“Empress, what are you talking about...”
Linel stared at me, unable to continue speaking properly. The concubines also all looked surprised at my words.
“Is Her Majesty the Empress... good at horseback riding?”
Only Raphael asked me with his eyes sparkling.
“Well, just enough so that I don’t fall.”
When I shrugged and responded indifferently, this time Rosie showed curiosity.
“Ah, I heard that Your Majesty the Empress’s home country, the Kingdom of Shattonil, is mostly flat and a great place for horseback riding!”
Yeah, it's perfect for a sword fight on horseback.
“Empress, please look at me for a moment. Raising your voice in front of the concubines will be unpleasant for both of us.”
Linel gestured to another door in the office. It was the break room where he would take a break from his work. I followed him from the sofa without thinking. Linel opened the break room door first and went inside. Judging from the fact that he slammed the door shut so hard that it made a loud noise, he must have been really angry. Raphael and the four concubines all looked at me. Some looked worried, while others looked pleased. I followed Linel into the room he had entered while feeling nervous about his sudden behavior.
Linel kissed me roughly.
"Haa... It drives people crazy in so many ways.”
“Wh, what are you talking about?”
“First, let’s kiss. Yes? Otherwise, I don’t think I’ll be able to move my mouth properly and speak properly...”
He pushed me against the wall. His large hand was already wrapped around the back of my head, so my head wouldn't hit the wall.
“Hey, there are people outside, we said we wouldn’t do this when there are people around!”
“So I did as the Empress wished.”
"Yes?"
“You told me not to show it in front of others. That’s why we’re doing this behind their backs. Why?”
Linel kissed my shoulder and pressed his tense body closer to mine.
“Surely... you were getting angry earlier on purpose to call me to the break room?”
“That’s right. I’ve always felt that way, but I’m really smart. Don’t you think so?”
He tickled my collarbone while giggling. I burst out laughing.
“Then, you allow me to attend the hunting competition?”
“If you allow me.”
“What?”
“Shh, wait a minute.”
“?”
He pressed his index finger against my lips, turned around, and walked toward the door. Then, all of a sudden,
“Your Majesty, are you in your right mind? What a disgrace it would be if you fell off your horse!”
He shouted at the door.
“...Why are you doing that?”
I asked, my voice very low. He walked back to me and whispered.
“Once I say it out loud, no one will be suspicious.”
“What is your suspicion?”
“I doubt we’ll be here like this.”
Linel quickly took off his uniform jacket and replied.
“Your Majesty! What are you doing now?”
"Negotiation."
“!”
“In exchange for allowing you to participate in the hunting competition, I will also get what I want.”
Oh my god. I quickly ran to the break room door and tried to escape.
“Where are you running to? It won’t take long.”
"Oh!"
The moment I reached for the doorknob, Linel suddenly picked me up, and my feet kicked meaninglessly in the air.
“Please, do you have to do this now? You can negotiate at night...!”
"No."
Before I knew it, I was sitting at the mahogany table. Linel looked down at me and spoke coldly and bluntly.
“Negotiation is, originally, about timing.”
I couldn't push his body away. There was no particular reason to do so.
It was a very good... negotiation where we could both get what we wanted. In many ways, I benefited more, though.
When we reached Rosie's quarters, she asked cautiously.
“Am I tired? Do I look like that?”
“Yes, when you came out of the break room earlier, you looked a little tired. And your face was red when you came out.”
“...Hahaha. Is that so?”
I smiled awkwardly, playing with my cheek. The negotiation I had with Linel in the break room came back to me vividly.
“Your Majesty... you had an argument, right? In the break room.”
“Oh, no. I had some differences of opinion with His Majesty, but we negotiated well, so it’s okay.”
I said it with a smile, but she didn't believe me. Rosie, who didn't know what had happened in the break room, felt sorry for me.
“Is Your Majesty very angry?”
"Angry?"
“Yes, when His Majesty called Your Majesty the Empress to the lounge, he seemed very angry, and I could occasionally hear His Majesty’s voice outside the lounge.”
“That’s right. He was really angry... you know.”
I replied, fanning my face with both hands.
“Isn’t that so? It seems to me that Your Majesty is very excited!”
“Rosie, you really... have an accurate eye for detail?”
I bit my lower lip to keep myself from laughing.
“Yes! That’s the kind of thing it is.”
