Etensel spoke jokingly in front of the Empress, but Sepia could not answer.
'Can an ordinary fox distinguish such things?'
What do a garden and a blue-eyed beauty have to do with each other in the first place?
Instead of answering the words she didn't understand, Sepia brought up the fox's whereabouts.
"I don't know where it is now either."
In fact, she was just playing with it for a while, and it was embarrassing to hear that she was taking care of the fox.
When she looked at him apologizing for not being able to help him more, Etensel said calmly,
"Then why don't we look around the garden together?"
Together?
When Sepia asked with her eyes, he smiled and hurried his steps.
"I'll have to go a little further in."
Seeing his gaze asking for guidance, Sepia had no choice but to move with him.
Was this what it felt like to be possessed by a fox?
Unexpectedly, Sepia was walking inside the garden with Etensel.
Now, it was problematic to leave him alone, since he didn’t seem to have done his best in finding the fox.
Aside from Sepia’s involvement, Etensel simply seemed happy about this situation.
Just like a fox walking in spring.
If they even made eye contact, he would close his eyes and smile like a fox, which made him feel awkward the whole time he was walking.
After walking for a while, he seemed to have become somewhat immune to the fox’s smile.
Sepia realized belatedly that Etensel was comfortably walking around the garden without her guidance.
“...You seem to know the way.”
“No way. It seems like I'm walking along the path cleared of snow. It’s embarrassing to say, but... I've been sickly since I was young and haven’t been able to go outside, so if the Empress disappears, I’ll get lost right away.”
Etensel immediately denied Sepia’s suspicions, and his sad eyes sparkled.
When she smiled, her eyes were so big and pitifully sparkling that she felt sorry for doubting him for a moment.
“...Keep going.”
The fox, satisfied with Sepia’s answer, widened her eyes.
The garden of the Empress’s Palace was deep, so she had to walk a little further to get completely inside.
Even Sepia rarely went this deep.
Now, as she entered the garden that looked like a small forest, the silence covered in snow continued.
Sepia glanced at Etensel, who was walking happily.
‘You look really healthy now.’
It was something to celebrate that he had recovered from his illness.
However, if he had suffered from it since he was young, it meant that he had struggled quite a bit, but it was a little strange that he didn’t show any signs of it.
“But what kind of illness was it?”
“That... It’s hard to tell.”
Etensel, who had been lively until just a moment ago, lowered the corners of his eyes.
If his ears had been sticking out, they would have drooped, so Sepia changed her words.
“I have no intention of asking questions either. I hope you will do your best as a member of the empire in the future.”
Sepia opened her eyes in the firm embrace that supported her.
And with a gentle whisper.
“I told you to be careful on the cold road, Sepia.”
When she opened her eyes, she looked up and saw Roxanne at the end of her gaze. Her soft golden eyes captured Sepia.
Strange.
Demios from her childhood overlapped Roxanne’s face.
Even though there was nothing similar between the two, Sepia and Demios met in the remote forests of the Winter Palace during the Huron Empire.
Although it wasn’t an environment with a lot of snow like the Suin Empire, there were many frozen roads, so Sepia stumbled several times as she was rushing.
Demios caught Sepia so she didn’t fall.
Along with advice to be careful of the frozen roads.
“Are you okay?”
“...Yes.”
Sepia nodded.
Roxanne maintained her usual tone of speech as if nothing had happened.
‘Why are you saying the same thing as Demios?’
It was only for a brief moment, but she almost misunderstood.
Anyone could have told her to be careful of the slippery roads.
However, what surprised Sepia was the tone of speech that brought back memories of her childhood.
It was while she was confused that Roxanne turned his gaze to Etensel on the bridge.
'Can an ordinary fox distinguish such things?'
What do a garden and a blue-eyed beauty have to do with each other in the first place?
Instead of answering the words she didn't understand, Sepia brought up the fox's whereabouts.
"I don't know where it is now either."
In fact, she was just playing with it for a while, and it was embarrassing to hear that she was taking care of the fox.
When she looked at him apologizing for not being able to help him more, Etensel said calmly,
"Then why don't we look around the garden together?"
Together?
When Sepia asked with her eyes, he smiled and hurried his steps.
"I'll have to go a little further in."
Seeing his gaze asking for guidance, Sepia had no choice but to move with him.
Was this what it felt like to be possessed by a fox?
Unexpectedly, Sepia was walking inside the garden with Etensel.
Now, it was problematic to leave him alone, since he didn’t seem to have done his best in finding the fox.
Aside from Sepia’s involvement, Etensel simply seemed happy about this situation.
Just like a fox walking in spring.
If they even made eye contact, he would close his eyes and smile like a fox, which made him feel awkward the whole time he was walking.
After walking for a while, he seemed to have become somewhat immune to the fox’s smile.
Sepia realized belatedly that Etensel was comfortably walking around the garden without her guidance.
“...You seem to know the way.”
“No way. It seems like I'm walking along the path cleared of snow. It’s embarrassing to say, but... I've been sickly since I was young and haven’t been able to go outside, so if the Empress disappears, I’ll get lost right away.”
