Hedden looked at Melanie's back with an embarrassed expression and blamed himself.
'I'm not very good at talking. I shouldn't have told Her Highness Melanie about Count Ethan...'
“Catherine!”
Melanie raised her hand and shouted. Only when Catherine turned her head did Melanie bow properly.
“...Your Highness. I guess you came out for a walk?”
“As you can see.”
Catherine gave her a curt reply and continued on her way.
“Have you heard any news from Count Ethan lately?”
Melanie, who was glaring at the back of Catherine's head as she passed by, ignoring her, asked slyly.
“Just now... what did you say?”
Catherine reacted sharply when Melanie mentioned the name of the person she had an affair with while she was Linel's fiancée.
'I'm already in a bad mood today, and you're really annoying.'
She strode forward as if she were about to slap Melanie on the cheek at any moment. Melanie then consciously raised her head and looked up at Catherine's raised hand.
“Are you going to blow me up? If you do, I will have to blow the news about the Count that I was going to tell you out of my head.”
“What, what is it?”
“My head is so weak. Even if there is a slight shock, everything in my head disappears.”
Melanie answered in a deliberately sullen voice.
“It’s not that you're weak-headed, it’s that you're bad.”
Catherine snorted and forced her hand down, intending to slap Melanie on the cheek.
“Oh my, I’ve heard people say I’m innocent, but this is the first time I’ve heard someone say I’m stupid.”
Melanie pouted her lips in displeasure.
“Stop talking nonsense. So, what were you trying to tell me with that innocent mind?”
Catherine suppressed her anger and asked calmly, knowing that Melanie was a troublesome person no matter how long she dealt with her.
“Are you aware that Count Ethan is staying at the palace?”
Catherine's eyes shook greatly at Melanie's secretly whispered words.
“I guess you didn’t know. The palace is large, but since you were close friends, would you feel uncomfortable being in the same space? No, would you feel excited?”
“How do you know that...?”
Catherine looked around and asked in a low voice. It was obvious that Melanie knew about her relationship with Count Ethan and was talking about it. So where did she hear about it? Linel also covered it up quietly, and it was not widely known to the outside world, so how did Melanie know?
“Are you curious as to how I know Count Ethan?”
"Yes."
“I’m sure you’re curious as to how I knew the Count was staying at the palace.”
“Both of them... are curious.”
“I’m sorry, Your Highness. I can’t tell either of you. The person who told me about it is also in my position.”
“What? Are you kidding me?”
“No way, if that were true, I would have said it with a smile.”
Melanie continued talking, her expression deliberately crumpled.
“Don’t worry. I’m really good at keeping other people’s secrets.”
Hedden, standing behind Melanie, was nervous and anxious. This was because she was the one who had told her those two facts. Hedden's cousin was an old servant of Count Ethan and the one who served him closest. The fact that Count Ethan was staying in the palace was something Hedden's cousin had told her directly.
'I'm not very good at talking. I shouldn't have told Her Highness Melanie about Count Ethan...'
“Catherine!”
Melanie raised her hand and shouted. Only when Catherine turned her head did Melanie bow properly.
“...Your Highness. I guess you came out for a walk?”
“As you can see.”
Catherine gave her a curt reply and continued on her way.
“Have you heard any news from Count Ethan lately?”
Melanie, who was glaring at the back of Catherine's head as she passed by, ignoring her, asked slyly.
“Just now... what did you say?”
Catherine reacted sharply when Melanie mentioned the name of the person she had an affair with while she was Linel's fiancée.
'I'm already in a bad mood today, and you're really annoying.'
She strode forward as if she were about to slap Melanie on the cheek at any moment. Melanie then consciously raised her head and looked up at Catherine's raised hand.
“Are you going to blow me up? If you do, I will have to blow the news about the Count that I was going to tell you out of my head.”
“What, what is it?”
“My head is so weak. Even if there is a slight shock, everything in my head disappears.”
Melanie answered in a deliberately sullen voice.
“It’s not that you're weak-headed, it’s that you're bad.”
Catherine snorted and forced her hand down, intending to slap Melanie on the cheek.
“Oh my, I’ve heard people say I’m innocent, but this is the first time I’ve heard someone say I’m stupid.”
