“Ah, hahaha! If Your Majesty the Empress wishes, then by all means...”
Rosie said with the corners of her lips raised as if she was about to cry. I don't know what it is, but is it a precious egg? I was just joking. I thought to myself as I watched Rosie panic. But then she suddenly shouted lively.
“If Your Majesty the Empress wants to eat it, of course, it must be broken!”
“Really? But isn’t this something you treasure? It’s for decoration, you know.”
“I have nothing to spare, so I keep those eggs... No, I don’t spare them at all. They’re not even good for decoration. They just roll around too much.”
“To whom?”
“To the person who entrusted this to me.”
“Hmm, when I look at it... it looks a bit different from an ostrich egg. Isn’t it ready to hatch?”
I asked, tapping the egg with the back of my hand.
“Absolutely not. If it had hatched, it should have hatched 300 years ago... Oh, no, it would have hatched before that. I just want to throw it away, but I’m still attached to it.”
She knelt down, took a basket out from under the bed, and put the eggs into it.
“Huh? Rosie, didn’t the egg just move?”
I bent down and tilted my head, looking down at the egg.
“...Yes? I don’t know at all, absolutely not!”
“Rosie replied, pressing the egg with one hand.
“I just felt like the egg was moving left and right.”
Did I see something wrong?
“Could this really be... trying to hatch?”
I straightened my back again and smiled.
“Ah, haha, that’s amazing! I’ll have to keep an eye out for it tonight.”
Rosie kicked the basket with her toe, sending it back under the bed, and changed the subject.
“Oh, by the way, Your Majesty! How about we serve you some lemon cake with some refreshing pomegranate juice? The lemon cake made by the servant I brought from my home is surprisingly delicious!”
“Really? I was a little out of the blue, is that so?”
“Yes! Please put down those useless eggs that you can’t even eat, and I’ll take you to the terrace.”
Rosie went out with me to the terrace and ordered her servant to bring her some lemon cake. We sat down facing each other at a table outside on the terrace.
“Your Majesty, the weather looks really nice.”
“Yes, the view from the terrace is great.”
I looked up at the sky and replied.
“He didn’t ask me a single question about the Princess. On the contrary, when I even mentioned the Princess, he glared at me as if he was going to kill me. Oh, and he actually tried to kill me a couple of times.”
Sir Rolf said with an indignant face.
“Hmm, is that so? It’s been a while since I’ve seen something so interesting.”
Grand Duke Martins folded Prince Norton's letter in half again with an expression of interest. The letter was roughly as follows. Norton would arrive at the Lapion Imperial Court before his older brother, the second Prince Calvin, and until Calvin arrived, he would be entrusted with all authority on behalf of the Patsha Empire.
“Sir Rolf, are you sure that Prince Tesla is bringing Princess Resilia?”
“That’s for sure. I guess it’s a plan to get Princess Resilia to catch Emperor Linel’s eye during the Continental Hunting Competition?”
“That’s right. But what should I do? I’ve encountered a huge obstacle that I never expected...”
A gentle smile spread across the Grand Duke's face.
“Anyway, one more guest from the Lapion Empire has visited the Hunting Competition beforehand.”
“But, would Prince Norton and Princess Resilia ever run into each other here?”
“If it doesn’t exist, we have to make it.”
Grand Duke Martins muttered with a meaningful look in his eyes.
“Isn’t that a knife fight?”
“Isn’t it strange that I don’t get it?”
“Then, wouldn’t Prince Tesla’s plans, including the Emperor's remarriage, all fall apart?”
Sir Rolf asked in a confidential voice.
“You keep a close eye on Prince Tesla. He will definitely meet the spy he planted at least once.”
“Yes, then I guess I will know who the messenger who brings news of the imperial family is.”
“Yes. So you keep a close eye on the Prince.”
Grand Duke Martins patted Sir Rolf on the shoulder and said:
“Yes, Your Highness. Don’t worry.”
“Oh, by the way, when is Prince Norton arriving?”
“The Delroy Empire. It can be said to be the second largest power in the Southern Continent. Although it is weaker than the most powerful Patsha Empire, the Imperial Knights of the Delroy Empire are famous for their bravery.”
“Is Emperor Katria married...?”
