I entered the training ground with a fluttering heart. As Sharon had said, the training ground was empty at this time. There were devices installed all over the walls to turn on the lamps, but there was a risk that the light would leak out and expose my presence. It was safer for my eyes to get used to the darkness.
The man touched my chin and muttered with interest. At first, I thought he was a knight in charge of this training ground, but judging from his speech and appearance, he seemed to be of a fairly high rank. Furthermore, the aura I felt from the man was clearly different from that of ordinary knights.
“If you are here to assassinate His Majesty the Emperor, you must have taken the wrong path.”
The man casually mentioned the assassination of the Emperor of the Lapion Empire. Could he be a knight who harbored resentment toward Linel? Judging from his smiling expression, it doesn't seem to be the case.
“Wait a minute, now that I look at it..."
The man tilted his head and trailed off his words as if he had noticed my presence. My heart started pounding.
“They said they were going to select knights to guard Her Majesty the Empress, but it looks like they’ve already selected one.”
What? You're picking my escort? What the hell are you talking about?
“Anyway, our Majesty is quick to act.”
“?”
“I believe it is all thanks to me that you were chosen as Her Majesty the Empress’s bodyguard.”
“Why? What does that mean...?”
I pretended to be a real knight and asked him back.
“His Majesty is so worried about Her Majesty the Empress’s weakness that I advised him to select a knight to strengthen her guard.”
What?
“But I really thought he would pick it up in just one day.”
The man had already decided that I was a knight chosen to guard the Empress. I lowered the tip of my sword to the ground and relaxed my tense shoulders. Something unexpected was happening. But thankfully, thanks to that, I didn’t have to see any blood.
"...Thank you."
“Anyway, it’s nice to meet you. I am the Honorary Knight Commander Macrom, the greatest master of the Lapion Empire... no, unless something unexpected happens, that reputation will continue to be maintained.”
“Nice to meet you, Commander Macrom. By the way, you are the honorary....captain of the knights?”
“Yes. I have stepped down from my position as the First Knight Commander, who serves His Majesty closely, but everyone still calls me Commander. Well, as you know, I stepped down from that position because of a minor flaw.”
Commander Macrom pointed to his own eyes with his finger.
'See, you said you were blind?'
The incarnation within me suddenly spoke.
“Oh, I see.”
I cautiously took a step closer and looked closely into Commander Macrom’s eyes. Up close, his pupils seemed slightly out of focus.
“...What, that reaction of not knowing? Didn’t you already know after hearing it?”
“Ah, I...”
“Aren’t you a knight from the Imperial Academy?”
“Yes, I come from another city.”
“Which city?”
“It’s very rural. Even if you hear it, you probably don’t know...”
“Well, then maybe you didn’t know much about me.”
Fortunately, Macrom didn't ask me any detailed questions, but instead nodded in agreement.
“But Captain. What happened to your eyesight...?”
“Let’s say it’s a glorious scar from the last battle I fought with His Majesty. Are you really a knight who doesn’t know anything about me?”
“I am sorry, but I have learned very well how to serve Her Majesty the Empress.”
I hurriedly talked around.
“Hahaha. Well, then that’s fine.”
Macrom laughed heartily.
“Who is here again?”
He stopped laughing and turned his head toward the entrance of the training ground. Commander Macrom was said to have lost his eyesight, but he seemed to have excellent senses instead. I followed his gaze.
Support Novellate!
I looked around the training ground and found a place where weapons were displayed in one corner. Training wooden swords and actual swords were lined up. I went straight there and pulled out the actual sword without hesitation. A shiver ran through my palm as I held the handle of the sword for the first time in a long time. If Prince Tesla were in front of me right now, I wanted to do the same thing he did to Bonis.
I gripped the sword tightly, imagining cutting off that crazy bastard’s little finger, no, his entire hand. As time passed, the training ground became darker. I took a deep breath with my sword in my hand. I began to swing my sword, thinking that Prince Tesla was standing in front of me, on my side, and behind me, in all directions. This beggarly reality, where the only way was to swing my sword in the air, was also my enemy. As I moved my body absentmindedly, sweat poured down like rain. After holding a sword for the first time in a long time and crying with my whole body, the heat in my body quickly went down, regardless of my mood.
I kept my lips tightly shut and continued to cut through the darkness. If my lips opened even a little, I felt like a torrent of curses would come out. I had to hide my anger and bide my time. Revenge involves waiting. I continued all the movements of my swordsmanship, moving around the training ground. My breathing became rapid. In the end, I let out my breath through my tightly shut lips.
“Haa, haa, shit!”
I threw down the sword I was holding in my hand and knelt down on the floor. Sweat and tears mixed together and fell to the floor.
