“Put away your sword immediately!”
Upon hearing the report, the guards stormed into the dessert shop.
Astria did not even glance their way and remained steadfastly focused on Sena.
‘Not even the slightest tremor.’
Astria had seen countless people on the brink of death.
Whether kind or wicked, strong or weak, when their lives were threatened, there was always some sign of change.
But Sena’s gaze showed no sign of wavering.
It was one of two things.
Either he knew he would not die, or he was not afraid of death at all.
This was a matter Astria excelled at discerning.
“Do you think I can’t kill you?”
“No. I have seen countless people die from that blade.”
“But you do not fear.”
“It’s not a matter I can choose.”
“Oh? If you beg and cry, I might spare you.”
Astria moved the tip of her sword.
A stream of bright red blood began to flow from Sena’s neck.
Yet Sena’s gaze remained unwavering.
He did not even pull back his neck to avoid the blade.
It was as if he was someone devoid of the most fundamental survival instinct of a human.
“No. Even if I did not do so, Your Majesty would not kill me.”
“…!”
The person whose eyes wavered was not Sena but Astria.
“To say you cannot choose, did it mean something like this?”
Sena had said he could not choose.
That was not a matter of whether he lived or died.
It was because he knew he would not die here.
It was unbearably unpleasant.
Sena’s thoughts were correct.
Astria truly had no intention of killing Sena.
‘Even if I could read the future, I would still feel a trace of fear with a sword at my throat.’
‘To possess such outstanding judgment and boldness. And even hide such traits behind a foolish smile.’
Pass.
If this were some sort of test, Astria would have certainly said so.
“It feels like I’m beginning to understand you at the end.”
But that was a pointless endeavor.
It was already too late.
Astria withdrew her sword.
The murderous intent that had surrounded them dissipated.
With her stiffened body now able to move, the tense-faced guards surrounded Astria.
“State your identity.”
Astria calmly replied.
“I am Astria Laperci, the 17th Empress of the Laperci Empire.”
“…!”
A deathly silence settled, as if freezing the very air.
It was a reaction of disbelief at the unbelievable fact they had just heard.
“How dare you insult Her Majesty the Empress—!”
Naturally, they did not believe it.
No matter how unusual Astria’s aura or how radiant her golden hair was, it made no sense for the Empress, who should have been in the palace, to be here.
The Empress coldly gazed at them.
“Kneel and show your respect. What are you doing?”
“That, that’s absurd.”
“That is not for you to judge. At the very least, summon the lord. He knows my face.”
Sena was saddened.
“…What will you do from now on?”
Astria turned her back without hesitation.
“I’m returning to the palace. However.”
She hesitated for a moment but then spoke calmly.
“You will stay here. You are no longer my personal physician from today.”
**
After Astria’s shocking declaration, Sena walked to the agreed-upon location.
Even though the appointed time had not yet arrived, everyone had already gathered.
Sylvia’s eyes widened in shock upon seeing Sena’s appearance.
“Senior—!”
Sylvia rushed over and examined Sena. Blood was still flowing from Sena’s neck.
‘The wound isn’t deep. But what on earth happened?’
Sylvia, flustered, focused not on the wound but on Sena himself.
He seemed empty.
His eyes, usually like a lake filled with many emotions, now contained none at all.
Perhaps due to his appearance, Sena looked more like a doll than a person.
“Sena… Senior?”
“Oh, yes.”
Sena suddenly snapped back to reality.
“What happened? Could it be…”
“Oh, well.”
Sena awkwardly smiled and fidgeted.
The doll-like demeanor from just moments before was gone, replaced by his usual vitality.
However, he still looked somewhat dazed.
“…It’s nothing much.”
Sena forced a smile.
“I was dismissed as the personal physician. Her Majesty returned to the palace.”
“What?”
Sylvia wondered if she had misheard.
“Did you say Her Majesty went back to the palace…?”
“Yes. That’s what she said.”
“Why…? Why so suddenly?”
Astria’s actions were completely unexpected.
Sylvia, as well as Ellie and Lucia, were equally shocked.
“Well… maybe she started to hate me.”
“That can’t be true.”
Sylvia thought Astria was quite obsessed with Sena.
Whether it was affection or simple possessiveness, it was unclear.
But to suddenly leave like this?
‘Could it be…’
Sylvia had a bad premonition but quickly dismissed it.
It was none other than the Empress known as the Tyrant.
