The two arrived late at night.

After washing and changing into pajamas, Zerkan came into the room and paused.

It was because Raphine was already asleep in bed.

It was still the second day, but no matter how much time passed, it seemed that he would not be able to get used to it.

He's going to share a bed with someone.

Also with Raphine.

Zerkan walked cautiously, stretched out in the middle of the bed, and looked at Raphine, who was asleep.

He was cute as he fell asleep while kicking the blanket.

Zerkan lifted the blanket and covered it to the end of Raphine's neck. Three seconds later, Raphine kicked it again.

"...."

Zer Khan stood still and patted the nape of his neck. His tension made his body cold.

He kept brainwashing himself that he's not a real couple so there's no need to be nervous, but he was somehow strange.

'I think it would be even more tense if we were a real couple.'

Zer Khan pondered dozens of times whether to lie on the edge of his bed or not, then walked to the sofa.

His mind was cluttered and confused.

As he sat on the sofa and leaned back, his memories of the previous dinner came flooding back.

He didn't realize he was hanging out with him at one time in a warm family.

While eating, he suddenly turned his gaze to Raphine, and when their eyes met, Raphine rolled his eyes into a half-moon shape and smiled.

As soon as he saw that smile, he took his breath away. It was difficult to make eye contact with her, so he immediately avoided her gaze.

"Whoa...."

As he recalled his memories, the nape of his neck burned again. Zer Khan buried his face in his palm and wiped it away.

It was a confusing night. Somehow, I want to go outside and run... ... .

* * *

Early in the morning, Raphine woke up and blinked blankly in his eyes.

She was alone in her bed. It happened at the edge, but the problem was the seat on the side where Zerkan was sleeping.

'You must have slept well, okay.'

As soon as I came in after washing up last night, I fell asleep and couldn't see Zerkan's face.

Raphine stretched her out and got out of bed.

'It's definitely a couple's bed, so it's much bigger and more comfortable.'

It seems that Zerkan left for work very early today.

Raphine called her maids, had a leisurely breakfast and changed her clothes.

The mansion she lived in was also comfortable, but Hwangseong was better. First of all, it was wonderful that there were no Luka and Lois who were nagging.

'It looks like you're on vacation.'

Raphine sat up on the comfy sofa and ate her cookies, shaking her hands until her body melted.

'Now, let's make a list of handmaidens.'

As a result of thinking about it yesterday, she thought it would be good to pick two young girls from the academy.

'And the tea party invitation list... ... .'

In fact, her Majesty the Empress did give her a little hint about it.

Which nobles would it be better to invite?

However, there was one person who was worried.

A saint brought from the monastery by the empress.

The woman was now living in a temple near the Imperial Palace. She said that almost every day she visits the Empress, and she even sleeps in the Imperial Palace... ... .

'The Empress must be trying to take over her social circle through her saint.'

Certainly the nobles had a positive curiosity about the existence of her saint.

'Should I invite you or not?'

The Empress did not recommend it, but Raphine seemed to be a good opportunity to find out what her saint was up to.

It wasn't the only concern.

Rafine was thinking of forming a positive relationship with the people who participated in this banquet.

It was because he was going to invite a number of neutral factions who could give Zerkan his strength.

So I prepared something.

Now was the time when the tea party was popular due to the tea craze.

Recently, the greatest interest of the nobility was by far the tea leaves of black tea and precious teacups.

And no one knows, but Raphine was the easiest way to get those two in the Empire.

At this banquet, Raffine was going to present the most precious tea leaves currently available.

And I plan to give Imperial Mason's teacup set and premium tea leaves to the returning young-ae and ladies.

Tea cups and precious tea leaves from brands that are hard to find no matter how much gold there is. Everyone will be happy to return.

If the rumors spread, naturally, the number of nobles who want to be friendly with Raphine will increase.

'After all, political battles are battles of opinion.'

From now on, you will have to confront the empress in earnest.

Raphine struggled with how to contain the empress like a viper, Viscount Tedler like an exotic toad, and Antonio the bastard.

* * *

However, things were not going so smoothly.

That afternoon, an agenda came to the fore at the National Assembly.

It was about a damage accident caused by a beast in the border area.

"Masurai, that's absurd!"

"The crack has definitely disappeared. But how... ... !"

Upon hearing the news, the nobles fell into confusion. The complexions of some who had been through the war against the rift turned pale.

