Linel grabbed Melanie's wrists with one hand as she approached him, waving both arms and turning to his secretary.
“Raphael, is it by law that the Emperor must spend the first night with his concubine?”
“There is no such law. Only the first night with Her Majesty the Empress is regulated by law.”
Raphael glanced at the whining Melanie and answered her.
“That’s the law.”
Linel spoke to her as if pacing her.
“Just calm down and go back to bed and rest.”
Linel calmed her down again.
“But... You came all the way here...”
As Melanie continued to lash out, he turned his head to Raphael again. As if he had been waiting, Raphael began to recite the recorded details of the Emperor and his concubine's first night together.
“I am ashamed to say this, but... There are records showing that the number of concubines taken by the previous Emperors and the number of those whom they never met is two thousand.”
I suddenly wondered why Raphael kept memorizing such useless knowledge, but it seemed he was trying to use it in situations like this.
“Congratulations, Melanie.”
Linel patted her shoulder and said,
“Congratulations? Your Majesty, are you going to stay in my quarters today? Oh, how nice!”
Melanie jumped on the floor again in joy.
“Hey, I’m sorry.”
He immediately destroyed Melanie's joy by imitating her charming tone.
“Huh? That’s what you meant... wasn’t it?”
“It was meant to congratulate you for meeting me today. The number of concubines that the previous Emperors never met was two thousand. At least you are no longer one of them, so it is worthy of congratulations.”
“Eek.”
“I think you’ll be good at running. I see you keep whining like a horse.”
"Your Majesty!"
Melanie called out to him in a desperate, pleading voice.
“From now on, don’t roll down the stairs, but run across the fields beyond the backyard.”
“Phew.”
She farted and shook her head indignantly as if complaining about Linel's cold expression. At this point, I seriously doubted whether Melanie had really been a horse in her past life. I almost wanted to tell Sharon to bring me some carrots and give them to Melanie.
“Empress, we must leave now.”
Linel sighed and turned my back affectionately.
“Ha, but! You went to Madame Catherine's place yesterday, right?”
As I was about to turn around with him, Melanie shouted urgently.
“Who said that? I went to her place.”
Linel looked back at her and asked.
“Yes? Then Catherine too, Madame Catherine yesterday...”
“Yeah, I guess she slept alone. I don’t think she rolled down the stairs like everyone else.”
Linel added that she should just go to bed and lie down.
“So when will you come to my place?”
He answered without hesitation at the sound of Melanie's desperate voice behind him.
“When I hear that you can jump up the stairs without rolling down them, I’ll come back.”
He said he wouldn't come.
“Eek.”
“I think you’ll be good at running. I see you keep whining like a horse.”
"Your Majesty!"
Melanie called out to him in a desperate, pleading voice.
“From now on, don’t roll down the stairs, but run across the fields beyond the backyard.”
“Phew.”
She farted and shook her head indignantly as if complaining about Linel's cold expression. At this point, I seriously doubted whether Melanie had really been a horse in her past life. I almost wanted to tell Sharon to bring me some carrots and give them to Melanie.
“Empress, we must leave now.”
Linel sighed and turned my back affectionately.
“Ha, but! You went to Madame Catherine's place yesterday, right?”
As I was about to turn around with him, Melanie shouted urgently.
“Who said that? I went to her place.”
Linel looked back at her and asked.
“Yes? Then Catherine too, Madame Catherine yesterday...”
“Yeah, I guess she slept alone. I don’t think she rolled down the stairs like everyone else.”
Linel added that she should just go to bed and lie down.
“So when will you come to my place?”
He answered without hesitation at the sound of Melanie's desperate voice behind him.
“When I hear that you can jump up the stairs without rolling down them, I’ll come back.”
He said he wouldn't come.
I glanced at Melanie as I was led out by his hand. She had a look of disappointment in her eyes, repeating 'Uh-uh...!' with one hand in the air, and a look of dejection.
It was the moment when one more concubine who thought of me as an enemy was added to Catherine.
***
“You could have spoken more warmly.”
As soon as I left Melanie's quarters with him, I said to him.
“I did my best. Don’t bully me.”
Linel looked up at the full moon and replied.
“How dare I persecute Your Majesty?”
“Zelda, haven’t you already done too many things to me that you ‘dare’ not to do? Even in the main palace bedroom.”
He glanced down at my feet, grabbing his chin and opening and closing his mouth wide.
“My mouth still hurts.”
“...Should I go somewhere like Melanie?”
"Uh."
He responded as if he had been waiting for the joke I made.
“I will decide where the Empress will roll.”
“...”
Because he seems like a cool-headed man.
“Please take me to a place where I won’t get hurt too badly.”
“You won’t get hurt. I won’t leave you rolling around alone either.”
He put his arm around my shoulder and urged me to walk faster.
“Let’s go, roll.”
“Where is that?”
“Do you really need to know now?”
“I need to prepare myself mentally too. Is there a place where you can’t tell me now?”
“There is no such thing as impossible.”
