“Haha, are you all nervous? Relax, relax. How do you even start this?”
Linel spoke triumphantly and sipped his wine. Prince Norton and Commander Macrom kept nodding at me to go first, so I had no choice but to open the door.
“Who said anything?”
When I spoke to him informally, he laughed heartily and found it very amusing. I guess that feeling should last until the end of the palm time...
“Aha, it’s a game where everyone talks together.”
“No, you... should speak up.”
Commander Macrom mustered up the courage to speak to him. The two had been friends since childhood, and I heard that when Linel was Crown Prince, they used to speak to each other comfortably in private. Perhaps that was why Commander Macrom started speaking informally to him quite naturally.
“What? No, why just me?”
When Linel failed to read the mood and continued to speak informally,
“Why? You’re the oldest. You have a higher status.”
Prince Norton also replied to him with a sly remark. I saw Linel's brows furrowing, so I quickly explained the rules of palm time.
“This game is originally disadvantageous to the older person. In palm time, the oldest person becomes the youngest.”
“Wait a minute... Then I’m the only one who has to raise my voice? What kind of game is this?”
He felt as if he had been cheated. But it was too late.
“Shhh, are you going to keep talking? You’re being cheeky.”
When I straightened up, Linel stared at me for a moment, not sure whether to laugh or get angry, but then burst into laughter. It seemed like he had decided to enjoy the palm time. He immediately adjusted to the game and raised his voice.
“I’m sorry. This is my first time doing something like this.”
“It’s a boast.”
Commander Macrom immediately sneered at Linel, who was apologizing. I bit my tongue and held back laughter. Linel opened his eyes slightly and looked at Commander Macrom and laughed. The corners of his mouth didn’t move at all, and only the sound of laughter flowed out of his mouth. Linel didn’t seem to be offended when I spoke informally, but when Commander Macrom or Prince Norton spoke, his mood seemed to change completely.
“I guess you’ve had a lot of complaints about me in the past...?”
He asked Commander Macrom with difficulty, raising his voice.
“My personality is just like that. You should know that, right?”
Commander Macrom retorted, “Wow, that’s ridiculous.”
“Well...? I only remember you being so nice to me.”
Linel smiled fakely.
“Aha, when you do something good, you leave marks all over your body, don’t you? Every time we practice swordsmanship, my body looks very fancy with the scars you give me.”
“Oh, you had that in mind, huh?”
“I had it in my body, not my heart. Look at this, this.”
Commander Macrom raised his left arm and showed the wound to me and Prince Norton.
“Last summer, when I told you to practice with a wooden sword, you insisted on practicing with a sword, and in the end, you cut my arm like this.”
“I’m sorry....”
When Linel opened his eyes and apologized,
“Don’t curse with your eyes, it shows on your face.”
Commander Macrom pointed his finger sharply at his eyes.
“If you feel wronged, why don’t you improve your skills?”
He lowered his eyes and spoke with force in his voice.
“Do you think I don’t know how to draw with the tip of a sword? If I took off my rank insignia and put it on, I could draw a map of the Lapion Empire on your abs and still have some left over!”
Commander Macrom's voice was getting louder and louder as he got drunk. It seemed like he would grab the Emperor by the collar soon. Wait, this is it. Maybe I could have a chance to talk to Prince Norton alone?
“Then I guess I can just take off my rank insignia and put it back on.”
I quickly started to encourage the two to engage in a swordsmanship duel.
“Yeah, that sounds good...”
Linel welcomed my opinion, but Commander Macrom was indifferent.
“Why did you come at this hour and cause trouble, even though the Great Wyvern can’t sleep?”
Moiya, who was sleeping soundly in a basket under the bed, grumbled in a sleepy voice.
“Shh, you stay quiet. He must have come here because he wanted to see Rams.”
Rosie slid her feet under the bed, pushed the basket further into the bed, and ran to the dressing table to check the condition of her face. Was there something that didn't suit her? She looked around the dressing table, put a large ribbon pin on her head, and opened the terrace door.
“Sorry for being late.”
“Rams is sleeping well, come in.”
“Thank you. Then, please excuse me for a moment.”
