It was a moment when I was going back and forth between consciousness and unconsciousness. I opened my heavy eyelids and asked
“You cried?”
“...How did the story develop like that?”
“Why did you cry?”
“I don’t think I said I cried.”
Linel snickered, running his fingers over my eyes.
“Oh, you said you wanted to cry?”
“...I thought you said you were going to cry, right?”
“I’m sorry, I was half-asleep...”
“I am more sorry. For an Emperor like me to dare wake the empress from her sleep.”
“Ughhh.”
Even as I was falling asleep again, I couldn't help but laugh at his joke.
“But you woke me up too.”
“Hmm? Did you sleep talk or something?”
“No, I mean it awakened all my senses. It was the second time in my life that I felt that way.”
Linel spoke solemnly as if he had welcomed a god.
“When was the first time?”
I forced my already functioning eyelids open and closed them as I asked him. I asked a question, but I felt like I would fall asleep without hearing his answer. All the energy had been drained from my body as if I had never heard what he had done to me.
“The first time I felt my whole body’s senses awaken was while I was practicing swordsmanship.”
“Ah, swordsmanship...”
Even in my sleep, I tried my best to respond to what he said.
“There was a moment when I felt like I was climbing up the stairs one step at a time, and then suddenly I jumped over countless stairs in one breath.”
“Yes, the stairs... you have to be careful.”
As I listened to him, a scene of Melanie rolling down the stairs came to my mind. I could hear Linel's laughter from afar. His laughter, along with his cool breath, touched my face.
“You woke me up and now you are falling asleep?”
“Yes...”
“Hehehe, anyway, you don’t know that feeling, do you? A woman who doesn’t even have the strength to pick up a sword wouldn’t know.”
Sword...! I heard my favorite word in my favorite voice. Even when I was falling asleep, I would briefly come to my senses when I heard the word ‘sword.’
“So you will have to take responsibility for me for the rest of your life. The sword that awakened my senses will stay with me forever, attached to my waist, so you should do the same.”
I felt Linel's hand stroking my head. I wanted to stroke it too. The sword...
“Answer that you’ll be like that your whole life. Since you’re asleep right now anyway, show some kindness.”
“Yes, for life... use...”
“I don’t think you know what you’re talking about. It’s okay. I’ll just try to explain it to you.”
“I will cherish it and use it well for the rest of my life.”
I felt his lips touch my forehead and then fall. At that feeling, I forced my half-closed eyes open and moved my lips to match his conversation a little.
“A sword?”
“You. More precious in bed.”
“Is it black...?”
“Just use it in the black smokehouse. Heh, you don't even know what you're asking yourself, do you?”
“Here... where is the training ground?”
“What? Why are you looking for a training center all of a sudden?”
“I’m going to go when my body... gets so hot that I can’t stand it...”
When I lived in the Shattonil royal family, the fever didn't go away even with cold water. When the horrible feeling of standing alone in the flames couldn't be controlled. At such times, I ran to the empty training ground in the middle of the night. I swung my sword for hours before the sun rose on the training ground.
'Our Empress is very shy.'
Linel thought so. But that thought was completely shattered tonight. When he found out, his wife wasn't just shy. She had even licked his lips first, and today she had even boldly laid him down on the bed. Zelda immediately showed regret, but... It was a good attempt. Her impulsive behavior made him extremely happy and hot. Thinking back to that moment just a few hours ago, Linel wanted to put the rising sun somewhere again.
“Should I wake you up?”
He muttered, feeling Zelda's rich, soft hair on the back of his hand.
“My wife is so frail, I can’t just push her with my physical strength, right?”
Ah, it hurts. Linel closed his eyes and breathed deeply into her fragrant hair.
“Zelda....”
Eventually, Linel called her name. Still, he had a conscience, so he kept his voice quiet.
“...”
She was sleeping soundly without moving an inch. As expected, her thin body made it seem like she would fall asleep easily.
“Zelda?”
This time, he threw away his conscience and raised his voice slightly.
"Empress?"
“Ugh...”
Zelda's eyes fluttered and showed a subtle reaction. Linel sat up from where he had been lying on his side as if he had found a glimmer of hope in despair.
“Can you hear me? Are you awake?”
Linel raised his hand cautiously, but couldn't bring himself to shake her shoulder.
“Zelda? You must answer when the Emperor calls.”
He whispered her name desperately and waved his lost hand over her closed eyes. After a moment, her lips parted slightly. Her lips which had been quivering suddenly blurted out words.
