Leaving aside the explanation, I bowed my head after telling him the most important point first. Even if Linel were to strangle me right away, I had nothing to say. I will explain in detail... If my neck is still attached like this, it won’t be too late to do it then.
He sighed deeply, turned around briefly, and caressed my face again.
“I wonder if I’m the only one who gets to be this warm. I feel so sorry... That’s why I can’t stay here...”
He lowered his gaze and muttered. It didn't feel like he was talking to me. But he wasn't talking to anyone else, was he? There was only him and me in this library.
“What does that mean?”
As soon as I gave permission, Linel, who had been lying down and looking up at me, took over my position in an instant.
His radiant face cast a shadow over mine. I blurted out the words that had been gnawing at my heart.
“Please love me.”
The desire for me reflected in his eyes poured into me. Linel gently licked my lower lip and whispered in a pained voice.
“You’re driving me crazy, seriously...”
I could feel his gaze staring at me intently. I wanted to raise my head, but I didn’t have the confidence to look at his face, which was hurt by betrayal. I deceived him. It wasn’t my intention, but I couldn’t deny that I had deceived him anyway. However, I had failed as the acting empress a long time ago. Because I loved him... I was more afraid of the betrayal he would feel from me than of my identity being revealed. If I was the only one who loved him, he wouldn’t be hurt even if my existence was revealed. That was where the problem lay.
My heart felt like it was shrinking with guilt. I couldn’t move my body as if fear had formed a barrier around me. Linel’s silence also grew longer, perhaps due to the shock. I closed my eyes tightly and spoke again.
“I am not the empress, I am...”
"I know."
Unlike before, I could hear his voice right away. And I bowed deeply in response and automatically lifted my head. Do you know? You know?!
“I am not the empress, I am...”
"I know."
Unlike before, I could hear his voice right away. And I bowed deeply in response and automatically lifted my head. Do you know? You know?!
When Linel met my eyes, he opened his mouth again as if he had been waiting.
“Yes, you are not the Empress.”
“Since when... did you know?”
My body felt like it was stuck under a huge rock, and I couldn't breathe properly. All I could do now was stare at his face.
“Since the moment I caught you earlier.”
"...Yes?"
What the hell is this?
“You are a rabbit.”
“!”
Linel's words once again threw my brain into disarray.
“What... did you say?”
He thought I wasn't listening to him and asked me to repeat myself.
“It’s not Empress, it’s rabbit.”
I spoke again, speaking clearly. For a moment, my legs gave out. I sat down slightly, leaning my butt against the mahogany desk behind me. Strangely, the tension was released, and a strange sense of relief mixed with emptiness began to form in my heart. I had no idea where to start.
“Zelda.”
I answered in a weak voice to Linel's voice, which had become serious again.
"Yes..."
“If you have time, come here and hug me.”
He spoke to me with his arms outstretched. I had no idea what he was thinking. As I continued to stand there dumbfounded, he put strength into his arms again and spoke.
“Come in. I’ll take care of everything you’re worried about right now.”
As he said, if I hugged him now, everything would really be okay. Linel's eyes were telling me so. Now was the time to hug him without saying a word. If we put our hearts together, all our worries would disappear.
“There won’t be another chance like this. Time is passing. It’s getting narrower and narrower.”
He began to gradually close his arms, which had been spread out on both sides. As his arms closed, it seemed as if his heart would close as well. Linel was a master at making people impatient.
“Now is the time. Rabbit, run!”
He shouted, and I ran. I squeezed through Linel's narrow arms and safely entered his arms. I hugged his waist tightly. He gently patted my back and spoke calmly.
“I told you, there’s no need to push yourself too hard.”
I looked up at him, and he wiped the sweat off my forehead and made me rest my head on his chest again.
“Besides, you sweated today, so you must be tired, right? Me too... So let’s talk again when we’re both more comfortable.”
I thought I should say something to him, but I thought he would just say weird things now, so I chose to keep quiet. And I just nodded quietly.
“I don’t know how lucky I am that you are mine. If you were someone else’s woman, I would have fought a war to bring you to my side... Would you believe me if I told you that I’ve thought that?”
I thought he was joking.
“Am I a wyvern-like being?”
I almost burst out laughing at his absurd hypothesis.
“It’s more than a wyvern.”
“It’s touching...”
“You know what? There’s nothing more insincere than just telling someone you were touched.”
He frowned and spoke as if he was scolding me.
“Then how do I convey it?”
“Think about it.”
As he spoke, he bit his lower lip. I immediately tipped my toes toward his lips. Linel lowered his head and parted my lips first, then barged in. I had to take a step back as he walked toward the mahogany desk, showering me with kisses. I felt like I was going to fall backward, so I unconsciously placed my foot on top of his foot.
