"Eliana, why did you not speak honestly from the beginning?"
"Because the Empress Dowager wished it to remain a secret."
"Then I understand it even less. If Mother told you to keep it secret, why did you tell me?"
Velkirei asked in a voice filled with suspicion.
Eliana quietly sat down in front of him and looked up at him as he sat on the bed.
Their gazes aligned, yet his eyes were not directed at her.
However, Eliana knew that he could see her.
With a bright smile, she answered simply.
"My master is not the Empress Dowager, but Your Majesty."
Velkirei wore a speechless expression.
Eliana continued without stopping.
"I belong to Your Majesty, after all. So I told you. Does that answer your question?"
A flicker of agitation briefly crossed Velkirei’s face before disappearing.
He only moved his lips and did not immediately continue speaking.
Eliana gently placed her hand over his.
"The sun of the Empire is Your Majesty, not the Empress Dowager, is it not?"
"In a situation where Mother governs the state in my stead, that is quite a bold statement. Are you not afraid of the consequences?"
Velkirei asked in a voice that seemed unable to understand.
Afraid of the consequences?
It was precisely because she feared that she was bowing her head to Velkirei.
The thought made Eliana let out a small, unintended laugh.
Velkirei’s expression stiffened when he saw the smile, but Eliana did not notice as she was lost in self mockery.
Eliana clasped his hand more firmly.
Unlike his, Eliana’s hand was warm, and before long the temperature between them became similar.
Neither cold nor hot.
A lukewarm warmth.
Rather than being consumed by his coldness, she wanted to melt it with her own warmth.
She hoped that, just like now, he would gradually grow warm as if assimilating into her.
Eliana lightly pressed a kiss to the back of Velkirei’s hand.
At the sudden touch of lips, Velkirei’s hand flinched.
Pretending not to notice, Eliana looked at him with the brightest expression she had shown yet and spoke.
"I have already become Your Majesty’s person. Even if the Empress Dowager tries to kill me, I will stand on Your Majesty’s side."
"…Because I am the Emperor?"
"No."
Eliana denied Velkirei’s question without the slightest hesitation.
It was not because he was the Emperor that she intended to take his side.
It was because of the potential power he possessed.
A demon, a living divine being from ancient myths, capable of destroying the entire Empire.
That power was precisely the reason Eliana intended to stand on Velkirei’s side.
'Do you love him?'
For a moment, Hera’s question returned to her mind.
Love him?
There was no way she would do something so foolish as to love a man who was destined to kill her.
But perhaps it would be better if he believed that she did.
There was no emotion that made people make foolish choices more than love.
If it was love, it would seem like a suitable reason for why she wanted to follow him.
Eliana whispered sweetly to him with the face of a woman in love.
"I simply wish to remain by Your Majesty’s side for a long time."
"…"
"May I?"
Eliana slowly placed her hand on his thigh and leaned forward, bringing her face closer.
As he naturally lowered his head, his black hair fell like a curtain around Eliana.
Velkirei did not stop her even though he knew she was approaching.
Instead, he lowered his head further, coming closer to Eliana.
Naturally, the hand supporting his thigh tightened.
The corner of Velkirei’s lips slowly lifted.
Soon he whispered softly.
"Of course."
As soon as he finished speaking, Velkirei lowered his head further.
Eliana gently closed her eyes.
His lips were as cold as his hands.
Velkirei placed one hand between Eliana’s neck and chin and held her slender shoulder with the other.
Eliana gripped his thigh firmly to steady her upper body.
As if handling something precious, he carefully bit Eliana’s lips.
The unfamiliar sensation made Eliana flinch without realizing it.
She had only intended to press their lips together briefly before pulling away, but Velkirei did not let her go.
He slowly traced her lips.
When Eliana’s lips parted slightly, Velkirei’s tongue slipped inside.
The unfamiliar presence entering her mouth gently explored as if soothing her.
The kiss seemed as if it would never end, and naturally Eliana began to gasp for breath.
When exhaustion caused her posture to falter, he held her firmly in place.
Velkirei’s breathing was just as rough as Eliana’s.
Their heated breaths mingled and exchanged endlessly. Unlike his body, which had been as cold as ice, his breath was hot.
It was entirely different from the artificial respiration they had shared before.
