I know you too well, I know you too well. When did I ever glance at you? I closed my eyes tightly, cursing my reckless gaze.
“By the way, Your Majesty, did you come to the clinic alone?”
I quickly changed the subject.
“No. Secretary Raphael suddenly got a stomachache, so I had to stay alone.”
“In the corner?”
“Yes, just like someone said yesterday, curled up in a corner. What about the Empress who does that?”
"Yes?"
“Why did you come to the ‘Confident Night’ clinic yesterday? It seemed like you were receiving something.”
“I, I...”
His question made my heart sink. I couldn't tell him the truth. What should I do? What should I say?
"Empress...?"
He called me as if urging me.
“I went to buy some stimulants!”
"What?"
“For today, the first night!”
"...What?"
“It’s true!”
I clenched my fists and shouted with a serious look in my eyes. Emperor Linel stared blankly at me for a moment, then slowly pulled the blanket up to his chin. A look of tension was clearly visible on his face. Why is he like that?
“You suddenly look tired, Your Majesty?”
“You see? That’s good.”
Emperor Linel closed his eyes and replied.
“?”
“Even the Empress must be tired.”
He asked, opening one eye slightly.
“I... I don’t feel tired at all since I took the stimulant!”
I was about to yawn, but I pinched my thighs to hold it back. I couldn't tell her that I was going to fall asleep if I closed my eyes, since I had said that I had taken an aphrodisiac to hide the fact that I had gone to buy a magic potion to remove burn scars. If I had known this would happen, I would have bought the aphrodisiac and taken it.
“I know that the Empress has a lot of stamina thanks to the aphrodisiac, but I think it would be best to sleep for today.”
“Even the Empress must be tired.”
He asked, opening one eye slightly.
“I... I don’t feel tired at all since I took the stimulant!”
I was about to yawn, but I pinched my thighs to hold it back. I couldn't tell her that I was going to fall asleep if I closed my eyes, since I had said that I had taken an aphrodisiac to hide the fact that I had gone to buy a magic potion to remove burn scars. If I had known this would happen, I would have bought the aphrodisiac and taken it.
“I know that the Empress has a lot of stamina thanks to the aphrodisiac, but I think it would be best to sleep for today.”
“Is that so?”
It's nice to hear that.
“Yes. We will gradually check the effectiveness of that aphrodisiac in the future.”
What are you checking? Emperor Linel tapped the seat next to him with his hand and motioned for me to lie down.
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
As I lay down quietly, he fluttered the blanket over me and covered me with it.
“But, it seems like there is no thermal magic stone in this bedroom...”
His voice, full of doubt, could be heard in the darkness.
“I think so. What is it, Your Majesty? Are you cold?”
“No, that’s not why I’m saying that, I just find it interesting.”
“What is it?”
“Empress, are we a couple now?”
Instead of answering my question, he suddenly asked a question out of the blue.
“Right... right? We’re a couple now.”
It's nice to hear that.
“Yes. We will gradually check the effectiveness of that aphrodisiac in the future.”
What are you checking? Emperor Linel tapped the seat next to him with his hand and motioned for me to lie down.
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
As I lay down quietly, he fluttered the blanket over me and covered me with it.
“But, it seems like there is no thermal magic stone in this bedroom...”
His voice, full of doubt, could be heard in the darkness.
“I think so. What is it, Your Majesty? Are you cold?”
“No, that’s not why I’m saying that, I just find it interesting.”
“What is it?”
“Empress, are we a couple now?”
Instead of answering my question, he suddenly asked a question out of the blue.
“Right... right? We’re a couple now.”
I paused for a moment and then answered.
“Yes. A married couple.”
He nodded and grabbed my hand, which was neatly placed on his stomach.
“Your Majesty?”
I was surprised by his unexpected touch and tried to pull my hand away. Then his grip tightened. He turned his head toward me and asked me questioningly.
“Does even holding hands require the Empress’s permission?”
"No..."
“Then let me borrow some.”
Emperor Linel carefully placed his hand on mine.
“It’s because it’s warm. It’s been a long time since I’ve been able to fall asleep like this without the thermal magic stone...”
His voice grew quieter and quieter. After a moment of silence, he blurted out a word.
“Good.”
“...”
After that short sentence, silence flowed again, but my heart did not remain silent and continued to beat. I kept my eyes on the ceiling, tense. Then, as if I suddenly gained some courage, I slowly turned my head towards Emperor Linel.
“Then let me borrow some.”
Emperor Linel carefully placed his hand on mine.
“It’s because it’s warm. It’s been a long time since I’ve been able to fall asleep like this without the thermal magic stone...”
