Chapter 45
Caught between the Emperor and the heroine, I was the only one getting crushed in the middle.
“The real problem is that all of this is just a theory—and I don’t even know where the heroine is.”
The only thing I knew was the name “Lenia.” And even now, I wasn’t sure if that was her real name or just an alias.
But one thing I was certain of:
“Lenia is inside the palace.”
There’s no way someone outside the palace could have tampered with the wine served inside.
“Or if not inside, then at least somewhere very close.”
She had to be in a position—or possess the status—necessary to frame Milon, the maid.
Did Milon have a close connection with anyone in the palace?
Someone she was especially friendly with… That would be the maid named Prine.
When Prine returned, I would ask her. Whether Milon had any close acquaintances—especially any women.
Then I’d know. I’d figure out the heroine’s identity.
That night, as usual, Calix came into my bedroom.
Back at the estate, we rarely slept together due to the prying eyes of the staff. Ironically, ever since coming to the Imperial Palace, we’d been sleeping together far more often.
All because I nearly died from poisoning.
I greeted Calix with sleepy eyes, accustomed to his presence now.
“You’re late tonight.”
“Yeah, I had some things to take care of.”
He kissed my cheek like it was just a routine greeting. We really did look like a newlywed couple. I held back the thought. If I voiced it aloud, he’d probably try to arrange an actual wedding immediately.
“What ‘things’?”
Was he plotting some grand scheme behind the Emperor’s back?
But I was too sleepy to care, so I let the speculation drift away.
“It’s late. Just come to bed.”
“…”
But Calix only stood there, quietly watching me. He didn’t lie down next to me.
“What…?”
I was exhausted—why wasn’t he coming to bed?
He just stood there, stroking his chin while looking down at me. Then he finally spoke.
“Rena.”
“Mm?”
“Tonight, sleep alone.”
That woke me up instantly. I sat up, shocked.
“Why?”
“No reason. Just… I feel like sleeping alone tonight.”
I looked at him, face full of disbelief.
“Is this because I asked if you were the culprit earlier today?”
“No. Come on, even I wouldn’t stay upset over that.”
“Then what? Why don’t you want to sleep with me?”
“Just… the mood, I guess.”
I glared at him, completely annoyed, but Calix remained calm. He bent down and gave me a chaste goodnight kiss on the cheek.
“Good night, Rena.”
Then he left the room, and I just sat there, dumbfounded.
“What was that?”
Why? What had changed?
“What the heck?!”
No answer, of course.
The party resumed the next day, just like the Emperor said it would now that the “culprit” had been caught.
“Still, someone nearly died. Isn’t everyone treating it way too lightly?”
Naturally, I didn’t attend. There was no reason to go and become the talk of the night.
Strangely enough, Calix, who’d seemed ready to return to the estate any moment, decided to stay in the palace a bit longer. Thanks to that, he was essentially under self-imposed house arrest like me.
As for Prine—the maid who was supposedly returning the next day—she never came back.
At first, I worried that she might’ve gotten caught up in all this. But when I finally couldn’t take the suspense and asked one of the maids, they said:
“Prine had planned to take vacation during the party from the start. That young maid must’ve misunderstood.”
And just like that, more uneventful days dragged on.
No progress on the heroine’s identity. No insight into the Emperor’s intentions. Each stagnant day only made my frustration worse—and now Calix was acting up, too.
Since that night, he hadn’t shared my bed once. Whenever I asked why, he just said:
“Just… not in the mood.”
I even used magic to spy on him secretly, wondering if he was up to something behind my back.
But no. Calix was just… sleeping. Occasionally he tossed and turned, but otherwise, he slept like a baby.
“Why won’t he sleep with me anymore?”
I’d grown so used to having him beside me, holding me as we slept, that being alone now just felt weird.
I wanted to confront him, but I feared the storm that might follow. So for days, I lay in my empty bed, staring up at nothing.
And then it hit me.
