There are things one must do, even if reluctantly.
Epherna had always carried out such tasks without resistance.
What had to be done was a duty, and she wasn’t irresponsible enough to forsake her obligations.
But everyone has moments when their heart races so intensely that nothing else seems to matter—when the feeling travels to the tips of their fingers, making everything else impossible to focus on.
“I… I can’t do this.”
“You still must, Your Majesty.”
“I can’t concentrate!”
Merien looked at her with a troubled expression.
It had been three years since Epherna ascended to the throne, but this was the first time something like this had happened.
Initially, Merien had worried about her overexertion, but now it seemed to be the opposite.
‘Perhaps it’s because she finally has someone to lean on.’
Epherna now sought out Ern at least once every hour during her duties.
At first, Merien had thought it was only natural, given the prolonged separation between lovers.
But as time passed, her thoughts began to shift.
‘She’s only 23.’
Merien was almost certain—Epherna’s stress and the immense weight of responsibility she had shouldered for the past three years were finally catching up to her.
Merien understood Epherna well. She knew how much she had held back and how her restraint had enriched the Empire.
Epherna deserved a break.
“When is our travel date again?”
“The day after tomorrow, Your Majesty. You’ve already asked three times.”
“Why does time feel like it’s dragging? I feel like I’ve been asking for time off for a week now.”
“Your Majesty, your workload won’t simply vanish, even with the automation measures you’ve implemented. You, of all people, should know this best.”
“Ugh… I just want time to pass quickly.”
“Didn’t you just return from a trip with your close friends? Didn’t that help you unwind?”
“That wore off long ago. It’s the only reason I’ve managed to endure until now.”
Before entering the Academy, Epherna had been adventurous, traveling to every corner of the north, west, and even the southern and eastern regions.
Though much of it had been work-related, those journeys fulfilled her desire to explore.
But ever since joining the academy, her movements had been drastically restricted.
Now, even for official visits, she sent emissaries instead of going herself.
“By the way, where is my husband-to-be? I haven’t seen him since lunch.”
“I heard he has a guest, Your Majesty. He asked me to let you know he’d return soon.”
“Oh…”
“Shall I call him for you?”
“No, he’s likely busy. I should focus too.”
The sound of a quill scratching against parchment soon filled the room.
*****
There was one last matter to address before departing.
“It’s been a while, roen.”
“Yes, Grand Duke.”
“You seem well. I take it the issues with the Revolutionary remnants have been resolved?”
“I believe so.”
Roen no longer addressed me informally.
As both the Empress’s consort and a Grand Duke, it was to be expected, though it still felt strange.
I supposed it was something I would need to grow accustomed to.
“Since the failed imperial bombing, the remaining hardliners have been silenced. However, in their final desperate acts…”
“You had to spill blood, didn’t you?”
“Far less than we anticipated, thanks to you, Archduke.”
“I didn’t do much.”
All I had done was force submission through strength.
I hadn’t achieved a bloodless resolution or changed the hardliners’ minds.
At best, I’d trimmed the burnt edges of meat to make them palatable.
While praiseworthy, it was far from ideal.
“Your Grace, please don’t belittle yourself. This situation could never have been resolved without bloodshed. Unrealistic ideals are not ideals—they’re illusions.”
“It’s strange hearing that from you, someone who once chased illusions so fervently.”
Roen, who had once been trapped in illusions, unable to dissuade the deluded old radicals, blushed at my words.
‘Was it really just yesterday?’
When I think about it, not much time has passed since the explosion terror incident.
Months, perhaps, but not enough for the memories to transform into mere recollections.
“…”
Roen blushed, seemingly embarrassed by her inability to act decisively in the past.
I spoke to her gently.
“The moderates like you won’t face judgment. Live as you wish. If you want to run a business, do it. If you want to use your skills as a soldier for the empire, then do that. Just don’t let the past bind you. While it’s true that the past hasn’t been fully settled, there’s still a future ahead of you.”
“…I’m truly grateful, Grand Duke.”