Rosie replied with a bashful laugh. While we were laughing and chatting together, we arrived at her bedroom door before we knew it.
“It is an honor to have you come to my humble abode, Your Majesty the Empress.”
“I am grateful that you invited me.”
She stuttered and looked embarrassed. Why is she doing that?
“Rosie, is this our snack?”
I laughed, turning the large egg between my two hands. Then her pupils shook violently.
Linel stared at me, unable to continue speaking properly. The concubines also all looked surprised at my words.
“Is Her Majesty the Empress... good at horseback riding?”
Only Raphael asked me with his eyes sparkling.
“Well, just enough so that I don’t fall.”
When I shrugged and responded indifferently, this time Rosie showed curiosity.
“Ah, I heard that Your Majesty the Empress’s home country, the Kingdom of Shattonil, is mostly flat and a great place for horseback riding!”
Yeah, it's perfect for a sword fight on horseback.
“I can ride a horse, although not as well as Your Majesty the Empress.”
Rosie's bright face timidly raised her hand and said. Melanie, sitting next to her, glared at Rosie once and grumbled with a sad face.
“Even if Her Majesty the Empress is good at horseback riding, we are different, aren’t we?”
“That’s right. And you could be a laughing stock in front of the women of the Southern Continent who are skilled in martial arts!”
Catherine, who had a sour expression the whole time, also spoke up. On the other hand, Pesilini, sitting like an invisible man, was quietly watching the whole situation as she had at the last dinner.
“Empress, there is no need to force yourself.”
Linel spoke to me as if he was reprimanding me.
“No, Your Majesty. I have been learning horseback riding since I was young, and I am better at handling horses than most knights.”
I tried to reassure him, suppressing the urge to spread Linel's furrowed brow with my hand, but he continued speaking as if he was still uneasy.
“Being good at riding a horse and hunting on horseback are two different things.”
I responded to his displeased gaze with a leisurely smile.
“Yes, I know that very well.”
It was a very exciting and competitive event! Just imagining riding a horse and shooting arrows at a target was already thrilling.
“Are you still going to participate in the competition knowing full well that this isn’t a hunting competition where you can chase after cute rabbits?”
“You should let cute rabbits run around.”
“…...Empress, do you think I’m joking?”
Linel was overly serious. He seemed a little angry for some reason.
“If none of the Empresses and concubines of the northern continent participate in the hunting competition, it will be even more ridiculous.”
I tried to persuade them by emphasizing the honor of the Lapion Empire.
“That’s better. It’s better than you getting hurt.”
“Your Majesty, why do you assume I am hurt?”
I asked with a sad expression on my face.
Rosie's bright face timidly raised her hand and said. Melanie, sitting next to her, glared at Rosie once and grumbled with a sad face.
“Even if Her Majesty the Empress is good at horseback riding, we are different, aren’t we?”
“That’s right. And you could be a laughing stock in front of the women of the Southern Continent who are skilled in martial arts!”
Catherine, who had a sour expression the whole time, also spoke up. On the other hand, Pesilini, sitting like an invisible man, was quietly watching the whole situation as she had at the last dinner.
“Empress, there is no need to force yourself.”
Linel spoke to me as if he was reprimanding me.
“No, Your Majesty. I have been learning horseback riding since I was young, and I am better at handling horses than most knights.”
I tried to reassure him, suppressing the urge to spread Linel's furrowed brow with my hand, but he continued speaking as if he was still uneasy.
“Being good at riding a horse and hunting on horseback are two different things.”
I responded to his displeased gaze with a leisurely smile.
“Yes, I know that very well.”
It was a very exciting and competitive event! Just imagining riding a horse and shooting arrows at a target was already thrilling.
“Are you still going to participate in the competition knowing full well that this isn’t a hunting competition where you can chase after cute rabbits?”
“You should let cute rabbits run around.”
“…...Empress, do you think I’m joking?”
Linel was overly serious. He seemed a little angry for some reason.
“If none of the Empresses and concubines of the northern continent participate in the hunting competition, it will be even more ridiculous.”
I tried to persuade them by emphasizing the honor of the Lapion Empire.
“That’s better. It’s better than you getting hurt.”
“Your Majesty, why do you assume I am hurt?”
I asked with a sad expression on my face.
“I wonder if these small hands can even hold the reins.”