“How bold! How dare you step on the Emperor’s feet.”
His voice leaked out through slightly parted lips. Unlike his argumentative tone, his breathing was mixed with laughter. I volunteered to sit on the mahogany desk. Then he gently placed my two legs on the desk and looked down at me. Unlike his calm hands, his eyes were already filled with desire. The sound of our wet kisses echoed loudly in the quiet library. My reason had already flown away and was stuck somewhere on the bookshelf. Linel’s instinct seemed to exist entirely for me. He carefully laid me down, placing his hand on the back of my head so that my head would not hit the desk. He, who had been showering me with merciless kisses, suddenly stopped.
“Yes, you are not the Empress.”
“Since when... did you know?”
My body felt like it was stuck under a huge rock, and I couldn't breathe properly. All I could do now was stare at his face.
“Since the moment I caught you earlier.”
"...Yes?"
What the hell is this?
“You are a rabbit.”
“!”
Linel's words once again threw my brain into disarray.
“What... did you say?”
He thought I wasn't listening to him and asked me to repeat myself.
“It’s not Empress, it’s rabbit.”
I spoke again, speaking clearly. For a moment, my legs gave out. I sat down slightly, leaning my butt against the mahogany desk behind me. Strangely, the tension was released, and a strange sense of relief mixed with emptiness began to form in my heart. I had no idea where to start.
“Zelda.”
I answered in a weak voice to Linel's voice, which had become serious again.
"Yes..."
“If you have time, come here and hug me.”
He spoke to me with his arms outstretched. I had no idea what he was thinking. As I continued to stand there dumbfounded, he put strength into his arms again and spoke.
“Come in. I’ll take care of everything you’re worried about right now.”
As he said, if I hugged him now, everything would really be okay. Linel's eyes were telling me so. Now was the time to hug him without saying a word. If we put our hearts together, all our worries would disappear.
“There won’t be another chance like this. Time is passing. It’s getting narrower and narrower.”
He began to gradually close his arms, which had been spread out on both sides. As his arms closed, it seemed as if his heart would close as well. Linel was a master at making people impatient.
“Now is the time. Rabbit, run!”
He shouted, and I ran. I squeezed through Linel's narrow arms and safely entered his arms. I hugged his waist tightly. He gently patted my back and spoke calmly.
“I told you, there’s no need to push yourself too hard.”
I looked up at him, and he wiped the sweat off my forehead and made me rest my head on his chest again.
“Besides, you sweated today, so you must be tired, right? Me too... So let’s talk again when we’re both more comfortable.”
I thought I should say something to him, but I thought he would just say weird things now, so I chose to keep quiet. And I just nodded quietly.
“I don’t know how lucky I am that you are mine. If you were someone else’s woman, I would have fought a war to bring you to my side... Would you believe me if I told you that I’ve thought that?”
I thought he was joking.
“Am I a wyvern-like being?”
I almost burst out laughing at his absurd hypothesis.
“It’s more than a wyvern.”
“It’s touching...”
“You know what? There’s nothing more insincere than just telling someone you were touched.”
He frowned and spoke as if he was scolding me.
“Then how do I convey it?”
“Think about it.”
As he spoke, he bit his lower lip. I immediately tipped my toes toward his lips. Linel lowered his head and parted my lips first, then barged in. I had to take a step back as he walked toward the mahogany desk, showering me with kisses. I felt like I was going to fall backward, so I unconsciously placed my foot on top of his foot.
“How bold! How dare you step on the Emperor’s feet.”
His voice leaked out through slightly parted lips. Unlike his argumentative tone, his breathing was mixed with laughter. I volunteered to sit on the mahogany desk. Then he gently placed my two legs on the desk and looked down at me. Unlike his calm hands, his eyes were already filled with desire. The sound of our wet kisses echoed loudly in the quiet library. My reason had already flown away and was stuck somewhere on the bookshelf. Linel’s instinct seemed to exist entirely for me. He carefully laid me down, placing his hand on the back of my head so that my head would not hit the desk. He, who had been showering me with merciless kisses, suddenly stopped.
“Hmm, wait a minute.”
He parted his lips with difficulty, took a deep breath as if trying to calm his excitement, and then spoke.
“Here... I really can’t. I’m sorry.”
"I'm fine."
“No, that’s not what I meant...”
He parted his lips with difficulty, took a deep breath as if trying to calm his excitement, and then spoke.
“Here... I really can’t. I’m sorry.”
"I'm fine."
“No, that’s not what I meant...”
