“Stian, what on earth is going on that makes you take so long?”
I asked again, trying not to press the attendant.
“Ah, yes, Your Majesty! Before I speak, I would like to tell you in advance that as His Majesty’s closest confidant, I have always been the one to lead His Majesty wherever he wishes to go, but this time I have been left behind!”
I began to worry more about the chief steward's attitude, which continued to beat around the bush for some reason.
“Tell me what’s going on right now.”
My nerves were getting sensitive.
“Yes, if I don’t tell you right now, I feel like I’m going to get kicked... Oh, I understand! Yes, yes.”
While the steward was talking to me, he turned his head to the side and muttered towards the outside of the restaurant door. He looked straight ahead again, cleared his throat, and shouted.
“Your Majesty the Emperor!”
“Your Majesty the Emperor!”
They all bowed to Linel, who was walking into the restaurant with blank expressions. Why, do you look so much better today? If I had seen Linel's dazzling appearance all by myself, I would have honestly felt bad.
'Yes, he is too wonderful a man for one woman to monopolize.'
As he got closer, I thought to myself, I should understand the concubines’ jealousy and envy of me a little. Last night, I fell asleep in the bedroom with that man, lying on the bed he slept on every night, feeling his gaze, feeling his touch, and making love. Of the four beautiful women in front of me, the only one who received his love was... me.
I asked again, trying not to press the attendant.
“Ah, yes, Your Majesty! Before I speak, I would like to tell you in advance that as His Majesty’s closest confidant, I have always been the one to lead His Majesty wherever he wishes to go, but this time I have been left behind!”
I began to worry more about the chief steward's attitude, which continued to beat around the bush for some reason.
“Tell me what’s going on right now.”
My nerves were getting sensitive.
“Yes, if I don’t tell you right now, I feel like I’m going to get kicked... Oh, I understand! Yes, yes.”
While the steward was talking to me, he turned his head to the side and muttered towards the outside of the restaurant door. He looked straight ahead again, cleared his throat, and shouted.
“Your Majesty the Emperor!”
...What?
I couldn’t hide my shock and jumped up from my chair. The other concubines were equally flustered. They all stood up after me, flustered and confused. However, their surprise was short-lived, and their faces began to brighten. They seemed happy to be able to see him like this. Why on earth did he suddenly barge into lunch with the concubines? Was this also a tradition of the Lapion Empire?
I couldn’t hide my shock and jumped up from my chair. The other concubines were equally flustered. They all stood up after me, flustered and confused. However, their surprise was short-lived, and their faces began to brighten. They seemed happy to be able to see him like this. Why on earth did he suddenly barge into lunch with the concubines? Was this also a tradition of the Lapion Empire?
The concubines all looked at me and the restaurant door in turn. Their eyes asked me to explain the situation. I whispered to them that I had no idea and shrugged my shoulders.
“Stian, you talk too much.”
Linel's voice was heard first from outside the restaurant door.
“I said I was just going in, so why are you stepping forward and making a fuss?”
Linel's hand, which had appeared out of nowhere, pushed the shoulder of the attendant who was standing in the middle of the restaurant door away.
“Get out of my way. I have to take you down.”
Linel's tone was blunt, but his expression looked extremely happy. I was speechless at his sudden appearance and just blinked. He shyly raised one hand toward me and greeted me, then returned to his indifferent expression and slowly lowered his hand. Those blue eyes were only focused on me.
“Stian, you talk too much.”
Linel's voice was heard first from outside the restaurant door.
“I said I was just going in, so why are you stepping forward and making a fuss?”
Linel's hand, which had appeared out of nowhere, pushed the shoulder of the attendant who was standing in the middle of the restaurant door away.
“Get out of my way. I have to take you down.”
Linel's tone was blunt, but his expression looked extremely happy. I was speechless at his sudden appearance and just blinked. He shyly raised one hand toward me and greeted me, then returned to his indifferent expression and slowly lowered his hand. Those blue eyes were only focused on me.
Ah, I can't do that because they look so fatally sexy. I'll have to tell him this later. Never greet me with such a shy smile in front of other people. Especially not in front of other women. I've never wanted to monopolize someone in my life, but he kept giving me strange feelings. He's a dangerous man in many ways.
I greeted him with a smile and strode forward. As if there was no other path in this world but to go straight, he approached me without even looking the other way. The concubines all stared at him with their mouths open as if they were admiring him.
“Your Majesty the Emperor!”
