The royal castle of Archlesia Empire. There was the figure of Hydra’s King, Laguna, invited by Emperor Chris.

  [……Valentine’s Day huh, umu, I know of it. It’s an event where you give confectioneries to a person in your mind.]

  [Yes, and that’s why I thought that if King Laguna is fine with it, I would invite you here.]

  [Fumu, but you see, young Chris. I’ve never baked a single confectionery in my life, you know? Would giving salted fish be no good?]

  [Salted fish are indeed very tasty, but unfortunately, it isn’t suitable for Valentine’s Day. It will be alright. I’ll teach you how to cook them.]

  [Hmmm…… what a cumbersome event it is……]

  As if she isn’t familiar with such events, Laguna mumbled to herself, but Chris encouraged her with a gentle smile.

  Laguna reluctantly agrees and joins in making the chocolate, thinking it would be rude to refuse after being asked that much by the king of a country.

  While Chris was teaching her how to cook, Laguna seemed to have suddenly remembered something and spoke.

  [Speaking of which, young Chris…… I heard that you’re “abdicating” your throne as the Emperor, was that true?]

  [Unnn? Yes, well, it’s true. It will still take a few years before I could hand over the throne, so I won’t be able to officially announce my abdication until then.]

  [……Why abdicate? Which king would serve her country better than you? Moreover, having half the blood of a Demon…… You don’t have to worry about your lifespan either. That’s exactly what makes you capable of serving as emperor far longer than me. So, why have you suddenly……]

  [……These are the rules I imposed on myself when I became an emperor.]

  Chris is going to quit being the Emperor. That story was being passed around to the leaders of various countries as a rumor. Yes, it was only a rumor for the moment…… That’s why Laguna didn’t believe it easily and personally asked her about it since she’s alone with her at the moment. And now, the person herself had clearly affirmed it.

  Laguna had known Chris since she had just become Emperor, and she knew that she wouldn’t hesitate to lay down her life for her country. Her everything exists for her country and her citizens…… And that’s why she couldn’t believe that Chris, who hadn’t caused any blunder, had resigned her throne.

  In response to her question, Chris only said that she had imposed a rule on herself even back then.

  [……Rules, was it?]

  [Yes, I am an Emperor. As an Emperor, I must think of my country and its citizens first and foremost.]

  [Umu, that’s right…… and at that point, you are……]

  [……This is the reason why I quit.]

  [Mnghh?]

  [……I had decided that if I ever found “something more important for me than my country”, I would step down my throne as the Emperor……]

  Saying that, a gentle smile appears on Chris’ lips.

  Recently, she’s been smiling a lot. A pure, innocent smile…… In a way, it can be said to be a big change for Chris, who has been living in a world full of schemes.

  [……It’s because of Kaito huh?]

  [Yes, that’s right. How baffling…… Seriously…… I originally just wanted to get close to Miyama-sama to improve my connections with the Six Kings. He doesn’t seem to have much experience with sensual pleasures, so I tried attacking her with my femininity but…… The trouble is that I was the one who became charmed instead.]

  [I see, that certainly is quite unexpected, for a half-succubus like you to be the one that’s charmed instead.]

  [Fufufu, that’s right. It seems like the blood of my mother, who seduced the previous emperor, hardly flows in my veins.]

  Laguna doesn’t know it, but Chris had already confessed her feelings for Kaito about a year ago.

  At that time, she had asked Kaito “Can you wait until I stop being an emperor and become just Chris?”, and Kaito readily agreed to her.

  That’s why she is now firmly committed to preventing chaos from occurring in her country…… And she’s also moving as quickly as possible to hand over the throne to the next emperor.

  [……Well, when I heard about Valentine’s Day, rather than thinking about my country’s current situation, I wondered what kind of chocolate to give to Miyama-sama…… And at the moment when I thought like that, I don’t have the qualifications of an emperor anymore.]

  [Fumu…… I see, if you don’t have regrets in that decision, that’s good. However, why…… If you could abdicate, why can’t I abdicate my throne yet!?]

