He spoke with force, unable to raise his voice in a high tone, conscious of the guests in the reception room. I responded with a serious tone.
“What should I do if I get so angry at the moment? I can’t say anything because she’s the Empress of the Southern Continent.”
As I spoke, the image of Empress Katria's lips pressing against Linel's lips came back to me vividly. What a shame. I should have kissed her governments. Revenge always brings interest, right? Thinking back, I felt angry and resentful.
“Then you should have done it to me.”
“Isn’t that revenge?”
“I’ll do more with other men for revenge, really?”
My face, which had been drooping at the sound of Linel's jealous voice, eventually opened to the side and burst into laughter.
“Are you laughing? It seems like just thinking about it makes you feel good?”
“No, that’s not it. I just like it when Your Majesty says things like that.”
“I’m not in the mood for a joke. Just now, seriously... Phew.”
He put his hand to his right temple and let out a long sigh. He also closed his eyes and frowned as if he was remembering the scene where I kissed the Empress's mistresses.
“I was short-sighted.”
I started to comfort him.
“So, calm down. I guess I also lost my eyes because of Empress Katria.”
“It wasn’t the eyes, it was the mouth that was the problem.”
He snorted in rebuttal to my words. When I burst out laughing again, he glared at me with disapproving eyes, but his face calmed down a bit, and he said in a request tone.
“Don’t make me obsess over this. It’s really complicated.”
I thought this was the moment, so I nodded my head vigorously, closed my eyes, and stuck my lips out to him. He must have been waiting for me to kiss him. As always, his skillful gentleness shook me up, as if he was going to eat up every breath.
“?”
...But, even though I waited, nothing touched my lips. Why? I slowly opened my eyes and looked up at him. He was looking down at me with his arms crossed and his eyes stern.
“Why don’t you do it?”
"What."
“A kiss.”
“Do you want to?”
"Sure."
"No."
"Yes?"
“I don’t like it.”
"Why?"
“I won’t do it today.”
He was really angry. But he also seemed to be regretting what he said. His blue eyes trembled as soon as he declared war. But for some reason, he didn't change his words.
“Really... you’re not going to do it?”
This time, his answer didn't come right away. Was he wavering? He paused for a moment and spoke as if he was making a promise to himself.
"It's okay."
I didn't ask if you were okay, he said to me in a serious tone.
"It's a punishment."
Ironically, the one punishing me seemed more distressed than me receiving the punishment.
“Please don’t do that, okay?”
What is this psychology of mine that makes me want to do it even more when he tells me not to? Suddenly, I felt anxious because of this man who was building an iron wall. I completely bent my neck back and looked up at him. He deliberately avoided my eyes and focused his gaze on the ceiling.
“Your Majesty, my throat hurts!”
“That is the original fate of the sunflower.”
“Isn’t the sun too cold?”
I lowered my head with a sad expression and grumbled.
“Oh, I’m hurt. For the Empress to speak of my curse in such a way.”
Linel showed off his clumsy acting by holding his heart with his right hand.
“You’ll get hot if you kiss me.”
I held Linel's two hands and pressed my body against his and whispered. He looked thoughtful for a moment before opening his mouth with a blunt look in his eyes.
“I won’t do it.”
He said, pressing his index finger against my lips.
“..."
My expectations were wrong. I didn't think he would reject me twice. And his answer made me thirstier. I boldly hugged his neck and tried to steal his lips.
“Raphael!”
Then Linel called out to the secretary, who was out in the hallway. As Raphael quickly opened the door and came in, I quickly lowered both arms that I had raised toward him.
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“Report now.”
“That’s all I said earlier...”
“...Really? Are he a servant belonging to the Empress’s palace?”
“Yes.”
“Even if he wasn’t a servant somewhere else, he was murdered in the back garden of the Empress’s Palace, so it’s not a problem that can be overlooked.”
“That’s right. Since this happened at a time when dignitaries from each country were just beginning to arrive at the palace, I think a thorough investigation is necessary.”
Raphael spoke cautiously, seeming worried that I might be scared by such talk.
“Report as soon as the identity of the murdered attendant is revealed. And strengthen the security of the Empress’s Palace.”
Oh, that wasn't necessary... Damn, because of Prince Tesla, the road to and from the training grounds is only going to get more difficult.
“Raphael, tell Captain Aaron to place additional guards at the entrance to the Empress’s Palace and to have patrols operate throughout the night, especially in the evening hours.”