Prince Norton entered Rosie's bedroom and approached his son, who was fast asleep on the bed. Rosie looked closely at his face as he looked at Rams. His face was a mixture of a happy smile and a worried expression.
“He ate well, slept well, pooped well, and played well.”
Rose lowered her voice so that she would not wake Rams and whispered to Prince Norton.
“Really... thank you, oh, and I spoke with Her Majesty the Empress about Rams. I heard she visited today.”
“Yes, Her Majesty the Empress was also very worried about Rams. But you drank alcohol?”
"Rosie sniffed and asked Prince Norton.
“I did a little. I guess I felt a little better after leaving Rams with Your Highness Rosie.”
“I understand... but don’t worry. I’ll take good care of Rams.”
Although she spoke with a fierce expression on her face, to Prince Norton, she was just the face of a pure and kind woman. The Prince smirked without realizing it. Then, Rosie tilted her head to the side and asked with a look of resentment.
“Isn’t the water too cold?”
It wasn't exactly hot, so I was worried he might be cold.
“I feel warm and fine as long as I hold my older sister.”
He spoke to me in a raised voice. Are you still reminiscing about the palm time at the training ground?
“It’ll be suffocating, so don’t hug me too tightly or I’ll get in trouble, yes? Aah!”
I laughed at his joke, and he splashed water in my face.
“Your Majesty, do as you please. You must maintain your dignity.”
He rebuked me in a serious tone, then burst into laughter, perhaps feeling embarrassed himself.
“It seems like the body ache disappeared when we sat in the bathtub together?”
“If you want to speak informally, then do so. It’s just the two of us anyway.”
“It’s not even palm time, so how can you use it?”
As I answered quietly, his mocking laughter tickled the back of my neck.
“I wonder if it would be different if I had a little alcohol...”
“Then shall we have another drink later?”
Linel asked, pouring water on my back.
“I wonder? But I can’t drink much because I don’t have a strong tolerance.”
“What happens when you get drunk?”
He asked me this time, kissing my shoulder. His low voice echoed in the bathroom, softer than soap bubbles.
“I will become a dog.”
I answered softly as well.
“That’s great. I like dogs.”
Linel turned my head to the side, licked his lips, and whispered.
Linel spoke triumphantly and sipped his wine. Prince Norton and Commander Macrom kept nodding at me to go first, so I had no choice but to open the door.
“Who said anything?”
When I spoke to him informally, he laughed heartily and found it very amusing. I guess that feeling should last until the end of the palm time...
“Aha, it’s a game where everyone talks together.”
“No, you... should speak up.”
Commander Macrom mustered up the courage to speak to him. The two had been friends since childhood, and I heard that when Linel was Crown Prince, they used to speak to each other comfortably in private. Perhaps that was why Commander Macrom started speaking informally to him quite naturally.
“What? No, why just me?”
When Linel failed to read the mood and continued to speak informally,
“Why? You’re the oldest. You have a higher status.”
Prince Norton also replied to him with a sly remark. I saw Linel's brows furrowing, so I quickly explained the rules of palm time.
“This game is originally disadvantageous to the older person. In palm time, the oldest person becomes the youngest.”
“Wait a minute... Then I’m the only one who has to raise my voice? What kind of game is this?”
He felt as if he had been cheated. But it was too late.
“Shhh, are you going to keep talking? You’re being cheeky.”
When I straightened up, Linel stared at me for a moment, not sure whether to laugh or get angry, but then burst into laughter. It seemed like he had decided to enjoy the palm time. He immediately adjusted to the game and raised his voice.
“I’m sorry. This is my first time doing something like this.”
“It’s a boast.”
Commander Macrom immediately sneered at Linel, who was apologizing. I bit my tongue and held back laughter. Linel opened his eyes slightly and looked at Commander Macrom and laughed. The corners of his mouth didn’t move at all, and only the sound of laughter flowed out of his mouth. Linel didn’t seem to be offended when I spoke informally, but when Commander Macrom or Prince Norton spoke, his mood seemed to change completely.
“I guess you’ve had a lot of complaints about me in the past...?”
