“You’re being mean, really.”
I grumbled, wiping the moisture from my face that Linel had splashed onto my hand.
“I don’t think you’ve washed your face yet.”
The strength in my eyes that had been glaring at him disappeared at his sexy, playful smile.
“Everyone greeted me with their perfect looks. I wish there was at least one person who would greet me in this defenseless state. Zelda, you...”
“Did I win?”
“Isn’t it an honor?”
“Well... I think so, but I also don’t think so... Yes.”
“Oh, no. If you think it’s an honor, then I’ll be honored instead.”
Unlike his initial shamelessness, he was cute when he tucked his tail between his legs, which made me smile.
“No. I am more honored.”
“I’m glad you know.”
“...Phew, yes.”
“Just take it easy. You still look pretty comfortable.”
Linel glanced over the rose petal-covered bath water.
“How long are you going to stand there like that? Like someone who dropped something in the bathtub.”
I said this to him, meaning to ask him to turn his gaze. He crossed his arms and looked down at me with more cautious eyes.
“I missed your curiosity.”
“You’re not planning on finding that curiosity, are you?”
“That’s a very, very provocative question?”
“Your Majesty’s gaze has been provocative since earlier.”
“They say that the women of the Kingdom of Shattonil are bold in their speech and actions, and it’s true. The women of the Lapion Empire here are all too coy and not fun.”
“I will convey what you just said to His Majesty’s concubines later.”
“I don’t allow it.”
I couldn't help but laugh as I watched him naturally accept my pain.
“Can I sit down for a moment?”
He asked, pointing to the end of the tub opposite where I was sitting.
“No!”
“I’m not even going to sit in the bathtub, so why are you being so tight?”
“There’s no place to sit. If you go out for a moment, I’ll finish my bath...”
“Yes, I’ll just sit here for a bit and then I’ll go.”
Linel waved his hand and sat down with one buttock on the end of the tub.
“Oh my, there must have been moisture there?”
“...Zelda, you didn’t tell me that on purpose after I sat down, did you?”
“I am not that kind of petty woman.”
I said with a serious face. In fact, I knew it all along. I was watching to see if Linel would actually sit down at the end of the soaking wet bathtub or not, and I was cheering her on in my head, 'Please, just sit down!'
“Well, seeing how calm you are when four concubines come in only a few days after getting married, it’s clear that you are far from being a petty wife.”
Linel dipped his fingers into the tub and slowly moved his hand back and forth, causing gentle ripples in the water. At his gesture, the rose petals floating on the water began to move. As the petals gathered together toward the front, I quickly dispersed them again with my hands. He stared at my face and spoke in a serious voice.
“It’s pretty.”
“...I feel embarrassed because I’m bare-faced.”
“Why are you embarrassed? You’re so pretty.”
His comments on my bare face were quite generous.
“Stop looking at my face.”
When I spoke firmly, he wrinkled his nose with a look of regret.
“Zelda, I didn’t even touch it, I just looked. Isn’t that too much?”
“This is my first time showing my bare face to a guy... I’m embarrassed.”
“This is my first time seeing a woman’s bare face. It must be embarrassing for you to see it, but it’s also embarrassing for me to see it.”
What kind of logic is this?
“But, why are you looking at it?”
“Because I like being embarrassed.”
Lie. He looked completely unashamed.
“It’s a feeling I’ve never felt before. What could I, the Emperor, be ashamed of?”
“That could be... that could be the case.”
“Oh, no. Come to think of it, there was one time.”
He aroused my curiosity.
“Really? When was that?”
What could the Emperor possibly be ashamed of?
“It was during a war. I was trying to cut off an enemy’s head, but I misstepped, misaimed, and ended up cutting off his arm.”
Linel lowered his head and covered his face with both hands as if in pain as he recalled the scene from that day.
“I was really embarrassed by that mistake back then.”
“...That’s a bit of an analogy.”
“I know. It was a little hot, wasn’t it?”
“?”
I was speechless at his unique interpretation.
“I didn’t know my hands were this big.”
He raised his head again and muttered quietly.
"Yes?"
I opened my mouth carefully.
“Get out?”
“Yes! Oh, no, if you go to the bedroom first..”
