“It was a mistake!”
I shook his hand off and tied the strings of my bathrobe again.
“Then I should do it. Mistakes are meant to be made, but if I try to fix them right away, what will I become when it happens right in front of me?”
Linel sighed with a deeply disappointed look on his face.
“If you make a person like this and then call it a mistake... I’m angry, aren’t I? There are already parts of me that are angry.”
He coughed, looked down, then looked back at my face as he mumbled, "Take responsibility."
“If this continues, we’ll be late for lunch.”
“Then why don’t we change it to having it at the Empress’s Palace banquet hall?”
Linel made that decision, and I hesitated for a moment. Then he put his hand on the back of my head and gave me strength. My head nodded to his hand.
“Right. You think the same as me. Approval, bang.”
“?”
He spoke firmly, untying my bathrobe again.
“Zelda, how is it that you make mistakes that I like?”
I just closed my eyes and smiled in despair. In fact, I desperately needed his love that yearned for me. I felt like if I could touch Linel, all my worries would go away.
“Huh? You dare to disobey the Emperor? Don’t you know at all that you are committing a terrible sin? You will not escape the punishment.”
As he said, a terrible punishment was soon handed down. So sweet that it was fatal, so overwhelming that it brought tears to my eyes... Without realizing it, I lost my sense of reality and bit his lip lightly.
“?”
He spoke firmly, untying my bathrobe again.
“Zelda, how is it that you make mistakes that I like?”
I just closed my eyes and smiled in despair. In fact, I desperately needed his love that yearned for me. I felt like if I could touch Linel, all my worries would go away.
“Huh? You dare to disobey the Emperor? Don’t you know at all that you are committing a terrible sin? You will not escape the punishment.”
As he said, a terrible punishment was soon handed down. So sweet that it was fatal, so overwhelming that it brought tears to my eyes... Without realizing it, I lost my sense of reality and bit his lip lightly.
"Ah!"
"Sorry."
When I burst out laughing and apologized, he looked down at me and said,
“You didn’t just chew on the Emperor’s words, you even dared to chew on his lips?”
He ran towards me with a stern expression and said:
“I can’t live like this.”
***
Linel sat with his back against the headboard and watched Zelda walk toward the bedroom door. Even after the door closed, her afterimage lingered for a while, smiling. He muttered to himself.
“It was an excellent choice.”
Today, he eliminated all the breaks in the middle of the meeting and proceeded with the meeting somewhat aggressively, so he was able to have this cozy time with Zelda before lunch. He didn’t plan to do that from the beginning. He had definitely made love to her last night, and he woke up in this bedroom this morning. They had a simple breakfast together, and after receiving a deep kiss from her, he returned to the main palace in a good mood.
“It was an excellent choice.”
Today, he eliminated all the breaks in the middle of the meeting and proceeded with the meeting somewhat aggressively, so he was able to have this cozy time with Zelda before lunch. He didn’t plan to do that from the beginning. He had definitely made love to her last night, and he woke up in this bedroom this morning. They had a simple breakfast together, and after receiving a deep kiss from her, he returned to the main palace in a good mood.
However, as soon as the meeting started, his instincts spoke to him. Is it really necessary to have a long meeting where the same things are said over and over again? Why don’t you just accept the opinions of the ministers as soon as possible and immediately cut out the issues that you absolutely cannot accept?
Today, his instincts were much more rational than his reason. If he did that, he really thought he could shorten the morning meeting time by about two hours. Linel held up the documents to his face with dozens of ministers in front of him and secretly smiled with satisfaction. Normally, he would approve things right away, but he would often take a break in the middle of the meeting and deliberately give his approval. He didn’t immediately reject the suggestions of the ministers that he would never accept. It was his style to take some time and pretend to think about it, and then eventually reject them.
However, today, both approval and rejection of the agenda proceeded without a hitch. The ministers were bewildered throughout the meeting, dragged around by Linel’s decision, and then the meeting ended. The Emperor’s leisurely behavior, which was always relaxed and dignified, also showed a different pattern than usual. As if he had some urgent business, he headed to the Empress’s Palace after finishing the morning meeting. He also took time to reflect on himself on his way to the Empress’s Palace.
'Is it a good thing to go see her while adjusting my work hours like this?'
They were going to spend time together at night anyway. He found it funny that he was acting so recklessly, and he was surprised at his willpower not to turn away even though he thought that way. However, those thoughts disappeared the moment he saw Zelda. His instincts were right. He realized the moment he saw her. He definitely needed time to hold her in his arms like this, chatter away, and laugh together before night fell. It wouldn’t be long, but her warmth would linger on his body all day long.
