“It’s a dangerous path for the Empress to walk. From now on, it would be better for the young master to walk alone.”
Etensel frowned at the cold golden eyes.
Sepia turned her head at the conversation between the two men.
Etensel, who had entered Sepia’s sight, changed his expression as if nothing had happened and came down from the bridge.
He looked at Sepia with worried eyes.
“I was careless. Are you hurt?”
“I’m okay. It wasn’t Young master’s fault.”
Even though he had offered to hold her hand, Sepia had pushed it away and come down.
“Still. I’m glad you’re okay.”
Even if she had gotten hurt, it would have been nothing more than a fall.
Seeing Etensel shaking his head at the words that it wasn’t his fault, the captain of the guards came to mind.
It seems that even brothers who look completely different have similar characteristics.
While Sepia was estimating, Etensel stood facing Roxanne.
Etensel thanked him with a smiling face.
“Hello, Your Highness. Thank you for catching the Empress.”
“You don’t deserve my gratitude, Young master.”
Etensel froze with a smile at his nonchalant and straightforward answer. Roxanne, who was standing in front of the young fox who was wary of him, leisurely asked,
“You’re the second son of the Cruds family. What’s going on at the Empress’s Palace?”
“I was looking for my fox. The Empress said she was taking care of it. But, how did you come all the way here, Your Highness? This is quite deep in the garden.”
Etensel opened his eyes wide as if he were puzzled.
He had a clear reason for looking for the fox with Sepia.
But you don’t, do you?
Roxanne lowered his voice lazily as Etensel asked with his gaze.
“Because I don’t need such a reason. Oh, young master might not know what this means.”
Etensel’s expression distorted at the nuance of making a slip of the tongue in front of a child.
On the contrary, Sepia recalled her afternoon schedule at Roxanne’s words.
‘Roxanne was supposed to visit.’
It was to check the imperial map he had borrowed.
Looking at the sky, the sun was already setting.
It seemed that he had come to find Sepia himself, as she had spent more time than expected searching for an unscheduled fox.
Roxanne also had a clear reason for meeting Sepia.
However, the meaning of what he said must have been because he recognized the eyes of the world.
The Empress’s one and only mistress.
For the sake of the illusion that was still being maintained.
“Don’t treat me like a child. I understand that you, too, are not married.”
Etensel revealed his face.
The Beastkin Empire was creating an atmosphere where those who were not married were not recognized as full adults.
What was the difference between him and me?
Roxanne let out a crooked smile in front of the young male who insisted like that.
“There are different reasons for not meeting a companion. For example, the captain of the guards of Kurds is a workaholic.”
Jasper had not yet found his match.
Roxanne had spent a long time on the battlefield, so she had no time to meet a woman.
However, Etensel was not like that.
He had not found a match due to his long illness, but Roxanne acted as if he knew another reason.
Etensel, who had to take back what he had said, kept hia mouth shut.
Roxanne showed mercy to the fox who was glaring at him.
“If you have lost something, you should find it quickly. If you need help, I am willing to give you my knights.”
“... If those who smell blood stir up the garden, they will hide instead.”
“Really? That’s too bad. From now on, you will have to wander the garden alone.”
Etensel finally showed his teeth at Roxanne’s words.
His personified fangs flashed whitely with a rumbling sound.
While the young beast was extremely excited, Roxanne showed no emotion at all.
A fox that had just entered its teenage years was no match for him.
Before things could get serious, Sepia mediated.
“The Empress's palace will release the servants and search for it. If we find it, we will send word to Kurds, so you should go back now.”
“But...!”
The large green eyes made an emotional appeal.
It looked very pitiful, but she had to shake her head.
“I have a prior arrangement with the Duke.”
The corners of Etensel’s eyes drooped at the words that he had to go back soon anyway.
“...I understand. I’ll come see you again.”
He nodded as if he had gathered his courage, and turned his back.
He didn’t forget to glare at Roxanne before turning away completely.
The sight of Etensel returning reminded him of the fox that had been wary of Roxanne.
Sepia asked in the forest where the two were now alone.
“How did you know I was here?”
“The Empress’s maid told me. I felt bad asking since it seemed like you were having a good time with the captain of the guards.”
Etensel frowned at the cold golden eyes.
Sepia turned her head at the conversation between the two men.
Etensel, who had entered Sepia’s sight, changed his expression as if nothing had happened and came down from the bridge.
He looked at Sepia with worried eyes.
“I was careless. Are you hurt?”
“I’m okay. It wasn’t Young master’s fault.”
Even though he had offered to hold her hand, Sepia had pushed it away and come down.
“Still. I’m glad you’re okay.”
Even if she had gotten hurt, it would have been nothing more than a fall.
Seeing Etensel shaking his head at the words that it wasn’t his fault, the captain of the guards came to mind.
It seems that even brothers who look completely different have similar characteristics.
While Sepia was estimating, Etensel stood facing Roxanne.
Etensel thanked him with a smiling face.
“Hello, Your Highness. Thank you for catching the Empress.”
“You don’t deserve my gratitude, Young master.”
