When Imu awoke, it was already deep night.
She struggled to sit up in bed, her body sluggish from prolonged hunger, her head throbbing faintly.
The moment she stirred, a voice spoke from nearby.
"Haven't even toppled the Great Kingdom yet, and you're already trying to kill yourself?"
Imu blinked, lifting her head to see Michael standing by her bed in sleepwear, his ever-present fox fur scarf draped over a nearby chair.
Her gaze drifted to the window—nothing but inky darkness outside...
"M-M-M-Michael! What are you doing in my room so late!?"
Her sleep-addled brain snapped to full alertness.
She immediately clutched the blankets to her chest.
"Obviously because you passed out from excitement while clinging to my clothes like a limpet... what else was I supposed to do?"
Michael rolled his eyes, then pointed at Imu's hands.
Only then did Imu realize she was still gripping Michael's usual coat in her fists.No wonder he was wearing a set of pajamas—she had thought something had happened.
At this thought, Imu couldn't help but feel a little…
Disappointed.
"Ahem, I was just too excited… Just when I was still worrying about the army, you brought back so many Devil Fruits…"
"Even if the new army is settled, is it really worth getting this worked up?" Michael stepped closer, crossing his arms as he looked at Imu with some confusion.
"Also, before and after you fainted, you kept mumbling something like 'You have to keep your promise'… Did you make some kind of promise to me? I don't remember anything like that."
At this point, Imu finally began to feel embarrassed.
Was she supposed to admit that she had always harbored certain… desires for Michael!?
No way!
She was the brains of the rebellion, the one and only Queen!
And besides…
Shouldn't the man be the one to take the initiative!?
With this in mind, Imu steeled her resolve…
She absolutely had to make him confess his feelings first!
Whoever spoke first—lost!
"Ahem, you must have misheard… But with so many Devil Fruits, have you figured out how to distribute them?" Imu hurriedly changed the subject.
"Although the power of Devil Fruits can turn any ordinary person into a formidable fighter… I think we should still prioritize selecting users from the experienced and loyal soldiers in the army…"
"That's not my concern." Michael shrugged. "Don't forget, you're the brains of the rebellion, and the army is under your command… I trust you with the Devil Fruits. Just don't forget—Devil Fruits can only be eaten once."
"Of course I know that."
Though Devil Fruits weren't common, for someone of Imu's noble upbringing, they weren't exactly unfamiliar.
Still, Michael instinctively reminded her.
"Now that business is settled, let's talk about something else…"
With that, Michael walked to the bedside and reached out his hands toward Imu…
Imu froze, watching those hands draw closer, suddenly feeling flustered.
"W-Wait, Michael, aren't you being a little too hasty!? I know I'm charming and all, haha, but this kind of thing should really wait until after marriage… Pre-marital relations… are impure!"
Imu tightly clutched her chest, her expression a mix of panic and anticipation.
After all, this was a bed, not a cage.
If she really wanted to escape, she could just get off from the other side.
Yet she deliberately played coy…
But the thrilling scene Imu imagined never came. Instead, Michael simply scooped her up in a princess carry.
Then, he carried her to a nearby table and set her down on a chair.
"…Huh!?"
"What's with the 'huh'… I really don't know what goes on in that queenly head of yours." Michael said irritably. "Eat!"
"…Oh."
Imu let out a long breath, but a faint dissatisfaction rose in her heart.
Would it kill this man to take the initiative!?
But the steaming food in front of her quickly distracted her from further thought.
"Slow down… Are you trying to choke yourself?"
"I just went hungry for a whole day and already feel this miserable... Yet under the Great Kingdom's rule, commoners who can't even afford basic food and clothing after paying exorbitant taxes endure this pain daily until they die numb to it... How can I slow down?" Imu shook her head, shoving food into her mouth in large bites.
"Since I've already tightly grasped this weapon in my hands... then I must end the Great Kingdom's rule and this war at the fastest speed possible."
Michael stared slightly dazed at Imu's hamster-like cheeks stuffed with food.
These words... Could they really come from the same Imu who later made the Celestial Dragons reign supreme, sucking the world dry through Celestial Tribute?
But knowing Imu as he did, this woman before him was absolutely sincere in her thoughts.
Such contradiction...
Even as a transmigrator, Michael couldn't figure out what exactly had happened in between.
So he decided to ask directly.
"Imu, I have a question for you."
Michael's form of address made Imu slow her eating slightly.
After all, Michael usually only addressed her as "Your Majesty."
Using her name directly... Could this be... a confession!?
Imu swallowed her food, turned around, and looked at Michael with anticipation.
"Ask away! Any question you have!"
"Have you ever thought about the future?"
"F-f-f-future!? At least two children, three would be fine too..."
"What kind of government do you think should be established after overthrowing the Great Kingdom to restore order to this world?"
"...Tch." Imu clicked her tongue loudly upon hearing this, then adjusted her expression and said, "Of course, a coalition government established by the Twenty Kings to check each other's power and prevent any single faction from dominating. Then decentralize authority to various levels to prevent the ruling class from forming cliques..."
"What about making the Twenty Kings and their descendants into lofty gods, just like the current major races led by the Lunarian Race?"
"Are you joking? How would that be any different from the current Great Kingdom?" Imu's face instantly darkened.
"If so, all my efforts would be nothing but a joke."
Michael was taken aback but finally smiled, gently patting Imu's head.
At that moment, as if some wire had crossed in her brain, Imu actually shed two clear tears.
"Whoa!? Why are you crying!?"
"I know you like raising daughters! But don't treat me like one! Patting my head and all..."
"What nonsense are you spouting!? How old are you!? My psychological age can only accept daughters like Lily and Toki at most, okay!?"
"Hiks... Then if you're not eating, stop messing with me!"
Michael: "???"