I asked him a question and wondered why I asked it. It was just curiosity, but when I heard that she was the Empress, I became even more nervous.
“I don’t think she has done it yet. But there are governments. Maybe they will participate in the hunting competition together?”
“Ah, I see.”
“She is as beautiful as she is cruel.”
“How do you know?”
“I know because I saw her in the Valley of Death. Right before I lost my sight.”
Commander Macrom muttered with a hazy expression as if reminiscing.
“What a relief...”
“What is it?”
“Because I lost my eyesight after seeing the beauty of the Emperor Katria.”
Macrom replied with a hearty laugh.
“...Ah, yes.”
She was a female Empress who was not only skilled in swordsmanship but also beautiful. I was curious about what it would be like to meet her in person.
“What about the remaining empires on the Southern Continent?”
“The Tebello Empire? It was originally the closest country to the Northern Continent. It also had the most active trade. Emperor Adrian Meltin of the Tebello Empire was also the person who opposed war the most throughout the continent.”
“I see. I heard that the Parsha Empire, where the Prince’s Rebellion occurred not long ago, will soon have its Second Prince, Calvin, ascend to the throne.”
“That’s right. Among the seven Princes, the First Prince, born to the Empress, has been eliminated, and the Second Prince, Calvin, born to a concubine, is trying to gain the recognition of the ministers before ascending to the throne.”
When the topic of the Parsha Empire came up, Commander Macrom lowered his voice. He even came closer to me and covered his mouth with his hand as he spoke.
“Commander, why do you whisper about the Parsha Empire as if it were such a secret?”
“That’s what I mean..."
“It must be because of me.”
A man suddenly appeared at the entrance of the training ground without any sign of life. Captain Macrom quickly turned his head toward the direction of the sound, scratched his head, and spoke.
“Ahaha, Prince Norton. Are you still gone?”
Who is it? I stared at the man walking toward me.
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Rosie said with the corners of her lips raised as if she was about to cry. I don't know what it is, but is it a precious egg? I was just joking. I thought to myself as I watched Rosie panic. But then she suddenly shouted lively.
“If Your Majesty the Empress wants to eat it, of course, it must be broken!”
“Really? But isn’t this something you treasure? It’s for decoration, you know.”
“I have nothing to spare, so I keep those eggs... No, I don’t spare them at all. They’re not even good for decoration. They just roll around too much.”
Rosie said, crossing her arms.
“Really? Then should I really eat it as a snack?”
I handed the egg I was holding to Rosie and said playfully.
“Should I just break it now?”
Rosie bit the egg as if she was going to slam it on the marble floor at any moment. I laughed at her appearance.
“I’m kidding. But is that really an ostrich egg?”
“...I’m not sure, but, I heard that.”
“Really? Then should I really eat it as a snack?”
I handed the egg I was holding to Rosie and said playfully.
“Should I just break it now?”
Rosie bit the egg as if she was going to slam it on the marble floor at any moment. I laughed at her appearance.
“I’m kidding. But is that really an ostrich egg?”
“...I’m not sure, but, I heard that.”
“To whom?”
“To the person who entrusted this to me.”
“Hmm, when I look at it... it looks a bit different from an ostrich egg. Isn’t it ready to hatch?”
I asked, tapping the egg with the back of my hand.
“Absolutely not. If it had hatched, it should have hatched 300 years ago... Oh, no, it would have hatched before that. I just want to throw it away, but I’m still attached to it.”
She knelt down, took a basket out from under the bed, and put the eggs into it.
“Huh? Rosie, didn’t the egg just move?”
I bent down and tilted my head, looking down at the egg.
“...Yes? I don’t know at all, absolutely not!”
“Rosie replied, pressing the egg with one hand.
“I just felt like the egg was moving left and right.”
Did I see something wrong?
“Could this really be... trying to hatch?”
I straightened my back again and smiled.
“Ah, haha, that’s amazing! I’ll have to keep an eye out for it tonight.”
Rosie kicked the basket with her toe, sending it back under the bed, and changed the subject.
“Oh, by the way, Your Majesty! How about we serve you some lemon cake with some refreshing pomegranate juice? The lemon cake made by the servant I brought from my home is surprisingly delicious!”
