Even though her corset was too tight to breathe, Catherine was quite satisfied with her body in the mirror. No man would be swayed by such perfection. However, even before he became the Emperor, when the two were engaged, Linel had not been particularly affectionate toward Catherine. He was always polite and formal. Catherine found even that personality of his attractive. After all, shining jewels are hard to obtain. However, Linel was not as cold as he is now. Linel began to completely ignore Catherine when their engagement broke off... that is when her secret affair with Count Ethan Bennet was discovered.
“Count Ethan was just a means to comfort my lonely body.”
Although Linel heard about Catherine and Count Ethan's inappropriate relationship, he did not get angry or pursue it, but simply quietly broke off the engagement. If Linel had made the incident public at the time, Catherine and her family, the Duke of Callios, would have been greatly ridiculed in the noble society. Catherine, who was broken off by Linel, also ended her relationship with Count Ethan. Count Ethan was a good man only at night, but he turned out to be a man without dreams or ambitions.
“I was blind. I didn’t even realize that he was just some stupid noble kid who spent all day making swords in the blacksmith shop.”
Catherine bitterly regretted having an affair with Count Ethan over the soon-to-be Emperor Linel. However, her chance was again presented to her.
“Since Linel has already welcomed the Empress, they’ll just end up fighting over this.”
When she thought about her past mistakes, the position of concubine wasn't really that unfair.
“Huh? That position of Empress.”
If she gives birth to a Prince before the Empress, that's it.
“Once I give birth to a Prince, everyone will kneel before me.”
Catherine vowed to show Empress Zelda that it was not the position but the power that was to be received.
“Your Majesty, you will be the first to bow your head before me. Just wait and see.”
Linel stared blankly at me as I drank water, then quickly took the empty glass back from my hands.
“I’ll take a shower first and come out.”
I glanced down at the towel on the floor and said to him.
“Sorry, I have to wash up first.”
He said, grabbing my hand as I turned toward the bathroom.
“What makes you the first concubine by yourself? And you’re a Princess like me.”
Melanie, who was sitting in the widest and best seat in the bridal waiting room and glaring at Catherine through the mirror while she was being groomed by the attendants, muttered in a displeased tone.
“Shh, I’ll listen.”
Pecilini, the second concubine who was sitting next to Melanie, whispered softly.
“Catherine was also the King’s lover. That must be why she became the first concubine.”
“Oh, Pesilini. Don’t you know that a broken gold coin is worth less than a whole silver coin? Even if you put it back together, it’s still broken!”
Melanie raised her voice deliberately and sneered.
“I told you to lower your voice.”
Pecilini frowned and stopped her.
“That’s not wrong. Ah, instead of these earrings, I should go with the ones from before with diamonds hanging down like a bunch of grapes.”
Melanie ignored Pecilini's advice and motioned for her attendant to open another jewel box.
“Who here can raise their voice higher than me?”
At that moment, Catherine slowly rose from her chair and spoke. All eyes in the bridal waiting room were focused on Melanie and Catherine walking toward her. Catherine stood in front of Melanie with a haughty expression. Catherine’s momentum was no less than that of the Empress. Melanie also rose from her chair and raised her head consciously. Sparks flew between the sharp eyes of the two people.
“Melanie?”
“Ugh! What, what are you doing!”
“Count Ethan was just a means to comfort my lonely body.”
Although Linel heard about Catherine and Count Ethan's inappropriate relationship, he did not get angry or pursue it, but simply quietly broke off the engagement. If Linel had made the incident public at the time, Catherine and her family, the Duke of Callios, would have been greatly ridiculed in the noble society. Catherine, who was broken off by Linel, also ended her relationship with Count Ethan. Count Ethan was a good man only at night, but he turned out to be a man without dreams or ambitions.
“I was blind. I didn’t even realize that he was just some stupid noble kid who spent all day making swords in the blacksmith shop.”
Catherine bitterly regretted having an affair with Count Ethan over the soon-to-be Emperor Linel. However, her chance was again presented to her.
“Since Linel has already welcomed the Empress, they’ll just end up fighting over this.”
When she thought about her past mistakes, the position of concubine wasn't really that unfair.
“Huh? That position of Empress.”
If she gives birth to a Prince before the Empress, that's it.
“Once I give birth to a Prince, everyone will kneel before me.”
Catherine vowed to show Empress Zelda that it was not the position but the power that was to be received.
“Your Majesty, you will be the first to bow your head before me. Just wait and see.”
***
Linel stared blankly at me as I drank water, then quickly took the empty glass back from my hands.
“I’ll take a shower first and come out.”
I glanced down at the towel on the floor and said to him.
“Sorry, I have to wash up first.”
He said, grabbing my hand as I turned toward the bathroom.
“You don’t need to get dressed up. Just eat breakfast as is.”
"But..."
