“I know I shouldn’t be like this because I am already a concubine, but His Majesty loves only our master... no, our Empress, so wouldn’t you please close your eyes for a bit?”
At this point, when Rosie was giving her passionate speech, I looked at Linel’s expression. He had already come right up to me. His expression was the very picture of confusion, but fortunately, his stiff face seemed to have relaxed a lot more than before. On the other hand, Prince Tesla looked dazed, as if he had lost his soul. I wanted to grab Prince Tesla by the collar and throw him onto the top of the temple spire right away, but I missed the timing because of Rosie’s thrilling confession.
He nodded silently, his mouth open for a few seconds, speechless.
“Shouldn’t the person who confessed also say something?”
Rosie turned her gaze to the frozen Prince Norton and asked him with a grin.
At this point, when Rosie was giving her passionate speech, I looked at Linel’s expression. He had already come right up to me. His expression was the very picture of confusion, but fortunately, his stiff face seemed to have relaxed a lot more than before. On the other hand, Prince Tesla looked dazed, as if he had lost his soul. I wanted to grab Prince Tesla by the collar and throw him onto the top of the temple spire right away, but I missed the timing because of Rosie’s thrilling confession.
There was only one mouth confessing his love, but many ears were listening. Like someone watching a play, I began to anticipate Rosie’s next words. I was about to take a sip of champagne out of nervousness, but Linel snatched the champagne glass from my hand and poured it into his mouth.
“I’m not asking you to accept my feelings at all. I’m not confessing because I want to mate with Prince Norton...”
In contrast to the shocking content, Rosie's voice was very shy and serious.
“But since I’m risking my life to confess like this, would you please hold my hand? I feel sorry for my worthless hands that have only turned the pages of books my entire life.”
Making groundless requests for skinship that sound like threats,
“I know a lot about this... Hmm, I know a lot... I just show off, and I’m useless... But still!”
She didn't even hesitate to reproach him, but in the end, she did it again,
“Sometimes when I see you swearing nonstop, I think, ‘You really live passionately.’ It’s cute. What I mean is... I love you, Your Highness.”
“!”
The flow of confession took a long way around, but in any case, it ended with the words “I love you” again. Rosie was really drunk... She wasn’t hot, but she must have been drunk. Linel and I were listening to Rosie’s strange confession to Prince Norton when our eyes met. He seemed to be holding back laughter, but seeing him made me think that his laughter was contagious, so I quickly averted my gaze. His laughter escaped through his nose and tickled my cheek. We naturally stared at Prince Norton, the person involved in this confession.
“If you keep doing that, you’ll drop it.”
Linel muttered and snatched the champagne glass from Prince Norton's hand, then sipped the champagne. Prince Norton kept his hand in the air after the champagne glass was snatched from him. An awkward silence followed. No one except Linel dared to step forward in the shocking scene where the concubine was confessing to the Prince of another country. Oh, except for one person. Rosie coughed a few times and continued talking.
“Your Highness, if this becomes known, both Your Majesty the Empress and I will be in trouble, right?”
Linel glanced at me at Rosie's words.
“Still! There’s an old saying that the power of love is greater than gods and wyverns. I believe Your Majesty, whose heart is as wonderful as your looks, will understand!”
There was an old saying that said, 'The power of love is greater than the wyvern.' I tried to remember, but it was the first time I heard it. At the corner of the temple building, the shadow of Rosie was long and clenched both hands. The shadow slowly began to move forward. It seems like it's finally coming this way. Everyone's eyes were focused on Rosie's moving shadow.
“Oh my goodness, His Majesty is here too! Didn’t you catch me, Moiya~?”
As Rosie walked out with light steps, she stopped in surprise when she saw Linel. No, to be exact, she pretended to be surprised. I was more surprised by her awkward acting.
“Rosie, you’re so brave... so lively.”
Linel spoke solemnly, carrying his hand on his back.
“Thank you, Your Majesty!”
Rosie exclaimed in a voice as if she had been given a great compliment. She then lifted the hem of her dress almost to her chest and bent and straightened her knees so that her body almost touched the ground.
“You said you were sick?”
Linel squinted his eyes and looked at Rosie's smiling face.
“It's true.”
Rosie responded in a very healthy tone.
“You don’t look like that at all. Where does it hurt?”
“I have a stroke.”
“...Then, I admit it.”
“I’m not asking you to accept my feelings at all. I’m not confessing because I want to mate with Prince Norton...”
In contrast to the shocking content, Rosie's voice was very shy and serious.
“But since I’m risking my life to confess like this, would you please hold my hand? I feel sorry for my worthless hands that have only turned the pages of books my entire life.”