  [That’s because Hydra Kingdom wants you to be their King, right?]

  [Even so, I want to quit already…… However, those damned retainers…… They told me I can’t retire until me and Kaito have produced an heir, you know? How far are they going to work hard an elderly person like me……]

  In contrast to Chris, who will gracefully step down her throne as an Emperor, Laguna’s retainers wouldn’t let her quit even if she wanted to.

  In fact, she is now a symbol of Hydra Kingdom, as she once defeated the Demon King along with the Hero, and thinking about the sentiments of the public…… and even if an heir was born, it would still take some time before she could quit.

  [……Haahhh…… Hydra Kingdom doesn’t need a king anymore…… Why……]

  [Let me answer that! It’s because you look like a loli!]

  [……Oya?]

  [Mnghh!? What’s with you!?]

  Laguna’s sigh is answered by a voice that doesn’t belong to Chris, and the two look around in surprise when they hear it.

  This kitchen is off-limits to everyone except Chris and Laguna, and yet, the fact that someone other them is in there means that…… it was an intruder.

  As they looked around with heightened caution, they saw someone sitting on top of a large cauldron.

  [……First, Valentine’s Day is an event of love. Second, chocolate represents a piece of your love. And third, I’m hungry. Whoop!]

  [……T- This undisguised idiotic way of speaking…… Could it be?]

  [Shoot!]

  [She’s even voicing out the sound of her landing……]

  [The Beautiful Phantom Thief of Love and Justice! Hapti-chan makes her entrance!!!]

  Her hair that has two shades of colors, looking like a pudding’s black and light brown, tucked into the back of her neck and dressed in an easy-to-move outfit…… but with a mantle that seems to make it difficult for one to move. A lovely, but suspicious-looking girl lands in front of them.

  [A- As I thought, if it isn’t Hapti!? So you’re still alive huh!]

  [That’s a good question, Laguna. Since we had some connection with each other…… For a special discount of just a single silver coin, I’ll answer you!]

  [……N- No, you’re taking money from that?]

  [Even if you’re close with someone, you should have basic manners in things that matter!]

  [……What about your manners then? No, to begin with, are you really Hapti?]

  The girl who appeared before them is Hapti, the self-proclaimed phantom thief who once accompanied Laguna on the Hero’s journey.

  After beguiling their search for almost a thousand years, Laguna is astonished to see her appear again and thinking that the one that appeared before them may be a fake, Laguna gives her a quizzical glance.

  Thereupon, Hapti……


  [Whoa there, my, my…… Even though you’re comparably younger than Demons, Laguna is calling herself an elderly~~ Even though you really look like a loli…… Actually, I’m way older than you! Too— bad— for— you. Bfuiii—— Uwooohh!?]

  [……This annoyingness…… It seems like you’re the real one. It’s been a while, Hapti. Go die!]

  [What pure killing intent!]

  [Shut up! I will not allow you…… to annoy others ever again!!!]

  Agitated by Hapti’s full-throttle annoyingness, Laguna immediately swings her large spear that she took out from somewhere towards her. Evading her strike with nimble movements, Hapti glances at Chris.

  [Ahh~~ right, right. Her Majesty, the Emperor?]

  [……What is it?]

  [……”I like the way you are now better than you were before.”]

  [!? It is…… an honor.]

  [Fufu, hey, wait!? Laguna, stop! Stop!!!]

  [Who the heck is a loli, I’m asking you!!! It’s not like I wanted to have this kind of figure!!!]

  [Eeeehhhh!? You’re really bothered about that!?]

  The words told by Hapti, who she was supposed to have met for the first time…… It was only then that Chris figured out who the girl in front of her was.

  Someone who held a different appearance and directly told her that she hated her…… Perhaps, feeling happy that her evaluation towards her had changed, a smile appeared on her face as she stared at the fleeing Hapti and spear-wielding Laguna.

  It wasn’t the smile of the Emperor who was proud to be the Empire’s puppet…… but the smile of a woman in love, appropriate for her age.

  **********