What the hell am I looking like right now?
"No."
He said that he had to use the bathroom first and that I should stay like this, not caring at all about my mess. I couldn't continue to insist on his order, which was full of force in his voice. As it turned out, he had a cabinet meeting scheduled early this morning, so he didn't have much time.
“My schedule is a bit tight today, so I don’t have time to enjoy a leisurely breakfast.”
"Still..."
“If you really want to shower, let’s shower together. That would probably save some time.”
Linel jumped out of bed without warning.
“Huh.”
His mischievous blue eyes stared at me. My gaze hung on his face as if hanging on it so as not to look down. His long arms went to the marble floor. He quickly picked up the towel that was thrown on the floor and wrapped it around his waist. I didn’t have time to turn my head because of his almost provocative actions. My actions were not usually that fast unless it was a flying sword or arrow. He seemed slightly surprised at my appearance looking into his eyes as if he thought I would turn my head or close my eyes tightly.
“...”
“...”
Fortunately, my gaze did not turn downwards until the very end. I saw myself looking even more confused in his confused blue eyes.
“My wife is very patient. She’s also very bold.”
I haven't seen it, so please leave out the boldness. He complimented my calm and frozen attitude a moment ago.
"But..."
What the hell am I looking like right now?
"No."
He said that he had to use the bathroom first and that I should stay like this, not caring at all about my mess. I couldn't continue to insist on his order, which was full of force in his voice. As it turned out, he had a cabinet meeting scheduled early this morning, so he didn't have much time.
“My schedule is a bit tight today, so I don’t have time to enjoy a leisurely breakfast.”
"Still..."
“If you really want to shower, let’s shower together. That would probably save some time.”
Linel jumped out of bed without warning.
“Huh.”
His mischievous blue eyes stared at me. My gaze hung on his face as if hanging on it so as not to look down. His long arms went to the marble floor. He quickly picked up the towel that was thrown on the floor and wrapped it around his waist. I didn’t have time to turn my head because of his almost provocative actions. My actions were not usually that fast unless it was a flying sword or arrow. He seemed slightly surprised at my appearance looking into his eyes as if he thought I would turn my head or close my eyes tightly.
“...”
“...”
Fortunately, my gaze did not turn downwards until the very end. I saw myself looking even more confused in his confused blue eyes.
“My wife is very patient. She’s also very bold.”
I haven't seen it, so please leave out the boldness. He complimented my calm and frozen attitude a moment ago.
Kiss.
He gave me an incomprehensible kiss on the cheek and walked leisurely into the bathroom.
“Haa... Breathe, breathe.”
Clink, I held my heart and fell onto the bed only after the bathroom door closed.
“Haa... Breathe, breathe.”
Clink, I held my heart and fell onto the bed only after the bathroom door closed.
***
After he finished showering and got dressed in his uniform, the servants came into the bedroom with trays. The servants opened the terrace door wide and moved a table in front of it. Breakfast was simply laid out on the table. After finishing all the preparations, the servants all left the bedroom at the same time as they had come in. The breakfast table, which was laid out in the blink of an eye, was filled with food that was not excessive but still appetizing.
We sat across from each other at the small table. The bright morning sunlight streamed down through the open terrace door onto his dazzling face. Compared to the perfect Linel, I had no makeup, no hair, and not even a dress. I felt like I was having a meal with a god, sitting in just a slip and a robe.
“I had to get dressed and meet you, but it was so embarrassing.”
“What are you talking about, since we even took a bath together?”
“Keep, kekekekeke....”
As I was taking a sip of soup, I heard a strange noise.
“Zelda, try this pie. It’s one of my favorites and it’s delicious.”
Linel pushed the plate on his right toward me.
“It’s a pie made with apples, lemons, and blueberries.”
I cut a piece of pie and put it in my mouth while listening to his explanation.
“Hmm!”
It was so delicious that I couldn't tell if I was eating the pie or if the pie was eating me. He said that on days when he was particularly tired, if he took a bite of this pie with coffee, half of the fatigue and stress from the day would disappear. I had a feeling that I would enjoy eating this pie from now on.
“How would you describe the taste of that pie in one word?”
He asked me as he spread butter on his bread, looking curious about my thoughts on his usual favorite foods.
“It’s a taste that I don’t want to share with anyone.”
“Hahaha, I thought the same thing the first time I put that pie in my mouth.”
Actually, I may be exaggerating a bit, but it was so delicious that I wanted to eat it all by myself.
“I don’t want to share my favorite piece of pie with anyone...”
Linel took a sip of his coffee and lowered his voice, wondering what he wanted to say.
"Yes?"
“I wonder what Zelda, or rather the Empress, is like.”
“What is it?”
“There’s a ceremony next week to welcome the concubines. After the ceremony, I have to officially share myself with them.”
It felt like a question that was being tested on me, rather than something I really thought about.
