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Chapter 01
A gentle late-summer breeze tickled my cheeks.
Above me, a single cloud drifted calmly across the clear, blue sky.
“Nice weather.”
The weather on the continent of Auditria, blessed by the grace of the god Shin Seikan, was peaceful as ever today.
But at the very pinnacle of the continent…
The imperial palace of the Zendal Empire, which ruled over Auditria, was far from peaceful.
I rested my face on one arm, which was propped against the railing.
I was on the top floor of the highest tower in the imperial palace.
Although the bell tower had a long history, it wasn’t used often, so I had made it my personal hideout.
From here, looking down, I could see every corner of the palace.
“Oh, that’s Captain Henkel.”
Among the busily moving knights, I recognized a familiar face.
Henkel Levartern, the captain of the royal guard, standing firmly while receiving reports from his subordinates.
Today, as always, he looked neat with every button fastened up to his collar.
I formed a square with my thumbs and index fingers and framed Captain Henkel inside it.
Even outside his uniform, the sheer muscle packed into his frame was palpable.
Wow. No wonder he’s ranked number one in the “sexiest man when unbuttoning cufflinks” title.
As I watched, a wave of fondness came over me, and I thought about acknowledging him—but I stopped myself.
From their perspective down there, I would appear smaller than a thumbnail.
I had yet to see anyone in this world with eyesight as sharp as mine.
And as a point of pride, my hearing was quite good too.
Usually, it was just a bit better than an average person’s, but when I focused, I could hear what the knights gathered at the tower’s entrance were saying.
“Is the saint over there?”
“She’s not here!”
“Over there?”
“I’ll check.”
The knights who had gathered in one spot dispersed in all directions.
Heh. The saying goes “darkness under the lamp.” Or in this case, above the lamp?
“At this rate, even if I hide here all week, they still won’t find me.”
Well, I wouldn’t mind, actually.
But this time, I definitely did not want to fall for that face.
“…And yet, not even a second has passed since I thought that.”
It seemed I needed to stop being so smug.
The skill of approaching silently like that… that was a talent in itself.
I turned around and leaned my body against the railing.
“Did you intentionally leave that last step so I’d hear it?”
From behind the massive bell, an unbelievably handsome man appeared, wearing a fresh smile.
There had been so many stairs leading to the top floor, yet the only sound I had heard was that single thud step.
It was clearly deliberate.
“You’re here, Saint.”
I found myself caught in his blue eyes, clear as a lake where the bottom was visible. His high-quality blond hair shimmered and moved softly with his motions.
“Leaning on the railing like that is dangerous.”
His hand extended toward me kindly. His low, honeyed voice carried concern.
The tips of his straight, strong eyebrows furrowed slightly, forming a crease between them.
Ah, don’t frown. My heart might crumple too.
Even having thoughts like these in this situation was all because of his perfect face.
Suppressing my wildly beating heart, I blocked him with curt words.
“Don’t come any closer.”
Like an obedient dog, he stopped walking.
A two-meter gap formed between us.
He gave a bitter smile, as if regretting the unbridgeable distance.
That sorrowful face… it’s maddening.
“No, focus! Get a grip!”
I squeezed my eyes shut.
Better not to look. I can’t let myself be hypnotized by that face.
“Saint, do you dislike seeing me so much that you must close your eyes?”
Ugh. I want to block my ears too.
That voice, paired with a tone that reminded one of a puppy abandoned by its owner, was cheating.
I wish I could run away—but escaping a man with those superhuman physical abilities is nearly impossible.
“Don’t fall for it. It’s all an act! An act!”
Yes. I knew that his appearance was an act.
Alend Khan Leodius, emperor of the Zendal Holy Empire.
Every perfection displayed on the outside of that man…
“I know all the darkness inside Your Majesty.”
“Darkness?”
“I overheard your conversation with Captain Henkel yesterday. You said, ‘It would be good to bring the saint along when receiving the Bonia Kingdom’s delegation. Even a powerless saint is perfect for showing that the empire remains strong.’ You were planning to use me.”
He was a manipulative personality, intending only to use me for his own ends.
To break this vicious cycle, I needed to be firm at least once.
“I told you before, didn’t I? I will never be swayed by Your Majesty again. Don’t assume you can control everything forever.”
“….”
The emperor gave no reply to my words, spoken with tightly closed eyes.
Was he upset because I said he was dark inside?
Or hurt by what I said? Could it be…?
The image of him standing silently across from my closed eyes sparked all kinds of imagination.
What if—absurd as it might be—he truly had a hurt expression…
“Just a peek?”
