Anything else besides massage?
That afternoon there was an inauguration ceremony for the new guard.
The plan was to reorganize the existing knights into a unit dedicated to protecting the Empress, and the person they would pledge their loyalty to was naturally the future Empress, Riella.
As the new master of the knights, Riella personally pinned medals onto the chests of each knight.
The knights knelt before Riella, raising their swords, and swore their loyalty.
The formal proclamation by Emperor Herhan followed, and the ceremony ended with a parade of the guards around the palace accompanied by a volley of cannon fire.
‘Wasn’t there supposed to be more to the ceremony?’
The order of introducing the guests seated in a row at the front of the stage, or the congratulatory speeches from several ministers.
But when Riella looked at the order of events again, the relevant content was not there.
‘Was it always like this?’
Riella tilted her head, then shrugged her shoulders.
‘It would be nice if it finished early!’
* * *
After the inauguration ceremony was successfully concluded, a banquet was held to honor the knights’ new oath.
Though nervous, Riela bravely stepped forward and gave the first toast. The knights responded with a resounding cheer, saluting their new Master.
“I look forward to working with you in the future.”
“Yes, Lady Blinite. We shall be your swords and shields, offering you our hearts.”
“Pfft. Alright. Thank you, Sir Andel.”
Riella called out every one of the knights by name and encouraged them one by one.
Most of the newly appointed Imperial Guard were from the 2nd Knight Templar, where they had formed a bond with Riella. Those who volunteered went through rigorous skill assessments and even a personal evaluation by Herhan, ensuring not only their exceptional abilities but also their unwavering loyalty.
“With great honor, I raise a cup of oath to Lady Blinite.”
One such knight held out a glass in front of Riella.
‘It’s finally time to share the cup of oath.’
Riella swallowed, feeling slightly nervous.
There was a time-honored tradition that a knight who had sworn the sword must share a drink with his lord.
‘There are thirty people in total, so thirty glasses. Even if I just pretend to drink, I’ll still have to take at least a sip from each… Ugh, will I be okay?’
That was the reason why Riella was unusually nervous today.
What if she got drunk? What if she embarrassed herself in such an important setting?
At that moment, as she took a deep breath, her eyes met Herhan’s from across the hall.
“You’ll be fine, Riella. I’m here, so what are you worrying about?”
Herhan had said that countless times to Riella, who was anxious ahead of today’s ceremony.
“But, Your Majesty, you looking after me doesn’t change the fact that I’ll get drunk if I drink too much.”
There was no use crying now.
Herhan, sitting across from her, just stares at her as if he believes her, so Riella can’t escape in that situation.
“I will receive the cup from sir Andel.”
‘No matter what happens, I will stay calm and overcome this hardship.’
Riella firmly accepted the glass the knight offered her and took a sip calmly.
But…
‘Huh? Sweet?’
Riella heard that the alcohol used in the ritual was very strong.
She glanced at the knight standing in front of her or the servant pouring drinks next to her, wondering if something was wrong, but they all seemed calm.
Riella tried her best to hide her bewilderment as she refilled her glass and offered it to the knight.
The knight, who had emptied the contents of his glass in one gulp, bowed to Riella with an indifferent expression and stepped back.
The second knight and the third knight were the same.
‘Why doesn’t anyone point this out? This isn’t alcohol, it’s just fruit juice.’
‘Could it be that some conspiracy is going on that I am unaware of?’
‘In that case, the culprit must be that person.’
As Riella, who had begun to have reasonable doubts, glanced at Herhan on the other side, the fifth knight to share a drink withdrew, and Count Delcour announced that the ceremony was over.
“Huh? But I’ve only shared drinks with five people.”
“There was an order to simplify the ceremony. So we selected only five people as representatives.”
“I never gave such an order, who—”
It was a stupid question.
As the future empress and master of the new guard, there could only be one person who could give such an order without going through her.
“Riella. Now that the ceremony is over, let’s go rest first.”
It was Herhan.
“Your Majesty.”
Riella gazed up at him as he suddenly appeared before her table, having crossed the stage without her noticing.
He had been sitting coldly in the distance all this time, yet he somehow knew exactly when the ceremony would end and had approached her just in time.
It was only then that the realization dawned on her that all of that was Herhan’s doing.
The inauguration ceremony also ended earlier than scheduled.
In that important traditional ceremony, the knights drank apple juice instead of the oath drink and then sat down quietly.
Riella suppressed her laughter at the absurdity of it.
“Let’s go, Riella. I’m so tired.”
“But I can’t leave already, right?”
“It’s okay. The formalities are over. From here on, it’s just an afterparty. We don’t need to stay.”
“Really…?”
That was Herhan—he was always scheming something behind her back, so she couldn’t trust him completely.
“Yes. If you don’t believe me, ask Count Delcour.”
Certainly, she glanced at Count Delcour and he nodded lightly.
“And since you’re still inexperienced in ‘high society etiquette,’ let me tell you—at events like this, it’s polite for high-ranking people to leave early. That way, the knights can relax and enjoy themselves.”
“Hmm…That sounds right.”
“See? I told you.”
Herhan grabbed Riella and helped her up.
As the two stood up, all the guests, including the knights who were enjoying the banquet in their seats, also stood up.
