Sir Ken seemed quite used to this kind of sight and quickly avoided the fire, but Commander Macrom, who was standing behind him, took the full brunt of it.
Commander Macrom grabbed his shoe with his hand and it fell to the floor after hitting him under his right eye. Sir Ken, who was watching from the side, opened his mouth wide in shock. There was a small wound under the commander’s right eye and the surrounding area was red. It was a sign that a bruise would definitely form in a few hours.
“Shall we slowly move to the banquet hall? Commander Macrom will be guiding Lady Bonis to the banquet hall anyway.”
Linel took out his pocket watch and checked the time, saying:
“Yes... Your Majesty.”
Prince Tesla, who had been looking anxious since earlier, reluctantly nodded and answered.
“The tea is still warm, so just drink this and get up.”
Linel offered tea while holding a cup. The black tea was something he had just ordered the attendant to bring. Prince Tesla, unable to resist his suggestion, blew on the still-hot black tea and pretended to take a sip. I also tried to take a sip of the black tea,
"Oh."
Linel spilled the teacup he was holding onto my dress.
“Oh! I’m sorry, Empress. Wasn’t it hot?”
He quickly put down his teacup and spoke excitedly.
“Yes...? Ah...”
As I looked at him, my words trailing off,
“Stian!”
He jumped up from his chair, called the chamberlain, and stood in front of me deliberately, blocking the view of Prince Tesla, who was sitting across from me. The chamberlain immediately opened the door to the office and came in.
“What is it, Your Majesty?”
“I spilled hot tea on the Empress’s dress. The Empress might have been burned, so call the palace maid immediately and send Sharon in.”
Before Stian could even grasp the situation, his unison orders poured out.
“Yes, I understand!”
After Stian left in a hurry, Sharon quickly entered the office with a wet towel and ice. To cut to the chase, not only was I not burned by the tea, but his tea wasn’t even hot. Of course, the tea in front of me and the tea Prince Tesla was drinking was steaming, but Linel’s was cold.
He seemed to be referring to the day when he ripped off the sleeve of my dress when I was walking with him to her place after receiving news that Melanie had fallen down the stairs. Sharon bit her lower lip at Linel's words as if she was holding back a laugh. He apologized briefly to her and then asked me this time.
“Zelda. Do you treasure this dress?”
I glanced at Sharon and made a deliberately upset expression.
“Yes, because Sharon chose it with great care.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll buy you a better dress than this.”
He tapped me on the shoulder and left the office. A few minutes later, Raphael came in and told me that he had gone down to the banquet hall with Prince Tesla. Thanks to Linel, I was able to meet Bonis first without Prince Tesla’s interference.
'My goodness, you hurt the eye of the captain of the knights sent by the Emperor!'
Ken looked at Princess Resilia with a reproachful gaze. Princess Resilia was also shocked and dumbfounded by the unexpected situation.
“Who, who are you?”
Princess Resilia asked Sir Ken quietly.
“This is Commander Macrom, here to deliver His Majesty the Emperor’s orders.”
Sir Ken waved his hand in front of Commander Macrom, letting Princess Resilia know that the Commander was not looking. Princess Resilia stared into the Commander’s eyes, mouthing ‘Ah’, and sighing in relief. Then she shouted at Bonis, who was standing next to her.
“Oh my god, what if you just throw your shoes like that? Bonis!”
"...Ha."
Bonis, who had just fallen to the floor after being pushed by Princess Resilia, was speechless at the Princess's absurd accusation.
“Bonis...?”
Commander Macrom entered the room, nudging Sir Ken's shoulder as he stood in front of him.
“That’s right! This is Bonis.”
Princess Resilia grabbed Bonis's arm and forcibly lifted her up, then began to perform in front of the blind Commander Macrom.
“Bonis, you were so fearless as to hurt the face of the knight sent by His Majesty? What are you going to do now? You have embarrassed His Majesty!”
Commander Macrom's eyes narrowed as he quietly listened to Princess Resilia's voice criticizing Bonis.
'Didn't you say she was Prince Tesla's mistress? Even if she's a Princess, why are you treating your brother's mistress like this?'
Commander Macrom spoke politely to Bonis.
“I have come to fetch you, Bonis.”
“Not me... but Bonis?”
Princess Resilia asked Commander Macrom with a puzzled expression.
“Yes, Princess.”
She looked at Ken with a look of 'What on earth is going on?' Looking at Ken's bewildered expression, she instinctively felt that something was wrong with her brother who had gone to the main palace.
“The Emperor and Empress have invited Prince Tesla’s mistress, Lady Bonis, to lunch.”
