Commander Macrom flinched at my words.
“Why are you so surprised? Is Macrom lonely at night, too?”
“...Yes. I was surprised because I thought you were talking about me.”
I chuckled at the commander's response and turned my shoulders. I was curled up behind a pillar, eavesdropping on Catherine and Count Ethan's conversation, and my body felt heavy.
“Do you have a lot of time until dinner?”
“Yes, Your Majesty, the Empress.”
“Then, should I stop by the training ground and practice archery for a bit? My fingers are itchy.”
“Yes, that is a very good idea.”
Commander Macrom welcomed my suggestion with open arms. We headed toward the cypress forest where the training grounds were.
“We just have to be excessive together.”
“Huh? What do you mean?”
“My mouth is not a mouth?”
Oh, was my voice too loud? The deer, which had been quietly waiting for me with its big eyes wide open, suddenly ran off into the forest.
“Haa, I kept telling the deer to talk so it ran away.”
I looked back at Commander Macrom and grumbled.
“Could it be that the deer heard Your Majesty the Empress’s words and ran away?”
“Oh my, that’s nonsense.”
I snorted and laughed. Leaving my regret behind, I headed back to the training ground.
“Wow! It’s refreshing.”
Moiya, who had finished drinking the pineapple juice that Misha had brought, took out two ice cubes from the glass with his hand.
“I wonder if the child in the ice is doing well?”
He put one ice cube in his mouth and threw the other one to Aoshi, asking,
“Meow. (He’ll just stay quiet in the ice.)”
Aoshi responded by playing with the ice that had fallen in front of him with his front paws.
“Should I go and stretch my neck a bit?”
“Meow? (Really? Why are you trying to do something good?)”
“How could I do that?”
Moiya put both hands on his hips and spoke in a questioning tone.
“...Meow? (Then?)”
“If you don’t breathe fire for too long, the fire will get weaker. If you breathe fire periodically, it will get stronger.”
“Meow... (If you do that, then...)”
“Even though he can’t speak, the child in the ice who understands is much better than him. He can’t even have a human conversation.”
Moiya said, glaring at Rams, who was sleeping soundly in bed.
“Meow? (But you’re not even human, so why do you have to have a human conversation?)”
“Ugh, you’re so unprogressive. That’s why you can’t speak human language like me.”
As Moiya pulled out one of Aoshi's whiskers with a pitiful expression, Aoshi swung his front paw in anger.
“Rosie, it’s time to come out now that you’ve seen what you need to do. If you’re going to go, you should leave now.”
Moiya easily dodged Aoshi's flying front paw, grabbed Aoshi by the scruff of his neck, and flew towards the terrace door.
“Meow! (Oh yes, let’s go! To the kids!)”
“Wait a minute. I don’t see anything worth transforming today?”
“Me, Meow? (A bee just came in. Huh? Looks like it’s going to sting Rams.)”
At Aoshi's words, Moiya put Aoshi down on the terrace floor and flew back to the bed.
“What a flower! You must be going crazy trying to die, Moiya~!”
Moiya turned into a doppelganger, snickering at the bee that was hovering over Rams' face. Moiya, who had turned into honey in an instant, met Rams' eyes.
“What are you looking at? I’ll be back soon, so go ahead and tease Rosie. Yes? Cry, hurry!”
Despite Moiya's threats, Rams only laughed out loud, perhaps recognizing Moiya's bee doppelganger, and showed no sign of crying.
“Meow! (Let’s go quickly!)”
As Aoshi went out onto the terrace and urged her on, Moiya clung to Aoshi's fur and shouted.
“Let’s go to the main library... now!”
“Meow? (This thing has wings and sticks to my fur?)”
“Why are you so surprised? Is Macrom lonely at night, too?”
“...Yes. I was surprised because I thought you were talking about me.”
I chuckled at the commander's response and turned my shoulders. I was curled up behind a pillar, eavesdropping on Catherine and Count Ethan's conversation, and my body felt heavy.
“Do you have a lot of time until dinner?”
“Yes, Your Majesty, the Empress.”