“Yes, Your Majesty. I will relay this to Sir Aaron so that he can execute it immediately.”
“And it would be good to have someone trustworthy by your side... Ah, there’s someone just right for the job.”
Linel laughed, snapping his fingers as if someone was coming to mind.
“Who...?"
“How was Commander Macrom, whom I saw at the training ground?”
“Huh?!”
“I know what you’re worried about, but even if Macrom lost his eyesight, he’s still incomparable to the average knight.”
What I'm worried about isn't Commander Macrom's eyesight. Oh, he's screwed.
“I’ll think about it...”
When I responded hesitantly, Linel said that he thought I was hesitating because of Director Macrom's eyesight and that I wouldn't regret it, adding that we should talk again later.
“Your Majesty, I have one more piece of news to tell you.”
“Which palace was the body found in this time?”
He asked blandly.
“That’s not it..."
Linel did not deny Raphael's diagnosis.
“As expected, you’re capable.”
“But why are you suddenly looking for candy?”
“I have to get through the whole day with that.”
He answered Raphael, touching his lips.
"Yes?"
Raphael looked at him with a bewildered expression and then turned his gaze to me. I pretended not to notice and touched the back of my neck.
“So, do you have any candy?”
“No? I haven’t had any candy in my pocket since I was 12.”
“Have you ever seen such an incompetent secretary!”
“Your Majesty the Empress, do you know why he say I am competent so quickly... and then turn the tables and say I am incompetent again?”
Raphael asked me with a wounded look in his eyes, as if he was complaining. I just nodded quietly. It's all my fault but also because of His Majesty's strange stubbornness.
“Raphael, I think it would be a good idea to prepare some candy for His Majesty. If possible, please make it a really big lollipop.”
“A big one? Why is that...”
At my words, Raphael looked even more confused. I glanced at Linel’s face. His face was droopier than before. If I laughed here, it would be teasing him, so I bit the flesh on the inside of my cheek and held on. Linel rubbed his lips with the back of his hand and opened the reception room door. He entered the reception room again and started eating the sweet cakes and cookies that he had not touched before. Empress Katria looked at him with somewhat puzzled eyes, but then she also picked up a cookie and started eating it because he looked delicious. I turned my gaze to the two handsome men who were blankly watching the two Emperors and spoke. The name of the green-eyed government is Deon, and the name of the gray-eyed government is Clark, right?
“I heard that Lord Deon and Lord Clark are providing a lot of help to Her Majesty Katria.”
Government Deon spoke first.
“Yes, Your Majesty. I assist Her Majesty in her duties.”
Then, as if competing, Government Clark spoke with a slightly louder voice.
“I am a knight guarding His Majesty’s side.”
Oh, neither of them were mere mistresses of Empress Katria.
“Hahaha! Deon and Clarke have different jobs during the day, but at night, they do the same thing. Right? My loves?”
“...”
“...”
Linel and I were left speechless by Empress Katria's blunt words.
“In front of your lips.”
Following the order of the Empress Katria, the lips of the two governments turned towards her. Then, she kissed the lips of the two governments without hesitation and gave them a fair reward. Linel, who was watching this, gulped and glanced at me. It's a mess. You rejected my lips so proudly. Huh, try sucking on a lollipop today. However, as time passed, my lips and hands also began to move restlessly here and there like Linel.
The news that the Tebello Imperial carriage from the Southern Continent would soon arrive in front of the main palace was reported once again. Linel and I came down to the main palace entrance again to welcome the new guest. Empress Katria, who had been chatting with us in the reception room, flatly declined his offer to go together to welcome Emperor Adrian. She hurriedly left for the villa where the guests were staying, claiming that she was tired, but it seemed to me that she was deliberately avoiding the place because she did not want to run into Emperor Adrian. I do not know the exact reason, but the Empress’s expression did not look very good ever since the mention of Emperor Adrian came up. Wondering what kind of person he was, I asked him about Emperor Adrian as we left the main palace entrance with Linel.
“He is a sinister person.”
Such were his thoughts about Emperor Adrian.
“I especially hate that expression on his face as if he's looking right through you like he's some kind of god.”
“Isn’t it just the expression on your face?”
“Expressions are expressions, but there are times when they really do match a person’s heart. That’s why they’re even more unlucky.”