According to the report, the analysis of the wounds left on the bodies of the dead coincided with the damage caused by the demonic beast. However, the problem was that no one had directly witnessed the beast.

"Your Majesty, this is impossible! You need to investigate the facts. There is no reason for the beast to appear again!"

At the words of a nobleman, the nobleman on Viscount Tedler's side said sarcasticly.

"Last time, for what reason did the rift open?"

"You're right. There is no way this could be reported falsely!"

"Isn't it possible that the rift wasn't properly closed in the last war?"

The aristocrats began to stir at the question raised. On the other hand, some people who have already raised the argument have appeared.

"Then you are saying that the Crown Prince made a mistake?"

"Who said that? Why are you acting like a seizure? Do you want to stab something?"

"No, this one!"

bang bang!

An aide standing next to the emperor struck the floor with a thick staff.

The nobles found the emperor with a displeased expression and bit his mouth.

tt The emperor clicked his tongue low. They seem to have released the ambassadors too much lately because they have only been filled with pleasant things.

"If you don't want your tongue to be cut off, everyone, don't make fun of your mouth. First of all, I will send out the knights to investigate the truth."

The meeting ended like that.

However, the anxiety of the nobles did not go away.

Even after the meeting was over, the nobles did not return and gathered three or three and talked.

"What if a swarm of beasts like this comes to the capital?"

"There is something strange about it. The Crown Prince couldn't possibly have done that on purpose... ... ."

"What do you mean?"

"Think about it. Isn't it the Crown Prince who finished the rift? If the reappearance of the Demon Beast is real, who is to blame for that?"

"Hmmmm...."

Viscount Tedler and the aristocrats on the side of the empress were opposed to each other, but for this time, they began to talk as if they were one.

"How dare these people play with their mouths!"

"How hard the Crown Prince suffered for such a long time!"

The empress's aristocrats came forward, but the neutral aristocrats had already clouded their judgment with anxiety.

In the end, in half a day, the theory of Crown Prince responsibility has become a topic of debate among the aristocrats.

* * *

Raphine, who was leisurely contemplating how to punish the empress, was stunned when she heard the news that a magical beast had appeared.

'It's a good thing.'

Raphine bit his lip.

Originally, there was no way the demonic beast would appear again. Because even in the original, cracks never opened again.

However, as the flow has changed from the original, the attack patterns of the enemies must have also changed, so I couldn't be relieved.

What is certain is that this is not a recurrence of the crack. It is clear that someone made an accident.

'No one has ever seen the beast in person. More award-winning.'

As if waiting, the reaction of the nobles who pushed the Crown Prince to blame was also the same. It was funny how things were going so well.

Raphine asked Zer Khan's whereabouts through his attendant.

"Your Majesty will still be in the office."

After much deliberation, Raphine tried to leave the Sapphire Palace. However, just as Raphine was about to leave, Zerkan opened the door and entered.

"Your majesty."

Zerkan had a face that had gone mad.

Raphine remembered that Zerkan had a softer heart than she thought.

The ministers have shifted the responsibility to Zerkan overnight. He doesn't show off, but he must have been seriously hurt.

Raphine licked his lips and approached him slowly. It was like that before, but it was still difficult to comfort him.

But it was Zer Khan who opened his mouth first.

"Raphine, I need to be alone in the Imperial Castle for a while. Adrian will take special care of it, so don't worry about safety."

he said with an expressionless face. Raphine blinked in bewilderment.

"What do you mean?"

"I have some work to do, so I have to go to the border area."

"I know a little bit about it. But do you want to go yourself?"

"Just in case. If the crack is really open...."

Zerkan could not continue to speak and frowned. The hellish situation unfolded in his mind again.

Suddenly, a black smoke-like aura formed behind Zerkan. It was a dark spirit that grew up eating the dark feelings of its owner.

"No, what is this?"

Raphine waved his hand, shaking his smoke. Then she suddenly caught the dark spirit by the collar, but she was not revealed, so she could not be seen by her eyes.

Raphine grabbed Zerkan's dazed cheek. At the touch of the cold palms, Zerkan's pupils, which had been loosened, quickly settled.

"Don't be swayed by clutter. The crack did not open."

Zerkan stared at Raphine. Her confident demeanor was absurd, but her opponent was Raffine, so she somehow gained confidence.