Linel placed my hand on his palm as if he was picking up a pudding, and let out a deep sigh. At that moment, my eyes met with Catherine, who was sitting diagonally across from me. Catherine looked like she had a lot to say about Linel’s evaluation of me. She kept moving her lips as if she wanted to reveal something.
'Try blowing it somewhere.'
I stared at Catherine, touched the side of my head, tapped the bridge of my nose with my finger, and smiled. Catherine flinched in surprise, pursed her lips again, and covered her high nose with her hand.
“Even though I can’t catch animals with my weak... hands, I can talk to the women of the Southern Continent and learn about their movements.”
Linel chuckled at my words.
“There is no need for the Empress to be aware of the situation.”
“I think differently. There must be a difference between a conversation in a banquet hall while wearing a dress and a conversation in the forest while exercising together.”
“I don’t want to use the Empress’s body to obtain information from the countries of the Southern Continent.”
He ignored me again, but I didn't give up.
“No, I also need to mingle with the women of the Southern Continent. Even if I have no other intentions, since the Lapion Empire is the starting point for this continental hunting competition, we need to have at least one person on our side who can deal with the women of the Southern Continent.”
“Why does it have to be you?”
He asked tremblingly.
Linel placed my hand on his palm as if he was picking up a pudding, and let out a deep sigh. At that moment, my eyes met with Catherine, who was sitting diagonally across from me. Catherine looked like she had a lot to say about Linel’s evaluation of me. She kept moving her lips as if she wanted to reveal something.
'Try blowing it somewhere.'
I stared at Catherine, touched the side of my head, tapped the bridge of my nose with my finger, and smiled. Catherine flinched in surprise, pursed her lips again, and covered her high nose with her hand.
“Even though I can’t catch animals with my weak... hands, I can talk to the women of the Southern Continent and learn about their movements.”
Linel chuckled at my words.
“There is no need for the Empress to be aware of the situation.”
“I think differently. There must be a difference between a conversation in a banquet hall while wearing a dress and a conversation in the forest while exercising together.”
“I don’t want to use the Empress’s body to obtain information from the countries of the Southern Continent.”
He ignored me again, but I didn't give up.
“No, I also need to mingle with the women of the Southern Continent. Even if I have no other intentions, since the Lapion Empire is the starting point for this continental hunting competition, we need to have at least one person on our side who can deal with the women of the Southern Continent.”
“Why does it have to be you?”
He asked tremblingly.
“Because I am... the Empress of the Lapion Empire and Your Majesty’s wife.”
I raised my voice and responded. This time, he just stared at me and didn’t say anything. Linel’s time seemed to have stopped in my eyes, and he seemed conflicted. I thought this was the moment and continued to push my opinion.
“And since Rosie and I are the only ones among us who can handle words, there’s nothing we can do. Don’t worry, Your Majesty. Instead, the concubines will be more adept at entertaining the guests at the banquet than I am. Isn’t that right?”
I met Linel's hot gaze, turned my gaze to the concubines, and asked.
“I am very sorry, Your Majesty the Empress!”
The four concubines bowed their heads simultaneously and raised their voices. Their voices were filled with relief at not having to participate in the hunting competition.
“I cannot allow it.”
Linel spoke bluntly and turned his gaze to the secretary.
“Raphael, what do you think?”
“I clapped my hands a little while ago at Her Majesty the Empress’s words.”
“This guy...”
He glared at Raphael fiercely. Raphael quickly lowered his head to avoid his gaze, but spoke his thoughts firmly as a loyal subject.
“Just because it’s a hunting competition doesn’t mean you have to hunt animals, right? If you’re participating to become friends with the Empresses of the Southern Continent, as Her Majesty the Empress said, I don’t think there will be much danger.”
“That’s right, Your Majesty, you can give me a brief lesson on archery before the hunting competition starts. I won’t actually shoot it, but even if I did, I wouldn’t hit anything... Oh, ho ho.”
I changed the strategy and spoke in a coquettish voice to melt his heart. In an instant, the concubines’ expressions became extremely bad. Their eyes seemed to say, ‘Your coquettishness is really bad.’
I raised my voice and responded. This time, he just stared at me and didn’t say anything. Linel’s time seemed to have stopped in my eyes, and he seemed conflicted. I thought this was the moment and continued to push my opinion.
“And since Rosie and I are the only ones among us who can handle words, there’s nothing we can do. Don’t worry, Your Majesty. Instead, the concubines will be more adept at entertaining the guests at the banquet than I am. Isn’t that right?”
