“Would you please raise your face?”
The husband I met for the first time today said. If I were to talk about my husband, Linel Gadion Edpa. He would become the emperor of the Lapion Empire, the most powerful nation in the Northern Continent.
As soon as I saw Emperor Linel’s face in the Great Hall where the wedding was held today, I wanted to run away with the hem of my wedding dress upside down. In fact, we met last night in a secret place outside the palace. However, fortunately, he didn’t seem to remember me.
Please, I shouldn’t remember him anymore...
Still, I was able to relax a little during the wedding. Thanks to the makeup that was almost like a disguise even I couldn’t recognize myself and the gorgeous wedding dress. However, soon night came and my makeup was completely erased, and I started to feel anxious again. It wasn’t because I was curious about the marble floor of the bedroom.
As time passed, my heart gradually shrank. In fact, there was another bigger problem than meeting him last night. A really important problem that my life depended on.
I’m not the Emperor’s real wife. In other words, I’m a proxy Empress. What if this fact is discovered?
Oh, the thought is horrifying. I swear that the man sitting before me like a beautiful portrait will mercilessly knock my balls off and send me flying in the direction of my homeland, the Kingdom of Shattonil. Looking at his cold, blue eyes, I could tell he was a great man even after doing so. But to my chagrin, the Emperor had a face that made him look beautiful even when he did such cruel things.
“Did you commit a sin?”
“!”
Following the provocative question.
“Are you sure you’re hiding something from me?”
Even a question that pricked my conscience. I was sitting precariously on the edge of the bed in my thin slip, and I almost fell to the floor in shock at his words.
Following the provocative question.
“Are you sure you’re hiding something from me?”
Even a question that pricked my conscience. I was sitting precariously on the edge of the bed in my thin slip, and I almost fell to the floor in shock at his words.
Yes! I thought to myself, “That’s right!” but I kept my lips shut tighter. Only my deeply bowed head revealed the truth.
Acting Empress. My very existence right now is a sin. How did I get caught up in such a huge thing?
Until a few days ago, I was nothing more than a bathhouse maid in the Shattonil royal family. Damn it, it’s all because of Princess Resilia, who ran away with a mercenary knight before her royal wedding!
I squeezed my eyes shut in tension, recalling the day I left the Shattonil Kingdom.
Five days ago, at the Shattonil royal family.
“You want me to be the acting Empress?”
What did I just hear?
“You want me to be the acting Empress?”
What did I just hear?
At first, I burst into laughter at Prince Tesla’s absurd words. After laughing for a while, I closed my mouth again because of the unusual atmosphere.
“Are you serious...?”
“Zelda von Trova. You’re the only one I can trust!”
If I am the only person you can trust, wouldn't it be better to just give up on that situation?
“Zelda von Trova. You’re the only one I can trust!”
If I am the only person you can trust, wouldn't it be better to just give up on that situation?
Prince Tesla spoke as if he trusted me the most in the world. Then he grabbed my hand and brought it to his lips. I quickly pulled my hand away, feeling embarrassed.
“Zelda, please.”
The tone was closer to an order than a request.
“Please stay in the position of Empress of the Lapion Empire for a moment.”
“Isn’t that the country where Princess Resilia and I will soon be getting married?”
“Right. But that damn bitch... no, Resilia disappeared a week ago.”
“Zelda, please.”
The tone was closer to an order than a request.
“Please stay in the position of Empress of the Lapion Empire for a moment.”
“Isn’t that the country where Princess Resilia and I will soon be getting married?”
“Right. But that damn bitch... no, Resilia disappeared a week ago.”
...Oh my, how could that happen?
Somehow. Lately, the palace has been noticeably quiet. Normally, Princess Resilia’s high-toned complaints would be heard from various parts of the palace once every two days.
“What should I do? It’s almost time to leave for the Lapion Empire.”
“What do you mean soon? You should have left already.”
So you want me to go instead? It was ridiculous.
“What should I do? It’s almost time to leave for the Lapion Empire.”
“What do you mean soon? You should have left already.”
So you want me to go instead? It was ridiculous.
Three months ago, the young Emperor of the Lapion Empire requested a marriage from the Kingdom of Shattonil, citing a strong alliance. In the letter sent by Emperor Linel, it was stated that the status of the Empress did not necessarily have to be the Princess of Shattonil. From the perspective of the royal family of Shattonil, there was no reason to give the position of Empress of the Lapion Empire to another noble family, even if there was no Princess. However, the only Princess, Princess Resilia, disappeared after hearing the news that the marriage was brought forward from the schedule.
“Where on earth did the Princess go alone?”
“What about alone! She ran away with that mercenary knight who was in the royal family.”
"Oh my God..."
“Damn it! It wasn’t supposed to invite the mercenary knights to the royal court in the first place.”
