Since returning, I’ve been totally out of it.
Erica rushed over and hugged us, crying like there’s no tomorrow.
The problem was, the wall was still destroyed, so that scene was broadcast live outside.
In an instant, Iris, Aintz, and Pelaine all rushed to the Lichtenburg Mansion.
I unexpectedly reunited with someone.
It was Trie.
Given Trie’s personality, I thought she wouldn’t return until she reached a satisfactory level of growth.
I didn’t expect to see her again so soon, but I couldn’t hide my joy at seeing her face.
“What on earth happened?”
“We were attacked. I got sucked into a dimensional rift and visited another world.”
“Another world? What was it like?”
“Well, that’s—”
“Julia.”
I called out Julia’s name to subtly give her a hint before she could mindlessly answer.
I really didn’t feel like gabbing about the future where humanity gets wiped out.
It’s not exactly a cheerful topic, considering everyone gathered here would die desperately, and I wasn’t able to protect them.
Iris would probably see our gruesome deaths every day, but she wouldn’t spill everything, would she?
I felt the same way.
It was fine if it was said in my absence, but it felt a bit uncomfortable in this spot.
Noticing my discomfort, Julia silently gave a sly smile.
“Ah! What on earth happened back there?! Just tell me! Why is Julia’s skirt covered in blood?!”
“I need to visit the palace. Pelaine, will you accompany me?”
“Yes. I shall do so.”
“Trie, long time no see. You’re not leaving again, right?”
“Uh-huh. That’s not happening. Even the great Schlus Hainkel is struggling against foes now; I have to stay by your side.”
It was good news that Trie was staying behind.
I wasn’t sure how far Trie had come in her skills, but she probably wasn’t at the Sword God level yet.
I figured she wouldn’t be on par with me, who had enhanced my abilities threefold recently.
If I were hoping she had surpassed that, it would be sheer greed.
“Schlus!”
“Yes?”
“Over there… I’m so glad you’re back.”
“Yeah. I’m glad to see you again too.”
I figured giving a report to Aria was a priority, so I hastily headed toward the imperial palace.
On the way, Pelaine explained that I had been missing for four days.
During the time I was gone, a series of problems erupted from within and outside the empire, and we were on the verge of resuming war with the kingdom…
It seemed like everything was perfectly peaceful just before I was blown away; I was confused about how turmoil could arise in just four days.
“The Emperor is in the office.”
When I arrived at the palace, an attendant promptly began to guide me.
“However, His Majesty’s condition may be somewhat unusual.”
“Unusual how?”
“Well… It would be faster for you to see it yourself.”
*Creek* and the office door opened.
The moment I saw the mountain of paperwork piled on the desk, I couldn’t help but gasp.
“I’ll wait outside.”
“…”
*Creek* the door closed.
But Aria was nowhere to be seen.
Maybe she was hidden behind the paperwork.
I slowly approached the desk and peeked over the mountain of papers.
“Hey, you!”
“Y-Your Majesty?!”
Suddenly, Aria burst out from behind and tackled me.
Not caring as papers scattered everywhere, she lunged at me, knocking me down to the floor.
Flopping on top of me, Aria stared blankly at my face.
From her haggard face and the dark circles around her eyes, she looked incredibly tired.
“I heard you’re back!”
“Yes, it’s me, Your Majesty.”
“You really do look alike. No, you’re exactly the same. You’re just like that damn Schlus Hainkel I know…”
“Well, that’s because I am.”
Aria’s hands roamed over my face, pulling at my cheeks.
I could only remain still, utterly bewildered.
“Call me Aria.”
“How can I dare show such disrespect to Your Majesty—”
“It’s an order! Call me now!”
“Aria…”
“Yeah. That’s the tone. It’s really you. I missed you. The time without you was too long…”
Then, Aria slowly closed her eyes and collapsed onto me.
Seeing her chest rise and fall slowly as she breathed, it looked like she had fallen asleep.
She must have been overwhelmed with work, not sleeping and reaching her limit.
It makes sense, considering it had likely been too long since she was without me.
After all, I was awake for four days straight without sleeping.
“Sleep well.”
“Mhm…”
Aria twitched like a child and mumbled in her sleep.
I carefully adjusted my position to let her lie comfortably with her head resting against my thigh.
.
.
.
“Ah.”
What a refreshing wake-up.
No pain in my back or neck.
And my eyelids felt light.
Feeling unusually light, I sensed a wave of anxiety.
“Are you awake?”
“…”
The ever-expressionless Schlus Hainkel peered down at me.
Glancing at his face, Aria felt relieved yet simultaneously blushed.
“Ugh?!”
Aria quickly shot upright, distancing herself from Schlus.
After all that paperwork piled up, she had fallen asleep without noticing.