Making groundless requests for skinship that sound like threats,
“I know a lot about this... Hmm, I know a lot... I just show off, and I’m useless... But still!”
She didn't even hesitate to reproach him, but in the end, she did it again,
“Sometimes when I see you swearing nonstop, I think, ‘You really live passionately.’ It’s cute. What I mean is... I love you, Your Highness.”
“!”
The flow of confession took a long way around, but in any case, it ended with the words “I love you” again. Rosie was really drunk... She wasn’t hot, but she must have been drunk. Linel and I were listening to Rosie’s strange confession to Prince Norton when our eyes met. He seemed to be holding back laughter, but seeing him made me think that his laughter was contagious, so I quickly averted my gaze. His laughter escaped through his nose and tickled my cheek. We naturally stared at Prince Norton, the person involved in this confession.
“If you keep doing that, you’ll drop it.”
Linel muttered and snatched the champagne glass from Prince Norton's hand, then sipped the champagne. Prince Norton kept his hand in the air after the champagne glass was snatched from him. An awkward silence followed. No one except Linel dared to step forward in the shocking scene where the concubine was confessing to the Prince of another country. Oh, except for one person. Rosie coughed a few times and continued talking.
“Your Highness, if this becomes known, both Your Majesty the Empress and I will be in trouble, right?”
Linel glanced at me at Rosie's words.
“Still! There’s an old saying that the power of love is greater than gods and wyverns. I believe Your Majesty, whose heart is as wonderful as your looks, will understand!”
There was an old saying that said, 'The power of love is greater than the wyvern.' I tried to remember, but it was the first time I heard it. At the corner of the temple building, the shadow of Rosie was long and clenched both hands. The shadow slowly began to move forward. It seems like it's finally coming this way. Everyone's eyes were focused on Rosie's moving shadow.
“Oh my goodness, His Majesty is here too! Didn’t you catch me, Moiya~?”
As Rosie walked out with light steps, she stopped in surprise when she saw Linel. No, to be exact, she pretended to be surprised. I was more surprised by her awkward acting.
“Rosie, you’re so brave... so lively.”
Linel spoke solemnly, carrying his hand on his back.
“Thank you, Your Majesty!”
Rosie exclaimed in a voice as if she had been given a great compliment. She then lifted the hem of her dress almost to her chest and bent and straightened her knees so that her body almost touched the ground.
“You said you were sick?”
Linel squinted his eyes and looked at Rosie's smiling face.
“It's true.”
Rosie responded in a very healthy tone.
“You don’t look like that at all. Where does it hurt?”
“I have a stroke.”
“...Then, I admit it.”
He nodded silently, his mouth open for a few seconds, speechless.
“Shouldn’t the person who confessed also say something?”
Rosie turned her gaze to the frozen Prince Norton and asked him with a grin.
Oh my... The sight seemed a bit creepy, but I watched the situation in silence.
“Why are you... doing this to me, Your Highness Rosie?”
Prince Norton's expression was grim.
“What are you saying? What’s wrong with you... No, what’s wrong with me that makes you say that with such a glum expression?”
Rose glared at the person she had just confessed her love to and questioned him fiercely.
“Ugh...”
Prince Norton took a step back with a shocked expression. Then, Rosie opened her eyes wide and approached him. However, Prince Norton distanced himself from her as she approached him. At first, I suspected that Rosie had lied to Prince Norton to save me from falling into a trap. However, after hearing her confession, I began to think that maybe she really had feelings for Prince Norton. So... Is she doing this for fun? While helping me, she confessed too?
“Why are you... doing this to me, Your Highness Rosie?”
Prince Norton's expression was grim.
“What are you saying? What’s wrong with you... No, what’s wrong with me that makes you say that with such a glum expression?”
Rose glared at the person she had just confessed her love to and questioned him fiercely.
“Ugh...”
Prince Norton took a step back with a shocked expression. Then, Rosie opened her eyes wide and approached him. However, Prince Norton distanced himself from her as she approached him. At first, I suspected that Rosie had lied to Prince Norton to save me from falling into a trap. However, after hearing her confession, I began to think that maybe she really had feelings for Prince Norton. So... Is she doing this for fun? While helping me, she confessed too?
I would have to hear Rosie’s story later to find out exactly what the truth was, but one thing was clear: She had helped me once again. I had to make sure that Rosie didn’t get hurt too badly... It was difficult to clean up after the fact because she, a concubine, was caught by the Emperor confessing to a Prince from another country. Still, I had to clean up after the fact. If Rosie’s words were false, her position would only get stranger, and her mental state would be questioned.
