I tried to raise the corners of my mouth to follow Linel’s smile, but it didn’t work as I wanted. It felt like there was metal hanging from the corners of my mouth. As I was about to walk away with him, Raphael appeared in front of the open door of the audience room and gave a slight nod.
“Your Majesty, before you go down to the lobby, there is a document the High Priest has submitted that I would like you to sign urgently.”
“Really? Since I’m leaving anyway, let me take a look at your desk for a moment.”
“Yes, I already have it spread out on the table.”
Raphael opened the door in the center of the left side of the waiting room of the audience room. It was a door that directly led to the Emperor's office. In the middle of the passage leading to the office, there was a desk where the secretary could occasionally work. Raphael probably left some papers on the desk.
“Your Majesty, please wait here for a moment. It’s a matter that only requires a signature, so it won’t take long.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
He gave a long smile at my short answer. He withdrew his smile and looked at Prince Norton, who was standing there blankly.
“Come to think of it, I don’t think the Prince needs to meet the distinguished guests of Shattonil today. After all, when the hunting competition is held, there will be a chance to meet them formally then.”
“If Your Majesty permits, I would also like to join you in greeting them.”
Linel shrugged one shoulder at Prince Norton's answer.
“Well, there’s no reason why it wouldn’t work. It’s not a bad idea to get to know each other beforehand.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty.”
'Are you doing this because you want to see Princess Resilia?'
I glanced at Prince Norton and thought. When Prince Norton stayed at the Shattonil royal court, he was a mere mercenary, so he would not have had a chance to speak directly with the two siblings. I wanted to tell the Prince about their true identity but held back.
“Then I will go and sign the papers, so you two can come out slowly.”
Linel left the throne room, leaving me and Prince Norton behind.
“Oh, it seems like the ventilation isn’t very good today, so just leave the door open.”
He shouted a command to the attendant who was about to close the door. There is no ventilation? I didn't feel it at all? I tilted my head, chewing over what he had said.
“I guess Your Majesty is concerned about leaving Her Majesty the Empress and I alone.”
Prince Norton came up to me and spoke secretly.
“So you ordered me to leave the door open?”
The Prince nodded and smiled lightly at my question. I smiled and thought, “No way.” Then, my mood sank again at the thought of facing Prince Tesla. I tried to act calmly, but my anger was on the verge of boiling over, like a pot.
“Uh. Sorry.”
“Oh. I’m sorry.”
As I left the audience room with my eyes on the floor, I bumped into Prince Norton's shoulder. We apologized at the same time. I was half out of my mind because of the unwelcome guests, but why did Prince Norton look so dazed?
“I was so excited to meet the distinguished guests of Shattonil that I didn’t look around. I apologize, Your Majesty the Empress.”
He apologized again. I looked at Prince Norton's face. Why would he lie? Contrary to the Prince's words that he was excited, he looked clearly uncomfortable.
“No. I was also very happy that the distinguished guests of my country had come... I couldn’t see the Prince because I was in a bad mood. However, the Prince’s face doesn’t look as good as before, doesn’t it?”
“Your Majesty the Empress’s face suddenly turned pale.”
In response to Prince Norton's counter-question, I answered with my voice as low as possible.
I confessed my feelings without realizing it. It was up to Prince Norton to decide what he would think of them.
“In fact, I do too, Your Majesty the Empress.”
Prince Norton’s answer was unexpected. This time, his words and expressions seemed to match. Of course, I could have interpreted the Prince’s words in my own way. However, even though I couldn’t explain it clearly, I felt a strange sense of kinship with Prince Norton. The anger that was suppressed inside me was also reflected in the Prince’s eyes. Even in his clenched fists and his clenched jaw, anger was clearly present.
We sat in a circle around the round table in the parlor. We all had smiles on our faces, but there was an uncomfortable silence as we waited for the coffee that Princess Resilia had brought with her. I was killing Prince Tesla with my eyes. My eyes had already traveled to his throat and were now focused on his pinky finger. Maybe I'll get a chance to speak with Prince Tesla alone, and if not, I must take advantage of the opportunity and ask him about Bonis.
“Zelda, no, Your Majesty the Empress is now really... unrecognizable.”
The Princess must have sensed that I was staring at her, so she spoke to me first. I didn’t really have anything to say, so I answered with a faint smile. Then, a look of displeasure crossed her face. Princess Resilia turned her eyes to Linel, who was standing next to me, and opened her mouth with her characteristic fairy-like smile.
“Your Majesty? My hair color is similar to Your Majesty’s eye color?”
The Princess ran her hand through her shiny pink hair and muttered something nonsensical.
