“Your Majesty the Empress, have you risen?”
When I opened my eyes, I heard Sharon's voice.
“How long have I slept? It feels like a lot of time has passed.”
It felt like I woke up much later than I usually do.
“You didn’t sleep very long.”
When I came to my senses and sat up, I remembered that this was the main palace bedroom.
"His Majesty?”
“It is said that His Majesty went to the training ground before the sun rose.”
"Training ground?"
“Yes, you will be attending the breakfast meeting there right away.”
After a passionate night, he's back at the training ground again in the morning. He really must have some energy left.
“He is truly an amazing person.”
I said as I got out of bed with Sharon's help. Every part of my body ached as if I had a cold. My body was sore as if I had just met a master swordsman and had a lively duel, but I felt satisfied.
“Sharon, where is the training ground?”
“It’s between the main palace and the Empress’s palace. Distance-wise, it’s a bit closer to the Empress’s palace.”
"Yes?"
As soon as the topic of the training ground came up, the muscles that had not been used since arriving in the Lapion Empire began to twitch even at this moment.
“By the way... When will the training grounds be empty?”
“I heard that there are separate times for using the training grounds. I understand that even knights are not allowed in from early evening to early morning.”
“Why?”
“I don’t know the details, but the training ground that is open 24 hours a day is located in a separate building near the drawbridge. So, wouldn’t the training ground in the palace have set hours?”
“Aha, there are two training grounds...”
I began to feel excited when I heard that the training ground near the Empress's Palace was empty from early evening to morning. If there were set entry times, it meant that no one would come to the training ground at those times. I wanted to warm up in the martial arts field when there was no one around.
“Prince Tesla told you to convey this to the Empress?”
Grand Duke Martins looked around at the small jewel box he had received from Sir Rolf and asked.
“Yes, Your Highness. It was delivered directly by Sir Ken.”
The jewel box was handed over to Sir Rolf this morning, when he met Sir Ken, Prince Tesla's escort knight, midway between the Kingdom of Shattonil and the Empire of Lapion.
“It’s a jewelry box, so he gave her a jewel, right?”
“Is that really so?”
His thoughts were different. Prince Tesla would not have suddenly sent a box of jewels to the Empress for no reason.
“Did Prince Tesla not send any separate message?”
“Yes. The Prince said that when Her Majesty the Empress opens the box, she will know what kind of gift it is.”
His eyes narrowed as he heard Sir Rolf's words.
“And he also hopes that they will keep each other’s good in the future.”
“That’s what Prince Tesla said, right...?”
Grand Duke Martins, unable to overcome his curiosity, opened the jewel box. A cold chill and a misty vapor spread into the air. The jewel box was made of a cold and hot magic stone. It was a magic stone used when the contents inside needed to be stored for a long time without spoiling.
“A box with a heating and cooling function. What on earth is inside this...?”
“Oh, that really happened?”
Sir Rolf walked over to the Grand Duke and peeked inside the jewel box. At first, the smoky cold air made it hard to see what was inside. However, after a few seconds, as the smoke gradually cleared, the true nature of Prince Tesla’s gift gradually came into view.
“Oh my god... !”
Sir Rolf, who had been staring into the jewel box, frowned and stepped back.
“W-Who the hell owns this?!”
“Well, just like Prince Tesla said, the Empress will know right away. Who the owner of this is. Damn it, ugh....”
Grand Duke Martins, who was usually a bit squeamish, quickly closed the lid of the jewel box and said.
“Your Highness, are you really going to give this to Her Majesty the Empress?”
“I don’t want to show her either, but I have no choice because the Empress might be put in danger.”
Prince Tesla's warning was something that Grand Duke Martins thought she should know too. He placed the jewel box on the table, shook his hands with an uneasy expression, and continued speaking.
“And because it is a gift from Prince Tesla for the Empress.”
Sir Rolf frowned at Grand Duke Martins' expression of calling it a gift when he saw what was inside the jewel box.
“Your Highness, don’t you know... who it belongs to?”
Sir Rolf looked intently at his master's face and asked.
“I don’t know who it is, but I know who did it.”
“Hmm, why does Prince Tesla do this?”
Sir Rolf nodded and glanced at the jewel box as he asked.
“Warning.”
“A warning? But in the report we delivered, there was nothing that Her Majesty the Empress should be warned about?”
“That's it.”
“What is it?”
“It seems like we’re not the only ones in this royal family keeping an eye on the Empress.”
“Yes? So... Are you saying that the Prince has placed someone here to watch over Her Majesty the Empress, other than us?”
“I guess so. It seems the Prince knows things I didn’t even report.”
“Could there really be a spy?”
“Otherwise, Prince Tesla wouldn’t have sent such a warning.”
'I hope we can keep good intentions with each other in the future.'
