On the way back from the awards ceremony. Charlize faced Kahu.
"Long time no see."
"I greet the grandmaster."
Kahu has politely set an example.
Charlize didn't trust Kahu yet. Of course, she knew his faithfulness.
Kahu kept a secret.
"Congratulations on your award, young duke."
"…Thank you."
Kahu had a plaque on his hand.
It was Kahu who received the award for making a big contribution on the day of the ceremony.
In fact, all the nobles who participated in the awards ceremony knew. 'To receive an award' means to be a subordinate after all. Charlize had to reign above all.
So Charlize ended up being irrelevant, but it was taken for granted.
Even though they were the same nobility, the world they lived in was different, and the realm was different.
"Grandmaster also has a brighter expression than before. You look good."
"Is that so?"
Charlize smiled openly.
Kahu and Charlize exchanged words of blessing.
Charlize was comfortable, but in fact, Kahu was not in a good mood. He, of course, is upset that he has a crush on Charlize.
Rather than that.
'It's dangerous as it is.'
Kahu's green eyes were rationally vigilant. Kahu was wary of Charlize being given to Dylan. And the current Charlize who got Dylan too.
Because Charlize, who had already got Dylan, saw that the flow of the empire was reversed with just a light move.
He didn't know what Dylan who got Charlize would do.
Before she was the woman he liked,
He suddenly remembered the dizzying look of blood.
Kiera.
'Before that sword returned, the whole continent was stained with blood.'
Charlize Ronan had something to do with Kiera.
Maybe even the Empire.
Or somewhere, he had a gut feeling that something like that would happen again. So he looked more closely, and so he became more vigilant.
'Destruction.'
All he could think of was destruction.
A man who was the hidden master of the Empire, and a woman who had something to do with Kiera, who was stained with blood.
Because it's a combination of these two.
"I have one thing to tell you."
"…What is it?"
Charlize tilted her head to the side.
Even if the emperor takes Charlize with great care at the awards ceremony. No one said anything.
Kahu was the only one who sensed the danger and was wary of the combination of the two.
'I can't deny that I have a little bit of self-interest.'
He also had to say this publicly. Kahu took off his lips.
"I hope you don't get too close to His Majesty."
"…"
Charlize, who was quiet for a moment, smiled meaninglessly.
"It's the opposite of the first time I've met you. It's refreshing. As I said before, if you're trying to test me, I want you to stop."
"I'm not testing you. Even if you deny it, I'm already convinced."
Kahu was now strongly convinced of Charlize's return.
"You, aren't you, Liz?"
"…"
The winner of the swordsmanship competition, Liz.
Charlize's expression became strange. It was silence, but for Kahu, that alone was a sufficient answer.
Kahu bowed his head slowly.
"And, in fact. Even with my personal feelings… I don't want you to be with him."
It was you, not the grandmaster, and the man, not His Majesty. However, Charlize did not point out the rudeness of his words.
Kahu's guess was close to the truth. Besides, as long as he knew 'Kiera', the denial didn't mean much.
The only thing that got caught.
'Personal feelings?'
There was a subtle warmth of affection.
He raised his head. His strong green eyes were the only thing that captured Charlize.
"I am rationally attracted to the grandmaster. Therefore, as the housemaster, I hope you will not be with His Majesty."
But Kahu was different from Dylan.
If Dylan couldn't differentiate between public and private matters and falls in love with Charlize. Kahu's public feelings were greater than his private feelings.
So Kahu said what he had to say while feeling his heart pounding and trembling in his voice.
"But for me, the public is more important."
Charlize, who was quiet, slowly lowered her gaze and rose. A subtle look reached Kahu.
Kahu clenched his fist a little hard. If he hadn't come to his senses, he'd been fascinated by Charlize and seemed to collapse.
"…You're keeping me in check at the same time as your confession."
Charlize said.
Of course, the Emperor couldn't even approach the Lady he was courting publicly.
"Your combination is too dangerous."
Kahu replied firmly.
For the first time, Charlize realized that Kahu was older than her.
Even though he got this close to the essence of Charlize, it was the first time she'd ever seen a person who wasn't stained by her.
Maybe, this part.
It may have caused the difference between Charlize's attitude towards Dylan and Kahu.
Because Charlize was the only exception to Dylan.
But she had no intention of following Kahu's words. There was tension in the eyes that were tightly confronted in the air.
Charlize didn't avert his eyes.
***
A few days after that.
The envoy came from the Seruna Empire, where Dylan said he would start a war soon.
The reason was to promote friendship between the empires. Charlize was in charge of welcoming the envoy.