Melanie pouted her lips in displeasure.
“Stop talking nonsense. So, what were you trying to tell me with that innocent mind?”
Catherine suppressed her anger and asked calmly, knowing that Melanie was a troublesome person no matter how long she dealt with her.
“Are you aware that Count Ethan is staying at the palace?”
Catherine's eyes shook greatly at Melanie's secretly whispered words.
“I guess you didn’t know. The palace is large, but since you were close friends, would you feel uncomfortable being in the same space? No, would you feel excited?”
“How do you know that...?”
Catherine looked around and asked in a low voice. It was obvious that Melanie knew about her relationship with Count Ethan and was talking about it. So where did she hear about it? Linel also covered it up quietly, and it was not widely known to the outside world, so how did Melanie know?
“Are you curious as to how I know Count Ethan?”
"Yes."
“I’m sure you’re curious as to how I knew the Count was staying at the palace.”
“Both of them... are curious.”
“I’m sorry, Your Highness. I can’t tell either of you. The person who told me about it is also in my position.”
“What? Are you kidding me?”
“No way, if that were true, I would have said it with a smile.”
Melanie continued talking, her expression deliberately crumpled.
“Don’t worry. I’m really good at keeping other people’s secrets.”
Hedden, standing behind Melanie, was nervous and anxious. This was because she was the one who had told her those two facts. Hedden's cousin was an old servant of Count Ethan and the one who served him closest. The fact that Count Ethan was staying in the palace was something Hedden's cousin had told her directly.
Before entering the palace, Hedden had met her cousin by chance in the busy street of Foreign Street and told her that Miss Melanie, whom she was serving, had become a concubine. Naturally, the other concubines came up, and Catherine's name was mentioned. Hedden's cousin said, "This is a secret," and told her an interesting fact. He said that the reason Emperor Linel and Catherine's engagement was broken was because Catherine and Count Ethan, whom he was serving, had been having a secret relationship, and it had been discovered. But when Count Ethan was called by Emperor Linel a year ago and became the blacksmith of the imperial palace, he boasted that he was living in the palace with the Count.
Hedden had told Melanie about Catherine and Count Ethan's relationship before she became a concubine, but it was only a few days ago that she had told her that the Count was living in the palace. When she told Melanie that story, she had clearly asked her to keep it a secret, but now that she looked back, she seemed to have forgotten that.
“Melanie, if you keep talking nonsense about me, I’m going to have your babbling mouth burned on a hot piece of iron.”
Catherine pretended to hug Melanie and warned her.
“Yes, I understand, Your Highness. But be careful, you might get your foot caught in the hot iron.”
Melanie smiled brightly and turned around. Catherine was speechless. She was confused whether the idiot was really speaking without thinking or was trying to threaten her. Catherine just stared at Melanie's back as she walked away, speechless. When Melanie disappeared from her sight, Count Ethan's face came to her mind.
“Melanie, if you keep talking nonsense about me, I’m going to have your babbling mouth burned on a hot piece of iron.”
Catherine pretended to hug Melanie and warned her.
“Yes, I understand, Your Highness. But be careful, you might get your foot caught in the hot iron.”
Melanie smiled brightly and turned around. Catherine was speechless. She was confused whether the idiot was really speaking without thinking or was trying to threaten her. Catherine just stared at Melanie's back as she walked away, speechless. When Melanie disappeared from her sight, Count Ethan's face came to her mind.
Where did you come in? She was angry, but at the same time, her heart was beating faster for the first time in a long time.
“Jenna, where is the blacksmith shop in the palace?”
Catherine looked back at her servant and asked secretly.
“Jenna, where is the blacksmith shop in the palace?”
Catherine looked back at her servant and asked secretly.
***
Grand Duke Martins, who had gone out of the palace, returned to the villa looking tired.
“Where have you been?”
Prince Tesla was waiting for him in the room where the Grand Duke was staying.
“I met a friend I became close with while taking a walk here, and we chatted for a while.”
Grand Duke Martins sat down in the chair opposite Prince Tesla, making up an excuse he had prepared in advance just in case.
“I was planning to come see you anyway. What happened with the assassination guild you hired yesterday...”