They all bowed to Linel, who was walking into the restaurant with blank expressions. Why, do you look so much better today? If I had seen Linel's dazzling appearance all by myself, I would have honestly felt bad.
'Yes, he is too wonderful a man for one woman to monopolize.'
As he got closer, I thought to myself, I should understand the concubines’ jealousy and envy of me a little. Last night, I fell asleep in the bedroom with that man, lying on the bed he slept on every night, feeling his gaze, feeling his touch, and making love. Of the four beautiful women in front of me, the only one who received his love was... me.
My heart was boiling at the sudden realization. But it wasn’t just because I was thinking about the time I spent with him last night. Even now, I could feel love in his eyes as he walked, looking only at me.
Love? Did I just say love? It was unfamiliar, but I had to admit it. There was no other word to describe this feeling. Linel stopped in front of me.
“Your Majesty... What brings you here all of a sudden?”
I asked him that out of the blue, forgetting to even say hello to him. He coughed a couple of times and then spoke to me confidently.
“Because I’m hungry.”
"... Yes?"
“There is something especially delicious in the Empress’s Palace.”
What on earth is so delicious here?
“Have you eaten yet?”
I glanced at the chamberlain standing behind him and asked him. Then the chamberlain spoke to me as if he had been waiting.
“I am afraid I must inform you that His Majesty has already finished eating, Your Majesty the Empress.”
“Stain, don’t be embarrassed after telling the Empress, just keep your mouth shut.”
Linel looked back at the chamberlain and made a harsh sound with his mouth, then looked at me and the concubines with a dignified look in his eyes as if nothing had happened.
“I didn’t eat dessert.”
In the end, the excuses he made started with eating and ended with eating.
“Oh my, Your Majesty! Then please eat with us!”
Melanie cried out, thrusting her chest forward as if to hug him. I wanted to grab her by the scruff of her neck and straighten her posture.
“Melanie, how did you get to the Empress’s Palace?”
When Linel spoke to Melanie, she asked back brightly and excitedly.
“Huh? How did I come?”
“You didn’t roll all the way to the Empress’s Palace, did you?”
Linel turned one hand and asked.
“Heeeek, Your Majesty... You really are annoying when you say things like you’re worried about me.”
Melanie covered her cheeks with both hands and swayed her body from side to side.
“Your Majesty... What brings you here all of a sudden?”
I asked him that out of the blue, forgetting to even say hello to him. He coughed a couple of times and then spoke to me confidently.
“Because I’m hungry.”
"... Yes?"
“There is something especially delicious in the Empress’s Palace.”
What on earth is so delicious here?
“Have you eaten yet?”
I glanced at the chamberlain standing behind him and asked him. Then the chamberlain spoke to me as if he had been waiting.
“I am afraid I must inform you that His Majesty has already finished eating, Your Majesty the Empress.”
“Stain, don’t be embarrassed after telling the Empress, just keep your mouth shut.”
Linel looked back at the chamberlain and made a harsh sound with his mouth, then looked at me and the concubines with a dignified look in his eyes as if nothing had happened.
“I didn’t eat dessert.”
In the end, the excuses he made started with eating and ended with eating.
“Oh my, Your Majesty! Then please eat with us!”
Melanie cried out, thrusting her chest forward as if to hug him. I wanted to grab her by the scruff of her neck and straighten her posture.
“Melanie, how did you get to the Empress’s Palace?”
When Linel spoke to Melanie, she asked back brightly and excitedly.
“Huh? How did I come?”
“You didn’t roll all the way to the Empress’s Palace, did you?”
Linel turned one hand and asked.
“Heeeek, Your Majesty... You really are annoying when you say things like you’re worried about me.”
Melanie covered her cheeks with both hands and swayed her body from side to side.
Wow, she has a knack for wrapping up teasing words in a pretty way that she likes. What a positive way of thinking. I found Melanie’s behavior quite amusing, but the other concubines seemed to have different thoughts. Catherine, in particular, glared at her with her eyes wide open like buttonholes, with an expression of inferiority.
“Melanie, you really have a great fashion sense.”
I heard Linel's empty words. Here we go again. I gave him a hint to stop, but he seemed to have caught the joke and pretended to show interest in Melanie's dress.
“As expected, you are a woman with a natural sense, so you absorb trends right away.”
He gave Melanie a nice thumbs up, tapping her on the shoulder.
“I knew Your Majesty would like it!”
