“Your Majesty, how can I find out just from this bottle of potion?”
Raphael held the empty potion bottle in front of his nose and looked at it from all sides, dumbfounded.
Raphael held the empty potion bottle in front of his nose and looked at it from all sides, dumbfounded.
“You are capable.”
“I am a capable secretary, not a magician.”
“So don’t be proud, and try harder to find out.”
Raphael, who had expected to hear, “It must be hard, right?” sighed at the Emperor’s strangely positive orders. Then, Linel took out another potion bottle from the desk drawer and handed it to Raphael.
“Aha! I thought I’d seen this bottle before.”
Raphael looked back and forth between the potion bottle in his hand and the one Linel had taken out of the drawer, then smacked his forehead. The one he had just taken out of the drawer was a magical potion that he had been taking ever since he was cursed with hypothermia, to prevent his body temperature from dropping too quickly.
“Looking at the bottles, it must be a potion you bought at the ‘Dignified Night’ clinic?”
“Yes, go and find out what was in there.”
“How can you tell when there’s nothing inside and there’s no smell at all?”
Raphael uncorked the potion bottle and sniffed the opening.
“There’s a date on the bottom of the bottle. You’ll know if you take out the potions that were sold that day.”
“Oh, that’s right. Huh? Isn’t that the day before the national wedding? We went to the clinic that day too...!”
Raphael said, looking at the date written on the bottom of the potion bottle.
“Yeah. That was the day you got a stomachache and I was curled up in the corner of the clinic waiting room, so I got the potion bottle instead.”
“That’s right. I remember you being very angry.”
"What?"
“You said that on that day, Your Majesty was lying down and some strange woman started a quarrel with you?”
That strange woman was Zelda.
“Ahem, she wasn’t that strange of a woman.”
Raphael burst out laughing as Linel muttered and cleared his throat.
“Oh, no. I remember vividly that Your Majesty had met the most unpleasant and strange woman in your life, and cursed at her all the way back in the carriage until we arrived at the palace. What do you mean?”
“I am a capable secretary, not a magician.”
“So don’t be proud, and try harder to find out.”
Raphael, who had expected to hear, “It must be hard, right?” sighed at the Emperor’s strangely positive orders. Then, Linel took out another potion bottle from the desk drawer and handed it to Raphael.
“Aha! I thought I’d seen this bottle before.”
Raphael looked back and forth between the potion bottle in his hand and the one Linel had taken out of the drawer, then smacked his forehead. The one he had just taken out of the drawer was a magical potion that he had been taking ever since he was cursed with hypothermia, to prevent his body temperature from dropping too quickly.
“Looking at the bottles, it must be a potion you bought at the ‘Dignified Night’ clinic?”
“Yes, go and find out what was in there.”
“How can you tell when there’s nothing inside and there’s no smell at all?”
Raphael uncorked the potion bottle and sniffed the opening.
“There’s a date on the bottom of the bottle. You’ll know if you take out the potions that were sold that day.”
“Oh, that’s right. Huh? Isn’t that the day before the national wedding? We went to the clinic that day too...!”
Raphael said, looking at the date written on the bottom of the potion bottle.
“Yeah. That was the day you got a stomachache and I was curled up in the corner of the clinic waiting room, so I got the potion bottle instead.”
“That’s right. I remember you being very angry.”
"What?"
“You said that on that day, Your Majesty was lying down and some strange woman started a quarrel with you?”
That strange woman was Zelda.
“Ahem, she wasn’t that strange of a woman.”
Raphael burst out laughing as Linel muttered and cleared his throat.
“Oh, no. I remember vividly that Your Majesty had met the most unpleasant and strange woman in your life, and cursed at her all the way back in the carriage until we arrived at the palace. What do you mean?”
“Raphael. Don’t say such things in front of the Empress.”
“Huh? Why, Her Majesty the Empress, all of a sudden? Huh! Ho, is this a potion bottle?”
Linel nodded.
“I brought it from the Empress’s bedroom.”
“Then by any chance... the strange woman who argued at the clinic that day...?!”
Raphael opened his eyes wide and covered his mouth with his hand.
“Now that you know, watch your mouth in front of the Empress.”
When he pretended to zip my mouth,
“Yes, I will keep that in mind! But... did you bring the potion bottle without telling Her Majesty the Empress?”
Raphael asked, following his hand gestures. After a moment of thought, he walked over to the window and answered.
“Yes, I secretly brought it. It was next to the vase of roses. By the way, the color of the roses I gave her is...”
“The color... why?”
Raphael asked, observing the expression on his face as he paused in his speech.
“No. Anyway, find out what kind of potion bottle it is.”