Grand Duke Martins muttered as he recalled what Prince Tesla had told him to tell Empress Zelda.
“Who could it be? A loyal dog of Prince Tesla, whom I don’t even know...”
Right here, inside the Lapion Imperial Palace.
When I opened my eyes, I heard Sharon's voice.
“How long have I slept? It feels like a lot of time has passed.”
It felt like I woke up much later than I usually do.
“You didn’t sleep very long.”
When I came to my senses and sat up, I remembered that this was the main palace bedroom.
"His Majesty?”
“It is said that His Majesty went to the training ground before the sun rose.”
"Training ground?"
“Yes, you will be attending the breakfast meeting there right away.”
After a passionate night, he's back at the training ground again in the morning. He really must have some energy left.
“He is truly an amazing person.”
I said as I got out of bed with Sharon's help. Every part of my body ached as if I had a cold. My body was sore as if I had just met a master swordsman and had a lively duel, but I felt satisfied.
“Sharon, where is the training ground?”
“It’s between the main palace and the Empress’s palace. Distance-wise, it’s a bit closer to the Empress’s palace.”
"Yes?"
As soon as the topic of the training ground came up, the muscles that had not been used since arriving in the Lapion Empire began to twitch even at this moment.
“By the way... When will the training grounds be empty?”
“I heard that there are separate times for using the training grounds. I understand that even knights are not allowed in from early evening to early morning.”
“Why?”
“I don’t know the details, but the training ground that is open 24 hours a day is located in a separate building near the drawbridge. So, wouldn’t the training ground in the palace have set hours?”
“Aha, there are two training grounds...”
I began to feel excited when I heard that the training ground near the Empress's Palace was empty from early evening to morning. If there were set entry times, it meant that no one would come to the training ground at those times. I wanted to warm up in the martial arts field when there was no one around.
But why did he bother to go to the training ground early in the morning?
***
Linel put down his sword only after sweating profusely. His long-time friend and Sword Master Macrom also put down his sword. Macrom was also exhausted from dealing with the Emperor who had requested a duel since morning.
Until a few years ago, Macrom was the captain of the First Knights of the Lapion Empire, directly under the Emperor. Three years ago, he had been by Linel's side when he was abruptly attacked by a wizard from the Southern Continent in the Valley of Death, the habitat of the wyverns. At that time, Linel was trapped in the cursed barrier of the wizard who controlled the wyverns, and his whole body was frozen. If Macrom had not broken the barrier, Linel might have been cursed to be trapped in ice just like his younger brother.
He dramatically saved Emperor Linel, but lost his own eyesight in return. When the Southern Continent's curse on Emperor Linel was only half successful, the wizard turned the curse on Macrom. The wizard turned the light of mana emanating from Macrom's sword onto him and injected it into his brave eyes. The mana was so powerful that Macrom's vision instantly turned dark. After that, Macrom gave up his position as the Emperor's direct knight commander. However, even though he lost his eyesight, few people in the Lapion Empire could match him in swordsmanship except for Emperor Linel, so he was still a skilled person. That's why Linel wanted him to continue as the Emperor's direct first knight commander, but Macrom flatly refused.
This is a continent where wars are frequent. In such a country, the first knight commander, who was the armor that had to protect the Emperor at the forefront, could not have any flaws, that was Macrom's idea. He had to make sure that the Emperor would not be put in danger because of him. So Macrom gave up his position as the first knight to protect the Emperor at the forefront and pledged loyalty to him as the honorary captain of the imperial family. After that, he was still the Emperor's only sparring partner. He usually worked hard to train juniors in the martial arts hall in the palace, where only the most skilled knights were allowed to enter. However...
“Your Majesty, what is the matter?”
The Emperor, who had rarely visited the training grounds since his state wedding, came to the training grounds early this morning as if something had blown his mind.
“Your sword has a lot of strength today.”
“That’s because when you need to use your strength, you can’t use it all and it’s left over.”
Linel replied, pushing back his sweaty hair.
“Where did you spend all that energy that you had here?”
“There is. The more you use your strength, the more passion you have.”
“Are you referring to Her Majesty the Empress?”
“What’s wrong, you? You lost your eyesight and now you’re a poisonous spirit?”
“Your Majesty, what is the matter?”
The Emperor, who had rarely visited the training grounds since his state wedding, came to the training grounds early this morning as if something had blown his mind.
“Your sword has a lot of strength today.”
“That’s because when you need to use your strength, you can’t use it all and it’s left over.”
Linel replied, pushing back his sweaty hair.
“Where did you spend all that energy that you had here?”
“There is. The more you use your strength, the more passion you have.”
“Are you referring to Her Majesty the Empress?”
“What’s wrong, you? You lost your eyesight and now you’re a poisonous spirit?”