“Really? I was a little out of the blue, is that so?”
“Yes! Please put down those useless eggs that you can’t even eat, and I’ll take you to the terrace.”
Rosie went out with me to the terrace and ordered her servant to bring her some lemon cake. We sat down facing each other at a table outside on the terrace.
“Your Majesty, the weather looks really nice.”
“Yes, the view from the terrace is great.”
I looked up at the sky and replied.
***
Zelda and Rosie began to chat outside on the terrace, and inside the bedroom, the wyvern egg began to change. A red light flashed inside the egg and disappeared repeatedly. Then, cracks began to appear in the wyvern egg that had been solid for 300 years and pop-!
A small, black baby wyvern head burst through the eggshell with a 'pop!'
“Oh, it’s that easy! You’ve been locked up for 300 years, Moiya?”
The baby wyvern, who had been looking around the bedroom with only its head sticking out of the egg, suddenly jumped out of the egg.
“Hmm? But where did our master go? Oh, he’s over there, Moiya.”
The baby wyvern grabbed hold of one of the bedposts. Its small head began to wiggle around the bedpost, peeking out from the terrace.
“Hello? Master...”
“Oh, it’s that easy! You’ve been locked up for 300 years, Moiya?”
The baby wyvern, who had been looking around the bedroom with only its head sticking out of the egg, suddenly jumped out of the egg.
“Hmm? But where did our master go? Oh, he’s over there, Moiya.”
The baby wyvern grabbed hold of one of the bedposts. Its small head began to wiggle around the bedpost, peeking out from the terrace.
“Hello? Master...”
***
Grand Duke Martins read and reread the letter that Sir Rolf brought several times. The person who delivered the letter to him was Norton, who had run away with Princess Resilia in the middle of the night, fell off a cliff and survived as a knight.
The third Prince of the Patsha Empire, Norton Asalman. The person he had thought was just a wandering mercenary, but he was actually the Prince of the greatest power in the Southern Continent. Grand Duke Martins had saved such a person. Not only that, but the Grand Duke suddenly became his benefactor who saved his son. Grand Duke Martins had been secretly watching how Prince Norton would act after recovering.
“Did Prince Norton say anything else?”
He asked Sir Rolf as he folded Prince Norton's letter.
“He didn’t have any special message other than the letter. He did ask about various things about Her Majesty.”
“What about Her Majesty the Empress?”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“What were you curious about?”
“I asked how your relationship with Emperor Linel was, how you were adjusting to life in the Lapion Imperial Palace, and how close you were with Prince Tesla.”
“Really? That’s strange. I thought he’d be curious about Princess Resilia...”
“Did Prince Norton say anything else?”
He asked Sir Rolf as he folded Prince Norton's letter.
“He didn’t have any special message other than the letter. He did ask about various things about Her Majesty.”
“What about Her Majesty the Empress?”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“What were you curious about?”
“I asked how your relationship with Emperor Linel was, how you were adjusting to life in the Lapion Imperial Palace, and how close you were with Prince Tesla.”
“Really? That’s strange. I thought he’d be curious about Princess Resilia...”
“He didn’t ask me a single question about the Princess. On the contrary, when I even mentioned the Princess, he glared at me as if he was going to kill me. Oh, and he actually tried to kill me a couple of times.”
Sir Rolf said with an indignant face.
“Hmm, is that so? It’s been a while since I’ve seen something so interesting.”
Grand Duke Martins folded Prince Norton's letter in half again with an expression of interest. The letter was roughly as follows. Norton would arrive at the Lapion Imperial Court before his older brother, the second Prince Calvin, and until Calvin arrived, he would be entrusted with all authority on behalf of the Patsha Empire.
“Sir Rolf, are you sure that Prince Tesla is bringing Princess Resilia?”
“That’s for sure. I guess it’s a plan to get Princess Resilia to catch Emperor Linel’s eye during the Continental Hunting Competition?”
“That’s right. But what should I do? I’ve encountered a huge obstacle that I never expected...”
A gentle smile spread across the Grand Duke's face.
“Anyway, one more guest from the Lapion Empire has visited the Hunting Competition beforehand.”
“But, would Prince Norton and Princess Resilia ever run into each other here?”