“What are you saying, Bonis is my brother’s...?!”
Princess Resilia raised her voice without realizing it, but quickly shut her mouth when Sir Ken put a finger on her mouth to warn her.
'What the heck is this?'
Why did that suddenly become my brother's mistress?
Ken looked at Princess Resilia with a reproachful gaze. Princess Resilia was also shocked and dumbfounded by the unexpected situation.
“Who, who are you?”
Princess Resilia asked Sir Ken quietly.
“This is Commander Macrom, here to deliver His Majesty the Emperor’s orders.”
Sir Ken waved his hand in front of Commander Macrom, letting Princess Resilia know that the Commander was not looking. Princess Resilia stared into the Commander’s eyes, mouthing ‘Ah’, and sighing in relief. Then she shouted at Bonis, who was standing next to her.
“Oh my god, what if you just throw your shoes like that? Bonis!”
"...Ha."
Bonis, who had just fallen to the floor after being pushed by Princess Resilia, was speechless at the Princess's absurd accusation.
“Bonis...?”
Commander Macrom entered the room, nudging Sir Ken's shoulder as he stood in front of him.
“That’s right! This is Bonis.”
Princess Resilia grabbed Bonis's arm and forcibly lifted her up, then began to perform in front of the blind Commander Macrom.
“Bonis, you were so fearless as to hurt the face of the knight sent by His Majesty? What are you going to do now? You have embarrassed His Majesty!”
Commander Macrom's eyes narrowed as he quietly listened to Princess Resilia's voice criticizing Bonis.
'Didn't you say she was Prince Tesla's mistress? Even if she's a Princess, why are you treating your brother's mistress like this?'
Commander Macrom spoke politely to Bonis.
“I have come to fetch you, Bonis.”
“Not me... but Bonis?”
Princess Resilia asked Commander Macrom with a puzzled expression.
“Yes, Princess.”
She looked at Ken with a look of 'What on earth is going on?' Looking at Ken's bewildered expression, she instinctively felt that something was wrong with her brother who had gone to the main palace.
“The Emperor and Empress have invited Prince Tesla’s mistress, Lady Bonis, to lunch.”
“What are you saying, Bonis is my brother’s...?!”
Princess Resilia raised her voice without realizing it, but quickly shut her mouth when Sir Ken put a finger on her mouth to warn her.
'What the heck is this?'
Why did that suddenly become my brother's mistress?
Resilia twirled her pink hair around her fingers and glared at Bonis next to her. Bonis was equally embarrassed. Ever since arriving at the Lapion Palace, she had been called by Princess Resilia and endured her harassment, and now she felt like she had been doused with shit. Prince Tesla had cleverly used Zelda as bait to force Bonis to accompany him to the Lapion Empire. There was a reason she had followed him to the Lapion Empire despite expecting the Princess's harassment. It was because she expected to meet Zelda.
However, as soon as she arrived at the Lapion Palace, she was locked in the villa where the VIPs stayed. Even within the villa, she couldn't move freely. She could only go to the 4th floor assigned to the Kingdom of Shattonil, and even there, she was always under surveillance. It would have been much easier if she had just been locked in her room.
Serving Princess Resilia and enduring all her irritation and insults was pain itself. On top of that, every time she saw Prince Tesla who had taken her little finger, she had to suppress her boiling anger. But then, what was that enemy? Mistress? She had never been moved by the rather flashy appearance of Prince Tesla, but now she was suddenly called his mistress. Bonis was so dumbfounded that she laughed like she had lost her mind.
“Let’s go, Bonis. You’ll have to hurry if you want to arrive in time for lunch.”
Commander Macrom said politely.
“I think... there’s something wrong.”
Bonis, who had been standing there blankly, approached Commander Macrom and carefully opened her mouth.
“What do you mean, a mistake? Aren’t you Bonis?”
“No, that’s right. But I’m Prince Tesla’s... Ah.”
As Bonis continued to speak, Princess Resilia poked her back hard with her hand from behind. When Bonis turned around, Princess Resilia mouthed a message to her to shut up.
“Hohoho, Bonis is really shy. Please understand, Commander. Since His Majesty is waiting, let’s go quickly.”
Princess Resilia stepped forward, pushing past Bonis.
“There was no order to bring anyone else besides Bonis.”
Commander Macrom stopped Princess Resilia with a stern expression and one hand extended forward.
“What, what is it?”
“Your Highness, please request a private audience later.”
“You really only called Bonis?”
"Yes."
Commander Macrom said politely.
“I think... there’s something wrong.”
Bonis, who had been standing there blankly, approached Commander Macrom and carefully opened her mouth.