“I see. Her Majesty the Empress seems like a special person.”
She must be a special person to awaken such an instinct in His Majesty, who had never been interested in women. Macrom smiled to himself, thinking about what he really wanted to say.
“You’re saying it as if you saw it? Macrom, has your eyesight recovered?”
“I have a feeling. And if my eyesight had recovered, my duel with Your Majesty would have ended a while ago.”
“Huh? You’re bluffing. You don’t even know I’m watching you.”
Linel snorted as he untied the string that had been covering his eyes before the match began.
“Your Majesty, you should speak straight. Isn’t it about being fair rather than being considerate?”
"What?"
“I know. You did it blindfolded.”
Macrom said, tapping the side of his eye with his finger.
“You really got your eyesight back, didn’t you? How did you know everything?”
He said, waving his hand in front of Macrom's eyes.
“Three!”
She must be a special person to awaken such an instinct in His Majesty, who had never been interested in women. Macrom smiled to himself, thinking about what he really wanted to say.
“You’re saying it as if you saw it? Macrom, has your eyesight recovered?”
“I have a feeling. And if my eyesight had recovered, my duel with Your Majesty would have ended a while ago.”
“Huh? You’re bluffing. You don’t even know I’m watching you.”
Linel snorted as he untied the string that had been covering his eyes before the match began.
“Your Majesty, you should speak straight. Isn’t it about being fair rather than being considerate?”
"What?"
“I know. You did it blindfolded.”
Macrom said, tapping the side of his eye with his finger.
“You really got your eyesight back, didn’t you? How did you know everything?”
He said, waving his hand in front of Macrom's eyes.
“Three!”
“Huh? You got this right too?”
Linel waved his three fingers in front of Macrom's eyes and looked at him with admiration. Macrom's eyes, which had lost their sight, were still sharply focused.
“Isn’t that because you are a sword master with exceptional senses?”
“That wizard bastard anyway... Instead of making you lose your sight, he should have just covered your mouth.”
“Hahaha, I bet he was out of his mind after I threw the wizard’s severed arm down the canyon. Of course, he did stop swinging his sword at the guy’s arm.”
“I should have just killed him on the spot.”
“If that were the case, our curse would never be lifted.”
“Anyway, that wizard bastard has been missing for years, either sinking to the ground or rising to the sky.”
“If they aren’t dead, they will definitely appear someday. Isn’t the time approaching when the wyverns will fly back to the Valley of Death?”
“Hmm, that’s right. This peace is slowly coming to an end, you know.”
While the two men were engaged in a heavy conversation, Linel, who was sweating profusely, was rapidly losing body temperature. Stein, the chief steward who was waiting on one side, quickly handed him the clothes he was holding so that he could change into his wet clothes. While he was changing, Macrom sat on a wooden chair, thinking deeply about something, and then carefully opened his mouth.
“Your Majesty, is there a new Sword Master in the palace?”
“There’s no way a Sword Master I don’t know would come in. Why?”
“I asked because I sometimes feel a strong energy coming from somewhere in the palace these days.”
“Since when have you felt that way?”
Linel, who had changed his clothes, pulled a wooden chair over and sat down in front of Macrom as he asked. Judging from Macrom’s serious expression, he didn’t think he was talking nonsense.
“That is... since the day Your Majesty held the state wedding?”
"What?"
“Is there anyone among the people of the Kingdom of Shattonil who came with Her Majesty the Empress who excels in swordsmanship?”
“Could it be Grand Duke Martins?”
Linel muttered quietly.
“Or... Could it be that Her Majesty the Empress is a great swordsman?”
Macrom laughed as he spoke as if he had just had an absurd thought.
Linel waved his three fingers in front of Macrom's eyes and looked at him with admiration. Macrom's eyes, which had lost their sight, were still sharply focused.
“Isn’t that because you are a sword master with exceptional senses?”
“That wizard bastard anyway... Instead of making you lose your sight, he should have just covered your mouth.”
“Hahaha, I bet he was out of his mind after I threw the wizard’s severed arm down the canyon. Of course, he did stop swinging his sword at the guy’s arm.”
“I should have just killed him on the spot.”
“If that were the case, our curse would never be lifted.”
“Anyway, that wizard bastard has been missing for years, either sinking to the ground or rising to the sky.”
“If they aren’t dead, they will definitely appear someday. Isn’t the time approaching when the wyverns will fly back to the Valley of Death?”
“Hmm, that’s right. This peace is slowly coming to an end, you know.”
While the two men were engaged in a heavy conversation, Linel, who was sweating profusely, was rapidly losing body temperature. Stein, the chief steward who was waiting on one side, quickly handed him the clothes he was holding so that he could change into his wet clothes. While he was changing, Macrom sat on a wooden chair, thinking deeply about something, and then carefully opened his mouth.
