“Your Highness, I don’t quite understand. Why would the Prince have planted another Watcher?”
“Isn’t it something simple? He starts to distrust me, or to doubt me.”
“What was the trigger?”
“Well... the bottom line is that Prince Tesla was a smarter cat than we thought.”
Grand Duke Martins frowned deeply and said, his characteristically vulgar smile appearing on his face.
“Who on earth is the spy who is relaying this news to the royal family of Shattonil?”
“It doesn’t matter who he is, but what the Prince intends to entrust him with.”
“Huh? What does that mean?”
“The Prince can order the spy to poison the person depending on the situation, or he can even give permission to call in an assassin if necessary, that’s what I’m saying.”
“Who is the Prince trying to harm? Sir, surely not Her Majesty the Empress?”
Sir Rolf took a step closer to Grand Duke Martins with a surprised expression.
“Because a hunting dog that doesn’t listen is killed even before the hunt is over.”
“No, what crime has Her Majesty the Empress committed? She only became the acting Empress at the order of Prince Tesla.”
Sir Rolf poured out his complaints about Prince Tesla as if he were Zelda's bodyguard.
“Crime? Yes.”
“What crime?”
“A crime in the eyes of Emperor Linel.”
Grand Duke Martins spoke bitterly, recalling Zelda's bright pink eyes.
“That, that’s true, but... Haa, then what do you plan to do in the future, Your Highness? Are you going to leave it like this?”
“We need to re-set the table.”
The Grand Duke continued, patting Sir Rolf on the shoulder.
“Well? I guess I’ll have to think about the method little by little.”
“Yes, whatever decision Your Highness makes, I will follow Your Highness’s will.”
Sir Rolf swore his loyalty by striking his right fist against his heart.
“Thank you. Don’t you think that the dream of taking over a country is more realistic than the Prince’s dream of taking over the entire northern continent?”
“Th, those words...!”
As the Grand Duke asked in a serious voice, Sir Rolf took a deep breath as he realized what he meant. Grand Duke Martins was Prince Tesler's cousin. If Prince Tesla were to be deposed or die without an heir, Grand Duke Martins, as a member of the royal family, would also be entitled to the throne.
“There’s one more thing to take away.”
The image of Zelda and the view of the Shattonil Palace simultaneously appeared in the Grand Duke's mind.
“...I’m not asleep yet.”
“You can rest comfortably in the morning.”
Sharon opened the terrace door wide and smiled as she spoke to me, who had come to my senses and was speaking clearly.
“What’s your schedule for the afternoon?”
“There is a luncheon scheduled with the concubines at the Empress’s Palace Dining Hall.”
“Do I really have to eat with the concubines?”
“It is a custom of the Lapion Imperial Family.”
"Yes?"
“Yes, the concubines whom His Majesty has welcomed for generations are to have lunch with Her Majesty the Empress after entering the palace.”
“Every time you take a concubine?”
“However, this time, since the concubines are holding the ceremony together, it is unusual, so you can all gather together and eat.”
“That’s fortunate.”
The faces of the four concubines came to mind one after another. Catherine, whose umbilical cord had definitely been cut off along with her humanity, and Melanie, who was likely a horse in her past life. Two exceptional people were difficult to deal with. It was already starting to get annoying.
“Hello, Your Majesty the Empress!”
As I entered the restaurant, the four concubines who were sitting two at a long table all stood up from their chairs and bowed. I sat down at the head table and looked at their faces one by one.
“Everyone sit down.”
To my right were Catherine and Pecilini, and to my left were Melanie and Rosie.
“Thank you, Your Majesty the Empress.”
The emotions in the concubines’ voices sounded different. Angry, confident, happy, and... I looked at Pecilini, who was sitting on my right. Her voice sounded unstable for some reason. Was she nervous?
'Why, it looks unique and beautiful to me? Didn't you say it was a popular style in the Empress's country?'
You really believed his ridiculous words and made a perfectly good dress into something like that? The dress looks quite expensive...
“Melanie, what the hell is that?”
Catherine recited my innermost thoughts.
“What do you mean?”
Melanie, as expected, exploded.
“... Melanie? That’s a bit short.”
Catherine sharpened her already sharp voice when the second concubine, Melanie, refused to speak to her.