Since a year ago, monsters have been appearing frequently in the diamond mine, the largest national treasury supplement of the Kingdom of Shattonil. Because of this, the royal family hired a group of mercenary knights who specialized in hunting monsters and made them stay in the palace. That was the cause of the trouble. It seems that the old saying that if you let people into your family without permission, it will be ruined also applies to the royal family. So now, you're saying that Princess Resilia ran away in the middle of the night after falling in love with one of the mercenary knights who stayed in the royal family?
“That mercenary knight whose origins I don’t even know ran away after catching Resilia instead of the monster I told him to catch!”
Blood rose from Prince Tesla's neck. His voice was filled with anger mixed with impatience. He began to vent his anger and explain how urgent the situation was. While the Royal Knights were searching for Princess Resilia day and night, the Lapion Empire had brought forward the date of the national wedding. For the Kingdom of Shattonil, which was treated as a vassal state, it was impossible to postpone the national wedding.
“No matter how much I think about it, there’s no way. So you..."
“Where on earth did the Princess go alone?”
“What about alone! She ran away with that mercenary knight who was in the royal family.”
"Oh my God..."
“Damn it! It wasn’t supposed to invite the mercenary knights to the royal court in the first place.”
Since a year ago, monsters have been appearing frequently in the diamond mine, the largest national treasury supplement of the Kingdom of Shattonil. Because of this, the royal family hired a group of mercenary knights who specialized in hunting monsters and made them stay in the palace. That was the cause of the trouble. It seems that the old saying that if you let people into your family without permission, it will be ruined also applies to the royal family. So now, you're saying that Princess Resilia ran away in the middle of the night after falling in love with one of the mercenary knights who stayed in the royal family?
“That mercenary knight whose origins I don’t even know ran away after catching Resilia instead of the monster I told him to catch!”
Blood rose from Prince Tesla's neck. His voice was filled with anger mixed with impatience. He began to vent his anger and explain how urgent the situation was. While the Royal Knights were searching for Princess Resilia day and night, the Lapion Empire had brought forward the date of the national wedding. For the Kingdom of Shattonil, which was treated as a vassal state, it was impossible to postpone the national wedding.
“No matter how much I think about it, there’s no way. So you..."
“Your Highness, I am just a royal bathmaid!”
I waved my hand, holding the soap in one hand and the towel in the other, desperately expressing my refusal. Prince Tesla snatched the soap and towel from my hands and threw them into the corner of the office. It wasn’t just the soap and towel that flew away. It seemed like my future had also flown away.
“The Royal Knights will soon come looking for Resilia. Until then, you will be the Empress. If our kingdom does not send a bride in time, the position of Empress of the Lapion Empire will go to the Ekiya Empire! That will absolutely not happen!”
Prince Tesla shouted, dropping the scabbard on his waist to the floor of his study. It was a clear threat disguised as desperation.
“Do you know how important this national wedding is for our Kingdom of Shattonil to form a strong alliance with the Lapion Empire?”
“You know very well that my face has a burn scar, right, Your Highness? If someone like me becomes the Empress, our relationship with the Lapion Empire might get worse!”
I raised my voice, pointing to the burn scar on the right side of my face. Prince Tesla grinned as if he knew I would say that.
“Zelda, so what I’m saying is...”
He offered me a secret deal to convince me. It was something I could never turn down.
“The night you arrive at the Lapion Castle, Grand Duke Martins will guide you to a place that sells a magic potion that will remove the burn scar. How about it? You have nothing to lose, right?”
I raised my voice, pointing to the burn scar on the right side of my face. Prince Tesla grinned as if he knew I would say that.
“Zelda, so what I’m saying is...”
He offered me a secret deal to convince me. It was something I could never turn down.
“The night you arrive at the Lapion Castle, Grand Duke Martins will guide you to a place that sells a magic potion that will remove the burn scar. How about it? You have nothing to lose, right?”
“...Really?!”
“Yes. However, the disappearance of the scar is only temporary, and you have to continue taking that magic potion to maintain it.”
My heart was pounding. I couldn't hide my excitement. Even if it was just for a moment, I was happy. I wanted to live for just one day with my face intact and free of burn scars.
“Of course, I plan to continue to provide you with magic potions on the condition that you faithfully fulfill your role as acting Empress until we find Resilia.”
“But am I qualified to be the acting Empress?”
“In the marriage proposal sent from the Lapion Empire, it is written that the status of the Empress does not necessarily have to be that of a Princess. So, you, the daughter of the Count, are more than qualified to be the Empress. Furthermore, no matter how I think about it, you are the perfect person.”
Each suitable person?
“Why?”
Listen, Prince Tesla confidently added these conditions for the acting Empress. A young lady whose beauty was so different from Princess Resilia’s that Emperor Linel would later decide to divorce her immediately after falling in love with her. And a young lady from a noble family with so little power that she would have no choice but to accept the divorce. He even added that it would be even better if she were an illegitimate child like me. The conditions were surprisingly simple and surprisingly unpleasant.
