In the end, I left the main palace with Grand Duke Martins and walked around the garden. For a while, we were silent. I had nothing to say, and the Grand Duke seemed to be holding back on what to say. The Grand Duke, who had something to say, and I, who had something to hear, were both silent. We walked and walked, smelling the fresh scent of grass.
“I guess it’s been approved by now.”
That was the first thing Grand Duke Martins said to me after I came out into the garden.
“Are you talking about the concubine issue?”
“Yes, how are you feeling?”
“I don’t know what answer Your Highness wants to hear by asking such a question. You're the person who knows my identity best.”
If I were a real Empress, that bowl walking next to me right now would have been broken in my hands already.
“That’s why I’m asking this question out of curiosity. Have you developed feelings for His Majesty?”
My heart ached at Grand Duke Martin's words.
“Well, people’s emotions can change unexpectedly.”
“Sounds just like the Grand Duke's experience?”
“It’s funny to be asked that question by the person involved.”
“...What? What does that mean?”
My heart ached at Grand Duke Martin's words.
“Well, people’s emotions can change unexpectedly.”
“Sounds just like the Grand Duke's experience?”
“It’s funny to be asked that question by the person involved.”
“...What? What does that mean?”
“No, nothing.”
The expression on Grand Duke Martins’ face seemed to be hiding something different from his answer. It seemed like he would reluctantly answer if I asked him questions, but I didn’t ask any more questions because I wasn’t particularly curious. When we turned our walking direction toward the endless field of sunflowers, Grand Duke Martins began to talk again.
“I am sorry to say this out of concern, but Your Majesty the Empress is only staying here for a short while. You have not come to find your real husband.”
“Is my acting as the Empress really that perfect? Are you giving me that advice because you’re worried that I might be forgetting my position?”
I asked him as if I was counting the days.
“I apologize if I offended you. If Your Majesty the Empress’s gaze and expression as you looked at His Majesty were all acting, then you are truly wonderful.”
"...Thank God."
I wanted to get out of this place quickly.
“Your Highness. Would you like to say something at this point?”
When I asked him urgently, Grand Duke Martins nodded with a meaningful smile.
“The Royal Knights have found Princess Resilia.”
My heart sank at those words.
If I had heard this news before the wedding, I would have been relieved and happy. But I had already spent time with him, so I was not happy at all about the news. This is a big problem. Such feelings are dangerous.
“Then, when will Her Highness...come to the Lapion Palace?”
“I think that might be a problem.”
“Problem? What’s going on?”
“Hmm, it seems that Princess Resilia is not in good health.”
“Are you saying you have some kind of illness?”
“It’s not that she’s sick, but the Princess needs some time to recover. After all, she’s never known hardship, so she must be in bad shape after living on the run with a mercenary she doesn’t even know.”
“Yes, I guess so.”
I stared into space and replied soullessly. My mind was spinning mercilessly as the issue of taking a concubine and the issue of Princess Resilia were added. Which of the two issues was making me feel worse? ... I really didn't know. Right now, all I wanted to do was go back to my bedroom and go to bed early.
“As soon as I receive further news from the kingdom, I will convey it to Your Majesty the Empress.”
“Please do so.”
I responded to Grand Duke Martins and gestured to Sharon, who was standing a distance away.
“Sharon, let’s go back to the Empress’s Palace now.”
“Yes, Your Majesty the Empress.”
The Grand Duke whispered quickly to me, aware of Sharon walking towards us.
“I think it would be a good idea to establish discipline among the concubines before Princess Resilia arrives at the palace.”
“Who is it?”
My head tilted crookedly at Grand Duke Martin's unexpected remark.
“Your Majesty the Empress.”
The Grand Duke gestured at me with his chin and said.
“Why should I do that?”
I raised my shoulders and asked in protest.
“Well... for the sake of Princess Resilia, who will one day become the Empress, and for the sake of venting Your Majesty the Empress’s anger?”
