I hurriedly finished my bath before the water in the tub got too hot. After about 30 minutes of drinking wine across the table in the bedroom, we started playing the infamous Teppan card game that even noble families with deep roots can lose in a day. Today, I was strangely sober, so I suggested it to change the dull atmosphere. He bragged that he was pretty good at Teppan, but unfortunately, the game I suggested was completely different. It was a game of luck where you match the picture with the card you have among the Teppan cards that were spread out face down.
“The punishment is a slap on the forehead. Got it?”
“Live, live, live... You're doing everything.”
“The punishment is a slap on the forehead. Got it?”
“Live, live, live... You're doing everything.”
“You can’t hang your hat on.”
I shuffled the cards and grinned.
“You didn’t mark it on the card in advance, did you?”
“How do you see me? I told you that this is just a game of luck. Trust your intuition and the feel of your fingertips.”
We each took turns drawing 10 cards, then laid out the Teppan cards face down in the center and started the game. 20 minutes later. I thought today was my lucky day because I didn't get drunk, but I was wrong. Every card I drew was a dud. He had already hit me three times in a row, and now it was my turn to hit him for the fourth time.
“Zelda, let’s change the punishment.”
"Why?"
“This feels like my punishment. Why does my finger that hits hurt more?”
“?”
He expressed his displeasure by fiddling with his middle finger.
“Your fingers are weak.”
“Isn’t your forehead strong?”
When you can't refute, a quick change of stance is the answer.
“Tie a rubber band around a real person’s head! How about it?”
This time, Linel accepted the game I proposed right away. Fortunately, the goddess of luck was on my side from this game on. It wasn’t because I was good. It was because I drew my own cards for everyone he drew. Even if I had tried to lose on purpose, I wouldn’t have been able to do that. And so, His Majesty the Emperor was proven to be a shitty player, and I tied a total of five rubber bands around his head. Three rubber bands in the front and two in the back.
Ah... He’s cute. My heart aches. Even though I tied his hair up in a funny way on purpose, he didn’t look weird, but rather, he looked cute on top of being handsome. As the game went on, my head became even more unstable. I had lost two games so far, and he had tied my hair up in two pigtails, so extremely. He had more rubber bands than I, but I looked funnier.
“Zelda, are you a pro? You’re actually pretty good at games. And you’re also stronger at drinking than I thought.”
“The cards are really sticking to my hand today. I’m really weak to alcohol. But since I keep winning games, I don’t get drunk easily.”
I shuffled the cards again, doing a shoulder dance.
“When you drink alcohol, you become a fox, not a dog?”
He looked at the card he had just drawn with a somewhat aggrieved expression and felt frustrated.
“Why? Did you pick something weird again?”
“No, why is it that in everything I pick up, there are only pictures of me without me?”
Linel sighed, put the card down, and picked up the bottle of wine.
“We’re all out of alcohol. Wait. I’ll tell them to bring me another bottle. Do you know what happens if you get caught looking at cards, Empress?”
“Of course, the game should be played fairly.”
I put down my card and reassured him. He nodded and started walking toward the bedroom door, but then suddenly turned around to look at me. Oh, man, I almost got caught! I was about to twitch my hand to turn over his card. Why did I have to turn around at that moment?
“Don’t doubt it.”
I felt like I got caught, so I shouted even louder.
“Put both hands behind your back.”
“I’ll just put it on my head.”
As I placed both hands on my head, he burst into laughter and opened the bedroom door to find Stiane. As soon as the bedroom door closed, a sudden realization came over me.
“Ah, head!”
He must have forgotten what his head looked like. So he just opened the bedroom door and went out like that. What should I do? There must be a lot of servants outside!
“Zelda, are you a pro? You’re actually pretty good at games. And you’re also stronger at drinking than I thought.”
“The cards are really sticking to my hand today. I’m really weak to alcohol. But since I keep winning games, I don’t get drunk easily.”
I shuffled the cards again, doing a shoulder dance.
