“Master, when do you plan on leaving?”
“I need to get back as quickly as possible. Logan, just call me Bellos.”
Logan spoke more politely to Bellos.
“Well, if I had aged normally, I would probably be... about 250 years old by now.”
Bellos had not calculated his age for quite some time. Maybe he was over 250 years old, maybe a little younger. He laughed, saying that a few years off from his age was no big deal.
“Come to think of it, when I first met you, you didn’t have any wrinkles, but now you even have white hair.”
“I’m sorry, a lot of time has passed.”
“I meant I was jealous.”
Bellos said, staring blankly at himself in the mirror.
“I would rather grow old normally than have the world, but will she come to me obediently?”
“Well, I don’t know Zelda either, but it’s been 15 years since I last saw my master’s companion, so I can’t tell how much she’s changed.”
“It was a long and tedious wait. But I think it’s time for her to start awakening to her own power.”
Bellos smiled as he adjusted his clothes.
“She will definitely fall in love with me at first sight, master.”
Logan spoke to Bellos, admiring his perfect face, but he shook his head.
“No, I don’t intend to impress her with my looks from the start.”
“Then what are you going to do?”
Logan asked with a somewhat worried look.
“I will approach her with my heart first.”
Bellos answered confidently. Logan was a little skeptical of his opinion. He advised that approaching her face-to-face would be the safest and fastest way, but Bellos did not listen.
“He’s still so young. It’s a shame.”
I looked at Rams with pity, and then the shameless face of Princess Resilia came to mind.
“What on earth are you thinking, Princess? Abandoning such a beautiful child!”
Bonis said in a very excited voice.
“It’s still not certain that Princess Resilia gave birth to Rams.”
I calmed Bonis down while being conscious of Rosie.
“I’m sure, I know.”
“What? How?”
“I heard the palace doctor grumbling about Princess Resilia while he was treating my finger. At that time, the Princess had also returned to the palace and was being treated by the palace doctor.”
Bonis lifted her bandaged left hand and spoke, seemingly to help Rosie understand.
“What did the palace doctor say?”
“He grumbled, asking how he could create a potion that would make a woman who has just given birth look like a virgin.”
“Is that true?”
“Yes, I am sure because the doctor was talking to himself in the treatment room while thinking I was under anesthesia.”
"Ha..."
Then, was that the reason why Princess Resilia, who had returned to the royal family, was not immediately brought into the Lapion Imperial Palace? Was she still coveting the position of Empress of the Lapion Empire despite giving birth to another man's child? I was disgusted by the ugly greed of the Shattonil siblings.
“Aren’t they really crazy?”
Rosir clenched her fists in excitement.
“But what kind of threat was there? And why did you entrust it to Your Highness Rosie?”
Bonis looked at Rosie curiously. Rosie muttered in a very small voice.
“Could this be a proposal?”
“Rosie, I don’t think that’s true.”
When I spoke firmly, she looked disappointed.
“Hahaha, you don’t know? If he's even leaving his child with Your Highness Rosie, he must have a lot of trust in you.”
As Bonis spoke to Rosie in a comforting tone, Rosie's mouth moved to the side. But Rosie looked worriedly at Rams, who had fallen asleep in Sharon's arms again.
“Could it be that the Shattonil royal family is trying to get rid of this child?”
“There are more than enough of them, Your Highness. Especially Prince Tesla.”
Bonis lifted her left hand, which was now bandaged again, and spoke to Rosie on my behalf.
“Oh, is Prince Tesla the one who took Lady Bonis’s little finger?!”
"Yes, that's right."
Rosie was shocked by Bonis' words. After thinking about something for a few minutes, Rosie opened her mouth again.
“Shouldn’t we at least tell Princess Resilia? She might not know that Rams is under threat...”
“Princess Resilia has already abandoned Rams once.”
That was all I could answer for Rosie. If I were to tell her the truth about their plan to eliminate Rams in order to make Princess Resilia the Empress of the Lapion Empire, I would have to reveal that I was the 'acting Empress'.
“Prince Norton must have entrusted Rams to you for a reason. He must have sensed some kind of threat.”
I told Rosie to take good care of the child. I thought I should meet Prince Norton and hear the details. But how could I get a chance to meet Prince Norton alone?
