The King also had to wear a different dress code than usual for meetings where nobles in charge of the royal household, officials of the Privy Council, and officials in charge of national policies such as foreign affairs and law gathered together. When there were many items on the agenda, it was an important matter that required almost half a day of sitting, so on the day of the meeting, not only the heads of each household but also the King had to hurry up early in the morning.
While the chamberlain dressed him, Franz stood before the mirror, his neck moving back and forth. In his dark blue jacket, which had a neat and angular silhouette, and his low-saturation, calmly matching looped belt, he looked dignified despite his young age. When the chamberlain, who had adjusted the shape of his rich ruffled cravat, bent down to button up his jacket one last time...
“Judith?”
Franz turned around at the sight of her through the mirror. The chamberlain, who was just about to button up his jacket, let go of his hand in shock and stepped back. He almost ripped off the buttons on the King’s formal attire. Judith, who saw the chamberlain’s flustered expression over Franz’s shoulder, smiled slightly with an embarrassed expression.
“Your Majesty, you shouldn’t move like that while you are preparing your formal attire.”
“Oh, sorry. I’ll go out for a moment.”
Even though he said he was sorry, Franz's eyes were fixed on Judith the whole time. When the maid who came with Judith also went out, Franz quickly pulled her into his arms and kissed her cheek.
“What’s going on?”
“Nothing. I went to pick you up to go for a walk with Erwin, but he had already gone to the pond to see the fish. That’s why I came to see you, Your Majesty.”
“Instead of Erwin?”
Franz playfully grumbled as he hugged Judith's waist. Her shoulders, held in his arms, smelled of white roses and laurel leaves. It was the same scent he could smell from her hair at dawn, when she was buried in the sheets, overcome with sleep.
As the image of her body, white as a freshly found pearl under the early rising sunlight, came to mind, Franz suddenly felt his heart pounding loudly.
The strength of the arm holding her waist grew a little stronger. Judith, without knowing anything, turned her body slightly in his arms and buttoned up the buttons of his jacket one by one. The fine gold thread decorations hanging from the buttonholes were placed one by one along her fingertips.
“So, according to Mary Anne, rumors of this have already spread to the North to a point where they can hardly be ignored. New...”
Judith was buttoning up his shiny buttons and saying something, but Franz couldn't hear a single thing. He was only concentrating on the hair under her ear that had fallen because her head was slightly bowed, the white fingers that were now running down his chest toward his stomach, and the rosy lips that were moving as she spoke.
Even without the thick lipstick, these lips always caught his attention. When he first woke up and saw Judith's face, he couldn't help but kiss her, and there were countless times when he couldn't get out of bed until the sun rose. Just this morning...
"Your Majesty."
Franz, who had been lost in thought, looked down at Judith as if he had just woken up from a dream.
“What’s wrong? Are you feeling unwell?”
“...No, it’s okay.”
The buttons on his jacket were neatly buttoned up. All that was left to do was to put on his epaulets, and he would be ready to dress up. Judith was about to slip out of his arms to get the royal epaulets with elm engravings that the chamberlain had brought her.
"Your Majesty!"
Judith's body, held by Franz, staggered for a moment. She was flustered and called out to Franz as if asking what was going on, but the two had already collapsed on the wide sofa. Judith pushed away Franz's shoulder, who was about to kiss her right away, sliding her lips along his jawline, and opened her eyes wide.
“Your Majesty, this is not possible. The dress is all messed up. And in a place like this...”
“Don’t worry about the wedding dress.”
Franz's hand moved immediately after responding casually. It didn't take long for another sound to come out of Judith, who was licking her lips as if she was in absurdity.
The officials and nobles who had arrived early and were keeping their seats at the meeting whispered for a moment as they saw Franz, who was unusually late. Words passed from mouth to mouth and ear to ear, wondering if His Majesty was sick or had something come up since he was late.
But Franz, who sat down, seemed happier than ever, despite his worries. That wasn't the only thing that was strange. His hair, which should always be neatly organized, was disheveled as if he had been exercising.
While the other attendees, who did not understand it, looked at each other in bewilderment, Franz looked around the room and tilted his head.
“Why can’t I see Captain Vergy?”
The seat of the First Knight Commander of the Comblers, Bartholomew, was empty. Duke Vergy, who was sitting at the highest seat among the officials, suddenly blinked as if asking what was going on and whispered softly.
“Your Majesty, have you forgotten? Aren’t you on vacation now?”
Only then did Franz nod with a look of regret. Two days ago, Bartholomew had asked Franz for a five-day vacation. It was a vacation that Cheraan would join as well.