“It’s a new style... This. As you can see, it’s a dress, right?”
Melanie forced herself to say 'yes' while swearing with her eyes.
“I’m asking because you suddenly appeared in such a strange style.”
“I would like the First Concubine to be careful with your choice of words...”
Melanie snorted at Catherine.
“Even your attire is a matter of His Majesty’s dignity. Tsk tsk.”
Catherine shook her head and glanced at me as she picked up her glass of juice. Her eyes seemed to ask if I disagreed with her opinion. Perhaps because of her memories of the greenhouse, she only looked at me and didn’t say anything. She just occasionally touched the side of her head where my hand had touched it, and every time she did, she would glance at me.
“Huh, I don’t know what you’re talking about. This is all done according to His Majesty’s taste... Yes?”
Melanie tilted her head towards me as she answered Catherine.
“Isn’t that right, Your Majesty the Empress?”
At her question, I just smiled. Melanie rolled her eyes here and there, trying to guess what my smile meant, and then suddenly said,
“Because it’s a trend, I’m not following anyone or anything like that.”
What a trend. It was ridiculous. However, I decided to give her strength as she believed Linel's joke and put it into practice.
“Yes, Melanie. This is a style that His Majesty would really like.”
“Hmph, then what should we do? His Majesty should see it himself.”
When I brought up Linel, Melanie's face darkened suddenly. Just as I was about to offer her some more words of comfort, the restaurant door opened and an unexpected figure appeared.
“Hello, Your Majesty the Empress!”
It was the chief steward, Stian.
“What are you doing here?”
When I asked with a puzzled expression, the chief of staff seemed hesitant to say something.
“Yes, I, that is...”
“Stian, what has happened to His Majesty?”
My voice rose in concern.
“Your Majesty the Empress, I am honored to report...”
The attendant turned his head away from the restaurant door and opened his mouth.
“His Majesty now...”
“Isn’t it something simple? He starts to distrust me, or to doubt me.”
“What was the trigger?”
“Well... the bottom line is that Prince Tesla was a smarter cat than we thought.”
Grand Duke Martins frowned deeply and said, his characteristically vulgar smile appearing on his face.
“Who on earth is the spy who is relaying this news to the royal family of Shattonil?”
“It doesn’t matter who he is, but what the Prince intends to entrust him with.”
“Huh? What does that mean?”
“The Prince can order the spy to poison the person depending on the situation, or he can even give permission to call in an assassin if necessary, that’s what I’m saying.”
“Who is the Prince trying to harm? Sir, surely not Her Majesty the Empress?”
Sir Rolf took a step closer to Grand Duke Martins with a surprised expression.
“Because a hunting dog that doesn’t listen is killed even before the hunt is over.”
“No, what crime has Her Majesty the Empress committed? She only became the acting Empress at the order of Prince Tesla.”
Sir Rolf poured out his complaints about Prince Tesla as if he were Zelda's bodyguard.
“Crime? Yes.”
“What crime?”
“A crime in the eyes of Emperor Linel.”
Grand Duke Martins spoke bitterly, recalling Zelda's bright pink eyes.
“That, that’s true, but... Haa, then what do you plan to do in the future, Your Highness? Are you going to leave it like this?”
“We need to re-set the table.”
The Grand Duke continued, patting Sir Rolf on the shoulder.
“I think Prince Tesla is not impressed with me, so I plan to live up to his expectations.”
“What do you mean?”
“What do you mean?”
“Well? I guess I’ll have to think about the method little by little.”
“Yes, whatever decision Your Highness makes, I will follow Your Highness’s will.”
Sir Rolf swore his loyalty by striking his right fist against his heart.
“Thank you. Don’t you think that the dream of taking over a country is more realistic than the Prince’s dream of taking over the entire northern continent?”
“Th, those words...!”
As the Grand Duke asked in a serious voice, Sir Rolf took a deep breath as he realized what he meant. Grand Duke Martins was Prince Tesler's cousin. If Prince Tesla were to be deposed or die without an heir, Grand Duke Martins, as a member of the royal family, would also be entitled to the throne.
“There’s one more thing to take away.”
The image of Zelda and the view of the Shattonil Palace simultaneously appeared in the Grand Duke's mind.
