Couldn't you have just said it in a different way? I gave him a sidelong glance, feeling embarrassed.
“...I will lead the way, Your Majesty!”
Sharon, who was quick-witted, was the first to shout and walk ahead. Then Bonis also grabbed Commander Macrom, who was standing there blankly, and started walking. Linel looked satisfied as he watched her attendant and escort follow the three of them.
“We always walk in a line behind each other, but now that we’re walking at the very back, no one has to worry about what others think, so it’s a lot more comfortable.”
He put his hand on my shoulder and walked away, his hand slowly moving down to my butt.
“What, what did you do?”
I looked at him in surprise.
“Oh, sorry. I almost reached for it without realizing it.”
“...You already touched it.”
Why are you evading the call?
“Was that so? I couldn’t tell where things were because of the dress...”
“What did you say?”
“If you feel wronged, you should touch it too. Oh my, what should I do? We’re almost at the Rosie Palace.”
He pretended to be sorry, rubbing his hand on his back. Sharon, Bonis, and Commander Macrom, who had walked ahead, had arrived at the Rosie Palace first and were looking back at us.
“There’s nothing we can do. We have to part ways here. Go quickly.”
I also pretended to grab his hand, which was carrying the backpack behind his back, while continuing to look straight ahead. I quickly pulled one hand back and patted his butt.
“Zelda...? What kind of gratitude is this?”
Linel glared at me with a joyful voice and a look of emotion.
“It is very good that there is no one behind us, as Your Majesty said.”
I smiled and turned around, saying... No? There was one? Raphael was walking towards me, his head turned to the side, pretending not to know anything.
“Don’t worry. Even though Raphael is the open-mouthed one, his mouth is always closed. His mouth is also quite heavy.”
Linel spoke to me with a reassuring look in his eyes, then looked at Raphael and shouted.
“Right, Raphael?”
“I didn’t see anything, Your Majesty.”
“What happened to the order I gave you last night? You haven’t done anything with it yet, have you?”
“Yes, but it will be over by today at the latest.”
The knight was startled when he saw Princess Resilia in Tesla's room, and answered Prince Tesla after observing her expression.
As I nodded to Bonis, this time Rosie asked a question.
“Princess Resilia ran away in the middle of the night with a mercenary knight?”
I nodded again. All eyes in the bedroom turned to Rams. When I looked again, I saw that the child had a face that was half Prince Norton and half Princess Resilia.
“What could it be? Prince Norton said that Rams was in danger and asked me to take care of him for the time being...”
Rosie said with a confused look on her face.
“Je really said that?”
“Yes, Your Majesty, the Empress.”
Is Prince Tesla threatening the child? Is he thinking that Rams is a hindrance to Princess Resilia's future?
“...I will lead the way, Your Majesty!”
Sharon, who was quick-witted, was the first to shout and walk ahead. Then Bonis also grabbed Commander Macrom, who was standing there blankly, and started walking. Linel looked satisfied as he watched her attendant and escort follow the three of them.
“We always walk in a line behind each other, but now that we’re walking at the very back, no one has to worry about what others think, so it’s a lot more comfortable.”
He put his hand on my shoulder and walked away, his hand slowly moving down to my butt.
“What, what did you do?”
I looked at him in surprise.
“Oh, sorry. I almost reached for it without realizing it.”
“...You already touched it.”
Why are you evading the call?
“Was that so? I couldn’t tell where things were because of the dress...”
“What did you say?”
“If you feel wronged, you should touch it too. Oh my, what should I do? We’re almost at the Rosie Palace.”
He pretended to be sorry, rubbing his hand on his back. Sharon, Bonis, and Commander Macrom, who had walked ahead, had arrived at the Rosie Palace first and were looking back at us.
“There’s nothing we can do. We have to part ways here. Go quickly.”
I also pretended to grab his hand, which was carrying the backpack behind his back, while continuing to look straight ahead. I quickly pulled one hand back and patted his butt.
“Zelda...? What kind of gratitude is this?”
Linel glared at me with a joyful voice and a look of emotion.
“It is very good that there is no one behind us, as Your Majesty said.”
I smiled and turned around, saying... No? There was one? Raphael was walking towards me, his head turned to the side, pretending not to know anything.