Melanie then turned her one shoulder, which was comically exposed, back and forth and glared at Catherine with a smug expression.
“You who knows style, eat a lot.”
At those words from Linel, Melanie's face was filled with peace as if she had just heard the words of blessing from a temple.
“Your Majesty, I heard you have a very busy schedule today.”
I asked him questioningly.
“I’m not busy.”
It was a lie. I knew in advance that he had a meeting early this morning and that he would have lunch with his ministers due to the lengthy meeting. No matter how much I thought about it, he didn't have the time to leisurely visit the Empress's Palace today. Furthermore, he must have been informed that I and the concubines were having lunch together, so why did he barge in like this without notice? It was strange.
“Actually, I’m busy.”
He changed his words again.
“You’re busy... but did you have time to come all the way to the Empress’s Palace?”
“No. That’s why I ran here to save time.”
His answer made me even more confused. Hey, that's probably a lie too... I thought. But.
“I thought I was going to die from shortness of breath, Your Majesty the Empress.”
The attendant once again intervened, adding strength to Linel's words.
“You’re busy, so why...”
He immediately looked upset at what I said. That's why I couldn't finish my sentence and just asked with my eyes.
“I left early in the morning without even being able to properly greet the Empress.”
“Why is that...?”
I was concerned that the concubines might be listening to our conversation, so I asked him a question using the spell.
“I was always worried that I left you lying on my bed.”
He answered with a deliberate emphasis on his voice as if we were the only two people in the place. It was a moment when my ventriloquism was rendered meaningless. Am I the only one who cares about what is being heard in the restaurant?
“Melanie, you really have a great fashion sense.”
I heard Linel's empty words. Here we go again. I gave him a hint to stop, but he seemed to have caught the joke and pretended to show interest in Melanie's dress.
“As expected, you are a woman with a natural sense, so you absorb trends right away.”
He gave Melanie a nice thumbs up, tapping her on the shoulder.
“I knew Your Majesty would like it!”
Melanie then turned her one shoulder, which was comically exposed, back and forth and glared at Catherine with a smug expression.
“You who knows style, eat a lot.”
At those words from Linel, Melanie's face was filled with peace as if she had just heard the words of blessing from a temple.
“Your Majesty, I heard you have a very busy schedule today.”
I asked him questioningly.
“I’m not busy.”
It was a lie. I knew in advance that he had a meeting early this morning and that he would have lunch with his ministers due to the lengthy meeting. No matter how much I thought about it, he didn't have the time to leisurely visit the Empress's Palace today. Furthermore, he must have been informed that I and the concubines were having lunch together, so why did he barge in like this without notice? It was strange.
“Actually, I’m busy.”
He changed his words again.
“You’re busy... but did you have time to come all the way to the Empress’s Palace?”
“No. That’s why I ran here to save time.”
His answer made me even more confused. Hey, that's probably a lie too... I thought. But.
“I thought I was going to die from shortness of breath, Your Majesty the Empress.”
The attendant once again intervened, adding strength to Linel's words.
“You’re busy, so why...”
He immediately looked upset at what I said. That's why I couldn't finish my sentence and just asked with my eyes.
“I left early in the morning without even being able to properly greet the Empress.”
“Why is that...?”
I was concerned that the concubines might be listening to our conversation, so I asked him a question using the spell.
“I was always worried that I left you lying on my bed.”
He answered with a deliberate emphasis on his voice as if we were the only two people in the place. It was a moment when my ventriloquism was rendered meaningless. Am I the only one who cares about what is being heard in the restaurant?
It was hard enough to endure the jealous gazes of the concubines, but Linel smiled at me more affectionately as if it were a reward.
“You can talk about that later...”
My voice came out even drier because of Linel, who was saying such strange things in front of the concubines without any hesitation. He said with a sullen expression.
“The later is now.”
“Ah, yes...”
If His Majesty the Emperor says so, then so be it. I nodded obediently. Seeing the corners of his mouth slightly rising, something felt ominous. What is he trying to say now?
“You can talk about that later...”
My voice came out even drier because of Linel, who was saying such strange things in front of the concubines without any hesitation. He said with a sullen expression.
“The later is now.”
“Ah, yes...”
If His Majesty the Emperor says so, then so be it. I nodded obediently. Seeing the corners of his mouth slightly rising, something felt ominous. What is he trying to say now?
“Your Majesty, there is no need to be nervous. I have already seen your face.”