His voice grew quieter and quieter. After a moment of silence, he blurted out a word.
“Good.”
“...”
After that short sentence, silence flowed again, but my heart did not remain silent and continued to beat. I kept my eyes on the ceiling, tense. Then, as if I suddenly gained some courage, I slowly turned my head towards Emperor Linel.
Huh? Did you fall asleep in the meantime?
Only then did I begin to relax as I saw his face, which seemed to be sleeping soundly. After staring at his face which glowed even in the darkness for a while, my eyelids gradually lost their strength and drooped.
***
How much time had passed? My eyes opened on their own. It was still dark around me.
'I didn't wake up because it was hot.'
I often woke up in the middle of the night because of the hot sensation in my body once every two or three days. At those times, I would always go outside on the terrace, take off my clothes, stand in the cold wind, or sit in a bathtub filled with cold water to lower my body temperature and fall back asleep. I opened my eyes out of habit, but today was definitely different.
I often woke up in the middle of the night because of the hot sensation in my body once every two or three days. At those times, I would always go outside on the terrace, take off my clothes, stand in the cold wind, or sit in a bathtub filled with cold water to lower my body temperature and fall back asleep. I opened my eyes out of habit, but today was definitely different.
My head, which was always heavy, felt much lighter. It was still early in the morning, but my body felt quite refreshed, enough to start the day. I tried to raise my upper body out of curiosity but failed.
Aah."
I realized too late that Emperor Linel was holding me in his arms. Was Emperor Linel, who was cursed with hypothermia, cooling my hot body all night? Or was I acting as a human heart for him?
Aah."
I realized too late that Emperor Linel was holding me in his arms. Was Emperor Linel, who was cursed with hypothermia, cooling my hot body all night? Or was I acting as a human heart for him?
He must have sensed my movements in his sleep because he wrapped his legs around my body as if he was squeezing it.
"Oh."
“Don’t move. Stay still...”
Linel's sleepy breath touched the nape of my neck. I didn't hate his firm embrace. I gave up on breaking free from his embrace and closed my eyes again. It was hard to fall asleep because of the sound of his heartbeat that resonated through my body.
"Oh."
“Don’t move. Stay still...”
Linel's sleepy breath touched the nape of my neck. I didn't hate his firm embrace. I gave up on breaking free from his embrace and closed my eyes again. It was hard to fall asleep because of the sound of his heartbeat that resonated through my body.
***
Knock knock.
I vaguely woke up to the sound of heels hitting the marble floor. It wasn't the sound of one person's footsteps, but the sound of several people simultaneously. How long had I slept?
I rubbed my eyes and came to my senses. As soon as I opened my eyes, the first thing that came into my sight was a splendid ceiling mural. Only then did I remember that this was the Empress's bedroom in the Lapion Empire, and I became tense again. I touched my hair before I completely woke up.
"Hmm?"
I clearly remember that when I fell asleep for the last time yesterday, my hair covered half of my right face, and when I woke up, all my hair was stuck to my right ear. Was it me sleeping? Or was it Emperor Linel?
"Hmm?"
I clearly remember that when I fell asleep for the last time yesterday, my hair covered half of my right face, and when I woke up, all my hair was stuck to my right ear. Was it me sleeping? Or was it Emperor Linel?
The seat next to me was already empty. The Emperor, who had fallen asleep before me last night, seemed to have woken up before me and already left the bedroom.
“Good morning, Your Majesty the Empress.”
“?”
As soon as a woman's clear voice rang out in the bedroom, several people immediately followed suit.
“Good morning, Your Majesty the Empress.”
What is this happening in the morning?
“Good morning, Your Majesty the Empress.”
“?”
As soon as a woman's clear voice rang out in the bedroom, several people immediately followed suit.
“Good morning, Your Majesty the Empress.”
What is this happening in the morning?
I was surprised for a moment, and I frowned without realizing it. Then I turned my head toward where I had just heard the loud voice. Four noble ladies standing side by side with their backs to the terrace, dressed in splendid attire, came into my sight along with the morning sunlight. They were curiously looking at me, who had just woken up from bed.
Was it okay to enter the bedroom like this before the Empress woke up? And on the day after spending the first night with the emperor?
They looked like noble ladies who had been chosen as the empress’s maids. Was this also a tradition of the Lapion Imperial Family?
Well, compared to the tradition of the priests watching the first night of the Emperor and his wife, this wasn’t all that surprising. I also looked at them as if I was watching them, facing the gazes of the noble ladies.
All four ladies were beautiful. The dresses they were wearing were also extravagant and expensive. Their makeup was obviously carefully done, and each of them had a hairpin with a jewel in it. If you put the crown of Empress on any of them, they all looked much better than I did.