“Listen...”
“Huh? What did you say?”
Linel looked down at her face and asked. She must be sleeping, seeing as she was talking with her eyes closed, but why did his wife's voice sound so solemn?
“Do you have anything to say to me? What do you want to hear?”
"Listen," Linel commanded, holding back laughter as he questioned her sleepwalking.
“Weapon...”
Zelda said, raising both hands and posing as if holding a sword.
“What are you suddenly telling me to take up arms?”
“Yes. Listen, weapons...”
Our Empress is strange.
“...You don’t have a fever?”
"You're talking nonsense."
“You cried?”
“...How did the story develop like that?”
“Why did you cry?”
“I don’t think I said I cried.”
Linel snickered, running his fingers over my eyes.
“Oh, you said you wanted to cry?”
“...I thought you said you were going to cry, right?”
“I’m sorry, I was half-asleep...”
“I am more sorry. For an Emperor like me to dare wake the empress from her sleep.”
“Ughhh.”
Even as I was falling asleep again, I couldn't help but laugh at his joke.
“But you woke me up too.”
“Hmm? Did you sleep talk or something?”
“No, I mean it awakened all my senses. It was the second time in my life that I felt that way.”
Linel spoke solemnly as if he had welcomed a god.
“When was the first time?”
I forced my already functioning eyelids open and closed them as I asked him. I asked a question, but I felt like I would fall asleep without hearing his answer. All the energy had been drained from my body as if I had never heard what he had done to me.
“The first time I felt my whole body’s senses awaken was while I was practicing swordsmanship.”
“Ah, swordsmanship...”
Even in my sleep, I tried my best to respond to what he said.
“There was a moment when I felt like I was climbing up the stairs one step at a time, and then suddenly I jumped over countless stairs in one breath.”
“Yes, the stairs... you have to be careful.”
As I listened to him, a scene of Melanie rolling down the stairs came to my mind. I could hear Linel's laughter from afar. His laughter, along with his cool breath, touched my face.
“You woke me up and now you are falling asleep?”
“Yes...”
“Hehehe, anyway, you don’t know that feeling, do you? A woman who doesn’t even have the strength to pick up a sword wouldn’t know.”
Sword...! I heard my favorite word in my favorite voice. Even when I was falling asleep, I would briefly come to my senses when I heard the word ‘sword.’
“So you will have to take responsibility for me for the rest of your life. The sword that awakened my senses will stay with me forever, attached to my waist, so you should do the same.”
I felt Linel's hand stroking my head. I wanted to stroke it too. The sword...
“Answer that you’ll be like that your whole life. Since you’re asleep right now anyway, show some kindness.”
“Yes, for life... use...”
“I don’t think you know what you’re talking about. It’s okay. I’ll just try to explain it to you.”
“I will cherish it and use it well for the rest of my life.”
I felt his lips touch my forehead and then fall. At that feeling, I forced my half-closed eyes open and moved my lips to match his conversation a little.
“A sword?”
“You. More precious in bed.”
“Is it black...?”
“Just use it in the black smokehouse. Heh, you don't even know what you're asking yourself, do you?”
“Here... where is the training ground?”
“What? Why are you looking for a training center all of a sudden?”
“I’m going to go when my body... gets so hot that I can’t stand it...”
When I lived in the Shattonil royal family, the fever didn't go away even with cold water. When the horrible feeling of standing alone in the flames couldn't be controlled. At such times, I ran to the empty training ground in the middle of the night. I swung my sword for hours before the sun rose on the training ground.
After entrusting my fiery body to the sword for a long time, the heat that had burned my whole body would soon disappear. By the way, why did I say the training ground just now? Oh, Linel must have said it first?
Yes, that must have been it. So I answered and then asked.
“If you get excited because of the fever, go to the smokehouse...”
It seemed like I was just talking about something, but as soon as the words left my mouth, they disappeared from my memory.
“Zelda, you should come to me when that happens. Why are you looking for the training ground?”
“Because it’s worth finding...”
“If you get excited because of the fever, go to the smokehouse...”
It seemed like I was just talking about something, but as soon as the words left my mouth, they disappeared from my memory.
“Zelda, you should come to me when that happens. Why are you looking for the training ground?”
“Because it’s worth finding...”
“Does it mean, ‘I want to kiss you in the training hall,’ or something like that?”
“...”
“The Empress’s unconsciousness, answer. Quickly.”
My mind went black for a moment and then came back on, so I couldn't hear what he said properly. Oh, I don't know. When you don't know, the correct answer is always yes.