“Yes. However, the disappearance of the scar is only temporary, and you have to continue taking that magic potion to maintain it.”
My heart was pounding. I couldn't hide my excitement. Even if it was just for a moment, I was happy. I wanted to live for just one day with my face intact and free of burn scars.
“Of course, I plan to continue to provide you with magic potions on the condition that you faithfully fulfill your role as acting Empress until we find Resilia.”
“But am I qualified to be the acting Empress?”
“In the marriage proposal sent from the Lapion Empire, it is written that the status of the Empress does not necessarily have to be that of a Princess. So, you, the daughter of the Count, are more than qualified to be the Empress. Furthermore, no matter how I think about it, you are the perfect person.”
Each suitable person?
“Why?”
Listen, Prince Tesla confidently added these conditions for the acting Empress. A young lady whose beauty was so different from Princess Resilia’s that Emperor Linel would later decide to divorce her immediately after falling in love with her. And a young lady from a noble family with so little power that she would have no choice but to accept the divorce. He even added that it would be even better if she were an illegitimate child like me. The conditions were surprisingly simple and surprisingly unpleasant.
As I listened to Prince Tesla, I wanted to find a way to refute him by saying, “But I don’t meet the conditions?”...but there wasn’t a single one. How could the conditions be so tailored to me?
Prince Tesla was certain that even if my burn scars disappeared, I would never be as beautiful as Princess Resilia. That was the most unpleasant of all.
“Zelda, this is just something I say out of concern. If you suddenly change your mind and don’t step down as Empress after Resilia returns, those burn scars will show up again.”
Oh, so that magic potion that takes away my burn scars is the carrot and stick that gets me going?
“Is that magic potion for blackmail?”
“What are you talking about that makes you so upset? This is a negotiation, not a threat.”
Prince Tesla responded with a look of pure surprise in his eyes.
“It’s not because I don’t trust you. Your heart is something that changes without you even realizing it.”
“?”
There was no reason for me to hold on to that position and not give it up, especially since it was an unwanted position as Empress.
“Don’t worry. That won’t happen.”
I answered confidently. The future of the Kingdom of Shattonil rested on my shoulders... Before leaving Shattonil Palace, Prince Tesla placed a hand on my shoulder and spoke in a serious voice. In contrast to my increasingly dark expression, a carefree smile began to appear on the Prince's face.
“If you can carry out your role as the acting Empress well until the end, then I will give you a cure that will completely remove your scar.”
“There is a treatment that will cure it completely, not just temporarily?”
I opened my eyes wide and walked up to Prince Tesla, who was deliberately keeping his distance and asked him.
“Yeah. But if things go wrong in the middle... you know?”
A question suddenly appeared on Prince Tesla's face, which felt mean.
“If there was such a drug, why didn’t you tell me about it sooner?”
“Oh, my Zelda. Don’t get me wrong. It wasn’t long ago that I learned that there is a magic potion that can remove your burn scars.”
"Yes..."
Of course, I didn't believe Prince Tesla's words. My mind was in a state of confusion, but I had only concluded one thing from earlier. There was no way out of this situation. Even if I refused the position of acting Empress, I would still be forced to board the carriage to the Lapion Empire. In that case, it would be wisest to get on the carriage politely on the condition of receiving a magic potion that could cure my burn scars. It wasn't a losing proposition, as Prince Tesla said. Of course, that would be if I survived without Emperor Linel discovering my identity.
“It’s much better to do this than to give up my national identity and fall out of favor with the Lapion Empire.”
Prince Tesla said with a determined look in his eyes.
“You don’t know how much you mean to me right now...”
Prince Tesla placed his hands on his chest again and spoke affectionately. Anyone who saw him would think he was confessing his love.
“Hmm, what should I do?”
I asked, thinking only of the magic potion that would remove my burn scars. Prince Tesla's dark expression brightened in an instant and he quickly spoke.
“It’s simple. Once Resilia arrives at the Lapion Imperial Palace, you can divorce the Emperor. It’s not that hard, right?”
“It’s not that difficult, but it would be life-threatening. But, do you think divorce would be that easy?”
As soon as I said that, I realized that it was a really stupid question. There wouldn't be a man who wouldn't be captivated by the beauty of Princess Resilia. I was worrying for nothing.
“If Emperor Linel sees Resilia, then he will easily divorce you.”
Prince Tesla stared at my face intently and asked, "You know what I mean, right?" He nodded calmly on the outside, but inside he felt bitter.
'Okay, now shut up!'
The words were on the tip of my tongue, but I persevered to the end.
“Now that I think about it, divorce wouldn’t be difficult. Anyway, please find Princess Resilia as soon as possible.”