“What did you do yesterday?”
"Yes?"
“If I were drunk and made that decision, you should have stopped me!”
Prince Tesla suddenly became angry at Grand Duke Martins, who was speaking cautiously.
“...”
What are you talking about, this kid again? Prince Tesla muttered, pretending not to remember how madly he had given such an order last night. What happened to your head after you gave him so many sleeping pills last night? Grand Duke Martins thought, looking at the Prince with an annoyed expression on his face.
“If you were going to make such an important proposal, you should have done it earlier... Why would I do it the day after giving such an order... No, no. Fortunately, I found out about it today.”
Prince Tesla muttered to himself, tousling the back of his head.
“What happened?”
“I mean, Resilia.”
“What happened to the Princess again?”
“Hey! Do you know that my little sister is always causing trouble?”
It was a joke. Who was the one who always complained about his sister's thoughtless behavior and said something like that? Grand Duke Martins held back his laughter. Prince Tesla leaned forward in front of the Grand Duke. The prince told Grand Duke Martins about the conversation he had had with Prince Calvain and his wife of the Pasha Empire in the drawing room.
“Then... did you immediately withdraw the order you gave to the Assassination Guild?”
Although Grand Duke Martins had visited Prince Norton last night and told him that Rams was in danger, he had not yet confirmed Rams' safety.
“Of course. I immediately sent a messenger to tell the leader of the Assassination Guild to stop harming the child and just find out where it is. I almost ruined everything!”
It would have been better if you hadn't given that order in the first place. Grand Duke Martins sighed in relief and cursed the Prince inwardly.
“So, I guess we’ll have to change our plans now?”
“There is only one thing that has changed. Resilia becomes the Empress of the Pasha Empire, not the Lapion Empire.”
“Empress of the Pasha Empire...?”
What is that kid up to now? Prince Tesla replied, still chuckling.
“If Prince Norton is a little greedy, it’s possible. Rather than the 2nd Prince, who killed his older brother and married his sister-in-law and the Crown Princess, who can’t have children, wouldn’t the 3rd Prince, who already has a son, be more suitable for the throne of the Pasha Empire?”
“Your Highness, that is a very dangerous idea.”
“Anyway, he’s timid.”
Prince Tesla patted the Grand Duke on the shoulder as if teasing him.
“Then, what will the Empress do...?”
Grand Duke Martin asked, recalling the missing wizard Big and Sir Ken coming out of his house.
“Now there is no need to force Zelda out of her position as Empress, but we still need to take action because we don’t know what will happen.”
“That means...”
“It would be fun to see if she could keep her head held high like that even without magic potions. It would be even more fun if there were something to watch throughout the hunting competition.”
Prince Tesla burst into laughter.
“Let’s see if Emperor Linel can look at Zelda’s burn scars with loving eyes.”
“But wouldn’t it be okay for Her Majesty to go to the clinic and order a magic potion?”
Grand Duke Martins pretended not to know about the disappearance of Wizard Big.
“There’s no one to make it for her, so what can she do?”
“What does that mean? Could it be the wizard Big...!”
“Why are you so surprised? He hasn’t died yet. Sir Ken may have helped him out a bit, but anyway, Sir Ken, what is this kid doing in the palace that he hasn’t come back yet?”
Prince Tesla grumbled and got up from his chair, saying he had been drinking too much the night before and needed to go to bed early, before leaving the room.
'Is it really too late? How should I tell the Empress about this?'
Grand Duke Martins despaired.
“Where have you been?”
Prince Tesla was waiting for him in the room where the Grand Duke was staying.
“I met a friend I became close with while taking a walk here, and we chatted for a while.”
Grand Duke Martins sat down in the chair opposite Prince Tesla, making up an excuse he had prepared in advance just in case.
“I was planning to come see you anyway. What happened with the assassination guild you hired yesterday...”
“What did you do yesterday?”
"Yes?"
“If I were drunk and made that decision, you should have stopped me!”
Prince Tesla suddenly became angry at Grand Duke Martins, who was speaking cautiously.
“...”
What are you talking about, this kid again? Prince Tesla muttered, pretending not to remember how madly he had given such an order last night. What happened to your head after you gave him so many sleeping pills last night? Grand Duke Martins thought, looking at the Prince with an annoyed expression on his face.
