SELTP 22

Chapter 22

「20:00 Guard duty at His Majesty the Emperor’s office
※ Shift change with Kadian at midnight. If you’re aiming for a nighttime walk with the Captain, we recommend this time!!」

“……”

It wasn’t like I cared about the content itself.

There was no longer any need to wait for Chobi in front of the laboratory, so I had too much free time after work.

After eating dinner, I sat on the sofa and stared blankly into the air.

What did I usually do at this time?

‘Look at His Majesty, or look at His Majesty…….’

“I would’ve been looking at His Majesty……!”

To see my ultimate bias!

I sprang up from the sofa.

As if possessed, my feet carried me to the corridor outside His Majesty’s office.

The office door, which was always tightly shut, was half open today, light leaking out.

Wasn’t this basically telling me to come in and look?

‘Probably not.’

What do you know.

My reason said no, but my body moved first.

It couldn’t be helped. Because where His Majesty is……

“Henkel isn’t here.”

“Huh—!”

Struck by that face after so long, I reflexively closed my eyes.

The light leaking into the hallway wasn’t from a lamp—it was His Majesty’s appearance emitting light on its own.

Dazzling. But my heart wasn’t pounding like before.

I looked at His Majesty standing by the door and said carefully,

“It’s not like I came to see the Captain or anything.”

“Then did you come to see me?”

“Well…… I was just passing by……”

I sound like trash.

Why am I answering like that when His Majesty asks me directly?!

Cursing my own mouth, I started mentally chanting affirmations.

‘What I like is His Majesty’s face. For me, it’s only His Majesty’s face. So I’m happy right now. Because I met His Majesty, not the Captain…… Captain……’

Ah, my energy’s dropping. Raise it.

“I was passing by and wanted to see Your Majesty! You know how much I like Your Majesty’s face, right? You’re shining even at night!”

“Hm.”

One corner of His Majesty’s mouth lifted.

“Do you know why Henkel isn’t here?”

“W-why……?”

“I told him to go in early.”

“Th—”

Grr.

“Th?”

“Th-then Henkel must be very lucky to have such a considerate superior. Haha.”

The corner of my mouth twitched as I tried to keep smiling.

There’s no way His Majesty didn’t notice.

Look at how his eyes are crinkling. You’re enjoying this, aren’t you……!

Hey, I’m suffering too, you know? My brain is screaming that His Majesty is my bias, but my body isn’t cooperating, so I’m miserable!

His Majesty smiled faintly, then said casually,

“Do you want to marry Henkel?”

“Whaaat?!”

So I’ve finally lost it.

Now I’m even hallucinating.

But it didn’t seem like a hallucination.

“If the Saintess wishes it, I’ll allow it. Henkel is trustworthy—he’d make a decent husband.”

I blinked at the absurd statement.

There is no overreaction greater than this.

He’s clearly teasing me, and yet I hate myself for still fluttering at words like that.

“Do you want to?”

Yes. Right now. No, wait.

I almost nodded.

Forcing myself to ignore my pounding heart, I tried to calm the situation.

“W-wait a moment, Your Majesty. What about the Captain’s opinion……?”

Why did my mouth go there again?!

Why am I asking about the Captain’s opinion?!

I clamped both hands over my mouth.

You’ve lost my trust, mouth.

“Henkel said he’d be fine with it, if it’s the Saintess.”

“……!”

Gasp.

I pressed my lips tightly together.

The Captain said he’s fine with it…?

‘What do you mean “the Captain too”?! Why “too”?!’

I should’ve brought a broom.

To beat my brain and mouth with.

What kind of trial is this, what kind of torture is this…….

Whether he knew my turmoil or not,

His Majesty took my hands down as if determined to succeed in this matchmaking and whispered,

“If marriage feels like too much, how about starting with an engagement. The Saintess…… likes Henkel.”

No. This isn’t okay.

My heart shouldn’t be beating like I’ve just been proposed to.

Even as I told myself this was a feeling that would disappear once the drug wore off, Chobi’s words kept echoing in my ears—that maybe Captain Henkel was my true love.

You’ll regret this, Shinari. You really will.

“I……!”

“Captain?!”

It was the late-night training time for the Imperial Guard.

Kadian, who had just arrived at the training grounds, exclaimed in surprise when he saw Henkel Levarte.

“Why are you here? Shouldn’t you be guarding His Majesty the Emperor at this hour?”

“His Majesty said he doesn’t require an escort until midnight.”

Henkel answered quietly, eyes fixed on the knights in training.

“Ah, ha…….”

Kadian glanced at Henkel, then swept his gaze across the trainees.

Several of them questioned him silently with their eyes.

‘You’re the one who passed on the Captain’s schedule today, Kadian.’
‘Why is the Captain here?’
‘How would I know this would happen!’
‘What are we going to do if the Saintess saw that……!’
‘I told you we should only use one exclamation mark!’
‘Who suggested recommending it anyway?’
‘I know. It was that new guy from the chapel, Hufferson.’
‘That lucky bastard……!’

The knights, who had been communicating only with their eyes, eventually began whispering in tiny voices.