“Your Majesty, please forgive me. Contrary to what Rosie said, she never asked me for help. It was just that I felt so sorry for her that I decided to make this arrangement.”
“The Empress?”
“Yes, Your Majesty. It was I who offered to help first, not Rosie. So if you’re going to punish me, punish me!”
I bowed my head to him.
“Your Majesty the Empress...?”
Prince Norton was as confused by my words as he was by Rosie’s confession, and he couldn’t continue speaking. It was a natural reaction. I had clearly told him earlier that I had come to see Prince Tesla. And I had even said that we seemed to have fallen into a trap, so if I suddenly changed my words, he would be confused about what was true. However, this method Rosie had committed was the best not only for me, but also for Prince Norton.
“Prince Tesla. You must pretend that you did not see or hear anything that happened here today.”
After a moment of silence, Linel's serious voice turned to Prince Tesla.
“Your Majesty! How can you just ignore the fact that your concubine confessed her love to the Prince of another country? And how could Your Majesty the Empress take the lead in helping with such a huge undertaking? This is unacceptable!”
Prince Tesla raised his voice and foamed at the mouth.
“Did I just say something like a favor?”
"...Yes?"
“It was an order.”
Linel said, frowning.
“Ha, Your Majesty, this is a deception against His Majesty the Emperor!”
Prince Tesla flinched for a moment at his murderous gaze before continuing his passionate speech. It was funny how, after his own plan to 'poke a hole in the trust between Linel and me' failed, he changed his stance and started nitpicking about me helping his concubine confess her love.
“This is not something that can be overlooked, Your Majesty!”
“When did I say I would just let it go?”
Linel's voice grew stronger.
“Yes...? Haha, that’s right. Of course, it’s not something you can just let go of.”
A slight color came over Prince Tesla's face at his response.
“This is a matter concerning my Empress and concubines, so I will handle it myself. I only ask that the Prince keep quiet about what happened here. Is that too much to ask?”
“That’s not true, but...”
“If it’s not difficult, I guess it means you don’t want to keep quiet.”
Dare. The last words were clearly expressed in Linel's eyes.
“Oh, you misunderstood, Your Majesty! I think I overstepped my bounds in my concern... Please forgive me.”
Prince Tesla took a step back and glanced at me furtively.
“Yes, let’s sort it out. The lively confessor and the trembling person in question will come to the main office tomorrow. I’ll take my leave for today. Oh, of course, separately, separately.”
Linel said, pointing with his left hand towards the west palace where Rosie's residence was and with his right hand towards the annex palace that continued straight from the back road.
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Prince Norton answered quietly. Rosie, on the other hand, looked like she still had something to say.
“Please do not scold Her Majesty! Everything happened because of my overwhelming feelings for Prince Norton, so please...”
Rosie raised her voice and lifted her chest with both hands. Oh my god, how much alcohol did she have to drink to act like that? Otherwise, how could Rosie, who was usually so gentle, act like an unbridled calf?
“Your Majesty, please forgive me. Contrary to what Rosie said, she never asked me for help. It was just that I felt so sorry for her that I decided to make this arrangement.”
“The Empress?”
“Yes, Your Majesty. It was I who offered to help first, not Rosie. So if you’re going to punish me, punish me!”
I bowed my head to him.
“Your Majesty the Empress...?”
Prince Norton was as confused by my words as he was by Rosie’s confession, and he couldn’t continue speaking. It was a natural reaction. I had clearly told him earlier that I had come to see Prince Tesla. And I had even said that we seemed to have fallen into a trap, so if I suddenly changed my words, he would be confused about what was true. However, this method Rosie had committed was the best not only for me, but also for Prince Norton.
“Prince Tesla. You must pretend that you did not see or hear anything that happened here today.”
After a moment of silence, Linel's serious voice turned to Prince Tesla.
“Your Majesty! How can you just ignore the fact that your concubine confessed her love to the Prince of another country? And how could Your Majesty the Empress take the lead in helping with such a huge undertaking? This is unacceptable!”
Prince Tesla raised his voice and foamed at the mouth.
“Did I just say something like a favor?”
"...Yes?"
“It was an order.”
Linel said, frowning.
“Ha, Your Majesty, this is a deception against His Majesty the Emperor!”
Prince Tesla flinched for a moment at his murderous gaze before continuing his passionate speech. It was funny how, after his own plan to 'poke a hole in the trust between Linel and me' failed, he changed his stance and started nitpicking about me helping his concubine confess her love.
“This is not something that can be overlooked, Your Majesty!”
“When did I say I would just let it go?”
Linel's voice grew stronger.
“Yes...? Haha, that’s right. Of course, it’s not something you can just let go of.”
