I couldn't move my body because of Linel's eyes that seemed to yearn for me.
“Zelda..."
The moment he called my name, I closed my eyes because I was so grateful for the affectionate voice. His lips came down and settled on my silent lips. For a moment, his kisses began to drive me as if he was angry. As if it was his place from the beginning, he moved around freely, let go loosely, wandered sadly, and then held on and hung on again... It felt like Linel was sucking my soul.
He parted his lips and let out a low sigh.
“Tell me. You want me to stay with you tonight.”
His desperate command took my breath away again.
“I don’t want to go to the concubine’s bedroom.”
"No, I do not want."
I opened my eyes, which had been closed, and answered, regretting that his blissful sensation would soon disappear.
“Ha, okay.”
He covered my lips again. A shiver ran through my whole body, almost exploding. Without realizing it, I hugged his wide, sturdy back with both arms. My contradictory behavior felt funny and thrilling. He let out a deep breath that he had barely been holding back.
"Haa... Here, you move as you please, but why do your words keep pushing me away...”
He whispered, touching my lips with his fingers.
“Please, Zelda. If you don’t have anything to say to me, just keep your mouth shut.”
Linel whispered, placing his cheek against mine.
“I keep getting so upset that I want to just block it.”
Linel's blue eyes shone like the Mediterranean Sea sparkling in the warm sunlight.
“Say it again...”
He said, burying his face in the nape of my neck.
“I don’t want Your Majesty to be in my bedroom tonight.”
"...What?"
He suddenly raised his head and looked down at me with a shocked face. A disappointed expression. His eyes were clouded with hurt. His lips were stiff and speechless. His beautiful body slowly moved away from me.
“Zelda..."
The moment he called my name, I closed my eyes because I was so grateful for the affectionate voice. His lips came down and settled on my silent lips. For a moment, his kisses began to drive me as if he was angry. As if it was his place from the beginning, he moved around freely, let go loosely, wandered sadly, and then held on and hung on again... It felt like Linel was sucking my soul.
He parted his lips and let out a low sigh.
“Tell me. You want me to stay with you tonight.”
His desperate command took my breath away again.
“I don’t want to go to the concubine’s bedroom.”
"No, I do not want."
I opened my eyes, which had been closed, and answered, regretting that his blissful sensation would soon disappear.
“Ha, okay.”
He covered my lips again. A shiver ran through my whole body, almost exploding. Without realizing it, I hugged his wide, sturdy back with both arms. My contradictory behavior felt funny and thrilling. He let out a deep breath that he had barely been holding back.
"Haa... Here, you move as you please, but why do your words keep pushing me away...”
He whispered, touching my lips with his fingers.
“Please, Zelda. If you don’t have anything to say to me, just keep your mouth shut.”
Linel whispered, placing his cheek against mine.
“I keep getting so upset that I want to just block it.”
Linel's blue eyes shone like the Mediterranean Sea sparkling in the warm sunlight.
“Say it again...”
He said, burying his face in the nape of my neck.
“I don’t want Your Majesty to be in my bedroom tonight.”
"...What?"
He suddenly raised his head and looked down at me with a shocked face. A disappointed expression. His eyes were clouded with hurt. His lips were stiff and speechless. His beautiful body slowly moved away from me.
Watching Linel’s empty expression, I cursed the words I had just said. However, it was an inevitable choice. I could not meet his eyes and just turned my head to the side.
“You don’t like me being with you today? Is that what you meant? Just now?”
Linel's hand brought my head back to its proper place and asked me urgently. I knew that if I said yes, he would leave the bedroom without asking me a second time. And that he might not come to the Empress's Palace anymore. Blood mixed with fear and anxiety was rapidly spreading through my heart.
“Zelda, you don’t want to look at me, and you don’t want to answer me?”
Linel raised his body completely. A cold wind blew over my body as he left.
“Are you angry that I interrupted your pleasant conversation with Grand Duke Martins?”
He found the reason why I rejected him in the most ridiculous place. Would that be better? No, I didn't like that.
“Your Majesty knows better than to say that it is not so.”
I followed him and got up, responding.
“But I’m not telling you not to go, am I?”
Instead of answering, I put my hand on his shoulder. Then he moved away from my touch. My heart ached. Linel stared at me for a moment with a pensive look in his eyes. He sent me a look that said, “Catch me now.” When my gaze dropped from his face, he turned around. He opened the bedroom door wide and looked back at me. He spoke.
“If that is what the Empress wants, then let me go to the concubine’s bedroom right now.”