If that were the case, and I missed it because my eyes were closed…
Future me might curse myself for not imprinting that face onto my retina.
I slowly lifted my eyelids.
I had intended just a small peek at His Majesty’s face through slitted eyes.
“Impossible.”
“Eek.”
He had already come right up to me and was assaulting me with his face.
Again, silent steps.
“You think I would try to use the saint?”
See that? The slight curl at the corner of his mouth.
His voice was a touch lower than before. Subtly, his words became shorter.
The emperor at this moment was extremely dangerous.
He manages his image with Captain Henkel and Minister Evon, so why not with me!?
“Because I’m easy to manipulate, I guess. Frustrating…!”
I tried to widen the already dangerously close distance, but he trapped me with both arms against the railing, making escape impossible.
“Dual personality.”
“Even if you say that while blushing…”
…Damn.
“I will reveal everything in the empire someday. To the people, Emperor Leodius, gentle and kind, is a dark dual personality.”
“By all means.”
Though brief, I could sense his true thoughts.
He’s thinking: Can you really do that?
…Right. I couldn’t. Doing something to embarrass that face? No way. Sob.
“You think I can’t? I’ve already been gathering evidence.”
“Saint…”
Gulp.
The emperor lowered his head and pressed his forehead against mine.
W-what are you doing!?
“Ahhh! My forehead oils are getting on His Majesty’s soft, perfect forehead!”
I hadn’t felt so guilty in a long time.
This emperor doesn’t even value his precious forehead…!
I can’t move because I’m too happy, so His Majesty needs to move away, quickly!
“You like my face, don’t you.”
Ah. That’s why I had been hiding in the tower.
My dark eyes were reflected in his sharp gaze.
“And that’s why you can’t refuse my request.”
It’s frustrating how well he knows my preferences, but he’s right.
When I see his face, I cannot refuse.
Even knowing perfectly that I am being toyed with.
“This Bonia Kingdom delegation’s welcome banquet… will you grant me the honor of accompanying the saint?”
A pleasant scent teased the tip of my nose.
Sight, smell, touch.
The emperor clearly intended to make my heart explode.
If I stay like this, I’ll get assassinated!
Reluctantly, I opened my mouth.
“Ugh… this time only.”
“Of course. This time only. I understand.”
Yes. Even if this has been the twentieth time…
Why is he still so handsome when he smiles?
“Next time, I’ll hide in the dungeon.”
I didn’t always live a life being manipulated by that handsome man.
I, Shin Ari, was originally a high school student living in Korea.
But a few days before graduation, I was hit by a truck that ran a red light, and I lost consciousness.
When I opened my eyes again, I was standing on a summoning circle straight out of a game.
Western-looking foreigners in the room screamed, cried, or… suddenly bowed.
Just as I thought this must be a dream, someone emerged from the crowd and walked toward me.
“Ins…ane.”
Despite my many years of fan obsession and expertise in beautiful men of all races, the man before me made me realize how trivial my pride was.
“I am Alend Khan Leodius, emperor of the Zendal Holy Empire, Saint.”
A man of another dimension entirely.
An emperor with that face—could that even exist?
His appearance was unreal, but the entire scene felt unreal as well.
I understood the unknown language, surrounded by foreigners, with a giant statue behind the summoning circle.
The only familiar thing in this strange place was my own body, still in a school uniform.
“It’s a dream.”
There was no other explanation.
A normal high school girl, yet everyone, including the emperor, treated me as a saint?
Moreover…
“Minister Evon Hyben of Zendal, and this is Captain Henkel Levartern, entrusted with protecting His Majesty.”
Not only was the emperor handsome.
The two who always accompanied him, Minister Evon and Captain Henkel, were also impressive in appearance.
Evon, with his silvery hair, had the delicate beauty of a violet.
Captain Henkel, beneath his austere face, was a beastly man packed with muscle.
A world overrun with handsome men? It couldn’t be real.
“It must be a dream, but please don’t wake me up, dream.”
All the data my brain had stored from obsessive fandom work had finally activated.
Otherwise, how could such perfect men exist?
“Good job, my brain!”
Since it was a dream, I decided to enjoy the situation comfortably.
So much so that I got a bit, well, a lot mischievous.
I would later want to scold my past self.
But at that time, I truly believed everything was a dream, so I thought I could say whatever I wanted.
That was why I blurted out such a ridiculous question while having tea with the emperor alone.
“His Majesty isn’t naturally pleasant, is he?”
Foolishly said, indeed. Sob.
