“Yes, Your Majesty. I have received word that the imperial carriage carrying the Empress Katria Edins and her government from the Delroy Empire on the Southern Continent is entering the palace.”
“Everyone seems to have arrived earlier than scheduled, as if they had made a promise.”
He had turned away from the playful gaze he had been giving me and returned to his usual cool-headed Emperor Lapion. It wasn’t the news I had been anxiously waiting for, but the news Raphael had delivered was also surprising.
“I decline.”
What are you talking about? I'm already excited.
“The Northern Continent is not without its weak women. There are also some generous ones.”
Linel answered her, grabbing my hand and squeezing it tightly, then releasing it. It seemed like a gesture expressing his displeasure at me kissing the government of Empress Katria, but I had something to say about that. But on the other hand, I was relieved that this wasn’t his office. If it were, he would have been dragged to the lounge there and questioned right away. The two Emperors were talking about the last battle in the Valley of Death when there was a knock.
Raphael spoke with an ominous expression, his eyes briefly lingering on my face. Ah, it seemed that the murdered attendant had finally been discovered.
“What’s going on? Just report it.”
Linel frowned slightly as he spoke. Raphael hesitated for a moment before reluctantly continuing to speak.
“They say the body of a servant was found in the back garden of the Empress’s Palace.”
“The sign is.”
“I think he was... murdered.”
“I guess there was a fight?”
Empress Katria asked me with an interested look. When I just shrugged my shoulders without saying anything in return, she immediately continued speaking.
“It’s a common occurrence in the Delphic palace. Murders happen in the backyard, in the gardens, and even on the floor where I stay.”
She said that such things were inevitable, like the course of nature.
“Today it rains, tomorrow it’s windy, and the day after tomorrow there’s a typhoon. That’s the weather. Imperial life is the same. Isn’t it?”
At Empress Katria's words, Linel stood up from his seat.
“Empress Katria, I must excuse myself for a moment.”
“As much as you want.”
She nodded, lifting her teacup.
“Let’s go out together and listen.”
Linel spoke to Raphael and held out his hand to me. It seemed as if he wanted to hear about the incident that had occurred in the Empress's Palace garden with me. I obediently took his hand and walked out the reception room door.
“Before we hear the story again, Raphael, you go out for a moment.”
As we came out to the waiting room outside the reception room, Linel asked Raphael to step aside for a moment.
“Yes? Oh, yes... Your Majesty.”
Raphael quickly opened the waiting room door, looking bewildered, and went out into the hallway. As soon as the door closed, he grabbed my two arms and turned me around fiercely in front of him. His eyes were wide open, and his gaze made me feel like my face was going to burn.
“Oh, it’s hot.”
I turned my head slightly to the side and muttered softly.
"What?"
“You’re looking at me too hotly.”
“So... all food has to be cooked before eating?”
“What do you mean?”
“I was wondering if the raw broccoli you ate for lunch was bad. That’s why I was wondering if you did something weird earlier.”
Linel looked really angry.
“What the heck? Oh, I kissed the government of Empress Katria? I was just following the traditional imperial greeting of the Delroy Empire.”
“Don’t you think about me watching that?”
“I’m sorry, I felt bad as I was the first person to watch.”
I deliberately looked away and answered indifferently.
“Is that the end? You have something else to tell me, don’t you?”
“Oh, sorry, I did it twice.”
“...That’s not what I meant just now!”
“Everyone seems to have arrived earlier than scheduled, as if they had made a promise.”
He had turned away from the playful gaze he had been giving me and returned to his usual cool-headed Emperor Lapion. It wasn’t the news I had been anxiously waiting for, but the news Raphael had delivered was also surprising.
When I first met Commander Macrom at the training grounds, I recalled the information I had heard from him about the countries of the Southern Continent. The Delroy Empire was a country ruled by an Empress. Empress Katria had been the one who had controlled all military power in the Delroy Empire before she personally beheaded her own brother, who was nothing more than a puppet. She had been very active in the Valley of Death, the last battle between the two continents. And she was also very beautiful. Commander Macrom had even joked with sincerity, saying that losing his eyesight was a consolation when he saw the face of Empress Katria. Although I was curious about the Emperors of other empires, the person who piqued my curiosity the most was Empress Katria of the Delroy Empire.