This was thicker, hotter, and strangely ticklish, as if sparks of fire were bursting inside her and mixing her emotions into confusion.
She had never imagined such wildness hidden beneath that refined face.
Before she realized it, Eliana had completely lost the initiative and could only cling to Velkirei.
After a moment, Velkirei finally pulled his lips away.
Eliana breathed heavily.
Velkirei gently brushed Eliana’s lips with his fingers and whispered with an almost yearning expression.
"I am curious about your face."
Eliana quickly regained her composure at his words and replied brightly.
"Would you like to feel it?"
When Velkirei did not move, Eliana took his hand and guided it slowly across her eyes, nose, and lips.
Velkirei quietly traced Eliana’s face, feeling along its contours.
Even though she knew it was a pointless act since he could see perfectly well, Eliana played along with him.
Every movement of his hand along her face made her feel ticklish.
No one had ever handled her face like clay before.
By the time she had grown somewhat accustomed to the strange act, Velkirei withdrew his hand and spoke with a shy expression.
"You are beautiful."
"You cannot see, so how do you know I am beautiful?"
At Eliana’s sulky question, Velkirei smiled softly.
"It does not matter if you are not beautiful. To me, you will always be beautiful."
It was the gentlest voice he had used yet.
There was no confession of love between them.
There was only her request to remain by his side, his answer permitting it, and their lips touching as if marking that agreement.
Eliana knew.
If it was for the sake of revenge, Velkirei would not hesitate to use his beauty.
Many palace maids had been used by him and then disappeared without a trace.
So she knew that smile was also part of his deception.
Eliana was not ignorant of that.
But she decided to allow herself to be used.
For now, standing on his side was the safest choice.
Pretending to be happy with his answer, Eliana smiled brightly.
"Your Majesty is already beautiful, so you do not need to be any more beautiful."
At Eliana’s bold remark, Velkirei laughed aloud as if pleased.
Their facing expressions bloomed with smiles, yet no one could know whether those smiles were sincere or false.
There were only guesses.
Velkirei faithfully played the role of a blind man, as if covering everyone’s eyes.
For ten years, they had grown accustomed to neglecting Velkirei, and the one who had made that possible was Velkirei himself.
That day was a stage no different from any other.
If there was anything unusual, it was perhaps that his headache was particularly severe.
His headaches were not something that could be cured.
They were the cries of pain from a body unable to endure the power of a demon.
With his nerves sharpened by the violent headache, Velkirei stared at the woman who was gazing at his face in a daze.
Pretending not to see while subtly observing others had long since become second nature to him.
The woman had softly curling pale blonde hair that flowed naturally past her shoulders.
Between those strands were pale lemon colored golden eyes that trembled faintly.
Her mouth hung open as if she had seen something shocking, making her look slightly ridiculous.
"…Is that a statue?"
'…?'
Velkirei clearly heard her low mutter.
Hera did not seem to hear it properly since she was not paying attention to the woman, but Velkirei did.
He had been wary of the unfamiliar woman from the beginning, so he heard it distinctly.
Just as he began to think her strange for saying something so odd, the next words that left her mouth made his expression harden.
"This is not a person."
She was clearly speaking about him.
Velkirei turned his gaze away from her, releasing a cold aura.
It might have been an overly sensitive reaction. She might not have said it because she knew his identity.
Soon he decided that he was merely overreacting because his headache was unusually severe today.
"Ah, hello, Your Majesty. I am Eliana Mushe."
Velkirei indifferently extended his hand toward the awkwardly greeting Eliana.
Since she was a companion brought by Hera anyway, he planned to deal with her briefly and dispose of the matter.
He already knew Hera was desperate to uncover his true identity.
It was obvious that she had placed this woman beside him for the same purpose of watching him.
Velkirei found the situation so absurd it was almost laughable.
However, the moment her hand touched his, he sensed that this meeting was not ordinary.
"Y Your Majesty?"
Velkirei unconsciously forgot his acting and recoiled in shock, knocking Eliana’s hand away.
He was confused.
Something felt as if it had flowed into him through his fingertips.
The headache that had tormented him mercilessly just moments ago vanished the instant her hand touched him.
For the first time in a long while, his mind felt clear.