“Similar colors.”
He also looked at me with eyes comparing my pupils to Princess Resilia's hair, then nodded.
What, what do you want me to do? I looked at her with a dumbfounded expression, shaking her hair like a fan. As the Princess's laughter died down, I could hear his low voice.
“Instead, it’s okay since the Empress’s eyes touch my luggage every day.”
“...Yes? What do you mean..."
Princess Resilia asked with a puzzled look on her face. Then Linel looked into my eyes for a moment and slowly opened his mouth towards her again.
"Princess...."
“Your Majesty, before you go down to the lobby, there is a document the High Priest has submitted that I would like you to sign urgently.”
“Really? Since I’m leaving anyway, let me take a look at your desk for a moment.”
“Yes, I already have it spread out on the table.”
Raphael opened the door in the center of the left side of the waiting room of the audience room. It was a door that directly led to the Emperor's office. In the middle of the passage leading to the office, there was a desk where the secretary could occasionally work. Raphael probably left some papers on the desk.
“Your Majesty, please wait here for a moment. It’s a matter that only requires a signature, so it won’t take long.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
He gave a long smile at my short answer. He withdrew his smile and looked at Prince Norton, who was standing there blankly.
“Come to think of it, I don’t think the Prince needs to meet the distinguished guests of Shattonil today. After all, when the hunting competition is held, there will be a chance to meet them formally then.”
“If Your Majesty permits, I would also like to join you in greeting them.”
Linel shrugged one shoulder at Prince Norton's answer.
“Well, there’s no reason why it wouldn’t work. It’s not a bad idea to get to know each other beforehand.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty.”
'Are you doing this because you want to see Princess Resilia?'
I glanced at Prince Norton and thought. When Prince Norton stayed at the Shattonil royal court, he was a mere mercenary, so he would not have had a chance to speak directly with the two siblings. I wanted to tell the Prince about their true identity but held back.
“Then I will go and sign the papers, so you two can come out slowly.”
Linel left the throne room, leaving me and Prince Norton behind.
“Oh, it seems like the ventilation isn’t very good today, so just leave the door open.”
He shouted a command to the attendant who was about to close the door. There is no ventilation? I didn't feel it at all? I tilted my head, chewing over what he had said.
“I guess Your Majesty is concerned about leaving Her Majesty the Empress and I alone.”
Prince Norton came up to me and spoke secretly.
“So you ordered me to leave the door open?”
The Prince nodded and smiled lightly at my question. I smiled and thought, “No way.” Then, my mood sank again at the thought of facing Prince Tesla. I tried to act calmly, but my anger was on the verge of boiling over, like a pot.
“Uh. Sorry.”
“Oh. I’m sorry.”
As I left the audience room with my eyes on the floor, I bumped into Prince Norton's shoulder. We apologized at the same time. I was half out of my mind because of the unwelcome guests, but why did Prince Norton look so dazed?
“I was so excited to meet the distinguished guests of Shattonil that I didn’t look around. I apologize, Your Majesty the Empress.”
He apologized again. I looked at Prince Norton's face. Why would he lie? Contrary to the Prince's words that he was excited, he looked clearly uncomfortable.
“No. I was also very happy that the distinguished guests of my country had come... I couldn’t see the Prince because I was in a bad mood. However, the Prince’s face doesn’t look as good as before, doesn’t it?”
“Your Majesty the Empress’s face suddenly turned pale.”
In response to Prince Norton's counter-question, I answered with my voice as low as possible.
“You can tell, can't you? I'm not exactly thrilled.”
“In fact, I do too, Your Majesty the Empress.”
Prince Norton’s answer was unexpected. This time, his words and expressions seemed to match. Of course, I could have interpreted the Prince’s words in my own way. However, even though I couldn’t explain it clearly, I felt a strange sense of kinship with Prince Norton. The anger that was suppressed inside me was also reflected in the Prince’s eyes. Even in his clenched fists and his clenched jaw, anger was clearly present.
What could it be? The cause of Prince Norton’s anger.
“Empress, I will leave now.”
In the meantime, Linel returned after signing the documents.
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
I took his hand and tried to keep my composure once again.
“Empress, I will leave now.”
In the meantime, Linel returned after signing the documents.
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
I took his hand and tried to keep my composure once again.
***
We descended the central staircase and walked through the long lobby toward the main palace entrance. The sound of my, Linel's, and Prince Norton's shoes hitting the marble floor resonated majestically in time.
“Are your hands sweaty?”
He looked down at the hand he was holding and said,
“The weather seems a bit hot today.”
“Is it hot?”
Wheeing-.
“...”