Normally, Henkel wouldn’t have missed even that—but he seemed lost in deep thought, merely watching them.

This was a first.

The noble emperor, Alrend Khan Leodius, to whom he had sworn loyalty even unto death, was distancing himself from him.

“Henkel, take the day off.”

A painful thing.

What kind of sword rests while its master stands alone?

A sword must always be sharpened and remain by its master’s side.

In truth, Henkel vaguely understood why the Emperor was acting this way.

When the Saintess ignored His Majesty and greeted him instead.

When the Saintess, who had been looking directly at His Majesty, blushed and turned her head away the moment their eyes met.

‘His Majesty was displeased.’

Since the Emperor’s ascension, Henkel had spent most of his waking hours at his side.

Even if others didn’t notice, he could sense the subtlest shifts in the air around the Emperor.

If he knew the reason, he could simply ask the Saintess to ignore him and speak only to His Majesty.

But Henkel Levarte had no such social finesse.

He could only wait silently for what Chobi, the Head of the Vinhood Laboratory, had called “when the drug wears off.”

“……”

I squeezed my eyes shut and shouted,

“I don’t want to!”

I said it. I did it. Good job, me.

This is all because of the drug.

So the feelings I had when I thought of Captain Henkel were…… feelings…….

“Huh?”

“Alright.”

His Majesty let go of my hands as though he had no lingering regret over the failed matchmaking.

Wait. Something feels off.

In my blurred vision, His Majesty’s long, beautiful fingers came into view.

His index finger brushed my temple, then traced a graceful arc, leaving behind a cluster of white light.

Tiny purple particles followed.

The shimmering particles soon crumbled into dust and scattered into the air.

“Do you still want to marry Henkel?”

“……No?”

What? When I thought of Captain Henkel, I felt nothing.

At my confusion, His Majesty explained.

“The lab director confessed this morning. He said he used a divine stone sample sent from the Kingdom of Bonia to make the medicine.”

“Divine stone?”

“A mineral artificially infused with divine power. Purple appears when it contains mental manipulation-type divine power.”

“Then the love potion was…?”

“Brainwashing caused by divine power entering the body. It makes you love the first person you see.”

“Wow.”

My legs gave out and I sank to the floor.

“Thank goodness…… I thought my life was over. I was so scared I’d have to live fighting my own body forever.”

So it was all brainwashing.

I was so relieved I hadn’t truly fallen in love with the Captain.

“……But Your Majesty, why did the brainwashing last so long for me? Everyone else said theirs wore off in a day.”

His Majesty’s voice grew serious.

“People who are easily affected by brainwashing usually fall into two types. One: those whose bodies accept divine power very well, or……”

“And the other?”

What if there was something wrong with my body?

I eat well and sleep well, but maybe my body just doesn’t fit this world.

I grew serious too, ears perked.

“Or those with such simple minds they’d believe even a child’s lie.”

“…….”

“But since the Saintess isn’t the type who absorbs divine power well……”

“Ugh…….”

He teased me again. Again.

He clearly lowered his voice earlier just to mess with me.

Look at those mischievous eyes!

Th-those eyes…!

“Are you okay now?”

His Majesty asked with a faint smile.

“No.”

“Is something else wrong?”

“My eyes…….”

“Your eyes?”

“My eyes…… my eyes are too dazzled! You’re too close—!”

I shouted, covering my face with both hands.

As if trying to make up for four days’ worth of radiance at once, His Majesty was so dazzling I literally couldn’t look at him.

I’m definitely dead. I must be dead and meeting the god of beauty.

What kind of aftershock is this for a mere four-day absence?!

“Don’t come any closer!”

“……You seem fine now.”

He scoffed lightly.

Then he wrapped an arm around my shoulders, helped me up, and started walking.

“Ah…….”

My legs had no strength.

I stumbled along like a zombie as he guided me.

The destination was the soft sofa.

“Covering your eyes is fine, but at least sit down while you do it.”

Don’t tell me…

Did His Majesty escort me to the sofa just so I wouldn’t squat on the floor……?

Why is he so kind. This is insane.

“Your Majesty.”

Normally I’d be suspicious of kindness like this.

But right now, staying conscious was already a miracle.

“Please refrain from acting kindly today.”

“Acting?”

“The aftereffects…… I don’t think I can handle them……!”

“……You’re worse than the Saintess was. Could there be side effects from the divine stone? Look here for a moment.”

His Majesty sprang up from across the table and pulled my hands away from my face.

“Aah!”

“Where does it hurt?”

I should’ve kept my eyes closed.

There should be a limit to how handsome someone can be.

How are his features this shamelessly perfect?

……But why does His Majesty look so worried…….

Usually he’d just mock me. But when he looks concerned like this……

“…….”

“Why is your face getting red again? Saintess, are you alright?”

“……Your Majesty.”

“Tell me.”

Right in front of me, with that serious expression, launching a critical hit with his face.

Deep blue eyes beneath slightly furrowed brows were staring straight at me.

No wonder my eyelids went on strike again.

Tears welled up in my stinging eyes.

Pouting, I asked him,

“What kind of humiliation play is this……?”

He’s evolved. His Majesty has.