I asked him, who was looking down at me with a furrowed brow and a big smile on his face. He snorted and showed his discomfort.
“That’s because it’s so absurd.”
"...Yes?"
“Zelda, what did you say earlier?”
“What do you mean?”
“What? You’re so handsome? You could represent all the continents, hahaha?”
He looked at me with a crooked gaze and imitated what I had said to Prince Norton. His deep, low voice had an emotion that was completely out of place.
“Your Majesty, are you jealous right now? Hahaha.”
“!”
As I spoke teasingly, Linel's expression turned grim. I quickly wiped away my smile and spoke with a firm tone befitting an Empress.
“Compared to Your Majesty, his masculinity has completely disappeared?”
“Well? I don’t know. What’s the first reason?”
"...Ah."
Oh God! Please forgive me for living in a lie every day as the acting Empress. Oh God! Please look down on him who is smiling so brightly without knowing that he is being deceived by a lie.
“But.. what is the other reason you like me?”
I asked in an expectant voice.
“I’ll tell you one every month.”
"Why?"
“I haven’t found them all yet.”
What did you say?
“...The previous order was empty, so why is the fifth reason why I keep getting prettier and better?”
“I think there are definitely bigger advantages than just looks.”
He said with a confident look in his eyes.
“Is that really the case? It seems like you just made that up, but I guess...”
“Yeah, it’s your fault.”
Because he was a man who always made jokes sound like they were true and serious remarks like they were jokes, I couldn't tell how much of what he was saying was true.
“Just wait. You’ll soon find out the rest of the reasons why I like you.”
"Yes..."
I answered indifferently and laughed it off.
“I think you have a very accurate eye.”
He spoke with admiration. It seemed as if he was referring to my assessment that Prince Norton had a face that lacked masculinity.
“My eyesight is a bit cloudy these days, just like Your Majesty, but my vision is quite accurate.”
“Yeah, you really have high standards.”
"...That's right."
I nodded happily as I watched his clown continue to climb.
“So that’s why you’re treating me like that... huh? Is that so?”
“What... Huh? Is that so?”
“This place is not normal. It’s because of me.”
Linel hit his own heart, then covered his mouth with his fist and grunted.
“Your heart was beating so hard this morning. If only I could buy a new heart somewhere, no matter how much it cost, I would buy one and put it in for you.”
“It sounds like a touching statement, but why does it sound so creepy?”
“I’m a creepy guy by nature.”
Here he is again. His habit of casually joking about his own hypothermia curse.
“That's why I put them up every night.”
I smiled and took his cold hand.
"...Yes?"
“I’m talking about body temperature.”
He laughed along with me.
“But it’s really strange. Your hands are always warm.”
He looked down at the hand he was holding and said. Thanks to you, I feel cool now...
Linel looked at Prince Norton walking in and immediately whispered in my ear.
“Phew!”
The moment my eyes met with Prince Norton's, I spurted out the black tea in my mouth like a fountain.
To my surprise, two men's hands appeared in front of me at the same time. Prince Norton took a handkerchief out of his pocket and handed it to me, and Linel...
“Don’t worry. Fortunately, it doesn’t seem to stick out much on the dress.”
He was holding his large hand in front of my mouth.
“Wipe it with this.”
Prince Norton politely handed me his handkerchief once more.
“Thank you. I’ll use it well.”
As I was about to raise my hand to receive Prince Norton's handkerchief, Linel quickly snatched it away. Prince Norton and I looked at him with bewildered expressions.
“I stopped the tea from the Empress’s mouth with my hand, so don’t I need the handkerchief? Why, was I wrong?”
“...How could that be? Your Majesty, use it as you wish. Hahaha!”
Prince Norton said with an embarrassed expression, forcing a smile.
“Thank you. I will treasure this.”
"Yes?"
“Oh, I missed the point. I have to suck it up and return it.”
I laughed at his remark, which was like a shy girl waving her handkerchief. I almost snatched Prince Norton's handkerchief from Linel's hand, both to wipe away the tea still flowing from my lips and to hide my laughter.
“I’ll borrow some too. The tea is spilled.”
I unfolded Prince Norton's handkerchief and dabbed the area around my mouth.