As Linel said, a strong wind blew into the lobby from the main palace entrance, blowing my hair like a flag.
“Ah, I guess I’m just nervous because it’s been so long since I’ve seen Prince Tesla. Haha.”
“Well, that could be the case.”
When I changed the subject and laughed awkwardly, Linel responded with a slightly timid expression. Prince Norton also glanced at me and continued to walk in step with us.
“Are your hands sweaty?”
He looked down at the hand he was holding and said,
“The weather seems a bit hot today.”
“Is it hot?”
Wheeing-.
“...”
As Linel said, a strong wind blew into the lobby from the main palace entrance, blowing my hair like a flag.
“Ah, I guess I’m just nervous because it’s been so long since I’ve seen Prince Tesla. Haha.”
“Well, that could be the case.”
When I changed the subject and laughed awkwardly, Linel responded with a slightly timid expression. Prince Norton also glanced at me and continued to walk in step with us.
***
It was a day when the wind blew but the sunlight was dazzling. As I left the main palace, I saw the royal carriage of Shattonil in the distance.
“There they come.”
Linel gestured toward the carriage. The royal carriage of Shattonil was just circling the lake in the center of the palace. The sound of horseshoes and the sound of the carriage's wheels were getting closer. After a while, the carriage stopped in front of the palace steps.
'What?'
Suddenly, the carriage window opened and a small hand popped out. The hand that came out of the carriage and waved innocently toward us. Then, another hand appeared inside the carriage, slapped the small hand, and closed the window again. The first hand that appeared was probably Princess Resilia, and the one that slapped her hand seemed to be Prince Tesla.
“There they come.”
Linel gestured toward the carriage. The royal carriage of Shattonil was just circling the lake in the center of the palace. The sound of horseshoes and the sound of the carriage's wheels were getting closer. After a while, the carriage stopped in front of the palace steps.
'What?'
Suddenly, the carriage window opened and a small hand popped out. The hand that came out of the carriage and waved innocently toward us. Then, another hand appeared inside the carriage, slapped the small hand, and closed the window again. The first hand that appeared was probably Princess Resilia, and the one that slapped her hand seemed to be Prince Tesla.
Haa, who did she wave her hand at like that to greet? Me? Or Linel?
I snorted silently and absentmindedly turned my gaze to Prince Norton, who was standing next to me. The Prince was squinting and staring at the Crown royal carriage. I couldn't tell if he was squinting because of the sunlight or if he was frowning at the carriage.
“What do you think just now jumped out of the carriage window?”
Linel pointed to the Shattonil carriage with his finger and asked me.
“I think it was a tree branch?”
I replied, staring intently out the carriage window. He gave a short laugh and then turned to Prince Norton.
“What do you think?”
“It seems to have been a hook used by commoners.”
...Are you serious? I was indeed mocking Princess Resilia, but Prince Norton’s answer was also quite twisted.
“That makes sense.”
In the meantime, Linel took Prince Norton and I's absurd answers seriously. A few seconds later, the door of the Shattonil royal carriage opened. Prince Tesla and Princess Resilia got out of the carriage one after another. My eyes met with the siblings as they climbed the main palace stairs together. It felt like an exchange of glances between accomplices, and I felt quite dirty.
"As long as the brilliant sun rises, the glory of the Lapion Empire will be limitless. Tesla Hale of the Kingdom of Shattonil greets His Majesty the Emperor and Empress of Lapion!”
The siblings bowed to Linel and me. Strangely enough, the sun, which had been shining brightly just a moment ago, disappeared behind the clouds as soon as Prince Tesla finished speaking.
“Welcome.”
“It’s been a while.”
Linel and I also greeted them. It was really strange to see two people I had always bowed my head to before me.
“Prince Tesla. The sky has now darkened. If your greeting is true, does that mean that my honor and that of the Empress is over today?”
He had meant it as a joke, but Prince Tesla, unaccustomed to his jokes, seemed to take it seriously.
"...Yes?"
The look of confusion on Prince Tesla's face was something to behold. So was Princess Resilia. When his joke failed, Linel quickly lost interest and waved one hand, changing the subject.
“No. It looks like it’s going to rain.”
Linel looked up at the sky and said. Lightning flashed here and there in the sky along with the sound of thunder.
'Come down to the two people in front of me for a moment and go!'
I looked up at the lightning and cried out inwardly.
“What do you think just now jumped out of the carriage window?”
Linel pointed to the Shattonil carriage with his finger and asked me.
“I think it was a tree branch?”
I replied, staring intently out the carriage window. He gave a short laugh and then turned to Prince Norton.
“What do you think?”