“Don’t worry. Even though Raphael is the open-mouthed one, his mouth is always closed. His mouth is also quite heavy.”
Linel spoke to me with a reassuring look in his eyes, then looked at Raphael and shouted.
“Right, Raphael?”
“I didn’t see anything, Your Majesty.”
“Did you see? His eyesight isn’t good either.”
He winked at me and nudged my arm with his elbow.
He winked at me and nudged my arm with his elbow.
***
In front of Rosie's bedroom, her servant Misha repeatedly announced my arrival, but strangely, there was no sound from inside the bedroom.
“Is she taking a nap?”
When I asked Misha, she lowered her head and said,
“Oh, no! Your Majesty, the Empress. I think Lady Rose is in the dressing room and cannot hear you. I will go to the dressing room and bring her out. I, I will stay here for a moment...”
Misha seemed very flustered because I showed up suddenly.
“No. I'll go into the bedroom and wait.”
“Yes... Yes, Your Majesty, the Empress.”
Misha looked quite nervous as she opened the bedroom door.
“Commander Macrom, wait here.”
Leaving the silent Macrom behind, I entered Rosie's bedroom with Bonis and Sharon. Misha, who entered first, quickly ran into the dressing room connected to the bedroom. Today, too, Rosie's bedroom floor was filled with books, leaving no room to step.
“Wow, Her Highness Rosie really likes books, huh?”
Bonis had the same reaction as I did when I first entered Rosie's bedroom.
“Yes, she’s a smart concubine. She’s gentle and kind-hearted. Oh, and I heard she’s studying healing magic on her own.”
“That’s amazing.”
Bonis looked at the books on the floor with surprised eyes. While waiting for Rosie, I also looked at the books scattered freely on the floor. Then, out of the corner of my eye, I saw a red light. Feeling strange, I bent down and turned my head to the left. I thought I saw the red light under Rosie’s bed. When I looked under the bed, the red light blinked and disappeared. What’s down there? Oh, that kitten Rosie was raising!
“Long time no see? Come out here.”
I said, squatting down in front of the bed with a glad heart.
“What are you doing, Your Majesty, the Empress?”
Sharon also bent down and asked me.
“Rosie has a cat. I think it’s down here.”
“Oh, yes.”
Sharon straightened up again and looked around the bedroom, not really interested in the cat.
“Meow? Come out here. Quickly.”
I said, putting my hand a little further under the bed.
“Is she taking a nap?”
When I asked Misha, she lowered her head and said,
“Oh, no! Your Majesty, the Empress. I think Lady Rose is in the dressing room and cannot hear you. I will go to the dressing room and bring her out. I, I will stay here for a moment...”
Misha seemed very flustered because I showed up suddenly.
“No. I'll go into the bedroom and wait.”
“Yes... Yes, Your Majesty, the Empress.”
Misha looked quite nervous as she opened the bedroom door.
“Commander Macrom, wait here.”
Leaving the silent Macrom behind, I entered Rosie's bedroom with Bonis and Sharon. Misha, who entered first, quickly ran into the dressing room connected to the bedroom. Today, too, Rosie's bedroom floor was filled with books, leaving no room to step.
“Wow, Her Highness Rosie really likes books, huh?”
Bonis had the same reaction as I did when I first entered Rosie's bedroom.
“Yes, she’s a smart concubine. She’s gentle and kind-hearted. Oh, and I heard she’s studying healing magic on her own.”
“That’s amazing.”
Bonis looked at the books on the floor with surprised eyes. While waiting for Rosie, I also looked at the books scattered freely on the floor. Then, out of the corner of my eye, I saw a red light. Feeling strange, I bent down and turned my head to the left. I thought I saw the red light under Rosie’s bed. When I looked under the bed, the red light blinked and disappeared. What’s down there? Oh, that kitten Rosie was raising!
“Long time no see? Come out here.”
I said, squatting down in front of the bed with a glad heart.
“What are you doing, Your Majesty, the Empress?”
Sharon also bent down and asked me.
“Rosie has a cat. I think it’s down here.”
“Oh, yes.”
Sharon straightened up again and looked around the bedroom, not really interested in the cat.
“Meow? Come out here. Quickly.”
I said, putting my hand a little further under the bed.