“Your Majesty, the black tea is on your throat...”
Prince Norton, sitting in front of me, pointed to the right side of my neck with his finger and spoke to me carefully. Thinking about it, I could really feel a drop of black tea flowing down the back of my neck and down my collarbone.
“Oh, thank you.”
I picked up Prince Norton's handkerchief that was on my lap again. But there was no need to use the handkerchief. Linel wiped the black tea flowing down my neck with his sleeve. I met eyes with Prince Norton, who was sitting in front of me. Prince Norton looked at Linel's behavior as if it was strange, and then carefully opened his mouth.
“You’re going to wash the handkerchief anyway, so why don’t you use that? Why bother using Your Majesty’s sleeve...?”
“Even if it’s a handkerchief, there are parts that can be used.”
Linel spoke solemnly as if reciting a decree.
“What do you mean...?”
Prince Norton asked back with a dumbfounded expression.
“What you say is true.”
"Yes?"
“No. I’m going to wash my clothes anyway. Is that your answer?”
“Ah, yes... Your Majesty.”
Linnell changed the subject naturally and nonchalantly, looking at Prince Norton's bewildered face.
“The Prince will naturally participate in the hunt, right?”
“Yes.”
“Do you usually enjoy hunting?”
“We only catch game that needs to be caught.”
There seemed to be some substance to Prince Norton's words.
“You’re the type who sets a target and hunts.”
“That’s the kind of thing it is.”
“I guess that means you have that much skill?”
Linel looked him up and down and asked.
“You are too kind.”
Knock knock.
“Stiane, you must be especially careful as they're are guests of the Empress’s home country, the Kingdom of Shattonil.”
“Is there anything to be said, Your Majesty? And according to the report from the gate, one more person is accompanying Prince Tesla.”
“Really? Who is that?”
“This is Princess Resilia.”
“!”
The Princess came too?!
“Prince Tesla’s sister?”
“Yes, Your Majesty. Oh my, what a surprise!”
Stiane was startled and took a step back because of me who suddenly stood up. To be exact... because of me and Prince Norton. I was surprised to hear that Princess Resilia was with me, so I stood up, but why on earth did the Prince stand up with such an excited expression?
“The Empress seems very pleased to hear that guests have arrived from her home country.”
Linel also said, rising from his chair. Fortunately, he did not seem to see the look of confusion on my face.
“But Prince, why do you look so pale? You look so surprised.”
He narrowed his eyes and asked Prince Norton. I too was curious as to why.
“I, I... I heard that the Princess of the Kingdom of Shattonil also came. I remember hearing rumors that she was a great beauty...”
Linel burst into laughter as Prince Norton stammered in response.
“Wow, you really have an honest side. Hahaha.”
“That’s right. Of course, for any man... wouldn’t it be so?”
When I saw Prince Norton, who always seemed relaxed, stutter, I had a feeling. It was clear that he had fallen in love with Princess Resilia when he saw her face at the palace while staying at the Shattonil royal family as a mercenary knight.
“That’s because it’s so absurd.”
"...Yes?"
“Zelda, what did you say earlier?”
“What do you mean?”
“What? You’re so handsome? You could represent all the continents, hahaha?”
He looked at me with a crooked gaze and imitated what I had said to Prince Norton. His deep, low voice had an emotion that was completely out of place.
“Your Majesty, are you jealous right now? Hahaha.”
“!”
As I spoke teasingly, Linel's expression turned grim. I quickly wiped away my smile and spoke with a firm tone befitting an Empress.
“I was just complimenting him out of courtesy. He is a distinguished guest.”
“That’s... that’s something you only do to those pitiful Southern Continent guys!”
He said in a growl. He also secretly acknowledged that Prince Norton was handsome.
“Yes! That’s right.”
"What?"
“I complimented him on purpose because I looked pitiful to him?”
His eyes slightly wavered at my lie.
“Don’t you think I should be more polite when compared to Your Majesty’s appearance?”
The furrow between his eyebrows, which had been narrowed, began to slowly open.
“So... you’re saying that Prince Norton’s face is not very good in your eyes?”