His last words stayed with me all night and tormented me.
“You don’t like me being with you today? Is that what you meant? Just now?”
Linel's hand brought my head back to its proper place and asked me urgently. I knew that if I said yes, he would leave the bedroom without asking me a second time. And that he might not come to the Empress's Palace anymore. Blood mixed with fear and anxiety was rapidly spreading through my heart.
“Zelda, you don’t want to look at me, and you don’t want to answer me?”
Linel raised his body completely. A cold wind blew over my body as he left.
“Are you angry that I interrupted your pleasant conversation with Grand Duke Martins?”
He found the reason why I rejected him in the most ridiculous place. Would that be better? No, I didn't like that.
“Your Majesty knows better than to say that it is not so.”
I followed him and got up, responding.
“But I’m not telling you not to go, am I?”
Instead of answering, I put my hand on his shoulder. Then he moved away from my touch. My heart ached. Linel stared at me for a moment with a pensive look in his eyes. He sent me a look that said, “Catch me now.” When my gaze dropped from his face, he turned around. He opened the bedroom door wide and looked back at me. He spoke.
“If that is what the Empress wants, then let me go to the concubine’s bedroom right now.”
His last words stayed with me all night and tormented me.
***
In the end, I stayed up all night. His sad eyes as he left the bedroom made my heart ache all morning. Every hour, I kept imagining what he was doing in the concubine’s quarters. I had just heard from Sharon that Linel and his attendants who left the Empress’s palace last night seemed to be heading toward the palace of Catherine, the first concubine.
Sharon quickly added as if trying to comfort me.
“It’s okay. It’s only natural.”
A bitter smile appeared on my lips as I drank my black tea. What if I had caught him last night? We would have had a good night. However, this was not such a simple matter.
Raphael said, looking at me with a very troubled expression. Unlike me who was calm, the three servants standing on either side of me simultaneously placed their hands on their waists and glared at Raphael. The innocent Raphael was greatly oppressed by their sharp gazes.
“I thought he went to Catherine’s quarters last night, but what brings her to the office today?”
I started speaking calmly, but before I knew it, my voice was getting louder.
“Actually, last night His Majesty...”
Just as Raphael was about to answer my question, the office door opened. The attendant who had brought in the tea came out with an empty tray, and when he saw me, he was surprised and greeted me while leaving the office door open.
"Oh my goodness, I see Your Majesty the Empress!”
Because of that, I could see Linel and Catherine sitting across from each other, drinking tea, through the open door. Oh no. I was just going to leave... Linel and I locked eyes. Catherine followed his gaze and turned her head toward me.
“But I am not sure if His Majesty actually went to Catherine’s residence. That direction is also a course he usually enjoys taking evening walks...”
Sharon quickly added as if trying to comfort me.
“It’s okay. It’s only natural.”
A bitter smile appeared on my lips as I drank my black tea. What if I had caught him last night? We would have had a good night. However, this was not such a simple matter.
Catherine, the first concubine who was abandoned on the first night, was sure to hear the anger of her father, Duke Callios, who had the most powerful private army in the Lapion Empire. And that fact would be talked about not only by Duke Callios, but also by all the ministers, and would lead to their wariness and opposition to me. It was only natural that Emperor Linel would be in a difficult position. So, it was a good thing.
“Yeah, good job.”
Before Princess Resilia remarries him, as the Empress of the Kingdom of Shattonil, I should not have caused any friction with the ministers of Lapion. However, the reason I did not capture him yesterday was not for Princess Resilia or the Kingdom of Shattonil. It was only for Emperor Linel Gadion Edpa, for him.
“Yeah, good job.”
Before Princess Resilia remarries him, as the Empress of the Kingdom of Shattonil, I should not have caused any friction with the ministers of Lapion. However, the reason I did not capture him yesterday was not for Princess Resilia or the Kingdom of Shattonil. It was only for Emperor Linel Gadion Edpa, for him.
Although I avoided friction with the ministers due to my choice last night, Linel's wounded heart has not been resolved yet. It may never be resolved. Even if I leave this place, I want to get along well with him until then. His wounded face last night was truly horrible.
“Sharon, what is His Majesty doing at this time?”
I asked weakly, being groomed by three attendants in front of the dressing table.
“I think this is probably the time when he would have tea time in his office or audience room.”
“That’s right...”
“Your Majesty the Empress?”
The three attendants, Sharon, Sollie, and Teresa, exchanged glances before Sharon stepped forward and spoke cautiously.