Linel answered readily, then turned around. Then he suddenly gave an order to the attendants who were following us.
“Everyone, turn around, raise your heads, and admire the full moon for a moment!”
What on earth is this? The servants were all confused and murmured like me at the Emperor's sudden order.
“I know you all have been bowing your heads all day. At times like this, I want you to raise your head and admire that beautiful full moon.”
At Linel's words, the attendants looked at him with respect.
“Everyone, raise your heads. Look at the full moon and purify your hearts!”
“Your Majesty, I am deeply moved by your profound intentions.”
“We are amazed at Your Majesty’s consideration for us.”
“It is a beautiful night, Your Majesty!”
Linel's servants, as well as my own, joined in praising him.
“Yes, everyone, turn around. Don’t lower your head or turn around until I give you the order. Got it?”
“Yes, I will obey your command!”
The servants sang together in unison and turned around to look at the full moon. I also raised my head to look at the full moon like the servants, but Linel put his hand on my crown and gave me strength. That caused my raised head to drop again. My gaze met his face which was shining brighter than the full moon.
“You said you wanted to know.”
He whispered.
"Yes?"
“This is the place where the Empress should roll.”
“Ah, where is that... um?!”
Oh, Linel's lips pressed hard against mine and then fell away.
“It's here.”
“Where should I roll?”
I asked, pointing to my lips with my finger.
"huh."
“No, what is that...”
That doesn't sound like words? ...I thought. But even though I couldn't speak, my body was working. Just as our lips were about to part, he pulled away,
“The full moon is really bright.”
He spoke as he hugged me from behind. His breathing tickled my ears.
Linel's hand gently turned my chin to the side. His cool breath entered my mouth. His kisses were not done alone. He took care of me and rolled gently. Kissing him felt more dangerous and dizzying than rolling down the stairs. We enjoyed the thrill of having so many attendants right in front of us. The attendants, completely unaware of what the Emperor and Empress were doing behind them, were gesturing to the full moon and enjoying themselves among themselves. I was worried that the attendants might look back.
“No one is watching. It is the Emperor’s order.”
Linel, who saw my worried expression, smiled and whispered. However, as I kept glancing at the attendants, he changed seats and stood in front of me again. He covered the sides of my face with both hands and said,
“Just look at me.”
His smile against the moonlight was ecstatic. I thought I was going blind. I was so scared that not only my eyes, but my reason would go blind. I wanted to run away from his perfect face looking at me. So I completely closed my eyes. When I couldn’t see him, I suddenly felt courage and wanted to feel him. I lifted my chin and stuck my lips out to him. I knew that Linel would be smiling and staring down at my face. He never hesitated for too long. To that place where only he and I could share a feeling. I liked him coming right in sweetly without making me wait. I was so happy that I completely forgot that there were servants in front of us. After a while, I slowly opened my eyes.
“Linel..."
“Don’t call me with that look in your eyes. You don’t want to startle the attendants here.”
Linel lifted my chin and smiled subtly. The scent of lavender blew in on the wind. It was a wonderful scent that calmed my rough breathing. My legs almost gave out and I almost collapsed on the floor. I felt dizzy. I needed something to support my body. I instinctively grabbed his waist with both hands. Then his strong arms pulled me into his arms. It was warm and cozy. It was a feeling that was clearly different from the hot air I usually felt.
I asked, pointing to my lips with my finger.
"huh."
“No, what is that...”
That doesn't sound like words? ...I thought. But even though I couldn't speak, my body was working. Just as our lips were about to part, he pulled away,
“The full moon is really bright.”
He spoke as he hugged me from behind. His breathing tickled my ears.
Linel's hand gently turned my chin to the side. His cool breath entered my mouth. His kisses were not done alone. He took care of me and rolled gently. Kissing him felt more dangerous and dizzying than rolling down the stairs. We enjoyed the thrill of having so many attendants right in front of us. The attendants, completely unaware of what the Emperor and Empress were doing behind them, were gesturing to the full moon and enjoying themselves among themselves. I was worried that the attendants might look back.
“No one is watching. It is the Emperor’s order.”
Linel, who saw my worried expression, smiled and whispered. However, as I kept glancing at the attendants, he changed seats and stood in front of me again. He covered the sides of my face with both hands and said,
“Just look at me.”
His smile against the moonlight was ecstatic. I thought I was going blind. I was so scared that not only my eyes, but my reason would go blind. I wanted to run away from his perfect face looking at me. So I completely closed my eyes. When I couldn’t see him, I suddenly felt courage and wanted to feel him. I lifted my chin and stuck my lips out to him. I knew that Linel would be smiling and staring down at my face. He never hesitated for too long. To that place where only he and I could share a feeling. I liked him coming right in sweetly without making me wait. I was so happy that I completely forgot that there were servants in front of us. After a while, I slowly opened my eyes.
“Linel..."
“Don’t call me with that look in your eyes. You don’t want to startle the attendants here.”