“Then, should I stop by the training ground and practice archery for a bit? My fingers are itchy.”
“Yes, that is a very good idea.”
Commander Macrom welcomed my suggestion with open arms. We headed toward the cypress forest where the training grounds were.
***
Ever since Zelda left the Empress's Palace, Bellos had been following her. Upon arriving at the forge, she parted ways with her escort knights and headed alone to the largest workshop within the forge.
“Why did you come here?”
Bellos sat on a branch near the workshop she was heading to and watched her. Zelda was hiding behind a pillar, seemingly eavesdropping on the conversation between the man and woman already inside the workshop.
“Aren’t you cute?”
Bellos pointed to the crow he was squatting next to as it flew in. The crow tilted its head between its master, the master of the tower, and his companion, hiding behind a pillar in the workshop. It seemed as if it had no idea what was so cute about it.
“Next time, I plan to transform into something more noticeable.”
Caw-.
“Why did you come here?”
Bellos sat on a branch near the workshop she was heading to and watched her. Zelda was hiding behind a pillar, seemingly eavesdropping on the conversation between the man and woman already inside the workshop.
“Aren’t you cute?”
Bellos pointed to the crow he was squatting next to as it flew in. The crow tilted its head between its master, the master of the tower, and his companion, hiding behind a pillar in the workshop. It seemed as if it had no idea what was so cute about it.
“Next time, I plan to transform into something more noticeable.”
Caw-.
The crow looked at his excited voice with worried eyes.
“Oh, it looks like my companion overheard everything. She’s leaving now.”
Bellos flapped his wings as he watched Zelda leave the workshop.
“I’ll take my leave now for a natural meeting.”
He flew through the sky and spoke with a really happy voice.
“Oh, it looks like my companion overheard everything. She’s leaving now.”
Bellos flapped his wings as he watched Zelda leave the workshop.
“I’ll take my leave now for a natural meeting.”
He flew through the sky and spoke with a really happy voice.
Caw- caw!
The crow felt something ominous and let out a long cry.
***
As I walked along the cypress forest path leading to the training ground and talked with Commander Macrom, the conversation between Catherine and Count Ethan kept lingering in my mind.
'See you at the training ground warehouse at 10 tonight. I have something to say, too.'
Should I tell Linel about this right away? No, I shouldn't rush in without evidence. Should I just turn a blind eye to Catherine's lonely nights? No, Catherine is clearly a concubine, and it's not right to ignore her doing such things with another man. But who is it wrong for? Linel? Catherine? Count Ethan? Or me? Haa, I don't know.
'See you at the training ground warehouse at 10 tonight. I have something to say, too.'
Should I tell Linel about this right away? No, I shouldn't rush in without evidence. Should I just turn a blind eye to Catherine's lonely nights? No, Catherine is clearly a concubine, and it's not right to ignore her doing such things with another man. But who is it wrong for? Linel? Catherine? Count Ethan? Or me? Haa, I don't know.
As I was walking, lost in thought, Commander Macrom whispered softly.
“It’s a deer.”
“Deer? Where?”
I suddenly raised my head and followed the direction the commander was pointing with his hand.
“Wow, you’re so pretty....”
The deer blinked its long eyelashes through the forest grass and looked at me with its large eyes. It was so amazing how it stared at me as if it knew me, so I took a few steps closer, but the deer still stood in the same place.
“Aren’t you thinking of running away?”
“That’s strange. Normally, if they sense human presence, they’d run away immediately.”
Commander Macrom also looked puzzled.
“The deer antlers are really cool.”
I spoke with admiration, and Commander Macrom nodded.
“Deer antlers are also good for your health.”
“Where is it good?”
“They say it is the best for stamina.”
I stopped walking as I was turning around.
“Uh... really?”
When I heard Commander Macrom's words, I naturally thought of Linel.
“Your Majesty, I am sorry to say this, but His Majesty has no need for deer antlers.”
Commander Macrom responded quietly, as if he had read my mind.
“How do you know?”
“Didn’t you compete with His Majesty yesterday?”