A slight color came over Prince Tesla's face at his response.
“This is a matter concerning my Empress and concubines, so I will handle it myself. I only ask that the Prince keep quiet about what happened here. Is that too much to ask?”
“That’s not true, but...”
“If it’s not difficult, I guess it means you don’t want to keep quiet.”
Dare. The last words were clearly expressed in Linel's eyes.
“Oh, you misunderstood, Your Majesty! I think I overstepped my bounds in my concern... Please forgive me.”
Prince Tesla took a step back and glanced at me furtively.
“Yes, let’s sort it out. The lively confessor and the trembling person in question will come to the main office tomorrow. I’ll take my leave for today. Oh, of course, separately, separately.”
Linel said, pointing with his left hand towards the west palace where Rosie's residence was and with his right hand towards the annex palace that continued straight from the back road.
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Prince Norton answered quietly. Rosie, on the other hand, looked like she still had something to say.
“Please do not scold Her Majesty! Everything happened because of my overwhelming feelings for Prince Norton, so please...”
Rosie raised her voice and lifted her chest with both hands. Oh my god, how much alcohol did she have to drink to act like that? Otherwise, how could Rosie, who was usually so gentle, act like an unbridled calf?
“Rosie, put your hands down.”
I hurriedly grabbed her two hands and pulled her down, whispering. Linel frowned and avoided eye contact, and Prince Norton kept his back up and washed his face dry with his hands.
“Let’s disperse now.”
He said firmly. Linel and I headed to the main palace, Rosie went back around the corner of the temple building to the west palace, and Prince Norton and Prince Tesla headed to the annex. Everyone quickly dispersed.
I hurriedly grabbed her two hands and pulled her down, whispering. Linel frowned and avoided eye contact, and Prince Norton kept his back up and washed his face dry with his hands.
“Let’s disperse now.”
He said firmly. Linel and I headed to the main palace, Rosie went back around the corner of the temple building to the west palace, and Prince Norton and Prince Tesla headed to the annex. Everyone quickly dispersed.
***
Linel didn't say a word the whole way to the main palace. I also kept my mouth shut and walked quietly, listening only to the sound of the insects and his footsteps. He kept his mouth shut, but he held my hand tightly. It was only after we arrived at the main palace, passed through the lobby, and climbed the central staircase that I mustered up the courage to speak to him.
“Your Majesty, how did you come to accompany Prince Tesla on his journey of support?”
He stared at my face for a moment, then turned back to face me and answered as he climbed the stairs.
“Your Majesty, how did you come to accompany Prince Tesla on his journey of support?”
He stared at my face for a moment, then turned back to face me and answered as he climbed the stairs.
“After the banquet, the Prince came to me and said he wanted to discuss the hunting competition.”
“What do you want to discuss?”
“It was nothing. I was just thinking about picking you up from Rosie’s place since she suggested we go for a walk.”
“I see.”
He stopped walking on the second-floor landing.
“Your Majesty, what about Rosie’s confession earlier...”
“Go up to the bedroom first.”
Linel cut me off coldly and spoke commandingly.
“Yes? Oh, I will. What about Your Majesty?”
“I have something to take care of, so I’ll stop by the office and go up, so wash up first and wait.”
“Really?”
“We can wash together later.”
He seemed to be joking, but he didn't have a smile on his face like he usually does, so I couldn't tell what he was feeling.
“No, I was just wondering if you have any work to do at this late hour.”
“I wonder if the Emperor has no business to attend to at night? There’s also the Empress drinking champagne with another man in the temple garden at this late hour.”
“...I’ll wash first and then wait.”
I folded my hands neatly and answered quietly.
“Yes, see you later. Stiane, take care of the Empress.”
“Yes, Pheasant!”
After giving orders to the chief steward, he headed straight to his office.
“It was nothing. I was just thinking about picking you up from Rosie’s place since she suggested we go for a walk.”
“I see.”
He stopped walking on the second-floor landing.
“Your Majesty, what about Rosie’s confession earlier...”
“Go up to the bedroom first.”
Linel cut me off coldly and spoke commandingly.
“Yes? Oh, I will. What about Your Majesty?”
“I have something to take care of, so I’ll stop by the office and go up, so wash up first and wait.”
“Really?”
“We can wash together later.”
He seemed to be joking, but he didn't have a smile on his face like he usually does, so I couldn't tell what he was feeling.
“No, I was just wondering if you have any work to do at this late hour.”
“I wonder if the Emperor has no business to attend to at night? There’s also the Empress drinking champagne with another man in the temple garden at this late hour.”
“...I’ll wash first and then wait.”