“...Your Majesty is not a pie.”
All I could say was this perfunctory answer.
“Yeah, it’s not as tasty as pie, is it?”
Linel smiled bitterly. As he had said, it would not be long before he would be shared with other concubines. The time I could spend with him like this would be shortened because of them. As I thought about this, the sweet pie I had just put in my mouth suddenly tasted bitter. A different taste from the pie I had tasted the first time teased my tongue. I moistened my mouth with soup again, but the soup tasted subtly different. It was strange.
“You’ll be busy from now on, right?”
I didn't really feel like eating any other food, so I just poked at the pie with my fork and took a bite.
“Isn’t it me who’s busy? It must be the concubines.”
That's right. He just had to choose one of the concubines and bring her to his bedroom. The Emperor didn't have to worry about the concubines, except for deciding where to sleep that day. Of course, he might get busy late at night...
“I had to get dressed and meet you, but it was so embarrassing.”
“What are you talking about, since we even took a bath together?”
“Keep, kekekekeke....”
As I was taking a sip of soup, I heard a strange noise.
“Zelda, try this pie. It’s one of my favorites and it’s delicious.”
Linel pushed the plate on his right toward me.
“It’s a pie made with apples, lemons, and blueberries.”
I cut a piece of pie and put it in my mouth while listening to his explanation.
“Hmm!”
It was so delicious that I couldn't tell if I was eating the pie or if the pie was eating me. He said that on days when he was particularly tired, if he took a bite of this pie with coffee, half of the fatigue and stress from the day would disappear. I had a feeling that I would enjoy eating this pie from now on.
“How would you describe the taste of that pie in one word?”
He asked me as he spread butter on his bread, looking curious about my thoughts on his usual favorite foods.
“It’s a taste that I don’t want to share with anyone.”
“Hahaha, I thought the same thing the first time I put that pie in my mouth.”
Actually, I may be exaggerating a bit, but it was so delicious that I wanted to eat it all by myself.
“I don’t want to share my favorite piece of pie with anyone...”
Linel took a sip of his coffee and lowered his voice, wondering what he wanted to say.
"Yes?"
“I wonder what Zelda, or rather the Empress, is like.”
“What is it?”
“There’s a ceremony next week to welcome the concubines. After the ceremony, I have to officially share myself with them.”
It felt like a question that was being tested on me, rather than something I really thought about.
“...Your Majesty is not a pie.”
All I could say was this perfunctory answer.
“Yeah, it’s not as tasty as pie, is it?”
Linel smiled bitterly. As he had said, it would not be long before he would be shared with other concubines. The time I could spend with him like this would be shortened because of them. As I thought about this, the sweet pie I had just put in my mouth suddenly tasted bitter. A different taste from the pie I had tasted the first time teased my tongue. I moistened my mouth with soup again, but the soup tasted subtly different. It was strange.
“You’ll be busy from now on, right?”
I didn't really feel like eating any other food, so I just poked at the pie with my fork and took a bite.
“Isn’t it me who’s busy? It must be the concubines.”
That's right. He just had to choose one of the concubines and bring her to his bedroom. The Emperor didn't have to worry about the concubines, except for deciding where to sleep that day. Of course, he might get busy late at night...
On the contrary, the concubines were in a different situation. They had a lot to worry about to look good to him, so they would be quite busy. I wondered if I would be the one who would have the most free time in this palace.
Suddenly, I remembered how I used to pray every night in the carriage on the way to the Lapion Palace. I asked that they let me stay as quiet as a mouse in the Empress's Palace until Princess Resilia arrived at the Lapion Palace. Surprisingly, my wish came true thanks to the concubines, but I don't know why I feel so uneasy. It felt like that damn god had suddenly granted my past wish without even considering the current situation.
“Zelda, I have a meeting in a little while, so I have to get up first.”
The once cheerful breakfast had taken on a funeral-like atmosphere at some point, and he finally got up from his chair. Linel looked down at the half-eaten pie that was my portion.
“Is the pie the Empress ate tasteless?”
"No."
“It might taste a little different, so don’t eat that one. I left it on purpose.”
He put the plate of his favorite pie back in front of me and pushed my plate aside. I looked down at the pie he had left behind. It felt strange. I hadn't even eaten the pie he had given me yet, but my mouth was already watering. I looked up at him and asked.
“You said you didn’t want to share your favorite pie with others?”
“Yeah, I don’t like it.”
“But why... are you giving it to me?”
I couldn't take my eyes off him as if I was possessed by something and pointed at the pie with my finger and asked.
“I am the Emperor.”
“Yes, I heard you have a lot of money.”
Linel smiled with one corner of his mouth raised at my response. Then he spoke affectionately as if it were obvious.
“You are the Empress. We are not strangers.”