“If you were going to make such an important proposal, you should have done it earlier... Why would I do it the day after giving such an order... No, no. Fortunately, I found out about it today.”
Prince Tesla muttered to himself, tousling the back of his head.
“What happened?”
“I mean, Resilia.”
“What happened to the Princess again?”
“Hey! Do you know that my little sister is always causing trouble?”
It was a joke. Who was the one who always complained about his sister's thoughtless behavior and said something like that? Grand Duke Martins held back his laughter. Prince Tesla leaned forward in front of the Grand Duke. The prince told Grand Duke Martins about the conversation he had had with Prince Calvain and his wife of the Pasha Empire in the drawing room.
“Then... did you immediately withdraw the order you gave to the Assassination Guild?”
Although Grand Duke Martins had visited Prince Norton last night and told him that Rams was in danger, he had not yet confirmed Rams' safety.
“Of course. I immediately sent a messenger to tell the leader of the Assassination Guild to stop harming the child and just find out where it is. I almost ruined everything!”
It would have been better if you hadn't given that order in the first place. Grand Duke Martins sighed in relief and cursed the Prince inwardly.
“So, I guess we’ll have to change our plans now?”
“There is only one thing that has changed. Resilia becomes the Empress of the Pasha Empire, not the Lapion Empire.”
“Empress of the Pasha Empire...?”
What is that kid up to now? Prince Tesla replied, still chuckling.
“If Prince Norton is a little greedy, it’s possible. Rather than the 2nd Prince, who killed his older brother and married his sister-in-law and the Crown Princess, who can’t have children, wouldn’t the 3rd Prince, who already has a son, be more suitable for the throne of the Pasha Empire?”
“Your Highness, that is a very dangerous idea.”
“Anyway, he’s timid.”
Prince Tesla patted the Grand Duke on the shoulder as if teasing him.
“Then, what will the Empress do...?”
Grand Duke Martin asked, recalling the missing wizard Big and Sir Ken coming out of his house.
“Now there is no need to force Zelda out of her position as Empress, but we still need to take action because we don’t know what will happen.”
“That means...”
“It would be fun to see if she could keep her head held high like that even without magic potions. It would be even more fun if there were something to watch throughout the hunting competition.”
Prince Tesla burst into laughter.
“Let’s see if Emperor Linel can look at Zelda’s burn scars with loving eyes.”
“But wouldn’t it be okay for Her Majesty to go to the clinic and order a magic potion?”
Grand Duke Martins pretended not to know about the disappearance of Wizard Big.
“There’s no one to make it for her, so what can she do?”
“What does that mean? Could it be the wizard Big...!”
“Why are you so surprised? He hasn’t died yet. Sir Ken may have helped him out a bit, but anyway, Sir Ken, what is this kid doing in the palace that he hasn’t come back yet?”
Prince Tesla grumbled and got up from his chair, saying he had been drinking too much the night before and needed to go to bed early, before leaving the room.
'Is it really too late? How should I tell the Empress about this?'
Grand Duke Martins despaired.
***
I reached out to stop his hand from pulling down on the doorknob, but Linel's hand was much faster in opening the door.
“What the hell are you guys doing here!”
As we entered the warehouse, his and my gaze turned to the warehouse floor.
“Huh, Your Majesty? Your Majesty, the Empress!”
Prince Norton jumped up from the floor in surprise.
“Are you coming in without knocking?”
Commander Macrom also looked quite taken aback by our sudden appearance.
“Did you knock and come in then?”
Linel snorted. Prince Norton and Commander Macrom were sitting on the warehouse floor, drinking.
“What are you two doing here again? Why do you keep coming to such a shabby place when you have a spacious bedroom?”
Commander Macrom looked very displeased that his small drinking party had been interrupted.
“Why are you two sitting in such a secret and shabby place drinking?”
When Linel asked, picking up a bottle of wine from the floor, Commander Macrom scratched his head and answered.
“It is forbidden to drink alcohol inside the sacred training grounds, so I came here.”
“Aren’t you going to have a swordsmanship duel?”
When I asked with a regretful tone, both of them nodded at the same time.