Since Franz ascended to the throne, and in fact even before his ascension, the two of them had not had a proper rest, so he readily accepted. And then he completely forgot that he was on vacation...
“Sorry, I forgot. Let’s get started. The new King of Tien has formally requested peace with us, so let’s discuss that first.”
Despite the fact that it was a delicate and sensitive subject, Franz's voice was cheerful. He always looked serious during the meeting, but everyone couldn't help but look at him with puzzled eyes, wondering what was going on today and wondering if something good had come up.
The official in charge of diplomacy with Tien took out a document and handed it to Franz, but then blinked blankly.
“Why is that?”
“Your Majesty, I... I know this is presumptuous of me to ask, but the button...”
Buttons? Franz quickly looked down at his jacket. Two buttons on the chest were open, revealing the shirt he was wearing underneath. After a moment of silence, Franz buttoned it up with his own hands and took the document. However, the atmosphere became even more strange.
Whether it was because of the excited Franz or because of the chaotic atmosphere, the meeting ended sooner than everyone had expected. Franz, who would normally have had lunch with Duke Vergy and a few others, disappeared as soon as the meeting ended, once again raising everyone's questions.
He ran straight to Judith's inner room. The servant, who was flustered by the sudden appearance of the King, was about to announce the procession, but Franz put his finger to his lips and stopped him. There was silence beyond the tightly closed door. When Franz carefully opened the door, Mary Anne, who was standing in the doorway, bowed in surprise.
Judith was standing by the window wearing only a thin chemise. She was taking measurements to make a dress. Franz suddenly appeared without knocking or making any noise, so the court ladies, the dressmaker, and Judith were all flustered.
“Continue with what you were doing. I just came to see the Queen for a moment.”
Franz said, sitting on the chair that Mary Anne anne had brought him. The dressmaker was Stilda Lofayez, who had made Judith's dress for her wedding. Her hair had turned a little gray due to the years, but her upright posture, tall stature, and elegant expression were all the same as before. Stilda said, bowing gracefully.
“Your Majesty, if you have anything to say to the Queen, we will leave for a moment.”
Before Franz could answer, Judith gave her a wink. It was a sign that she wanted her to step aside for a moment. Stilda quickly noticed this, gathered her tools, and stepped aside, and the court ladies followed suit. Franz looked around at the empty surroundings for a moment and smiled awkwardly.
“I was just thinking of watching.”
“You came so suddenly, Your Majesty.”
Judith smiled and rolled her eyes, picking up the robe that was hanging on one side. But before she could put one arm into the sleeve, Franz spoke.
“Can you come over here for a moment?”
Judith, who had been looking at Franz for a moment with her robe in her hand, shook her head as if she had no choice and approached him. Her footsteps on the carpet were so light that it seemed as if even if she were carried and placed on the snow, there would not be a single footprint. Franz, who had come within arm’s reach, quickly pulled Judith to his lap and rested his forehead on her arm, sighing in satisfaction.
“Why are you like this today, Your Majesty?”
“I don’t know. It’s always been like that, but today you’re so pretty I can’t stand it.”
“We can’t do something like this morning now. Everyone is over there.”
Stilda and the court ladies were in another room of the inner chamber, separated only by a thin wall. It would be different if it were a completely enclosed place like in the morning, but it was impossible to conduct business here. Franz, who had a regretful expression on his face, smiled as if he was sighing and kissed her shoulder briefly several times.
“Yes, I understand. If you say so, I’ll try to bear with it.”
Judith then stroked Franz's red hair as if to say, "You're good." Franz, who was embracing his wife's soft body and enjoying the feel and scent, slightly raised his head.
“Should I invite Bartholomew and Cheraan for lunch?”
“I’m on vacation. Should I call you to the palace?”
“I’m not trying to order you around. It’s been a while since the four of us sat down to eat.”
“Well, I’ll send someone first.”
Franz nodded. But his hands continued to caress Judith’s skin. As if his obsession would not go away.
“Evyanne... is still young. Having another child would be too hard on you.”
Judith's face turned red at his genuinely worried tone. When she pouted and made a move to push his shoulder away, Franz burst out laughing and rested his cheek against Judith's back.
“You don’t like a husband who talks like that in broad daylight?”
“I don’t hate it, but I find it annoying and want to bite it.”
Franz's body shook slightly as he burst into laughter. How could such an emotion exist? Even though it had been several years since he had experienced it, it felt new and happy again.