***
Before returning to the Empress's Palace, I took a shower in the bathroom attached to the main bedroom. In the meantime, Sharon came into the bedroom, holding a three-tiered tray in her hand.
“What is that?”
“The chief attendant brought it himself.”
“Stian?”
“Yes, Your Majesty, it is His Majesty's command... and there is also a message from him.”
“What are you talking about?”
I asked, looking at the food on the three-tiered tray Sharon was holding. It was too much for one person to eat.
“He told me to tell you that if you don’t eat breakfast, you won’t be sent back to the Empress’s Palace.”
Sharon placed the tray on the table, imitating Linel's voice.
“What is that?”
“The chief attendant brought it himself.”
“Stian?”
“Yes, Your Majesty, it is His Majesty's command... and there is also a message from him.”
“What are you talking about?”
I asked, looking at the food on the three-tiered tray Sharon was holding. It was too much for one person to eat.
“He told me to tell you that if you don’t eat breakfast, you won’t be sent back to the Empress’s Palace.”
Sharon placed the tray on the table, imitating Linel's voice.
“The threats are becoming more and more threatening.”
It was a lovely threat. Sharon laughed heartily at my words. I don't have much of an appetite this morning. What should I do?
It was a lovely threat. Sharon laughed heartily at my words. I don't have much of an appetite this morning. What should I do?
But I had to finish the plates he sent me to return to the Empress's Palace.
“Sharon, is the chamberlain still outside?”
“Yes, he is waiting with both feet firmly on the floor. I think he is waiting to check if Your Majesty the Empress has finished your breakfast and to leave on your tray.”
“It must be His Majesty’s orders.”
“Hehe, I think so too.”
“Are Sollie and Teresa outside too?”
“Yes, Your Majesty the Empress.”
“Tell them both to come in.”
Sharon looked slightly puzzled by my order, but she quickly went out of the bedroom and brought Sollie and Teresa with her.
“Have you called, Your Majesty the Empress?”
“Do you have any orders?”
Sollie and Teresa asked with slightly nervous expressions.
“Yes, everyone come this way.”
I called the three servants over to the table where breakfast was set. They exchanged glances and slowly approached me with expressions of bewilderment.
“If we did something wrong...”
Sharon asked cautiously on behalf of the representative.
“No, what could you have done wrong to me? I called you because I needed your help.”
“Sharon, is the chamberlain still outside?”
“Yes, he is waiting with both feet firmly on the floor. I think he is waiting to check if Your Majesty the Empress has finished your breakfast and to leave on your tray.”
“It must be His Majesty’s orders.”
“Hehe, I think so too.”
“Are Sollie and Teresa outside too?”
“Yes, Your Majesty the Empress.”
“Tell them both to come in.”
Sharon looked slightly puzzled by my order, but she quickly went out of the bedroom and brought Sollie and Teresa with her.
“Have you called, Your Majesty the Empress?”
“Do you have any orders?”
Sollie and Teresa asked with slightly nervous expressions.
“Yes, everyone come this way.”
I called the three servants over to the table where breakfast was set. They exchanged glances and slowly approached me with expressions of bewilderment.
“If we did something wrong...”
Sharon asked cautiously on behalf of the representative.
“No, what could you have done wrong to me? I called you because I needed your help.”
“What’s going on? Just tell me anything.”
“Yes, I will run through the fire and come back!”
“I’ll go with you too!”
They spoke with the enthusiasm of knights about to set out on a campaign.
“Everything is good, but... you can’t just jump into a fire. I guess it’s because no one has experienced the pain of having your body burn up, so you’re just saying things so easily.”
Of course, you wouldn't know how horrible that feeling is. It's a feeling that only someone who's experienced it like me can understand. But after a moment of hesitation, everyone shouted in unison, "But I'll jump in anyway!" I laughed happily at their fiery loyalty and got down to business.
“Nothing else, I just want you to execute His Majesty’s orders together with me.”
I spoke seriously, scanning the several plates in front of me. They followed my gaze and blinked down at the plates. At first, no one seemed to understand what I was saying, but soon all three of them opened their mouths at the same time.
“How dare we eat Your Majesty the Empress’s meal!”
“That’s ridiculous!”
“If the other palace ladies find out, it will be a big problem!”
