'I'm very nervous.'

Raphine was in a state of tension that she had never felt before. The reason was unknown.

Is it because he feels sorry for Zerkan or because he is blinded by his incomparable beauty....

'I feel like vomiting.'

The moment Rafine fights tension.

Zerkan felt an unfamiliar feeling as she looked at Raphine, who did not even make eye contact with her with her head bowed.

Although it was not a coincidence, but a planned meeting, he was really happy with Rafine... It didn't seem like Raphine.

An unknown emotion confused him.

It was a strange feeling that was difficult to explain.

On the other hand, Raphine glanced at Zerkan from time to time during the awkward conversation.

'How does a person look like that?'

There was a reason why Zerkan's appearance was praised on every page in the original work.

The jaw line that makes me swallow my saliva, and the eyes full of excellence that make me wonder why they open their eyes like that.

Even if you draw it with a picture, you have a nose that seems impossible. Red lips that look moist.

'Besides, I have a lot of hair...? It is perfect.'

He was so handsome that it didn't feel real, so there was nothing to say.

'Your Majesty the Emperor and His Majesty the Empress did a really great job.'

To be honest, it can be said that the achievement of the two of them was over just by giving birth to Zerkan.

Even if they didn't do anything in the future, the achievements of the two men were nothing less than a great contribution to the history of the empire. Just that face is the best welfare in the empire.

"Come to think of it, I will be attending this coming-of-age ceremony."

"Ah yes. majesty. you're right."

"... yes."

Zerkan was unfamiliar with Raphine's tone, which was significantly different from when he was young.

Tell me... It seemed that he would no longer be called as friendly as before.

The wind blew through it as if there was a hole in the corner of my chest for nothing.

"I, then, I will... I came here because Her Majesty the Empress said that she had something to say."

"Oh yeah. I took too much time."

"no. It is an honor to be able to speak with His Majesty."

Raphine bowed her knees in such a respectful way and left.

Zerkan stood blankly as if he was the only one left in this world and looked at Raffine's back.

* * *

In the original story, Zerkan was a very blunt and cold man. So the nobles of the capital city admired him, but never approached him.

'But now it's different from the original, so it's going to be more popular.'

As a result of our conversation today, Zerkan had good manners, unlike the image in the original, which was drawn lightly.

His low but soft voice and tone were perfect.

'Okay, the opponents I'm facing will be satisfied.'

Raphine's heart swelled with the thought of making Zerkan's love business a success.

With such a thrilling gait, he hummed a hum and headed towards the Crystal Palace.

* * *

Unsurprisingly, the reason the Empress called Rafine was for counseling.

And the empress's worries....

"So, I tried to pick out some of the noble girls who would be okay... It didn't feel right at all."

Naturally, it was the problem of Zerkan's marriage.

The Empress tilted her teacup with a worried expression on her face. After listening to her concerns, Raphine fell into her thoughts.

After Zerkan returned to the capital, the Empress is said to have been contemplating choosing who could be Zerkan's marriage partner.

But it didn't seem like it was at all.

If the Empress had been an ordinary person, she would have chosen candidates from her out-of-town family.

But the Empress already knows it well from her past experience.

'The thing that the emperor checks the most is that the power of the foreign family grows.'

That is why we do not recklessly recommend foreign families as talents or present them as candidates for the Crown Princess.

'Because it is a matter of another dimension for the nobles to just gain power and for the foreign powers to gain power.'

So, although the emperor was tolerant of other nobles, he was resolute when it came to the appearance of the empress.

'You can't choose a candidate from the outlying family, so you won't like it even more.'

Raphine guessed the Empress's mind like that.

'But don't worry, Your Majesty.'

The candidate list prepared by Rafine was perfect. It was not an outside force of the Empress, nor was it a force that prevailed on the side of Viscount Tedler.

A close-neutral, educated family of scholars, a long-established knightly family with little interest in politics, a family that produced diplomats from generation to generation, etc.

All of them were young children of a family that the Empress was satisfied with.

"Your Majesty, don't worry too much."

"How can you not worry? If Zerkan meets a good mate soon, he will be stable in many ways...."