Etensel immediately denied Sepia’s suspicions, and his sad eyes sparkled.
When she smiled, her eyes were so big and pitifully sparkling that she felt sorry for doubting him for a moment.
“...Keep going.”
The fox, satisfied with Sepia’s answer, widened her eyes.
The garden of the Empress’s Palace was deep, so she had to walk a little further to get completely inside.
Even Sepia rarely went this deep.
Now, as she entered the garden that looked like a small forest, the silence covered in snow continued.
Sepia glanced at Etensel, who was walking happily.
‘You look really healthy now.’
It was something to celebrate that he had recovered from his illness.
However, if he had suffered from it since he was young, it meant that he had struggled quite a bit, but it was a little strange that he didn’t show any signs of it.
“But what kind of illness was it?”
“That... It’s hard to tell.”
Etensel, who had been lively until just a moment ago, lowered the corners of his eyes.
If his ears had been sticking out, they would have drooped, so Sepia changed her words.
“I have no intention of asking questions either. I hope you will do your best as a member of the empire in the future.”
She had no intention of urging or discouraging someone who had fought so hard to overcome her illness.
However, the Empress dowager came to mind. She, who was from the same family, had also suffered from illness for a long time.
'I wonder if it's a hereditary disease that runs in the family.'
However, the illness that Etennel had didn't seem to show on the outside. He smiled brightly as if he had regained his spirit at Sepia's words.
However, the Empress dowager came to mind. She, who was from the same family, had also suffered from illness for a long time.
'I wonder if it's a hereditary disease that runs in the family.'
However, the illness that Etennel had didn't seem to show on the outside. He smiled brightly as if he had regained his spirit at Sepia's words.
"Of course. Your Majesty, please lead me well."
Why would he ask me to lead him?
However, she couldn't say no in front of this person whose eyes were shining at her. In fact, it wasn't an entirely wrong expression. She was the Empress, and Etensel was a subject of the empire. Therefore, it would be right to see him as a young citizen who entered society a little late.
"Yes. Cheer up."
A hand reached out and patted Etensel's shoulder without thinking. Although she was someone who avoided contact with others, it was an action that made him look like a fox without a master. Even though he was sickly, he was only a head taller than her. Etensel, who was looking down at Sepia who was patting his shoulder, widened his eyes. It was when Sepia looked up at him with his charming smile.
“It would have been better if you had patted my head.”
“What?”
“It’s nothing.”
She heard it clearly. However, Etensel looked so indifferent that she thought it was just her imagination. Before she knew it, the two arrived at a small pond inside the garden.
A small stone bridge was connected to the frozen pond so that she could cross it.
“The bridge seems slippery.”
Sepia hesitated as she looked at the outstretched hand.
The reason she had tapped his shoulder just now was because Etensel looked like a small animal.
However, this was a different matter.
She thought she would catch him, but then she remembered Demios’ words from a while ago.
The Empress’s aversion.
The aversion that started with Demios had expanded in scope and then decreased with constant effort.
She no longer felt aversion to men even when they brushed past her, but perhaps because of Demios, her condition had become extremely sensitive.
But why?
‘Wouldn’t she feel aversion to Roxanne?’
The empty ghost palace.
It had been like that since the first time they met there.
After sending him off and arriving at the Empress’s palace, Sepia realized that she didn’t feel aversion to Roxanne. She still didn’t know why.
But she wanted to know. Why only Roxanne was okay.
“Empress?”
“...Let’s go.”
Sepia grabbed Etensel’s outstretched hand in response to his question.
As Demios had said, it was impossible to avoid the awkwardness forever.
Especially now that the world was suspecting Sepia’s health.
‘It’ll be okay.’
The palace announced that there was nothing wrong with Sepia’s body, but the world was still whispering that the Empress, who had not been pregnant for five years, was infertile.
Sepia stepped onto the bridge with Etensel’s escort.
There was no problem climbing the bridge as if the snow had been cleared in advance, but it was a little slippery because it was wet.
“Be careful.”
Sepia nodded at Etensel’s words. She was nervous about coming into contact with a stranger, but she couldn’t show it.
Sepia tried to act calm as she walked. Etensel, who was walking half a step ahead of her, opened his mouth.
“The Empress is my benefactor.”
“...I didn’t do anything great enough to deserve the benefactor treatment.”
All she did was feed and play with a fox that had lost its owner.
However, Etensel shook his head.
Unlike the smile he had been making until just now, his smile seemed a bit bitter.
“No. That’s not the case for me. So I definitely want to repay you.”
Etensel, standing in the middle of the stone bridge, looked back at Sepia.
He had the face of a man who had just turned out of boyhood.
‘I wonder if he’s acting like this because of the rumors.’
Rumors that the Empress changes males every night.
The rumors that had died down by now due to the embellishment of having a Duke as her mistress might still be circulating in places Sepia couldn’t hear.
She wanted to let go right away.
But what if it was really pure kindness?
She didn’t want to show her nerves, which had become sharp due to her rejection and rumors.
Was it because of the cold weather?
Etensel, who was walking ahead, must have felt her nerves sharpened, so he stopped walking.