“I thought Prince Norton needed a drink today.”
At Captain Macrom's answer, I turned my gaze to Prince Norton. The Prince's face looked full of worry. Was it because he was worried about Rams, whom he had entrusted to Rosie? There was something I wanted to confirm with Prince Norton about Rams, but I couldn't ask him because of Linel and Commander Macrom. Instead, should I bring up Rosie and try to tease him?
“Your Highness, are you concerned about Rosie’s confession?”
I looked down at the glass in Prince Norton's hand and asked him sarcastically.
“Her Highness Rosie seems like a really... nice person. Oh, I’m sorry. In front of Your Majesty.”
“No, it’s okay. But is that all?”
"Yes?"
“The Prince’s feelings towards Rosie.”
“...”
Prince Norton flinched at his blunt question.
“Rosie has a lot of innocent sides, right? Like a child...”
I quickly asked Prince Norton. I deliberately brought up the word 'child' and focused on the change in the Prince's expression.
“Yes, Her Highness Rosie seems to have a childish side.”
The look in Prince Norton's eyes as he spoke to me was one of realization that I had come to know about Rams' existence.
“Since it’s come to this, why don’t you treat us to a drink too?”
When Linel spoke to Commander Macrom, the captain looked at me and said.
“Your Majesty, since you have been living in barracks on the battlefield, I am sure you do not mind such a shabby place, but Your Majesty, the Empress must be very uncomfortable.”
“It doesn’t matter. Last time I came, I was lying on the straw... no, sitting? I don’t mind at all. Everyone just sits and talks.”
I took off the robe I was wearing, laid it on the floor, and sat down, looking up at Linel.
“Your Majesty, the floor is cold. Please sit down on my robe.”
“I guess so? Well, the Emperor shouldn’t sit in a cold place.”
He took a seat next to me, his throat shaking in a way that didn't match his deep bass voice at all. He and I simultaneously picked up the extra glasses on the floor and shoved them at each of us.
“Pour me a drink, Macrom.”
“Please give me a drink, Your Highness.”
The two men poured drinks for Linel and me with bewildered expressions.
As we entered the warehouse, his and my gaze turned to the warehouse floor.
“Huh, Your Majesty? Your Majesty, the Empress!”
Prince Norton jumped up from the floor in surprise.
“Are you coming in without knocking?”
Commander Macrom also looked quite taken aback by our sudden appearance.
“Did you knock and come in then?”
Linel snorted. Prince Norton and Commander Macrom were sitting on the warehouse floor, drinking.
“What are you two doing here again? Why do you keep coming to such a shabby place when you have a spacious bedroom?”
Commander Macrom looked very displeased that his small drinking party had been interrupted.
“Why are you two sitting in such a secret and shabby place drinking?”
When Linel asked, picking up a bottle of wine from the floor, Commander Macrom scratched his head and answered.
“It is forbidden to drink alcohol inside the sacred training grounds, so I came here.”
“Aren’t you going to have a swordsmanship duel?”
When I asked with a regretful tone, both of them nodded at the same time.
“I thought Prince Norton needed a drink today.”
At Captain Macrom's answer, I turned my gaze to Prince Norton. The Prince's face looked full of worry. Was it because he was worried about Rams, whom he had entrusted to Rosie? There was something I wanted to confirm with Prince Norton about Rams, but I couldn't ask him because of Linel and Commander Macrom. Instead, should I bring up Rosie and try to tease him?
“Your Highness, are you concerned about Rosie’s confession?”
I looked down at the glass in Prince Norton's hand and asked him sarcastically.
“Her Highness Rosie seems like a really... nice person. Oh, I’m sorry. In front of Your Majesty.”
“No, it’s okay. But is that all?”
"Yes?"
“The Prince’s feelings towards Rosie.”
“...”
Prince Norton flinched at his blunt question.
“Rosie has a lot of innocent sides, right? Like a child...”
I quickly asked Prince Norton. I deliberately brought up the word 'child' and focused on the change in the Prince's expression.
“Yes, Her Highness Rosie seems to have a childish side.”
The look in Prince Norton's eyes as he spoke to me was one of realization that I had come to know about Rams' existence.
“Since it’s come to this, why don’t you treat us to a drink too?”