While waiting for Zelda with a sense of satisfaction, Linel looked around the bedroom where she spent most of her time during the day. Thinking about it, he had never properly looked at this space because he had been concentrating on something else every time he came here. While he was wandering around the bedroom, his gaze was fixed on one place. He walked toward the open terrace door. Then, he stopped in front of the decorative table next to the terrace door. He stared blankly at the roses in the vase and rubbed his chin.
“I clearly told you to send red roses...?”
He picked a white rose and smelled it. It smelled like the red roses he had smelled. Two days ago, Linel looked at the red roses in full bloom in front of the main palace from the office window and thought of Zelda.
'It resembles a passionate Empress.'
His secretary Raphael cautiously objected to his opinion.
“I clearly told you to send red roses...?”
He picked a white rose and smelled it. It smelled like the red roses he had smelled. Two days ago, Linel looked at the red roses in full bloom in front of the main palace from the office window and thought of Zelda.
'It resembles a passionate Empress.'
His secretary Raphael cautiously objected to his opinion.
'When did Your Majesty say that Her Majesty resembles a sunflower?'
'Sunflowers by day, red roses by night.'
Linel, who had been pondering for a moment, said so. Linel did not necessarily add that during the day, she smiled brightly at him like a sunflower, and at night, she blushed like a rose and showed hot passion... After standing by the window of his office for a few minutes and admiring the rose garden, he ordered the chief chamberlain to trim a bunch of roses, put them in a vase, and send them to the Empress’s palace. An hour after his order, he received a report from the chief chamberlain that the Empress’s face turned red like a rose after receiving the flowers. That’s why he remembered it clearly. The roses were red. Linel looked around the bedroom again. They could have been in another vase. However, the vase in the bedroom was the only one in front of him.
“If the rose I sent is real, why is the color...”
Do red roses change color over time? He briefly pondered the absurd question, then let out a ridiculous laugh. As he was looking closely at the white roses, he noticed a small bottle next to the vase.
“What is this?”
The small glass bottle was empty. He uncorked the bottle and sniffed it. There was no scent. Linel looked at the white roses and the small glass bottle alternately, and when he heard the bedroom door open, he put the glass bottle he was holding in his pocket.
'Sunflowers by day, red roses by night.'
Linel, who had been pondering for a moment, said so. Linel did not necessarily add that during the day, she smiled brightly at him like a sunflower, and at night, she blushed like a rose and showed hot passion... After standing by the window of his office for a few minutes and admiring the rose garden, he ordered the chief chamberlain to trim a bunch of roses, put them in a vase, and send them to the Empress’s palace. An hour after his order, he received a report from the chief chamberlain that the Empress’s face turned red like a rose after receiving the flowers. That’s why he remembered it clearly. The roses were red. Linel looked around the bedroom again. They could have been in another vase. However, the vase in the bedroom was the only one in front of him.
“If the rose I sent is real, why is the color...”
Do red roses change color over time? He briefly pondered the absurd question, then let out a ridiculous laugh. As he was looking closely at the white roses, he noticed a small bottle next to the vase.
“What is this?”
The small glass bottle was empty. He uncorked the bottle and sniffed it. There was no scent. Linel looked at the white roses and the small glass bottle alternately, and when he heard the bedroom door open, he put the glass bottle he was holding in his pocket.
***
The banquet hall of the Empress's Palace. In the end, the luncheon location with the Shattonil siblings was changed from the main palace to the Empress's Palace. He had hoped that the luncheon appointment would be canceled, but it wasn't.
“I was worried when I heard that Her Majesty the Empress was feeling unwell. Are you okay?”
As the meal began, Prince Tesla asked me, “I wonder what excuse Linel gave for changing the lunch venue, but I guess it was your condition.”
“Ah... I’m okay. I wasn’t feeling well this morning, but I feel a little better now.”
It's not that I didn't like it, it's true that I actually got goosebumps all over my body after seeing Prince Tesla in my bedroom.
“Oh, I see. Then you probably have no appetite. But please eat slowly and little by little.”
Prince Tesla acted like he was meeting me for the first time today. The corners of his mischievous mouth went up pleasantly, which was more than enough to arouse the violence latent in me. Moreover, I was hungry because I had lost energy in various ways since morning, and I was about to put a large piece of deliciously cooked steak in my mouth. But that bastard started talking, and I couldn’t show my hearty appetite. There are many ways to harass people. I had no choice but to act as if I had no appetite, and I cut the steak in half again and put it in my mouth.
“Prince Tesla, you seem to be in a better mood than yesterday. Is something good happening?”
Linel asked Prince Tesla as he placed a few pieces of steak he had cut in advance on my plate. I looked at him in surprise, but his gaze was fixed on the Prince. He didn’t say anything to me as he handed me the steak, but his actions warmed my heart. Of course, the steak was cold after he had touched it.
“It’s only natural that I feel good when I’m enjoying a meal with the two masters of the Lapion Empire.”
When Prince Tesla spoke hypocritically, Princess Resilia also chimed in.