Is Emperor Adrian a mind reader?
“But I heard that the Tebello Empire doesn’t have an Empress?”
“That’s what I think.”
“Then who will Emperor Adrian bring? How many of his Empresses will he bring with him, just as Empress Katria brought her government officials?”
“Either way. It’s none of my business.”
Linel responded indifferently.
“But you should still pay some attention to the guests...”
“Zelda, you are the most beautiful.”
"Yes?"
“Isn’t this my job and what I should be interested in?”
“...Tch, you even refused to kiss me.”
I whispered, pretending to be hurt, forcing down the corners of my mouth that were slowly rising.
“You can sleep at the main palace today.”
He said quietly.
“What should I do if I get so angry at the moment? I can’t say anything because she’s the Empress of the Southern Continent.”
As I spoke, the image of Empress Katria's lips pressing against Linel's lips came back to me vividly. What a shame. I should have kissed her governments. Revenge always brings interest, right? Thinking back, I felt angry and resentful.
“Then you should have done it to me.”
“Isn’t that revenge?”
“I’ll do more with other men for revenge, really?”
My face, which had been drooping at the sound of Linel's jealous voice, eventually opened to the side and burst into laughter.
“Are you laughing? It seems like just thinking about it makes you feel good?”
“No, that’s not it. I just like it when Your Majesty says things like that.”
“I’m not in the mood for a joke. Just now, seriously... Phew.”
He put his hand to his right temple and let out a long sigh. He also closed his eyes and frowned as if he was remembering the scene where I kissed the Empress's mistresses.
“I was short-sighted.”
I started to comfort him.
“So, calm down. I guess I also lost my eyes because of Empress Katria.”
“It wasn’t the eyes, it was the mouth that was the problem.”
He snorted in rebuttal to my words. When I burst out laughing again, he glared at me with disapproving eyes, but his face calmed down a bit, and he said in a request tone.
“Don’t make me obsess over this. It’s really complicated.”
I thought this was the moment, so I nodded my head vigorously, closed my eyes, and stuck my lips out to him. He must have been waiting for me to kiss him. As always, his skillful gentleness shook me up, as if he was going to eat up every breath.
“?”
...But, even though I waited, nothing touched my lips. Why? I slowly opened my eyes and looked up at him. He was looking down at me with his arms crossed and his eyes stern.
“Why don’t you do it?”
"What."
“A kiss.”
“Do you want to?”
"Sure."
"No."
"Yes?"
“I don’t like it.”
"Why?"
“I won’t do it today.”
He was really angry. But he also seemed to be regretting what he said. His blue eyes trembled as soon as he declared war. But for some reason, he didn't change his words.
“Really... you’re not going to do it?”
This time, his answer didn't come right away. Was he wavering? He paused for a moment and spoke as if he was making a promise to himself.
"It's okay."
I didn't ask if you were okay, he said to me in a serious tone.
"It's a punishment."
Ironically, the one punishing me seemed more distressed than me receiving the punishment.
“Please don’t do that, okay?”
What is this psychology of mine that makes me want to do it even more when he tells me not to? Suddenly, I felt anxious because of this man who was building an iron wall. I completely bent my neck back and looked up at him. He deliberately avoided my eyes and focused his gaze on the ceiling.
“Your Majesty, my throat hurts!”
“That is the original fate of the sunflower.”
“Isn’t the sun too cold?”
I lowered my head with a sad expression and grumbled.
“Oh, I’m hurt. For the Empress to speak of my curse in such a way.”
Linel showed off his clumsy acting by holding his heart with his right hand.
“You’ll get hot if you kiss me.”
I held Linel's two hands and pressed my body against his and whispered. He looked thoughtful for a moment before opening his mouth with a blunt look in his eyes.
“I won’t do it.”
He said, pressing his index finger against my lips.
“..."
My expectations were wrong. I didn't think he would reject me twice. And his answer made me thirstier. I boldly hugged his neck and tried to steal his lips.
“Raphael!”
Then Linel called out to the secretary, who was out in the hallway. As Raphael quickly opened the door and came in, I quickly lowered both arms that I had raised toward him.
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“Report now.”
“That’s all I said earlier...”
“...Really? Are he a servant belonging to the Empress’s palace?”
“Yes.”
“Even if he wasn’t a servant somewhere else, he was murdered in the back garden of the Empress’s Palace, so it’s not a problem that can be overlooked.”