***
After parting ways with Prince Calvain and his wife in the reception room, Prince Tesla headed straight to his own bedroom. Princess Resilia followed him into her brother’s bedroom and questioned him nervously.
“What the hell is going on? I was having a nice chat with Prince Calvain and his wife!”
“Be quiet. The bones are shaking.”
Prince Tesla pressed his temples even after taking the headache medicine his servant had brought him.
“You’re making a face while we’re having an important conversation. Do you have a headache right now?”
“Shut up!”
Princess Resilia flinched and shut her mouth as Prince Tesla shouted. After a while, there was a knock on the door, and one of the Prince's knights came in.
“Did you find it?”
“What the hell is going on? I was having a nice chat with Prince Calvain and his wife!”
“Be quiet. The bones are shaking.”
Prince Tesla pressed his temples even after taking the headache medicine his servant had brought him.
“You’re making a face while we’re having an important conversation. Do you have a headache right now?”
“Shut up!”
Princess Resilia flinched and shut her mouth as Prince Tesla shouted. After a while, there was a knock on the door, and one of the Prince's knights came in.
“Did you find it?”
“What happened to the order I gave you last night? You haven’t done anything with it yet, have you?”
“Yes, but it will be over by today at the latest.”
The knight was startled when he saw Princess Resilia in Tesla's room, and answered Prince Tesla after observing her expression.
“Tell the head of the Assassination Guild that I’m canceling the job I asked for. Stop it immediately, right now! Oh, and Ken hasn’t come back yet?”
Prince Tesla gave urgent orders to his knights to find Sir Ken.
“Yes, not yet.”
“Yes, then go out.”
“Brother, what is this?”
After the knight was published, Princess Resilia frowned and asked Prince Tesla.
“Why the Assassination Guild? No way...? Are you talking about Rams?!”
As Princess Resilia began to snicker excitedly, Prince Tesla hesitated and opened his mouth.
“Don’t worry. Nothing will happen.”
“What? Did you hire the Assassin Guild to kill Rams? Really? We were supposed to send him to a monastery in the Kingdom of Shattonil when we found him! But why did you hire the Assassin Guild?”
“Don’t get excited. Nothing has happened yet.”
Although he said that, Prince Tesla was also inwardly anxious.
“Do you know what happens if that kid makes a mistake? The opportunity is gone. It can’t be wrong, absolutely not!”
As Princess Resilia clenched her teeth and glared, Prince Tesla grabbed her shoulders and calmed her down.
“I’m sure he’ll be fine! Your child, who will one day become the Emperor of the Pasha Empire...”
Prince Tesla gave urgent orders to his knights to find Sir Ken.
“Yes, not yet.”
“Yes, then go out.”
“Brother, what is this?”
After the knight was published, Princess Resilia frowned and asked Prince Tesla.
“Why the Assassination Guild? No way...? Are you talking about Rams?!”
As Princess Resilia began to snicker excitedly, Prince Tesla hesitated and opened his mouth.
“Don’t worry. Nothing will happen.”
“What? Did you hire the Assassin Guild to kill Rams? Really? We were supposed to send him to a monastery in the Kingdom of Shattonil when we found him! But why did you hire the Assassin Guild?”
“Don’t get excited. Nothing has happened yet.”
Although he said that, Prince Tesla was also inwardly anxious.
“Do you know what happens if that kid makes a mistake? The opportunity is gone. It can’t be wrong, absolutely not!”
As Princess Resilia clenched her teeth and glared, Prince Tesla grabbed her shoulders and calmed her down.
“I’m sure he’ll be fine! Your child, who will one day become the Emperor of the Pasha Empire...”
***
Was the cat scared? I tried to calm the cat down and put my hand deeper under the bed. The moment my fingertips touched something, the dressing room door opened wide.
“Ah, Your Majesty the Empress!”
At the sound of Rosie's voice, I sat up again. But she was holding something in her arms.
“Ugh... Ugh.”
“Oh my, did I startle you by yelling? Sorry, Urur Peekaboo?”
Before I could even ask what it was holding, I was speechless when I saw the being that revealed its identity. I closed and opened my eyes several times at the sight that I couldn't believe. When I heard the child's whining again, my legs trembled momentarily without me realizing it.
“What, what the heck is this...”