“I just want to make sure that Bonis is safe...”
I wiped my tears with the back of my hand and bit my lower lip. I shouldn’t be weak already. I had to think about what to do next. But I couldn’t think of anything right now. And Linel... What if that person was in danger because of me?
“Haa, haa, shit!”
I threw down the sword I was holding in my hand and knelt down on the floor. Sweat and tears mixed together and fell to the floor.
“I just want to make sure that Bonis is safe...”
I wiped my tears with the back of my hand and bit my lower lip. I shouldn’t be weak already. I had to think about what to do next. But I couldn’t think of anything right now. And Linel... What if that person was in danger because of me?
As Grand Duke Martins had said, the first priority was to find the spy that Prince Tesla had planted in the imperial family. I sat on the floor for a moment and imagined how he would react if I confessed to him that I was the acting Empress. I couldn’t imagine how much betrayal he would feel toward me.
“I have to solve them one by one.”
My mind was in a mess, but I tried to calm myself down. At that moment, I heard someone's voice at the entrance to the training hall.
“As expected... my feeling was right.”
I quickly picked up the sword that had been thrown on the floor and stood up.
“Who is it? It doesn’t seem like one of the knights under me.”
The man calmly walked toward me, who was holding a sword, and asked, “Calm down. You can’t see my face. It’s already completely dark inside the training hall, so unless you turn on the lamp, you won’t be able to see me. But if you look closely, won’t you recognize me?
'Don't worry. That guy is blind.'
The incarnation within me spoke.
'But don't let your guard down. He is a sword master with incredible internal energy.'
What? That guy is the Sword Master? He didn't look like he was blind, judging by the way he was walking straight towards me.
“Who are you?”
I asked in a tone of caution.
“Hmm, since you don’t know me, I guess you’re not from the royal family?”
The man seemed to be coming towards me, but then he changed direction, leaned back against the wall, and crossed his arms.
“I have to solve them one by one.”
My mind was in a mess, but I tried to calm myself down. At that moment, I heard someone's voice at the entrance to the training hall.
“As expected... my feeling was right.”
I quickly picked up the sword that had been thrown on the floor and stood up.
“Who is it? It doesn’t seem like one of the knights under me.”
The man calmly walked toward me, who was holding a sword, and asked, “Calm down. You can’t see my face. It’s already completely dark inside the training hall, so unless you turn on the lamp, you won’t be able to see me. But if you look closely, won’t you recognize me?
'Don't worry. That guy is blind.'
The incarnation within me spoke.
'But don't let your guard down. He is a sword master with incredible internal energy.'
What? That guy is the Sword Master? He didn't look like he was blind, judging by the way he was walking straight towards me.
“Who are you?”
I asked in a tone of caution.
“Hmm, since you don’t know me, I guess you’re not from the royal family?”
The man seemed to be coming towards me, but then he changed direction, leaned back against the wall, and crossed his arms.
“A knight swinging her sword alone in the training ground inside the palace, without even turning on the lamp...”
The man touched my chin and muttered with interest. At first, I thought he was a knight in charge of this training ground, but judging from his speech and appearance, he seemed to be of a fairly high rank. Furthermore, the aura I felt from the man was clearly different from that of ordinary knights.
As the incarnation had said, he was definitely a master of swordsmanship. The man’s hand went up to the scabbard on his right side. He seemed to have read my aura as well. I quickly raised my sword. If he had pointed his sword at me, I would have no choice but to fight in the dark. That was better than revealing that I was the Empress.
“It’s clear that this isn’t the knight who was here. It’s a strange aura that I’ve never felt before. Who on earth is this?”
“...”
“It’s clear that this isn’t the knight who was here. It’s a strange aura that I’ve never felt before. Who on earth is this?”
“...”
“If you are here to assassinate His Majesty the Emperor, you must have taken the wrong path.”
The man casually mentioned the assassination of the Emperor of the Lapion Empire. Could he be a knight who harbored resentment toward Linel? Judging from his smiling expression, it doesn't seem to be the case.
“Wait a minute, now that I look at it..."
The man tilted his head and trailed off his words as if he had noticed my presence. My heart started pounding.
“They said they were going to select knights to guard Her Majesty the Empress, but it looks like they’ve already selected one.”
What? You're picking my escort? What the hell are you talking about?
“Anyway, our Majesty is quick to act.”
“?”
“I believe it is all thanks to me that you were chosen as Her Majesty the Empress’s bodyguard.”
“Why? What does that mean...?”
I pretended to be a real knight and asked him back.
“His Majesty is so worried about Her Majesty the Empress’s weakness that I advised him to select a knight to strengthen her guard.”