Linel lifted my chin and smiled subtly. The scent of lavender blew in on the wind. It was a wonderful scent that calmed my rough breathing. My legs almost gave out and I almost collapsed on the floor. I felt dizzy. I needed something to support my body. I instinctively grabbed his waist with both hands. Then his strong arms pulled me into his arms. It was warm and cozy. It was a feeling that was clearly different from the hot air I usually felt.
At that moment, Linel’s gaze looking down at me almost made a word I hadn’t thought of blurt out.
“Is this love?”
The words that had been lingering in my head came out of Linel's mouth first.
“Just now... what did you say?”
I was surprised that he had been thinking the same thing as me, and even more surprised that he said it out loud.
“I’m sure you like me, but I thought it would seem too frivolous to say I love you already, so I added a question mark after it.”
Are we already in love? If there is a house called Love, he seems like someone is about to open the front door. I couldn't believe the loving eyes looking at me right now.
“Is it in progress? If so, you need to speed things up a bit.”
He pressed his forehead against mine and spoke in a beseeching tone. He was the Emperor of the Lapion Empire.
“I think I’m almost there.”
“...Where?”
“I mean, about that feeling. If you come too slowly, I’ll be too... in pain.”
“Is this love?”
The words that had been lingering in my head came out of Linel's mouth first.
“Just now... what did you say?”
I was surprised that he had been thinking the same thing as me, and even more surprised that he said it out loud.
“I’m sure you like me, but I thought it would seem too frivolous to say I love you already, so I added a question mark after it.”
Are we already in love? If there is a house called Love, he seems like someone is about to open the front door. I couldn't believe the loving eyes looking at me right now.
“Is it in progress? If so, you need to speed things up a bit.”
He pressed his forehead against mine and spoke in a beseeching tone. He was the Emperor of the Lapion Empire.
“I think I’m almost there.”
“...Where?”
“I mean, about that feeling. If you come too slowly, I’ll be too... in pain.”
“Pain?”
“Yeah, holding on. Here.”
Linel took my hand and brought it over his heart and said.
“So, please speed up your emotions too.”
“I am confident in my speed.”
I felt awkward and laughed for no reason, saying it as a joke.
“Heh, what kind of speed is that with such a delicate body?”
He held my sunken waistline with both hands and belittled my physical strength. I opened my mouth to retort to Linel, but just kept a somewhat bashful expression on my face. This was because I remembered the story Sharon, Sollie, and Teresa had told me this afternoon, on my way back from the greenhouse...
'Your Majesty, I'm saying this out of concern, but you must not show off your strength in front of Your Majesty. Do you understand?'
'That's right. When other women laugh, they often tap the person next to them with their hand, but Your Majesty the Empress absolutely must not do that! Please promise me!'
'Sometimes when you're eating, you drop the fork in your hand, can you?'
I listened to their advice silently, but when there was a part that I couldn't understand at all, I asked back.
'Why did you drop the fork?'
'That's proof that it's that fragile.'
'Oh, so that's what guys like?'
When I asked with a puzzled look, they collectively nodded their heads. I couldn't understand. Men's ideal type is a woman with energy on the verge of becoming a slave?
'It triggers a protective instinct.'
'I want to protect you, even though you're weak.'
Aha, so that's why I've never had anyone to protect me my whole life. Who would have thought that the mystery of my lonely life would be solved like this...
'Sometimes when you're eating, you drop the fork in your hand, can you?'
I listened to their advice silently, but when there was a part that I couldn't understand at all, I asked back.
'Why did you drop the fork?'
'That's proof that it's that fragile.'
'Oh, so that's what guys like?'
When I asked with a puzzled look, they collectively nodded their heads. I couldn't understand. Men's ideal type is a woman with energy on the verge of becoming a slave?
'It triggers a protective instinct.'
'I want to protect you, even though you're weak.'
Aha, so that's why I've never had anyone to protect me my whole life. Who would have thought that the mystery of my lonely life would be solved like this...
Anyway, surprisingly, Linel thought of me as a weak wife. Well, then it would be good to make him believe that, right? But I didn't want to seem too weak.
“My body is indeed thin... but I’m not as physically weak as I look.”
“My body is indeed thin... but I’m not as physically weak as I look.”
“Really? Really?”
"Yes."
“I won’t believe it until you prove it?”
“...Proof?”
I looked around the garden. Oh, there was a rock a little way off that was just right for me to pick up. Should I pick up that rock to prove it? No. Then I won't drop my fork later...
As I stared at the rock, hesitating, Linel watched me quietly and spoke quietly.
“Over there, that rock.”
I guess he had the same thoughts as me.
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“Should we take a break there and go?”
"...Ah!"
That's what it meant? I secretly relaxed my wrist and stopped. I almost threw the rock at the full moon.
“Over there, that rock.”
I guess he had the same thoughts as me.
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“Should we take a break there and go?”
"...Ah!"
That's what it meant? I secretly relaxed my wrist and stopped. I almost threw the rock at the full moon.
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