“The meal is almost over, so get up soon. Get ready to greet the Empress of Delroy together with the Empress.”
“Yes, Your Majesty. I will wait outside.”
"Yes."
After taking a sip of wine, Linel wiped his mouth with a napkin and looked at me intently. I returned his gaze with affectionate eyes.
“Shall you eat some more broccoli, the Empress’s favorite, and then get up?”
“?”
He picked a piece of raw broccoli that had been left lying on the side of his steak plate with his fork and shoved it into my mouth. My mouth still had the rough taste of the raw broccoli I had just forcefully chewed and swallowed.
“Come on, Ah...”
“The meal is almost over, so get up soon. Get ready to greet the Empress of Delroy together with the Empress.”
“Yes, Your Majesty. I will wait outside.”
"Yes."
After taking a sip of wine, Linel wiped his mouth with a napkin and looked at me intently. I returned his gaze with affectionate eyes.
“Shall you eat some more broccoli, the Empress’s favorite, and then get up?”
“?”
He picked a piece of raw broccoli that had been left lying on the side of his steak plate with his fork and shoved it into my mouth. My mouth still had the rough taste of the raw broccoli I had just forcefully chewed and swallowed.
“Come on, Ah...”
“I decline.”
***
Not long after arriving at the main palace entrance with Linel, a carriage with the imperial emblem representing the Delroy Empire slowly stopped in front of the main palace. If there was one unusual thing, it was that the carriage was closer to a battle carriage than an imperial carriage. The centers of the wheels were densely packed with small, sharp bars. Not only that, but there were several holes in the carriage where one could shoot arrows or stab a sword. At first glance, it looked like a picture drawn with a fancy pattern, but upon closer inspection, the holes were already filled in like a puzzle. An unusual aura flowed from the carriage. My curiosity about Empress Katria was greatly heightened.
Finally, the carriage door opened, and two men got out one after another... They are handsome.
“Oh my god, oh my god.”
I couldn't help but exclaim in admiration. They looked very similar to the famous paintings depicting the appearances of the male gods from the myths of the Southern Continent. I felt as if I was seeing the figures in the famous paintings come to life. I was surprised that men could be so pretty.
“Oh my god, oh my god.”
I couldn't help but exclaim in admiration. They looked very similar to the famous paintings depicting the appearances of the male gods from the myths of the Southern Continent. I felt as if I was seeing the figures in the famous paintings come to life. I was surprised that men could be so pretty.
What kind of voices would those handsome men have? My eyes were drawn to the lips of the two handsome men out of curiosity.
“Zelda, this is a warning.”
Linel gave me a quiet warning. His hand around my waist tightened.
“Oh, I’m sorry.”
What an idiot. I apologized to him without realizing it. It was as if I had admitted that I had been distracted by the governments of Empress Katria. In the meantime, the goddess of war, Empress Katria, got out of the carriage. She stood between the governments, holding their hands one by one, and began to climb the stairs. The sight of her being escorted seemed somehow out of place. The Empress was carrying a large, thick sword on her back, like an executioner would use. Two of them in an X shape. She would have looked fresher if she had been wearing a dress, but she was in her uniform.
“Zelda, this is a warning.”
Linel gave me a quiet warning. His hand around my waist tightened.
“Oh, I’m sorry.”
What an idiot. I apologized to him without realizing it. It was as if I had admitted that I had been distracted by the governments of Empress Katria. In the meantime, the goddess of war, Empress Katria, got out of the carriage. She stood between the governments, holding their hands one by one, and began to climb the stairs. The sight of her being escorted seemed somehow out of place. The Empress was carrying a large, thick sword on her back, like an executioner would use. Two of them in an X shape. She would have looked fresher if she had been wearing a dress, but she was in her uniform.
Impressively, Empress Katria came up the stairs of the main palace two at a time. I felt slightly sullen as I looked at Empress Katria. I thought I was the only one, but today, there was another one. I thought I was the only woman in the history of the empire who had climbed the stairs of the main palace of Lapion two at a time. She was quite a contrast to the handsome governments who cautiously followed her. She came up to the entrance of the main palace with a light expression, showing no sign of difficulty, and stood before Linel and me with a very dignified posture. I looked at her face up close and recalled Commander Macrom's words.
'Her beauty is as great as her swordsmanship skills.'