“Yes? Do you have anything to say?”
“I know it may be... presumptuous, but according to what we just learned from a close servant working at the main palace, His Majesty is currently alone in his office.”
"Yes?"
“It seems that there will be no audience after lunch today. Therefore, Your Majesty the Empress will now come to the palace....”
“Sharon.”
“I’m sorry, Your Majesty! I pretended to know something and made you feel uncomfortable...”
“Let’s go to the main palace right now!”
Since Sollie had just finished getting my hair done, I jumped up from the dressing table chair without hesitation. I had an instinctive feeling that I had to see him right away.
“Yes? Oh, yes!”
Sharon's expression brightened again.
“Let’s go!”
Sollie put the comb she was holding down on the dressing table and quickly opened the bedroom door.
“Just a moment, Your Majesty the Empress!”
This time, Teresa, who was in charge of my makeup, stopped me as I was about to leave the bedroom door and applied pink lipstick similar to my eye color, then shouted,
“Sharon, what is His Majesty doing at this time?”
I asked weakly, being groomed by three attendants in front of the dressing table.
“I think this is probably the time when he would have tea time in his office or audience room.”
“That’s right...”
“Your Majesty the Empress?”
The three attendants, Sharon, Sollie, and Teresa, exchanged glances before Sharon stepped forward and spoke cautiously.
“Yes? Do you have anything to say?”
“I know it may be... presumptuous, but according to what we just learned from a close servant working at the main palace, His Majesty is currently alone in his office.”
"Yes?"
“It seems that there will be no audience after lunch today. Therefore, Your Majesty the Empress will now come to the palace....”
“Sharon.”
“I’m sorry, Your Majesty! I pretended to know something and made you feel uncomfortable...”
“Let’s go to the main palace right now!”
Since Sollie had just finished getting my hair done, I jumped up from the dressing table chair without hesitation. I had an instinctive feeling that I had to see him right away.
“Yes? Oh, yes!”
Sharon's expression brightened again.
“Let’s go!”
Sollie put the comb she was holding down on the dressing table and quickly opened the bedroom door.
“Just a moment, Your Majesty the Empress!”
This time, Teresa, who was in charge of my makeup, stopped me as I was about to leave the bedroom door and applied pink lipstick similar to my eye color, then shouted,
"You can go now!"
***
I walked to the main palace at a somewhat fast pace with the attendants who were more excited than me. As I entered the main palace lobby, I took a slow step while catching my breath.
“Please tell them that Her Majesty the Empress has arrived.”
As we arrived at the office, Sharon spoke solemnly to Raphael, the Emperor's personal secretary. Raphael was extremely embarrassed by my appearance.
“His Majesty the Emperor, Your Majesty the Empress! Th, please wait a moment... Haa, I’m sorry! He's in the office right now...”
“Oh, are he meeting with the ministers?”
Someone might have requested an audience with Linel while I was on my way to the main palace.
“That’s... not your Majesty, but Lady Catherine, the First Concubine, came in a little while ago.”
“Please tell them that Her Majesty the Empress has arrived.”
As we arrived at the office, Sharon spoke solemnly to Raphael, the Emperor's personal secretary. Raphael was extremely embarrassed by my appearance.
“His Majesty the Emperor, Your Majesty the Empress! Th, please wait a moment... Haa, I’m sorry! He's in the office right now...”
“Oh, are he meeting with the ministers?”
Someone might have requested an audience with Linel while I was on my way to the main palace.
“That’s... not your Majesty, but Lady Catherine, the First Concubine, came in a little while ago.”
Raphael said, looking at me with a very troubled expression. Unlike me who was calm, the three servants standing on either side of me simultaneously placed their hands on their waists and glared at Raphael. The innocent Raphael was greatly oppressed by their sharp gazes.
“I thought he went to Catherine’s quarters last night, but what brings her to the office today?”
I started speaking calmly, but before I knew it, my voice was getting louder.
“Actually, last night His Majesty...”
Just as Raphael was about to answer my question, the office door opened. The attendant who had brought in the tea came out with an empty tray, and when he saw me, he was surprised and greeted me while leaving the office door open.
"Oh my goodness, I see Your Majesty the Empress!”
Because of that, I could see Linel and Catherine sitting across from each other, drinking tea, through the open door. Oh no. I was just going to leave... Linel and I locked eyes. Catherine followed his gaze and turned her head toward me.