I calmed down my bewilderment. But my eyes showed a silent displeasure. Sensing my gaze, one of them opened his mouth.
“We are the maids of Your Majesty the Empress. Today, we will guide you around the Lapion Imperial Family. We will also be providing various assistance to help Your Majesty the Empress adapt quickly.”
Although she used formal language, her expression and tone were exactly like an Empress's. When I heard her voice, it sounded like the young lady who had first greeted me when I woke up.
“What is Young Lady’s name?”
My voice came out a bit bluntly. I didn’t say anything like, “Please take care of me,” or “Thank you for being my maid.” After all, I was the acting Empress, so why bother worrying about what they thought?
“We are the maids of Your Majesty the Empress. Today, we will guide you around the Lapion Imperial Family. We will also be providing various assistance to help Your Majesty the Empress adapt quickly.”
Although she used formal language, her expression and tone were exactly like an Empress's. When I heard her voice, it sounded like the young lady who had first greeted me when I woke up.
“What is Young Lady’s name?”
My voice came out a bit bluntly. I didn’t say anything like, “Please take care of me,” or “Thank you for being my maid.” After all, I was the acting Empress, so why bother worrying about what they thought?
We just had to act politely. But this was the Lapion Imperial Palace, so I couldn’t tell if the current situation was polite or not. If I were the real Empress, I would never have allowed them to enter my bedroom without my permission. What if Emperor Linel had given them permission to enter my bedroom first?
Hmm, if that’s true, I should never act as a human hearth for the Emperor again.
“Oh, it is my formal greeting. My name is Melanie Hetros, of the House of Hetros, Your Majesty the Empress.”
Starting with Lady Melanie, the other three Young ladies also stepped forward one by one and began introducing themselves.
“I am Pecilini Asto, the Marquis of Asto.”
Just like Lady Melanie, who had just finished greeting me, Lady Pecilini also straightened her back and greeted me proudly.
“Your Majesty, I am Sophia Winston of the Marquis Winston family!”
The young lady who greeted us this time looked the youngest. That was probably why she was the only one who smiled innocently with a bright voice. Finally, the young lady with orange curly hair who had been left alone at the very end stepped forward, hesitantly. Unlike the other young ladies who were standing proudly with their shoulders straight, she had a somewhat cautious attitude.
“Greetings to Your Majesty the Empress. I am Rosie Adelid of the House of Adelid. I am truly sorry to have unintentionally awakened Your Majesty the Empress.”
Lady Rosie, with her shy expression, seemed to be making sound judgments. I nodded slightly to her and opened my mouth to the other young ladies.
“I think you all know me, so I’ll skip the introduction. Since it’s our first time meeting in the morning, there’s something I want to ask you...”
Unintentionally, my voice sounded quite majestic, even to my ears. The four young ladies looked somewhat surprised at my stiff tone of speech. I looked at them one by one to get used to their faces. Three of them were still looking down at me sitting on the bed, and only Lady Rosie, who I introduced last, had her head bowed.
“Who dared... to bring you into my bedroom without my permission?”
As I asked with force in my voice, the eyes of the young ladies all grew wide and their pupils shook from side to side.
“Who are you?”
I asked again. Then the three young ladies all glanced at one place. I turned my gaze to the person they were nodding to. It was you.
“Yes, Your Majesty the Empress.”
It was Lady Melanie who first greeted me. She walked forward with a confident expression.
“Did you say your name was Lady Melanie?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
“Were there no servants outside?”
“There was.”
“But?”
When I asked calmly and coldly, Lady Melanie's expression changed to a slightly embarrassed one.
“Oh, it is my formal greeting. My name is Melanie Hetros, of the House of Hetros, Your Majesty the Empress.”
Starting with Lady Melanie, the other three Young ladies also stepped forward one by one and began introducing themselves.
“I am Pecilini Asto, the Marquis of Asto.”
Just like Lady Melanie, who had just finished greeting me, Lady Pecilini also straightened her back and greeted me proudly.
“Your Majesty, I am Sophia Winston of the Marquis Winston family!”
The young lady who greeted us this time looked the youngest. That was probably why she was the only one who smiled innocently with a bright voice. Finally, the young lady with orange curly hair who had been left alone at the very end stepped forward, hesitantly. Unlike the other young ladies who were standing proudly with their shoulders straight, she had a somewhat cautious attitude.
“Greetings to Your Majesty the Empress. I am Rosie Adelid of the House of Adelid. I am truly sorry to have unintentionally awakened Your Majesty the Empress.”
Lady Rosie, with her shy expression, seemed to be making sound judgments. I nodded slightly to her and opened my mouth to the other young ladies.
