"Yes?!"
I was so surprised that my body on the bed floated into the air and then came back down. The bed shook violently, causing Emperor Linel's body to shake as well. He raised one eyebrow and said teasingly.
“Yeah. I think it was the same way back then, my body was shaking like this just now.”
“...”
“It felt like a wave of heat was spreading deep into my body. I felt the warmth intensely... Was it really an illusion?”
Was I too active in the early morning? Or was I?
I was just lying still like a corpse. Oh, come to think of it, the moment his body touched me, my body that was like a ball of fire cooled down. So I think I was active for a moment. Emperor Linel's eyes as if he was longing for something, stayed on my face. What should I do now? Should I naturally take off my slip while trying to find out if it was really a delusion or not? Should I turn off the light first?
“But I won’t force you to hug me.”
At the solemn voice of Emperor Linel, my two hands, which were about to reach for the slippers and the flashlight respectively, stopped at the same time. Wow, I almost got excited!
"...Your Majesty."
“I really do. That’s how I feel. I don’t know if my body feels the same.”
His eyes, which had been filled with desire just a moment ago, became much gentler.
“I am a man who can do almost anything I want in the Lapion Empire, no, in the Northern Continent, but to my wife... I don’t want to do that.”
Surprisingly, there was sincerity in his voice. It was surprising that an Emperor with all the power would think such a thing. Whether he could keep that thought was another matter.
“I also want to have at least one person by my side who I can be careful with and can’t treat carelessly.”
Emperor Linel suddenly seemed lovely. His honest words made me want to take off the thin slip I was wearing right away. I didn’t really intend to do that, but I was touched by the Emperor’s words. The fact that he was a good man... made me feel even sadder that I was the acting Empress. I lowered my head without realizing it. A few seconds later, his large hand was placed on the back of my head.
“But I won’t force you to hug me.”
At the solemn voice of Emperor Linel, my two hands, which were about to reach for the slippers and the flashlight respectively, stopped at the same time. Wow, I almost got excited!
"...Your Majesty."
“I really do. That’s how I feel. I don’t know if my body feels the same.”
His eyes, which had been filled with desire just a moment ago, became much gentler.
“I am a man who can do almost anything I want in the Lapion Empire, no, in the Northern Continent, but to my wife... I don’t want to do that.”
Surprisingly, there was sincerity in his voice. It was surprising that an Emperor with all the power would think such a thing. Whether he could keep that thought was another matter.
“I also want to have at least one person by my side who I can be careful with and can’t treat carelessly.”
Emperor Linel suddenly seemed lovely. His honest words made me want to take off the thin slip I was wearing right away. I didn’t really intend to do that, but I was touched by the Emperor’s words. The fact that he was a good man... made me feel even sadder that I was the acting Empress. I lowered my head without realizing it. A few seconds later, his large hand was placed on the back of my head.
“I won’t treat you rudely, but honestly, I don’t plan on being very tolerant.”
I raised my head again at the sound of his voice, which sounded like a confession. He was smiling, still placing his hand on my head like a priest would when giving a blessing.
“Of course, I’ll need your permission. That may be true, but... Hmm, let me tell you in advance... ”
He whispered in my ear like it was a top secret.
“I am a very impatient person. I hope you will take this into consideration.”
“Thank you for the information.”
I replied, biting my lower lip.
“Let’s do that instead today.”
He pointed to my hand with a nod.
"...Yes?"
What are you doing with your hands? My eyes wandered here and there. Emperor Linel withdrew his hand from me and glared.
“Why, that doesn’t work either?”
“No, I don’t know what it is, but... it works.”
“Really? But, Empress, why do you keep looking down?”
So, why are my eyes like that?
“Why are your eyes so wide open? Is there something you want to check in here?”
Emperor Linel asked, poking the blanket we were covered with with his finger.
“No, that’s not it...”
His deep, low voice and the joke that didn't match at all made me completely speechless. As he pointed out, I couldn't figure out why my eyes kept wandering to the wrong places. I closed my eyes tightly as a sign of reflection and pretended to poke my eyes with two fingers. Then, I heard Emperor Linel's snorting sound repeatedly.
“Empress, I almost got into trouble just now."
"...Why?"
“While you were closing your eyes, my resolve was about to change.”
He spoke in a grumbling tone, tousling the back of his hair.
“So don’t keep doing that.”
Something like that? What kind of thing? What did I do to make the Emperor look so distressed? He didn't look upset, but he didn't look happy either.
“I wish you would let me keep my promise, even if it’s just for today.”
The promise he made? Oh, maybe...
'I have no intention of forcing myself to hug you.'
Is that what you mean?
“Don’t ask for details.”
Emperor Linel spoke as if warning.
“Don’t even wonder. And don’t even try to find out.”