“If it doesn’t exist, we have to make it.”
Grand Duke Martins muttered with a meaningful look in his eyes.
“Isn’t that a knife fight?”
“Isn’t it strange that I don’t get it?”
“Then, wouldn’t Prince Tesla’s plans, including the Emperor's remarriage, all fall apart?”
Sir Rolf asked in a confidential voice.
“You keep a close eye on Prince Tesla. He will definitely meet the spy he planted at least once.”
“Yes, then I guess I will know who the messenger who brings news of the imperial family is.”
“Yes. So you keep a close eye on the Prince.”
Grand Duke Martins patted Sir Rolf on the shoulder and said:
“Yes, Your Highness. Don’t worry.”
“Oh, by the way, when is Prince Norton arriving?”
***
I headed to the training ground with a relaxed mind. Today, I moved after hearing the news that Linel had just attended a meeting with the ministers and priests. Therefore, there was no chance that he would barge in unexpectedly like last time. Even if he came looking for my bedroom, it would be very late, so I had plenty of time to spend in the training ground. Like last time, I escaped through the back door connected to the laundry room and ran through the field. There were hardly any people walking around the Empress’s Palace garden at this hour, but it was safe to run without stopping until I entered the cypress forest path leading to the training ground.
I walked slowly, enjoying the refreshing air as I entered the forest path. The training ground was empty as expected. I cautiously went inside, looked around for a moment, and walked straight to the weapons display case. My eyes began to get used to the darkness as I walked. Just like that time, I pulled out a sword from the weapons display case.
“It wasn’t there last time?”
Turning back, I noticed several bows displayed on one side. They seemed to have been brought there for the knights’ practice, perhaps because they were aware of the hunting competition. I put the sword down on the display stand and picked up the bow instead. I pulled the bowstring in various directions. In fact, I was more used to a slingshot than a bow, but the feeling of shooting a bow was not bad. The feeling of hitting a target while running as one with a horse gave me a similar sense of pleasure as when I stabbed an opponent’s weak point with a sword.
“It wasn’t there last time?”
Turning back, I noticed several bows displayed on one side. They seemed to have been brought there for the knights’ practice, perhaps because they were aware of the hunting competition. I put the sword down on the display stand and picked up the bow instead. I pulled the bowstring in various directions. In fact, I was more used to a slingshot than a bow, but the feeling of shooting a bow was not bad. The feeling of hitting a target while running as one with a horse gave me a similar sense of pleasure as when I stabbed an opponent’s weak point with a sword.
As I pulled the bowstring, a thought suddenly occurred to me. My life right now is like this bowstring that is tightly pulled. A fate where I don’t know when, where, or how it will fly. I don’t even know how many arrows of opportunity I have left...
I put the bow back in its place and picked up the sword.
Swish.
The solemn sound of the blade that I heard every time I pulled the sword out of its scabbard excited every joint of my spine. In fact, I was so happy to hear that the Empresses of the Southern Continent and some of their concubines were participating in the hunting competition. Because I could escape from the static life for a while. Because I could ride a horse and hold a sword and a bow. But I had to be careful when hunting, right?
There would be many eyes watching me from all over the hunting grounds, so I had to be careful. Suddenly, I became curious about the martial arts skills of the women of the Southern Continent. Since I had no information about them, I had no choice but to experience it myself. As I was about to raise my sword,
“See you again.”
“Commander Macrom?”
"Yes."
At the entrance of the training ground, Commander Macrom walked in. I confirmed that he was the commander and turned on a lamp on the wall. Unlike the last time I saw him, he was sweating. It seemed like he had just finished sparring with someone.
“Hello, Commander. Have you been practicing swordsmanship outside the training grounds?”
“That’s right. It’s been a while since I’ve sweated a bit in the forest.”
Although Commander Macrom looked tired, he seemed to be in quite good spirits.
“Bonis, do you have permission from Her Majesty the Empress to go around?”
He asked jokingly.
"...Sure."
When I heard Bonis' name come out of Commander Macrom's mouth, I was momentarily taken aback. It felt strange that he remembered Bonis' name and called me by that.