It's not like they're trying to steal my food, but we're just going to share the food that's going to be left behind anyway, so why are they acting like this? They were acting like they were caught up in a crime of treason.
“That’s because I have no appetite. And no matter how much I have an appetite, it’s hard to eat this much in the morning.”
“Then, please leave it, Your Majesty the Empress.”
Teresa swallowed thickly as she spoke, staring at the fruit pudding on the plate.
“I want to do that too, but I’m afraid that if I leave it behind, His Majesty will really prevent me from going to the Empress’ Palace.”
I held up a plate of fruit pudding that had caught Teresa's eye and handed it to her.
“You are more than capable of doing that. So help me, please.”
“Oh, Your Majesty the Empress...”
Teresa accepted the plate I handed her without thinking and didn't know what to do.
“And you’re going to stand guard outside the bedroom until Stian retrieves the tray. I need you to do me a favor, okay?”
This time, I smiled and handed pomegranate juice to Sollie, who had been wetting her lips as if she had been thirsty.
“Everyone, sit down instead of standing there. It’s an order.”
“Your Majesty, but if someone really sees me...it’ll be a big problem!”
Sharon whispered, glancing at the bedroom door.
“What big trouble will happen to you if you disobey my orders?”
I pushed all the plates in front of them and answered with a deliberately serious tone.
“This is okay because it will please not only me but also His Majesty. Please sit down, yes?”
The three servants looked at each other and hesitated for a moment before reluctantly sitting down on the chairs.
“Yes, I will run through the fire and come back!”
“I’ll go with you too!”
They spoke with the enthusiasm of knights about to set out on a campaign.
“Everything is good, but... you can’t just jump into a fire. I guess it’s because no one has experienced the pain of having your body burn up, so you’re just saying things so easily.”
Of course, you wouldn't know how horrible that feeling is. It's a feeling that only someone who's experienced it like me can understand. But after a moment of hesitation, everyone shouted in unison, "But I'll jump in anyway!" I laughed happily at their fiery loyalty and got down to business.
“Nothing else, I just want you to execute His Majesty’s orders together with me.”
I spoke seriously, scanning the several plates in front of me. They followed my gaze and blinked down at the plates. At first, no one seemed to understand what I was saying, but soon all three of them opened their mouths at the same time.
“How dare we eat Your Majesty the Empress’s meal!”
“That’s ridiculous!”
“If the other palace ladies find out, it will be a big problem!”
It's not like they're trying to steal my food, but we're just going to share the food that's going to be left behind anyway, so why are they acting like this? They were acting like they were caught up in a crime of treason.
“That’s because I have no appetite. And no matter how much I have an appetite, it’s hard to eat this much in the morning.”
“Then, please leave it, Your Majesty the Empress.”
Teresa swallowed thickly as she spoke, staring at the fruit pudding on the plate.
“I want to do that too, but I’m afraid that if I leave it behind, His Majesty will really prevent me from going to the Empress’ Palace.”
I held up a plate of fruit pudding that had caught Teresa's eye and handed it to her.
“You are more than capable of doing that. So help me, please.”
“Oh, Your Majesty the Empress...”
Teresa accepted the plate I handed her without thinking and didn't know what to do.
“And you’re going to stand guard outside the bedroom until Stian retrieves the tray. I need you to do me a favor, okay?”
This time, I smiled and handed pomegranate juice to Sollie, who had been wetting her lips as if she had been thirsty.
“Everyone, sit down instead of standing there. It’s an order.”
“Your Majesty, but if someone really sees me...it’ll be a big problem!”
Sharon whispered, glancing at the bedroom door.
“What big trouble will happen to you if you disobey my orders?”
I pushed all the plates in front of them and answered with a deliberately serious tone.
“This is okay because it will please not only me but also His Majesty. Please sit down, yes?”
The three servants looked at each other and hesitated for a moment before reluctantly sitting down on the chairs.
“Don’t be nervous, it’s just us.”
I burst out laughing at them, fidgeting even as I sat down on the chair. The meal began only after I told them several times that it was okay. The three servants shared extra forks and spoons, and their hands shook every time they touched the food.
“Thank you, Your Majesty! This is so delicious. I am almost in tears.”
As Sharon wiped away her tears, Sollie and Teresa also began to shed tears.