I heard that clearly. However, she was not a great beauty as Commander Macrom had described her. The captain’s eyesight was probably not very good even before he lost his eyesight due to the wizard’s curse. The overall atmosphere certainly looked extraordinary, but Empress Katria’s appearance was more like coolness than beauty.
“Your Majesty the Emperor, the Sun of the Lapion Empire! Katria of the Delroy Empire shines brightly!”
The charismatic voice of Empress Katria echoed throughout the main palace lobby. But there was no need to meet her so passionately, right? Somehow, Empress Katria’s words were a little irritating. I smiled even more broadly on purpose, but I had a bad feeling about it.
“It’s been a long time, Empress Katria.”
Linel extended his hand and asked for a handshake.
“Emperor Laphion has a strange charm that excites people even when they meet him outside of the battlefield.”
Empress Katria responded with a loud voice, swatting away Linel's outstretched hand and... kissing him.
'Her beauty is as great as her swordsmanship skills.'
I heard that clearly. However, she was not a great beauty as Commander Macrom had described her. The captain’s eyesight was probably not very good even before he lost his eyesight due to the wizard’s curse. The overall atmosphere certainly looked extraordinary, but Empress Katria’s appearance was more like coolness than beauty.
“Your Majesty the Emperor, the Sun of the Lapion Empire! Katria of the Delroy Empire shines brightly!”
The charismatic voice of Empress Katria echoed throughout the main palace lobby. But there was no need to meet her so passionately, right? Somehow, Empress Katria’s words were a little irritating. I smiled even more broadly on purpose, but I had a bad feeling about it.
“It’s been a long time, Empress Katria.”
Linel extended his hand and asked for a handshake.
“Emperor Laphion has a strange charm that excites people even when they meet him outside of the battlefield.”
Empress Katria responded with a loud voice, swatting away Linel's outstretched hand and... kissing him.
The sound of her kiss was as loud as her voice. What did I just see? The Empress stole Linel’s lips... my husband’s lips... right in front of me!
I stared at her with a dumbfounded expression, not even having time to check his expression. Empress Katria greeted me normally, and I greeted her with a trembling expression. She must have been aware of my unpleasant expression as she made excuses.
“Oh, don’t get me wrong. Our Delroy royal family has a tradition of kissing when we meet royal families from other countries.”
“Your Majesty the Delroy Empire is a woman of tradition, isn’t you?”
When I asked her in a trembling voice, she burst into hearty laughter.
“Hahaha, sometimes when I meet someone I’m really happy to see, I end up greeting them like that without realizing it.”
It sounded like she was saying that she didn't usually keep to tradition.
“I should have been more careful when I came to the conservative Northern Continent, but I accidentally committed an act of rudeness. Ah, hahaha!”
It was embarrassing to keep being impressed by the Empress Katria's anger. But, I guess you don't do traditional greetings with women?
“Does it really happen that the Delroy royal family traditionally greets each other with a kiss?”
I relaxed my stiff expression, smiled brightly, and asked Empress Katria.
“Of course. So, Empress Laphion, please don’t take it to heart.”
I looked at her male gods, no, governments, standing upright like pillars on either side of her. They, like me, seemed quite flustered by the Empress’s actions. So that means that the kiss she just gave Linel was a provocation by the Empress... Is that how it came out?
“Oh, don’t get me wrong. Our Delroy royal family has a tradition of kissing when we meet royal families from other countries.”
“Your Majesty the Delroy Empire is a woman of tradition, isn’t you?”
When I asked her in a trembling voice, she burst into hearty laughter.
“Hahaha, sometimes when I meet someone I’m really happy to see, I end up greeting them like that without realizing it.”
It sounded like she was saying that she didn't usually keep to tradition.
“I should have been more careful when I came to the conservative Northern Continent, but I accidentally committed an act of rudeness. Ah, hahaha!”
It was embarrassing to keep being impressed by the Empress Katria's anger. But, I guess you don't do traditional greetings with women?
“Does it really happen that the Delroy royal family traditionally greets each other with a kiss?”
I relaxed my stiff expression, smiled brightly, and asked Empress Katria.
“Of course. So, Empress Laphion, please don’t take it to heart.”