“Are good things waiting for me?”
I grumbled, wiping the moisture from my face that Linel had splashed onto my hand.
“I don’t think you’ve washed your face yet.”
The strength in my eyes that had been glaring at him disappeared at his sexy, playful smile.
“Everyone greeted me with their perfect looks. I wish there was at least one person who would greet me in this defenseless state. Zelda, you...”
“Did I win?”
“Isn’t it an honor?”
“Well... I think so, but I also don’t think so... Yes.”
“Oh, no. If you think it’s an honor, then I’ll be honored instead.”
Unlike his initial shamelessness, he was cute when he tucked his tail between his legs, which made me smile.
“No. I am more honored.”
“I’m glad you know.”
“...Phew, yes.”
“Just take it easy. You still look pretty comfortable.”
Linel glanced over the rose petal-covered bath water.
“How long are you going to stand there like that? Like someone who dropped something in the bathtub.”
I said this to him, meaning to ask him to turn his gaze. He crossed his arms and looked down at me with more cautious eyes.
“I missed your curiosity.”
“You’re not planning on finding that curiosity, are you?”
“That’s a very, very provocative question?”
“Your Majesty’s gaze has been provocative since earlier.”
“They say that the women of the Kingdom of Shattonil are bold in their speech and actions, and it’s true. The women of the Lapion Empire here are all too coy and not fun.”
“I will convey what you just said to His Majesty’s concubines later.”
“I don’t allow it.”
I couldn't help but laugh as I watched him naturally accept my pain.
“Can I sit down for a moment?”
He asked, pointing to the end of the tub opposite where I was sitting.
“No!”
“I’m not even going to sit in the bathtub, so why are you being so tight?”
“There’s no place to sit. If you go out for a moment, I’ll finish my bath...”
“Yes, I’ll just sit here for a bit and then I’ll go.”
Linel waved his hand and sat down with one buttock on the end of the tub.
“Oh my, there must have been moisture there?”
“...Zelda, you didn’t tell me that on purpose after I sat down, did you?”
“I am not that kind of petty woman.”
I said with a serious face. In fact, I knew it all along. I was watching to see if Linel would actually sit down at the end of the soaking wet bathtub or not, and I was cheering her on in my head, 'Please, just sit down!'
“Well, seeing how calm you are when four concubines come in only a few days after getting married, it’s clear that you are far from being a petty wife.”
Linel dipped his fingers into the tub and slowly moved his hand back and forth, causing gentle ripples in the water. At his gesture, the rose petals floating on the water began to move. As the petals gathered together toward the front, I quickly dispersed them again with my hands. He stared at my face and spoke in a serious voice.
“It’s pretty.”
“...I feel embarrassed because I’m bare-faced.”
“Why are you embarrassed? You’re so pretty.”
His comments on my bare face were quite generous.
“Stop looking at my face.”
When I spoke firmly, he wrinkled his nose with a look of regret.
“Zelda, I didn’t even touch it, I just looked. Isn’t that too much?”
“This is my first time showing my bare face to a guy... I’m embarrassed.”
“This is my first time seeing a woman’s bare face. It must be embarrassing for you to see it, but it’s also embarrassing for me to see it.”
What kind of logic is this?
“But, why are you looking at it?”
“Because I like being embarrassed.”
Lie. He looked completely unashamed.
“It’s a feeling I’ve never felt before. What could I, the Emperor, be ashamed of?”
“That could be... that could be the case.”
“Oh, no. Come to think of it, there was one time.”
He aroused my curiosity.
“Really? When was that?”
What could the Emperor possibly be ashamed of?
“It was during a war. I was trying to cut off an enemy’s head, but I misstepped, misaimed, and ended up cutting off his arm.”
Linel lowered his head and covered his face with both hands as if in pain as he recalled the scene from that day.
“I was really embarrassed by that mistake back then.”
“...That’s a bit of an analogy.”
“I know. It was a little hot, wasn’t it?”
“?”
I was speechless at his unique interpretation.
“I didn’t know my hands were this big.”
He raised his head again and muttered quietly.
"Yes?"
“I picked too many petals.”
He said, picking up some of the petals floating in the bathtub with his hand.