What?
“But I really thought he would pick it up in just one day.”
The man had already decided that I was a knight chosen to guard the Empress. I lowered the tip of my sword to the ground and relaxed my tense shoulders. Something unexpected was happening. But thankfully, thanks to that, I didn’t have to see any blood.
"...Thank you."
“Anyway, it’s nice to meet you. I am the Honorary Knight Commander Macrom, the greatest master of the Lapion Empire... no, unless something unexpected happens, that reputation will continue to be maintained.”
“Nice to meet you, Commander Macrom. By the way, you are the honorary....captain of the knights?”
“Yes. I have stepped down from my position as the First Knight Commander, who serves His Majesty closely, but everyone still calls me Commander. Well, as you know, I stepped down from that position because of a minor flaw.”
Commander Macrom pointed to his own eyes with his finger.
'See, you said you were blind?'
The incarnation within me suddenly spoke.
“Oh, I see.”
I cautiously took a step closer and looked closely into Commander Macrom’s eyes. Up close, his pupils seemed slightly out of focus.
“...What, that reaction of not knowing? Didn’t you already know after hearing it?”
“Ah, I...”
“Aren’t you a knight from the Imperial Academy?”
“Yes, I come from another city.”
“Which city?”
“It’s very rural. Even if you hear it, you probably don’t know...”
“Well, then maybe you didn’t know much about me.”
Fortunately, Macrom didn't ask me any detailed questions, but instead nodded in agreement.
“But Captain. What happened to your eyesight...?”
“Let’s say it’s a glorious scar from the last battle I fought with His Majesty. Are you really a knight who doesn’t know anything about me?”
“I am sorry, but I have learned very well how to serve Her Majesty the Empress.”
I hurriedly talked around.
“Hahaha. Well, then that’s fine.”
Macrom laughed heartily.
“Who is here again?”
He stopped laughing and turned his head toward the entrance of the training ground. Commander Macrom was said to have lost his eyesight, but he seemed to have excellent senses instead. I followed his gaze.
Teresa? Teresa ran into the training ground, panting. I quickly turned on a lamp.
“You must return to the Empress’s Palace quickly...!”
Teresa, who was waving her arms desperately as she spoke, quickly shut her mouth when she saw Macrom standing in front of me. I raised my hand and signaled her to wait. Teresa nodded and stood in her place.
“Commander, I must be going now. It seems that Her Majesty the Empress is looking for me urgently.”
“Then I guess you should go. Wait a minute. What’s your name?”
I was speechless for a moment. I didn’t expect him to ask my name. No name came to mind. Judging from Teresa’s expression, something urgent had come up in the Empress’s palace. I couldn’t waste any more time, so I ended up saying the name that had come to mind the most that day.
“Bonis... is here.”
“I see. It was nice meeting you. Bonis, would you like to spar with me next time?”
“...Yes, that’s right. It’s an honor.”
I hesitated for a moment to answer, but the next time I saw him at the training grounds, I just had to pretend to be one of the Empress's knights.
“Then I will go now.”
"I know."
I left Commander Macrom behind and quickly ran to Teresa.
“Teresa, what brings you here?”
I asked her as we almost ran out of the training center building and just entered the forest path.
“Something terrible has happened. His Majesty is coming to the Empress’s Palace!”
"What?!"
“Sharon relayed word to the chief chamberlain that Your Majesty the Empress was not feeling well and would like to go to bed early today. Upon hearing this, His Majesty said that he would finish the meeting in 30 minutes and go to the Empress’s Palace!”
“Sharon must have been at the Empress’s Palace for some time, so there are less than 30 minutes left, right?”
Even if Linel had time to finish the meeting and get to the Empress's Palace, time was running out.
“There are less than ten minutes left, including the time it took me to run here. What do I do now?”
“What should I do? I have to run. Did you leave the back door to the laundry room open?”
“Yes, Your Majesty the Empress.”
“Yes. Then I guess I’ll have to work hard from now on. Teresa, I’ll go first!”
“I will also follow along diligently. Sollie is waiting in front of the dressing room with the costumes you will change into!”
“Yes, see you later!”
I left Teresa behind and started running. I had to stay in bed until Linel arrived at the Empress's Palace and opened the bedroom door. So... I had no choice but to run and run for my life. I felt my heart pounding against my Adam's apple. Even if it were to spill out of my mouth, I wouldn't have time to catch it again.
“You must return to the Empress’s Palace quickly...!”
Teresa, who was waving her arms desperately as she spoke, quickly shut her mouth when she saw Macrom standing in front of me. I raised my hand and signaled her to wait. Teresa nodded and stood in her place.