“It seems to have been a hook used by commoners.”
...Are you serious? I was indeed mocking Princess Resilia, but Prince Norton’s answer was also quite twisted.
“That makes sense.”
In the meantime, Linel took Prince Norton and I's absurd answers seriously. A few seconds later, the door of the Shattonil royal carriage opened. Prince Tesla and Princess Resilia got out of the carriage one after another. My eyes met with the siblings as they climbed the main palace stairs together. It felt like an exchange of glances between accomplices, and I felt quite dirty.
"As long as the brilliant sun rises, the glory of the Lapion Empire will be limitless. Tesla Hale of the Kingdom of Shattonil greets His Majesty the Emperor and Empress of Lapion!”
The siblings bowed to Linel and me. Strangely enough, the sun, which had been shining brightly just a moment ago, disappeared behind the clouds as soon as Prince Tesla finished speaking.
“Welcome.”
“It’s been a while.”
Linel and I also greeted them. It was really strange to see two people I had always bowed my head to before me.
“Prince Tesla. The sky has now darkened. If your greeting is true, does that mean that my honor and that of the Empress is over today?”
He had meant it as a joke, but Prince Tesla, unaccustomed to his jokes, seemed to take it seriously.
"...Yes?"
The look of confusion on Prince Tesla's face was something to behold. So was Princess Resilia. When his joke failed, Linel quickly lost interest and waved one hand, changing the subject.
“No. It looks like it’s going to rain.”
Linel looked up at the sky and said. Lightning flashed here and there in the sky along with the sound of thunder.
'Come down to the two people in front of me for a moment and go!'
I looked up at the lightning and cried out inwardly.
“Oh, right. The third Prince of the Pastha Empire, who arrived from the Southern Continent last night, has also come out to greet us, so let’s greet each other.”
I looked at Prince Norton, whom I had forgotten about for a moment after Linel’s introduction. Why is he doing that? For some reason, the Prince was half-turned.
“I am Prince Norton Asalman of the Parsha Empire.”
He slowly raised his head and shook Prince Tesla's hand in a royal gesture.
“Nice to meet you, I am Prince Tesla Hale of the Kingdom of Shattonil.”
The Prince who had been standing in front of Linel moved towards Prince Norton and spoke.
“Thank you for coming out and welcoming me...!”
Just as Prince Tesla was about to shake hands with Prince Norton, he gasped and stopped talking. Princess Resilia, who had been looking down at the floor as if she was being cautious, also raised her head.
“Whoa!”
Oh, surprise. This time she let out a short scream that I couldn't understand. She was startled as if she had seen a ghost and leaned back. Princess Resilia stumbled backward as if she had forgotten that there was a staircase behind her. I instinctively reached out to her. However, Prince Norton's hands were much faster than mine.
“Be careful, Princess Resilia!”
Prince Norton's expression and voice were impassive and lacked any kindness, but his actions were quite polite.
“You almost fell down the stairs.”
“Thank you, thank you, for helping me...”
Princess Resilia spoke to Prince Norton in a trembling voice. The Prince responded calmly.
“Yes, I couldn’t just watch because you had fallen down somewhere before.”
"... Yes?"
“No. Nothing.”
Prince Norton shrugged. The Princess stared at the Prince with wide eyes. Her expression was extremely complicated, and her eyes seemed to hold many emotions, which was suspicious. What is that reaction?
“You two, why are you so surprised?”
Linel asked.
“That’s... I mistook him for another Prince of the Parsha Empire... Excuse me, Your Highness.”
“Me, me too...”
The Princess quickly responded to Prince Tesla's words.
“Don’t worry. I do have a lot of brothers.”
Prince Norton accepted it nonchalantly.
“Instead of doing this here, let’s move to the reception room.”
He looked at the three people in turn and suggested tea time.
“Your Majesty, my sister brought some coffee herself to treat you both.”
Prince Tesla, who had been standing there with a bug-bitten expression, smiled at his words and said:
“Is that so? I wonder. Let’s all go in first. Will the Prince come with us?”
“Yes, Majesty.”
Prince Norton couldn't take his eyes off Princess Resilia's face while answering Linel. Even to me, her face was so pretty and lovely that it was hard to take my eyes off her. As a woman myself, I've often stared at the Princess's face since I was little, so Prince Norton's expression of being lost in thought was natural. However, I was worried that Rinel was also losing her gaze. I looked up at him cautiously.
'Huh?'
I expected him to be looking at Princess Resilia, but that didn't seem to be the case. He was already looking down at me.
“Shall we go?”