Judith, who was looking away as if she had been smitten, was actually thinking the same thing. If someone could give her an answer, she wanted to ask. How is it possible for such a lovely person to exist by her side every day? Such a splendid happiness.
While the chamberlain dressed him, Franz stood before the mirror, his neck moving back and forth. In his dark blue jacket, which had a neat and angular silhouette, and his low-saturation, calmly matching looped belt, he looked dignified despite his young age. When the chamberlain, who had adjusted the shape of his rich ruffled cravat, bent down to button up his jacket one last time...
“Judith?”
Franz turned around at the sight of her through the mirror. The chamberlain, who was just about to button up his jacket, let go of his hand in shock and stepped back. He almost ripped off the buttons on the King’s formal attire. Judith, who saw the chamberlain’s flustered expression over Franz’s shoulder, smiled slightly with an embarrassed expression.
“Your Majesty, you shouldn’t move like that while you are preparing your formal attire.”
“Oh, sorry. I’ll go out for a moment.”
Even though he said he was sorry, Franz's eyes were fixed on Judith the whole time. When the maid who came with Judith also went out, Franz quickly pulled her into his arms and kissed her cheek.
“What’s going on?”
“Nothing. I went to pick you up to go for a walk with Erwin, but he had already gone to the pond to see the fish. That’s why I came to see you, Your Majesty.”
“Instead of Erwin?”
Franz playfully grumbled as he hugged Judith's waist. Her shoulders, held in his arms, smelled of white roses and laurel leaves. It was the same scent he could smell from her hair at dawn, when she was buried in the sheets, overcome with sleep.
As the image of her body, white as a freshly found pearl under the early rising sunlight, came to mind, Franz suddenly felt his heart pounding loudly.
The strength of the arm holding her waist grew a little stronger. Judith, without knowing anything, turned her body slightly in his arms and buttoned up the buttons of his jacket one by one. The fine gold thread decorations hanging from the buttonholes were placed one by one along her fingertips.
“So, according to Mary Anne, rumors of this have already spread to the North to a point where they can hardly be ignored. New...”
Judith was buttoning up his shiny buttons and saying something, but Franz couldn't hear a single thing. He was only concentrating on the hair under her ear that had fallen because her head was slightly bowed, the white fingers that were now running down his chest toward his stomach, and the rosy lips that were moving as she spoke.
Even without the thick lipstick, these lips always caught his attention. When he first woke up and saw Judith's face, he couldn't help but kiss her, and there were countless times when he couldn't get out of bed until the sun rose. Just this morning...
"Your Majesty."
Franz, who had been lost in thought, looked down at Judith as if he had just woken up from a dream.
“What’s wrong? Are you feeling unwell?”
“...No, it’s okay.”
The buttons on his jacket were neatly buttoned up. All that was left to do was to put on his epaulets, and he would be ready to dress up. Judith was about to slip out of his arms to get the royal epaulets with elm engravings that the chamberlain had brought her.
"Your Majesty!"
Judith's body, held by Franz, staggered for a moment. She was flustered and called out to Franz as if asking what was going on, but the two had already collapsed on the wide sofa. Judith pushed away Franz's shoulder, who was about to kiss her right away, sliding her lips along his jawline, and opened her eyes wide.
“Your Majesty, this is not possible. The dress is all messed up. And in a place like this...”
“Don’t worry about the wedding dress.”
Franz's hand moved immediately after responding casually. It didn't take long for another sound to come out of Judith, who was licking her lips as if she was in absurdity.
***
The officials and nobles who had arrived early and were keeping their seats at the meeting whispered for a moment as they saw Franz, who was unusually late. Words passed from mouth to mouth and ear to ear, wondering if His Majesty was sick or had something come up since he was late.
But Franz, who sat down, seemed happier than ever, despite his worries. That wasn't the only thing that was strange. His hair, which should always be neatly organized, was disheveled as if he had been exercising.
While the other attendees, who did not understand it, looked at each other in bewilderment, Franz looked around the room and tilted his head.
“Why can’t I see Captain Vergy?”
The seat of the First Knight Commander of the Comblers, Bartholomew, was empty. Duke Vergy, who was sitting at the highest seat among the officials, suddenly blinked as if asking what was going on and whispered softly.
“Your Majesty, have you forgotten? Aren’t you on vacation now?”
Only then did Franz nod with a look of regret. Two days ago, Bartholomew had asked Franz for a five-day vacation. It was a vacation that Cheraan would join as well.
Since Franz ascended to the throne, and in fact even before his ascension, the two of them had not had a proper rest, so he readily accepted. And then he completely forgot that he was on vacation...