He asked Commander Macrom with difficulty, raising his voice.
“My personality is just like that. You should know that, right?”
Commander Macrom retorted, “Wow, that’s ridiculous.”
“Well...? I only remember you being so nice to me.”
Linel smiled fakely.
“Aha, when you do something good, you leave marks all over your body, don’t you? Every time we practice swordsmanship, my body looks very fancy with the scars you give me.”
“Oh, you had that in mind, huh?”
“I had it in my body, not my heart. Look at this, this.”
Commander Macrom raised his left arm and showed the wound to me and Prince Norton.
“Last summer, when I told you to practice with a wooden sword, you insisted on practicing with a sword, and in the end, you cut my arm like this.”
“I’m sorry....”
When Linel opened his eyes and apologized,
“Don’t curse with your eyes, it shows on your face.”
Commander Macrom pointed his finger sharply at his eyes.
“If you feel wronged, why don’t you improve your skills?”
He lowered his eyes and spoke with force in his voice.
“Do you think I don’t know how to draw with the tip of a sword? If I took off my rank insignia and put it on, I could draw a map of the Lapion Empire on your abs and still have some left over!”
Commander Macrom's voice was getting louder and louder as he got drunk. It seemed like he would grab the Emperor by the collar soon. Wait, this is it. Maybe I could have a chance to talk to Prince Norton alone?
“Then I guess I can just take off my rank insignia and put it back on.”
I quickly started to encourage the two to engage in a swordsmanship duel.
“Yeah, that sounds good...”
Linel welcomed my opinion, but Commander Macrom was indifferent.
“I don’t really feel like it? Well, I guess it would be okay if we kept the palm time until the swordsmanship duel was over.”
“Let’s do that.”
“Are you sure that palm time continues even during swordsmanship?”
Commander Macrom double-checked his words, as if he were suspicious.
“It looks like the oldest one, so I’m suspicious...”
Linel drank the rest of his wine, muttering softly as he brought the glass to his lips.
“Did the youngest just swear at Brother Macrom?”
Prince Norton pretended to be startled and spoke loudly. The Prince continued to sip his wine alone, and every once in a while, he would blurt out something that would turn people's stomachs upside down.
“How could that be? But Your Highness, you look so happy to be in a foreign country?”
“That’s right, the Emperor of this country is so funny.”
When Linel clenched his teeth and asked Prince Norton, the Prince smiled and poured him a new glass of wine.
“Come on, this is the last game! Don’t drag it out. You two have a go.”
I raised my glass.
“Your husband is going through all kinds of humiliation, but you look so happy all by yourself?”
He patted my back and asked with sad eyes.
“The youngest here is the only one with a bug-bitten face.”
Commander Macrom turned his head this way and that and began to do warm-up exercises as he spoke.
“That’s right. Straighten up. You’re acting all cool in the world.”
Prince Norton and Commander Macrom were a perfect match. Suddenly, I started to feel a little sorry for my husband.
“Isn’t that so?”
Prince Norton spoke to me as if asking for my consent.
“You guys talk too much. And you, you have to call me sister?”
Yes, the one who had the most advantage in this palm time was I, the youngest of the three.
“...I’m sorry, Sister.”
“...Please forgive me, Sister.”
As the two men bowed their heads to me and spoke loudly, Linel looked at them as if he were pleased and snickered.
“What were you sitting there laughing about?”
“...Huh? No, yes?”
“Why don’t you just get up and go out to the training ground?”
I snatched the glass from Linel's hand and gave him a smirk.
“Yes, sis.”
Linel quickly got up from his seat and opened the warehouse door, saying:
“Are you going, Brother Macrom?”
Yes. I can watch the two of you sparring while talking to Prince Norton.
“Let’s do that.”
“Are you sure that palm time continues even during swordsmanship?”
Commander Macrom double-checked his words, as if he were suspicious.
“It looks like the oldest one, so I’m suspicious...”
Linel drank the rest of his wine, muttering softly as he brought the glass to his lips.
“Did the youngest just swear at Brother Macrom?”