I looked at her male gods, no, governments, standing upright like pillars on either side of her. They, like me, seemed quite flustered by the Empress’s actions. So that means that the kiss she just gave Linel was a provocation by the Empress... Is that how it came out?
This is clearly proof that she ignored my existence. Did she say that kissing was a traditional etiquette of the Delroy royal family? I took a step closer to the handsome man with a face as pale as a flour doll next to Empress Katria.
Yes, you first. I greeted the government in front of me first, who had eyes like fresh green leaves.
“The Empress of the Lapion Empire also warmly welcomes the distinguished guests of the Delroy Empire!”
Kiss-!
“The Empress of the Lapion Empire also warmly welcomes the distinguished guests of the Delroy Empire!”
Kiss-!
I also put a welcoming greeting on my lips, following the traditional imperial greeting of the Delroy Imperial Family. The green-eyed government put his hand on his lips and looked at me with a blank expression. The gray-eyed government next to him tightly shut his lips with a look that said, 'You're not going to kiss me either?' It's useless to discriminate between etiquette. So you too, come here obediently. No. Since you're a guest, I should be the one to move.
“As always, a warm welcome!”
The expression of the gray-eyed government was literally as if they had opened their eyes and were at a loss.
“As always, a warm welcome!”
The expression of the gray-eyed government was literally as if they had opened their eyes and were at a loss.
Wow, as the faces of the two governments, which were as pale as flour, began to come to life, their beauties stood out even more.
Hey, elves? Your master is not the only one with power.
I turned my raised chin to the side and looked at Empress Katria. I smiled back at her just as she had done to me earlier. In any case, I showed more sincerity than the discriminatory greeting she had shown me.
“I, Empress Zelda Gadion Edpa, the sunflower of His Majesty Emperor Linel, the sun of the Lapion Empire, formally greet Your Majesty Empress Katria, the hot lips of the Delroy Empire.”
The face of Empress Katria was getting hotter than her lips. After greeting her, my heart suddenly started beating. Ah, I am no longer Zelda von Trova, but Zelda Gadion Edpa. For the first time, I said my changed last name out loud. Feeling strange, I looked at Linel’s face standing next to me. His face was burning red from the sunlight. Looking back, it wasn’t just Linel, but everyone else’s faces were also red. Linel’s was the reddest of them all. My face felt stinging for some reason, so I turned my gaze to the government of Empress Katria.
“Let’s go in and have a cup of tea.”
At Linel's words, Empress Katria nodded silently and entered the main palace lobby first with the government officials. I was about to follow them into the entrance, but Linel grabbed my arm and growled quietly.
“Hey, sunflower... Are you in your right mind?”
“I, Empress Zelda Gadion Edpa, the sunflower of His Majesty Emperor Linel, the sun of the Lapion Empire, formally greet Your Majesty Empress Katria, the hot lips of the Delroy Empire.”
The face of Empress Katria was getting hotter than her lips. After greeting her, my heart suddenly started beating. Ah, I am no longer Zelda von Trova, but Zelda Gadion Edpa. For the first time, I said my changed last name out loud. Feeling strange, I looked at Linel’s face standing next to me. His face was burning red from the sunlight. Looking back, it wasn’t just Linel, but everyone else’s faces were also red. Linel’s was the reddest of them all. My face felt stinging for some reason, so I turned my gaze to the government of Empress Katria.
“Let’s go in and have a cup of tea.”
At Linel's words, Empress Katria nodded silently and entered the main palace lobby first with the government officials. I was about to follow them into the entrance, but Linel grabbed my arm and growled quietly.
“Hey, sunflower... Are you in your right mind?”
***
Everyone entered the reception room with a somewhat tense atmosphere. Even as we sat around the round table, the cold atmosphere did not easily go away. Linel and Katria, the two Emperors, looked at me with unpleasant eyes. Since the Emperors’s expressions were originally dark and unpleasant, I pretended not to notice. Instead of making eye contact with the two arrogant Emperors, I turned my gaze to the handsome government officials who were sitting cautiously. The expressions of the two government officials who had suddenly theitstolen were still absent-minded.
“Wasn’t your trip uncomfortable?”
Just as the long silence was starting to become familiar, Linel asked Empress Katria.
“I had heard a lot about how rough the road to the Northern Continent was, but it was just so damned hard. But I actually found it fun.”
“I’m glad to hear that.”