However, even more than that blunder, she couldn’t bear the thought of having showed a sleeping face to Schlus.
“W-Wait, you didn’t—while I was sleeping—”
“I didn’t touch a single hair.”
“Get lost…”
“Excuse me?”
You mean to say you didn’t touch me while I was asleep? It should be natural for a courtier, but for some reason, Aria felt slightly annoyed.
“I shall do so, Your Majesty.”
“No, stay. How many hours did I sleep?”
“Only four hours.”
“Four hours…”
What kind of sight must I have shown during that time?
Did I sleep talk?
The more I thought about it, the hotter my face felt, and Aria shook her head.
Regretting what’s already past wouldn’t change anything.
“So, did I say anything strange?”
“I didn’t hear anything strange. But each time my hand left your cheek, you kept pulling it back…”
“Alright! I don’t want to hear anymore!”
Aria shut her eyes tight and yelled.
She didn’t want to know about her antics while sleeping.
The more she heard, the hotter her face burned, as if it might explode.
“While you were gone… it was really tough.”
“You look it.”
“Are you making fun of me? I sincerely mean it. I’ve missed you more these past four days than ever.”
“…”
Turning her back, Aria conveyed her true feelings.
She couldn’t bring herself to meet his gaze.
It might be true that a series of external problems erupted while Schlus was away, but it felt strange to her.
“Your Majesty. Although late, I have something to tell you.”
“Speak.”
“The war with the Majin has already begun.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“The Majin, Tiltitz. The great sage has attacked under the name humans.”
“…”
Aria urgently turned to meet Schlus’s eyes.
This was news of a great war that would trivialize human conflict into mere child’s play.
*
“Did I take too long?”
On my way back to the Imperial University, the sky had already darkened, and the streetlights began to twinkle.
Seeing that Emilia couldn’t rush to the Lichtenburg Mansion the moment I appeared, she must have been busy with Intelligence Agency work.
And now, I was going to spend an extra five hours in the palace and was about to be the last to see Emilia.
Feeling a bit guilty, I decided to buy a small bouquet at a nearby flower shop.
*Creek…*
“Oh, brother. You’re back?”
“Yes, Emilia. How… have you been?”
“I’ve been fine. I was worried.”
“Uh-huh…”
That was an unexpected reaction.
Emilia greeted me from the entrance, looking just like usual.
I thought she would rush over and hug me tightly.
But since it had already been six hours since the news of my return spread, it wasn’t surprising that her heightened emotions had toned down a bit.
“I’ll make dinner.”
“Wait. Give me a kiss first.”
“I’m boiling soup. No way.”
Emilia immediately turned her back and headed to the kitchen.
Though her tone seemed prickly, I figured it could be due to the kitchen heat.
“Do we have a bottle for the bouquet?”
“Are you giving it to the Saintess? Check in the cupboard; there should be one.”
“No, it’s not for Iris—”
“Why? It looks pretty. I think the saintess would be happy to receive it.”
“…”
That’s when I finally realized.
Emilia was in a particularly sulky mood.
Given her sharpened tone and the fact that she wouldn’t even look at me, it felt like this would drag on for over a month if I left her be.
I approached Emilia, who was stirring the soup unnecessarily, and wrapped my arms around her waist.
“What are you doing? It’s uncomfortable. Just sit still while dinner’s getting ready.”
“I missed you.”
“…”
I buried my nose on the nape of Emilia’s neck, inhaling deeply.
At last, I felt like I was at home.
To think that campus felt like home, that sounded like something a graduate student would say.
“The bouquet is for you. I bought it with you in mind, something delicate yet vibrant, just like you.”
“You could have rushed over instead of picking flowers. What took you so long?”
“I’m sorry.”
“Is a single apology enough? You really have no sincerity.”
“I’m sorry. I was wrong.”
“You might as well make an excuse.”
“I don’t want to. No matter what happened, I should have come to you first. That was my fault.”
“Make an excuse… try it…”
“Really… it was so scary while you were away… I was worried you might never come back…”
Emilia turned to face me, her cute face appearing teary-eyed.
Suddenly feeling shy about showing her expression, Emilia cuddled up to me, burying her face in my chest.
Then sniffing around—
“What’s this smell?”
“Huh?”
Suddenly, she shot me an intense look.
I was so taken aback that I froze.
“This is a woman’s scent.”
“Oh. Uh, when I returned, Erica got emotional and hugged me once to thank me for protecting her younger sister. That must be it.”
“No way. You don’t get that kind of scent from a quick hug. It’s a smell from being close all day long.”
“That’s because… um…”
She truly had the nose of a hound.
It wasn’t anything major; I simply carried a child who couldn’t move for a whole day. But facing Emilia’s fierce gaze, I trembled as if I had committed a crime.