“You must be nervous about holding a hunting competition. You have to protect Her Majesty the Empress among the women of the Southern Continent. In particular, you should know that Empress Katria has a very rough temper.”
“Is there a female Emperor among the countries of the Southern Continent?”
“Didn’t you know?”
“Yes, this is the first time I’ve heard of it.”
“Well, it’s only been a while since they put up a puppet Emperor and then came to the forefront, so I guess they might not know.”
“A puppet Emperor?”
“Yes, externally, he was the Emperor. The real power was the Emperor’s younger sister who held all military power. She was also active in the last war in the Valley of Death. In the end, after the war, she murdered her brother, the Emperor, and became the female Empress herself.”
“That empire...”
“See you again.”
“Commander Macrom?”
"Yes."
At the entrance of the training ground, Commander Macrom walked in. I confirmed that he was the commander and turned on a lamp on the wall. Unlike the last time I saw him, he was sweating. It seemed like he had just finished sparring with someone.
“Hello, Commander. Have you been practicing swordsmanship outside the training grounds?”
“That’s right. It’s been a while since I’ve sweated a bit in the forest.”
Although Commander Macrom looked tired, he seemed to be in quite good spirits.
“Bonis, do you have permission from Her Majesty the Empress to go around?”
He asked jokingly.
"...Sure."
When I heard Bonis' name come out of Commander Macrom's mouth, I was momentarily taken aback. It felt strange that he remembered Bonis' name and called me by that.
“You must be nervous about holding a hunting competition. You have to protect Her Majesty the Empress among the women of the Southern Continent. In particular, you should know that Empress Katria has a very rough temper.”
“Is there a female Emperor among the countries of the Southern Continent?”
“Didn’t you know?”
“Yes, this is the first time I’ve heard of it.”
“Well, it’s only been a while since they put up a puppet Emperor and then came to the forefront, so I guess they might not know.”
“A puppet Emperor?”
“Yes, externally, he was the Emperor. The real power was the Emperor’s younger sister who held all military power. She was also active in the last war in the Valley of Death. In the end, after the war, she murdered her brother, the Emperor, and became the female Empress herself.”
“That empire...”
“The Delroy Empire. It can be said to be the second largest power in the Southern Continent. Although it is weaker than the most powerful Patsha Empire, the Imperial Knights of the Delroy Empire are famous for their bravery.”
“Is Emperor Katria married...?”
I asked him a question and wondered why I asked it. It was just curiosity, but when I heard that she was the Empress, I became even more nervous.
“I don’t think she has done it yet. But there are governments. Maybe they will participate in the hunting competition together?”
“Ah, I see.”
“She is as beautiful as she is cruel.”
“How do you know?”
“I know because I saw her in the Valley of Death. Right before I lost my sight.”
Commander Macrom muttered with a hazy expression as if reminiscing.
“What a relief...”
“What is it?”
“Because I lost my eyesight after seeing the beauty of the Emperor Katria.”
Macrom replied with a hearty laugh.
“...Ah, yes.”
She was a female Empress who was not only skilled in swordsmanship but also beautiful. I was curious about what it would be like to meet her in person.
“What about the remaining empires on the Southern Continent?”
“The Tebello Empire? It was originally the closest country to the Northern Continent. It also had the most active trade. Emperor Adrian Meltin of the Tebello Empire was also the person who opposed war the most throughout the continent.”
“I see. I heard that the Parsha Empire, where the Prince’s Rebellion occurred not long ago, will soon have its Second Prince, Calvin, ascend to the throne.”
“That’s right. Among the seven Princes, the First Prince, born to the Empress, has been eliminated, and the Second Prince, Calvin, born to a concubine, is trying to gain the recognition of the ministers before ascending to the throne.”
When the topic of the Parsha Empire came up, Commander Macrom lowered his voice. He even came closer to me and covered his mouth with his hand as he spoke.
“Commander, why do you whisper about the Parsha Empire as if it were such a secret?”
“That’s what I mean..."
“It must be because of me.”
A man suddenly appeared at the entrance of the training ground without any sign of life. Captain Macrom quickly turned his head toward the direction of the sound, scratched his head, and spoke.
“Ahaha, Prince Norton. Are you still gone?”
Who is it? I stared at the man walking toward me.
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