The tone of Grand Duke Martins's speech seemed to be testing me. He waited for my reaction with a half-smile on his face. My ankles slightly dropped to the ground as if I were chopping down a tree with an axe, but I held back. As I was putting strength into my feet, I heard a noise on the other side of the sunflower field where we were standing.
“Your Majesty, from now on, we will be able to eat together and go for walks more often like before, right?”
“Catherine, you haven’t forgotten what happened before our engagement, have you?”
“Oh, of course not. I made a really stupid mistake back then. There hasn’t been a single day that I don’t regret it.”
“A mistake is one that you make without knowing it. That was deceiving me.”
It was the voices of Linel and Catherine. Grand Duke Martins and I unintentionally overheard their conversation. Something serious was going on.
“I hate people who deceive me the most.”
A cold wind blew through the sunflower field along with his cold voice. If he hates people who deceive him the most... Then... I must be the object of his greatest hatred.
The expression on Grand Duke Martins’ face seemed to be hiding something different from his answer. It seemed like he would reluctantly answer if I asked him questions, but I didn’t ask any more questions because I wasn’t particularly curious. When we turned our walking direction toward the endless field of sunflowers, Grand Duke Martins began to talk again.
“I am sorry to say this out of concern, but Your Majesty the Empress is only staying here for a short while. You have not come to find your real husband.”
“Is my acting as the Empress really that perfect? Are you giving me that advice because you’re worried that I might be forgetting my position?”
I asked him as if I was counting the days.
“I apologize if I offended you. If Your Majesty the Empress’s gaze and expression as you looked at His Majesty were all acting, then you are truly wonderful.”
"...Thank God."
I wanted to get out of this place quickly.
“Your Highness. Would you like to say something at this point?”
When I asked him urgently, Grand Duke Martins nodded with a meaningful smile.
“The Royal Knights have found Princess Resilia.”
My heart sank at those words.
If I had heard this news before the wedding, I would have been relieved and happy. But I had already spent time with him, so I was not happy at all about the news. This is a big problem. Such feelings are dangerous.
“Then, when will Her Highness...come to the Lapion Palace?”
“I think that might be a problem.”
“Problem? What’s going on?”
“Hmm, it seems that Princess Resilia is not in good health.”
“Are you saying you have some kind of illness?”
“It’s not that she’s sick, but the Princess needs some time to recover. After all, she’s never known hardship, so she must be in bad shape after living on the run with a mercenary she doesn’t even know.”
“Yes, I guess so.”
I stared into space and replied soullessly. My mind was spinning mercilessly as the issue of taking a concubine and the issue of Princess Resilia were added. Which of the two issues was making me feel worse? ... I really didn't know. Right now, all I wanted to do was go back to my bedroom and go to bed early.
“As soon as I receive further news from the kingdom, I will convey it to Your Majesty the Empress.”
“Please do so.”
I responded to Grand Duke Martins and gestured to Sharon, who was standing a distance away.
“Sharon, let’s go back to the Empress’s Palace now.”
“Yes, Your Majesty the Empress.”
The Grand Duke whispered quickly to me, aware of Sharon walking towards us.
“I think it would be a good idea to establish discipline among the concubines before Princess Resilia arrives at the palace.”
“Who is it?”
My head tilted crookedly at Grand Duke Martin's unexpected remark.
“Your Majesty the Empress.”
The Grand Duke gestured at me with his chin and said.
“Why should I do that?”
I raised my shoulders and asked in protest.
“Well... for the sake of Princess Resilia, who will one day become the Empress, and for the sake of venting Your Majesty the Empress’s anger?”
The tone of Grand Duke Martins's speech seemed to be testing me. He waited for my reaction with a half-smile on his face. My ankles slightly dropped to the ground as if I were chopping down a tree with an axe, but I held back. As I was putting strength into my feet, I heard a noise on the other side of the sunflower field where we were standing.