Ethan doubted his ears as he asked him back.
“Yes. Like the sword that Commander Macrom carries, no, more so than that.”
“Your Majesty, are you ordering a longsword rather than a dagger?”
Ethan's expression became more confused. It was common for noblewomen to have a dagger as a souvenir, but it was rare for them to have a longsword.
“Please put more effort into the sword she uses. She will carry a sword throughout the hunting competition, so it must be as light and precise as possible.”
“Does Your Majesty the Empress... know how to swordsman?”
“She's not only good at it, she's also very good at it. So show off her skills.”
Linel said, imagining Zelda swinging her sword.
“We don’t have much time, so we should start making it today.”
“That’s what it should be. And the Empress will be visiting the forge soon. Just know that.”
“Would Her Majesty the Empress really want to come all the way to the blacksmith shop?”
Ethan looked incredulous at his words. A blacksmith shop was one of the places that all women in the world, let alone noblewomen, let alone the Empress of a country, would visit.
“You'll know when you wait.”
Linel shrugged and smiled.
“May I leave for a moment tonight, Your Majesty, the Empress?”
“Of course. There are two people skilled in swordsmanship in the bedroom.”
At my words, two men burst out laughing at the same time.
“Yes, Macrom. The Empress will take responsibility for my safety, so go with peace of mind.”
He suddenly grabbed me by the arm and said,
“...Thank you, Your Majesty. Then, both of you, have a comfortable night, a quiet night.”
Commander Macrom looked at Linel's arm around me with a trembling look, then bowed his head in greeting and went down the stairs.
“You don’t know, but we’re going to have a tough night. Do you understand?”
Linel raised his voice and spoke to Commander Macrom, who was coming down the stairs. I noticed the ears of some of the attendants around me turning red, and gave him a hint. He looked happy to see my embarrassed face and spoke to Commander Macrom again as he was coming down the stairs.
“Oh, I heard from Raphael that you’re going to have a swordsmanship duel with Prince Norton tonight? Are you heading to the training ground now?”
What? Prince Norton? I quickly turned around and looked down at Commander Macrom.
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Commander Macrom gave a short answer.
“I see. You’ll report the results tomorrow.”
Linel put his arm around my shoulder and spoke to Commander Macrom.
“Isn’t the result obvious? Of course I’ll win.”
Commander Macrom confirmed this by pounding his chest with his fist.
“Aren’t you going to the training ground now to practice in advance? I heard that Prince Norton’s skills are also quite impressive.”
As Linel spoke as if he were giving medicine, Commander Macrom immediately became angry.
“Haha, I’m not trying to underestimate his skills, but I’m not nervous enough to do that. My muscles have been a bit stiff lately, so I’m going to do some warm-up exercises beforehand. Well, I’ll be leaving now.”
I could hear Commander Macrom sighing as he went down the stairs. Then, Linel walked down the bedroom corridor holding my hand with a satisfied face.
“I need to get back as quickly as possible. Logan, just call me Bellos.”
“I can't do that.”
Logan spoke more politely to Bellos.
“Well, if I had aged normally, I would probably be... about 250 years old by now.”
Bellos had not calculated his age for quite some time. Maybe he was over 250 years old, maybe a little younger. He laughed, saying that a few years off from his age was no big deal.
“Come to think of it, when I first met you, you didn’t have any wrinkles, but now you even have white hair.”
“I’m sorry, a lot of time has passed.”
“I meant I was jealous.”
Bellos said, staring blankly at himself in the mirror.
“I would rather grow old normally than have the world, but will she come to me obediently?”
“Well, I don’t know Zelda either, but it’s been 15 years since I last saw my master’s companion, so I can’t tell how much she’s changed.”
“It was a long and tedious wait. But I think it’s time for her to start awakening to her own power.”
Bellos smiled as he adjusted his clothes.
“She will definitely fall in love with me at first sight, master.”
Logan spoke to Bellos, admiring his perfect face, but he shook his head.
“No, I don’t intend to impress her with my looks from the start.”
“Then what are you going to do?”
Logan asked with a somewhat worried look.
“I will approach her with my heart first.”