“Your Majesty, the Empress!”
My body was tilted to the side a lot, so Sharon, who was nearby, quickly wrapped her arms around my shoulders and supported me.
“Are you alright, Your Majesty the Empress?”
Rosie quickly approached me, soothing the baby she was holding in her arms. I stared at her thoughtful face and then looked down at the crying baby’s face. Rosie kept moving her lips with a very nervous expression while soothing the baby in her arms.
“Sharon, I need you to hold the baby for a moment.”
Sharon, who had been stunned like me at my command, came to her senses again and approached Rosie.
“Yes, Your Majesty. Your Highness Rosie, I will be watching you closely.”
When Sharon stretched out her arms to Rosie to ask for her understanding, she also decided that it was better to explain the situation that way, and obediently handed the baby over to Sharon. Rosie took a deep breath and looked up at me. She had a determined expression on her face. I, too, was nervous about what she would say. And yet, from time to time, I could see red eyes under the bed.
“Your Majesty, the Empress... I’m truly sorry for startling you. I, I was going to tell you soon anyway!”
“Rosie, do you have any idea how big of a deal this is?”
“Yes... Of course.”
“No,” Rosie replied, swallowing tremblingly.
“Could it be that the child you gave birth to...?”
“Oh, no, Your Majesty. I am only taking care of the child for a while!”
“Who in their right mind would leave their child with a concubine?”
“He is a crazy person...”
“I know that person,” said Rosie, with a nuance that suggested she knew him too.
“Who is that?”
“Prince Norton.”
“...Who? That kid is Prince Norton’s child?!”
“Yes, his name is Rams.”
I looked back at the whimpering child in Sharon's arms.
“Hold on, hold on tight.”
Now that I think about it, the moment I first saw the child, I suddenly thought that he looked like someone... I looked at the child’s face again and met Bonis’ eyes.
“Your Majesty, the Empress, I know it’s a bit odd to suddenly say this, but don’t you think this child... resembles... Princess Resilia, a lot?”
I was thinking the same thing as Bonis.
“Princess Resilia?”
Rosie kept nodding her head and looked back and forth between me and Bonis as she asked. I briefly introduced Bonis to Rosie. Despite this absurd situation, the two greeted each other warmly. I took a moment to catch my breath and told Rosie about Prince Norton.
“Prince Norton once hid his identity and joined the mercenary knights.”
“Aha! Somehow, even though his face is pretty, his body looks sturdy.”
“...Well, anyway. A year ago, when a monster appeared in the largest diamond mine in the Kingdom of Shattonil, they hired that mercenary knight group to stay at the royal palace. But when I saw them at this banquet, I saw that the two of them knew each other.”
I didn't bother to add, 'The night you confessed to Prince Norton, the two of you were supposed to meet in front of the Opera House.'
“I know they know each other. I met them both when I went on a picnic by the lake with Her Highness Melanie before. But I don’t think it’s right to assume that she’s Rams’ mother...”
The surprised Rosie's expression darkened. Bonis was equally surprised. She knew that Princess Resilia had run away with a mercenary knight, but she didn't know that the mercenary knight turned out to be a Prince.
“Your Majesty, the mercenary knight who ran away with the Princess back then... is he really the Prince of the Pasha Empire?”
“Ah, Your Majesty the Empress!”
At the sound of Rosie's voice, I sat up again. But she was holding something in her arms.
“Ugh... Ugh.”
“Oh my, did I startle you by yelling? Sorry, Urur Peekaboo?”
Before I could even ask what it was holding, I was speechless when I saw the being that revealed its identity. I closed and opened my eyes several times at the sight that I couldn't believe. When I heard the child's whining again, my legs trembled momentarily without me realizing it.
“What, what the heck is this...”
“Your Majesty, the Empress!”
My body was tilted to the side a lot, so Sharon, who was nearby, quickly wrapped her arms around my shoulders and supported me.
“Are you alright, Your Majesty the Empress?”
Rosie quickly approached me, soothing the baby she was holding in her arms. I stared at her thoughtful face and then looked down at the crying baby’s face. Rosie kept moving her lips with a very nervous expression while soothing the baby in her arms.
“Sharon, I need you to hold the baby for a moment.”