I met Linel's hot gaze, turned my gaze to the concubines, and asked.
“I am very sorry, Your Majesty the Empress!”
The four concubines bowed their heads simultaneously and raised their voices. Their voices were filled with relief at not having to participate in the hunting competition.
“I cannot allow it.”
Linel spoke bluntly and turned his gaze to the secretary.
“Raphael, what do you think?”
“I clapped my hands a little while ago at Her Majesty the Empress’s words.”
“This guy...”
He glared at Raphael fiercely. Raphael quickly lowered his head to avoid his gaze, but spoke his thoughts firmly as a loyal subject.
“Just because it’s a hunting competition doesn’t mean you have to hunt animals, right? If you’re participating to become friends with the Empresses of the Southern Continent, as Her Majesty the Empress said, I don’t think there will be much danger.”
“That’s right, Your Majesty, you can give me a brief lesson on archery before the hunting competition starts. I won’t actually shoot it, but even if I did, I wouldn’t hit anything... Oh, ho ho.”
I changed the strategy and spoke in a coquettish voice to melt his heart. In an instant, the concubines’ expressions became extremely bad. Their eyes seemed to say, ‘Your coquettishness is really bad.’
I glanced at Linel’s face in despair. However, unlike the concubines who were unexpectedly frowning, the expression on the face of the person who had been receiving my coquettishness was not so bad.
“That is truly reckless.”
Clearly, Linel's expression a moment ago was one of approval, but suddenly he jumped up from the sofa and raised his voice.
“That is truly reckless.”
Clearly, Linel's expression a moment ago was one of approval, but suddenly he jumped up from the sofa and raised his voice.
Strange? Why is he doing that?
"Your Majesty...?"
"Your Majesty...?"
“Empress, please look at me for a moment. Raising your voice in front of the concubines will be unpleasant for both of us.”
Linel gestured to another door in the office. It was the break room where he would take a break from his work. I followed him from the sofa without thinking. Linel opened the break room door first and went inside. Judging from the fact that he slammed the door shut so hard that it made a loud noise, he must have been really angry. Raphael and the four concubines all looked at me. Some looked worried, while others looked pleased. I followed Linel into the room he had entered while feeling nervous about his sudden behavior.
***
As I entered the break room, the first thing I noticed was his broad back turned around.
“Your Majesty, why are you so angry... Ugh?!”
“Your Majesty, why are you so angry... Ugh?!”
Linel kissed me roughly.
"Haa... It drives people crazy in so many ways.”
“Wh, what are you talking about?”
“First, let’s kiss. Yes? Otherwise, I don’t think I’ll be able to move my mouth properly and speak properly...”
He pushed me against the wall. His large hand was already wrapped around the back of my head, so my head wouldn't hit the wall.
“Hey, there are people outside, we said we wouldn’t do this when there are people around!”
“So I did as the Empress wished.”
"Yes?"
“You told me not to show it in front of others. That’s why we’re doing this behind their backs. Why?”
Linel kissed my shoulder and pressed his tense body closer to mine.
“Surely... you were getting angry earlier on purpose to call me to the break room?”
“That’s right. I’ve always felt that way, but I’m really smart. Don’t you think so?”
He tickled my collarbone while giggling. I burst out laughing.
“Then, you allow me to attend the hunting competition?”
“If you allow me.”
“What?”
“Shh, wait a minute.”
“?”
He pressed his index finger against my lips, turned around, and walked toward the door. Then, all of a sudden,
“Your Majesty, are you in your right mind? What a disgrace it would be if you fell off your horse!”
He shouted at the door.
“...Why are you doing that?”
I asked, my voice very low. He walked back to me and whispered.
“Once I say it out loud, no one will be suspicious.”
“What is your suspicion?”
“I doubt we’ll be here like this.”
Linel quickly took off his uniform jacket and replied.
“Your Majesty! What are you doing now?”
"Negotiation."
“!”
“In exchange for allowing you to participate in the hunting competition, I will also get what I want.”
Oh my god. I quickly ran to the break room door and tried to escape.
“Where are you running to? It won’t take long.”
"Oh!"
The moment I reached for the doorknob, Linel suddenly picked me up, and my feet kicked meaninglessly in the air.
“Please, do you have to do this now? You can negotiate at night...!”
"No."
Before I knew it, I was sitting at the mahogany table. Linel looked down at me and spoke coldly and bluntly.