Bellos answered confidently. Logan was a little skeptical of his opinion. He advised that approaching her face-to-face would be the safest and fastest way, but Bellos did not listen.
“How do you say it in your heart?”
“Well? Other than my looks, what kind of appearance would be good to get her attention?”
Bellos was in happy distress.
“Oh, a little fairy would be nice. Something... something like this?”
He raised his index finger and smiled innocently.
“Well? Other than my looks, what kind of appearance would be good to get her attention?”
Bellos was in happy distress.
“Oh, a little fairy would be nice. Something... something like this?”
He raised his index finger and smiled innocently.
***
“He’s still so young. It’s a shame.”
I looked at Rams with pity, and then the shameless face of Princess Resilia came to mind.
“What on earth are you thinking, Princess? Abandoning such a beautiful child!”
Bonis said in a very excited voice.
“It’s still not certain that Princess Resilia gave birth to Rams.”
I calmed Bonis down while being conscious of Rosie.
“I’m sure, I know.”
“What? How?”
“I heard the palace doctor grumbling about Princess Resilia while he was treating my finger. At that time, the Princess had also returned to the palace and was being treated by the palace doctor.”
Bonis lifted her bandaged left hand and spoke, seemingly to help Rosie understand.
“What did the palace doctor say?”
“He grumbled, asking how he could create a potion that would make a woman who has just given birth look like a virgin.”
“Is that true?”
“Yes, I am sure because the doctor was talking to himself in the treatment room while thinking I was under anesthesia.”
"Ha..."
Then, was that the reason why Princess Resilia, who had returned to the royal family, was not immediately brought into the Lapion Imperial Palace? Was she still coveting the position of Empress of the Lapion Empire despite giving birth to another man's child? I was disgusted by the ugly greed of the Shattonil siblings.
“Aren’t they really crazy?”
Rosir clenched her fists in excitement.
“But what kind of threat was there? And why did you entrust it to Your Highness Rosie?”
Bonis looked at Rosie curiously. Rosie muttered in a very small voice.
“Could this be a proposal?”
“Rosie, I don’t think that’s true.”
When I spoke firmly, she looked disappointed.
“Hahaha, you don’t know? If he's even leaving his child with Your Highness Rosie, he must have a lot of trust in you.”
As Bonis spoke to Rosie in a comforting tone, Rosie's mouth moved to the side. But Rosie looked worriedly at Rams, who had fallen asleep in Sharon's arms again.
“Could it be that the Shattonil royal family is trying to get rid of this child?”
“There are more than enough of them, Your Highness. Especially Prince Tesla.”
Bonis lifted her left hand, which was now bandaged again, and spoke to Rosie on my behalf.
“Oh, is Prince Tesla the one who took Lady Bonis’s little finger?!”
"Yes, that's right."
Rosie was shocked by Bonis' words. After thinking about something for a few minutes, Rosie opened her mouth again.
“Shouldn’t we at least tell Princess Resilia? She might not know that Rams is under threat...”
“Princess Resilia has already abandoned Rams once.”
That was all I could answer for Rosie. If I were to tell her the truth about their plan to eliminate Rams in order to make Princess Resilia the Empress of the Lapion Empire, I would have to reveal that I was the 'acting Empress'.
“Prince Norton must have entrusted Rams to you for a reason. He must have sensed some kind of threat.”
I told Rosie to take good care of the child. I thought I should meet Prince Norton and hear the details. But how could I get a chance to meet Prince Norton alone?
***
As they approached the blacksmith shop, the sound of hammers striking swords grew louder. Linel had come to see Count Ethan Bennett, the chief of the Lapion Imperial Blacksmith Shop and a man with exceptional talent for making swords. Ethan was the first noble-born blacksmith in the history of the Lapion Empire and the chief of the Imperial Blacksmith Shop. Linel leaned against one of the pillars of the blacksmith shop and watched Ethan strike a red-hot sword with his hammer.
“Still the same.”
“Your Majesty... what is it?”
Ethan, who was wiping away the sweat that was pouring down like rain with the handkerchief he had tucked into his waistband, looked back in surprise. He always felt uncomfortable when he met the Emperor. This was because when he was the Crown Prince of Linel, the person his fiancée had secretly had an affair with was none other than Ethan Bennet, himself. Even though he knew that she was the Crown Prince’s fiancée, he could not resist Catherine’s seduction. Count Ethan and Catherine continued their shady relationship for a year, and Linel heard about it.