Linel pointed to the audience room door with his finger and asked. A half-baked face? He was once again evaluating Prince Norton's appearance. Eight, it feels good. I decided to try to please him a little more.
“That’s... that’s something you only do to those pitiful Southern Continent guys!”
He said in a growl. He also secretly acknowledged that Prince Norton was handsome.
“Yes! That’s right.”
"What?"
“I complimented him on purpose because I looked pitiful to him?”
His eyes slightly wavered at my lie.
“Don’t you think I should be more polite when compared to Your Majesty’s appearance?”
The furrow between his eyebrows, which had been narrowed, began to slowly open.
“So... you’re saying that Prince Norton’s face is not very good in your eyes?”
Linel pointed to the audience room door with his finger and asked. A half-baked face? He was once again evaluating Prince Norton's appearance. Eight, it feels good. I decided to try to please him a little more.
“Not so good, are you being generous with your evaluation?”
"... Yes?"
"... Yes?"
“Compared to Your Majesty, his masculinity has completely disappeared?”
That's it. Linel's clown moved. There was no sound, but his face was already bursting into laughter.
“Ugh, why do I like you?”
Linel nudged my arm with his elbow and whispered,
“You keep getting prettier?”
“That’s the fifth reason. The first reason.”
Linel nudged my arm with his elbow and whispered,
“You keep getting prettier?”
“That’s the fifth reason. The first reason.”
...There are five reasons why you like me?
“Well? I don’t know. What’s the first reason?”
“Be honest.”
“!”
“Because you can’t lie.”
“!”
“Because you can’t lie.”
"...Ah."
Oh God! Please forgive me for living in a lie every day as the acting Empress. Oh God! Please look down on him who is smiling so brightly without knowing that he is being deceived by a lie.
“But.. what is the other reason you like me?”
I asked in an expectant voice.
“I’ll tell you one every month.”
"Why?"
“I haven’t found them all yet.”
What did you say?
“...The previous order was empty, so why is the fifth reason why I keep getting prettier and better?”
“I think there are definitely bigger advantages than just looks.”
He said with a confident look in his eyes.
“Is that really the case? It seems like you just made that up, but I guess...”
“Yeah, it’s your fault.”
Because he was a man who always made jokes sound like they were true and serious remarks like they were jokes, I couldn't tell how much of what he was saying was true.
“Just wait. You’ll soon find out the rest of the reasons why I like you.”
"Yes..."
I answered indifferently and laughed it off.
“I think you have a very accurate eye.”
He spoke with admiration. It seemed as if he was referring to my assessment that Prince Norton had a face that lacked masculinity.
“My eyesight is a bit cloudy these days, just like Your Majesty, but my vision is quite accurate.”
“Yeah, you really have high standards.”
"...That's right."
I nodded happily as I watched his clown continue to climb.
“So that’s why you’re treating me like that... huh? Is that so?”
“What... Huh? Is that so?”
“This place is not normal. It’s because of me.”
Linel hit his own heart, then covered his mouth with his fist and grunted.
“Your heart was beating so hard this morning. If only I could buy a new heart somewhere, no matter how much it cost, I would buy one and put it in for you.”
“It sounds like a touching statement, but why does it sound so creepy?”
“I’m a creepy guy by nature.”
Here he is again. His habit of casually joking about his own hypothermia curse.
“That's why I put them up every night.”
I smiled and took his cold hand.
"...Yes?"
“I’m talking about body temperature.”
He laughed along with me.
“But it’s really strange. Your hands are always warm.”
He looked down at the hand he was holding and said. Thanks to you, I feel cool now...
He and I felt opposite body temperatures and were happy at the same time. This is how we are becoming each other’s necessary beings. No, we have already become one. How much longer can this happiness last?
As that thought suddenly occurred to me, my brightly smiling expression slowly softened.
“Shall I sit down and wait? I can finish drinking the tea I was drinking earlier.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
We sat on the chairs next to each other and waited for Prince Norton. Linel picked up a document on the table. While he was looking at the document, I held my teacup with both hands and blew heat into it. The cold black tea quickly became warm enough to drink. I quickly exchanged the cup he was drinking with mine.
“Drink, Your Majesty.”
I naturally put my tea in his hand.