“Your Majesty, is there a new Sword Master in the palace?”
“There’s no way a Sword Master I don’t know would come in. Why?”
“I asked because I sometimes feel a strong energy coming from somewhere in the palace these days.”
“Since when have you felt that way?”
Linel, who had changed his clothes, pulled a wooden chair over and sat down in front of Macrom as he asked. Judging from Macrom’s serious expression, he didn’t think he was talking nonsense.
“That is... since the day Your Majesty held the state wedding?”
"What?"
“Is there anyone among the people of the Kingdom of Shattonil who came with Her Majesty the Empress who excels in swordsmanship?”
“Could it be Grand Duke Martins?”
Linel muttered quietly.
“Or... Could it be that Her Majesty the Empress is a great swordsman?”
Macrom laughed as he spoke as if he had just had an absurd thought.
“You lost your eyesight and your sense of energy has also decreased.”
Even though her hands are pretty sharp when she swings them while talking in her sleep, what can he say about his frail wife?
“...There is nothing we can’t do to our sunflower.”
When he burst out laughing, Macrom scratched his head and laughed along.
Even though her hands are pretty sharp when she swings them while talking in her sleep, what can he say about his frail wife?
“...There is nothing we can’t do to our sunflower.”
When he burst out laughing, Macrom scratched his head and laughed along.
***
“Prince Tesla told you to convey this to the Empress?”
Grand Duke Martins looked around at the small jewel box he had received from Sir Rolf and asked.
“Yes, Your Highness. It was delivered directly by Sir Ken.”
The jewel box was handed over to Sir Rolf this morning, when he met Sir Ken, Prince Tesla's escort knight, midway between the Kingdom of Shattonil and the Empire of Lapion.
“It’s a jewelry box, so he gave her a jewel, right?”
“Is that really so?”
His thoughts were different. Prince Tesla would not have suddenly sent a box of jewels to the Empress for no reason.
“Did Prince Tesla not send any separate message?”
“Yes. The Prince said that when Her Majesty the Empress opens the box, she will know what kind of gift it is.”
His eyes narrowed as he heard Sir Rolf's words.
“And he also hopes that they will keep each other’s good in the future.”
“That’s what Prince Tesla said, right...?”
Grand Duke Martins, unable to overcome his curiosity, opened the jewel box. A cold chill and a misty vapor spread into the air. The jewel box was made of a cold and hot magic stone. It was a magic stone used when the contents inside needed to be stored for a long time without spoiling.
“A box with a heating and cooling function. What on earth is inside this...?”
“Oh, that really happened?”
Sir Rolf walked over to the Grand Duke and peeked inside the jewel box. At first, the smoky cold air made it hard to see what was inside. However, after a few seconds, as the smoke gradually cleared, the true nature of Prince Tesla’s gift gradually came into view.
“Oh my god... !”
Sir Rolf, who had been staring into the jewel box, frowned and stepped back.
“W-Who the hell owns this?!”
“Well, just like Prince Tesla said, the Empress will know right away. Who the owner of this is. Damn it, ugh....”
Grand Duke Martins, who was usually a bit squeamish, quickly closed the lid of the jewel box and said.
“Your Highness, are you really going to give this to Her Majesty the Empress?”
“I don’t want to show her either, but I have no choice because the Empress might be put in danger.”
Prince Tesla's warning was something that Grand Duke Martins thought she should know too. He placed the jewel box on the table, shook his hands with an uneasy expression, and continued speaking.
“And because it is a gift from Prince Tesla for the Empress.”
Sir Rolf frowned at Grand Duke Martins' expression of calling it a gift when he saw what was inside the jewel box.
“Your Highness, don’t you know... who it belongs to?”
Sir Rolf looked intently at his master's face and asked.
“I don’t know who it is, but I know who did it.”
“Hmm, why does Prince Tesla do this?”
Sir Rolf nodded and glanced at the jewel box as he asked.
“Warning.”
“A warning? But in the report we delivered, there was nothing that Her Majesty the Empress should be warned about?”
“That's it.”
“What is it?”
“It seems like we’re not the only ones in this royal family keeping an eye on the Empress.”
“Yes? So... Are you saying that the Prince has placed someone here to watch over Her Majesty the Empress, other than us?”
“I guess so. It seems the Prince knows things I didn’t even report.”
“Could there really be a spy?”
“Otherwise, Prince Tesla wouldn’t have sent such a warning.”
'I hope we can keep good intentions with each other in the future.'
Grand Duke Martins muttered as he recalled what Prince Tesla had told him to tell Empress Zelda.
“Who could it be? A loyal dog of Prince Tesla, whom I don’t even know...”
Right here, inside the Lapion Imperial Palace.
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