“Commander, I must be going now. It seems that Her Majesty the Empress is looking for me urgently.”
“Then I guess you should go. Wait a minute. What’s your name?”
I was speechless for a moment. I didn’t expect him to ask my name. No name came to mind. Judging from Teresa’s expression, something urgent had come up in the Empress’s palace. I couldn’t waste any more time, so I ended up saying the name that had come to mind the most that day.
“Bonis... is here.”
“I see. It was nice meeting you. Bonis, would you like to spar with me next time?”
“...Yes, that’s right. It’s an honor.”
I hesitated for a moment to answer, but the next time I saw him at the training grounds, I just had to pretend to be one of the Empress's knights.
“Then I will go now.”
"I know."
I left Commander Macrom behind and quickly ran to Teresa.
“Teresa, what brings you here?”
I asked her as we almost ran out of the training center building and just entered the forest path.
“Something terrible has happened. His Majesty is coming to the Empress’s Palace!”
"What?!"
“Sharon relayed word to the chief chamberlain that Your Majesty the Empress was not feeling well and would like to go to bed early today. Upon hearing this, His Majesty said that he would finish the meeting in 30 minutes and go to the Empress’s Palace!”
“Sharon must have been at the Empress’s Palace for some time, so there are less than 30 minutes left, right?”
Even if Linel had time to finish the meeting and get to the Empress's Palace, time was running out.
“There are less than ten minutes left, including the time it took me to run here. What do I do now?”
“What should I do? I have to run. Did you leave the back door to the laundry room open?”
“Yes, Your Majesty the Empress.”
“Yes. Then I guess I’ll have to work hard from now on. Teresa, I’ll go first!”
“I will also follow along diligently. Sollie is waiting in front of the dressing room with the costumes you will change into!”
“Yes, see you later!”
I left Teresa behind and started running. I had to stay in bed until Linel arrived at the Empress's Palace and opened the bedroom door. So... I had no choice but to run and run for my life. I felt my heart pounding against my Adam's apple. Even if it were to spill out of my mouth, I wouldn't have time to catch it again.
***
I ran like crazy through the fields leading from the cypress forest path to the Empress's Palace. When the Empress's Palace came into view, my mind was a little relieved, and my legs gave out and I fell hard in the middle of the fields.
“Ugh.”
I fell and hit my knee on a rock, but I didn't even feel the pain before I jumped up again. When I got up from the fall, I saw Sollie stamping her feet far away at the back door leading to the laundry room.
“Your Majesty the Empress! Come on!”
Sollie's expression as she waved at me looked extremely anxious. Wait, Teresa said Sollie was waiting in front of the dressing room door. Why is she suddenly out in front of the back door of the laundry room?
“Hurry up! I just saw His Majesty enter the main gate of the Empress’s Palace. Hurry up!”
Oh, my goodness. I became anxious at Sollie’s words. Without even catching my breath, I went up the spiral staircase connected to the dressing room with Sollie, taking two or three steps at a time.
“Ugh.”
I fell and hit my knee on a rock, but I didn't even feel the pain before I jumped up again. When I got up from the fall, I saw Sollie stamping her feet far away at the back door leading to the laundry room.
“Your Majesty the Empress! Come on!”
Sollie's expression as she waved at me looked extremely anxious. Wait, Teresa said Sollie was waiting in front of the dressing room door. Why is she suddenly out in front of the back door of the laundry room?
“Hurry up! I just saw His Majesty enter the main gate of the Empress’s Palace. Hurry up!”
Oh, my goodness. I became anxious at Sollie’s words. Without even catching my breath, I went up the spiral staircase connected to the dressing room with Sollie, taking two or three steps at a time.
Clang.
As soon as I opened the dressing room door and stepped inside, I collapsed on the floor.
“Your Majesty the Empress, you must take off your riding clothes immediately!”
Sharon, who had just entered the dressing room, slid down on her knees in front of me and quickly began to take off my riding outfit.
“Ugh, ugh, Sharon, I think I need to take a quick shower...?”
I was sweating so much.
“There is no time for that! His Majesty is on his way up to the bedroom right now!”
Sharon and Sollie helped me up by holding my arms. Seeing Sharon's anxious expression, I realized the seriousness of the situation once again. My breathing, which had been up to my chin, began to calm down little by little. I took off all my riding clothes and became naked.
“The slip is on the bed. Come on, let’s go into the bedroom!”
Sharon said, putting a thin slip gown over my shoulders. We almost ran out of the dressing room.
“Your Majesty the Empress, you must take off your riding clothes immediately!”