“The food was even more delicious than I expected. The Empress’s palace... It seems really splendid and beautiful. I’m curious about Her Majesty the Empress’s bedroom. Please show me around!”
“I was worried when I heard that Her Majesty the Empress was feeling unwell. Are you okay?”
As the meal began, Prince Tesla asked me, “I wonder what excuse Linel gave for changing the lunch venue, but I guess it was your condition.”
“Ah... I’m okay. I wasn’t feeling well this morning, but I feel a little better now.”
It's not that I didn't like it, it's true that I actually got goosebumps all over my body after seeing Prince Tesla in my bedroom.
“Oh, I see. Then you probably have no appetite. But please eat slowly and little by little.”
Prince Tesla acted like he was meeting me for the first time today. The corners of his mischievous mouth went up pleasantly, which was more than enough to arouse the violence latent in me. Moreover, I was hungry because I had lost energy in various ways since morning, and I was about to put a large piece of deliciously cooked steak in my mouth. But that bastard started talking, and I couldn’t show my hearty appetite. There are many ways to harass people. I had no choice but to act as if I had no appetite, and I cut the steak in half again and put it in my mouth.
“Prince Tesla, you seem to be in a better mood than yesterday. Is something good happening?”
Linel asked Prince Tesla as he placed a few pieces of steak he had cut in advance on my plate. I looked at him in surprise, but his gaze was fixed on the Prince. He didn’t say anything to me as he handed me the steak, but his actions warmed my heart. Of course, the steak was cold after he had touched it.
“It’s only natural that I feel good when I’m enjoying a meal with the two masters of the Lapion Empire.”
When Prince Tesla spoke hypocritically, Princess Resilia also chimed in.
“The food was even more delicious than I expected. The Empress’s palace... It seems really splendid and beautiful. I’m curious about Her Majesty the Empress’s bedroom. Please show me around!”
Princess Resilia spoke to me with sparkling eyes.
“Yes, that’s right.”
I had expected her to say something like that. She must be curious, seeing with her own eyes what was originally hers. What is the inside of the Empress's Palace like? What is the bedroom where she stays with the Emperor like?
“I guess I can take a look after my meal to help with digestion.”
I found myself frowning as I watched the Princess speaking, almost as if she was telling me something.
"Today..."
I started to refuse, but then realized my position and tried to change my words, but Linel cut me off.
“Not today. The Empress is not feeling well, so I think it would be better to postpone it until tomorrow, Princess Resilia.”
“Ah, I was short-sighted...”
Princess Resilia responded with a slightly embarrassed expression, then opened her eyes wide and spoke to me again.
“Then, can I tour the inside of the Empress’s Palace on my own? I think one of Her Majesty the Empress’s attendants can show me around...”
“Resilia. I heard that Her Majesty the Empress is not feeling well. If you wander around the palace, she will be so anxious that she will not be able to rest properly.”
Prince Tesla looked at Linel's expression and spoke to his younger sister as if he was trying to persuade her. How can he say such hypocritical things so smoothly without blinking an eye? If that's a talent, then it's a talent.
“No. As the Princess said, you can tour the inside of the Empress’s palace with the guidance of a servant, so it doesn’t matter.”
Linel nodded at my words, and Princess Resilia's lips trembled slightly. If I had said so, I would have reluctantly guided her to the Empress's Palace myself, you would have thought. If I hadn't seen Prince Tesla in the bedroom this morning, I would have taken care of her. But today, I didn't have the energy to take care of both siblings.
“Oh, Your Majesty. I have a question for you. May I ask you something?”
Princess Resilia asked him, her eyes narrowing.
“Do you have any questions for me? Ask me.”
Linel took a sip of wine and then answered the Princess.
“Your Majesty, what do you like most about Her Majesty the Empress’s appearance?”
...What? What is the intention of asking him such a question?
“Among the Empress’s appearances...”
While Princess Resilia waited for his answer with curious eyes, I also turned my gaze to him, who was seriously considering her question. And then our eyes met. He was resting one elbow on the table, resting his chin on his hand, and looking at my face intently. He chuckled as I made a strange expression for a moment and said,
“Well, that’s a difficult question.”
“In my opinion...”
As if she had been waiting, Resilia spoke in a sharp voice. Please don’t say it, your thoughts. I sighed quietly as I watched her speak, her lips pointed forward like a bird’s beak.
“I think Your Majesty would like Your Majesty the Empress’s beautiful, clear skin the most.”
“!”
Ah, that's what you wanted to say? I snorted softly. Today is the day when the siblings take turns threatening me with the burn scars on my face. Linel's gaze on me felt hot again. I couldn't bear to look at him, so I looked at Linel, who was dimly reflected in the wine glass in front of me. He raised his hand and stroked my right cheek. It was where the burn scars were...
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