I looked at Prince Norton, whom I had forgotten about for a moment after Linel’s introduction. Why is he doing that? For some reason, the Prince was half-turned.
“I am Prince Norton Asalman of the Parsha Empire.”
He slowly raised his head and shook Prince Tesla's hand in a royal gesture.
“Nice to meet you, I am Prince Tesla Hale of the Kingdom of Shattonil.”
The Prince who had been standing in front of Linel moved towards Prince Norton and spoke.
“Thank you for coming out and welcoming me...!”
Just as Prince Tesla was about to shake hands with Prince Norton, he gasped and stopped talking. Princess Resilia, who had been looking down at the floor as if she was being cautious, also raised her head.
“Whoa!”
Oh, surprise. This time she let out a short scream that I couldn't understand. She was startled as if she had seen a ghost and leaned back. Princess Resilia stumbled backward as if she had forgotten that there was a staircase behind her. I instinctively reached out to her. However, Prince Norton's hands were much faster than mine.
“Be careful, Princess Resilia!”
Prince Norton's expression and voice were impassive and lacked any kindness, but his actions were quite polite.
“You almost fell down the stairs.”
“Thank you, thank you, for helping me...”
Princess Resilia spoke to Prince Norton in a trembling voice. The Prince responded calmly.
“Yes, I couldn’t just watch because you had fallen down somewhere before.”
"... Yes?"
“No. Nothing.”
Prince Norton shrugged. The Princess stared at the Prince with wide eyes. Her expression was extremely complicated, and her eyes seemed to hold many emotions, which was suspicious. What is that reaction?
“You two, why are you so surprised?”
Linel asked.
“That’s... I mistook him for another Prince of the Parsha Empire... Excuse me, Your Highness.”
“Me, me too...”
The Princess quickly responded to Prince Tesla's words.
“Don’t worry. I do have a lot of brothers.”
Prince Norton accepted it nonchalantly.
“Instead of doing this here, let’s move to the reception room.”
He looked at the three people in turn and suggested tea time.
“Your Majesty, my sister brought some coffee herself to treat you both.”
Prince Tesla, who had been standing there with a bug-bitten expression, smiled at his words and said:
“Is that so? I wonder. Let’s all go in first. Will the Prince come with us?”
“Yes, Majesty.”
Prince Norton couldn't take his eyes off Princess Resilia's face while answering Linel. Even to me, her face was so pretty and lovely that it was hard to take my eyes off her. As a woman myself, I've often stared at the Princess's face since I was little, so Prince Norton's expression of being lost in thought was natural. However, I was worried that Rinel was also losing her gaze. I looked up at him cautiously.
'Huh?'
I expected him to be looking at Princess Resilia, but that didn't seem to be the case. He was already looking down at me.
“Shall we go?”
He escorted me back into the main palace.
***
We sat in a circle around the round table in the parlor. We all had smiles on our faces, but there was an uncomfortable silence as we waited for the coffee that Princess Resilia had brought with her. I was killing Prince Tesla with my eyes. My eyes had already traveled to his throat and were now focused on his pinky finger. Maybe I'll get a chance to speak with Prince Tesla alone, and if not, I must take advantage of the opportunity and ask him about Bonis.
When I made eye contact with Prince Tesla, he bared his teeth and smiled. Son of a bitch, are you laughing?
I'm pretty sure I could knock a few of his teeth down his throat if I stretched out one arm right now... My eyeballs stiffened from glaring at Prince Tesla, and I blinked, accidentally catching the glance that Princess Resilia and Prince Norton were exchanging. The two of them looked like they had never met before.
Had they ever spoken to each other in the Shattonil court? But they hadn't spoken to each other.
“Zelda, no, Your Majesty the Empress is now really... unrecognizable.”
The Princess must have sensed that I was staring at her, so she spoke to me first. I didn’t really have anything to say, so I answered with a faint smile. Then, a look of displeasure crossed her face. Princess Resilia turned her eyes to Linel, who was standing next to me, and opened her mouth with her characteristic fairy-like smile.
“Your Majesty? My hair color is similar to Your Majesty’s eye color?”
The Princess ran her hand through her shiny pink hair and muttered something nonsensical.
“Similar colors.”
He also looked at me with eyes comparing my pupils to Princess Resilia's hair, then nodded.
“Oooh, but at least I can touch and feel my hair like this... Zelda No, I can't touch Her Majesty's eyes, ho ho ho.”
“Instead, it’s okay since the Empress’s eyes touch my luggage every day.”
“...Yes? What do you mean..."
Princess Resilia asked with a puzzled look on her face. Then Linel looked into my eyes for a moment and slowly opened his mouth towards her again.
"Princess...."
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