Prince Norton pretended to be startled and spoke loudly. The Prince continued to sip his wine alone, and every once in a while, he would blurt out something that would turn people's stomachs upside down.
“How could that be? But Your Highness, you look so happy to be in a foreign country?”
“That’s right, the Emperor of this country is so funny.”
When Linel clenched his teeth and asked Prince Norton, the Prince smiled and poured him a new glass of wine.
“Come on, this is the last game! Don’t drag it out. You two have a go.”
I raised my glass.
“Your husband is going through all kinds of humiliation, but you look so happy all by yourself?”
He patted my back and asked with sad eyes.
“The youngest here is the only one with a bug-bitten face.”
Commander Macrom turned his head this way and that and began to do warm-up exercises as he spoke.
“That’s right. Straighten up. You’re acting all cool in the world.”
Prince Norton and Commander Macrom were a perfect match. Suddenly, I started to feel a little sorry for my husband.
“Isn’t that so?”
Prince Norton spoke to me as if asking for my consent.
“You guys talk too much. And you, you have to call me sister?”
Yes, the one who had the most advantage in this palm time was I, the youngest of the three.
“...I’m sorry, Sister.”
“...Please forgive me, Sister.”
As the two men bowed their heads to me and spoke loudly, Linel looked at them as if he were pleased and snickered.
“What were you sitting there laughing about?”
“...Huh? No, yes?”
“Why don’t you just get up and go out to the training ground?”
I snatched the glass from Linel's hand and gave him a smirk.
“Yes, sis.”
Linel quickly got up from his seat and opened the warehouse door, saying:
“Are you going, Brother Macrom?”
Yes. I can watch the two of you sparring while talking to Prince Norton.
***
Linel put on a blindfold and picked up a wooden sword from the weapons display, saying he would fight fairly. He twisted his ankle while walking to the center of the training grounds with the wooden sword, but once the fight started, he concentrated without losing a single breath, which was really cool.
“Wow, it’s brutal.”
I stood on one side of the training ground with Prince Norton and watched the two of them. The duel, which started out as a joke, was more serious and rough than I thought. Thanks to the two of them fighting as if it were a real fight, I was able to have a quiet conversation with Prince Norton.
“Please say what you want to say.”
Prince Norton spoke to me first while watching the two swordsmen. During the palm time, he went out to Linel without any notice, but he must have had this kind of notice. I also quietly spoke to Prince Norton without taking my eyes off Linel and Commander Macrom.
“I went to Rosie’s place during the day.”
At these words, Prince Norton realized what I was trying to say and immediately confessed.
“That’s my child.”
“Is it true that Princess Resilia is Rams’ mother?”
"Yes..."
Prince Norton hesitated for a long time before answering, as if he didn't want to admit that Rams' mother was Princess Resilia.
“As you may have heard, there is a threat to the child’s safety, so I have shamelessly left Rams in the care of Her Excellency Rosie for a while. So...”
“Wow, it’s brutal.”
I stood on one side of the training ground with Prince Norton and watched the two of them. The duel, which started out as a joke, was more serious and rough than I thought. Thanks to the two of them fighting as if it were a real fight, I was able to have a quiet conversation with Prince Norton.
“Please say what you want to say.”
Prince Norton spoke to me first while watching the two swordsmen. During the palm time, he went out to Linel without any notice, but he must have had this kind of notice. I also quietly spoke to Prince Norton without taking my eyes off Linel and Commander Macrom.
“I went to Rosie’s place during the day.”
At these words, Prince Norton realized what I was trying to say and immediately confessed.
“That’s my child.”
“Is it true that Princess Resilia is Rams’ mother?”
"Yes..."
Prince Norton hesitated for a long time before answering, as if he didn't want to admit that Rams' mother was Princess Resilia.
“As you may have heard, there is a threat to the child’s safety, so I have shamelessly left Rams in the care of Her Excellency Rosie for a while. So...”
“Is the person trying to threaten Prince Tesla?”
I interrupted the prince and asked him directly.
"You're right."
“He's so crazy that I can’t even deal with him properly. Are you going to leave him alone?”
“How could that be? He'll have to pay the price sooner or later.”