“Yes? Yes... That’s right.”
“!”
I responded to him politely until the last moment. I was proud of myself, and then all my senses fell asleep as if they had fainted again.
“...”
“The Empress’s unconsciousness, answer. Quickly.”
My mind went black for a moment and then came back on, so I couldn't hear what he said properly. Oh, I don't know. When you don't know, the correct answer is always yes.
“Yes? Yes... That’s right.”
“!”
I responded to him politely until the last moment. I was proud of myself, and then all my senses fell asleep as if they had fainted again.
***
Linel spent time looking at Zelda’s sleeping face. Before he knew it, dawn was breaking. Every time he blinked, he felt a new feeling for her emerging. It was getting better and better.
The more he touched her, the more he trembled. The more he looked at her, the more he loved her. Whether it was when she had a calm and neat gaze, or when her eyes and mouth were all closed like this, or when she was talking back to him, the Emperor, or when her pink eyes moved here and there in embarrassment, or when she was so sleepy that she didn’t know what she was saying, everything about Zelda was always new and fresh.
In fact, he didn’t like her from the beginning. It was right before they had their first night together that he felt a little sorry for the Emperor whose face she had never seen and the woman who was getting married in a strange country. On the first night, she acted like she had never heard of the Lapion royal family.
At first, he suspected that she was lying or being pretentious. However, her clear eyes seemed to show that she really knew nothing. An Empress who had a state wedding without knowing anything about the traditional way of holding a first night in the Lapion royal family. Linel was equally bewildered.
“What would have happened if the tradition of priests observing the first night had not been changed? Huh?”
Linel touched her pert nose with his hand and whispered softly. When he found out that Zelda had no information about the first night, Linel felt like he was a shameless person who had done something bad. Although it was his first time, he felt a little wrong. Since the Emperor had to show dignity and skill in all aspects, he tried to act calmly in front of her. Fortunately, she must have been nervous and didn’t notice his awkward kiss. It wasn’t that he didn’t want to sleep with the Empress for the rest of his life. However, he had no intention of spending the first night in front of the priests who only sought the will of the gods. That was why he had changed the traditions of the Lapion Empire during his generation...
“What would have happened if the tradition of priests observing the first night had not been changed? Huh?”
Linel touched her pert nose with his hand and whispered softly. When he found out that Zelda had no information about the first night, Linel felt like he was a shameless person who had done something bad. Although it was his first time, he felt a little wrong. Since the Emperor had to show dignity and skill in all aspects, he tried to act calmly in front of her. Fortunately, she must have been nervous and didn’t notice his awkward kiss. It wasn’t that he didn’t want to sleep with the Empress for the rest of his life. However, he had no intention of spending the first night in front of the priests who only sought the will of the gods. That was why he had changed the traditions of the Lapion Empire during his generation...
However, he was led by a strange force and ended up causing an accident. It was strange to call it an accident, but Linel thought it was a mistake because it wasn’t planned. Besides, he had promised the Empress not to worry and that they would pretend to act!
After the priests left, Linel and her awkwardly stared up at the ceiling for a while. At that moment when their rough breathing almost simultaneously found stability... He thought it was from that moment. She had become special since then. That the specialness had become stronger as they talked to each other. Since he had been cursed with hypothermia, he had always lived alone through cold and gloomy nights. However, they had laughed a lot on the night they spent their first night together.
Just looking at each other was laughter. Even the air was laughter. That night, every moment was warm. Linel felt that feeling was happiness. After the first night, he somehow felt like he had to see the Empress every day. Otherwise, the day felt so empty. Maybe he had decided on that feeling and was holding on to it. However, unlike his feelings that were gradually getting closer to the Empress, she often showed an uncomfortable expression whenever she faced him. He knew that she was trying to hide something. He couldn’t tell what she was trying to hide, but somehow her pink eyes seemed to contain regret.
Why? Why was she looking at him like that?
Whenever Linel met Zelda’s eyes and talked, that curiosity would also come to mind. She would swallow her words even though she would respond to his words with determination. Also, she would approach him as if she was going to touch him, but she would hesitate several times. Perhaps because he was the Emperor, she found his very existence difficult.
'Our Empress is very shy.'
Linel thought so. But that thought was completely shattered tonight. When he found out, his wife wasn't just shy. She had even licked his lips first, and today she had even boldly laid him down on the bed. Zelda immediately showed regret, but... It was a good attempt. Her impulsive behavior made him extremely happy and hot. Thinking back to that moment just a few hours ago, Linel wanted to put the rising sun somewhere again.