Sharon, who had just entered the dressing room, slid down on her knees in front of me and quickly began to take off my riding outfit.
“Ugh, ugh, Sharon, I think I need to take a quick shower...?”
I was sweating so much.
“There is no time for that! His Majesty is on his way up to the bedroom right now!”
Sharon and Sollie helped me up by holding my arms. Seeing Sharon's anxious expression, I realized the seriousness of the situation once again. My breathing, which had been up to my chin, began to calm down little by little. I took off all my riding clothes and became naked.
“The slip is on the bed. Come on, let’s go into the bedroom!”
Sharon said, putting a thin slip gown over my shoulders. We almost ran out of the dressing room.
Knock knock.
Just as we reached the front of the bed, there was a knock on the bedroom door. For a split second, Sharon and I opened our eyes wide at the same time and made eye contact. Unlike me who froze, Sharon quickly pulled back the blanket and pushed me inside. In the process, the slip gown that was draped over my shoulders fell to the floor. Without even touching the slip on the bed, I had no choice but to lie down naked with only the blanket over me. I closed my eyes tightly and pretended to be asleep.
“Oh, Your Majesty the Emperor!”
Sharon's trembling voice was heard.
“Is the Empress already asleep?”
Linel asked her in a low voice. It was funny, but even in this precarious situation, she was glad to see him.
“Oh, yes, Your Majesty! She has a slight fever and is sweating... a lot.”
“Sweat? Even now?”
“Umm, she's okay now...”
“Hmm, I will take care of the Empress, you go out now.”
There was worry in Linel's voice as he strode toward the bed.
“Yes... Your Majesty.”
The bedroom door closed soon after Sharon's answer. I kept my eyes tightly shut and pretended to sleep. The thought of him looking down at me made my breathing awkward and out of sync.
“Your hair is soaked with sweat. You seem to have a fever, too.”
Linel's cold hands touched my boiling forehead and the back of my neck. Ah, it was so cool.
“I see your slip on the floor. Are you sleeping naked? Are you feverish?”
Linel said, slightly lifting the blanket I was covering myself with.
“Oh, Your Majesty the Emperor!”
Sharon's trembling voice was heard.
“Is the Empress already asleep?”
Linel asked her in a low voice. It was funny, but even in this precarious situation, she was glad to see him.
“Oh, yes, Your Majesty! She has a slight fever and is sweating... a lot.”
“Sweat? Even now?”
“Umm, she's okay now...”
“Hmm, I will take care of the Empress, you go out now.”
There was worry in Linel's voice as he strode toward the bed.
“Yes... Your Majesty.”
The bedroom door closed soon after Sharon's answer. I kept my eyes tightly shut and pretended to sleep. The thought of him looking down at me made my breathing awkward and out of sync.
“Your hair is soaked with sweat. You seem to have a fever, too.”
Linel's cold hands touched my boiling forehead and the back of my neck. Ah, it was so cool.
“I see your slip on the floor. Are you sleeping naked? Are you feverish?”
Linel said, slightly lifting the blanket I was covering myself with.
Excuse me... Cover me with the blanket, please!
I wanted to snatch the blanket from his hands right away, but I held myself back. If I pretend to be asleep like this and don’t wake up, he’ll go back to the main palace. Yes, this too shall pass...
“Hmm, you really don’t feel well.”
Linel's sigh quietly spread through the air. After a while, I heard something rustling. I had the urge to open my eyes and check what he was doing. However, his gaze was most likely fixed on me.
“Then there’s nothing we can do.”
Fortunately, it seemed like he was just going to return to his palace.
“I have no choice but to bring down your heat with my body.”
“!”
Linel whispered in my ear. What?! I felt a heavy feeling on top of me, and the hot blood flowing inside my body instantly cooled. Could it be that he had taken off all his clothes? I wanted to open my eyes, but I couldn't right now.
“Empress... No, Zelda, you didn’t mean it like that, did you?”
Before I knew it, his breath was close to my face.
“Hmm, you really don’t feel well.”
Linel's sigh quietly spread through the air. After a while, I heard something rustling. I had the urge to open my eyes and check what he was doing. However, his gaze was most likely fixed on me.
“Then there’s nothing we can do.”
Fortunately, it seemed like he was just going to return to his palace.
“I have no choice but to bring down your heat with my body.”
“!”
Linel whispered in my ear. What?! I felt a heavy feeling on top of me, and the hot blood flowing inside my body instantly cooled. Could it be that he had taken off all his clothes? I wanted to open my eyes, but I couldn't right now.
“Empress... No, Zelda, you didn’t mean it like that, did you?”
Before I knew it, his breath was close to my face.
Support Novellate!
Comments
Post a Comment