Sharon, who had been stunned like me at my command, came to her senses again and approached Rosie.
“Yes, Your Majesty. Your Highness Rosie, I will be watching you closely.”
When Sharon stretched out her arms to Rosie to ask for her understanding, she also decided that it was better to explain the situation that way, and obediently handed the baby over to Sharon. Rosie took a deep breath and looked up at me. She had a determined expression on her face. I, too, was nervous about what she would say. And yet, from time to time, I could see red eyes under the bed.
“Your Majesty, the Empress... I’m truly sorry for startling you. I, I was going to tell you soon anyway!”
“Rosie, do you have any idea how big of a deal this is?”
“Yes... Of course.”
“No,” Rosie replied, swallowing tremblingly.
“Could it be that the child you gave birth to...?”
“Oh, no, Your Majesty. I am only taking care of the child for a while!”
“Who in their right mind would leave their child with a concubine?”
“He is a crazy person...”
“I know that person,” said Rosie, with a nuance that suggested she knew him too.
“Who is that?”
“Prince Norton.”
“...Who? That kid is Prince Norton’s child?!”
“Yes, his name is Rams.”
I looked back at the whimpering child in Sharon's arms.
“Hold on, hold on tight.”
Now that I think about it, the moment I first saw the child, I suddenly thought that he looked like someone... I looked at the child’s face again and met Bonis’ eyes.
“Your Majesty, the Empress, I know it’s a bit odd to suddenly say this, but don’t you think this child... resembles... Princess Resilia, a lot?”
I was thinking the same thing as Bonis.
“Princess Resilia?”
Rosie kept nodding her head and looked back and forth between me and Bonis as she asked. I briefly introduced Bonis to Rosie. Despite this absurd situation, the two greeted each other warmly. I took a moment to catch my breath and told Rosie about Prince Norton.
“Prince Norton once hid his identity and joined the mercenary knights.”
“Aha! Somehow, even though his face is pretty, his body looks sturdy.”
“...Well, anyway. A year ago, when a monster appeared in the largest diamond mine in the Kingdom of Shattonil, they hired that mercenary knight group to stay at the royal palace. But when I saw them at this banquet, I saw that the two of them knew each other.”
I didn't bother to add, 'The night you confessed to Prince Norton, the two of you were supposed to meet in front of the Opera House.'
“I know they know each other. I met them both when I went on a picnic by the lake with Her Highness Melanie before. But I don’t think it’s right to assume that she’s Rams’ mother...”
The surprised Rosie's expression darkened. Bonis was equally surprised. She knew that Princess Resilia had run away with a mercenary knight, but she didn't know that the mercenary knight turned out to be a Prince.
“Your Majesty, the mercenary knight who ran away with the Princess back then... is he really the Prince of the Pasha Empire?”
As I nodded to Bonis, this time Rosie asked a question.
“Princess Resilia ran away in the middle of the night with a mercenary knight?”
I nodded again. All eyes in the bedroom turned to Rams. When I looked again, I saw that the child had a face that was half Prince Norton and half Princess Resilia.
“What could it be? Prince Norton said that Rams was in danger and asked me to take care of him for the time being...”
Rosie said with a confused look on her face.
“Je really said that?”
“Yes, Your Majesty, the Empress.”
Is Prince Tesla threatening the child? Is he thinking that Rams is a hindrance to Princess Resilia's future?
***
“You two are having an important conversation, so you all go out into the hallway. Tell Commander Macrom outside.”
As soon as Misha, Rosie's attendant, came out of the bedroom, she immediately sent all the attendants in the waiting room out into the hallway. Then, she put her ear to the bedroom door for a while and eavesdropped on the conversation between the Empress and Rosie. After a few minutes, she went to the arched window, opened it, and whistled. Misha's whistle sounded very similar to the sound of a bird. As she took out a piece of paper and a quill from her pocket, a crow flew in from somewhere and landed on the window. Misha glanced at the bedroom door, quickly wrote something on the paper, folded it again, and tied it to the crow's leg.
“Have a nice trip.”
As she stroked the crow's head and gave a command, the crow flew away again. Misha closed the window as if nothing had happened and stood close to the bedroom door, continuing to eavesdrop on the conversation between the Empress and Rosie.