The envoy said in surprise to Charlize.
It was a natural reaction.
The language that Charlize could speak was not only the Seruna Empire.
As Kiera, there was no place on the continent that did not show its status. 400 years of time brings a lot to a person.
Charlize surprised the envoy with her extensive background knowledge and unobstructed subject matter.
Charlize's maids, who were watching from afar, spoke proudly.
"There's nothing the grandmaster can't do."
"She's amazing every time I look at her."
"His Majesty. Didn't he always look at the grandmaster that way?"
"Actually, it was strange from the beginning."
Dylan's courtship was also known by the envoys. Although it was not common for the emperor to court the grandmaster.
After meeting Charlize in person, the envoys convinced the whole story.
The beauty and the elegant atmosphere are reminiscent of a fairy. Charlize's knowledge was vast, and she was perfect with the charisma that made him bow his head repeatedly.
<…It is a beautiful necklace. Thank you.>
Charlize replied.
What the envoy gave was a mysterious blue diamond necklace. It was transparent and solid. Rare and expensive.
The peculiarity of the Blade Empire was that there were no female elders in the imperial family. There are no empress dowager or empress.
The highest position was Charlize. Perhaps higher than the emperor, all the envoys rushed to lower themselves in front of her.
The envoys even said things they had to hide from Charlize as if their vigilance had disappeared.
Charlize drank alcohol.
And she listened silently. She didn't know. The emperor who ruled the Seruna Empire in this era was a tyrant.
It was a word full of envy.
For Charlize, it felt very strange.
Just as Dylan caused a rebellion and overthrew the imperial family, the Seruna Empire had a nuance that it wanted the ruling power to change.
It was just a dangerous remark from an envoy, so he soon came to his senses.
As the banquet was about to end, Charlize said.
The envoys politely set an example.
Her steps back with the gift were slow.
Perhaps the nobles and people of the Seruna Empire would welcome Dylan's war.
When Dylan became their new ruler, they were sure to rejoice.
It was ironic.
Dylan would rule the continent as a perfect tyrant.
"Master."
"Oh, Your Majesty."
Charlize, who saw Dylan, was delighted.
"Did you finish your work safely?"
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Charlize smiled lightly as she saw Dylan in front of the imperial palace.
"Wasn't your Majesty busy with other business?"
"I'm done with my work."
Charlize paid attention to the box that Dylan was carrying.
Before she knew it, the sun was setting in the sky.
Dylan, who turned his back on the light, sticking out a box. Charlize waited still.
"Actually, I was in a hurry to give you this gift."
"What is it?"
"It's a necklace."
Should she tell him that she just received a diamond necklace from the envoy?
Dylan opened the box.
It was a much larger and more beautiful blue diamond than the envoy gave it to her.
'Shadow didn't report it?'
Charlize hid her expression for now.
"It's such a beautiful necklace."
There was sincerity in giving gifts. Charlize replied so that Dylan wouldn't feel embarrassed.
But Dylan smiled slowly as if he knew everything.
"I know that the envoy gave you a necklace."
"…?"
Well, there's no way he didn't know.
Charlize looked up at the unexpected remark. Dylan's blue eyes glistened like a sapphire. The emperor's uniform was elegant.
"Ah… Your Majesty. Excuse me, but may I ask why?"
If it were Dylan's personality, he would never give a duplicate gift. So Charlize was curious.
Dylan replied.
"On Master's birthday, I gave you a necklace that was separated with a dagger, so I tried to refrain from giving similar gifts."
Dylan's voice was firm. He continued.
"I always thought that a gift I gave should always be more precious than a gift from someone else."
"…"
"I want Master to be surrounded by only the gifts I gave you. Because I want to give you only the best things, where the word top is not wasted."
Charlize was out of breath for a moment.
'Dylan has always shown this level of tenderness.'
But why…
At that moment, all of Dylan's feelings surged like a wave and overwhelmed Charlize.
"See only the best, wear only the best, and listen to only the best words. Master is just precious."
Why didn't she notice it? She realized that it was so clear now. Dylan wanted Charlize as a woman. Mix skin and share the warmth. Kiss and love each other fiercely.
Also, Charlize, too, considers Dylan a man.
'Kahu and Dylan. They feel different to me.'
Ever since she met Kahu, she has been obsessed with that moment. But now she sees Dylan. All fell apart and disappeared.
She felt weird. She felt like he was a stranger, as a male.
'Why have I always been an exception to Dylan?'
Suddenly, she thought deeply. No, Charlize found the right word.
'This is.'
It was excitement.
To Dylan, she was excited.
Rationally. She was attracted.