“What, what are you doing?”
As the petals disappeared in an instant, I unconsciously held my body with both arms and took a defensive stance. He did not care about my reaction and eagerly threw the petals on the floor. If any more petals disappear... it would be dangerous. I grabbed Linel’s arm which was holding onto the petals.
“Stop taking it off, you’re going to be in big trouble!”
“Isn’t this a bigger deal?”
He nodded at the arm I was holding.
“How dare you stop me.”
"OMG."
I quickly removed both hands from his arms, but the thin shirt he was wearing was soaking wet, riding up to his elbows.
“I’m sorry, Your Majesty!”
“Zelda, you are the first.”
“What is it?”
“The person who got me soaking wet like this.”
“...”
His clear, moist eyes made my mouth water.
“Hahaha! You didn’t take what I said literally and thought of something else, did you? Judging by the flustered look on your face?”
I gave up on refuting Linel's argument.
“You look really happy?”
“It’s fun. Everything.”
His gaze, which had been lingering on my face, slowly lowered. I followed him and lowered my gaze. When did the water in the bathtub go down so much? The water in the bathtub, which had clearly reached my collarbone a moment ago, had dropped and was rippling in a precarious spot. Perhaps Linel had been sweeping the rose petals with his hands and had been scooping up the water as well. I quickly crouched like a turtle and lowered my body further into the bathtub.
“Other ladies are busy deliberately exposing their dresses when they stand in front of me, so why are you so desperate to cover up?”
He asked with a questioning look on his face.
“I want you to be more impatient.”
"...Yes?"
“I’m joking. It’s just that you're a very modest woman.”
“That seems more like a joke?”
“No?”
“Well, anyway. When you’re alone, you need to adjust your quietness a bit. Otherwise, I might be able to manipulate you as I please.”
“...Thank you for your kind offer.”
When I responded with a slight glare, he spoke more aggressively as if he had been waiting.
“Hearing things like that gives me more courage.”
"Yes?"
“Don’t you intend to show your heart more?”
“When?”
Oh, what a stupid question! But his expression didn't change at my strange question.
“Does the location matter when showing your feelings? Well... I don’t care whether it’s here or in the bedroom.”
I didn't know how to react to his words, whether they were serious or a joke. How on earth did he want me to show him my feelings... The water in the bathtub was getting hotter and hotter.
“Heh, I know my question was stupid to begin with. You can’t express your feelings. You just feel them.”
He said, tucking my hair behind my ear.
“Why did you ask when you already knew?”
“Because I wanted to do that.”
Linel answered shyly, uncharacteristically.
“I just felt like I needed to ask you something. Anything.”
"...Why?"
“It’s strange, but when I’m with you, I don’t have anything I want to do.”
My heart was beating rhythmically, completely different from Linel's polite voice.
“Except for just one thing...”
His gaze as he looked at me, along with his added words, felt very lewd. Somehow, I felt like I knew what he was thinking about me right now.
“Aren’t you going to ask what that one thing is?”
Linel asked, assuming that I would be curious about that 'one thing'. Of course, I wondered if my guess was correct, but somehow I felt like my guess was right, and if it was, something unmanageable would happen. So I had to end the conversation here. I kept my mouth shut and shook my head.
“Isn’t that a curious expression? Or are you shaking your head because you already know?”
How could this man... have ascended to the throne of the Emperor by his wit?
He said, picking up some of the petals floating in the bathtub with his hand.
“What, what are you doing?”
As the petals disappeared in an instant, I unconsciously held my body with both arms and took a defensive stance. He did not care about my reaction and eagerly threw the petals on the floor. If any more petals disappear... it would be dangerous. I grabbed Linel’s arm which was holding onto the petals.
“Stop taking it off, you’re going to be in big trouble!”
“Isn’t this a bigger deal?”
He nodded at the arm I was holding.
“How dare you stop me.”
"OMG."
I quickly removed both hands from his arms, but the thin shirt he was wearing was soaking wet, riding up to his elbows.
“I’m sorry, Your Majesty!”
“Zelda, you are the first.”
“What is it?”
“The person who got me soaking wet like this.”
“...”
His clear, moist eyes made my mouth water.