Catherine’s gorgeous facial features, which had been smiling brightly, crumpled when she saw me. Sharon and Raphael seemed to be swallowing their saliva as if I could hear them being nervous about the situation.
“What brings the Empress to the office at this hour...?”
Linel said, rising from the sofa.
“Come in.”
At first, he looked surprised, but then he greeted me with a colder voice than usual.
“I came because I thought you were alone.”
I said as I entered the office and glanced at Catherine. Catherine reluctantly and slowly got up and only slightly bent her knees to show me her courtesy.
“Hello, Your Majesty the Empress.”
Catherine didn't bow her head to me today either. I needed to check to see if she had a metal object driven into her neck. I gave her a fake smile and focused on Linel again.
“Sit down.”
He offered me a seat. I felt like he was being polite to the Empress, but deliberately avoiding my gaze.
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
I hesitated for a moment about where to sit. Should I sit on the same sofa as Catherine or move to the seat next to Linel? I thought it would be better to look at his face directly than face Catherine, so I sat next to Catherine on the sofa.
“Your Majesty the Empress, your complexion looks particularly good today?”
Did you know that Linel was in the Empress's Palace last night and went to his own quarters? Is that why you're making fun of me and sneering at me now? I glanced at Catherine and shrugged.
“Really? I slept well last night for the first time in a while.”
Even though it was a face that had not slept at all, I smiled brightly while lying to Catherine. But this time, Linel looked uncomfortable. He narrowed his eyes and stared at me. The two people who spent the night looked at me with a very shaky expression. I was the one who spent the long night alone, so why did they act like this?
“I have told Your Majesty enough, so I will now step aside, Your Majesty, Your Majesty the Empress.”
Catherine's tone became even more angry than before, and I almost struck her Adam's apple with my hand. Now that I looked at her, I saw that Catherine's eyes were just as bloodshot as mine.
'How long must the Emperor have been deprived of sleep last night for her eyes to be so red?'
The incarnation inside me that had been emitting heat since dawn spoke mockingly. Catherine walked out of the office door like a proud bird. Her back seemed to be covered in thorns. As the thorns left, a sharper gaze awaited me this time.
“Your Majesty, what is happening?”
“Your Majesty, last night...”
“It wasn’t bad.”
“!”
Linel spoke before I could finish my question. It was an answer I neither wanted to hear nor wanted to know.
“Isn’t that why you came here?”
“What brings the Empress to the office at this hour...?”
Linel said, rising from the sofa.
“Come in.”
At first, he looked surprised, but then he greeted me with a colder voice than usual.
“I came because I thought you were alone.”
I said as I entered the office and glanced at Catherine. Catherine reluctantly and slowly got up and only slightly bent her knees to show me her courtesy.
“Hello, Your Majesty the Empress.”
Catherine didn't bow her head to me today either. I needed to check to see if she had a metal object driven into her neck. I gave her a fake smile and focused on Linel again.
“Sit down.”
He offered me a seat. I felt like he was being polite to the Empress, but deliberately avoiding my gaze.
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
I hesitated for a moment about where to sit. Should I sit on the same sofa as Catherine or move to the seat next to Linel? I thought it would be better to look at his face directly than face Catherine, so I sat next to Catherine on the sofa.
“Your Majesty the Empress, your complexion looks particularly good today?”
Did you know that Linel was in the Empress's Palace last night and went to his own quarters? Is that why you're making fun of me and sneering at me now? I glanced at Catherine and shrugged.
“Really? I slept well last night for the first time in a while.”
Even though it was a face that had not slept at all, I smiled brightly while lying to Catherine. But this time, Linel looked uncomfortable. He narrowed his eyes and stared at me. The two people who spent the night looked at me with a very shaky expression. I was the one who spent the long night alone, so why did they act like this?
“I have told Your Majesty enough, so I will now step aside, Your Majesty, Your Majesty the Empress.”
Catherine's tone became even more angry than before, and I almost struck her Adam's apple with my hand. Now that I looked at her, I saw that Catherine's eyes were just as bloodshot as mine.
'How long must the Emperor have been deprived of sleep last night for her eyes to be so red?'
The incarnation inside me that had been emitting heat since dawn spoke mockingly. Catherine walked out of the office door like a proud bird. Her back seemed to be covered in thorns. As the thorns left, a sharper gaze awaited me this time.
“Your Majesty, what is happening?”
“Your Majesty, last night...”
“It wasn’t bad.”
“!”
Linel spoke before I could finish my question. It was an answer I neither wanted to hear nor wanted to know.
“Isn’t that why you came here?”
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