As soon as Misha, Rosie's attendant, came out of the bedroom, she immediately sent all the attendants in the waiting room out into the hallway. Then, she put her ear to the bedroom door for a while and eavesdropped on the conversation between the Empress and Rosie. After a few minutes, she went to the arched window, opened it, and whistled. Misha's whistle sounded very similar to the sound of a bird. As she took out a piece of paper and a quill from her pocket, a crow flew in from somewhere and landed on the window. Misha glanced at the bedroom door, quickly wrote something on the paper, folded it again, and tied it to the crow's leg.
“Have a nice trip.”
As she stroked the crow's head and gave a command, the crow flew away again. Misha closed the window as if nothing had happened and stood close to the bedroom door, continuing to eavesdrop on the conversation between the Empress and Rosie.
***
Aklatto Island is beyond the continent. A crow flew into the window at the top of the tower. A man with thick, curly, bee-colored hair untied the note tied to the crow's leg and read the contents written on it.
The wind blowing in through the window tangled his hair, but as he ran his hands over his head, it straightened out again.
“Unfortunately, my companion seems to have failed to notice Moiya’s presence today as well.”
“But he will soon find out.”
“That’s right. That’s why my heart is pounding.”
“Master, would you like to start moving now?”
“Logan, after all these years together, you still call me that stiff? Just call me Bellos.”
Bellos said with a rather sad tone.
“Hahaha, how dare I call the Lord of the Tower by his name?”
It has already been 15 years since Logan escaped from the Kingdom of Shattonil and came to Aklatto Island, where Bellos is. And since that day 15 years ago, Logan has become the butler of Bellos Brodian, the master of the magic tower here, rather than the court wizard of the Kingdom of Shattonil.
“According to the note, it seems that your daughter, Lady Bonis, has come as my companion’s maid.”
"Yes..."
Logan nodded with a hazy look in his eyes.
“Don’t you want to see her?”
“We will meet when the time comes.”
“Yes, butler or I will soon meet the person we miss.”
When Logan smiled at Bellos' words, deep wrinkles formed around his eyes. In contrast, Bellos's appearance had not changed at all since he first met Logan 15 years ago. Bellos Brodian, the lord of the island nation of Aklatto, had always looked the same since he was 20 years old 250 years ago. Since the incarnation inside Bellos' body disappeared, time had stopped.
The wind blowing in through the window tangled his hair, but as he ran his hands over his head, it straightened out again.
“Unfortunately, my companion seems to have failed to notice Moiya’s presence today as well.”
“But he will soon find out.”
“That’s right. That’s why my heart is pounding.”
“Master, would you like to start moving now?”
“Logan, after all these years together, you still call me that stiff? Just call me Bellos.”
Bellos said with a rather sad tone.
“Hahaha, how dare I call the Lord of the Tower by his name?”
It has already been 15 years since Logan escaped from the Kingdom of Shattonil and came to Aklatto Island, where Bellos is. And since that day 15 years ago, Logan has become the butler of Bellos Brodian, the master of the magic tower here, rather than the court wizard of the Kingdom of Shattonil.
“According to the note, it seems that your daughter, Lady Bonis, has come as my companion’s maid.”
"Yes..."
Logan nodded with a hazy look in his eyes.
“Don’t you want to see her?”
“We will meet when the time comes.”
“Yes, butler or I will soon meet the person we miss.”
When Logan smiled at Bellos' words, deep wrinkles formed around his eyes. In contrast, Bellos's appearance had not changed at all since he first met Logan 15 years ago. Bellos Brodian, the lord of the island nation of Aklatto, had always looked the same since he was 20 years old 250 years ago. Since the incarnation inside Bellos' body disappeared, time had stopped.
Zelda von Trova. She was currently the Empress of Lapion, but she would soon become his consort. If only she were by his side, he could find the incarnation that had left his body again. Then his stopped time would flow normally again. Furthermore, although Zelda had not yet awakened her power, she already had the ability to control fire while incarnated. Bellos had no doubt that if he and Zelda combined their powers, they could control the wyvern and take over this world.
“I need to meet my companion before the hunting competition begins.”
Bellos walked up to the mirror and spoke shyly.
“I need to meet my companion before the hunting competition begins.”
Bellos walked up to the mirror and spoke shyly.
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