He looked down at the field of red roses outside his office window and held back his words.
***
“This is Sharon, the maid, who also takes care of my wardrobe. This is Sollie, who comes from a family of gardeners, who does my hair. And Theresa, who is a painter, draws pictures on my face every morning.”
After leaving the banquet hall, I went to Bonis’s temporary bedroom in the main palace and chatted the whole time before moving back to the reception room and introducing my servants to Bonis. I hoped Bonis, who would always be with me from now on, would get along well with the three servants. Bonis introduced herself to Sharon, Sollie, and Theresa one by one while making eye contact, and the servants seemed to sincerely welcome Bonis.
“There’s probably a lot you don’t know, so I’ll ask you to take good care of me in the future.”
“No, Lady Bonis. I heard you have been with Her Majesty the Empress for a long time. We will learn a lot from you.”
“That’s right. I still don’t fully understand Her Majesty the Empress’s tastes, so please tell me more, Bonis.”
“You are very welcome! If you have any inconveniences, please let me know at any time!”
I watched the four of them quietly, then crossed my arms and blurted out a word.
“There’s one more person who will look down on me? Now I have a match.”
The servants stopped laughing in surprise, but Bonis, who knew me well, burst into laughter.
“What’s so fun about it?”
At that moment, Linel opened the door to the reception room and came in. As soon as he appeared, everyone's voice suddenly stopped as if they had made a promise.
“Were you swearing at me? Why did everyone stop laughing when I came?”
He asked with narrowed eyes and a sad expression. His expression, without a smile, was enough to intimidate others, but he was completely unaware of this fact. The expressions of the four people, excluding me, froze at the same time.
“Everyone, please get out.”
I smiled and said to them.
“Yes, Your Majesty the Empress.”
“We will now step aside.”
“Sharon, show Bonis to the bedroom.”
“Yes, Your Majesty the Empress.”
“See you tomorrow, Bonis.”
I hugged Bonis and patted her on the back.
“You two, sleep well.”
Bonis bowed slightly to Linel. He nodded slightly and leaned back against the door of the drawing room, folding his arms across his chest and gesturing for the four women to leave quickly. They bowed their heads and quickly left the drawing room one by one, following the Emperor’s order. As the door closed, he uncrossed his arms and opened them to me. I hurried over to him and threw myself into Linel’s arms as if I had not seen him in years, creating a dramatic situation.
“But really, why are they like that?”
He asked, nodding at the parlor door.
“What is it?”
“I thought their expressions got worse when they saw me after laughing and talking.”
“Because everyone finds Your Majesty difficult.”
“You take me for granted, that’s why you keep laughing like this?”
Linel asked, pinching my cheek lightly.
“Do you want to be a difficult man for me too?”
“No. Sexy guy.”
“You already accomplished that.”
“Was it so?”
Why on earth does this man say something that is not even worth asking? His tone of voice was pure as he tried to confirm what I said, but his eyes, as always, became more sensual as the sunset. I don’t know if it was his intention, but that’s how I felt.
“Always. Even the sound of your breath is sexy.”
“I wish I could share that.”
“...Does that sound exactly like ‘you’re not sexy’?”
“If you let go of your tact and fill in your sexiness, it’ll be perfect... Ah.”
When I slapped his arm, he pretended to feel more pain and continued talking.
“I almost forgot. Our Empress has a lot to let go of. She needs to tone down her violence a bit.”
He grabbed my wrist and laughed.
“I’ll try to do that. But I can’t accept the opinion that I’m not sexy. Please reconsider.”
I raised my chin proudly and pushed my chest into him, whispering secretly.
“Allow me.”
Linel grabbed my chin and looked at me intently.
“What?”
“Laughing.”
“....”
"Ha ha ha!"
As soon as he asked me, I burst out laughing.
“Don't laugh.”
I raised both hands and covered my mouth.
“Sorry, I’ll try to bear with it.”
I apologized, pulling my hand away from ny mouth.
“But, is it okay to get excited? You’re not going to stop it with your hands, are you?”
Linel asked, shaking my hand that was being held.
“Then, please allow me too.”
"What?"
“So I can touch it.”
“Where.”
“Wherever?”
He slowly let go of my hand. My hands were free, but they were still suspended in midair as if they had lost their way.
“Touch as you wish.”
But you can't do it, right? Right? He looked down at me with that exact look in his eyes. I began to explore his solid body with my soft hands.
“Ugh...”
His startled blue eyes darkened. A sound that seemed difficult to hold back leaked out through his teeth. I liked the sound of his breathing, his rough breathing as his patience ran out. It was time for him to know that too. He shouldn't underestimate me.
“Did my hands move too freely?”
