meeting, there were a series of arson incidents in the capital these days. Somebody set a fire to the mansions in the nobles district, but they couldnt catch the culprit, no matter how hard they tried.

Arson accidents and the bad public opinion about the imperial family put the emperor and the crown prince in a very difficult situation. I was worried that somebody dissatisfied with the imperial family and the nobles might have set fire to their houses, but the emperor reacted calmly. When he was briefed about it, he skipped to the next agenda.

Does he think the drought is more important now? Otherwise, is there any conspiracy that I dont know?

While I was lost in thought under the shade of a tree, the emperor, who was pondering over something, suddenly said, What a headache! Drought is extreme at the moment. I hear there are rumors among the people that drought happened because of Gods anger.

Since ancient times, they have called floods, drought, and earthquakes natural disasters. As the faith of the people in the empire is deep, I think they can rightly think so. Have you heard anything particular from the temple?

He sighed deeply and said, As they are only interested in power, I dont expect they are thinking of any measures to ally the peoples concerns. I havent even heard that they received Gods prophecy on this.

I heard that the crown prince has taken all the measures he can, and the lords of each province are in close contact with each other, taking care of the sick and distributing water. Rumors are only fleeting. As everyone is doing their best to overcome the crisis, the agitated general public will soon calm down. So, please dont worry too much. Your health isnt good, Your Majesty.

While listening to me silently, he turned to me with a warm smile.

His gaze like that was unusual because I hadnt noticed it after I returned from my previous life.

I suddenly became curious about it. Why is he acting like that?

In every aspect I think the crown of the empress suits you rather than the position of marquis.

You think Im really persistent in my demands, right? But I am saying this as a ruler who has to use the right person for the right job.

Did he merely say that, thinking of me as a talent? What part of my remarks made him feel that way?

I was tilting my head with a puzzled expression when there was a sudden noise in a corner of the garden. When I turned my eyes there, I saw a man come running in a hurry among the guards who made way for him.

Forgetting that the emperor was with me, I stood up right away.

He had shiny silver hair, dressed in a navy blue uniform with lots of dust.

Daddy?

Oh, Dad?

Tia.

I saw him looking at me with an anxious look while examining me. His wide shoulders were shaken a bit. As he was before the emperor, he tried to let out a sigh without being noticed.

When I smiled awkwardly, my father barely took his eyes from me. Only then did he bow to the emperor to show due manners, Im honored to see Your Majesty, the Sun of the empire.

Its been a long time, Marquis. By the way, why have you come down here, covered in dust like that?

Ive got something to report, Your Majesty.

You want to report to me directly, Marquis? he said, with a puzzled expression.

He continued, Maybe you are not here because of that Anyway, Im glad youve come down here. In fact, I have been wondering whats happening in the capital. I heard the news that a dark-haired woman appeared with a halo.

Well, that woman was

After briefing the emperor about the situation in the capital city, my father began to explain about the situation in which Jiun appeared.

On the day that Jiun appeared, the crown prince suggested to the cabinet members locked in hot debate about severe drought that they go outside briefly to get some fresh air. So, my father, the chief of the royal knights, and several nobles including Duke Verita, Marquis of Enesil, who was staying in the capital after recently inheriting the title, and Duke Jenna were walking with the crown prince in the garden of Ver Palace. However, since the core members of the two opposing factions gathered, the atmosphere among them was pretty bad.

When the crown prince tried to intervene as their animosity was deepening, suddenly a bright halo appeared around the garden. And shortly afterwards when they could look again, they saw a strange woman standing there. Even though she was surrounded by royal guards, she was looking at the crown prince with a blank expression, then she was taken to prison.

So, that was the whole story.

Hmm, what did the noble faction say?

Well, the core members of the noble faction including Duke Jena are the witnesses, right?They were arguing that she must be a woman sent by God, given her unusual appearance.

Well, I was worried about that when the messenger gave me such a briefing. Your testimony confirms my concern. So, what did Rube say?

My tense heart was beating fast. As he did in the past, he was the first to witness Jiuns appearance.

God told me that the two were entangled with the thread of fate.

Only

I heard that as soon as she appeared, Jiun only looked at him. Then, how did he react?

Did he fall in love with her at first sight like he did before I came back from the past? Did he realize that she was his partner? And

Did he feel attracted to her by fate?

To calm down my pounding heart, I took a deep breath and listened to my fathers answer.

He ordered them to put her in prison because she was an unknown intruder and said he would wait for the emperors decision.

I see.

But the noble faction as well as the people at the temple balked at the crown princes decision so strongly that he allowed her to stay at Rose Palace before I headed down here.

I bite my lip to pull together with all my might as I felt faint.