“Hmm? It looks like the tea isn’t cold yet?”
“Really? It seems similar to before.”
I took a sip of the black tea he was drinking and pretended not to notice.
“Isn’t it...?”
He shrugged his shoulders and drank the tea I had warmed with my own hands without much hesitation.
“Shall I sit down and wait? I can finish drinking the tea I was drinking earlier.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
We sat on the chairs next to each other and waited for Prince Norton. Linel picked up a document on the table. While he was looking at the document, I held my teacup with both hands and blew heat into it. The cold black tea quickly became warm enough to drink. I quickly exchanged the cup he was drinking with mine.
“Drink, Your Majesty.”
I naturally put my tea in his hand.
“Hmm? It looks like the tea isn’t cold yet?”
“Really? It seems similar to before.”
I took a sip of the black tea he was drinking and pretended not to notice.
“Isn’t it...?”
He shrugged his shoulders and drank the tea I had warmed with my own hands without much hesitation.
“But something still feels strange?”
He lifted his mouth from the teacup, looked carefully into the teacup, and spoke again. At that moment, the door to the audience room opened.
“Here we go. The missing man.”
He lifted his mouth from the teacup, looked carefully into the teacup, and spoke again. At that moment, the door to the audience room opened.
“Here we go. The missing man.”
Linel looked at Prince Norton walking in and immediately whispered in my ear.
“Phew!”
The moment my eyes met with Prince Norton's, I spurted out the black tea in my mouth like a fountain.
To my surprise, two men's hands appeared in front of me at the same time. Prince Norton took a handkerchief out of his pocket and handed it to me, and Linel...
“Don’t worry. Fortunately, it doesn’t seem to stick out much on the dress.”
He was holding his large hand in front of my mouth.
Oh my! What a disgrace this is in front of the prince of a foreign country.
I am the Empress of the Lapion Empire, but how dare I show such a shabby appearance. No, not to mention that how dare I spit tea on the Emperor’s hand!
But since Linel voluntarily put his hand over my mouth like a mask, it won’t be a problem later, right?
“Wipe it with this.”
Prince Norton politely handed me his handkerchief once more.
“Thank you. I’ll use it well.”
As I was about to raise my hand to receive Prince Norton's handkerchief, Linel quickly snatched it away. Prince Norton and I looked at him with bewildered expressions.
“I stopped the tea from the Empress’s mouth with my hand, so don’t I need the handkerchief? Why, was I wrong?”
“...How could that be? Your Majesty, use it as you wish. Hahaha!”
Prince Norton said with an embarrassed expression, forcing a smile.
“Thank you. I will treasure this.”
"Yes?"
“Oh, I missed the point. I have to suck it up and return it.”
I laughed at his remark, which was like a shy girl waving her handkerchief. I almost snatched Prince Norton's handkerchief from Linel's hand, both to wipe away the tea still flowing from my lips and to hide my laughter.
“I’ll borrow some too. The tea is spilled.”
I unfolded Prince Norton's handkerchief and dabbed the area around my mouth.
“Your Majesty, the black tea is on your throat...”
Prince Norton, sitting in front of me, pointed to the right side of my neck with his finger and spoke to me carefully. Thinking about it, I could really feel a drop of black tea flowing down the back of my neck and down my collarbone.
“Oh, thank you.”
I picked up Prince Norton's handkerchief that was on my lap again. But there was no need to use the handkerchief. Linel wiped the black tea flowing down my neck with his sleeve. I met eyes with Prince Norton, who was sitting in front of me. Prince Norton looked at Linel's behavior as if it was strange, and then carefully opened his mouth.
“You’re going to wash the handkerchief anyway, so why don’t you use that? Why bother using Your Majesty’s sleeve...?”
“Even if it’s a handkerchief, there are parts that can be used.”
Linel spoke solemnly as if reciting a decree.
“What do you mean...?”
Prince Norton asked back with a dumbfounded expression.
“What you say is true.”
"Yes?"
“No. I’m going to wash my clothes anyway. Is that your answer?”
“Ah, yes... Your Majesty.”
Linnell changed the subject naturally and nonchalantly, looking at Prince Norton's bewildered face.
“The Prince will naturally participate in the hunt, right?”