It felt like an invisible string was wrapping itself around him and me. He stroked my cheek with the back of his hand. Then he mouthed, “Eat it all,” and turned around.
“Oh, right.”
He opened the door to the bedroom, carved in the shape of a wyvern, and turned to go out, but then turned back to where I was.
“Why are you like that?”
“Zelda, you are the first.”
“What is it?”
“I gave that pie to someone.”
"...Ah."
“So eat it all.”
“Zelda, I have a meeting in a little while, so I have to get up first.”
The once cheerful breakfast had taken on a funeral-like atmosphere at some point, and he finally got up from his chair. Linel looked down at the half-eaten pie that was my portion.
“Is the pie the Empress ate tasteless?”
"No."
“It might taste a little different, so don’t eat that one. I left it on purpose.”
He put the plate of his favorite pie back in front of me and pushed my plate aside. I looked down at the pie he had left behind. It felt strange. I hadn't even eaten the pie he had given me yet, but my mouth was already watering. I looked up at him and asked.
“You said you didn’t want to share your favorite pie with others?”
“Yeah, I don’t like it.”
“But why... are you giving it to me?”
I couldn't take my eyes off him as if I was possessed by something and pointed at the pie with my finger and asked.
“I am the Emperor.”
“Yes, I heard you have a lot of money.”
Linel smiled with one corner of his mouth raised at my response. Then he spoke affectionately as if it were obvious.
“You are the Empress. We are not strangers.”
It felt like an invisible string was wrapping itself around him and me. He stroked my cheek with the back of his hand. Then he mouthed, “Eat it all,” and turned around.
“Oh, right.”
He opened the door to the bedroom, carved in the shape of a wyvern, and turned to go out, but then turned back to where I was.
“Why are you like that?”
“Zelda, you are the first.”
“What is it?”
“I gave that pie to someone.”
"...Ah."
“So eat it all.”
***
Ten days later. Normally, the wedding of the Lapion Imperial Family is held in the banquet hall in the main palace, and the ceremony with the concubine is held simply in the prayer room of the temple building. However, this concubine ceremony was held on a fairly large scale in the new building chapel. Although the ministers actively pushed for their opinions, it was an inevitable choice for Emperor Linel because it was something that had been agreed upon with the Lapion ministers before the national wedding with the Kingdom of Shattonil.
In fact, the ministers were able to bring the time to bring in the concubine so quickly because of the active cooperation of Grand Duke Martins, who was staying in the imperial palace as the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Shattonil. The Grand Duke mingled with the ministers like a loyal subject of the Lapion Empire. He even publicly announced in the conference room that the royal family of Shattonil believed that their opinions were reasonable.
It was a matter that the Empress would have been very upset about, but the ministers judged that Empress Zelda also tacitly agreed with Grand Duke Martins’s opinion. No one noticed that the Kingdom of Shattonil was plotting to have a new Empress in the future.
***
Before the ceremony, the four concubines gathered in the bride's waiting room inside the shrine building and got all dolled up. They each waited for the ceremony with excited expressions, receiving the touches of the servants they had brought. Among the concubines, the woman who showed off the most splendid appearance was undoubtedly Catherine Callios.
As befitting the first concubine, she differentiated herself from the second concubines in her wedding dress. The other concubines were always conscious of Catherine. They glanced at Catherine, who had become the first concubine alone, with unkind eyes. Among them, the expression on Melanie Hetros's face, who had been hired as the Empress's maid but was fired after only one day, was the most murderous.
“What makes you the first concubine by yourself? And you’re a Princess like me.”
Melanie, who was sitting in the widest and best seat in the bridal waiting room and glaring at Catherine through the mirror while she was being groomed by the attendants, muttered in a displeased tone.
“Shh, I’ll listen.”
Pecilini, the second concubine who was sitting next to Melanie, whispered softly.
“Catherine was also the King’s lover. That must be why she became the first concubine.”
“Oh, Pesilini. Don’t you know that a broken gold coin is worth less than a whole silver coin? Even if you put it back together, it’s still broken!”
Melanie raised her voice deliberately and sneered.
“I told you to lower your voice.”
Pecilini frowned and stopped her.
“That’s not wrong. Ah, instead of these earrings, I should go with the ones from before with diamonds hanging down like a bunch of grapes.”
Melanie ignored Pecilini's advice and motioned for her attendant to open another jewel box.
“Who here can raise their voice higher than me?”
At that moment, Catherine slowly rose from her chair and spoke. All eyes in the bridal waiting room were focused on Melanie and Catherine walking toward her. Catherine stood in front of Melanie with a haughty expression. Catherine’s momentum was no less than that of the Empress. Melanie also rose from her chair and raised her head consciously. Sparks flew between the sharp eyes of the two people.
“Melanie?”
“Ugh! What, what are you doing!”
“You know what?”
Catherine asked, grabbing Melanie's chin with a sharp gaze.
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