“When you drink alcohol, you become a fox, not a dog?”
He looked at the card he had just drawn with a somewhat aggrieved expression and felt frustrated.
“Why? Did you pick something weird again?”
“No, why is it that in everything I pick up, there are only pictures of me without me?”
Linel sighed, put the card down, and picked up the bottle of wine.
“We’re all out of alcohol. Wait. I’ll tell them to bring me another bottle. Do you know what happens if you get caught looking at cards, Empress?”
“Of course, the game should be played fairly.”
I put down my card and reassured him. He nodded and started walking toward the bedroom door, but then suddenly turned around to look at me. Oh, man, I almost got caught! I was about to twitch my hand to turn over his card. Why did I have to turn around at that moment?
“Don’t doubt it.”
I felt like I got caught, so I shouted even louder.
“Put both hands behind your back.”
“I’ll just put it on my head.”
As I placed both hands on my head, he burst into laughter and opened the bedroom door to find Stiane. As soon as the bedroom door closed, a sudden realization came over me.
“Ah, head!”
He must have forgotten what his head looked like. So he just opened the bedroom door and went out like that. What should I do? There must be a lot of servants outside!
I jumped up from the chair and quickly ran out of the bedroom door. As I hurriedly opened the door and went out, Linel was giving orders in a solemn voice to Stiane and Sharon to bring wine and snacks. He didn't seem to notice the shocked expressions on the faces of the two people in front of him and the rest of the servants.
“Your Majesty! Your Majesty...?”
When I called him urgently, Linel turned to me. He, Stiane, and Sharon all flinched at the same time.
“Your Majesty, come in. Hurry.”
He said, playing with the side of his head with both hands. At that moment, thinking, 'Why is he suddenly like that?', I remembered the state of my hair. Oh, what a shame...
What will the servants think? Will they gossip that the pair is crazy?
“Drinking too much is bad for your health, so stop drinking today.”
Stiane seemed to think we were drunk.
“Oh, that’s right, you two look very tired today...”
Then Sharon said with a smile on her face. I grabbed his collar and quickly walked back into the bedroom.
“I guess we should stop drinking. Everyone thinks we’re drunk.”
“I think they’d think I was out of my mind.”
"Why?"
“I have no words when they ask me why I have so many rubber bands tied around my head.”
I said, holding the rubber bands tied to either side of his head with both hands.
“Is it fun?”
He pinched my cheek and hugged me tightly. Now, Linel's face was so cute that it hurt my heart, but his body was so great. His upper and lower bodies were playing separately like water and oil.
"Cute."
He told me.
“Linel is cuter.”
"I?"
“Would you like to look in the mirror?”
I took his hand and moved to walk towards the mirror, but he didn't move.
“I’d rather not see it. I don’t have the confidence to face this sight.”
He was reluctant, but when I desperately grabbed his hand, he eventually gave up and dragged me to the mirror.
“...How many servants were there outside?”
He asked me as he faced the mirror.
“Your Majesty! Your Majesty...?”
When I called him urgently, Linel turned to me. He, Stiane, and Sharon all flinched at the same time.
“Your Majesty, come in. Hurry.”
He said, playing with the side of his head with both hands. At that moment, thinking, 'Why is he suddenly like that?', I remembered the state of my hair. Oh, what a shame...
What will the servants think? Will they gossip that the pair is crazy?
“Drinking too much is bad for your health, so stop drinking today.”
Stiane seemed to think we were drunk.
“Oh, that’s right, you two look very tired today...”
Then Sharon said with a smile on her face. I grabbed his collar and quickly walked back into the bedroom.
“I guess we should stop drinking. Everyone thinks we’re drunk.”
“I think they’d think I was out of my mind.”
"Why?"
“I have no words when they ask me why I have so many rubber bands tied around my head.”
I said, holding the rubber bands tied to either side of his head with both hands.
“Is it fun?”
He pinched my cheek and hugged me tightly. Now, Linel's face was so cute that it hurt my heart, but his body was so great. His upper and lower bodies were playing separately like water and oil.
