Luckily, Prince Tesla quickly hid by leaning back right next to the bedroom door, and I also walked right up to the bedroom door.
“What's going on?”
My voice came out a little sharply without me knowing it. When Sharon opened the bedroom door and tried to come in, I stood there, blocking the door. She was startled and reported from where she was.
“I have received a report that His Majesty is just now entering the Empress’s Palace, Your Majesty the Empress...”
“His Majesty, why?!”
It hadn't even been three hours since he had left the Empress's bedroom, so why on earth was he back?
“I don’t know about that either. There was no message that His Majesty was coming to the Empress’s Palace... It seems like he came suddenly. The dress is all ready, so you can change into it right now.”
Oh, right. I should wear a dress... But before that, there was a problem that had to be solved.
“Sharon, the outfit today is pretty, but the color seems a little dark. Would you like to change to a different dress?”
“Oh, yes! Then I’ll go back and choose a dress and bring it up to the bedroom while Sollie and Theresa do your hair and make-up.”
“No, just choose them in the costume shop. I’ll go there myself. Tell Sollie and Theresa to come in later.”
"...Yes?"
Sharon's steps towards the costume room stopped, and she looked back at me with a puzzled expression.
“Just, for a moment... I have something to do.”
“Ah... Yes, Your Majesty the Empress. I will do so.”
Sharon stood there with a puzzled look even after answering me. When I motioned for her to go to the dressing room, Sharon turned back to the dressing room. I quickly closed the bedroom door. Prince Tesla was standing next to the door, laughing silently.
“Get out quickly.”
I spoke urgently to the Prince.
“Where is Emperor Linel now? On the second-floor stairs? Or has he just come up to the bedroom floor and is slowly walking down the hallway?”
Unlike me, who was becoming impatient, Prince Tesla grumbled again with a calm expression on his face.
“If you’re so curious, why don’t you stay here and ask yourself?”
Prince Tesla looked even more amused at my irritated tone.
“A foreign Prince in the Empress’s bedroom... It would be really difficult if we got caught.”
He moved one finger up and down, pointing at me, who was wearing only a bathrobe.
“So, please go quickly. It’ll be awkward for both of us!”
I glanced at the terrace door through which the Prince had sneaked in. What had happened to his head this morning that made him lose his fear? I wanted to throw Prince Tesla off the terrace right away for doing such a reckless thing. If I delayed any longer, I even thought that I might grab the real Prince by the collar and throw him out of the terrace.
“Even though I am the Prince of Your Majesty’s country, I am not on such a level with you that you would greet me in a bathrobe. His Majesty would be very surprised. Even I would feel very dirty.”
“So, what exactly do you want to do?”
You broke in without permission, and now you're trying to blame it on someone?
“Your Majesty, you don’t want to be misunderstood by His Majesty, do you? I don’t want to be misunderstood by him either. Honey, if you just clear up my misunderstanding, I’ll disappear.”
“A misunderstanding, Prince?”
“The misunderstanding that the Empress has second thoughts about your dealings with me. Please clear that up.”
Prince Tesla's gaze dropped to the pocket in my hand.
“What does that mean?”
I asked the question, but I already knew the Prince's intentions. He was the worst of the worst. A mean and despicable bastard.
“Please give me a bottle of magic potion.”
Prince Tesla held out his palm to me. If I gave him a bottle of magic potion, I would have only one bottle left.
“His Majesty the Emperor!”
As if things weren't bad enough, the voices of the servants could be heard from the hallway far away. It seemed that Linel had arrived. There was no more time to delay. But this, this is not right... Even if he misunderstood, I couldn't hand over the magic potion to Prince Tesla. Linel would find this situation strange and jealous, but it wouldn't be to the extent of seriously suspecting the relationship between the Prince and me. And for Prince Tesla, who was watching Emperor Lapion's mood. So, let's go strong. Hold on. That was my conclusion. However,
“Besides the potions, you also keep the jewel box I gave you in the drawer. Bonis... misses you very much, Your Majesty the Empress.”
“!”
“When I told her I was going to the Lapion Empire, she started crying and begged me to take her with me.”
Prince Tesla made me raise my eyebrows, almost like he was imitating the pitiful expression Bonis had made. I bit my lower lip.
“Don’t worry, I took good care of her. I told her that I would see you soon in good health. Only then did she stop crying?”
The Prince held out his palm to me again. I had no choice but to take the magic potion bottle out of my pocket and hand it to Prince Tesla. I deliberately avoided looking at the Prince’s face. If I had met his eyes, I would never have been able to say goodbye to him nicely. When I raised my head, I saw Prince Tesla’s back. The Prince, who was about to leave the terrace door, stopped walking and looked back at me, wiggling one eyebrow. I hated that smug expression, so I tried to turn my head away again, but the Prince uncorked the magic potion bottle he was holding.