“Your Majesty, from now on, we will be able to eat together and go for walks more often like before, right?”
“Catherine, you haven’t forgotten what happened before our engagement, have you?”
“Oh, of course not. I made a really stupid mistake back then. There hasn’t been a single day that I don’t regret it.”
“A mistake is one that you make without knowing it. That was deceiving me.”
It was the voices of Linel and Catherine. Grand Duke Martins and I unintentionally overheard their conversation. Something serious was going on.
“I hate people who deceive me the most.”
A cold wind blew through the sunflower field along with his cold voice. If he hates people who deceive him the most... Then... I must be the object of his greatest hatred.
Suddenly, a chill began to run through my body.
“If Your Majesty had embraced me back then, I wouldn’t have had a reason to do such a thing!”
“It was my fault?”
“That’s not what I meant. But now I am His Majesty’s woman. So let’s forget about that...”
“Even if you become a concubine, I don’t consider a woman I don’t have anything to share as my woman.”
“You really didn’t spend the night like the rumors say... right?”
“Why not? Isn’t that something that should be expected of a married couple?”
Unlike Linel's calm voice, Catherine began to become very agitated.
“I thought it was just a rumor! Oh, how could that be... Your Majesty is not the type to get close to women!”
“I told you. The Empress is not just a woman, she is my wife.”
“Ha, but I'm better than Her Majesty the Empress...!”
Catherine didn’t finish her sentence. I thought I knew what she wanted to say. She wanted to say that I looked inferior to her. Well, she wasn’t wrong. Linel probably guessed what Catherine was going to say.
“If Your Majesty had embraced me back then, I wouldn’t have had a reason to do such a thing!”
“It was my fault?”
“That’s not what I meant. But now I am His Majesty’s woman. So let’s forget about that...”
“Even if you become a concubine, I don’t consider a woman I don’t have anything to share as my woman.”
“You really didn’t spend the night like the rumors say... right?”
“Why not? Isn’t that something that should be expected of a married couple?”
Unlike Linel's calm voice, Catherine began to become very agitated.
“I thought it was just a rumor! Oh, how could that be... Your Majesty is not the type to get close to women!”
“I told you. The Empress is not just a woman, she is my wife.”
“Ha, but I'm better than Her Majesty the Empress...!”
Catherine didn’t finish her sentence. I thought I knew what she wanted to say. She wanted to say that I looked inferior to her. Well, she wasn’t wrong. Linel probably guessed what Catherine was going to say.
There was a moment of silence. I met eyes with Grand Duke Martins. At this point, I had to decide whether to reveal our presence or to go into the sunflower field, rest my chin on my hands, and pretend to be a sunflower.
“Don’t talk nonsense about my wife.”
Linel's low voice caught my ankle as I was about to turn around. I wanted to leave quietly, but I couldn't move my body. Catherine's voice was not heard after his words. She must have been as shocked as I was by Linel's words and was speechless. I kept my mouth shut, tapped Grand Duke Martins' arm, and pointed in the opposite direction of the two. At the same time, I mouthed to the servants.
“Everyone, go that way!”
Everyone nodded at my words and bowed their heads. I mouthed 'one, two, three' again and walked carefully, lifting the hem of my dress along with the attendants. But at that moment.
“Are you going to end your walk here? Your Majesty, Your Majesty, Ha!”
The leaky bowl inside finally leaked outside as well. Should I really break it with my feet? I glared at Grand Duke Martins with all my might. The Grand Duke put both hands on his mouth and raised his voice, blowing my existence like a trumpet. What would happen if I cut off that Grand Duke's mouth and planted it in this sunflower field?
“Don’t talk nonsense about my wife.”
Linel's low voice caught my ankle as I was about to turn around. I wanted to leave quietly, but I couldn't move my body. Catherine's voice was not heard after his words. She must have been as shocked as I was by Linel's words and was speechless. I kept my mouth shut, tapped Grand Duke Martins' arm, and pointed in the opposite direction of the two. At the same time, I mouthed to the servants.