"Cute."
He told me.
“Linel is cuter.”
"I?"
“Would you like to look in the mirror?”
I took his hand and moved to walk towards the mirror, but he didn't move.
“I’d rather not see it. I don’t have the confidence to face this sight.”
He was reluctant, but when I desperately grabbed his hand, he eventually gave up and dragged me to the mirror.
“...How many servants were there outside?”
He asked me as he faced the mirror.
“It wasn’t that bad, why?”
“Get rid of them all.”
Linel looked around the bedroom, wondering, 'Where did I put the sword?' and then muttered, 'No, that won't do,' and looked in the mirror again.
“Ah, look at me.”
He was in so much pain that he shut his eyes tightly. I patted his back,
“You’re not the only one who’s been embarrassed.”
So don't be too embarrassed, I said with comforting words.
“I have five shames, but you only have two.”
He grabbed my bizarrely tied pigtails with both hands and demanded, “Who loses in a game?”
“...Now, please take off the rubber band and calm down.”
I took off one of the rubber bands tied around his neck. Oh no, did I tie it too tight?
“What should I do? Even when I take the rubber band off, my hair doesn’t fall down.”
The place tied with a rubber band stood up like grass.
“Even your hair will be angry.”
He raised his hand and fiddled with his hair, then gave up and burst out laughing.
“Shall we just stay like this?”
"Why?"
“Get rid of them all.”
Linel looked around the bedroom, wondering, 'Where did I put the sword?' and then muttered, 'No, that won't do,' and looked in the mirror again.
“Ah, look at me.”
He was in so much pain that he shut his eyes tightly. I patted his back,
“You’re not the only one who’s been embarrassed.”
So don't be too embarrassed, I said with comforting words.
“I have five shames, but you only have two.”
He grabbed my bizarrely tied pigtails with both hands and demanded, “Who loses in a game?”
“...Now, please take off the rubber band and calm down.”
I took off one of the rubber bands tied around his neck. Oh no, did I tie it too tight?
“What should I do? Even when I take the rubber band off, my hair doesn’t fall down.”
The place tied with a rubber band stood up like grass.
“Even your hair will be angry.”
He raised his hand and fiddled with his hair, then gave up and burst out laughing.
“Shall we just stay like this?”
"Why?"
“Because I want to smile as soon as I open my eyes in the morning.”
“Wouldn’t the servants be surprised if they came in and saw it?”
“We must have had too much to drink last night, I guess.”
“And then they will laugh among themselves again.”
I replied as I climbed onto the bed. Linel hugged me from behind and lay down, pressing our bodies against each other.
“Do you want to do that even in such a ridiculous situation?”
“See, isn’t this true love?”
“What should I do? I feel like I can only laugh when I see Linel’s face.”
Even as I said that, I was smiling the whole time.
“Yeah, so I’ll be pretty from behind today.”
"... Yes?"
“Wouldn’t the servants be surprised if they came in and saw it?”
“We must have had too much to drink last night, I guess.”
“And then they will laugh among themselves again.”
I replied as I climbed onto the bed. Linel hugged me from behind and lay down, pressing our bodies against each other.
“Do you want to do that even in such a ridiculous situation?”
“See, isn’t this true love?”
“What should I do? I feel like I can only laugh when I see Linel’s face.”
Even as I said that, I was smiling the whole time.
“Yeah, so I’ll be pretty from behind today.”
"... Yes?"
“Zelda, it’s not just me who’s funny.”
Linel said, shaking my hair.
“Hehehe, sorry, I didn’t know the topic. Hehehe.”
As soon as I turned around to face him, I saw his head and started laughing again.
“You should know that you’re quite funny, right, sis?”
He whispered in my ear and tickled me. But, it's not even palm time, and you're older than me, so why do you keep calling me older sister?
“Is it because I didn’t play these kinds of pranks when I was little? It’s pretty fun.”
“What was Linel’s childhood like?”