The empress's voice filled with a desire for Zerkan to be happy.

Raphine wanted Zerkan to be happy as well.

'Because it shouldn't flow into waste like the original.'

Raphine put her hand on the back of the empress's hand and said with sincerity.

"Your Majesty the Crown Prince will surely meet a good person."

"...."

"Besides, the Crown Prince had a friendly personality."

"Affection...?"

Raphine nodded her head.

The Empress frowned awkwardly and glanced at Raphine with meaningful eyes.

'It means that Zerkan is kind to Raphine...?'

The Empress was surprised by Raphine's words. No matter how cold Zerkan was, he was too cold.

After returning from the battlefield, they were still the same even after seeing each other after a long time.

Of course, even his inner feelings were not like that, but Zerkan was a character who could not express his feelings well.

'Maybe it's because of the resemblance to His Majesty the Emperor....'

The emperor and the empress also did not show their true feelings and were cold-hearted towards everyone.

It's gotten a little better now that she's gotten older, but when she was young, she wasn't as good as Zerkan.

But that Zerkan was kind to Raphine...!

'I hope Raphine and Zerkan get along well....'

In fact, that was the heart of the Empress.

I have been greedy as much as I have watched Raffine since I was a child. You won't find such a kind and cute child anywhere else.

Besides, she has grown up beautifully and is approaching her coming-of-age ceremony.

The thought of Raphine getting married to another nobleman Yeong-sik was a waste of time and she was going crazy.

To be honest, now I really feel like a daughter, so it was a waste for Zerkan.

It is said that a child who is kind and shows a face often is the best, but to the empress, Raphine was such a feeling.

Whenever he has a chance, he comes to ask about his health, whether he eats or not, talk with him, and bring a heartfelt gift....

Even small gestures of thought have come a long way.

To the Empress, Raphine has now become a very precious existence.

Raphine thought that the Empress was still gloomy and added.

"Besides, your Majesty is really good looking."

"Hmm, yes."

"I also want the Crown Prince to be happier than anyone else. Don't worry too much, I'll pray with you, Your Majesty."

"You are always the only one who comforts me."

"Your Majesty will be sad if you hear it."

"Hey, who's sad? Doesn't His Majesty the Emperor know that he will die if you say it?"

At that, Raphine smiled a little.

After tea time was over and Raphine returned, the Empress pondered the conversation she had just had before.

Raphine said that Zerkan's appearance was outstanding.

Anyone who has met Zerkan would think so.

But even Raphine said this. I want Zerkan to be happier than anyone else.

If you don't have a heart, you can't say that.

'Would you like to look forward to it?'

The Empress narrowed her eyes. Seeing that Zerkan was also kind to Raphine... There was no possibility.

She immediately called the attendant and ordered.

"Bring the Crown Prince right now, I have something to tell you in a hurry. hurry!"

"Yes, His Majesty."

* * *

Meanwhile, Zerkan, who heard the news, sighed deeply.

It was clear that the words to be conveyed in a hurry, at least in part, were a urge to get married.

As soon as they returned to the capital, preparations for the wedding of Adrian and Violet began, which made Zerkan busy. It was because of the nagging of the royal couple.

The two said that the day was far away and called Zerkan to urge them to hurry up and get married.

Zerkan knew very well that he had to get married.

There is no need to be in a hurry, but in order to secure the throne, the sooner the better.

But I wondered if there was any need for such a rush.

The second prince, Antonio, was not such a threat to him. The empress, who was once the center of power, was also away from the palace for a long time and had just returned to the capital.

Of course, you don't know what's going to happen in the future, so it's better to hurry, but....

Zerkan put away the complicated thoughts and moved on. I had to listen to nagging, so I wanted to hear it quickly and finish it.

However, what he heard from the Empress upon arriving at the Crystal Palace was unexpected.

"Zerkan, do you remember when you were a child, Raphine begged you to marry me?"

"... Why are you bringing up that story all of a sudden?"

"Raphine visited a while ago. When I see... It seems that Raphine still has feelings for you."

The Empress decided that the two of them had a little heart, but they were towards each other. So I decided to try pushing Zerkan with some irrational numbers.