He sighed deeply, turned around briefly, and caressed my face again.
“I wonder if I’m the only one who gets to be this warm. I feel so sorry... That’s why I can’t stay here...”
He lowered his gaze and muttered. It didn't feel like he was talking to me. But he wasn't talking to anyone else, was he? There was only him and me in this library.
“What does that mean?”
“Words you can’t understand right now.”
Linel replied with a slight smile, but his eyes looked sad. His words were foggy. I wanted to ask for more details, but I didn't. If Linel had something to confess to me, I wanted to give him time, just as he had given me.
“Go up to the bedroom.”
“I guess so.”
Linel lifted the mahogany desk and placed it back where it had been. I was carried along with the desk without even having time to get down from it.
“You’re not going to leave me here either, are you?”
I got down from the desk and grabbed his waist, grumbling for no reason.
“I was going to come pick you up tomorrow, but you're pretty, so I should take you with me.”
As I pouted and laughed, he became serious and added one more thing.
“I don’t know if it’s because the library lights are dim, but you look pretty.”
“Probably so.”
I couldn't help laughing more because it was a pretty believable statement. As I was linking arms with him and turning to head toward the library door, my body suddenly floated into the air.
“Huh...? Why are you like this?”
He put me on one shoulder.
“I’m out hunting, so I should bring some prey. Then, no one will look down on me.”
“What, what are you doing!”
“Be quiet.”
He opened the library door and slapped my butt with his hand.
“It’s a good idea to carry the game you’ve caught on your shoulder like this.”
“What will the servants say if they see this! Please come down, quickly.”
“You’re barefoot right now.”
He replied, running his hand along the area around my ankle.
“Oh my god, where can you find a floor this clean? I’ll just walk, okay?”
“If you’re embarrassed, just pretend to be asleep.”
Linel spoke firmly and patted my butt again.
Linel replied with a slight smile, but his eyes looked sad. His words were foggy. I wanted to ask for more details, but I didn't. If Linel had something to confess to me, I wanted to give him time, just as he had given me.
“Go up to the bedroom.”
“I guess so.”
Linel lifted the mahogany desk and placed it back where it had been. I was carried along with the desk without even having time to get down from it.
“You’re not going to leave me here either, are you?”
I got down from the desk and grabbed his waist, grumbling for no reason.
“I was going to come pick you up tomorrow, but you're pretty, so I should take you with me.”
As I pouted and laughed, he became serious and added one more thing.
“I don’t know if it’s because the library lights are dim, but you look pretty.”
“Probably so.”
I couldn't help laughing more because it was a pretty believable statement. As I was linking arms with him and turning to head toward the library door, my body suddenly floated into the air.
“Huh...? Why are you like this?”
He put me on one shoulder.
“I’m out hunting, so I should bring some prey. Then, no one will look down on me.”
“What, what are you doing!”
“Be quiet.”
He opened the library door and slapped my butt with his hand.
“It’s a good idea to carry the game you’ve caught on your shoulder like this.”
“What will the servants say if they see this! Please come down, quickly.”
“You’re barefoot right now.”
He replied, running his hand along the area around my ankle.
“Oh my god, where can you find a floor this clean? I’ll just walk, okay?”
“If you’re embarrassed, just pretend to be asleep.”
Linel spoke firmly and patted my butt again.
“Who would believe me if I suddenly ran out of the bedroom and found myself asleep on Your Majesty’s shoulder?”
“I see. Then why don’t you pretend to be dead?”
“...Yes, that’s more realistic.”
I couldn't understand. I remained quiet, thinking, 'Oh, I don't know.' His laughter continued as he climbed the stairs. As I went up to the bedroom floor, I could hear the servants' murmurs here and there as expected. I closed my eyes tightly, pretended to be dead, and slumped on his shoulder.
“Your Majesty the Emperor, Your Majesty the Empress!”
Sharon, your voice is too loud. Sharon's astonished voice echoed through the bedroom floor.
“Shh, the Empress is dead.”
“Huh? Oh, what happened!”
Sharon asked helplessly, echoing the Emperor's ridiculous joke.
“Unable to overcome the embarrassment, she gave up...”
At Linel's sorrowful voice, the servants' laughter leaked out here and there. I was so embarrassed that I almost fainted.
“I will bring the Empress back to life tonight, so everyone stop laughing! If you really don’t want to die, tell the Empress tomorrow morning.”
The laughter suddenly stopped for a moment at his stern remark.
“I am sorry, Your Majesty the Empress!”
“Please forgive me, Your Majesty the Empress!”
“I suddenly remembered a funny thing that happened during the day and laughed!”