“It’s a deer.”
“Deer? Where?”
I suddenly raised my head and followed the direction the commander was pointing with his hand.
“Wow, you’re so pretty....”
The deer blinked its long eyelashes through the forest grass and looked at me with its large eyes. It was so amazing how it stared at me as if it knew me, so I took a few steps closer, but the deer still stood in the same place.
“Aren’t you thinking of running away?”
“That’s strange. Normally, if they sense human presence, they’d run away immediately.”
Commander Macrom also looked puzzled.
“The deer antlers are really cool.”
I spoke with admiration, and Commander Macrom nodded.
“Deer antlers are also good for your health.”
“Where is it good?”
“They say it is the best for stamina.”
I stopped walking as I was turning around.
“Uh... really?”
When I heard Commander Macrom's words, I naturally thought of Linel.
“Your Majesty, I am sorry to say this, but His Majesty has no need for deer antlers.”
Commander Macrom responded quietly, as if he had read my mind.
“How do you know?”
“Didn’t you compete with His Majesty yesterday?”
“That’s a swordsmanship duel.”
I approached the deer cautiously and lowered my voice.
“Ah! Does that mean that His Majesty has a problem...?”
The Commander trailed behind me, trailing off.
“That’s not true, but the more stamina you have, the better. It’s better to replenish it in advance. Right?”
I smiled brightly, trying to look as nice as possible to the deer, and spoke to Command Macrom.
“That’s true, but if you overdo it...”
I approached the deer cautiously and lowered my voice.
“Ah! Does that mean that His Majesty has a problem...?”
The Commander trailed behind me, trailing off.
“That’s not true, but the more stamina you have, the better. It’s better to replenish it in advance. Right?”
I smiled brightly, trying to look as nice as possible to the deer, and spoke to Command Macrom.
“That’s true, but if you overdo it...”
“We just have to be excessive together.”
“Huh? What do you mean?”
“My mouth is not a mouth?”
Oh, was my voice too loud? The deer, which had been quietly waiting for me with its big eyes wide open, suddenly ran off into the forest.
“Haa, I kept telling the deer to talk so it ran away.”
I looked back at Commander Macrom and grumbled.
“Could it be that the deer heard Your Majesty the Empress’s words and ran away?”
“Oh my, that’s nonsense.”
I snorted and laughed. Leaving my regret behind, I headed back to the training ground.
***
“Wow! It’s refreshing.”
Moiya, who had finished drinking the pineapple juice that Misha had brought, took out two ice cubes from the glass with his hand.
“I wonder if the child in the ice is doing well?”
He put one ice cube in his mouth and threw the other one to Aoshi, asking,
“Meow. (He’ll just stay quiet in the ice.)”
Aoshi responded by playing with the ice that had fallen in front of him with his front paws.
“Should I go and stretch my neck a bit?”
“Meow? (Really? Why are you trying to do something good?)”
“How could I do that?”
Moiya put both hands on his hips and spoke in a questioning tone.
“...Meow? (Then?)”
“If you don’t breathe fire for too long, the fire will get weaker. If you breathe fire periodically, it will get stronger.”
“Meow... (If you do that, then...)”
“Even though he can’t speak, the child in the ice who understands is much better than him. He can’t even have a human conversation.”
Moiya said, glaring at Rams, who was sleeping soundly in bed.
“Meow? (But you’re not even human, so why do you have to have a human conversation?)”
“Ugh, you’re so unprogressive. That’s why you can’t speak human language like me.”
As Moiya pulled out one of Aoshi's whiskers with a pitiful expression, Aoshi swung his front paw in anger.
“Rosie, it’s time to come out now that you’ve seen what you need to do. If you’re going to go, you should leave now.”
Moiya easily dodged Aoshi's flying front paw, grabbed Aoshi by the scruff of his neck, and flew towards the terrace door.
“Meow! (Oh yes, let’s go! To the kids!)”
“Wait a minute. I don’t see anything worth transforming today?”
“Me, Meow? (A bee just came in. Huh? Looks like it’s going to sting Rams.)”