“Still the same.”
“Your Majesty... what is it?”
Ethan, who was wiping away the sweat that was pouring down like rain with the handkerchief he had tucked into his waistband, looked back in surprise. He always felt uncomfortable when he met the Emperor. This was because when he was the Crown Prince of Linel, the person his fiancée had secretly had an affair with was none other than Ethan Bennet, himself. Even though he knew that she was the Crown Prince’s fiancée, he could not resist Catherine’s seduction. Count Ethan and Catherine continued their shady relationship for a year, and Linel heard about it.
However, he covered it up quietly. Why did he do that? The answer was simple. He had no feelings for Catherine, his fiancée. However, even if she was a fiancée who had no affection for him, Linel did not do so, even though the two could have been punished for insulting the royal family. Because of that, Ethan’s guilt grew even more.
Fortunately or unfortunately, after that, his relationship with Catherine ended, and Ethan devoted himself to making swords in the blacksmith shop. A year ago, Linel invited Ethan to the palace and gave him a position that suited him, while providing him with all the facilities he needed to pursue his passion for sword making. Ethan initially refused his offer several times, but.
'If you truly feel guilty towards me, take charge of the royal forge. Make a sword for me, and a weapon for my knights. That is the way for the Count to apologize to me.'
Because of the Emperor's words, he eventually accepted the position of General Manager of the Lapion Imperial Blacksmith Shop.
“I came because I have a favor to ask.”
“What is it that Your Majesty came here in person... without calling me?”
“It’s been a while since I’ve been to the blacksmith shop, so I thought I’d take a walk or something.”
Because of the Emperor's words, he eventually accepted the position of General Manager of the Lapion Imperial Blacksmith Shop.
“I came because I have a favor to ask.”
“What is it that Your Majesty came here in person... without calling me?”
“It’s been a while since I’ve been to the blacksmith shop, so I thought I’d take a walk or something.”
“Yes, this is the first time since the war. It’s been years since I last saw you, and I’m sorry for my shabby appearance.”
Ethan said, looking down at his sweaty and dirty work clothes.
“There’s nothing to be ashamed of, it’s an honor.”
"Yes?"
“The Emperor doesn’t even visit the concubines’ quarters, but he goes to the blacksmith shop himself. Isn’t that right?”
Ethan looked down as if he were a sinner at Linel's joke. The face of Catherine, one of the Emperor's concubines, came to mind, and the guilt that had been building up for years rose again. Linel noticed this and tapped him on the shoulder to change the subject.
“I need you to make a sword for my wife.”
“Are you talking about the sword... that I will give to Her Majesty the Empress?”
Ethan said, looking down at his sweaty and dirty work clothes.
“There’s nothing to be ashamed of, it’s an honor.”
"Yes?"
“The Emperor doesn’t even visit the concubines’ quarters, but he goes to the blacksmith shop himself. Isn’t that right?”
Ethan looked down as if he were a sinner at Linel's joke. The face of Catherine, one of the Emperor's concubines, came to mind, and the guilt that had been building up for years rose again. Linel noticed this and tapped him on the shoulder to change the subject.
“I need you to make a sword for my wife.”
“Are you talking about the sword... that I will give to Her Majesty the Empress?”
Ethan doubted his ears as he asked him back.
“Yes. Like the sword that Commander Macrom carries, no, more so than that.”
“Your Majesty, are you ordering a longsword rather than a dagger?”
Ethan's expression became more confused. It was common for noblewomen to have a dagger as a souvenir, but it was rare for them to have a longsword.
“Please put more effort into the sword she uses. She will carry a sword throughout the hunting competition, so it must be as light and precise as possible.”
“Does Your Majesty the Empress... know how to swordsman?”
“She's not only good at it, she's also very good at it. So show off her skills.”
Linel said, imagining Zelda swinging her sword.
“We don’t have much time, so we should start making it today.”
“That’s what it should be. And the Empress will be visiting the forge soon. Just know that.”
“Would Her Majesty the Empress really want to come all the way to the blacksmith shop?”