These people really... are determined to humiliate me as a group? Linel shouted to his attendants, 'This is going to be a night of miracles!' as he opened the bedroom door.
“I see. Then why don’t you pretend to be dead?”
“...Yes, that’s more realistic.”
I couldn't understand. I remained quiet, thinking, 'Oh, I don't know.' His laughter continued as he climbed the stairs. As I went up to the bedroom floor, I could hear the servants' murmurs here and there as expected. I closed my eyes tightly, pretended to be dead, and slumped on his shoulder.
“Your Majesty the Emperor, Your Majesty the Empress!”
Sharon, your voice is too loud. Sharon's astonished voice echoed through the bedroom floor.
“Shh, the Empress is dead.”
“Huh? Oh, what happened!”
Sharon asked helplessly, echoing the Emperor's ridiculous joke.
“Unable to overcome the embarrassment, she gave up...”
At Linel's sorrowful voice, the servants' laughter leaked out here and there. I was so embarrassed that I almost fainted.
“I will bring the Empress back to life tonight, so everyone stop laughing! If you really don’t want to die, tell the Empress tomorrow morning.”
The laughter suddenly stopped for a moment at his stern remark.
“I am sorry, Your Majesty the Empress!”
“Please forgive me, Your Majesty the Empress!”
“I suddenly remembered a funny thing that happened during the day and laughed!”
These people really... are determined to humiliate me as a group? Linel shouted to his attendants, 'This is going to be a night of miracles!' as he opened the bedroom door.
Crunch. I heard the bedroom door close, but I was still relaxed on his shoulder.
“Zelda, it’s just the two of us now, so please brace yourself. The Emperor’s shoulders are about to give out.”
Slap.
“Zelda, it’s just the two of us now, so please brace yourself. The Emperor’s shoulders are about to give out.”
Slap.
He slapped my butt, then immediately said, “Oh, that must have hurt,” and gently patted my butt. I blushed as if I’d been slapped and flailed my legs.
“Yes. I’ll let you go, so stop resisting.”
He scared me to the point where I thought he was going to throw me on the bed, but he eventually put me down carefully, like a baby. I glared at him, roughly brushing back my hair, which was a mess from hanging upside down.
“How strange would the servants think of me...? Phew, why are you doing this?”
“Because of you, I’m ruined.”
Linel stood there, his one shoulder that had been wrapped around me slumped, as if his soul had left him. When I burst into laughter, he moved his slumped arm back and forth like a pendulum, and eventually, he laughed too. Only after the laughter subsided did he come up to the bed and sit across from me. Linel held out his two hands to me. When I saw him looking at me with such loving eyes, my playfulness kicked in. I placed my two feet gently on his two palms and smiled shyly. I thought he would be greatly embarrassed, but he unexpectedly grabbed my two feet and shook them as if shaking hands. It was a strange situation where the person who had dared to play a prank ended up feeling even more embarrassed. It was extremely funny to see my feet caught in his hands. The sin of daring to put my feet in the emperor’s hands returned as humiliation. He clapped his hands together, hitting the soles of my feet. The sound of his feet clapping echoed through the bedroom. This is the real shame.
“It’s really weird.”
He muttered with a profound expression.
“...Yes, it is not a normal posture.”
“No more posture.”
Is there anything strange about my posture right now?
“The person who calls herself my wife.”
He spoke as if he were talking about me to someone else. I asked him questions as if I was chiming in with his words.
“Why His Majesty’s wife?”
“I don’t mind if she do such rude things to me, the Emperor.”
“Isn’t it because your wife is so pretty?”
“No, that’s not it.”
Linel said bluntly. If I tease you one more time, you're going to get angry.
“...Ah, yes.
“Up until now, and in the future, my wife will be the only one of all living creatures to have so brazenly placed both feet on my hand.”
He looked at my face intently and then pursed his plump, sexy lips as if he had more to say. Was he trying to tell me that he loved me? I expected it, but
“This is something to celebrate.”
Clap clap clap-.
“Yes. I’ll let you go, so stop resisting.”
He scared me to the point where I thought he was going to throw me on the bed, but he eventually put me down carefully, like a baby. I glared at him, roughly brushing back my hair, which was a mess from hanging upside down.
“How strange would the servants think of me...? Phew, why are you doing this?”
“Because of you, I’m ruined.”
