According to Epherna, my official status on record is already marked as “deceased”.
It makes sense, considering I did truly die. However, as you can see, I somehow came back alive.
Now, it’s become a bit of a hassle to restore the records that were erased three years ago.
Still, Epherna mentioned that it’s not as big a deal as it sounds—just a matter of working the subordinates hard and putting in the necessary time.
The only unfortunate part, she said, is that some unknown government official’s night will be ruined because of it.
Anyway, beyond that issue, there’s a more pressing reason why the fact of my survival needs to be made public—my reputation.
My survival, which soared to prominence as a hero three years ago, has such significant historical implications that it can’t simply be ignored.
If the history books record that someone like me died and then came back to life, what kind of events might unfold in the future?
The thought terrifies me.
So, in this regard, a false narrative is inevitable.
Still, I couldn’t help but worry.
“Will the Imperial Family acknowledge this?”
In history, the fact of my death will be erased entirely.
Specifically, it will be recorded as merely part of an operation for the Empire.
My only concern was whether the Imperial Family would agree to such revisions.
Epherna responded.
“They probably won’t care at all.”
“Huh?”
The Imperial Family has an official institution for recording history, and they despise “distortions” more than anything else.
It’s because rewriting history involves a tremendous amount of work.
On top of that, fabricating a story around my supposed death would practically require creating an entirely new narrative.
Trying to weave it convincingly into the Empire’s historical events from three years ago would demand an extraordinary amount of effort.
However, Epherna added.
“This is nothing compared to my marriage issue.”
“Oh.”
The continuation of the royal bloodline is a far more critical matter than revising historical records.
With the Grandeum royal family nearly extinct, ensuring an heir is their most pressing concern.
If she used her marriage prospects as leverage or a threat, the Imperial Family would have no choice but to cooperate with the historical revision.
After all, apart from a few scholars working themselves to death, they wouldn’t really lose anything.
Marriage, huh.
Epherna is, what, 23 years old this year?
She’ll turn 24 after this winter, if I recall correctly.
She’s well past the age of adulthood.
For someone of royal blood, it’s more than enough time to have been married.
And yet, Epherna hasn’t even taken on a proper fiancé, let alone a husband.
The pressure from the Imperial Family must have been relentless.
“…”
After the banquet, in her quarters, Epherna sat before a mirror after her shower, her hair being combed.
Naturally, I was the one combing it.
Although it was Merien’s duty, now that I’ve been reinstated as part of her personal guard, it’s my job again.
After all, the original role of the personal guard is to serve as the hands and feet of their liege.
During my absence, Merien apparently went through quite a lot of trouble.
I should remember to thank her later and give her a gift.
As I pondered that, I noticed something.
Epherna’s golden hair, which I was combing, seemed… different.
‘…Was it always like this?’
Her golden hair has always been silky and luxurious, but this seemed beyond that.
It’s not that my prolonged absence made her appear more striking.
The nape of her neck, visible from behind, and her overall silhouette seemed just slightly different.
Compared to three years ago, the parts that should have filled out had done so, and the areas that should have slimmed down were now refined.
I could only surmise that her magical prowess had reached its zenith.
There are stages in the restructuring of the body that accompany such progress, and this must be the final form.
Epherna had achieved a human body optimized to its utmost potential.
‘Is that why…?’
Unconsciously, she was releasing a faint trace of pheromones.
Even she probably didn’t realize it.
Only someone with heightened senses like mine, having been away from her for three years, could notice such a subtle change.
This change likely stemmed from the innate reproductive instincts possessed by all humans.
It must be one of the phenomena triggered by the maximization of her human traits.
Any average man might fall for her just from seeing her face.
I’d need to be careful from now on.
Actually, I am the one who needs to be careful.
“…”
Poke. My finger lightly touched the center of the nape of Epherna’s neck.
“Huh…!”
For the record, it wasn’t an accident.
And yes, I fully anticipated that reaction.
Epherna assumed it was an accident and didn’t react further afterward.
At least, not until I poked her again.
“Ahh…!”
As I halted the combing, Epherna turned her head, her expression questioning my sudden action.
“…Why are you acting like this?”
“You’re cute.”
“…”
Just kidding.
Hot.
Abruptly, I grabbed her face, tilting her head back to make her look at the ceiling.