“You’re not going to leave Rosie alone, are you?”
“Well then... Yes?!”
Prince Norton, who had been staring straight ahead, looked at me with both eyebrows raised.
“Heh, don’t worry too much, Rams. Rosie will take good care of him.”
“Thank you for your understanding, Your Majesty the Empress.”
“I don’t understand everything.”
"Then...."
“I don’t understand why the Prince fell in love with Princess Resilia.”
“I have nothing to say about that.”
“I know, if the Princess is determined and rushes in, there is no man who will not fall for it. Anyway, I hope that Rosie is not hurt. If it is good for the two of you, His Majesty is also thinking of sending Rosie to the Prince.”
“!”
Prince Norton looked quite surprised by Linel's decision. No, was it a confused expression?
I interrupted the prince and asked him directly.
"You're right."
“He's so crazy that I can’t even deal with him properly. Are you going to leave him alone?”
“How could that be? He'll have to pay the price sooner or later.”
“You’re not going to leave Rosie alone, are you?”
“Well then... Yes?!”
Prince Norton, who had been staring straight ahead, looked at me with both eyebrows raised.
“Heh, don’t worry too much, Rams. Rosie will take good care of him.”
“Thank you for your understanding, Your Majesty the Empress.”
“I don’t understand everything.”
"Then...."
“I don’t understand why the Prince fell in love with Princess Resilia.”
“I have nothing to say about that.”
“I know, if the Princess is determined and rushes in, there is no man who will not fall for it. Anyway, I hope that Rosie is not hurt. If it is good for the two of you, His Majesty is also thinking of sending Rosie to the Prince.”
“!”
Prince Norton looked quite surprised by Linel's decision. No, was it a confused expression?
***
Knock knock.
Rosie, who had fallen asleep with Rams on the bed, opened her eyes wide at the sound of a knock. She instinctively stared at the terrace door. Only after hearing the knock again did she realize that Prince Norton had come, and she carefully got up from the bed so as not to wake Rams.
“Why did you come at this hour and cause trouble, even though the Great Wyvern can’t sleep?”
Moiya, who was sleeping soundly in a basket under the bed, grumbled in a sleepy voice.
“Shh, you stay quiet. He must have come here because he wanted to see Rams.”
Rosie slid her feet under the bed, pushed the basket further into the bed, and ran to the dressing table to check the condition of her face. Was there something that didn't suit her? She looked around the dressing table, put a large ribbon pin on her head, and opened the terrace door.
“Sorry for being late.”
“Rams is sleeping well, come in.”
“Thank you. Then, please excuse me for a moment.”
Prince Norton entered Rosie's bedroom and approached his son, who was fast asleep on the bed. Rosie looked closely at his face as he looked at Rams. His face was a mixture of a happy smile and a worried expression.
“He ate well, slept well, pooped well, and played well.”
Rose lowered her voice so that she would not wake Rams and whispered to Prince Norton.
“Really... thank you, oh, and I spoke with Her Majesty the Empress about Rams. I heard she visited today.”
“Yes, Her Majesty the Empress was also very worried about Rams. But you drank alcohol?”
"Rosie sniffed and asked Prince Norton.
“I did a little. I guess I felt a little better after leaving Rams with Your Highness Rosie.”
“I understand... but don’t worry. I’ll take good care of Rams.”
Although she spoke with a fierce expression on her face, to Prince Norton, she was just the face of a pure and kind woman. The Prince smirked without realizing it. Then, Rosie tilted her head to the side and asked with a look of resentment.
“Are you saying I’m ugly? Is that why you’re laughing?”
“No. Just ears...”
Prince Norton, who had been talking up to that point, shut his mouth tightly. The word cute almost came out unconsciously.
“Ears? What are ears?”
Prince Norton fiddled with his ear as Rosie asked.
“My ear suddenly felt ticklish... so I laughed.”
"Aha."
He laughed again at the sight of her nodding and believing his clumsy lie without a doubt, but the Prince deliberately frowned and avoided eye contact.
“I’ll call it a day for today.”
“Are you leaving already?”
“Yes, thank you again. I know it’s shameless, but please take care of Rams until I leave for the hunting competition.”