“Yes.”
“Do you usually enjoy hunting?”
“We only catch game that needs to be caught.”
There seemed to be some substance to Prince Norton's words.
“You’re the type who sets a target and hunts.”
“That’s the kind of thing it is.”
“I guess that means you have that much skill?”
Linel looked him up and down and asked.
“You are too kind.”
Knock knock.
The conversation was interrupted by another knock. This time, it was the attendant.
“Stiane, what’s going on?”
“Your Majesty, I hear that the carriage of the Kingdom of Shattonil has just entered the palace.”
Where... the Kingdom of Shattonil? Prince Tesla has arrived?!
“Oh, by the way, I forgot to tell the Empress. Prince Tesla sent word that he would be visiting briefly before the hunting competition.”
Linel smiled gently and spoke to me.
"Yes..."
I couldn't tell what kind of expression I was making right now. I had heard from Grand Duke Martins that Prince Tesla would visit the Lapion Empire before the hunting competition, but I had no idea that it was today. I pretended to be gentle on the outside, but my eyes were instinctively looking for something that could be a weapon.
“Stiane, what’s going on?”
“Your Majesty, I hear that the carriage of the Kingdom of Shattonil has just entered the palace.”
Where... the Kingdom of Shattonil? Prince Tesla has arrived?!
“Oh, by the way, I forgot to tell the Empress. Prince Tesla sent word that he would be visiting briefly before the hunting competition.”
Linel smiled gently and spoke to me.
"Yes..."
I couldn't tell what kind of expression I was making right now. I had heard from Grand Duke Martins that Prince Tesla would visit the Lapion Empire before the hunting competition, but I had no idea that it was today. I pretended to be gentle on the outside, but my eyes were instinctively looking for something that could be a weapon.
When I saw Prince Tesla, I wanted to point a knife at his vulgar neck right away. If I had just a fountain pen in my hand instead of a knife, I was confident that I could cut off Prince Tesla's windpipe in an instant.
When I saw the Prince, I wanted to ask him something. Why did he do that to Bonis? Where was she now?
“Stiane, you must be especially careful as they're are guests of the Empress’s home country, the Kingdom of Shattonil.”
“Is there anything to be said, Your Majesty? And according to the report from the gate, one more person is accompanying Prince Tesla.”
“Really? Who is that?”
“This is Princess Resilia.”
“!”
The Princess came too?!
“Prince Tesla’s sister?”
“Yes, Your Majesty. Oh my, what a surprise!”
Stiane was startled and took a step back because of me who suddenly stood up. To be exact... because of me and Prince Norton. I was surprised to hear that Princess Resilia was with me, so I stood up, but why on earth did the Prince stand up with such an excited expression?
“The Empress seems very pleased to hear that guests have arrived from her home country.”
Linel also said, rising from his chair. Fortunately, he did not seem to see the look of confusion on my face.
“But Prince, why do you look so pale? You look so surprised.”
He narrowed his eyes and asked Prince Norton. I too was curious as to why.
“I, I... I heard that the Princess of the Kingdom of Shattonil also came. I remember hearing rumors that she was a great beauty...”
Linel burst into laughter as Prince Norton stammered in response.
“Wow, you really have an honest side. Hahaha.”
“That’s right. Of course, for any man... wouldn’t it be so?”
When I saw Prince Norton, who always seemed relaxed, stutter, I had a feeling. It was clear that he had fallen in love with Princess Resilia when he saw her face at the palace while staying at the Shattonil royal family as a mercenary knight.
Anyway, men. I suddenly felt uneasy. Linel too... What if he fell in love with Princess Resilia when he saw her?
The Princess's beautiful face vividly appeared in my head. Haa, it was funny how I was worrying about such an obvious thing. There wouldn't be any man who wouldn't fall in love with Princess Resilia.
Thump thump thump.
My heart began to beat violently, unable to overcome my anxiety. Linel spoke to me and Prince Norton.
“Shall we all go out together to meet the guests?”
And he extended his hand to me. I had to go with him to greet Princess Resilia.
“Shall we all go out together to meet the guests?”
And he extended his hand to me. I had to go with him to greet Princess Resilia.
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