“I am so touched! Your Majesty the Empress. I don’t think I will ever forget this day again.”
“I love you! Your Majesty the Empress. My heart is pounding with excitement, wondering if this is really okay.”
Their slow-moving forks became faster and faster as time went on. I felt happy for no reason at that sight, and just watching them eat made me full. I just savored the strong aroma of coffee and took a bite of the sweet pie. It was the pie that Linel liked the most. He gave me the pie that he said he liked so much that he didn’t want to share it with others today.
I burst out laughing at them, fidgeting even as I sat down on the chair. The meal began only after I told them several times that it was okay. The three servants shared extra forks and spoons, and their hands shook every time they touched the food.
“Thank you, Your Majesty! This is so delicious. I am almost in tears.”
As Sharon wiped away her tears, Sollie and Teresa also began to shed tears.
“I am so touched! Your Majesty the Empress. I don’t think I will ever forget this day again.”
“I love you! Your Majesty the Empress. My heart is pounding with excitement, wondering if this is really okay.”
Their slow-moving forks became faster and faster as time went on. I felt happy for no reason at that sight, and just watching them eat made me full. I just savored the strong aroma of coffee and took a bite of the sweet pie. It was the pie that Linel liked the most. He gave me the pie that he said he liked so much that he didn’t want to share it with others today.
***
Chief Steward Stian checked the plates on the nearly empty tray and left with a very satisfied face. I could have emptied the plates, but that would have raised suspicion, so I left some food behind. I thought it didn’t matter, but the three maids were strongly against it. Linel knew that I was a delicate and frail Empress, so it wouldn’t match my image if I emptied my plates. They felt sorry for the food they had left behind, but they willingly took a bite each for the sake of my image. That sight was slightly touching.
Thanks to that, I was able to return safely to the Empress’s palace. I returned to the bedroom and sat on the sofa. A while ago, I started reading the guidebook about the Lapion Imperial Palace that Secretary Raphael had brought me. I wanted to quickly understand the palace’s facilities and the locations of the buildings described in the book, but ah, I’m sleepy...
The more I turned the pages, the more I felt like yawning. When I yawned for the third time, my eyes met Sharon’s.
“...I’m not asleep yet.”
“You can rest comfortably in the morning.”
Sharon opened the terrace door wide and smiled as she spoke to me, who had come to my senses and was speaking clearly.
“What’s your schedule for the afternoon?”
“There is a luncheon scheduled with the concubines at the Empress’s Palace Dining Hall.”
“Do I really have to eat with the concubines?”
“It is a custom of the Lapion Imperial Family.”
"Yes?"
“Yes, the concubines whom His Majesty has welcomed for generations are to have lunch with Her Majesty the Empress after entering the palace.”
“Every time you take a concubine?”
“However, this time, since the concubines are holding the ceremony together, it is unusual, so you can all gather together and eat.”
“That’s fortunate.”
The faces of the four concubines came to mind one after another. Catherine, whose umbilical cord had definitely been cut off along with her humanity, and Melanie, who was likely a horse in her past life. Two exceptional people were difficult to deal with. It was already starting to get annoying.
Oh, and there was also the concubine Pecilini, an unknown person who I hadn’t even had a proper conversation with yet. Rosie would have been the only thing that helped me breathe, but it wasn’t an easy position. I wanted to avoid her if I could, but I had no choice.
“Your Majesty, if you don’t feel like it, you can postpone the meal until another time. It doesn’t have to be today.”
Sharon said as she looked at me with a bad expression.
“No. Since we’re all going to have to eat together sometime anyway, I think it’s better to just meet up as planned today.”
“Yes, then I will tell the concubines to prepare according to the original schedule. Until then, please rest comfortably.”
“Yeah, I will.”
As soon as Sharon left the bedroom, I went out to the open terrace door and looked out into the Empress's Palace garden.
“Where could it be...?”
“Your Majesty, if you don’t feel like it, you can postpone the meal until another time. It doesn’t have to be today.”
Sharon said as she looked at me with a bad expression.
“No. Since we’re all going to have to eat together sometime anyway, I think it’s better to just meet up as planned today.”
“Yes, then I will tell the concubines to prepare according to the original schedule. Until then, please rest comfortably.”
“Yeah, I will.”