I spoke briefly and coolly as if I were someone who had been given a simple mission.
“Yes! Thank you very much, Zelda...”
Prince Tesla stopped his hand from caressing my cheek. Without realizing it, he lifted his left hand, then switched it to his right, and placed it on my left cheek, where there was no burn scar. Then he tilted his head to the side as if he was going to kiss me, and whispered near my lips.
“You are my benefactor. I will never forget you.”
'You are my misfortune. I will never forget you for the rest of my life.'
It was a pity that my true feelings could not be conveyed through just a look. There was no kiss. In fact, I had not expected it.
“Hmm, then when should I leave?”
"Today."
What the hell! I asked again calmly.
“Today, when?”
“Right now.”
“Are you kidding?”
“There’s a carriage waiting outside.”
“...”
“I have a formal dress ready, so just change into it and leave right away.”
“...That’s right.”
I quickly said goodbye and turned around, not wanting to face Prince Tesla any longer.
“Oh, and Zelda. I have something to tell you in advance.”
He grabbed my wrist.
“Once Resilia arrives at the Lapion Imperial Palace, word will spread quickly.”
“What’s the rumor?”
“There are rumors that you are secretly having a secret affair with another man.”
“What did you say?”
“Yes, of course, it’s a ridiculous rumor. But it’s unavoidable to justify the divorce.”
“Do you really have to spread such rumors?”
I asked Prince Tesla with a displeased expression.
“It may be dishonorable, but it is ultimately good for you as it will allow you to escape from the Lapion Imperial Family as soon as possible.”
“Is that really the best option?”
“As of now, yes.”
“Who would believe that the Empress was having an affair with another man?”
“It may be hard to believe, but Emperor Linel will be displeased, so that’s enough.”
What should I do about my unpleasant mood right now? I cursed Prince Tesla in my mind.
“Because it’s easy to use as evidence to ask the High Priest to approve a divorce.”
“...Yes. I’ll be going now.”
I replied with resignation.
“Hey, have I ever told you this? You’re beautiful too.”
Prince Tesla spoke hastily as if he had forgotten what he had prepared in advance.
“Your Highness, do you think I am truly beautiful?”
"...Then."
A reply a beat late.
“Just cover the scars.”
In addition, I added words that didn't necessarily need to be added.
“And Zelda, when you return, I will take you as my government.”
Prince Tesla spoke as if he was a good man. The moment I heard that, my impression was completely distorted. Although Prince Tesla was the object of desire of every woman in the kingdom of Shattonil, I never wanted to be his woman. But a government?
“Emperor Linel will never touch you anyway. So I won’t be too upset if you return to the kingdom and I accept you into the government.”
“Huh? What are you talking about?”
“I have information that the Emperor has never once allowed a woman into his bedroom. Do you know what that means?”
“I guess he has high standards, so he hasn’t had a woman he likes in a while.”
“That is true. But Zelda, he is in the prime of his life. And he is the Emperor.”
“Then, could it be that person...?”
I mouthed a word that suddenly came to my mind.
"Maybe."
Prince Tesla noticed the shape of my mouth and nodded.
“So, while you’re the acting Empress, you don’t have to worry about sleeping with the Emperor. How is that, a lot more reassuring? But when you return, I’ll make you twice as pretty.”
He ran the back of his hand over my shoulder line and chattered.
“I decline.”
“Does that mean you want to be my Princess? Zelda, that’s a bit tricky...”
Ha, your mistake is more troublesome, isn't it?
“No, I just don’t like it.”
“Think again. I don’t have any flaws like Emperor Linel. And do you think such good looks are common?”
My small foot, which could even shatter marbles, twitched towards the center of Prince Tesla's show-off. I suppressed my anger and shouted at Prince Tesla with a serious expression.
“Yes. I really hate handsome guys!”
***
“What are you thinking so about?”
A very handsome man spoke. When I opened my tightly shut eyes again, a face that was incomparably more beautiful than Prince Tesla was looking down at me.
“Ah... Your Majesty.”
Suddenly, an epiphany struck me. I really like that handsome guy.
“I told you to raise your head, but you changed it to closing your eyes? Now that I open my eyes, you’re lowering your head again. What’s with that sinful expression?”
His disapproving voice hit my jaw again.
“We’re going to have our first wedding soon, so shouldn’t we see each other’s faces properly?”
Emperor Linel himself lifted my chin and muttered in a low voice.
"OMG!"
I was so surprised at the mention of the overnight stay that I took a deep breath and accidentally fell backward on the bed. It was as if I had been waiting for it.
He looked confused for a moment, then looked down at me and said.
“You have a fiery personality... If someone saw you, they would think you’ve been waiting for this day.”
“!”
What the heck? Prince Tesla, you son of a bitch, you lied to me?
You said Emperor Linel was a good dog! You traitor!
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