No fever? Are you drunk? I thought as I took my hand off Rosie's forehead.
“But isn’t there a better excuse?”
From Linel's perspective, it might have sounded a bit sloppy.
“If they find out I lied about being sick... then you can use the cat excuse.”
“Oh, that white kitten I saw back then?”
“Yes. So, if my faking illness is discovered, I’ll say that I brought you here because I wanted to show you the cat I’ve been secretly raising. I’ll say that I wanted to get permission from Her Majesty the Empress first to raise a cat.”
Judging from the way Rosie spoke, it seemed like she hadn't submitted her report to the administrator yet about raising a cat. Hmm, that's not a bad excuse, is it?
“As I said before, that’s difficult. Please understand.”
"All right."
Rosie, who had been insisting on going with me the whole time, suddenly changed her mind and nodded obediently. I was a little surprised that she had changed her attitude so cleanly, but I thought it was understandable. After talking to Rosie, I went with her to Linel and asked for permission.
“Does the Empress have to come all the way to Rosie’s residence at this hour? Is she very sick?”
Linel glanced at Rosie, who was standing behind me, and asked me. He also seemed displeased. However, he knew that I was the only one who was close to Rosie among the concubines, so he eventually allowed it. Before leaving the main palace, I had Rosie’s attendants, including Sharon, take me to the bedding room in the main palace and carry my useless luggage to her quarters. I also ordered Commander Macrom, who was guarding me, to help the attendants, and the chief gladly went with them to the west palace first. With that, I left Commander Macrom and all the attendants behind and quickly left the main palace alone with Rosie.
“But isn’t there a better excuse?”
From Linel's perspective, it might have sounded a bit sloppy.
“If they find out I lied about being sick... then you can use the cat excuse.”
“Oh, that white kitten I saw back then?”
“Yes. So, if my faking illness is discovered, I’ll say that I brought you here because I wanted to show you the cat I’ve been secretly raising. I’ll say that I wanted to get permission from Her Majesty the Empress first to raise a cat.”
Judging from the way Rosie spoke, it seemed like she hadn't submitted her report to the administrator yet about raising a cat. Hmm, that's not a bad excuse, is it?
“But I’m worried that your image might get damaged because of me.”
Anyway, Rosie is also Linel's concubine. Rosie usually sings that she is not interested in His Majesty's favor, but from my perspective, I cannot help but care about her image.
“Don’t worry! If she gets caught, her image will be ruined, but Orange-haired is a bit of a reckless person to begin with, so His Majesty will probably agree with you.”
"...What?"
Rosie smiled brightly, calling herself 'orange-headed.'
“Hahaha, even if things go wrong, Rosie’s image will be okay.”
And she even calls herself by her own name. Isn't that something only Melanie does?
“Rosie... Are you sure there’s nothing that hurts?”
“Not at all? Rosie is a corpse, except for her healthy body and her eyes that read books!”
She answered confidently, widening her eyes with her index finger and thumb.
“... That, that’s right. Anyway, thank you for helping me. And I’ll say it again, just part ways in front of the temple building. Just go straight back to your quarters.”
“Your Majesty, I would like to go with you...”
Anyway, Rosie is also Linel's concubine. Rosie usually sings that she is not interested in His Majesty's favor, but from my perspective, I cannot help but care about her image.
“Don’t worry! If she gets caught, her image will be ruined, but Orange-haired is a bit of a reckless person to begin with, so His Majesty will probably agree with you.”
"...What?"
Rosie smiled brightly, calling herself 'orange-headed.'
“Hahaha, even if things go wrong, Rosie’s image will be okay.”
And she even calls herself by her own name. Isn't that something only Melanie does?
“Rosie... Are you sure there’s nothing that hurts?”
“Not at all? Rosie is a corpse, except for her healthy body and her eyes that read books!”
She answered confidently, widening her eyes with her index finger and thumb.
“... That, that’s right. Anyway, thank you for helping me. And I’ll say it again, just part ways in front of the temple building. Just go straight back to your quarters.”