At Aoshi's words, Moiya put Aoshi down on the terrace floor and flew back to the bed.
“What a flower! You must be going crazy trying to die, Moiya~!”
Moiya turned into a doppelganger, snickering at the bee that was hovering over Rams' face. Moiya, who had turned into honey in an instant, met Rams' eyes.
“What are you looking at? I’ll be back soon, so go ahead and tease Rosie. Yes? Cry, hurry!”
Despite Moiya's threats, Rams only laughed out loud, perhaps recognizing Moiya's bee doppelganger, and showed no sign of crying.
“Meow! (Let’s go quickly!)”
As Aoshi went out onto the terrace and urged her on, Moiya clung to Aoshi's fur and shouted.
“Let’s go to the main library... now!”
“Meow? (This thing has wings and sticks to my fur?)”
***
Boom!
Every arrow I shot landed right in the center of the target. Commander Macrom also shot arrows next to me, and out of the five shots, only two missed the center, while the rest hit the target. Considering that the commander couldn't see, this was truly amazing skill. I could easily guess how skilled Commander Macrom was before he lost his eyesight.
“Who won?”
Commander Macrom lowered his bow and asked.
“The Commander won.”
It was a lie, but it made sense. If I had closed my eyes and shot the arrow, I wouldn't have been able to shoot half as well as the commander. Commander Macrom smiled faintly. He didn't seem to believe me. He pulled out the last arrow in his quiver and said,
“Your Majesty, the Empress, there is no need for you to actively participate in this hunting competition.”
“I don’t intend to step forward, but I don’t intend to actively sit still when prey passes in front of me either.”
I turned my body slightly to the side and shot at Commander Macrom's target. Both arrows flew toward Commander Macrom's target at the same time.
“Who won?”
Commander Macrom lowered his bow and asked.
“The Commander won.”
It was a lie, but it made sense. If I had closed my eyes and shot the arrow, I wouldn't have been able to shoot half as well as the commander. Commander Macrom smiled faintly. He didn't seem to believe me. He pulled out the last arrow in his quiver and said,
“Your Majesty, the Empress, there is no need for you to actively participate in this hunting competition.”
“I don’t intend to step forward, but I don’t intend to actively sit still when prey passes in front of me either.”
I turned my body slightly to the side and shot at Commander Macrom's target. Both arrows flew toward Commander Macrom's target at the same time.
Boom! The arrow I shot slightly pushed the commander's arrow away and landed in the center.
“That’s true. I think you can enjoy it to some extent. Although Your Majesty might not like it. Is it a hit?”
Commander Macrom asked, pointing with his finger at the target I had just shot. He even realized that I had shot an arrow at his target.
"Surprisingly."
I replied with a smug tone.
“I’m wearing a dress today, so I guess I’ll just shoot a bow. Next time, let’s have a proper swordsmanship match.”
“It would be an honor. You are always welcome to join us at the same time as Your Majesty.”
“I will make sure to convey that message to His Majesty when he is in the worst mood.”
“Thank you for your consideration, Your Majesty, the Empress.”
I smiled with satisfaction as I looked at the hardened expression on Commander Macrom's face.
“Do you know that?”
"What?"
“The fact that even the jokes you two make are becoming more similar.”
“Is that a compliment?”
“...You also resemble positive people.”
Commander Macrom put his hand on his forehead and spoke in admiration.
“Anyway, don’t worry too much about the hunting competition. You’ll adapt just fine.”
“Yes, but you will spend a lot of time in the forest, sometimes more than half a day. It is not an easy journey for the women. Of course, you will rest in the various summer palaces and villas of the nobles before nightfall.”
“I heard. But you always sleep indoors, right?”
“Yes, but variables are dependent on the weather and circumstances.”
I nodded and said in a serious voice.
“I said it before, but please take good care of Bonis rather than me.”
“That’s true. I think you can enjoy it to some extent. Although Your Majesty might not like it. Is it a hit?”
Commander Macrom asked, pointing with his finger at the target I had just shot. He even realized that I had shot an arrow at his target.