I asked him quietly, leaning my body against him. He spoke with difficulty, his face flushed with desire.
“I think I got there right? Haa, but please take it slow... Huh? Zelda, it’s late at night...”
At Linel's earnest request, I slowly removed my hands from his body and nodded. Then he let out the breath he had been holding. He frantically washed his face with both hands and kept rubbing his beautiful features.
“But that doesn’t mean I told you to just leave.”
He took a moment to calm down, then grumbled in disappointment.
“Your Majesty, this is the reception room.”
“Ah, it feels new somehow.”
He pretended to be surprised as he glanced around the living room.
“Go to the bedroom.”
I grabbed his hand and pulled him towards the living room door.
“Should we run like last time?”
“The servants will be surprised.”
“Why are you surprised? It’s not the first time. I guess it’s the second time.”
“Just walk. It’s not far.”
“Then should I carry you?”
Linel turned his back to me and asked.
"Why?"
“Just. I’ve never carried you. I’ve just draped you over my shoulders.”
“I overate tonight.”
“It’s okay. I already know that you're heavy even if you don’t eat much.”
“!”
I lost my will to fight because of his honesty, which was hard to refute.
“Are you moved by my sacrificial spirit of wanting to carry you even though it’s heavy? Don’t look at me like that because you’re fixated on useless things.”
He made flounder eyes by tearing my eyes apart with two fingers.
“That’s right. I still don’t fully understand Her Majesty the Empress’s tastes, so please tell me more, Bonis.”
“You are very welcome! If you have any inconveniences, please let me know at any time!”
I watched the four of them quietly, then crossed my arms and blurted out a word.
“There’s one more person who will look down on me? Now I have a match.”
The servants stopped laughing in surprise, but Bonis, who knew me well, burst into laughter.
“What’s so fun about it?”
At that moment, Linel opened the door to the reception room and came in. As soon as he appeared, everyone's voice suddenly stopped as if they had made a promise.
“Were you swearing at me? Why did everyone stop laughing when I came?”
He asked with narrowed eyes and a sad expression. His expression, without a smile, was enough to intimidate others, but he was completely unaware of this fact. The expressions of the four people, excluding me, froze at the same time.
“Everyone, please get out.”
I smiled and said to them.
“Yes, Your Majesty the Empress.”
“We will now step aside.”
“Sharon, show Bonis to the bedroom.”
“Yes, Your Majesty the Empress.”
“See you tomorrow, Bonis.”
I hugged Bonis and patted her on the back.
“You two, sleep well.”
Bonis bowed slightly to Linel. He nodded slightly and leaned back against the door of the drawing room, folding his arms across his chest and gesturing for the four women to leave quickly. They bowed their heads and quickly left the drawing room one by one, following the Emperor’s order. As the door closed, he uncrossed his arms and opened them to me. I hurried over to him and threw myself into Linel’s arms as if I had not seen him in years, creating a dramatic situation.
“But really, why are they like that?”
He asked, nodding at the parlor door.
“What is it?”
“I thought their expressions got worse when they saw me after laughing and talking.”
“Because everyone finds Your Majesty difficult.”
“You take me for granted, that’s why you keep laughing like this?”
Linel asked, pinching my cheek lightly.
“Do you want to be a difficult man for me too?”
“No. Sexy guy.”
“You already accomplished that.”
“Was it so?”
Why on earth does this man say something that is not even worth asking? His tone of voice was pure as he tried to confirm what I said, but his eyes, as always, became more sensual as the sunset. I don’t know if it was his intention, but that’s how I felt.
“Always. Even the sound of your breath is sexy.”
“I wish I could share that.”
“...Does that sound exactly like ‘you’re not sexy’?”
“If you let go of your tact and fill in your sexiness, it’ll be perfect... Ah.”
When I slapped his arm, he pretended to feel more pain and continued talking.
“I almost forgot. Our Empress has a lot to let go of. She needs to tone down her violence a bit.”
He grabbed my wrist and laughed.
“I’ll try to do that. But I can’t accept the opinion that I’m not sexy. Please reconsider.”
I raised my chin proudly and pushed my chest into him, whispering secretly.
“Allow me.”
Linel grabbed my chin and looked at me intently.
“What?”
“Laughing.”
“....”
"Ha ha ha!"
As soon as he asked me, I burst out laughing.
“Don't laugh.”
I raised both hands and covered my mouth.
“Sorry, I’ll try to bear with it.”
I apologized, pulling my hand away from ny mouth.
“But, is it okay to get excited? You’re not going to stop it with your hands, are you?”
Linel asked, shaking my hand that was being held.
“Then, please allow me too.”
"What?"
“So I can touch it.”