“Your Majesty, I would like to go with you...”
“As I said before, that’s difficult. Please understand.”
"All right."
Rosie, who had been insisting on going with me the whole time, suddenly changed her mind and nodded obediently. I was a little surprised that she had changed her attitude so cleanly, but I thought it was understandable. After talking to Rosie, I went with her to Linel and asked for permission.
“Does the Empress have to come all the way to Rosie’s residence at this hour? Is she very sick?”
Linel glanced at Rosie, who was standing behind me, and asked me. He also seemed displeased. However, he knew that I was the only one who was close to Rosie among the concubines, so he eventually allowed it. Before leaving the main palace, I had Rosie’s attendants, including Sharon, take me to the bedding room in the main palace and carry my useless luggage to her quarters. I also ordered Commander Macrom, who was guarding me, to help the attendants, and the chief gladly went with them to the west palace first. With that, I left Commander Macrom and all the attendants behind and quickly left the main palace alone with Rosie.
If it weren’t for her, it wouldn’t have been easy to get out. Finally, I parted ways with Rosie, whom I had to leave behind, at the garden path leading from the temple building to the west palace. I waved at Rosie, who kept looking back, and watched her back as she walked away before turning the corner of the temple building.
“He hasn’t come yet?”
I looked around the backyard of the temple, the meeting place, but Prince Tesla was nowhere to be seen. I waited anxiously for the Prince near the back door of the temple. For today, I just had to meet Prince Tesla and confirm Bonis’s life or death. I wouldn’t regret blowing away the pink diamond earrings the Prince had prepared as a gift with a slingshot. If he had done something to Bonis again, I could kill Prince Tesla here and there. The location was a bit awkward, though... Originally, all killing was prohibited in the temple. But since this was outside the temple and the punishment was in the backyard, wouldn’t the gods be a little lenient?
“What are you… doing here?”
As I was looking up at the temple building, I heard a familiar voice. I was about to turn around because I felt a presence. However, it was not Prince Tesla’s voice. The person who showed up at the meeting place was Prince Norton.
“What are you... doing here?”
As soon as I saw Prince Norton’s face, the same words came out of my mouth. Was he just passing by? ...As I was thinking that, the two champagne glasses in Prince Norton’s hands caught my eye.
“Your Majesty, why are you here...? Are you perhaps on your way back to the villa?”
This road, which starts from the Opera Palace, is also a shortcut to the villa. However, the two champagne glasses the Prince is holding kept bothering me.
“That’s true, but I had something to do in between.”
***
“He hasn’t come yet?”
I looked around the backyard of the temple, the meeting place, but Prince Tesla was nowhere to be seen. I waited anxiously for the Prince near the back door of the temple. For today, I just had to meet Prince Tesla and confirm Bonis’s life or death. I wouldn’t regret blowing away the pink diamond earrings the Prince had prepared as a gift with a slingshot. If he had done something to Bonis again, I could kill Prince Tesla here and there. The location was a bit awkward, though... Originally, all killing was prohibited in the temple. But since this was outside the temple and the punishment was in the backyard, wouldn’t the gods be a little lenient?
“What are you… doing here?”
As I was looking up at the temple building, I heard a familiar voice. I was about to turn around because I felt a presence. However, it was not Prince Tesla’s voice. The person who showed up at the meeting place was Prince Norton.
“What are you... doing here?”
As soon as I saw Prince Norton’s face, the same words came out of my mouth. Was he just passing by? ...As I was thinking that, the two champagne glasses in Prince Norton’s hands caught my eye.
“Your Majesty, why are you here...? Are you perhaps on your way back to the villa?”
This road, which starts from the Opera Palace, is also a shortcut to the villa. However, the two champagne glasses the Prince is holding kept bothering me.
“That’s true, but I had something to do in between.”
“From the temple sponsorship?”
“Not here, but from the back gate of the Opera Palace... That’s the way to get there.”
Prince Norton looked back at the path he had walked and pointed to the Opera House with his finger.