He moved his hips to put a little more distance between us.
"... Yes?"
“Let’s just sleep well today.”
He muttered softly as if he were talking to himself.
"Ha."
Emperor Linel suddenly extended his hand as before.
“As I said earlier, I’m satisfied with this for today.”
His tone was solemn as if he were reciting a declaration. I placed my chin on his palm, as he had requested.
“Your Majesty, are you just going to sleep while holding hands?”
He responded immediately to what I said. Nodding, nodding... I guess that’s true.
“You look regretful? When I see this, I think even the Empress isn’t all that innocent.”
He laughed teasingly.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
I naturally let go. I wasn't expecting anything, but I really didn't know that we could just hold hands and sleep.
“I’m also bad at lying.”
“...”
He chuckled, lightly touching my cheek.
“Just lie down.”
We slid down side by side. He put the hand he was holding into the blanket and kept tightening and loosening his grip. It felt like he was pressing my hand. After a few minutes, he called me.
“Empress, no, Zelda...”
My name. In a sweet voice. It felt strange to hear my name from Emperor Linel's lips. When I didn't answer right away, he turned toward me.
“This is much better. From now on, I’ll call you by your name whenever we’re alone.”
His smiling face was so close.
“When we’re alone, let’s call each other by our names. What do you think?”
“Me too... Are you saying that I should call Your Majesty by your name?”
“Yes. Now, Zelda, you are the only one in the world who can call my name.”
However, since both the former Emperor and the Empress dowager passed away before Emperor Linel turned 20, there was no one who could call him by his name.
“I can’t even remember the last time I heard someone call my name.”
“Linel...”
I don't know where the courage came from, but I called him without the slightest hesitation. I said the Emperor's name as naturally as if I had always called him by his name.
"What?"
“Linel.”
"What?"
It didn't seem like he was asking because he couldn't hear the question, but he kept asking.
“Why do you keep pretending not to hear, Linel?”
“Ha, hahaha!”
This time he burst out laughing. I couldn't understand where the point of laughter was in what I said. Anyway, I was glad that he seemed happy. He kept calling me by my name, even though he was embarrassed to hear it like a teenage boy who was confessing to me.
"Hurry."
“Linel, aren’t you tired?”
“Does that mean you’re tired and should stop now?”
As expected, he is a man with a very quick wit.
“You are a saint.”
I responded with a show of admiration.
“Zelda.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
When I called him out again, he glared at me.
“Ah, Linel.”
When I quickly called his name again, he twitched his lips and looked up at the ceiling. After a moment of silence, he spoke to me in a serious voice.
“I like your name. It’s getting better.”
“What’s the name? Are you saying my name is getting better?”
Not me, but just my name? I asked him again because the tone felt a bit strange. Linel let out an incomprehensible laugh and emphasized that he was getting better. Could it be that he was talking about me, not my name?
As expected, he is a man with a very quick wit.
“You are a saint.”
I responded with a show of admiration.
“Zelda.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
When I called him out again, he glared at me.
“Ah, Linel.”
When I quickly called his name again, he twitched his lips and looked up at the ceiling. After a moment of silence, he spoke to me in a serious voice.
“I like your name. It’s getting better.”
“What’s the name? Are you saying my name is getting better?”
Not me, but just my name? I asked him again because the tone felt a bit strange. Linel let out an incomprehensible laugh and emphasized that he was getting better. Could it be that he was talking about me, not my name?
For a moment, a vain wind passed through my head like a spring breeze. But how could that be?
It was just a rumor. I nodded quietly to myself and collected my thoughts. The night was deepening, but our useless conversations did not tire. When our words had died down, he muttered as if he was sleeping.
“Zelda, I’m not cold when I sleep with you. Isn’t it really strange...”
Linel's sleepy voice entered my chest and swirled around. After a while, his comfortable breathing tickled my ear. I carefully turned my head to the side and saw that he was asleep with a smile on his face.
“When I’m with you, my body feels like it’s been thrown into a fire, and it feels cool. I want to continue sleeping comfortably like this...”
I also secretly whispered to him while looking at him and fell asleep. I felt the hand I was holding onto being pulled out of the blanket by him. Was he sleeping? I could feel Linel’s heartbeat in my hand... Maybe it was an illusion?
***
When I opened my eyes in the morning, Linel had already woken up before me and left the bedroom.
“Your Majesty the Empress, did you sleep well?”
Sharon, with a much brighter expression than yesterday, greeted me in the morning and observed my complexion. She obviously knew that Linel and I had spent the night together in my bedroom. Sharon glanced at the bed next to me and cautiously opened her mouth.
“His Majesty has said that Your Majesty the Empress is in a deep sleep and should not be awakened.”
“I see. But next time, just wake me up. It was the same the first day, and I overslept again, so I couldn’t see His Majesty off this time either.”