No way...! I didn’t have time to stop him. Prince Tesla poured the magic potion into the vase without hesitation, as if he were watering a red rose. No, he threw it away. After seeing my dumbfounded expression, the Prince placed the empty magic potion bottle next to the vase and disappeared outside the terrace. I was so shocked by the scene I had just seen that I was so angry that I lost my temper.
“His Majesty the Emperor.”
Sharon's voice came from outside the bedroom door, and I forced myself to come to my senses. I quickly put the pouch I was holding back into the dresser drawer. There was a knock, and Linel came in. When I saw his affectionate smile, I felt like tears were about to fall.
“Oh, I think he came at just the right time?”
His eyes darkened as he saw my bathrobe.
“What’s wrong? All of a sudden...”
“I suddenly felt like coming here. I didn’t expect this to happen, though.”
As he said, it didn't seem like he had any particular business to return to the Empress's Palace.
“Please sit down for a moment. I was just about to go to the dressing room to change into a dress.”
As I hurriedly turned toward the bedroom door, he grabbed me from behind and pulled me to his side, then spun me around toward the bed.
“Then there’s no point in me coming here?”
“The sun is rising...”
“That’s right. Even the terrace door is wide open.”
He smiled and replied. He probably didn't know what he was talking about, but the moment I heard those words, a chill ran down my spine. Linel eventually hugged me from behind and threw himself on the bed.
“Aren’t you busy?”
“I’ve been busy. I’m going to be busy in the afternoon too. I’ve been working very roughly since morning to make time for this before lunch.”
He said this while kissing my forehead. He must have liked the joke he told quite a bit because, contrary to his serious tone, he burst into laughter as soon as he finished speaking.
“You are impulsive.”
“You don’t know what you’re talking about. If I were impulsive, I wouldn’t be holding on like this. I’m a person who usually moves according to plan.”
Linel grabbed the string of my bathrobe and spun me around, giving me a look of frustration.
“So what are your plans from now on?”
I asked, burying my face in his chest. I needed peace of mind. As I was held in his arms like this, my anger at what Prince Tesla had done earlier seemed to have subsided a little.
“This is my plan. I will hold you like this until lunch with the royal siblings of Shattonil.”
Oh, was it today? The day I had to shove food down my throat after seeing those two people.
"Great..."
I put my arms around his waist and put my hands inside his uniform. I wanted to feel his bare skin rather than the soft feel of his silk shirt against my palm. So I grabbed his silk shirt with my thumb and index finger and pulled it up, but it wasn't as easy as I thought.
“Why, take it off?”
Linel asked in a locked voice.
“Wait a minute... Could you please open it?”
“Really just a moment?”
He said with a look of reluctant permission, narrowing his brows, then grabbed his shirt from his pants and pulled it out.
“Should I unbutton a few buttons as a service?”
“That’s fine.”
“What else... Is there anything else you want?”
He fiddled with his belt, asking secretly.
“Yes, that’s enough.”
“Haa, our Empress is too greedy, it’s a problem.”
He took his hands off his belt and pulled his shirt up as if to let me use his upper body as I pleased. I smiled, pulled his clothes down again, and hugged him. I wrapped one arm around his waist and put my hand inside his shirt. When I felt his firm, shiny back, I felt peace in my heart. The reason I was so deeply embraced by him was actually because I didn’t dare to look him in the eye. I closed my eyes and thought to myself. What a two-faced person I am. My conscience prickles, so I can’t look him in the eye properly... But I also want to be comforted in his arms... A self-deprecating laugh escaped my lips.
“I’ll go change my dress now.”
I managed to get out of his arms and raise my upper body. Then he looked up at me with regretful eyes.
"Already?"
“I don’t have much time to change clothes, get dressed up, and then go back to the banquet hall at the main palace.”
I replied, checking the time on the desk clock.
“Just play a little more and then go.”
He grabbed my wrist.
“Even if you order me to do it, I can’t.”
“It’s a plea.”
“It doesn’t suit you.”
“I know. I knew that would happen, so I spoke with a straight face on purpose, so it seemed less mean. So it’s okay.”
“...”
“Isn’t it?”
He muttered while looking at my face. I burst out laughing and kissed him. He made me laugh again like this. I was the one who kissed him, but it was Linel who opened our lips first, and I was the one who invaded their space again. As our softnesses entangled, everything except his gaze became rough. If I dragged this out any longer, I felt like I wouldn’t be able to control myself, not him.
“Haa, Linel... Stop it, let me go. I really have to go get ready.”
Sharon's voice came from outside the bedroom door, and I forced myself to come to my senses. I quickly put the pouch I was holding back into the dresser drawer. There was a knock, and Linel came in. When I saw his affectionate smile, I felt like tears were about to fall.
“Oh, I think he came at just the right time?”
His eyes darkened as he saw my bathrobe.
“What’s wrong? All of a sudden...”
“I suddenly felt like coming here. I didn’t expect this to happen, though.”
As he said, it didn't seem like he had any particular business to return to the Empress's Palace.