As soon as Sharon left the bedroom, I went out to the open terrace door and looked out into the Empress's Palace garden.
“Where could it be...?”
My eyes were instinctively searching for the haze that told me I was close to the Empress's palace.
***
“Hello, Your Majesty the Empress!”
As I entered the restaurant, the four concubines who were sitting two at a long table all stood up from their chairs and bowed. I sat down at the head table and looked at their faces one by one.
“Everyone sit down.”
To my right were Catherine and Pecilini, and to my left were Melanie and Rosie.
“Thank you, Your Majesty the Empress.”
The emotions in the concubines’ voices sounded different. Angry, confident, happy, and... I looked at Pecilini, who was sitting on my right. Her voice sounded unstable for some reason. Was she nervous?
I stared at Pecilini for a moment, then looked away because she seemed uncomfortable. Instead, my eyes naturally moved to Catherine, who was sitting next to her. Catherine’s eyes were filled with the same hostility toward me as when I had seen her in the greenhouse. I ignored Catherine and spoke to Melanie, who was sitting in front of her.
“Melanie, are your legs feeling... okay?”
As I spoke, Melanie took off the shawl on her shoulder. Oh my. My lips stopped talking at that moment. One shoulder of the dress Melanie was wearing was empty. The dress wasn’t a tube top style, and there was a sleeve on the left side that had a lot of shoulder volume? Oh, did you cut it off on purpose because of Linel? What did he say when he saw my dress without one sleeve at Melanie’s place yesterday...?
“Melanie, are your legs feeling... okay?”
As I spoke, Melanie took off the shawl on her shoulder. Oh my. My lips stopped talking at that moment. One shoulder of the dress Melanie was wearing was empty. The dress wasn’t a tube top style, and there was a sleeve on the left side that had a lot of shoulder volume? Oh, did you cut it off on purpose because of Linel? What did he say when he saw my dress without one sleeve at Melanie’s place yesterday...?
'Why, it looks unique and beautiful to me? Didn't you say it was a popular style in the Empress's country?'
You really believed his ridiculous words and made a perfectly good dress into something like that? The dress looks quite expensive...
“Melanie, what the hell is that?”
Catherine recited my innermost thoughts.
“What do you mean?”
Melanie, as expected, exploded.
“... Melanie? That’s a bit short.”
Catherine sharpened her already sharp voice when the second concubine, Melanie, refused to speak to her.
“It’s a new style... This. As you can see, it’s a dress, right?”
Melanie forced herself to say 'yes' while swearing with her eyes.
“I’m asking because you suddenly appeared in such a strange style.”
“I would like the First Concubine to be careful with your choice of words...”
Melanie snorted at Catherine.
“Even your attire is a matter of His Majesty’s dignity. Tsk tsk.”
Catherine shook her head and glanced at me as she picked up her glass of juice. Her eyes seemed to ask if I disagreed with her opinion. Perhaps because of her memories of the greenhouse, she only looked at me and didn’t say anything. She just occasionally touched the side of her head where my hand had touched it, and every time she did, she would glance at me.
“Huh, I don’t know what you’re talking about. This is all done according to His Majesty’s taste... Yes?”
Melanie tilted her head towards me as she answered Catherine.
“Isn’t that right, Your Majesty the Empress?”
At her question, I just smiled. Melanie rolled her eyes here and there, trying to guess what my smile meant, and then suddenly said,
“Because it’s a trend, I’m not following anyone or anything like that.”
What a trend. It was ridiculous. However, I decided to give her strength as she believed Linel's joke and put it into practice.
“Yes, Melanie. This is a style that His Majesty would really like.”
“Hmph, then what should we do? His Majesty should see it himself.”
When I brought up Linel, Melanie's face darkened suddenly. Just as I was about to offer her some more words of comfort, the restaurant door opened and an unexpected figure appeared.
“Hello, Your Majesty the Empress!”
It was the chief steward, Stian.
“What are you doing here?”
When I asked with a puzzled expression, the chief of staff seemed hesitant to say something.
“Yes, I, that is...”
“Stian, what has happened to His Majesty?”
My voice rose in concern.
“Your Majesty the Empress, I am honored to report...”
The attendant turned his head away from the restaurant door and opened his mouth.
“His Majesty now...”
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