“I think you all know me, so I’ll skip the introduction. Since it’s our first time meeting in the morning, there’s something I want to ask you...”
Unintentionally, my voice sounded quite majestic, even to my ears. The four young ladies looked somewhat surprised at my stiff tone of speech. I looked at them one by one to get used to their faces. Three of them were still looking down at me sitting on the bed, and only Lady Rosie, who I introduced last, had her head bowed.
“Who dared... to bring you into my bedroom without my permission?”
As I asked with force in my voice, the eyes of the young ladies all grew wide and their pupils shook from side to side.
“Who are you?”
I asked again. Then the three young ladies all glanced at one place. I turned my gaze to the person they were nodding to. It was you.
“Yes, Your Majesty the Empress.”
It was Lady Melanie who first greeted me. She walked forward with a confident expression.
“Did you say your name was Lady Melanie?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
“Were there no servants outside?”
“There was.”
“But?”
When I asked calmly and coldly, Lady Melanie's expression changed to a slightly embarrassed one.
“We have already been chosen as Your Majesty the Empress’s maids of honor, so we have decided that we are naturally qualified to enter Your Majesty the Empress’s bedroom...”
Lady Melanie quickly finished her speech, keeping eye contact with me until the end. I also met Lady Melanie’s gaze and stared at her intently. Our eyes clashed for a moment, and then she was the first to avoid my gaze.
“So you entered the Empress’s bedroom? Without permission, without knocking, the morning after my last night?”
I spoke softly and questioningly. The moment Lady Melanie opened her mouth to make an excuse, I quickly added.
“Whether or not the maids are qualified to enter the Empress’s bedroom, it is up to me as the Empress. It is not up to Young Lady.”
“...If I offended you, please forgive me.”
Lady Melanie's haughty attitude was slightly dampened by my firm tone.
“I will make sure this doesn’t happen again.”
Of course, this won't happen again. I'll replace her with other maids. I stared at Lady Melanie and replied to her inwardly. But on the outside, I just nodded with a blank expression on my face.
“Then now... we will give you makeup and choose your outfit. In the style of the Lapion Empire!”
Of course, this won't happen again. I'll replace her with other maids. I stared at Lady Melanie and replied to her inwardly. But on the outside, I just nodded with a blank expression on my face.
“Then now... we will give you makeup and choose your outfit. In the style of the Lapion Empire!”
As Lady Melanie spoke with a fake smile, the other young ladies also chimed in as if they had been waiting for her to do so.
“His Majesty the Emperor of the Lapion Empire is known for his high standards. He cannot even look at someone for a moment unless he is quite beautiful.”
“That’s right! So, Your Majesty the Empress, who hails from the Kingdom of Shattonil, will need our discernment even more.”
The young ladies were already looking down on me. While they were dressing me up, they must have thought that they were more suitable to be the Empress of the Lapion Empire. I could clearly see their true feelings in the looks they gave me. Furthermore, the Lapion Empire treats the Kingdom of Shattonil as a vassal state. So I expected that they would not be kind to an Empress from there. However, if they did not show me even the slightest courtesy, I did not need to smile kindly at them either. After all, they were noble young ladies who would have nothing to do with me after I fulfilled my role.
“Didn’t Your Majesty the Empress also experience it last night?”
Lady Melanie asked with a confident voice.
“What?”
“Your Majesty is a cold and indifferent person. I bet he is the same in bed too.”
It was a cheeky remark. I shrugged and asked back.
“Why do you think so?”
“Because His Majesty has never had a woman by hia side before. It would be difficult to win His Majesty’s heart without great beauty. Therefore, Your Majesty the Empress must receive our help...”
You're beating around the bush about my lack of beauty. I cut off Lady Melanie's confident speech and got up from the bed.
“Your Majesty is a cold and indifferent person. I bet he is the same in bed too.”
It was a cheeky remark. I shrugged and asked back.
“Why do you think so?”
“Because His Majesty has never had a woman by hia side before. It would be difficult to win His Majesty’s heart without great beauty. Therefore, Your Majesty the Empress must receive our help...”
You're beating around the bush about my lack of beauty. I cut off Lady Melanie's confident speech and got up from the bed.
"For a moment."
Because a simpler method came to mind than explaining what happened last night to Young ladies in detail.
“I don’t think I need that kind of help.”
The eyes of the young ladies, full of curiosity, began to move busily at my words.
Because a simpler method came to mind than explaining what happened last night to Young ladies in detail.
“I don’t think I need that kind of help.”
The eyes of the young ladies, full of curiosity, began to move busily at my words.
Comments
Post a Comment