“Negotiation is, originally, about timing.”
I couldn't push his body away. There was no particular reason to do so.
It was a very good... negotiation where we could both get what we wanted. In many ways, I benefited more, though.
***
After the meeting, the concubines each returned to their palaces. However, Rosie stayed behind and lingered by my side until our eyes met. She cautiously told me that she would like to invite me to her quarters. I readily agreed. Rosie was so excited that she kept talking nonstop about her favorite books as we walked to her quarters. I, too, found her stories interesting and enjoyable.
“I... Your Majesty the Empress, you look very tired. I wonder if I am bothering you unnecessarily...”
“I... Your Majesty the Empress, you look very tired. I wonder if I am bothering you unnecessarily...”
When we reached Rosie's quarters, she asked cautiously.
“Am I tired? Do I look like that?”
“Yes, when you came out of the break room earlier, you looked a little tired. And your face was red when you came out.”
“...Hahaha. Is that so?”
I smiled awkwardly, playing with my cheek. The negotiation I had with Linel in the break room came back to me vividly.
“Your Majesty... you had an argument, right? In the break room.”
“Oh, no. I had some differences of opinion with His Majesty, but we negotiated well, so it’s okay.”
I said it with a smile, but she didn't believe me. Rosie, who didn't know what had happened in the break room, felt sorry for me.
“Is Your Majesty very angry?”
"Angry?"
“Yes, when His Majesty called Your Majesty the Empress to the lounge, he seemed very angry, and I could occasionally hear His Majesty’s voice outside the lounge.”
“That’s right. He was really angry... you know.”
I replied, fanning my face with both hands.
“Isn’t that so? It seems to me that Your Majesty is very excited!”
“Rosie, you really... have an accurate eye for detail?”
I bit my lower lip to keep myself from laughing.
“Yes! That’s the kind of thing it is.”
Rosie replied with a bashful laugh. While we were laughing and chatting together, we arrived at her bedroom door before we knew it.
“It is an honor to have you come to my humble abode, Your Majesty the Empress.”
“I am grateful that you invited me.”
As she gestured to her attendant, the bedroom door opened. As I entered the bedroom, I looked back at her with surprised eyes.
“Hehe, even though I tried to organize it, it ended up being the same every day, so I just started leaving it like this.”
Rose smiled brightly as if she knew I would look at her with that expression.
“No, but still...”
The bedroom floor was littered with hundreds of books.
“Even if that’s true since you're a guest, isn’t it inconvenient for you to live there?”
I looked around at the numerous books strewn across the floor and asked.
“I think this will be convenient. It may look disorganized, but I organized it in my own way.”
Rosie answered proudly.
“This is it? No, this is the state?”
“Yes, Your Majesty the Empress!”
Her determined attitude left me speechless. Then, something rolled out from under the bed and stopped at my feet.
“Rosie, what is this...?”
At first, I thought it was a ball, but upon closer inspection, it was an egg. I squinted my eyes and slowly lowered myself to the marble floor, looking up at her. Rosie was staring at the egg with wide eyes. It was as if she was threatening it with her gaze.
“Is that an ostrich egg?”
When I asked while holding the egg,
“Ah, that, that is...”
“Hehe, even though I tried to organize it, it ended up being the same every day, so I just started leaving it like this.”
Rose smiled brightly as if she knew I would look at her with that expression.
“No, but still...”
The bedroom floor was littered with hundreds of books.
“Even if that’s true since you're a guest, isn’t it inconvenient for you to live there?”
I looked around at the numerous books strewn across the floor and asked.
“I think this will be convenient. It may look disorganized, but I organized it in my own way.”
Rosie answered proudly.
“This is it? No, this is the state?”
“Yes, Your Majesty the Empress!”
Her determined attitude left me speechless. Then, something rolled out from under the bed and stopped at my feet.
“Rosie, what is this...?”
At first, I thought it was a ball, but upon closer inspection, it was an egg. I squinted my eyes and slowly lowered myself to the marble floor, looking up at her. Rosie was staring at the egg with wide eyes. It was as if she was threatening it with her gaze.
“Is that an ostrich egg?”
When I asked while holding the egg,
“Ah, that, that is...”
She stuttered and looked embarrassed. Why is she doing that?
“Rosie, is this our snack?”
I laughed, turning the large egg between my two hands. Then her pupils shook violently.
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