It was Herhan who raised a hand, silently signaling them to relax and enjoy the rest of the evening.
“Then…Shall we go in?”
Herhan held Riella’s hand tightly as she asked cautiously.
As soon as she left the banquet hall, Riella finally felt like she could breathe again.
* * *
Despite returning to her bedroom, Riella didn’t waste time and immediately sat at her desk after washing up.
She was scheduled to attend the meeting Herhan was leading tomorrow in an official capacity, so she wanted to review the agenda in advance.
“Oh, I canceled the meeting for tomorrow.”
Just as she was about to dive into her studies, Herhan casually remarked as if it were nothing.
Riella looked up with a puzzled expression.
Herhan had already gone into the bedroom.
“You canceled the meeting? Why?”
Riella was startled and followed Herhan in.
“Because I’m tired.”
“……”
Her eyes, which had widened in shock, gradually narrowed at him.
“Should we go to bed early today? Instead of studying?”
“Why? Because Your Majesty is too tired?”
“Exactly.”
By now it should have been obvious that his true intentions had been revealed, but Herhan was shameless.
“The reason why the event was simplified today is because Your Majesty was too tired, and the reason why You took me out of the banquet was because Your Majesty was too tired.”
“Mm-hmm. I’m absolutely exhausted. Maybe I’ve been pushing myself too hard. What if I collapse at this rate?”
As if to emphasize his words, Herhan dramatically twisted his waist, adding an exaggerated act to his complaint.
Riella was at a loss for words.
‘I think I could just laugh it off with a light heart, but why does a corner of my heart feel heavy and choked up?’
Maybe, just like Herhan had said, she had been pushing herself too hard all this time, too.
To the point where she was close to reaching her limit.
‘It would’ve been easier if he had just told me I looked exhausted and should rest.’
If Herhan had done that, maybe she would have felt a little disappointed after working so hard.
But instead, he had simply watched over her.
Letting her chase after her ambitions as much as she wanted.
Quietly supporting her, while always ensuring there was a safety net behind her.
He was someone to be grateful for. Someone truly beautiful.
Herhan was already lying down on the bed, bathed in the sunset light.
It was still early evening and the red glow in the sky had not yet completely subsided.
‘As if you actually need sleep.’
‘Was he still acting? Or had he really decided to rest this early?’
Riella looked at Herhan, lying there with his eyes closed, looking utterly at ease.
It felt like the north wind that had pushed her fiercely had passed and the bright sunlight was shining.
“Then I’ll go to bed early too.”
For the first time since officially becoming his fiancée, Riella climbed into bed at that early hour.
She buried herself in Herhan’s embrace and finally let out the feelings she had been suppressing.
“Honestly, I’m exhausted. I just want to drop everything and get some sleep.”
Then, Herhan, who had been pretending to be asleep with his eyes closed the whole time, burst out laughing.
“Riella, turn around for a moment. Sit with your back to me.”
“Why? I want to stay like this.”
When she reluctantly pulled away and turned her back to him, Herhan’s hand came up to her stiff shoulders and neck.
“Ah….”
Herhan spent a long time personally loosening Riella’s tense muscles.
She liked his kindness. Or maybe just because she liked his touch.
Riella smiled brightly and then opened her mouth.
“Your Majesty, do you know that? I have become very rich.”
“What?”
“I have everything now. The noble ladies have given me so many gifts—I must have at least a hundred handkerchiefs. Dresses, shoes… Yesterday, a southern merchant guild even sent me a pearl necklace. Do you know the Keltone merchant guild? They sent me silk fabric.”
“I see. That must be nice, being rich.”
Herhan laughed softly.
“I’ve never had so much in my life. I’ve never been loved by so many people, either. It’s like I suddenly became someone important.”
“……”
“That’s why my shoulder hurts. I guess it’s because I’m carrying a lot of things.”
Herhan continued to smile as he gently massaged the back of her neck with his large hands.
Her neck, which was always so soft, is now so stiff.
It was because she was always tense and upright, thinking she had to show off her dignity.
She must have been struggling.
“Was it the same for you, Your Majesty?”
But instead of boasting about how hard it had been, Riella turned to Herhan and opened her wide eyes.
“Your Majesty, you have to carry much more than I do. Are you okay, Your Majesty?”
“Well, what if I said I wasn’t?”
“Then maybe it’s time to switch places.”
“Switch places, how?”
“Now I will give you a massage.”
Before Herhan had even answered, Riella made a determined expression and began to roll up her sleeves.
“I will relieve all your fatigue!”
But before she could even begin, she suddenly found herself lifted into the air.
Herhan had effortlessly pulled her onto his lap.
“Anything else besides massage?”
“What else….”
Riella’s face turned red in an instant.
Of course, she knew exactly what he meant.
“Riella.”
Herhan murmured her name as if coaxing her, his large hand stroking her hair.
She had been in his embrace so many times, yet now, his touch felt unfamiliar and arousing.
“You said you’ve become rich from all the love you’ve received. Won’t you share some of that love with me?”
‘Share it? It’s already all yours.’
There was no time for Riella to answer like that.
Herhan, whose patience had run out at the sight of the red gaze looking down at him with longing, got up first and pulled Riella towards him.
Without anyone saying who would go first, the lips of the two people overlapped each other softly.
* * *
