Marianne opened her mouth only after chewing her lips once.
"Well, can I stay here a little longer?"
Kloud turned to her at that. She hurriedly made a short excuse.
"I won't wake him up. Let me just watch him here."
She explained with a low voice for fear she might wake him up as he had just fallen asleep.
Kloud grabbed some empty silver glasses on the table and stood up. Although she didn't notice it because the room was dark, there was a calm smile on his mouth.
"It's only the emperor who can refuse your request."
"… Thank you." Marianne smiled gently.
Kloud understood exactly what her smile meant.
She was the woman that the emperor risked himself to protect, and the woman who risked her life to protect the emperor. At the same time, she was the only daughter of Duke Kling, who had long been away from the capital, as well as the flower of the enemy territory that had an affair with Ober, the emperor's political rival.