When I imagined Linel waking up first and looking down at me sleeping without a care in the world, my face burned.
“Yes, I will do so, Your Majesty the Empress.”
Sharon answered with a bright smile.
“Oh, Sharon. How do you like your new place?”
“Yes, but it’s too much for me!”
I had Sharon move from the servants' quarters last night to the room closest to my bedroom, one of the rooms the maids used when they stayed in the palace.
“I don’t know how to express my gratitude to Your Majesty the Empress for your kindness.”
“You are qualified enough. If you need anything in the future, just tell me. I will do my best to help.”
“I am so satisfied now! Thank you so much.”
Sharon's face, which had been smiling brightly as she spoke, became quiet again.
“I, Your Majesty the Empress...”
"Yes?"
“Grand Duke Martins has requested an audience.”
“The Grand Duke again?”
What's going on with that person today?
“Your Majesty the Empress, did you sleep well?”
Sharon, with a much brighter expression than yesterday, greeted me in the morning and observed my complexion. She obviously knew that Linel and I had spent the night together in my bedroom. Sharon glanced at the bed next to me and cautiously opened her mouth.
“His Majesty has said that Your Majesty the Empress is in a deep sleep and should not be awakened.”
“I see. But next time, just wake me up. It was the same the first day, and I overslept again, so I couldn’t see His Majesty off this time either.”
When I imagined Linel waking up first and looking down at me sleeping without a care in the world, my face burned.
“Yes, I will do so, Your Majesty the Empress.”
Sharon answered with a bright smile.
“Oh, Sharon. How do you like your new place?”
“Yes, but it’s too much for me!”
I had Sharon move from the servants' quarters last night to the room closest to my bedroom, one of the rooms the maids used when they stayed in the palace.
“I don’t know how to express my gratitude to Your Majesty the Empress for your kindness.”
“You are qualified enough. If you need anything in the future, just tell me. I will do my best to help.”
“I am so satisfied now! Thank you so much.”
Sharon's face, which had been smiling brightly as she spoke, became quiet again.
“I, Your Majesty the Empress...”
"Yes?"
“Grand Duke Martins has requested an audience.”
“The Grand Duke again?”
What's going on with that person today?
At my question, Sharon trailed off with an 'uh-uh' sound, then opened the notebook she was holding again and corrected herself, saying that she had missed something.
“It is said that he has requested to see His Majesty the Emperor.”
“What? Grand Duke Martins with His Majesty?”
“Yes, that’s exactly what I received. Should I go check with Secretary Raphael again?”
“Oh, no. If that’s what was reported, then it must be true.”
Haa, just thinking about the three of us meeting in one place already makes me feel uneasy.
“Yeah, we should meet up...”
“It is said that he has requested to see His Majesty the Emperor.”
“What? Grand Duke Martins with His Majesty?”
“Yes, that’s exactly what I received. Should I go check with Secretary Raphael again?”
“Oh, no. If that’s what was reported, then it must be true.”
Haa, just thinking about the three of us meeting in one place already makes me feel uneasy.
“Yeah, we should meet up...”
I steeled my resolve and got up from the bed.
Groan.
Along with my hungry stomach.
“Your Majesty, before you shower, I would like breakfast to be served first.”
I nodded, feeling once again that Sharon was truly an excellent servant.
“Yeah, that would be good.”
I smiled awkwardly and patted my stomach. An hour later. I had finished the hearty breakfast Sharon had prepared and even took a shower.
“Your Majesty, before you shower, I would like breakfast to be served first.”
I nodded, feeling once again that Sharon was truly an excellent servant.
“Yeah, that would be good.”
I smiled awkwardly and patted my stomach. An hour later. I had finished the hearty breakfast Sharon had prepared and even took a shower.
“I’m meeting Your Highness and the Grand Duke in the afternoon. What’s your schedule for the morning?”
I sat down at the vanity and asked Sharon.
“Oh, my goodness. I forgot to report on your morning schedule because I was busy talking about the most important thing today.”
Sharon hit her head with her fist and quickly took out a notebook from her dress pocket. I laughed at her appearance and turned my body on the dressing table chair toward Sharon.
“There will be tea time in the reception room with the noble ladies in the morning. It would be a good idea to check if there is anyone among the ladies you meet today whom Your Majesty the Empress would like to bring in as a new maid.”
I sat down at the vanity and asked Sharon.
“Oh, my goodness. I forgot to report on your morning schedule because I was busy talking about the most important thing today.”
Sharon hit her head with her fist and quickly took out a notebook from her dress pocket. I laughed at her appearance and turned my body on the dressing table chair toward Sharon.
“There will be tea time in the reception room with the noble ladies in the morning. It would be a good idea to check if there is anyone among the ladies you meet today whom Your Majesty the Empress would like to bring in as a new maid.”