“Your Majesty, your hands are too cold. Is there something wrong?”
“No, it’s okay, let’s go.”
“But... Should we go back now?”
Despite his worried question, Sepia shook her head.
However, when Etensel did not move, she let go of his hand and went down the stone bridge alone. Her legs were short enough that she didn’t need an escort.
After letting go of his hand, the tension eased a little. When Sepia stepped on the ground with relief, she felt her feet touch the ground.
“Ah...!”
The ground she had stepped on must have been frozen, as her body, leaning forward, lost its balance.
“Your Majesty!”
With Etensel’s shout, her vision was getting closer to the ground.
Sepia tightly shut her eyes in preparation for the pain that was to come.
However, there was no pain.
‘...Why.’
“The bridge seems slippery.”
Sepia hesitated as she looked at the outstretched hand.
The reason she had tapped his shoulder just now was because Etensel looked like a small animal.
However, this was a different matter.
She thought she would catch him, but then she remembered Demios’ words from a while ago.
The Empress’s aversion.
The aversion that started with Demios had expanded in scope and then decreased with constant effort.
She no longer felt aversion to men even when they brushed past her, but perhaps because of Demios, her condition had become extremely sensitive.
But why?
‘Wouldn’t she feel aversion to Roxanne?’
The empty ghost palace.
It had been like that since the first time they met there.
After sending him off and arriving at the Empress’s palace, Sepia realized that she didn’t feel aversion to Roxanne. She still didn’t know why.
But she wanted to know. Why only Roxanne was okay.
“Empress?”
“...Let’s go.”
Sepia grabbed Etensel’s outstretched hand in response to his question.
As Demios had said, it was impossible to avoid the awkwardness forever.
Especially now that the world was suspecting Sepia’s health.
‘It’ll be okay.’
The palace announced that there was nothing wrong with Sepia’s body, but the world was still whispering that the Empress, who had not been pregnant for five years, was infertile.
Sepia stepped onto the bridge with Etensel’s escort.
There was no problem climbing the bridge as if the snow had been cleared in advance, but it was a little slippery because it was wet.
“Be careful.”
Sepia nodded at Etensel’s words. She was nervous about coming into contact with a stranger, but she couldn’t show it.
Sepia tried to act calm as she walked. Etensel, who was walking half a step ahead of her, opened his mouth.
“The Empress is my benefactor.”
“...I didn’t do anything great enough to deserve the benefactor treatment.”
All she did was feed and play with a fox that had lost its owner.
However, Etensel shook his head.
Unlike the smile he had been making until just now, his smile seemed a bit bitter.
“No. That’s not the case for me. So I definitely want to repay you.”
Etensel, standing in the middle of the stone bridge, looked back at Sepia.
He had the face of a man who had just turned out of boyhood.
‘I wonder if he’s acting like this because of the rumors.’
Rumors that the Empress changes males every night.
The rumors that had died down by now due to the embellishment of having a Duke as her mistress might still be circulating in places Sepia couldn’t hear.
She wanted to let go right away.
But what if it was really pure kindness?
She didn’t want to show her nerves, which had become sharp due to her rejection and rumors.
Was it because of the cold weather?
Etensel, who was walking ahead, must have felt her nerves sharpened, so he stopped walking.
“Your Majesty, your hands are too cold. Is there something wrong?”
“No, it’s okay, let’s go.”
“But... Should we go back now?”
Despite his worried question, Sepia shook her head.
However, when Etensel did not move, she let go of his hand and went down the stone bridge alone. Her legs were short enough that she didn’t need an escort.
After letting go of his hand, the tension eased a little. When Sepia stepped on the ground with relief, she felt her feet touch the ground.
“Ah...!”
The ground she had stepped on must have been frozen, as her body, leaning forward, lost its balance.
“Your Majesty!”
With Etensel’s shout, her vision was getting closer to the ground.
Sepia tightly shut her eyes in preparation for the pain that was to come.
However, there was no pain.
‘...Why.’
Sepia opened her eyes in the firm embrace that supported her.
And with a gentle whisper.
“I told you to be careful on the cold road, Sepia.”
When she opened her eyes, she looked up and saw Roxanne at the end of her gaze. Her soft golden eyes captured Sepia.
Strange.
Demios from her childhood overlapped Roxanne’s face.
Even though there was nothing similar between the two, Sepia and Demios met in the remote forests of the Winter Palace during the Huron Empire.
Although it wasn’t an environment with a lot of snow like the Suin Empire, there were many frozen roads, so Sepia stumbled several times as she was rushing.
Demios caught Sepia so she didn’t fall.
Along with advice to be careful of the frozen roads.
“Are you okay?”
“...Yes.”
Sepia nodded.
Roxanne maintained her usual tone of speech as if nothing had happened.
‘Why are you saying the same thing as Demios?’
It was only for a brief moment, but she almost misunderstood.
Anyone could have told her to be careful of the slippery roads.
However, what surprised Sepia was the tone of speech that brought back memories of her childhood.
It was while she was confused that Roxanne turned his gaze to Etensel on the bridge.
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