Linel responded with a short laugh.
“And it’s not just me, the women of the Southern Continent are also able to undertake a journey of this scale.”
Empress Katria glanced at me at the end of her speech and continued speaking.
“Once the first hunting competition in the Lapion Empire is over, the women of the Northern Continent will also have to move to the Southern Continent for the second hunting competition... I’m already worried.”
“Wasn’t your trip uncomfortable?”
Just as the long silence was starting to become familiar, Linel asked Empress Katria.
“I had heard a lot about how rough the road to the Northern Continent was, but it was just so damned hard. But I actually found it fun.”
“I’m glad to hear that.”
Linel responded with a short laugh.
“And it’s not just me, the women of the Southern Continent are also able to undertake a journey of this scale.”
Empress Katria glanced at me at the end of her speech and continued speaking.
“Once the first hunting competition in the Lapion Empire is over, the women of the Northern Continent will also have to move to the Southern Continent for the second hunting competition... I’m already worried.”
What are you talking about? I'm already excited.
“The Northern Continent is not without its weak women. There are also some generous ones.”
Linel answered her, grabbing my hand and squeezing it tightly, then releasing it. It seemed like a gesture expressing his displeasure at me kissing the government of Empress Katria, but I had something to say about that. But on the other hand, I was relieved that this wasn’t his office. If it were, he would have been dragged to the lounge there and questioned right away. The two Emperors were talking about the last battle in the Valley of Death when there was a knock.
Knock knock.
It was Secretary Raphael.
“I apologize for interrupting you. Your Majesty, I have an urgent report to report.”
“Speak.”
“That... I think it would be better for you to come out and listen.”
“I apologize for interrupting you. Your Majesty, I have an urgent report to report.”
“Speak.”
“That... I think it would be better for you to come out and listen.”
Raphael spoke with an ominous expression, his eyes briefly lingering on my face. Ah, it seemed that the murdered attendant had finally been discovered.
“What’s going on? Just report it.”
Linel frowned slightly as he spoke. Raphael hesitated for a moment before reluctantly continuing to speak.
“They say the body of a servant was found in the back garden of the Empress’s Palace.”
“The sign is.”
“I think he was... murdered.”
“I guess there was a fight?”
Empress Katria asked me with an interested look. When I just shrugged my shoulders without saying anything in return, she immediately continued speaking.
“It’s a common occurrence in the Delphic palace. Murders happen in the backyard, in the gardens, and even on the floor where I stay.”
She said that such things were inevitable, like the course of nature.
“Today it rains, tomorrow it’s windy, and the day after tomorrow there’s a typhoon. That’s the weather. Imperial life is the same. Isn’t it?”
At Empress Katria's words, Linel stood up from his seat.
“Empress Katria, I must excuse myself for a moment.”
“As much as you want.”
She nodded, lifting her teacup.
“Let’s go out together and listen.”
Linel spoke to Raphael and held out his hand to me. It seemed as if he wanted to hear about the incident that had occurred in the Empress's Palace garden with me. I obediently took his hand and walked out the reception room door.
***
“Before we hear the story again, Raphael, you go out for a moment.”
As we came out to the waiting room outside the reception room, Linel asked Raphael to step aside for a moment.
“Yes? Oh, yes... Your Majesty.”
Raphael quickly opened the waiting room door, looking bewildered, and went out into the hallway. As soon as the door closed, he grabbed my two arms and turned me around fiercely in front of him. His eyes were wide open, and his gaze made me feel like my face was going to burn.
“Oh, it’s hot.”
I turned my head slightly to the side and muttered softly.
"What?"
“You’re looking at me too hotly.”
“So... all food has to be cooked before eating?”
“What do you mean?”
“I was wondering if the raw broccoli you ate for lunch was bad. That’s why I was wondering if you did something weird earlier.”
Linel looked really angry.
“What the heck? Oh, I kissed the government of Empress Katria? I was just following the traditional imperial greeting of the Delroy Empire.”
“Don’t you think about me watching that?”
“I’m sorry, I felt bad as I was the first person to watch.”
I deliberately looked away and answered indifferently.
“Is that the end? You have something else to tell me, don’t you?”
“Oh, sorry, I did it twice.”
“...That’s not what I meant just now!”
Support Novellate!
Comments
Post a Comment