“Everyone, go that way!”
Everyone nodded at my words and bowed their heads. I mouthed 'one, two, three' again and walked carefully, lifting the hem of my dress along with the attendants. But at that moment.
“Are you going to end your walk here? Your Majesty, Your Majesty, Ha!”
The leaky bowl inside finally leaked outside as well. Should I really break it with my feet? I glared at Grand Duke Martins with all my might. The Grand Duke put both hands on his mouth and raised his voice, blowing my existence like a trumpet. What would happen if I cut off that Grand Duke's mouth and planted it in this sunflower field?
The footsteps of Linel and Catherine, who were walking from the other side, suddenly stopped. My reason was also cut off by Grand Duke Martins's cube equation.
'Why on earth are you calling me and making a fuss, you rascal!'
I hurled all sorts of curses at the Grand Duke with my eyes. Seeing me like that, Grand Duke Martins laughed silently with a rather pleasant face. My stomach turned even more when I saw the Grand Duke laughing without any hesitation. Now that I looked at it, Grand Duke Martins’ face was blooming brighter than a sunflower.
"Empress?"
A cold wind blew through the sunflower field once again, along with Linel's voice calling me. I slowly straightened my back, which had been bent. I turned to look at him and covered my face with the sunflower I was holding in my hand.
“Empress or Sunflower? Reveal your existence.”
At Linel's dignified questioning, I smiled and lowered the sunflower.
“Oh my, Your Majesty.”
I called out to him cheerfully as if I had just discovered him. Wait, shouldn’t I have acted surprised before smiling brightly at him? I screwed up.
'Why on earth are you calling me and making a fuss, you rascal!'
I hurled all sorts of curses at the Grand Duke with my eyes. Seeing me like that, Grand Duke Martins laughed silently with a rather pleasant face. My stomach turned even more when I saw the Grand Duke laughing without any hesitation. Now that I looked at it, Grand Duke Martins’ face was blooming brighter than a sunflower.
"Empress?"
A cold wind blew through the sunflower field once again, along with Linel's voice calling me. I slowly straightened my back, which had been bent. I turned to look at him and covered my face with the sunflower I was holding in my hand.
“Empress or Sunflower? Reveal your existence.”
At Linel's dignified questioning, I smiled and lowered the sunflower.
“Oh my, Your Majesty.”
I called out to him cheerfully as if I had just discovered him. Wait, shouldn’t I have acted surprised before smiling brightly at him? I screwed up.
Haa... I don’t know, I don’t know.
As Linel slowly approached me, Catherine followed closely beside him. The sight of the two of them walking together was like a painting. The gorgeous flowers around them looked pale compared to their beauty. Even under the dazzling midday sunlight, Catherine’s skin was as white and smooth as a well-boiled egg. When Grand Duke Martins greeted the two politely, Catherine greeted me as well. I wanted to smile confidently like her, but the corners of my mouth wouldn’t listen.
“Greetings to Your Majesty the Empress. I am Catherine Kallios, soon to be the First Concubine of His Majesty the Emperor.”
She spoke with a very proud and restrained gesture. I lowered my gaze to Catherine's lower body. When I saw her at tea time, I thought her knees were bad, but now I see that they bend just fine. Her knees bend so well, but her head is still stiff.
“Greetings to Your Majesty the Empress. I am Catherine Kallios, soon to be the First Concubine of His Majesty the Emperor.”
She spoke with a very proud and restrained gesture. I lowered my gaze to Catherine's lower body. When I saw her at tea time, I thought her knees were bad, but now I see that they bend just fine. Her knees bend so well, but her head is still stiff.
Will the day come soon when she bows that stiff head, or will the day come sooner when I am deposed from the position of Empress? Suddenly, such a funny thought occurred to me.
“I saw you at tea time and now I see you here again.”