“It was decent. Just like now.”
It was a sound that really didn't match his current state of mind, but I nodded, recalling his usual appearance.
“Zelda? Even when you were young... were you strong? Your forehead was almost like marble.”
“I think so. When other children my age played with dolls, I played by throwing rocks and stones.”
“...Where are you throwing stones or rocks? What are you trying to hit?”
“When I was young, I thought I could hit the sun or the moon by throwing a stone. I was so naive.”
“Are you stupid?”
“I was a childlike child.”
Linel threw his head back and laughed, then said with a completely serious expression.
“If I have a daughter who resembles you, I will keep her under surveillance 24 hours a day.”
I was looking up at the ceiling, then I turned my head to look at him.
“If my son resembles me, I wouldn’t have anything to worry about.”
He turned to me and added, lying down. Children... Children who resemble him and me. I smiled without realizing it.
“Do you like kids?”
“No. But I think I would be happy if I had a child who resembled you.”
“Really?”
“Yeah, I think our lives will change a lot when you and I have a child. In a good way, of course. What do you think?”
“I think so too...”
Princess Resilia's words about the birth control pills in the magic potion bottle flashed through my mind. The last remaining potion bottle must also contain birth control pills. Next time I order from Wizard Big, I should ask him to leave out the birth control pills.
Linel said, shaking my hair.
“Hehehe, sorry, I didn’t know the topic. Hehehe.”
As soon as I turned around to face him, I saw his head and started laughing again.
“You should know that you’re quite funny, right, sis?”
He whispered in my ear and tickled me. But, it's not even palm time, and you're older than me, so why do you keep calling me older sister?
“Is it because I didn’t play these kinds of pranks when I was little? It’s pretty fun.”
“What was Linel’s childhood like?”
“It was decent. Just like now.”
It was a sound that really didn't match his current state of mind, but I nodded, recalling his usual appearance.
“Zelda? Even when you were young... were you strong? Your forehead was almost like marble.”
“I think so. When other children my age played with dolls, I played by throwing rocks and stones.”
“...Where are you throwing stones or rocks? What are you trying to hit?”
“When I was young, I thought I could hit the sun or the moon by throwing a stone. I was so naive.”
“Are you stupid?”
“I was a childlike child.”
Linel threw his head back and laughed, then said with a completely serious expression.
“If I have a daughter who resembles you, I will keep her under surveillance 24 hours a day.”
I was looking up at the ceiling, then I turned my head to look at him.
“If my son resembles me, I wouldn’t have anything to worry about.”
He turned to me and added, lying down. Children... Children who resemble him and me. I smiled without realizing it.
“Do you like kids?”
“No. But I think I would be happy if I had a child who resembled you.”
“Really?”
“Yeah, I think our lives will change a lot when you and I have a child. In a good way, of course. What do you think?”
“I think so too...”
Princess Resilia's words about the birth control pills in the magic potion bottle flashed through my mind. The last remaining potion bottle must also contain birth control pills. Next time I order from Wizard Big, I should ask him to leave out the birth control pills.
Did Archduke Martins meet Wizard Big? Maybe he has already received the magic potion. If there are birth control pills in the new potion I received, I should order again, and if there are no birth control pills, I should not drink the potion I currently have.
“Then, since we both want children, if we try a little harder, we’ll have one... right?”
He spoke affectionately, caressing my right cheek. I nodded and listened to his heartbeat as I lay in Linel's arms.
“Then, since we both want children, if we try a little harder, we’ll have one... right?”
He spoke affectionately, caressing my right cheek. I nodded and listened to his heartbeat as I lay in Linel's arms.
***
The next day. I headed back to Rosie's place today. The cute and chubby face of Rams that I saw yesterday was still lingering in my mind, and I wanted to see the cat today.
“Ah, Your Majesty the Empress!”
In the waiting room of the bedroom of the lodge, a servant I had never seen before bowed to me. He seemed flustered, perhaps because the Empress had visited the concubine's quarters for two days.