“Hahaha! You didn’t take what I said literally and thought of something else, did you? Judging by the flustered look on your face?”
I gave up on refuting Linel's argument.
“You look really happy?”
“It’s fun. Everything.”
His gaze, which had been lingering on my face, slowly lowered. I followed him and lowered my gaze. When did the water in the bathtub go down so much? The water in the bathtub, which had clearly reached my collarbone a moment ago, had dropped and was rippling in a precarious spot. Perhaps Linel had been sweeping the rose petals with his hands and had been scooping up the water as well. I quickly crouched like a turtle and lowered my body further into the bathtub.
“Other ladies are busy deliberately exposing their dresses when they stand in front of me, so why are you so desperate to cover up?”
He asked with a questioning look on his face.
“I want you to be more impatient.”
"...Yes?"
“I’m joking. It’s just that you're a very modest woman.”
“That seems more like a joke?”
“No?”
“Well, anyway. When you’re alone, you need to adjust your quietness a bit. Otherwise, I might be able to manipulate you as I please.”
“...Thank you for your kind offer.”
When I responded with a slight glare, he spoke more aggressively as if he had been waiting.
“Hearing things like that gives me more courage.”
"Yes?"
“Don’t you intend to show your heart more?”
“When?”
Oh, what a stupid question! But his expression didn't change at my strange question.
“Does the location matter when showing your feelings? Well... I don’t care whether it’s here or in the bedroom.”
I didn't know how to react to his words, whether they were serious or a joke. How on earth did he want me to show him my feelings... The water in the bathtub was getting hotter and hotter.
“Heh, I know my question was stupid to begin with. You can’t express your feelings. You just feel them.”
He said, tucking my hair behind my ear.
“Why did you ask when you already knew?”
“Because I wanted to do that.”
Linel answered shyly, uncharacteristically.
“I just felt like I needed to ask you something. Anything.”
"...Why?"
“It’s strange, but when I’m with you, I don’t have anything I want to do.”
My heart was beating rhythmically, completely different from Linel's polite voice.
“Except for just one thing...”
His gaze as he looked at me, along with his added words, felt very lewd. Somehow, I felt like I knew what he was thinking about me right now.
“Aren’t you going to ask what that one thing is?”
Linel asked, assuming that I would be curious about that 'one thing'. Of course, I wondered if my guess was correct, but somehow I felt like my guess was right, and if it was, something unmanageable would happen. So I had to end the conversation here. I kept my mouth shut and shook my head.
“Isn’t that a curious expression? Or are you shaking your head because you already know?”
How could this man... have ascended to the throne of the Emperor by his wit?
I looked at him with wide eyes, and his lips twitched playfully. I reluctantly asked him about the one thing he wanted to do as he pleased.
“What is that?”
Unlike my voice that asked while taking a deep breath,
“Sleeping with you. I want to do that as I please.”
His voice was precise and firm as he answered. I couldn't even blink properly due to the overwhelming tension that was coming.
“As expected, judging by your expression, this time you didn’t take my words at face value either.”
Linel burst into laughter and lightly tapped the bridge of my nose with his finger.
“I wasn’t talking about relationships.”
"Then..."
“I literally meant that I would enjoy sleeping in the bed with you.”
Oh, that's what you meant? You should have said that earlier. My heart rate is back to normal.
“That was a statement that was very misleading.”
“You can misunderstand as much as you want. In fact, I have nothing to say even if you misunderstand like that.”
“What do you mean by that?”
Is this really what I thought it would mean? My heart prepared to race again.
“Yes, I think that what the naive Empress is imagining with her small head right now is the correct answer.”
Linel laughed, holding my head with both hands. It was as if he had seen right through me. Oh, I have to get out of the tub before the water boils like lava.
“Your Majesty, I am a bit tired today. I would like to get some rest.”
“Yeah, I see.”
He nodded again, looking away from my face.
“So let’s stop here now...”
“What is that?”
Unlike my voice that asked while taking a deep breath,
“Sleeping with you. I want to do that as I please.”
His voice was precise and firm as he answered. I couldn't even blink properly due to the overwhelming tension that was coming.
“As expected, judging by your expression, this time you didn’t take my words at face value either.”