“That’s right. Since this happened at a time when dignitaries from each country were just beginning to arrive at the palace, I think a thorough investigation is necessary.”
Raphael spoke cautiously, seeming worried that I might be scared by such talk.
“Report as soon as the identity of the murdered attendant is revealed. And strengthen the security of the Empress’s Palace.”
Oh, that wasn't necessary... Damn, because of Prince Tesla, the road to and from the training grounds is only going to get more difficult.
“Raphael, tell Captain Aaron to place additional guards at the entrance to the Empress’s Palace and to have patrols operate throughout the night, especially in the evening hours.”
“Yes, Your Majesty. I will relay this to Sir Aaron so that he can execute it immediately.”
“And it would be good to have someone trustworthy by your side... Ah, there’s someone just right for the job.”
Linel laughed, snapping his fingers as if someone was coming to mind.
“Who...?"
“How was Commander Macrom, whom I saw at the training ground?”
“Huh?!”
“I know what you’re worried about, but even if Macrom lost his eyesight, he’s still incomparable to the average knight.”
What I'm worried about isn't Commander Macrom's eyesight. Oh, he's screwed.
“I’ll think about it...”
When I responded hesitantly, Linel said that he thought I was hesitating because of Director Macrom's eyesight and that I wouldn't regret it, adding that we should talk again later.
“Your Majesty, I have one more piece of news to tell you.”
“Which palace was the body found in this time?”
He asked blandly.
“That’s not it..."
"Then?"
“In about 30 minutes, Emperor Adrian Meltin of the Tebello Empire on the Southern Continent is also expected to arrive. The vice-captain of the Imperial Knights there arrived at the palace a little while ago and informed us.”
Emperor Adrian Meltin. I heard that he was the Emperor who showed the most neutral attitude in the previous war to take over the wyvern habitat. In fact, the Tebello Empire is the country in the southern continent that has the most active exchanges with the northern continent. According to what I heard from Commander Macrom, Emperor Adrian of the Tebello Empire is also an unusual person, just like Empress Katria. He is known as a pacifist, and the ironic reason is that the Tebello Imperial Family does not have an Empress. The women he chooses all live together in a palace called 'Worni', and their rank is also unified as Empresses. It is unknown whether the Empresses who live in 'Worni' are living peacefully as Emperor Adrian intended. There was no way I would know unless I went to 'Worni' myself.
“Really? Everyone really arrived early. It’s been a while since I’ve seen that crazy pacifist.”
Linel's lips curled up into an incomprehensible expression.
“Hmm, I have been away for too long. Your Majesty, please come back in.”
“Yes, that’s right...”
"I guess I'm going in here after being rejected by him for a kiss," I replied sullenly, feeling depressed.
“Oh right, Raphael.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“Do you have any candy?”
“...Candy? Is there a reason why you’re looking for candy after 15 years?”
“I think I should put something in my mouth. If possible, something sweet.”
Linel said, chewing his lips.
“Your Majesty? You seem very uneasy right now... You look exactly like someone going through withdrawal symptoms.”
“In about 30 minutes, Emperor Adrian Meltin of the Tebello Empire on the Southern Continent is also expected to arrive. The vice-captain of the Imperial Knights there arrived at the palace a little while ago and informed us.”
Emperor Adrian Meltin. I heard that he was the Emperor who showed the most neutral attitude in the previous war to take over the wyvern habitat. In fact, the Tebello Empire is the country in the southern continent that has the most active exchanges with the northern continent. According to what I heard from Commander Macrom, Emperor Adrian of the Tebello Empire is also an unusual person, just like Empress Katria. He is known as a pacifist, and the ironic reason is that the Tebello Imperial Family does not have an Empress. The women he chooses all live together in a palace called 'Worni', and their rank is also unified as Empresses. It is unknown whether the Empresses who live in 'Worni' are living peacefully as Emperor Adrian intended. There was no way I would know unless I went to 'Worni' myself.
“Really? Everyone really arrived early. It’s been a while since I’ve seen that crazy pacifist.”
Linel's lips curled up into an incomprehensible expression.
“Hmm, I have been away for too long. Your Majesty, please come back in.”
“Yes, that’s right...”
"I guess I'm going in here after being rejected by him for a kiss," I replied sullenly, feeling depressed.
“Oh right, Raphael.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“Do you have any candy?”