“What do you mean, a mistake? Aren’t you Bonis?”
“No, that’s right. But I’m Prince Tesla’s... Ah.”
As Bonis continued to speak, Princess Resilia poked her back hard with her hand from behind. When Bonis turned around, Princess Resilia mouthed a message to her to shut up.
“Hohoho, Bonis is really shy. Please understand, Commander. Since His Majesty is waiting, let’s go quickly.”
Princess Resilia stepped forward, pushing past Bonis.
“There was no order to bring anyone else besides Bonis.”
Commander Macrom stopped Princess Resilia with a stern expression and one hand extended forward.
“What, what is it?”
“Your Highness, please request a private audience later.”
“You really only called Bonis?”
"Yes."
“Ha, really? That’s what I’m saying...?”
“Yes, Princess.”
Princess Resilia glared at Commander Macrom and stepped back obediently.
'You can't even see, yet you're being so picky. If you had better eyesight, you wouldn't be so strict when you see my face!'
Resilia pursed her lips and pushed Bonis towards Commander Macrom.
“I can’t help it. Go.”
“Let’s go, Bonis.”
"Yes..."
Bonis quickly followed Commander Macrom. Thinking about it, this might be a chance to escape this hell. Her heart began to beat at the prospect of meeting Zelda.
'I finally get to see Sister Zelda. No, I guess I should call Her Majesty the Empress now?'
Following Commander Macrom out of the villa entrance, Bonis looked up at the sky. The weather was unusually clear and refreshing on the first day she left the villa after arriving at the Lapion Palace.
“We don’t have time, so let’s go by carriage.”
Commander Macrom opened the waiting carriage door himself and said.
“Thank you... but am I going alone?”
Before Bonis got on the carriage, he stared intently at Commander Macrom's face and said. After hearing those words, Commander Macrom turned his head towards where his subordinate was.
“Anthony, you ride my horse. I will go with Bonis in the carriage.”
“Yes, sir.”
Commander Macrom left his horse to Sir Anthony and got into the carriage with her. He felt he had to have a word with her.
“Yes, Princess.”
Princess Resilia glared at Commander Macrom and stepped back obediently.
'You can't even see, yet you're being so picky. If you had better eyesight, you wouldn't be so strict when you see my face!'
Resilia pursed her lips and pushed Bonis towards Commander Macrom.
“I can’t help it. Go.”
“Let’s go, Bonis.”
"Yes..."
Bonis quickly followed Commander Macrom. Thinking about it, this might be a chance to escape this hell. Her heart began to beat at the prospect of meeting Zelda.
'I finally get to see Sister Zelda. No, I guess I should call Her Majesty the Empress now?'
Following Commander Macrom out of the villa entrance, Bonis looked up at the sky. The weather was unusually clear and refreshing on the first day she left the villa after arriving at the Lapion Palace.
“We don’t have time, so let’s go by carriage.”
Commander Macrom opened the waiting carriage door himself and said.
“Thank you... but am I going alone?”
Before Bonis got on the carriage, he stared intently at Commander Macrom's face and said. After hearing those words, Commander Macrom turned his head towards where his subordinate was.
“Anthony, you ride my horse. I will go with Bonis in the carriage.”
“Yes, sir.”
Commander Macrom left his horse to Sir Anthony and got into the carriage with her. He felt he had to have a word with her.
***
“Shall we slowly move to the banquet hall? Commander Macrom will be guiding Lady Bonis to the banquet hall anyway.”
Linel took out his pocket watch and checked the time, saying:
“Yes... Your Majesty.”
Prince Tesla, who had been looking anxious since earlier, reluctantly nodded and answered.
“The tea is still warm, so just drink this and get up.”
Linel offered tea while holding a cup. The black tea was something he had just ordered the attendant to bring. Prince Tesla, unable to resist his suggestion, blew on the still-hot black tea and pretended to take a sip. I also tried to take a sip of the black tea,
"Oh."
Linel spilled the teacup he was holding onto my dress.
“Oh! I’m sorry, Empress. Wasn’t it hot?”
He quickly put down his teacup and spoke excitedly.
“Yes...? Ah...”
As I looked at him, my words trailing off,
“Stian!”
He jumped up from his chair, called the chamberlain, and stood in front of me deliberately, blocking the view of Prince Tesla, who was sitting across from me. The chamberlain immediately opened the door to the office and came in.
“What is it, Your Majesty?”
“I spilled hot tea on the Empress’s dress. The Empress might have been burned, so call the palace maid immediately and send Sharon in.”
Before Stian could even grasp the situation, his unison orders poured out.