Linel burst into laughter and lightly tapped the bridge of my nose with his finger.
“I wasn’t talking about relationships.”
"Then..."
“I literally meant that I would enjoy sleeping in the bed with you.”
Oh, that's what you meant? You should have said that earlier. My heart rate is back to normal.
“That was a statement that was very misleading.”
“You can misunderstand as much as you want. In fact, I have nothing to say even if you misunderstand like that.”
“What do you mean by that?”
Is this really what I thought it would mean? My heart prepared to race again.
“Yes, I think that what the naive Empress is imagining with her small head right now is the correct answer.”
Linel laughed, holding my head with both hands. It was as if he had seen right through me. Oh, I have to get out of the tub before the water boils like lava.
“Your Majesty, I am a bit tired today. I would like to get some rest.”
“Yeah, I see.”
He nodded again, looking away from my face.
“So let’s stop here now...”
I opened my mouth carefully.
“Get out?”
“Yes! Oh, no, if you go to the bedroom first..”
“Are good things waiting for me?”
“Yes! Oh, no, if you wait on the bed for a moment...”
“Are the things I want coming true?”
Should I just say that? I hesitated for a moment.
“Heh, why are you looking at me like a startled rabbit? I told you. I won’t bother you if you don’t want to. You look really tired, so let’s take our leave for today.”
“...Are you sure?”
I looked at Linel, who was willing to step down, with suspicious eyes.
“Yes, our Empress must be in a bad mood today because of the concubine issue, so I shouldn’t make her feel any more uncomfortable.”
The corners of his eyes drooped slightly, making him look like a puppy that had been drenched in rain. Why did he lower his head again, making me feel apologetic?
“Your body is swollen because of me. Should I get up now?”
Linel really looked like he was going to get out of the bathroom.
“Are the things I want coming true?”
Should I just say that? I hesitated for a moment.
“Heh, why are you looking at me like a startled rabbit? I told you. I won’t bother you if you don’t want to. You look really tired, so let’s take our leave for today.”
“...Are you sure?”
I looked at Linel, who was willing to step down, with suspicious eyes.
“Yes, our Empress must be in a bad mood today because of the concubine issue, so I shouldn’t make her feel any more uncomfortable.”
The corners of his eyes drooped slightly, making him look like a puppy that had been drenched in rain. Why did he lower his head again, making me feel apologetic?
“Your body is swollen because of me. Should I get up now?”
Linel really looked like he was going to get out of the bathroom.
“Thanks to the clothes, it’s a bit chilly because they’re wet, but if I catch a cold, someone will take care of me.”
I can't believe it was that wet...
“Do you have a cold?”
Instead of answering, he nodded with a pitiful look in his eyes.
“If I catch a cold, I will have to come to the palace and stay there until I get better.”
“Me?”
“Well, I can stay. By the way, it was quite windy when I came to the Empress’s Palace earlier. This cold body, already cursed, will meet its cold friend.”
Are you saying things like that now because you want me to catch you?
“It’ll be creepy and chilling, like there are three or four ghosts stuck on your back, since you’re not even wearing a robe.”
“Why is it like that...”
“Empress, you must be very tired today. Don’t worry about me and just get a good night’s sleep. I’ll just get some cold air.”
He made it sound like he was going to kick the bathroom door open and leave, but when I stared at him,
“Why, what.”
But his butt showed no sign of rising from the edge of the tub.
I can't believe it was that wet...
“Do you have a cold?”
Instead of answering, he nodded with a pitiful look in his eyes.
“If I catch a cold, I will have to come to the palace and stay there until I get better.”
“Me?”
“Well, I can stay. By the way, it was quite windy when I came to the Empress’s Palace earlier. This cold body, already cursed, will meet its cold friend.”
Are you saying things like that now because you want me to catch you?
“It’ll be creepy and chilling, like there are three or four ghosts stuck on your back, since you’re not even wearing a robe.”
“Why is it like that...”
“Empress, you must be very tired today. Don’t worry about me and just get a good night’s sleep. I’ll just get some cold air.”
He made it sound like he was going to kick the bathroom door open and leave, but when I stared at him,
“Why, what.”
But his butt showed no sign of rising from the edge of the tub.
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