I had nothing to say or share with her, so I threw out some creepy, clichéd words.
“I think we’ll see each other more often in the future.”
Catherine returned the words I had said without meaning to me, wrapping them up in a very meaningful way. One question crossed my mind as I watched Catherine’s arrogant appearance. What would happen if Princess Resilia, who had a bright mind like a child, faced such an arrogant concubine? It would be interesting to see them fight each other, wouldn’t it?
“The Empress and the Grand Duke were together... even taking a walk.”
Linel looked at me and the Grand Duke alternately with a displeased look and asked. His tone was as if he was interrogating people who had been caught plotting treason.
“Yes, Grand Duke Martins is my companion. Your Majesty is already taking a walk with your new concubine?”
And you're my ex-fiancée, right? I repeated exactly what Linel said.
“A companion? Well, since he’s the only person from the Kingdom of Shattonil in this royal household, you’ll probably have a lot to talk about.”
Linel looked at me with frowning eyes, muttering softly as if talking to himself. Oddly enough, he didn't mention Catherine, who was standing next to him in all her splendor.
“Did you have a good meeting?”
I asked in a voice that pretended to be calm, conscious of Catherine next to Linel. Linel nodded without answering. His eyes continued to stare at me persistently.
“I saw you at tea time and now I see you here again.”
I had nothing to say or share with her, so I threw out some creepy, clichéd words.
“I think we’ll see each other more often in the future.”
Catherine returned the words I had said without meaning to me, wrapping them up in a very meaningful way. One question crossed my mind as I watched Catherine’s arrogant appearance. What would happen if Princess Resilia, who had a bright mind like a child, faced such an arrogant concubine? It would be interesting to see them fight each other, wouldn’t it?
“The Empress and the Grand Duke were together... even taking a walk.”
Linel looked at me and the Grand Duke alternately with a displeased look and asked. His tone was as if he was interrogating people who had been caught plotting treason.
“Yes, Grand Duke Martins is my companion. Your Majesty is already taking a walk with your new concubine?”
And you're my ex-fiancée, right? I repeated exactly what Linel said.
“A companion? Well, since he’s the only person from the Kingdom of Shattonil in this royal household, you’ll probably have a lot to talk about.”
Linel looked at me with frowning eyes, muttering softly as if talking to himself. Oddly enough, he didn't mention Catherine, who was standing next to him in all her splendor.
“Did you have a good meeting?”
I asked in a voice that pretended to be calm, conscious of Catherine next to Linel. Linel nodded without answering. His eyes continued to stare at me persistently.
“Your Majesty, you were chatting with your new concubine, and it seems we interrupted you.”
Grand Duke Martins spoke to him with his trademark mischievous smile.
“Us?”
At the end of Linel's question, a sharp gaze flew at me. You said it, Grand Duke Martins, but why are you glaring at me like that? He looked quite displeased.
“Please continue your pleasant conversation with Lady Catherine. I was just about to return to the Empress’s Palace. Then I will...”
“...”
I quickly greeted Linel, turned around, and started walking away as if I were running away.
“Your Majesty, don’t worry. I will escort Her Majesty the Empress. Then I will also take my leave now.”
I heard the unwelcome murmur of Grand Duke Martins behind me. I don't know how much more he's going to turn my stomach, and he's going to chase me. I walked almost on alert, trying to put as much distance between me and Grand Duke Martins as possible. I glanced at Sharon, who was following me diligently, panting, and said.
“Sharon, are there any landmines in the palace?”
Grand Duke Martins spoke to him with his trademark mischievous smile.
“Us?”
At the end of Linel's question, a sharp gaze flew at me. You said it, Grand Duke Martins, but why are you glaring at me like that? He looked quite displeased.
“Please continue your pleasant conversation with Lady Catherine. I was just about to return to the Empress’s Palace. Then I will...”
“...”
I quickly greeted Linel, turned around, and started walking away as if I were running away.