“Should I wake you up?”
He muttered, feeling Zelda's rich, soft hair on the back of his hand.
“My wife is so frail, I can’t just push her with my physical strength, right?”
Ah, it hurts. Linel closed his eyes and breathed deeply into her fragrant hair.
“Zelda....”
Eventually, Linel called her name. Still, he had a conscience, so he kept his voice quiet.
“...”
She was sleeping soundly without moving an inch. As expected, her thin body made it seem like she would fall asleep easily.
“Zelda?”
This time, he threw away his conscience and raised his voice slightly.
"Empress?"
“Ugh...”
Zelda's eyes fluttered and showed a subtle reaction. Linel sat up from where he had been lying on his side as if he had found a glimmer of hope in despair.
“Can you hear me? Are you awake?”
Linel raised his hand cautiously, but couldn't bring himself to shake her shoulder.
“Zelda? You must answer when the Emperor calls.”
He whispered her name desperately and waved his lost hand over her closed eyes. After a moment, her lips parted slightly. Her lips which had been quivering suddenly blurted out words.
“Listen...”
“Huh? What did you say?”
Linel looked down at her face and asked. She must be sleeping, seeing as she was talking with her eyes closed, but why did his wife's voice sound so solemn?
“Do you have anything to say to me? What do you want to hear?”
"Listen," Linel commanded, holding back laughter as he questioned her sleepwalking.
“Weapon...”
Zelda said, raising both hands and posing as if holding a sword.
“What are you suddenly telling me to take up arms?”
“Yes. Listen, weapons...”
Our Empress is strange.
“...You don’t have a fever?”
"You're talking nonsense."
Linel tilted his head, placing a hand on her forehead.
“Come at me!”
It seemed like she was fighting someone in her dream. Was it because the last conversation they had before falling asleep was about swords and swordsmanship?
“I guess you’re having a dream about fighting in a really inappropriate way.”
Linel put his fist to his mouth and chuckled. Her serious rambling that would put the Sword Master to shame continued.
“A weapon on your body...”
“Huh? A weapon on my body?”
He kept trying to talk to Zelda in her dream.
“I know everything you’ve hidden...”
“How did you know? That I have so many things on my body that could be used as weapons? You’re sharp.”
Linel replied, looking down at her as he sat with his arms folded and snoring.
“So take up your weapons...”
“Zelda, I always carry my weapon anyway. My face is my weapon.”
Linel said with feigned seriousness.
“There are other weapons, but they can’t be taken out carelessly.”
“You talk too much. Get it out quickly...”
“Even if it’s not allowed, it’s still like that?”
He replied, falling back down on the bed.
“Come on... Rat!”
Zelda swung her two hands, which were clasped in the air, left and right.
“You’re so cute I’m going crazy.”
He grabbed Zelda's two hands that were wandering in the air and lowered them down. Then he pulled her into his arms.
“Haa, just kill me, kill me!”
At that moment, when Linel gathered all his patience and showed self-control, he shouted,
“Ugh!”
Zelda's weak fist struck Linel's lower abdomen.
“Come at me!”
It seemed like she was fighting someone in her dream. Was it because the last conversation they had before falling asleep was about swords and swordsmanship?
“I guess you’re having a dream about fighting in a really inappropriate way.”
Linel put his fist to his mouth and chuckled. Her serious rambling that would put the Sword Master to shame continued.
“A weapon on your body...”
“Huh? A weapon on my body?”
He kept trying to talk to Zelda in her dream.
“I know everything you’ve hidden...”
“How did you know? That I have so many things on my body that could be used as weapons? You’re sharp.”
Linel replied, looking down at her as he sat with his arms folded and snoring.
“So take up your weapons...”
“Zelda, I always carry my weapon anyway. My face is my weapon.”
Linel said with feigned seriousness.
“There are other weapons, but they can’t be taken out carelessly.”
“You talk too much. Get it out quickly...”
“Even if it’s not allowed, it’s still like that?”
He replied, falling back down on the bed.
“Come on... Rat!”
Zelda swung her two hands, which were clasped in the air, left and right.
“You’re so cute I’m going crazy.”
He grabbed Zelda's two hands that were wandering in the air and lowered them down. Then he pulled her into his arms.
“Haa, just kill me, kill me!”
At that moment, when Linel gathered all his patience and showed self-control, he shouted,
“Ugh!”
Zelda's weak fist struck Linel's lower abdomen.
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