“Live well. That’s what will benefit both me and the empire.”
*****
Now, let’s see…
It should be somewhere around here.
“Here it is.”
This was definitely the place.
Even in the vast expanse of the Much-Sector, properties like this were rare.
This was the real estate office where I had been scammed eight years ago.
“G-Grand Duke! W-why have you come here without your guards…!”
The man’s face hadn’t changed at all since I last saw him eight years ago.
The only noticeable difference was the wrinkles etched by time.
“Don’t you remember my face?”
“…What?”
“You know I’m the Grand Duke, but you don’t recognize the face of the man you scammed eight years ago?”
“I… I don’t know what you mean…”
“XXX District, Lot XXX. Does that jog your memory?”
“Huh!”
“You told me it was a fine house, no issues at all, so I signed the papers. But when I stepped inside? It was a total wreck. Do you have any idea how much I spent fixing that place up?”
Thud!
“I’ll admit one thing—I was an idiot back then. Who in their right mind signs off on a house without properly checking it first?”
To be fair, I had just retired as a fresh recruit in society back then. Once I’d signed, there was no turning back, so I just accepted it.
My naive personality didn’t help—I swallowed my anger and remodeled the place myself.
“But seriously, you call yourself a real estate agent and scam people with fake pictures? Are you still pulling stunts like that?”
The man’s face turned pale as recognition finally dawned on him.
Before he could prostrate himself and beg for forgiveness, I spoke first.
“If you’re sorry, how about introducing me to a good property? Free of charge.”
“…What?”
“And I’d prefer it not to be in the Much-Sector. Somewhere not too far from the capital, maybe near a nice lake or the sea. Oh, and a spacious villa would be ideal.”
“A place like that… it doesn’t exist…”
“You’ve been in real estate for over 20 years. Surely, you can find something.”
“Well… Grand Duke, outside of Much-Sector or even Few Inner areas, properties like that—especially near the capital outskirts—are practically…”
“Why are you, the expert, already giving up? Surely you’ve got some connections in the capital outskirts? Like in the Carlos Region, perhaps.”
“…!! How do you know about that…?!”
“Anyway, I’m counting on you. Send a letter to the capital when you find something suitable.”
*****
Traditionally, the Emperor’s villa had always been the same location.
It was near the sea, surrounded by abundant nature, making it a perfect retreat for a few days of relaxation.
“The problem is, there are too many people.”
Servants, chefs, gardeners, and other staff…
The sheer number of attendants made it hard to truly relax.
“This isn’t what you want, is it?”
“…”
What Epherna wanted wasn’t lavish nature or a crowd of attendants. She wanted a cozy, secluded space where she could be alone with me.
A lake or sea nearby would just be a bonus.
So, I took the time to arrange something special, using my personal connections.
“How did you even find a place like this?”
It was a modest two-story house, the size of a wealthy countryside home.
Surrounding it was nothing but grass, trees, and a vast lake.
According to the real estate agent, it was built by a previous lord of the Carlos territory, who had spent a fortune constructing it but never lived to use it.
The property had been abandoned for years until now, cleaned and refurbished into my personal villa.
“Since it’s not imperial property, we won’t be able to send many staff here.”
Aside from a small number of attendants like Merien, everyone else would remain at the capital.
Even the attendants would stay at a separate house in the nearby forest, ensuring we wouldn’t be disturbed.
“Impressive. I didn’t expect this when you said you’d handle the vacation arrangements.”
“Men are supposed to be capable, aren’t they?”
It had taken a bit of coercion to secure the property, but seeing Epherna satisfied made it worth it.
She asked with excitement.
“The day after tomorrow, right?”
“Yeah.”
“I can’t wait.”
“Are you sure this is okay? There’s really nothing around—just rest and relaxation.”
“That’s exactly what I wanted.”
Epherna beamed with excitement, inspecting the villa’s exterior as she spoke softly.
“…It’s not like all we’ll be doing is resting.”
She whispered so quietly, I almost missed it.