"Surprisingly."
I replied with a smug tone.
“I’m wearing a dress today, so I guess I’ll just shoot a bow. Next time, let’s have a proper swordsmanship match.”
“It would be an honor. You are always welcome to join us at the same time as Your Majesty.”
“I will make sure to convey that message to His Majesty when he is in the worst mood.”
“Thank you for your consideration, Your Majesty, the Empress.”
I smiled with satisfaction as I looked at the hardened expression on Commander Macrom's face.
“Do you know that?”
"What?"
“The fact that even the jokes you two make are becoming more similar.”
“Is that a compliment?”
“...You also resemble positive people.”
Commander Macrom put his hand on his forehead and spoke in admiration.
“Anyway, don’t worry too much about the hunting competition. You’ll adapt just fine.”
“Yes, but you will spend a lot of time in the forest, sometimes more than half a day. It is not an easy journey for the women. Of course, you will rest in the various summer palaces and villas of the nobles before nightfall.”
“I heard. But you always sleep indoors, right?”
“Yes, but variables are dependent on the weather and circumstances.”
I nodded and said in a serious voice.
“I said it before, but please take good care of Bonis rather than me.”
“Of course.”
When the topic of Bonis came up, a smile appeared on Commander Macrom's expressionless face.
“Oh, the weapons storage. It’s not usually locked or anything, is it?”
“The knights who come and go here don’t have anything to steal from the warehouse. Why are you suddenly asking that?”
Commander Macrom asked back with an expression that said he was hearing all sorts of nonsense.
“What about the windows? Are the windows inside the warehouse open too?”
"Well...?"
“Commander, wait here. Just a moment.”
As I walked towards the warehouse, Commander Macrom also followed me absentmindedly.
“Why does Your Majesty, the Empress, check whether the warehouse windows are open or closed?”
Why, why? Because I have to catch the secret meeting tonight. No, I have to watch it.
“Well, as the Empress, in terms of managing the training center’s facilities?”
"...Yes?"
I opened the warehouse door and went in, leaving the bewildered Commander Macrom behind, and reached out to the window behind the straw bales.
“Oh, it’s locked.”
“Are the windows well-maintained?”
Commander Macrom asked, leaning against the warehouse wall.
“Oh, you locked it very well.”
So that no one can eavesdrop on anything from outside.
“Then please come out, Your Majesty, the Empress.”
“That’s right.”
I climbed down the hay bale and slipped the window lock out of the way.
“Let’s go back and shoot what’s left in my quiver.”
I went back out to the training ground and picked up the bow that I had placed on the floor.
“Yes, should I go up to the target and stand there with an apple on my head?”
When the topic of Bonis came up, a smile appeared on Commander Macrom's expressionless face.
“Oh, the weapons storage. It’s not usually locked or anything, is it?”
“The knights who come and go here don’t have anything to steal from the warehouse. Why are you suddenly asking that?”
Commander Macrom asked back with an expression that said he was hearing all sorts of nonsense.
“What about the windows? Are the windows inside the warehouse open too?”
"Well...?"
“Commander, wait here. Just a moment.”
As I walked towards the warehouse, Commander Macrom also followed me absentmindedly.
“Why does Your Majesty, the Empress, check whether the warehouse windows are open or closed?”
Why, why? Because I have to catch the secret meeting tonight. No, I have to watch it.
“Well, as the Empress, in terms of managing the training center’s facilities?”
"...Yes?"
I opened the warehouse door and went in, leaving the bewildered Commander Macrom behind, and reached out to the window behind the straw bales.
“Oh, it’s locked.”
“Are the windows well-maintained?”
Commander Macrom asked, leaning against the warehouse wall.
“Oh, you locked it very well.”
So that no one can eavesdrop on anything from outside.
“Then please come out, Your Majesty, the Empress.”
“That’s right.”
I climbed down the hay bale and slipped the window lock out of the way.
“Let’s go back and shoot what’s left in my quiver.”
I went back out to the training ground and picked up the bow that I had placed on the floor.
“Yes, should I go up to the target and stand there with an apple on my head?”