“Who... did you plan on meeting there?”
I asked, nodding at the champagne glass in Prince Norton's hand.
“I was about to ask the same question. What is Your Majesty the Empress doing in the temple garden without any attendants?”
“I... was praying.”
“I hope Bonis is safe,” I replied, clasping my hands together. Prince Norton looked at me with a suspicious look.
“Your Majesty, who are you waiting for?”
Does that mean you were like that, too?
"Yes, that's right."
I released my grip and nodded.
“I don’t think it’s His Majesty... May I ask who you are waiting for?”
I hesitated for a moment at that question. I couldn't just casually say that I had come to see Prince Tesla. Moreover, I had just recently witnessed Prince Norton and Sir Ken, the knight who was Prince Tesla's escort, murdering a servant in the back garden of the Empress's Palace. However, if I said that I had come to meet Prince Tesla alone in such a secluded place, it was obvious that they would think I was strange. I had to be careful, as it could easily lead to misunderstandings.
“I’m not waiting for anyone.”
I changed the subject and made a fuss.
“Not here, but from the back gate of the Opera Palace... That’s the way to get there.”
Prince Norton looked back at the path he had walked and pointed to the Opera House with his finger.
“Who... did you plan on meeting there?”
I asked, nodding at the champagne glass in Prince Norton's hand.
“I was about to ask the same question. What is Your Majesty the Empress doing in the temple garden without any attendants?”
“I... was praying.”
“I hope Bonis is safe,” I replied, clasping my hands together. Prince Norton looked at me with a suspicious look.
“Your Majesty, who are you waiting for?”
Does that mean you were like that, too?
"Yes, that's right."
I released my grip and nodded.
“I don’t think it’s His Majesty... May I ask who you are waiting for?”
I hesitated for a moment at that question. I couldn't just casually say that I had come to see Prince Tesla. Moreover, I had just recently witnessed Prince Norton and Sir Ken, the knight who was Prince Tesla's escort, murdering a servant in the back garden of the Empress's Palace. However, if I said that I had come to meet Prince Tesla alone in such a secluded place, it was obvious that they would think I was strange. I had to be careful, as it could easily lead to misunderstandings.
“I’m not waiting for anyone.”
I changed the subject and made a fuss.
“Your Majesty? What are you doing at the Opera Palace at this hour? Even holding a glass of champagne?”
“I didn’t go to see the performance either.”
Prince Norton also seemed to be deliberately beating around the bush.
“Would you like to eat?”
The Prince offered me a glass of champagne.
“Thank you. I was already thirsty.”
As I was feeling thirsty from the tension, I quickly took the glass of champagne the Prince offered me.
“Never mind. But what did you say to His Majesty before you left?”
“Ah, that’s...”
While I hesitated for a moment, the Prince lowered his voice and changed the question.
“No, rather, have you come out to meet someone from the Kingdom of Shattonil? For example, Prince Tesla.”
“Why... do you think so?”
At that moment, the atmosphere in the temple backyard began to change strangely. A cold wind blew from the direction of the main palace. I intuitively felt that something was wrong. It was a trap. The passing wind seemed to whisper to me. A scene suddenly appeared in my mind. When I was talking to Empress Elan in the banquet hall, Princess Resilia approached Prince Tesla and whispered something seriously. Before answering Prince Norton, there was something to check first.
“Your Highness, have you arranged to meet Princess Resilia at the back gate of the Opera Palace?”
“Yes... that’s right.”
Prince Norton made a slightly surprised expression, then admitted it obediently. Did he really fall for Princess Resilia? Did they know each other from the beginning?
“I didn’t go to see the performance either.”
Prince Norton also seemed to be deliberately beating around the bush.
“Would you like to eat?”
The Prince offered me a glass of champagne.
“Thank you. I was already thirsty.”
As I was feeling thirsty from the tension, I quickly took the glass of champagne the Prince offered me.
“Never mind. But what did you say to His Majesty before you left?”