“Yes, I understand!”
After Stian left in a hurry, Sharon quickly entered the office with a wet towel and ice. To cut to the chase, not only was I not burned by the tea, but his tea wasn’t even hot. Of course, the tea in front of me and the tea Prince Tesla was drinking was steaming, but Linel’s was cold.
Come to think of it, ever since the servant brought out the tea, he had been holding the teacup with both hands. The temperature of food or water dropped significantly when touched by his hands. And this was something he knew best. And yet he made a fuss and called the palace?
It was intentional. He bent down slightly, brought my hand to his mouth, and blew air.
“Prince Tesla, I’m sorry, but I have to go out for a moment. As you can see, I need to check on the Empress to see if she’s got any abrasions.”
As Linel looked back at Prince Tesla to ask for his understanding, I could sense that the Prince was hesitating, perhaps because he wanted to check on my condition.
“Ah, yes...”
“Your Majesty the Empress! Your hands seem to be a little red!”
At that time, Sharon put ice in a towel and placed it on the back of my hand. Before that, Sharon had touched the part of my dress where the black tea had spilled. Judging from the fact that she said that even though she already knew that the black tea wasn't hot, it seemed that Sharon had sensed Linel's intention and acted accordingly. Only then did Prince Tesla get up from his chair.
“Then I will wait outside.”
“I’m going out soon too.”
Linel turned completely towards the Prince and said.
“Your Majesty? Did you do that on purpose?”
I asked Linel as soon as Prince Tesla left the office, but he smiled and told me something else.
“I spilled the tea, so you should go up to the bedroom and change into your dress. It’s about time for Commander Macrom to come back with Miss Bonis.”
“That means...”
“I’ll tell Stian in advance, so you should meet Lady Bonis first. But there won’t be time for a long conversation.”
“!”
His consideration touched my heart. Linel caressed my face gently and then turned to Sharon.
“And Sharon.”
“Yes, Your Majesty!”
“I feel sorry for you since last time.”
“What, what do you mean by that?”
Sharon asked with wide eyes, then lowered her head again.
“This dress was probably carefully chosen for the Empress, but I ruined it again.”
“Oh, no, Your Majesty!”
“But this time, I didn’t tear off her sleeve."
“Prince Tesla, I’m sorry, but I have to go out for a moment. As you can see, I need to check on the Empress to see if she’s got any abrasions.”
As Linel looked back at Prince Tesla to ask for his understanding, I could sense that the Prince was hesitating, perhaps because he wanted to check on my condition.
“Ah, yes...”
“Your Majesty the Empress! Your hands seem to be a little red!”
At that time, Sharon put ice in a towel and placed it on the back of my hand. Before that, Sharon had touched the part of my dress where the black tea had spilled. Judging from the fact that she said that even though she already knew that the black tea wasn't hot, it seemed that Sharon had sensed Linel's intention and acted accordingly. Only then did Prince Tesla get up from his chair.
“Then I will wait outside.”
“I’m going out soon too.”
Linel turned completely towards the Prince and said.
“Your Majesty? Did you do that on purpose?”
I asked Linel as soon as Prince Tesla left the office, but he smiled and told me something else.
“I spilled the tea, so you should go up to the bedroom and change into your dress. It’s about time for Commander Macrom to come back with Miss Bonis.”
“That means...”
“I’ll tell Stian in advance, so you should meet Lady Bonis first. But there won’t be time for a long conversation.”
“!”
His consideration touched my heart. Linel caressed my face gently and then turned to Sharon.
“And Sharon.”
“Yes, Your Majesty!”
“I feel sorry for you since last time.”
“What, what do you mean by that?”
Sharon asked with wide eyes, then lowered her head again.
“This dress was probably carefully chosen for the Empress, but I ruined it again.”
“Oh, no, Your Majesty!”
“But this time, I didn’t tear off her sleeve."
He seemed to be referring to the day when he ripped off the sleeve of my dress when I was walking with him to her place after receiving news that Melanie had fallen down the stairs. Sharon bit her lower lip at Linel's words as if she was holding back a laugh. He apologized briefly to her and then asked me this time.
“Zelda. Do you treasure this dress?”
I glanced at Sharon and made a deliberately upset expression.
“Yes, because Sharon chose it with great care.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll buy you a better dress than this.”
He tapped me on the shoulder and left the office. A few minutes later, Raphael came in and told me that he had gone down to the banquet hall with Prince Tesla. Thanks to Linel, I was able to meet Bonis first without Prince Tesla’s interference.
My heart started pounding as if I was going to meet Bonis. I hurried to the bedroom floor with Sharon.
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