If her relationship with Sena had been discovered, she wouldn’t have just quietly returned.
“Then where is Her Majesty now?”
“She asked to summon the lord, so she’s probably with Marquis Rockefeller.”
Ellie and Lucia exchanged confused looks, clearly bewildered.
“Sena-nim, may we go see Her Majesty? There’s something we must say.”
Ellie’s request made Sena scratch his head.
“There’s no need to ask me for permission. Of course, you can go. It’s fine if you want to follow.”
“We won’t follow.”
Lucia spoke firmly.
“Our place is by your side. It’s just that this time, we have something we must convey.”
“…Really?”
Sena forced a weak smile.
He had no desire to coerce them.
At that moment, Sylvia grabbed Sena’s wrist firmly.
“We can’t just leave it like this. Let’s all go and talk to her. I’m sure Her Majesty will change her mind.”
Sena shook his head.
“No.”
“…Senior.”
Sena shrugged nonchalantly.
“Well, I do have some choices, don’t I? Traveling with my boss, it was awkward enough as it was, so this actually works out.”
Sylvia bit her lip slightly.
“You don’t look okay at all.”
“I’m really fine.”
Sena said in a low voice, then stretched as he changed his stride.
“Have you found accommodation? I’m tired from not sleeping properly last night.”
Sena was clearly changing the subject.
It was evident he didn’t want to talk about it, and continuing on the same topic would only make things worse.
“…I found a place. The room is a bit small, but since there’s one less person, it should be fine.”
“Great. Lead the way.”
Sena moved forward without hesitation, his steps light and seemingly cheerful.
“Senior, that’s not the right direction.”
Sylvia followed behind, while Ellie and Lucia looked at Sena’s back with worried expressions.
**
Arguments.
Even the best of friends have them from time to time.
Not to mention, there were frequent conflicts with Chris as well.
Although there were instances where Sena was at fault, most of the time the mistakes were on the other side.
Yet it was always Sena who extended the olive branch first.
Sena was not particularly afraid of apologizing.
In fact, he preferred it. He believed that the more he apologized, the stronger the bond with others would become.
“It heals quickly.”
“My body is surprisingly cost-effective.”
“…Please don’t talk about your body like it’s an object.”
“Haha, do you want to buy it? It’s on sale right now.”
As Sylvia said, the inn was cramped.
If Astria had been there, she would likely have complained, saying, ‘Are you telling me to sleep in a place like this?’ while grumbling and sleeping in the room that her knight had secured for her.
Despite her sharp nature, Astria was surprisingly considerate in some ways.
‘I brought this upon myself. It’s all my fault.’
It was entirely his own doing.
Sylvia had actually encouraged him, and it happened without any coercion from anyone else.
Despite that, he never told Astria about his remaining lifespan, even lying up to the very end.
Still, Sena had no intention of apologizing to Astria.
‘Only 9 days left. Even if I extend my lifespan, it won’t be long. The God of this world wants me to die soon.’
To reconcile, and then to cowardly die right after.
Wouldn’t that make him an irredeemable piece of trash?
That was how Sena felt.
“Senior.”
“Yes?”
Sena and Sylvia were sitting together on the bed.
“I will stay by your side until the end.”
Sylvia suddenly said, as if she had sensed something.
It was a truly grateful statement.
But it was also profoundly saddening.
After Sena died, Sylvia, who would know everything, would likely be the most tormented.
‘…So.’
Sena wrapped his arms around Sylvia’s neck.
Slowly moving his body, he lay on top of her.
“S-Senior?”
‘I need to give you everything I can.’
“I’m left with only you now, Sylvia.”
Sena’s head spilled over, tickling Sylvia’s face as he lay down.
“Sylvia, please don’t abandon me.”
Sena gently kissed her.
He straightened his back and removed his robe.
“I only need you.”
“Senior…”
For Sylvia, this was something she had only ever dreamed of.
It was like the man she had always had a one-sided love for confessing his feelings.
Yet she could not smile in victory.
Sena’s hair stood upright.
Every sweet word he spoke to her now was a bright red lie.
I’m not enough.
Sylvia realized this.
It was a maddeningly sorrowful truth.
But.
“If it hurts, tell me.”
“Isn’t that something a typical man would say?”
“What are you talking about? I’m the Empire’s greatest knight, and you’re an ordinary person.”
Sylvia was fine with even if this was just a play.
“It’s only natural that it’s overwhelming.”
Because she was that desperate.