“Ah, that’s...”
While I hesitated for a moment, the Prince lowered his voice and changed the question.
“No, rather, have you come out to meet someone from the Kingdom of Shattonil? For example, Prince Tesla.”
“Why... do you think so?”
At that moment, the atmosphere in the temple backyard began to change strangely. A cold wind blew from the direction of the main palace. I intuitively felt that something was wrong. It was a trap. The passing wind seemed to whisper to me. A scene suddenly appeared in my mind. When I was talking to Empress Elan in the banquet hall, Princess Resilia approached Prince Tesla and whispered something seriously. Before answering Prince Norton, there was something to check first.
“Your Highness, have you arranged to meet Princess Resilia at the back gate of the Opera Palace?”
“Yes... that’s right.”
Prince Norton made a slightly surprised expression, then admitted it obediently. Did he really fall for Princess Resilia? Did they know each other from the beginning?
Or did he become close with the Princess at the banquet hall earlier? So did he decide to meet her at the Opera Palace and return to the villa together? But judging from the fact that the champagne glass wasn't empty, it seems like he didn't meet Princess Resilia.
“Did Princess Resilia ask to see Prince Norton first?”
“That’s what I said.”
“What's the matter?"
“That is... It’s a long story. I haven’t heard Your Majesty the Empress’s answer yet. Is it true that you have arranged to meet with Prince Tesla?”
“Yes. Me too. It won’t be short if I try to explain.”
“Hmm, did Prince Tesla also ask to see Your Majesty first?”
"Yes."
As I was talking to Prince Norton, I had a feeling. And it seemed like Prince Norton was thinking the same thing as I was.
“Something is amiss. Your Majesty, I think we should get out of here.”
“Your Highness, it may be a little late to tell you this, but...”
I rolled my eyes in the direction Prince Norton had walked. I could hear the sound of carefree footsteps coming from this direction, more and more often. It must be Linel. Prince Tesla must be with him. I quickly whispered to Prince Norton.
“I think it’s already gone.”
“Yes? Where?”
“It’s a trap.”
While Prince Norton was confused, a rustling sound was heard again in the darkness,
"Empress?"
Linel's voice pierced my ears like an arrow of ice.
The backyard of the temple building is a rather dark place. I looked at the champagne glass in my hand and then at Prince Norton in front of me. It was a situation and place that anyone could misunderstand. Furthermore, I had already left the main palace without even noticing, making an excuse to Linel that Rosie was sick. His wife, who should be in Rosie’s quarters, was standing alone with a Prince from another country in the dark, each holding a glass of champagne. There would be no husband in the world who would be happy to see that. Furthermore, it would have been suspicious even if it was in front of the main entrance of the temple building, where the lights were brightly lit, so how much more so in the dark backyard...
“Did Princess Resilia ask to see Prince Norton first?”
“That’s what I said.”
“What's the matter?"
“That is... It’s a long story. I haven’t heard Your Majesty the Empress’s answer yet. Is it true that you have arranged to meet with Prince Tesla?”
“Yes. Me too. It won’t be short if I try to explain.”
“Hmm, did Prince Tesla also ask to see Your Majesty first?”
"Yes."
As I was talking to Prince Norton, I had a feeling. And it seemed like Prince Norton was thinking the same thing as I was.
“Something is amiss. Your Majesty, I think we should get out of here.”
“Your Highness, it may be a little late to tell you this, but...”
I rolled my eyes in the direction Prince Norton had walked. I could hear the sound of carefree footsteps coming from this direction, more and more often. It must be Linel. Prince Tesla must be with him. I quickly whispered to Prince Norton.
“I think it’s already gone.”
“Yes? Where?”
“It’s a trap.”
While Prince Norton was confused, a rustling sound was heard again in the darkness,
"Empress?"
Linel's voice pierced my ears like an arrow of ice.