When Linel spoke to Commander Macrom, the captain looked at me and said.
“Your Majesty, since you have been living in barracks on the battlefield, I am sure you do not mind such a shabby place, but Your Majesty, the Empress must be very uncomfortable.”
“It doesn’t matter. Last time I came, I was lying on the straw... no, sitting? I don’t mind at all. Everyone just sits and talks.”
I took off the robe I was wearing, laid it on the floor, and sat down, looking up at Linel.
“Your Majesty, the floor is cold. Please sit down on my robe.”
“I guess so? Well, the Emperor shouldn’t sit in a cold place.”
He took a seat next to me, his throat shaking in a way that didn't match his deep bass voice at all. He and I simultaneously picked up the extra glasses on the floor and shoved them at each of us.
“Pour me a drink, Macrom.”
“Please give me a drink, Your Highness.”
The two men poured drinks for Linel and me with bewildered expressions.
“But what were you talking about?”
“We were having a drink and having a good time. Of course, it was suggested by the prince.”
“...What time?”
Linel's eyes sparkled with curiosity. Aha, so that's why Commander Macrom spoke to Prince Norton? Only then did I understand the conversation between the two people outside the warehouse door. However, Linel seemed to have no idea what a palm time was. Well, it's only natural for him to not know. Who in his life has had a palm time?
“Would you like to do it too, Your Majesty?”
Commander Macrom quivered his lips as he joked.
“What is that?”
Linel showed interest.
“It’s just a game we often play at drinking parties, but it’s especially played a lot among knights.”
“Really? If it’s a game that knights often play, then let’s give it a try.”
He nodded very readily.
“Your Majesty, it would be better not to have palm time....”
I whispered to him to stop doing palm time, but
"Why?"
Linel asked with a sad look in his eyes.
“Your Majesty, I’m sorry to say this, but this game is difficult to play unless you have a fairly cool personality, as there is always at least one person who gets really angry while playing.”
Prince Norton explained the palm time in a soft voice. It sounded like he was deliberately trying to provoke Linel.
“I am not only cool, I am a person whose whole body is cold.”
Linel said with a very relaxed and kind voice, smiling. You've caught me.
“Your Majesty, our Majesty is a very generous person. But Your Majesty? I am telling you in advance out of concern, but please do not misunderstand, a game is just a game.”
Commander Macrom already looked happy.
“Oh, I told you I’m not a petty person. Okay, let’s start the game.”
He shouted, clasping his hands together with an excited expression.
'Emperor! I clearly told you not to do so.'
I started the palm time in my mind first.
“We were having a drink and having a good time. Of course, it was suggested by the prince.”
“...What time?”
Linel's eyes sparkled with curiosity. Aha, so that's why Commander Macrom spoke to Prince Norton? Only then did I understand the conversation between the two people outside the warehouse door. However, Linel seemed to have no idea what a palm time was. Well, it's only natural for him to not know. Who in his life has had a palm time?
“Would you like to do it too, Your Majesty?”
Commander Macrom quivered his lips as he joked.
“What is that?”
Linel showed interest.
“It’s just a game we often play at drinking parties, but it’s especially played a lot among knights.”
“Really? If it’s a game that knights often play, then let’s give it a try.”
He nodded very readily.
“Your Majesty, it would be better not to have palm time....”
I whispered to him to stop doing palm time, but
"Why?"
Linel asked with a sad look in his eyes.
“Your Majesty, I’m sorry to say this, but this game is difficult to play unless you have a fairly cool personality, as there is always at least one person who gets really angry while playing.”
Prince Norton explained the palm time in a soft voice. It sounded like he was deliberately trying to provoke Linel.
“I am not only cool, I am a person whose whole body is cold.”
Linel said with a very relaxed and kind voice, smiling. You've caught me.
“Your Majesty, our Majesty is a very generous person. But Your Majesty? I am telling you in advance out of concern, but please do not misunderstand, a game is just a game.”
Commander Macrom already looked happy.
“Oh, I told you I’m not a petty person. Okay, let’s start the game.”
He shouted, clasping his hands together with an excited expression.
'Emperor! I clearly told you not to do so.'
I started the palm time in my mind first.
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