“Please wait a moment, Her Highness Rosie is currently in the bathroom. She has ordered that no one enter, but I will go quickly and tell her that Your Majesty, the Empress, has arrived.”
Oh, did you tell anyone not to come in so that you could bathe Rams? Now that I think about it, I didn't see Misha, Rogie's close attendant. She seemed to be washing Rams with her. It would be a problem if another attendant came in and found out about Rams' presence.
“No, it won’t be a hassle. I can just go in.”
At my words, Sharon opened Rosie's bedroom door herself. I went into the bedroom with Sharon and Bonis and went straight to the bathroom. Sharon knocked on the bathroom door and spoke quietly.
“Your Highness, Her Majesty the Empress has arrived.”
Then Misha opened the door in the bathroom.
“Welcome, Your Majesty, the Empress.”
Behind Misha, Rosie was seen holding Rams, sweat dripping down her face.
“You’re giving Rams a bath.”
“Yes, Your Majesty. He doesn’t cry and is very well-behaved, so it’s really easy to wash him.”
“Yeah, that’s good. Take your time and come out.”
“Ah, Your Majesty the Empress!”
In the waiting room of the bedroom of the lodge, a servant I had never seen before bowed to me. He seemed flustered, perhaps because the Empress had visited the concubine's quarters for two days.
“Please wait a moment, Her Highness Rosie is currently in the bathroom. She has ordered that no one enter, but I will go quickly and tell her that Your Majesty, the Empress, has arrived.”
Oh, did you tell anyone not to come in so that you could bathe Rams? Now that I think about it, I didn't see Misha, Rogie's close attendant. She seemed to be washing Rams with her. It would be a problem if another attendant came in and found out about Rams' presence.
“No, it won’t be a hassle. I can just go in.”
At my words, Sharon opened Rosie's bedroom door herself. I went into the bedroom with Sharon and Bonis and went straight to the bathroom. Sharon knocked on the bathroom door and spoke quietly.
“Your Highness, Her Majesty the Empress has arrived.”
Then Misha opened the door in the bathroom.
“Welcome, Your Majesty, the Empress.”
Behind Misha, Rosie was seen holding Rams, sweat dripping down her face.
“You’re giving Rams a bath.”
“Yes, Your Majesty. He doesn’t cry and is very well-behaved, so it’s really easy to wash him.”
“Yeah, that’s good. Take your time and come out.”
“Yes! Please wait a moment. I will be out shortly.”
I wandered around her bedroom, waiting for Rosie.
“I don’t see the cat today either?”
Sharon asked me.
“Yeah. Is it under the bed again?”
I walked over to the bed and tilted my head down.
“Meow? Are you here again today?”
“Meow.”
As if in response to my words, I heard a cat meowing from under the bed. As I tried to put my hand under the bed, a small, cute white kitten slid out of the bed. It was as if someone had forced its butt out. The kitten's body was shaking.
“Why are you so nervous? When we first met, you were so cute. Are you scared of me?”
Strangely enough, the kitten shook its head as if it understood what I said. Then it rubbed its two front paws together and looked up at me with eyes that looked as if it was about to cry. Its emerald eyes mixed with blue looked pitiful... Wait.
“Your eye color has changed?”
I wandered around her bedroom, waiting for Rosie.
“I don’t see the cat today either?”
Sharon asked me.
“Yeah. Is it under the bed again?”
I walked over to the bed and tilted my head down.
“Meow? Are you here again today?”
“Meow.”
As if in response to my words, I heard a cat meowing from under the bed. As I tried to put my hand under the bed, a small, cute white kitten slid out of the bed. It was as if someone had forced its butt out. The kitten's body was shaking.
“Why are you so nervous? When we first met, you were so cute. Are you scared of me?”
Strangely enough, the kitten shook its head as if it understood what I said. Then it rubbed its two front paws together and looked up at me with eyes that looked as if it was about to cry. Its emerald eyes mixed with blue looked pitiful... Wait.
“Your eye color has changed?”
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