But contrary to my fears, it really seemed like he was just going to say hello and leave. When the concubines greeted him with regretful faces, he nodded to them absentmindedly and turned around. I watched him walk out the restaurant door and then sat back down on the chair with the concubines. However, a few seconds later, Linel came back in.
But contrary to my fears, it really seemed like he was just going to say hello and leave. When the concubines greeted him with regretful faces, he nodded to them absentmindedly and turned around. I watched him walk out the restaurant door and then sat back down on the chair with the concubines. However, a few seconds later, Linel came back in.
“Why is that, Your Majesty?”
I asked, startled by his reappearance. He answered, rushing towards me quickly.
“Come to think of it, I didn’t eat dessert.”
At his words, Catherine and I simultaneously reached for the plate placed halfway between us. It was a dessert cake topped with strawberries and blueberries.
“Your Majesty, this cake is the most delicious of all the desserts here. Take a bite and leave.”
Catherine's hands were faster than mine. Her voice was sweeter than cake. Linel raised one hand with a serious expression that made me feel embarrassed.
“Don’t refuse. I have my own favorite dessert.”
It was Catherine who suggested the cake, and he stared at my face as he replied. Catherine did not back down, but lifted another plate of cake in front of Melanie and asked him again.
“Then how about cheesecake?”
Melanie reached out at the same time, but once again Catherine was faster.
“There’s nothing special about it. Neither the food nor the people.”
He muttered something meaningful and then smiled at me, who was maintaining a blank expression. Why are you smiling like that? Why?
“Your Majesty, there is no time to delay. You must hurry and go.”
The chamberlain held his pocket watch in his hand and urged him on. Wait? I understand that you have to hurry, but what do you mean by 'doing' it quickly?
“I was going to go out with the Empress for a moment...”
His eyes were unusual.
“You don’t have time for that!”
The chamberlain spoke firmly. Linel's lips, which had been busy moving their mouths to Stain, dropped to me without warning. It all happened in an instant.
“Hmm?!”
I couldn't keep my balance due to his impulsive kiss and just sat down on the chair.
“It’s delicious, as expected.”
His lips slowly moved away from mine and whispered. I couldn't keep my balance due to his impulsive kiss and just collapsed on the chair. The concubines who witnessed this scene covered their mouths with both hands. I did the same. The only difference between them and me was that my mouth was covered with his lips instead of my hands.
“What, what are you doing just now?”
“I ate it.”
"... Yes?"
I asked, startled by his reappearance. He answered, rushing towards me quickly.
“Come to think of it, I didn’t eat dessert.”
At his words, Catherine and I simultaneously reached for the plate placed halfway between us. It was a dessert cake topped with strawberries and blueberries.
“Your Majesty, this cake is the most delicious of all the desserts here. Take a bite and leave.”
Catherine's hands were faster than mine. Her voice was sweeter than cake. Linel raised one hand with a serious expression that made me feel embarrassed.
“Don’t refuse. I have my own favorite dessert.”
It was Catherine who suggested the cake, and he stared at my face as he replied. Catherine did not back down, but lifted another plate of cake in front of Melanie and asked him again.
“Then how about cheesecake?”
Melanie reached out at the same time, but once again Catherine was faster.
“There’s nothing special about it. Neither the food nor the people.”
He muttered something meaningful and then smiled at me, who was maintaining a blank expression. Why are you smiling like that? Why?
“Your Majesty, there is no time to delay. You must hurry and go.”
The chamberlain held his pocket watch in his hand and urged him on. Wait? I understand that you have to hurry, but what do you mean by 'doing' it quickly?
“I was going to go out with the Empress for a moment...”
His eyes were unusual.
“You don’t have time for that!”
The chamberlain spoke firmly. Linel's lips, which had been busy moving their mouths to Stain, dropped to me without warning. It all happened in an instant.
“Hmm?!”
I couldn't keep my balance due to his impulsive kiss and just sat down on the chair.
“It’s delicious, as expected.”
His lips slowly moved away from mine and whispered. I couldn't keep my balance due to his impulsive kiss and just collapsed on the chair. The concubines who witnessed this scene covered their mouths with both hands. I did the same. The only difference between them and me was that my mouth was covered with his lips instead of my hands.
“What, what are you doing just now?”
“I ate it.”
"... Yes?"
“My dessert.”
His bass voice resonated sweetly throughout the restaurant.
His bass voice resonated sweetly throughout the restaurant.
Support Novellate!
Comments
Post a Comment