Etensel froze with a smile at his nonchalant and straightforward answer. Roxanne, who was standing in front of the young fox who was wary of him, leisurely asked,
“You’re the second son of the Cruds family. What’s going on at the Empress’s Palace?”
“I was looking for my fox. The Empress said she was taking care of it. But, how did you come all the way here, Your Highness? This is quite deep in the garden.”
Etensel opened his eyes wide as if he were puzzled.
He had a clear reason for looking for the fox with Sepia.
But you don’t, do you?
Roxanne lowered his voice lazily as Etensel asked with his gaze.
“Because I don’t need such a reason. Oh, young master might not know what this means.”
Etensel’s expression distorted at the nuance of making a slip of the tongue in front of a child.
On the contrary, Sepia recalled her afternoon schedule at Roxanne’s words.
‘Roxanne was supposed to visit.’
It was to check the imperial map he had borrowed.
Looking at the sky, the sun was already setting.
It seemed that he had come to find Sepia himself, as she had spent more time than expected searching for an unscheduled fox.
Roxanne also had a clear reason for meeting Sepia.
However, the meaning of what he said must have been because he recognized the eyes of the world.
The Empress’s one and only mistress.
For the sake of the illusion that was still being maintained.
“Don’t treat me like a child. I understand that you, too, are not married.”
Etensel revealed his face.
The Beastkin Empire was creating an atmosphere where those who were not married were not recognized as full adults.
What was the difference between him and me?
Roxanne let out a crooked smile in front of the young male who insisted like that.
“There are different reasons for not meeting a companion. For example, the captain of the guards of Kurds is a workaholic.”
Jasper had not yet found his match.
Roxanne had spent a long time on the battlefield, so she had no time to meet a woman.
However, Etensel was not like that.
He had not found a match due to his long illness, but Roxanne acted as if he knew another reason.
Etensel, who had to take back what he had said, kept hia mouth shut.
Roxanne showed mercy to the fox who was glaring at him.
“If you have lost something, you should find it quickly. If you need help, I am willing to give you my knights.”
“... If those who smell blood stir up the garden, they will hide instead.”
“Really? That’s too bad. From now on, you will have to wander the garden alone.”
Etensel finally showed his teeth at Roxanne’s words.
His personified fangs flashed whitely with a rumbling sound.
While the young beast was extremely excited, Roxanne showed no emotion at all.
A fox that had just entered its teenage years was no match for him.
Before things could get serious, Sepia mediated.
“The Empress's palace will release the servants and search for it. If we find it, we will send word to Kurds, so you should go back now.”
“But...!”
The large green eyes made an emotional appeal.
It looked very pitiful, but she had to shake her head.
“I have a prior arrangement with the Duke.”
The corners of Etensel’s eyes drooped at the words that he had to go back soon anyway.
“...I understand. I’ll come see you again.”
He nodded as if he had gathered his courage, and turned his back.
He didn’t forget to glare at Roxanne before turning away completely.
The sight of Etensel returning reminded him of the fox that had been wary of Roxanne.
Sepia asked in the forest where the two were now alone.
“How did you know I was here?”
“The Empress’s maid told me. I felt bad asking since it seemed like you were having a good time with the captain of the guards.”
It seemed that Sepia’s maid was completely enamored with the eldest son of Kruds.
‘He must have a lot to say since he’s a scorpion.’
Sepia laughed as she thought of Jasper, who was being bombarded by Betty’s questions.
“I made things worse.”
“No, it’s actually a good thing.”
Was he saying that he was glad that they met without passing each other?
While Sepia was interpreting the ambiguous words, he held out his hand.
“You should also be careful of immature males. Their innocent faces can sometimes be weapons.”
“...Is that so?”
Instead of concentrating on his words, Sepia looked down at the hand in front of her.
‘I don’t know.’
Why was only Roxanne okay?
Whether it was a favor or not, the moment the other person reached out, she should have felt uncomfortable. However, Sepia put her hand on him.
Even in the middle of winter, the hot body temperature slowly melted Sepia’s tension.
Roxanne walked through the garden while holding her hand.
“Be careful where you step. Even though the snow has been cleared, rocks and such are frozen by moisture.”
“Yes.”
Sepia nodded.
Her mind had been stained with the same worries since before.
Roxanne and the other males.
And even Demios.
‘What’s different?’
Sepia paused for a moment and looked back at the spot where Etensel had left.
Her aversion to young males was also effective. But why.
“Do you care about young foxes?”
“Oh, no.”
Roxanne’s eyes were fixed on her.
Sepia, who realized that she had stopped, moved her legs again.
His delicate gaze observed her movements.
Sepia hesitated for a moment and opened her mouth as if confessing.
“... I just wonder why he's doing that.”
Etensel didn’t show mercy enough to repay the favor.
Nevertheless, the eyes of the male she had met for the first time were filled with affection for her.
The inexplicable affection felt strange.
Until now, the emotions she had not identified had mostly come back to her as poison.
Roxanne smiled as if he knew something in response to Sepia’s question.
“It seems that the young beast of Kruds wants to be friends with Sepia.”
“Friend? That’s impossible.”
Sephia, taken aback, denied his opinion.