“Your Majesty, don’t worry. I will escort Her Majesty the Empress. Then I will also take my leave now.”
I heard the unwelcome murmur of Grand Duke Martins behind me. I don't know how much more he's going to turn my stomach, and he's going to chase me. I walked almost on alert, trying to put as much distance between me and Grand Duke Martins as possible. I glanced at Sharon, who was following me diligently, panting, and said.
“Sharon, are there any landmines in the palace?”
“Huh? Your Majesty the Empress, why are you suddenly looking for landmines?”
Sharon bowed her head to my question and looked around at the ground as she asked.
“Grand Duke Martins’s thorns are scattered at every step. No, the Grand Duke himself is a landmine.”
“Hehe!”
Sharon quickly covered her mouth with her hand and laughed at my heartfelt words. Sharon also opened her mouth, holding back laughter as if she wanted to add something.
“If I ever have to go outside the palace, I’ll stop by a weapons shop in the downtown shopping district and check it out.”
“Excellent.”
Sharon giggled again when I gave her a thumbs up.
“Oh my God, there’s a human mine chasing after me right behind me.”
Sharon, who had been looking back, spoke to me urgently. What the hell.
“Your Majesty the Empress! Please wait. Your... Why are you walking so fast?”
Well, my gait is a gait that has developed from avoiding other people's eyes my whole life. Grand Duke Martins, panting, managed to get next to me.
“I think we’ve already talked about everything we needed to talk about, so what else do we need to talk about?”
I walked faster, looking straight ahead.
“The sight of Your Majesty the Empress turning around alone was so disturbing. I will be your escort.”
That guy is polite even when he's being a jerk.
“It’s okay. Wouldn’t Sharon, who has lived in the palace all her life, be a much better escort than the Grand Duke who came to the Kingdom of Shattonil at the same time as me?”
At my words, Sharon lowered her head as if she was about to burst into laughter, and walked behind me.
“Oh, I see. Then I will send you off with the spirit of chivalry.”
What the hell?
“Oh, my, I heard that Your Highness failed the knighthood exam. Do you have the spirit of chivalry?”
“!”
“Did I hear that wrong?”
Grand Duke Martins stood there dumbfounded, his face shocked, then covered his mouth with one hand and whispered to me.
“Who... did you hear from?”
“Excellent.”
Sharon giggled again when I gave her a thumbs up.
“Oh my God, there’s a human mine chasing after me right behind me.”
Sharon, who had been looking back, spoke to me urgently. What the hell.
“Your Majesty the Empress! Please wait. Your... Why are you walking so fast?”
Well, my gait is a gait that has developed from avoiding other people's eyes my whole life. Grand Duke Martins, panting, managed to get next to me.
“I think we’ve already talked about everything we needed to talk about, so what else do we need to talk about?”
I walked faster, looking straight ahead.
“The sight of Your Majesty the Empress turning around alone was so disturbing. I will be your escort.”
That guy is polite even when he's being a jerk.
“It’s okay. Wouldn’t Sharon, who has lived in the palace all her life, be a much better escort than the Grand Duke who came to the Kingdom of Shattonil at the same time as me?”
At my words, Sharon lowered her head as if she was about to burst into laughter, and walked behind me.
“Oh, I see. Then I will send you off with the spirit of chivalry.”
What the hell?
“Oh, my, I heard that Your Highness failed the knighthood exam. Do you have the spirit of chivalry?”
“!”
“Did I hear that wrong?”
Grand Duke Martins stood there dumbfounded, his face shocked, then covered his mouth with one hand and whispered to me.
“Who... did you hear from?”
“From Prince Tesla!”
I answered back with one hand covering my mouth, but I deliberately raised my voice.
“...A Prince? What a traitor!”
Grand Duke Martins clenched his molars and ground his teeth. In fact, he had not heard the secret from Prince Tesla. But, who knows?
Comments
Post a Comment