The backyard of the temple building is a rather dark place. I looked at the champagne glass in my hand and then at Prince Norton in front of me. It was a situation and place that anyone could misunderstand. Furthermore, I had already left the main palace without even noticing, making an excuse to Linel that Rosie was sick. His wife, who should be in Rosie’s quarters, was standing alone with a Prince from another country in the dark, each holding a glass of champagne. There would be no husband in the world who would be happy to see that. Furthermore, it would have been suspicious even if it was in front of the main entrance of the temple building, where the lights were brightly lit, so how much more so in the dark backyard...
From this point on, all my thinking began to paralyze. Tesla, you vulgar brat. Trying to provoke Linel in such a childish way. Was this a taste of the scandal that Prince Tesla was going to present before he dethroned me from the position of Empress?
'Doubt starts from something very small. When you start to doubt something small, something small, something small, trust starts to leak out like an hourglass, and love also slips away through the cracks... and eventually, you start to look elsewhere.'
That was what Prince Tesla had said to me at the banquet hall. I burst out laughing silently. Now I had to turn my head to face Linel. I slowly turned my body in the direction he was standing.
“I love you!”
But then, a voice that made my body stiffen more than Linel's appearance suddenly burst out from somewhere.
“?”
What?! I opened my eyes wide and looked at Prince Norton, but it wasn't what he said. It was clearly a woman's voice. The Prince was as surprised as I was, his eyes were almost bulging out, and I had to put my hands under my eyes.
“I fell in love with Prince Norton from the moment I first saw him, Moiya...”
It was an ambiguous statement, whether a confession or a monologue. The voice confessing her love to Prince Norton was heard from the corner of the temple building. I looked down at the long shadow of the confessor.
“If I don’t confess like this, I feel like my suffocated heart will burst out of my dress. That’s why I asked Her Majesty the Empress to come out here!”
...Rosie? It was definitely Rosie’s voice. Why are you out there? Didn’t you go back to your quarters? And I couldn’t understand what she was saying at all.
'Doubt starts from something very small. When you start to doubt something small, something small, something small, trust starts to leak out like an hourglass, and love also slips away through the cracks... and eventually, you start to look elsewhere.'
That was what Prince Tesla had said to me at the banquet hall. I burst out laughing silently. Now I had to turn my head to face Linel. I slowly turned my body in the direction he was standing.
“I love you!”
But then, a voice that made my body stiffen more than Linel's appearance suddenly burst out from somewhere.
“?”
What?! I opened my eyes wide and looked at Prince Norton, but it wasn't what he said. It was clearly a woman's voice. The Prince was as surprised as I was, his eyes were almost bulging out, and I had to put my hands under my eyes.
“I fell in love with Prince Norton from the moment I first saw him, Moiya...”
It was an ambiguous statement, whether a confession or a monologue. The voice confessing her love to Prince Norton was heard from the corner of the temple building. I looked down at the long shadow of the confessor.
“If I don’t confess like this, I feel like my suffocated heart will burst out of my dress. That’s why I asked Her Majesty the Empress to come out here!”
...Rosie? It was definitely Rosie’s voice. Why are you out there? Didn’t you go back to your quarters? And I couldn’t understand what she was saying at all.
Prince Norton gave me a look that told me to explain the situation. Don’t look at me like that, I don’t know anything about it! I told him with my eyes that it had nothing to do with me, but Prince Norton’s face was getting more and more serious. When I glanced at Linel, he was clearly surprised as well. Prince Tesla’s expression, standing behind him, was also a sight to behold.
“The moment her eyes, which had been reading books all day, laid eyes on Prince Norton, she fell in love...”
The monologue-like speech continued again. Rosie was making a peculiar confession of love, going back and forth between confession and monologue. What on earth was going on? Everything was confusing. By the way, why was the voice of the person confessing so cheerful?
“The moment her eyes, which had been reading books all day, laid eyes on Prince Norton, she fell in love...”
The monologue-like speech continued again. Rosie was making a peculiar confession of love, going back and forth between confession and monologue. What on earth was going on? Everything was confusing. By the way, why was the voice of the person confessing so cheerful?
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