“Umm, it’s tea time with the ladies... How many people are attending?”
“There are a total of fifteen young ladies invited to the Empress’ Palace today.”
“Are the ladies I saw in the bedroom yesterday also attending?”
“Yes, it was on the list.”
"I see."
I nodded, sat up straight again, and looked into the mirror.
“Now, I will invite the servants who will do Your Majesty the Empress’s hair and makeup to come in.”
“Yeah, okay.”
Sharon quickly opened the bedroom door and brought in two servants who had been waiting. She proudly introduced the servant who would be doing my hair.
“Your Majesty, I, Sollie, come from a family of imperial gardeners. I have been tending and trimming the gardens for generations since my great-grandfather. Sollie is more talented at hairdressing than at gardening.”
I reached out to Sollie as I listened to Sharon's praise.
“Nice to meet you, Sollie. What a precious talent you have.”
“You are too kind, Your Majesty! I will serve you with all my heart!”
Sollie smiled innocently and kissed the back of my hand.
“Please take care of me from now on. Think of my head as a tree and show off as much as you want.”
Sollie's face brightened even more at my words.
“And this is Teresa, who will be in charge of your makeup. She is a former artist, and makeup is an art just like painting. She is especially talented at mixing various colors to create lipsticks that you can’t find anywhere else in the world.”
“Oh, Teresa is really great too. Please paint my inadequate face as if you were drawing a picture.”
“Your Majesty, I will do my best to make you the most beautiful and refined in the Lapion Empire, Your Majesty the Empress!”
“I'll look forward to it.”
I nodded with a small smile at Teresa’s eyes full of enthusiasm. As with yesterday, Sharon had personally chosen the dress for me. I was impressed by Sharon’s eye for choosing dresses today as well. The three maids seriously discussed how to style my hair and makeup to match the dress I was wearing, and occasionally asked for my thoughts. Was it really necessary to hire maids? There were so many experts in clothing, hair, and makeup?
I seriously pondered this while leaving myself in their hands.
“It is all done, Your Majesty the Empress.”
At Sharon's words, I got up from the vanity chair and stood in front of the full-length mirror.
“Wow, I knew you’d be this beautiful!”
“You are so pretty!”
“It’s disrespectful to say this, but you look much, much more beautiful than when I saw you at your wedding!”
They surrounded me, continuously exclaiming in admiration. I couldn’t help but agree with them, seeing how the atmosphere had definitely changed. In the mirror, there was no longer Countess Zelda von Trova, who used to work as a bathhouse maid in the Kingdom of Shattonil. I looked like Empress Zelda Guardion Edpa of the Lapion Empire.
“It is all done, Your Majesty the Empress.”
At Sharon's words, I got up from the vanity chair and stood in front of the full-length mirror.
“Wow, I knew you’d be this beautiful!”
“You are so pretty!”
“It’s disrespectful to say this, but you look much, much more beautiful than when I saw you at your wedding!”
They surrounded me, continuously exclaiming in admiration. I couldn’t help but agree with them, seeing how the atmosphere had definitely changed. In the mirror, there was no longer Countess Zelda von Trova, who used to work as a bathhouse maid in the Kingdom of Shattonil. I looked like Empress Zelda Guardion Edpa of the Lapion Empire.
Suddenly, I thought of someone I wanted to show this even more refined appearance than yesterday. Linel, what could he be doing right now?
However, before meeting him, I had to have tea time with the noble ladies first.
Knock knock.
There was a knock on the door and a servant from outside the bedroom told me that he was looking for Sharon. Sharon apologized to me and left the bedroom. A few minutes later, the woman who had left with a smile on her face returned with a thoughtful look.
“Sharon, what’s going on?”
“Your Majesty the Empress... I think you should quickly go to the reception room, which is where the tea time is held.”
“Why? Are the gathered ladies urging me?”
I approached the fidgeting Sharon and asked her.
“That, that’s not it...”
Sharon looked embarrassed and couldn't continue speaking.
“What’s going on?”
For a moment, I had a gut feeling that it was not good. When I frowned slightly, Sharon said in a low voice.
“At tea time... there is news... that there are candidates to become His Majesty’s concubines...”
What?
“Sharon, what’s going on?”
“Your Majesty the Empress... I think you should quickly go to the reception room, which is where the tea time is held.”
“Why? Are the gathered ladies urging me?”
I approached the fidgeting Sharon and asked her.
“That, that’s not it...”
Sharon looked embarrassed and couldn't continue speaking.
“What’s going on?”
For a moment, I had a gut feeling that it was not good. When I frowned slightly, Sharon said in a low voice.
“At tea time... there is news... that there are candidates to become His Majesty’s concubines...”
What?
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