“Aren’t you overestimating my skills?”
I pulled back the bowstring and laughed. Then Commander Macrom turned toward the entrance of the training ground and said,
I pulled back the bowstring and laughed. Then Commander Macrom turned toward the entrance of the training ground and said,
“Huh?”
"What's the matter?"
I turned my head to where the captain was staring.
“Your Majesty, what brings you here?”
Linel trudged into the training ground entrance.
“If anyone heard this, they would think I follow the Empress around all day.”
“Your Majesty, I am sorry to say this, but I have never thought of it that way.”
He got angry at Commander Macrom's words.
“Why have you never thought of it that way? It’s true.”
“...Aha, I see.”
The Commander let out a small sigh with an expression that said, 'Here we go again.'
“I’m having dinner with the distinguished guests tonight. Let me have a cup of tea, and then I’ll go back to get ready. Oh, and shoot all the arrows you have left.”
He handed me an arrow from his quiver and said:
“Suddenly?”
I took the arrow from him and shot it straight at the target.
“That’s how it is. Huh? You hit the target without even aiming? That shot you just made... was it a coincidence or skill?”
Linel had a look of disbelief in his eyes.
“You’ll know when you shoot the last one left.”
I picked up the last arrow with an elegant gesture.
“What’s that, a deer in the training ground?”
At Linel's muttering voice, I pulled the last string of my bow and glanced at the entrance to the training ground.
“Huh? Is that the deer I saw in the forest earlier?”
Looking at the deer's large antlers and its eyes that seemed to have a story to tell, I was sure it was the deer I had encountered on my way to the training ground.
“Really? I’ve never seen any beasts wandering around the training grounds before. This is really strange.”
Commander Macrom touched his chin and looked dumbfounded.
“Vine steak, delicious.”
Linel's one word awakened my hunting instinct. I quietly recited it as if making a pledge.
“Let's catch it.”
"What?"
He asked with a hollow laugh.
“Deer antlers are said to be good for stamina.”
“Empress, what are you doing? Why don’t you shoot quickly!”
With encouragement from Linel, I picked up my last arrow and aimed it at the deer wandering around the entrance to the training ground.
"What's the matter?"
I turned my head to where the captain was staring.
“Your Majesty, what brings you here?”
Linel trudged into the training ground entrance.
“If anyone heard this, they would think I follow the Empress around all day.”
“Your Majesty, I am sorry to say this, but I have never thought of it that way.”
He got angry at Commander Macrom's words.
“Why have you never thought of it that way? It’s true.”
“...Aha, I see.”
The Commander let out a small sigh with an expression that said, 'Here we go again.'
“I’m having dinner with the distinguished guests tonight. Let me have a cup of tea, and then I’ll go back to get ready. Oh, and shoot all the arrows you have left.”
He handed me an arrow from his quiver and said:
“Suddenly?”
I took the arrow from him and shot it straight at the target.
“That’s how it is. Huh? You hit the target without even aiming? That shot you just made... was it a coincidence or skill?”
Linel had a look of disbelief in his eyes.
“You’ll know when you shoot the last one left.”
I picked up the last arrow with an elegant gesture.
“What’s that, a deer in the training ground?”
At Linel's muttering voice, I pulled the last string of my bow and glanced at the entrance to the training ground.
“Huh? Is that the deer I saw in the forest earlier?”
Looking at the deer's large antlers and its eyes that seemed to have a story to tell, I was sure it was the deer I had encountered on my way to the training ground.
“Really? I’ve never seen any beasts wandering around the training grounds before. This is really strange.”
Commander Macrom touched his chin and looked dumbfounded.
“Vine steak, delicious.”
Linel's one word awakened my hunting instinct. I quietly recited it as if making a pledge.
“Let's catch it.”
"What?"
He asked with a hollow laugh.
“Deer antlers are said to be good for stamina.”
“Empress, what are you doing? Why don’t you shoot quickly!”
With encouragement from Linel, I picked up my last arrow and aimed it at the deer wandering around the entrance to the training ground.
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