Roxanne had been the only bold subject who had ever asked the Empress of the empire to be her friend, and she would probably continue to be the same in the future.
Roxanne laughed off her denial and expressed his own opinion.
“But I wish I were your only friend.”
“...I tried to tell you this before. Roxanne often makes remarks that could be misunderstood.”
“Is that so? I’m serious.”
Shrugging his shoulders, he walked in time with Sepia’s movements.
The days were short in winter.
The cloudy sky was already showing signs of sunset.
The murky light was a good time to bewitch people.
Sepia asked, watching him soaking in red.
“Have you found your lover?”
Roxanne stopped walking.
Sepia was surprised by the question that came out of her mouth without her knowing.
Perhaps it was too sudden a question. She tried to calm herself down by saying that he didn’t need to answer, but he was faster.
“I found her. However... She was already married.”
The ten years that had brought victory to the empire had been long and cruel.
His smile, with his eyes downcast, seemed as lonely as the gray sky.
“I asked you something unnecessary. I don’t know how to comfort you.”
In the end, Roxanne also failed to find love.
Waiting was equally cruel to the one who waited and to the one who had to make you wait.
He shook his head at Sepia’s self-reproach.
“No. It was my fault for being late. It wasn’t her fault.”
It is impossible to do as one pleases in the world that one is born into.
If you were born as life, everyone would be like that regardless of their status. It was when he, who had been talking about the meaning of time, continued to speak.
‘He must have a lot to say since he’s a scorpion.’
Sepia laughed as she thought of Jasper, who was being bombarded by Betty’s questions.
“I made things worse.”
“No, it’s actually a good thing.”
Was he saying that he was glad that they met without passing each other?
While Sepia was interpreting the ambiguous words, he held out his hand.
“You should also be careful of immature males. Their innocent faces can sometimes be weapons.”
“...Is that so?”
Instead of concentrating on his words, Sepia looked down at the hand in front of her.
‘I don’t know.’
Why was only Roxanne okay?
Whether it was a favor or not, the moment the other person reached out, she should have felt uncomfortable. However, Sepia put her hand on him.
Even in the middle of winter, the hot body temperature slowly melted Sepia’s tension.
Roxanne walked through the garden while holding her hand.
“Be careful where you step. Even though the snow has been cleared, rocks and such are frozen by moisture.”
“Yes.”
Sepia nodded.
Her mind had been stained with the same worries since before.
Roxanne and the other males.
And even Demios.
‘What’s different?’
Sepia paused for a moment and looked back at the spot where Etensel had left.
Her aversion to young males was also effective. But why.
“Do you care about young foxes?”
“Oh, no.”
Roxanne’s eyes were fixed on her.
Sepia, who realized that she had stopped, moved her legs again.
His delicate gaze observed her movements.
Sepia hesitated for a moment and opened her mouth as if confessing.
“... I just wonder why he's doing that.”
Etensel didn’t show mercy enough to repay the favor.
Nevertheless, the eyes of the male she had met for the first time were filled with affection for her.
The inexplicable affection felt strange.
Until now, the emotions she had not identified had mostly come back to her as poison.
Roxanne smiled as if he knew something in response to Sepia’s question.
“It seems that the young beast of Kruds wants to be friends with Sepia.”
“Friend? That’s impossible.”
Sephia, taken aback, denied his opinion.
Roxanne had been the only bold subject who had ever asked the Empress of the empire to be her friend, and she would probably continue to be the same in the future.
Roxanne laughed off her denial and expressed his own opinion.
“But I wish I were your only friend.”
“...I tried to tell you this before. Roxanne often makes remarks that could be misunderstood.”
“Is that so? I’m serious.”
Shrugging his shoulders, he walked in time with Sepia’s movements.
The days were short in winter.
The cloudy sky was already showing signs of sunset.
The murky light was a good time to bewitch people.
Sepia asked, watching him soaking in red.
“Have you found your lover?”
Roxanne stopped walking.
Sepia was surprised by the question that came out of her mouth without her knowing.
Perhaps it was too sudden a question. She tried to calm herself down by saying that he didn’t need to answer, but he was faster.
“I found her. However... She was already married.”
The ten years that had brought victory to the empire had been long and cruel.
His smile, with his eyes downcast, seemed as lonely as the gray sky.
“I asked you something unnecessary. I don’t know how to comfort you.”
In the end, Roxanne also failed to find love.
Waiting was equally cruel to the one who waited and to the one who had to make you wait.
He shook his head at Sepia’s self-reproach.
“No. It was my fault for being late. It wasn’t her fault.”
It is impossible to do as one pleases in the world that one is born into.
If you were born as life, everyone would be like that regardless of their status. It was when he, who had been talking about the meaning of time, continued to speak.
“...But we’ll have to wait and see if that male is worthy of being a companion.”
A sharp wind blew. The sound of snowballs landing on tree branches and falling to the ground could be heard here and there.
“What did you just say?”
Because of the commotion earlier, she couldn’t hear Roxanne properly. It seemed like the wind was signaling the coming of night, and the surroundings became even darker. It was probably the time to turn on the lights, as one by one, the lights in the corridor connecting the garden and the Empress’s palace began to flicker.
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