Linel stood there, his one shoulder that had been wrapped around me slumped, as if his soul had left him. When I burst into laughter, he moved his slumped arm back and forth like a pendulum, and eventually, he laughed too. Only after the laughter subsided did he come up to the bed and sit across from me. Linel held out his two hands to me. When I saw him looking at me with such loving eyes, my playfulness kicked in. I placed my two feet gently on his two palms and smiled shyly. I thought he would be greatly embarrassed, but he unexpectedly grabbed my two feet and shook them as if shaking hands. It was a strange situation where the person who had dared to play a prank ended up feeling even more embarrassed. It was extremely funny to see my feet caught in his hands. The sin of daring to put my feet in the emperor’s hands returned as humiliation. He clapped his hands together, hitting the soles of my feet. The sound of his feet clapping echoed through the bedroom. This is the real shame.
“It’s really weird.”
He muttered with a profound expression.
“...Yes, it is not a normal posture.”
“No more posture.”
Is there anything strange about my posture right now?
“The person who calls herself my wife.”
He spoke as if he were talking about me to someone else. I asked him questions as if I was chiming in with his words.
“Why His Majesty’s wife?”
“I don’t mind if she do such rude things to me, the Emperor.”
“Isn’t it because your wife is so pretty?”
“No, that’s not it.”
Linel said bluntly. If I tease you one more time, you're going to get angry.
“...Ah, yes.
“Up until now, and in the future, my wife will be the only one of all living creatures to have so brazenly placed both feet on my hand.”
He looked at my face intently and then pursed his plump, sexy lips as if he had more to say. Was he trying to tell me that he loved me? I expected it, but
“This is something to celebrate.”
Clap clap clap-.
He shouted, clapping his feet fervently. I lost my balance and fell backwards. Although my posture was funny, I tried to keep my expression cool, but I failed. I started laughing like a woman with a screw loose. Even though this was not the time to laugh. Or was I really crazy? I reaffirmed my resolve and sat up straight again. But it was just as Linel was about to bend over in front of me.
“Why are you up? You’re embarrassing the person who was about to lie down.”
I just pushed his shoulders back and made him sit up again. I had something to say to him.
“Do you trust me?”
"No."
"...Ah."
His honest and quick answer made the words I was about to say crawl back into my throat.
“I don’t believe it yet, but I do love it.”
He spoke confidently, crossing his arms in front of him.
“Then do you believe in my love?”
“It's far behind me, but I trust it.”
“Okay, then. Just believe that. But how do you know if my love is lacking or not and say something like that?”
“My love is of an unattainable level. So your love will be far behind mine. I guarantee it.”
“You underestimate my love.”
“If you feel wronged, prove it.”
Linel flopped down on the bed, provoking me. I reached for the bedside table to turn off the light.
"Coward."
Linel muttered in a low voice, his throat still pressed against his neck. I stopped reaching for the light at his teasing tone.
“Huh? What did you say?”
“Do I really have to turn off the lights? It’s already dark enough. I think it would be okay to leave one on.”
“Still...”
It's embarrassing. I hesitated and tried to turn the light off again.
“Why are you up? You’re embarrassing the person who was about to lie down.”
I just pushed his shoulders back and made him sit up again. I had something to say to him.
“Do you trust me?”
"No."
"...Ah."
His honest and quick answer made the words I was about to say crawl back into my throat.
“I don’t believe it yet, but I do love it.”
He spoke confidently, crossing his arms in front of him.
“Then do you believe in my love?”
“It's far behind me, but I trust it.”
“Okay, then. Just believe that. But how do you know if my love is lacking or not and say something like that?”
“My love is of an unattainable level. So your love will be far behind mine. I guarantee it.”
“You underestimate my love.”
“If you feel wronged, prove it.”
Linel flopped down on the bed, provoking me. I reached for the bedside table to turn off the light.
"Coward."
Linel muttered in a low voice, his throat still pressed against his neck. I stopped reaching for the light at his teasing tone.
“Huh? What did you say?”
“Do I really have to turn off the lights? It’s already dark enough. I think it would be okay to leave one on.”
“Still...”
It's embarrassing. I hesitated and tried to turn the light off again.
“I do that because I miss you.”
He said, grabbing my wrist as if sweeping it up.
“...What?”
“Those eyes, those expressions when you share love. Let’s just turn them on. Okay?”
Linel said, pleading.
“Then let’s just leave it on for today... Ugh."
He said, grabbing my wrist as if sweeping it up.
“...What?”
“Those eyes, those expressions when you share love. Let’s just turn them on. Okay?”
Linel said, pleading.
“Then let’s just leave it on for today... Ugh."
As soon as I gave permission, Linel, who had been lying down and looking up at me, took over my position in an instant.
His radiant face cast a shadow over mine. I blurted out the words that had been gnawing at my heart.
“Please love me.”
The desire for me reflected in his eyes poured into me. Linel gently licked my lower lip and whispered in a pained voice.
“You’re driving me crazy, seriously...”
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