“Sorry, I forgot. Let’s get started. The new King of Tien has formally requested peace with us, so let’s discuss that first.”
Despite the fact that it was a delicate and sensitive subject, Franz's voice was cheerful. He always looked serious during the meeting, but everyone couldn't help but look at him with puzzled eyes, wondering what was going on today and wondering if something good had come up.
The official in charge of diplomacy with Tien took out a document and handed it to Franz, but then blinked blankly.
“Why is that?”
“Your Majesty, I... I know this is presumptuous of me to ask, but the button...”
Buttons? Franz quickly looked down at his jacket. Two buttons on the chest were open, revealing the shirt he was wearing underneath. After a moment of silence, Franz buttoned it up with his own hands and took the document. However, the atmosphere became even more strange.
Whether it was because of the excited Franz or because of the chaotic atmosphere, the meeting ended sooner than everyone had expected. Franz, who would normally have had lunch with Duke Vergy and a few others, disappeared as soon as the meeting ended, once again raising everyone's questions.
He ran straight to Judith's inner room. The servant, who was flustered by the sudden appearance of the King, was about to announce the procession, but Franz put his finger to his lips and stopped him. There was silence beyond the tightly closed door. When Franz carefully opened the door, Mary Anne, who was standing in the doorway, bowed in surprise.
Judith was standing by the window wearing only a thin chemise. She was taking measurements to make a dress. Franz suddenly appeared without knocking or making any noise, so the court ladies, the dressmaker, and Judith were all flustered.
“Continue with what you were doing. I just came to see the Queen for a moment.”
Franz said, sitting on the chair that Mary Anne anne had brought him. The dressmaker was Stilda Lofayez, who had made Judith's dress for her wedding. Her hair had turned a little gray due to the years, but her upright posture, tall stature, and elegant expression were all the same as before. Stilda said, bowing gracefully.
“Your Majesty, if you have anything to say to the Queen, we will leave for a moment.”
Before Franz could answer, Judith gave her a wink. It was a sign that she wanted her to step aside for a moment. Stilda quickly noticed this, gathered her tools, and stepped aside, and the court ladies followed suit. Franz looked around at the empty surroundings for a moment and smiled awkwardly.
“I was just thinking of watching.”
“You came so suddenly, Your Majesty.”
Judith smiled and rolled her eyes, picking up the robe that was hanging on one side. But before she could put one arm into the sleeve, Franz spoke.
“Can you come over here for a moment?”
Judith, who had been looking at Franz for a moment with her robe in her hand, shook her head as if she had no choice and approached him. Her footsteps on the carpet were so light that it seemed as if even if she were carried and placed on the snow, there would not be a single footprint. Franz, who had come within arm’s reach, quickly pulled Judith to his lap and rested his forehead on her arm, sighing in satisfaction.
“Why are you like this today, Your Majesty?”
“I don’t know. It’s always been like that, but today you’re so pretty I can’t stand it.”
“We can’t do something like this morning now. Everyone is over there.”
Stilda and the court ladies were in another room of the inner chamber, separated only by a thin wall. It would be different if it were a completely enclosed place like in the morning, but it was impossible to conduct business here. Franz, who had a regretful expression on his face, smiled as if he was sighing and kissed her shoulder briefly several times.
“Yes, I understand. If you say so, I’ll try to bear with it.”
Judith then stroked Franz's red hair as if to say, "You're good." Franz, who was embracing his wife's soft body and enjoying the feel and scent, slightly raised his head.
“Should I invite Bartholomew and Cheraan for lunch?”
“I’m on vacation. Should I call you to the palace?”
“I’m not trying to order you around. It’s been a while since the four of us sat down to eat.”
“Well, I’ll send someone first.”
Franz nodded. But his hands continued to caress Judith’s skin. As if his obsession would not go away.
“Evyanne... is still young. Having another child would be too hard on you.”
Judith's face turned red at his genuinely worried tone. When she pouted and made a move to push his shoulder away, Franz burst out laughing and rested his cheek against Judith's back.
“You don’t like a husband who talks like that in broad daylight?”
“I don’t hate it, but I find it annoying and want to bite it.”
Franz's body shook slightly as he burst into laughter. How could such an emotion exist? Even though it had been several years since he had experienced it, it felt new and happy again.
Judith, who was looking away as if she had been smitten, was actually thinking the same thing. If someone could give her an answer, she wanted to ask. How is it possible for such a lovely person to exist by her side every day? Such a splendid happiness.
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