Chapter 17: Dating-(4)

After finishing our meal, Ilia and I stepped out onto the street.

“So, what’s the plan now?”

At my question, Ilia gave an awkward smile.

“I haven’t really thought about it.”

She continued,

“It’s my first time going on a date, after all…”

“Then let’s take a walk and think about it.”

I said, extending my arm to her.

“…You’re so natural at this.”

Even so, Ilia linked her arm with mine.

“I’m glad you don’t seem to dislike it.”

Even as I said this, I was trembling.

How many times had I done something like this, the kind of thing lovers do?

I was just as awkward as Ilia in this situation.

But more than that, I was happy to be with her right now.

And so, Ilia and I walked down the street, arm in arm.

As the capital of the empire, known as the center of the continent, there was plenty to see.

Students from the Imperial Academy, commoner inventors promoting their creations on the streets, and nobles casting disdainful glances at them.

Ilia and I observed these people as we strolled.

Whenever we came across an interesting shop, we went inside to look around.

“Hmm…what about this? It might look nice as a decoration in the office.”

At Ilia’s words, I quickly shook my head.

“Absolutely not. Could you please put that back?”

Ilia pouted at my response.

What she was holding was a wooden sculpture.

The problem was its appearance—something any normal noblewoman would recoil at.

The body was shaped like a dragon, but the legs were those of a chicken, the head was that of an orc, and it didn’t even have hands.

Even to my untrained eye, it was closer to an abomination than a work of art, yet Ilia seemed to like it.

‘This is just like before the regression…’

Memories of the countless monstrosities that had adorned Ilia’s office before the regression flashed through my mind.

From novels depicting the love between a goblin and a slime, to a self-portrait of a man with his neck twisted at an unnatural angle, to a magic alarm clock that played the sound of a chicken’s scream.

Ilia’s sense of art was buried deep beneath the ocean floor.

‘And she was quite attached to them too…’

Once, I had accidentally dropped one of Ilia’s “treasures.”

The expression on her face at that moment was still vivid in my memory.

‘I have to stop this now.’

For the sake of my own sanity, I had to suppress Ilia’s artistic tendencies.

I snatched the sculpture from her hands.

Ilia stared blankly at her now-empty hands.

“How about this instead?”

I handed her a book with a red cover.

It wasn’t anything inappropriate—just a book that had recently become popular in the empire.

‘It became a trend after the previous emperor died and the current emperor ascended the throne.’

Later, it would be cited as one of the reasons the emperor waged war against the kingdom, showing just how influential it was.

Because of this, the emperor had banned the book, but that only made people more obsessed about it.

It was a story about a prisoner, his ideology, and the social structure.

Its title was ‘My Struggle’.

A book that would shake the empire and the royal family for the next three years.

‘I haven’t read it myself.’

But I thought it would suit Ilia, who wanted revenge against the emperor.

Contrary to my expectations, Ilia flipped through the book and frowned.

“Hmm…this seems like the kind of book I shouldn’t read.”

She handed the book back to me.

Her reaction puzzled me, but I put the book back.

“Anything else you want to buy?”

At my question, Ilia’s gaze lingered on the sculpture in my hand.

“That’s a no.”

“…It’s cool.”

“It’s an abomination.”

“…It’s coo—”

“Abomination.”

“…”

Ilia glared at me.

“No matter how you look at it, it’s a no.”

At my firm words, Ilia visibly deflated and trudged out of the shop.

‘…I feel a little bad.’

But I couldn’t give in on this.

The things that had filled Ilia’s office before were too horrifying.

‘It seems there’s no such thing as a perfect person in this world…’

It seemed Ilia had traded her sense of art for her swordsmanship skills.

After that, Ilia and I spent more time together in the capital.

As the streets began to empty and shops started closing, the sun set and the moon rose, but we continued to walk together.

“Aren.”

Ilia, who had been silently gazing at the night sky, suddenly called my name.

Her sudden call made me lower my gaze from the sky to look at her.

Ilia’s face was still tilted upward, toward the stars.

I had a feeling that what she was about to say was the reason she had called me to the capital.

“How was today?”

“It was fun.”

At my words, Ilia turned to me and smiled.

“I had fun too.”

But her smile seemed somewhat detached.

“If only I could live like this every day, without worries…how wonderful that would be.”

There was a sense of unease in Ilia’s eyes.