Ethan looked incredulous at his words. A blacksmith shop was one of the places that all women in the world, let alone noblewomen, let alone the Empress of a country, would visit.
“You'll know when you wait.”
Linel shrugged and smiled.
***
After visiting Rosie's quarters, I had dinner with Linel. When I finished eating and reached the bedroom floor with him, Commander Macrom spoke to me politely.
“May I leave for a moment tonight, Your Majesty, the Empress?”
“Of course. There are two people skilled in swordsmanship in the bedroom.”
At my words, two men burst out laughing at the same time.
“Yes, Macrom. The Empress will take responsibility for my safety, so go with peace of mind.”
He suddenly grabbed me by the arm and said,
“...Thank you, Your Majesty. Then, both of you, have a comfortable night, a quiet night.”
Commander Macrom looked at Linel's arm around me with a trembling look, then bowed his head in greeting and went down the stairs.
“You don’t know, but we’re going to have a tough night. Do you understand?”
Linel raised his voice and spoke to Commander Macrom, who was coming down the stairs. I noticed the ears of some of the attendants around me turning red, and gave him a hint. He looked happy to see my embarrassed face and spoke to Commander Macrom again as he was coming down the stairs.
“Oh, I heard from Raphael that you’re going to have a swordsmanship duel with Prince Norton tonight? Are you heading to the training ground now?”
What? Prince Norton? I quickly turned around and looked down at Commander Macrom.
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Commander Macrom gave a short answer.
“I see. You’ll report the results tomorrow.”
Linel put his arm around my shoulder and spoke to Commander Macrom.
“Isn’t the result obvious? Of course I’ll win.”
Commander Macrom confirmed this by pounding his chest with his fist.
“Aren’t you going to the training ground now to practice in advance? I heard that Prince Norton’s skills are also quite impressive.”
As Linel spoke as if he were giving medicine, Commander Macrom immediately became angry.
“Haha, I’m not trying to underestimate his skills, but I’m not nervous enough to do that. My muscles have been a bit stiff lately, so I’m going to do some warm-up exercises beforehand. Well, I’ll be leaving now.”
I could hear Commander Macrom sighing as he went down the stairs. Then, Linel walked down the bedroom corridor holding my hand with a satisfied face.
***
I entered the bedroom and had a small fight with him.
Your Majesty, you wash first, or let's wash together... We held each other's arms and talked like this for several minutes in front of the bathroom door. In the end, I lost at rock-paper-scissors and went into the bathroom alone. Standing in the middle of the large bedroom, I turned my waist and imagined Prince Norton and Commander Macrom sparring in the martial arts arena.
“I wonder how the two of them will fight. I wish I could go to the training ground and see for myself...”
It's fun to hold the sword myself, but it's also quite interesting to watch the duels between those who are good at swordsmanship. And there's also a close conversation with Prince Norton. Prince Norton said that the cute doll-like child he left with Rosie was named Rams. Is it really Prince Tesla who's trying to get rid of Rams?
“It is entirely possible...”
“It’s possible.”
I was lost in thought when I heard Linel's voice, and my shoulders flinched.
“Do you realize it now?”
“Oh, that’s a surprise. When did you come out?”
He was leaning against the bathroom door and looking at me.
“From the moment you regret it.”
“What do I... regret?”
“Aren’t you regretting it when you realize that it’s perfectly possible for a couple to bathe together?”
Linel approached me slowly and asked.
“I wonder how the two of them will fight. I wish I could go to the training ground and see for myself...”
It's fun to hold the sword myself, but it's also quite interesting to watch the duels between those who are good at swordsmanship. And there's also a close conversation with Prince Norton. Prince Norton said that the cute doll-like child he left with Rosie was named Rams. Is it really Prince Tesla who's trying to get rid of Rams?
“It is entirely possible...”
“It’s possible.”
I was lost in thought when I heard Linel's voice, and my shoulders flinched.
“Do you realize it now?”
“Oh, that’s a surprise. When did you come out?”
He was leaning against the bathroom door and looking at me.
“From the moment you regret it.”
“What do I... regret?”
“Aren’t you regretting it when you realize that it’s perfectly possible for a couple to bathe together?”
Linel approached me slowly and asked.
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