I had something to say—a grievance.
A rather significant one.
Looking down at Epherna’s face from above, I asked.
“Have you still not decided how to address me?”
I had been holding this in for a while.
Three years ago, Epherna called me “Mister”.
But I’m neither old enough nor do I have the kind of face to warrant being called that!
‘No, wait. That’s not the point.’
I briefly veered off topic.
Though I hadn’t shown it, I’d been quite bothered by it…
Anyway, this is something I need to address now.
“You’re not even calling me ‘Mister’ anymore.”
“…”
Since my return, Epherna had adopted a vague way of addressing me.
Sometimes “you”, or simply leaving it to context for me to infer.
I’d ignored it up until now, but I couldn’t let it slide anymore.
This was my sole complaint, so I voiced it.
“If you’re going to call me something, I’d rather you use my name.”
*****
Chamberlain Merien.
Merien, as the chamberlain, was originally tasked with managing the Imperial Palace’s household affairs.
Epherna’s personal attendant duties should have been left to other servants or her personal guard.
However, after the death of Ern, the sole member of her guard three years ago, Merien had taken on most of those duties herself.
Whether it was because of the aftereffects of losing Ern or some other reason, Epherna hadn’t listened much to anyone else’s words.
With Ern reinstated as her Personal Guard today, he was once again in charge of these smaller duties.
Today marked the first day of his resumption.
“…Why does the atmosphere feel so tense all of a sudden?”
To Merien, Ern and Epherna looked like a pair of children left out in the cold, and she couldn’t help but worry.
Would they fight?
Would they fail to resolve their lingering issues?
Anxiety gnawed at her.
“Is this really okay, dear?”
She had been secretly watching with her husband, Valtean, for support.
“They’re in their own little world right now, so it’s fine. But if we’re not careful, they might notice us.”
“Be quiet! Don’t you see this is an important moment?”
Merien bit her nails nervously as she observed Ern and Epherna.
The tension was palpable. Ern seemed dissatisfied with how she addressed him, while Epherna hesitated, chewing her lip without giving an answer.
This doesn’t look good, Merien muttered to herself, her complexion darkening.
But thankfully, her rising worries were soon replaced with relief.
Epherna’s ears turned red.
Covering her face with both hands, she muttered something about being embarrassed.
Ern laughed audibly, as if he found it amusing, and then hugged her from behind.
Wrapping his arms around her slender waist, he rested his chin on her shoulder and whispered into her ear.
He asked her to try calling his name.
“Oh my.”
“Wow.”
From that point on, everything turned pink with romantic tension.
Epherna, her cheeks flushed with heat, managed to say Ern’s name.
Ern, as if he found her endearing beyond words, smiled and asked her to say it again.
“I never thought I’d live to see those two acting like this. I thought it’d never happen.”
“Same here.”
Thinking back three years ago, this was a remarkable development.
There had been a time when every servant in the First Princess’s Palace had worried themselves sick over the pair’s relationship.
“…Doesn’t look like there’s much else to see.”
“Well… Still, you never know. Let’s wait a little longer—”
“We might be intruding on their moment. Besides, it looks like Ern’s already noticed us.”
“…How can you tell?”
“You can just tell.”
Among covert agents, there are signs used to indicate when surveillance has been noticed.
Ern discreetly sent one such signal to Valtean.
“…Alright. Let’s just go to bed now.”
“Yeah. Let’s check on our kid too, though they’re probably already asleep.”
*****
“…I’m so embarrassed.”
As Epherna covered her flushed face, one of my worlds seemed to crumble.
I hadn’t expected this level of cuteness.
To think that the Empire’s supreme ruler, my future wife, could be this adorable…
“Say it once.”
I hugged her from behind, whispering into her ear.
I meant it—I wanted to hear it.
“Stop…”
Seeing Epherna’s reddened face made me want more.
Even knowing Valtean and Merien were watching from beyond the wall didn’t bother me.
If anything, I wanted to show off.
Perhaps it was the result of combining genuine affection with dragon instincts.
In the past, I might have been cautious, but now I didn’t care.
After all, I truly liked Epherna—why should it matter if instinct added to that?
Lost in such thoughts, I was caught off guard by her sudden question.
“Ern…”
Oh.
“Have you ever… had ‘that’ kind of experience?”
“…”
Ah.