The burden of losing her parents at the young age of 15 and suddenly being thrust into leading the massive Rigmond family.

It was a fear of the future.

“I’ll help you.”

At my words, the corner of Ilia’s mouth twitched slightly downward.

“…Even if I want revenge against the emperor?”

“Yes.”

It was a thought I had held both before and after the regression.

Even if it was the emperor, if it was Ilia’s wish, I would kill him.

‘And I have my own revenge to carry out against the emperor.’

Perhaps sensing the resolve in my eyes, Ilia looked flustered.

“Aren, you’re a Serigard.”

“If my family name bothers you, I’ll leave the family.”

I felt sorry for my brother, but Ilia was more important to me.

“…Aren.”

“Why are you calling me?”

“Why…are you willing to help me?”

Ilia’s question.

And the answer was already decided.

“Because I love you.”

“We’ve only met twice.”

“There’s a saying, ‘love at first sight.’”

“Do you think love based solely on looks will last?”

Ilia’s voice had risen slightly.

“I think it will. Because it’s not just your looks that captivated me.”

Ilia was undoubtedly beautiful.

But that was only a part of her.

The reason I fell for her was because of her intense emotions, like a moth drawn to a flame, even if it meant burning herself.

“…I’m not that good of a person.”

“I know.”

“I might abandon you and run away if things get tough.”

“I’d rather you did.”

I wished she had left me behind that day at the Rigmond estate.

I wished she hadn’t faced the emperor and met her end in humiliation.

“Really…you’re an idiot.”

“Maybe, but only when it comes to you.”

At my words, Ilia stared at me blankly.

And I met her gaze.

“…I’m planning to commit treason.”

“I thought so.”

“…I want to kill the emperor.”

“I know.”

“I want to burn his skin, crush his bones, and cut off his head.”

“Sounds like a good plan.”

“What about feeding the rest of his body to the dogs?”

“…Aren, are you really insane?”

“Maybe. Insane with love.”

Before I could finish, Ilia covered my mouth.

Her face was already flushed red.

“Don’t you have any shame? How can you say such things so casually…!”

“Are you feeling better now?”

At my question, Ilia looked at me incredulously and sighed.

“Ha…I don’t know anymore.”

She then stepped closer to me.

“…You’re the one who offered to help me.”

“I know.”

“Even if I take advantage of your love…is that okay?”

At Ilia’s words, I smiled happily.

“Yes, it’s fine.”

“…If you die, it’s not my fault.”

“Of course not. It’s my choice.”

“…Don’t betray me.”

“If I ever think of betraying you, I’ll commit seppuku.”

“How can someone be so extreme!”

“It’s fine. I’ll never betray you, so I won’t need to.”

“…What if your love fades?”

“Don’t worry. Even now, I’m falling for you—”

“Enough! I get it, so you don’t need to say anymore.”

Ilia’s ears were so red they looked like they might burst.

Her reaction only fueled my teasing.

“Are you embarrassed?”

“O-Of course! How can you say such embarrassing things so easily…!”

“And yet you spoke so sweetly while feeding me earlier.”

“T-That’s what I said earlier! I read it in a book!”

“That red book?”

“It’s not a red book! It’s a normal romance novel!”

“But we’re not lovers.”

“B-But we’re engaged! I had some fantasies about my fiancé too, you know!”

Ilia, overwhelmed by embarrassment, covered her face with her hands.

“S-Stop teasing me! I was being serious…!”

Seeing her like this, I smiled and said,

“I went too far because your reactions are so entertaining. I’ll restrain myself in the future.”

“Y-You’re still smiling while saying that…!”

Ilia then punched me.

“Oof..!”

“S-Sorry! I didn’t mean to hit so hard…!”

Ilia’s punch was sharp.

Very sharp.

With that, the tension eased.

A natural silence fell between us, and Ilia fanned her red face to cool down.

“Are you okay now?”

At my question, Ilia nodded, her face still slightly flushed.

“Really…you’ll really help me?”

After hesitating for a while, Ilia finally asked.

And my answer was already decided.

“Yes. Even if it brings chaos to the empire.”

“…Thank you.”

Ilia turned her face away as she spoke.

I couldn’t see the expression she wore that day.

I could only guess from the redness of her ears.

“I’m selfish…I’ll use you, Aren. But if that’s okay…please help me…kill the emperor.”

“Of course. Gladly.”