This pattern—Calix avoiding me like this—it was the same thing he did back at the estate before we came to the capital.
It was…
“He’s playing hard to get? With me?”
By the time I realized it, it was too late. I was already in his bedroom, lying on his bed.
Utterly defeated by his tactics.
“Should I go back…?”
But after coming all this way, I didn’t want to retreat. I had to end this tonight.
There was no way Calix would declare defeat even if I waited for days. And if that happened—
“I’d be the only one chasing after him!”
Which obviously wasn’t true!
Right then, the door opened and Calix walked in. I quickly composed myself.
He froze when he saw me lying on his bed.
“…What are you doing?”
His voice was neutral—genuinely curious. But I could read the faint panic in his eyes. That only made me more confident.
“I had a nightmare last night. I can’t sleep alone tonight.”
Obviously a lie, but I said it with my chin held high. Calix stared at me for a moment, then chuckled as he approached.
“Who turned you into such a spoiled brat?”
You did, you idiot!
I wanted to yell it—but I held back.
Calix flicked my nose with his finger.
“Grown-ups sleep alone, you know.”
“Says who?!”
You’re the one who can’t sleep without me! I know all about how you toss and turn for hours when I’m not there!
I gathered all the blankets on the bed and hugged them to my chest. Then I hurled them straight at him.
At first, Calix just watched me with amusement—until the blanket began to wrap around him.
“Rena?”
With a flick of my finger, Calix—now swaddled in blankets—floated into the air.
“Rena?!”
I gently landed the floating “Calix roll” onto the bed beside me and grinned triumphantly.
“Now you can’t use the blanket.”
Trying to act unbothered to the very end, huh?
“I don’t need it.”
I hugged the “Calix roll” like a body pillow.
“You’re seriously going to sleep like this?”
“Yep. Got a problem?”
“…No. No problem.”
I think I heard him sigh above me—but maybe I imagined it.
This body pillow wasn’t half bad, honestly.
“Right? Good night, Calix.”
“Good night, Rena. Sweet dreams tonight.”
And just like that, after several long days—I finally reclaimed my victory and drifted off into peaceful sleep.
* * *
As soon as Rena fell asleep, Calix carefully slipped out from the blanket cocoon.
She’d wrapped him up so tightly that it took some effort not to wake her, but he managed.
He unfolded the blanket and tucked it gently over Rena, who was now sleeping peacefully.
The nights were getting colder even here in the capital. Soon, they’d be able to see their breath outside. Even if the palace remained magically warm, Calix’s overprotectiveness wasn’t going to waver.
“Rena’s too fragile.”
He truly believed that.
Still, he had accomplished his initial goal—Rena had come to find him first.
He’d been genuinely flustered when she started wrapping him in blankets, but inwardly, he was grinning with victory.
It had taken longer than expected, but Rena had come to him—just as he planned.
Even knowing he’d deliberately provoked her, she came without a hint of resentment.
“So sweet.”
Calix gazed down at her sleeping face one last time, then stood.
He had a meeting with Ishar. But meeting here would risk waking Rena. Without delay, he left the bedroom.
Thankfully, he found Ishar not far from a nearby building, and they began walking toward a secluded area. In the distance, the lights of the resumed party shimmered in the greenhouse.
Neither said a word about Rena or the party. They walked in silence for a long while. Only once they were certain no one was around did Calix stop.
“So? The orders?”
Calix’s voice was low. Ishar replied at once.
“There were signs of a break-in.”
“No one can enter without the seal.”
“Whoever it was, they came ready to destroy everything. I doubt the intruder left unharmed.”
Calix fell silent.
A few days ago, after Rena collapsed, he had quietly ordered Ishar to investigate the old Troxia estate and check the underground chamber where the dragon slept.
Ishar had returned with the exact confirmation Calix had anticipated.
There had been a break-in.
Someone had tried to access the place where the dragon lay.
Which meant…
The one who tried to kill Rena knew about the dragon.