“Please sit down for a moment. I was just about to go to the dressing room to change into a dress.”
As I hurriedly turned toward the bedroom door, he grabbed me from behind and pulled me to his side, then spun me around toward the bed.
“Then there’s no point in me coming here?”
“The sun is rising...”
“That’s right. Even the terrace door is wide open.”
He smiled and replied. He probably didn't know what he was talking about, but the moment I heard those words, a chill ran down my spine. Linel eventually hugged me from behind and threw himself on the bed.
“Aren’t you busy?”
“I’ve been busy. I’m going to be busy in the afternoon too. I’ve been working very roughly since morning to make time for this before lunch.”
He said this while kissing my forehead. He must have liked the joke he told quite a bit because, contrary to his serious tone, he burst into laughter as soon as he finished speaking.
“You are impulsive.”
“You don’t know what you’re talking about. If I were impulsive, I wouldn’t be holding on like this. I’m a person who usually moves according to plan.”
Linel grabbed the string of my bathrobe and spun me around, giving me a look of frustration.
“So what are your plans from now on?”
I asked, burying my face in his chest. I needed peace of mind. As I was held in his arms like this, my anger at what Prince Tesla had done earlier seemed to have subsided a little.
“This is my plan. I will hold you like this until lunch with the royal siblings of Shattonil.”
Oh, was it today? The day I had to shove food down my throat after seeing those two people.
"Great..."
I put my arms around his waist and put my hands inside his uniform. I wanted to feel his bare skin rather than the soft feel of his silk shirt against my palm. So I grabbed his silk shirt with my thumb and index finger and pulled it up, but it wasn't as easy as I thought.
“Why, take it off?”
Linel asked in a locked voice.
“Wait a minute... Could you please open it?”
“Really just a moment?”
He said with a look of reluctant permission, narrowing his brows, then grabbed his shirt from his pants and pulled it out.
“Should I unbutton a few buttons as a service?”
“That’s fine.”
“What else... Is there anything else you want?”
He fiddled with his belt, asking secretly.
“Yes, that’s enough.”
“Haa, our Empress is too greedy, it’s a problem.”
He took his hands off his belt and pulled his shirt up as if to let me use his upper body as I pleased. I smiled, pulled his clothes down again, and hugged him. I wrapped one arm around his waist and put my hand inside his shirt. When I felt his firm, shiny back, I felt peace in my heart. The reason I was so deeply embraced by him was actually because I didn’t dare to look him in the eye. I closed my eyes and thought to myself. What a two-faced person I am. My conscience prickles, so I can’t look him in the eye properly... But I also want to be comforted in his arms... A self-deprecating laugh escaped my lips.
“I’ll go change my dress now.”
I managed to get out of his arms and raise my upper body. Then he looked up at me with regretful eyes.
"Already?"
“I don’t have much time to change clothes, get dressed up, and then go back to the banquet hall at the main palace.”
I replied, checking the time on the desk clock.
“Just play a little more and then go.”
He grabbed my wrist.
“Even if you order me to do it, I can’t.”
“It’s a plea.”
“It doesn’t suit you.”
“I know. I knew that would happen, so I spoke with a straight face on purpose, so it seemed less mean. So it’s okay.”
“...”
“Isn’t it?”
He muttered while looking at my face. I burst out laughing and kissed him. He made me laugh again like this. I was the one who kissed him, but it was Linel who opened our lips first, and I was the one who invaded their space again. As our softnesses entangled, everything except his gaze became rough. If I dragged this out any longer, I felt like I wouldn’t be able to control myself, not him.
“Haa, Linel... Stop it, let me go. I really have to go get ready.”
“Where are you going after putting your husband in this state?”
He said in a voice full of resentment.
“Even if you change your clothes and come back, I have to stay in bed for a while.”
"Why?"
“I can’t walk in this condition...”
Linel responded curtly, stretching out both arms and legs.
“Then please calm down for a moment.”
I quietly laughed and placed both hands on the mattress. I was about to get up and get out of bed. But I didn't even realize that I was holding the string of my bathrobe with one hand.
"Oh!"
As I straightened my back, the strings came loose, and the front of my bathrobe opened. It was a mistake. My face turned red, and I quickly tried to close my bathrobe again, but Linel grabbed both of my hands.
“What is the intention right now?”
He said in a voice full of resentment.
“Even if you change your clothes and come back, I have to stay in bed for a while.”
"Why?"
“I can’t walk in this condition...”
Linel responded curtly, stretching out both arms and legs.
“Then please calm down for a moment.”
I quietly laughed and placed both hands on the mattress. I was about to get up and get out of bed. But I didn't even realize that I was holding the string of my bathrobe with one hand.
"Oh!"
As I straightened my back, the strings came loose, and the front of my bathrobe opened. It was a mistake. My face turned red, and I quickly tried to close my bathrobe again, but Linel grabbed both of my hands.
“What is the intention right now?”
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