“But, Your Highness. What should we do about this...?”
Rosie slowly approached Prince Norton and whispered. Prince Norton, who found the sight somewhat creepy, took a step back without realizing it.
"Yes?"
“You may come in whenever you want, but you cannot leave whenever you want.”
Rosie grabbed the hem of her dress with both hands, lifted one foot, and slammed the terrace door shut.
“Th, what do you mean...”
Prince Norton looked down at her sturdy ankles compared to her slender body, then raised his gaze.
“The ancient Pasha Empire.”
“Ah. You said you had some questions.”
“It’s not just a few, it’s a lot. There are so, so many.”
Rosie's enthusiasm for learning was greater than he thought. It seemed as if a bright lamp was shining above her head. She quickly picked up the old book that was placed on one side of the marble floor. Since she couldn't ask everything at once, she opened one of the pages that she had folded out of curiosity. The page Rosie opened had a picture of a red flower.
“What does it say about this flower? It appears several times in the book.”
“No. Just ears...”
Prince Norton, who had been talking up to that point, shut his mouth tightly. The word cute almost came out unconsciously.
“Ears? What are ears?”
Prince Norton fiddled with his ear as Rosie asked.
“My ear suddenly felt ticklish... so I laughed.”
"Aha."
He laughed again at the sight of her nodding and believing his clumsy lie without a doubt, but the Prince deliberately frowned and avoided eye contact.
“I’ll call it a day for today.”
“Are you leaving already?”
“Yes, thank you again. I know it’s shameless, but please take care of Rams until I leave for the hunting competition.”
“But, Your Highness. What should we do about this...?”
Rosie slowly approached Prince Norton and whispered. Prince Norton, who found the sight somewhat creepy, took a step back without realizing it.
"Yes?"
“You may come in whenever you want, but you cannot leave whenever you want.”
Rosie grabbed the hem of her dress with both hands, lifted one foot, and slammed the terrace door shut.
“Th, what do you mean...”
Prince Norton looked down at her sturdy ankles compared to her slender body, then raised his gaze.
“The ancient Pasha Empire.”
“Ah. You said you had some questions.”
“It’s not just a few, it’s a lot. There are so, so many.”
Rosie's enthusiasm for learning was greater than he thought. It seemed as if a bright lamp was shining above her head. She quickly picked up the old book that was placed on one side of the marble floor. Since she couldn't ask everything at once, she opened one of the pages that she had folded out of curiosity. The page Rosie opened had a picture of a red flower.
“What does it say about this flower? It appears several times in the book.”
***
I was soaking in cold water, and as the temperature of the water rose due to the influence of the incarnation, steam began to form. I created some steam in the bathroom and called him. Linel put his feet in the bathtub where I was sitting. He came in behind me and sat down, wrapping his arms around me.
“Isn’t the water too cold?”
It wasn't exactly hot, so I was worried he might be cold.
“I feel warm and fine as long as I hold my older sister.”
He spoke to me in a raised voice. Are you still reminiscing about the palm time at the training ground?
“It’ll be suffocating, so don’t hug me too tightly or I’ll get in trouble, yes? Aah!”
I laughed at his joke, and he splashed water in my face.
“Your Majesty, do as you please. You must maintain your dignity.”
He rebuked me in a serious tone, then burst into laughter, perhaps feeling embarrassed himself.
“It seems like the body ache disappeared when we sat in the bathtub together?”
“If you want to speak informally, then do so. It’s just the two of us anyway.”
“It’s not even palm time, so how can you use it?”
As I answered quietly, his mocking laughter tickled the back of my neck.
“I wonder if it would be different if I had a little alcohol...”
“Then shall we have another drink later?”
Linel asked, pouring water on my back.
“I wonder? But I can’t drink much because I don’t have a strong tolerance.”
“What happens when you get drunk?”
He asked me this time, kissing my shoulder. His low voice echoed in the bathroom, softer than soap bubbles.
“I will become a dog.”
I answered softly as well.
“That’s great. I like dogs.”
Linel turned my head to the side, licked his lips, and whispered.
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