“...Candy? Is there a reason why you’re looking for candy after 15 years?”
“I think I should put something in my mouth. If possible, something sweet.”
Linel said, chewing his lips.
“Your Majesty? You seem very uneasy right now... You look exactly like someone going through withdrawal symptoms.”
Linel did not deny Raphael's diagnosis.
“As expected, you’re capable.”
“But why are you suddenly looking for candy?”
“I have to get through the whole day with that.”
He answered Raphael, touching his lips.
"Yes?"
Raphael looked at him with a bewildered expression and then turned his gaze to me. I pretended not to notice and touched the back of my neck.
“So, do you have any candy?”
“No? I haven’t had any candy in my pocket since I was 12.”
“Have you ever seen such an incompetent secretary!”
“Your Majesty the Empress, do you know why he say I am competent so quickly... and then turn the tables and say I am incompetent again?”
Raphael asked me with a wounded look in his eyes, as if he was complaining. I just nodded quietly. It's all my fault but also because of His Majesty's strange stubbornness.
“Raphael, I think it would be a good idea to prepare some candy for His Majesty. If possible, please make it a really big lollipop.”
“A big one? Why is that...”
At my words, Raphael looked even more confused. I glanced at Linel’s face. His face was droopier than before. If I laughed here, it would be teasing him, so I bit the flesh on the inside of my cheek and held on. Linel rubbed his lips with the back of his hand and opened the reception room door. He entered the reception room again and started eating the sweet cakes and cookies that he had not touched before. Empress Katria looked at him with somewhat puzzled eyes, but then she also picked up a cookie and started eating it because he looked delicious. I turned my gaze to the two handsome men who were blankly watching the two Emperors and spoke. The name of the green-eyed government is Deon, and the name of the gray-eyed government is Clark, right?
“I heard that Lord Deon and Lord Clark are providing a lot of help to Her Majesty Katria.”
Government Deon spoke first.
“Yes, Your Majesty. I assist Her Majesty in her duties.”
Then, as if competing, Government Clark spoke with a slightly louder voice.
“I am a knight guarding His Majesty’s side.”
Oh, neither of them were mere mistresses of Empress Katria.
“Hahaha! Deon and Clarke have different jobs during the day, but at night, they do the same thing. Right? My loves?”
“...”
“...”
Linel and I were left speechless by Empress Katria's blunt words.
“In front of your lips.”
Following the order of the Empress Katria, the lips of the two governments turned towards her. Then, she kissed the lips of the two governments without hesitation and gave them a fair reward. Linel, who was watching this, gulped and glanced at me. It's a mess. You rejected my lips so proudly. Huh, try sucking on a lollipop today. However, as time passed, my lips and hands also began to move restlessly here and there like Linel.
***
The news that the Tebello Imperial carriage from the Southern Continent would soon arrive in front of the main palace was reported once again. Linel and I came down to the main palace entrance again to welcome the new guest. Empress Katria, who had been chatting with us in the reception room, flatly declined his offer to go together to welcome Emperor Adrian. She hurriedly left for the villa where the guests were staying, claiming that she was tired, but it seemed to me that she was deliberately avoiding the place because she did not want to run into Emperor Adrian. I do not know the exact reason, but the Empress’s expression did not look very good ever since the mention of Emperor Adrian came up. Wondering what kind of person he was, I asked him about Emperor Adrian as we left the main palace entrance with Linel.
“He is a sinister person.”
Such were his thoughts about Emperor Adrian.
“I especially hate that expression on his face as if he's looking right through you like he's some kind of god.”
“Isn’t it just the expression on your face?”
“Expressions are expressions, but there are times when they really do match a person’s heart. That’s why they’re even more unlucky.”
Is Emperor Adrian a mind reader?
“But I heard that the Tebello Empire doesn’t have an Empress?”
“That’s what I think.”
“Then who will Emperor Adrian bring? How many of his Empresses will he bring with him, just as Empress Katria brought her government officials?”
“Either way. It’s none of my business.”
Linel responded indifferently.
“But you should still pay some attention to the guests...”
“Zelda, you are the most beautiful.”
"Yes?"
“Isn’t this my job and what I should be interested in?”
“...Tch, you even refused to kiss me.”
I whispered, pretending to be hurt, forcing down the corners of my mouth that were slowly rising.
“You can sleep at the main palace today.”
He said quietly.
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