I folded my hands neatly and answered quietly.
“Yes, see you later. Stiane, take care of the Empress.”
“Yes, Pheasant!”
After giving orders to the chief steward, he headed straight to his office.
***
After returning to the bedroom, I went straight to the bathroom, soaked in the bathtub, and came out. I thought he would be in the bedroom by the time I finished my bath, but he had not yet returned from his office.
“Do you have a lot to do?”
I was wandering around the empty bedroom. Then, I noticed a sword sheath with a fancy pattern hanging on one wall like a decoration. As I held the sheath in my hand, the sexy and intense sword dance of the Tebello Empire's Empresses suddenly came to mind. Linel must have also been mesmerized by the sword dance of the Empresses.
“It doesn’t seem like such a great move. Yeah, it wasn’t a very difficult dance.”
I started imitating the movements of the Empresses in my head and the sword dances they performed. However, the movements that I thought were easy were very different from what I had imagined. My body did not move as I wanted, and my upper and lower bodies moved separately. Since I had to express the flowing movements and the allure, I used many different muscles than when I was swordsmanship. The most difficult movement was to lean back, swing the sword, then straighten my back, shake my hips, and split my legs.
“Ugh, ugh.”
I was shocked to find that among the numerous movements that the Empresses had performed, there wasn’t a single one that I could properly perform. However, I couldn’t give up. As I continued to shake my whole body, I gradually found my own sword dance style. Then, surprisingly, I felt my joints becoming more and more flexible. Of course, if someone were to watch my dance, they might say that I hadn’t made any progress, but so what? After all, it was a sword dance that I was dancing alone. I shook my limbs freely without hesitation. I became more and more absorbed in the intense dance that seemed to shake off my soul.
“Hehehe.”
“?”
A burst of laughter came from behind the pillar in the corner of the bedroom at 9 o'clock.
“Who, who are you!”
It couldn’t be Linel, right? I didn’t hear the sound of someone opening the bedroom door and coming in. Even if I hadn’t heard the door, there was no way he would be hiding behind the pillar, wearing black clothing and a mask. Then, could it be an assassin? This was the Emperor’s bedroom in the main palace? Then, that means he was the one who came in targeting me in the first place?
“Do you have a lot to do?”
I was wandering around the empty bedroom. Then, I noticed a sword sheath with a fancy pattern hanging on one wall like a decoration. As I held the sheath in my hand, the sexy and intense sword dance of the Tebello Empire's Empresses suddenly came to mind. Linel must have also been mesmerized by the sword dance of the Empresses.
“It doesn’t seem like such a great move. Yeah, it wasn’t a very difficult dance.”
I started imitating the movements of the Empresses in my head and the sword dances they performed. However, the movements that I thought were easy were very different from what I had imagined. My body did not move as I wanted, and my upper and lower bodies moved separately. Since I had to express the flowing movements and the allure, I used many different muscles than when I was swordsmanship. The most difficult movement was to lean back, swing the sword, then straighten my back, shake my hips, and split my legs.
“Ugh, ugh.”
I was shocked to find that among the numerous movements that the Empresses had performed, there wasn’t a single one that I could properly perform. However, I couldn’t give up. As I continued to shake my whole body, I gradually found my own sword dance style. Then, surprisingly, I felt my joints becoming more and more flexible. Of course, if someone were to watch my dance, they might say that I hadn’t made any progress, but so what? After all, it was a sword dance that I was dancing alone. I shook my limbs freely without hesitation. I became more and more absorbed in the intense dance that seemed to shake off my soul.
“Hehehe.”
“?”
A burst of laughter came from behind the pillar in the corner of the bedroom at 9 o'clock.
“Who, who are you!”
It couldn’t be Linel, right? I didn’t hear the sound of someone opening the bedroom door and coming in. Even if I hadn’t heard the door, there was no way he would be hiding behind the pillar, wearing black clothing and a mask. Then, could it be an assassin? This was the Emperor’s bedroom in the main palace? Then, that means he was the one who came in targeting me in the first place?
I was so absorbed in swordsmanship that I didn’t even realize that an assassin had broken in... With belated reflection, I pulled out my sword from the scabbard in my hand with a solemn expression. But something felt strange. It would have been normal to hear the sharp friction sound of the blade from the beginning, but there was no sound. After checking the condition of the sword, I was even more surprised than when I had discovered the assassin.
“Huh?”
The scabbard was nice, but the sword was just... a blunt, decorative blade. Damn it, I have no choice but to fight with my bare fists!
“Huh?”
The scabbard was nice, but the sword was just... a blunt, decorative blade. Damn it, I have no choice but to fight with my bare fists!
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