“Where.”
“Wherever?”
He slowly let go of my hand. My hands were free, but they were still suspended in midair as if they had lost their way.
“Touch as you wish.”
But you can't do it, right? Right? He looked down at me with that exact look in his eyes. I began to explore his solid body with my soft hands.
“Ugh...”
His startled blue eyes darkened. A sound that seemed difficult to hold back leaked out through his teeth. I liked the sound of his breathing, his rough breathing as his patience ran out. It was time for him to know that too. He shouldn't underestimate me.
“Did my hands move too freely?”
I asked him quietly, leaning my body against him. He spoke with difficulty, his face flushed with desire.
“I think I got there right? Haa, but please take it slow... Huh? Zelda, it’s late at night...”
At Linel's earnest request, I slowly removed my hands from his body and nodded. Then he let out the breath he had been holding. He frantically washed his face with both hands and kept rubbing his beautiful features.
“But that doesn’t mean I told you to just leave.”
He took a moment to calm down, then grumbled in disappointment.
“Your Majesty, this is the reception room.”
“Ah, it feels new somehow.”
He pretended to be surprised as he glanced around the living room.
“Go to the bedroom.”
I grabbed his hand and pulled him towards the living room door.
“Should we run like last time?”
“The servants will be surprised.”
“Why are you surprised? It’s not the first time. I guess it’s the second time.”
“Just walk. It’s not far.”
“Then should I carry you?”
Linel turned his back to me and asked.
"Why?"
“Just. I’ve never carried you. I’ve just draped you over my shoulders.”
“I overate tonight.”
“It’s okay. I already know that you're heavy even if you don’t eat much.”
“!”
I lost my will to fight because of his honesty, which was hard to refute.
“Are you moved by my sacrificial spirit of wanting to carry you even though it’s heavy? Don’t look at me like that because you’re fixated on useless things.”
He made flounder eyes by tearing my eyes apart with two fingers.
“What are you doing? You make me look ugly!”
“It’s cute, but why.”
He threw his head back and burst out laughing.
“Don’t worry, get on board. I’ll treat you with respect today.”
He stood before me and knelt down on one knee. When I saw his broad back, I changed my mind.
“Thank you. Excuse me.”
This time, I didn't refuse and just sat on his back.
“Ugh, I thought you’d reject me.”
He couldn't get up easily and groaned.
“...Stop joking and get up quickly.”
“I guess you really overate tonight.”
Linel put both hands on the marble floor and got up, then groaned again. In fact, the moment I was carried by him, I secretly lifted the head of the statue on the shelf. Seeing him struggling, I put the head of the statue back down on the shelf and burst out laughing.
“What is it, Zelda? Did you lift the head of our grandfather, the former Emperor?”
“Oh, that impressionist statue’s face is your grandfather?!”
“Yes, he will be very surprised in the other world. Hia granddaughter-in-law raised and lowered his head so carelessly.”
Linel clicked his tongue and opened the reception room door. I clasped my hands together and looked at the statue, apologizing.
“...I’m sorry. Please forgive me, Grandfather.”
“Yeah, that’s right.”
Linel imitated his grandfather's voice and forgave me instead.
“It’s cute, but why.”
He threw his head back and burst out laughing.
“Don’t worry, get on board. I’ll treat you with respect today.”
He stood before me and knelt down on one knee. When I saw his broad back, I changed my mind.
“Thank you. Excuse me.”
This time, I didn't refuse and just sat on his back.
“Ugh, I thought you’d reject me.”
He couldn't get up easily and groaned.
“...Stop joking and get up quickly.”
“I guess you really overate tonight.”
Linel put both hands on the marble floor and got up, then groaned again. In fact, the moment I was carried by him, I secretly lifted the head of the statue on the shelf. Seeing him struggling, I put the head of the statue back down on the shelf and burst out laughing.
“What is it, Zelda? Did you lift the head of our grandfather, the former Emperor?”
“Oh, that impressionist statue’s face is your grandfather?!”
“Yes, he will be very surprised in the other world. Hia granddaughter-in-law raised and lowered his head so carelessly.”
Linel clicked his tongue and opened the reception room door. I clasped my hands together and looked at the statue, apologizing.
“...I’m sorry. Please forgive me, Grandfather.”
“Yeah, that’s right.”
Linel imitated his grandfather's voice and forgave me instead.
***
He played around with me as if he was going to drop me all the way up the stairs until he reached the bedroom floor. The servants who passed by all stood there with their mouths wide open, then quickly lowered their heads with bewildered expressions. Unlike last time, I held my head up stiffly and waved to the servants, still alive.
"Oh, good night!”
“Good night everyone.”
The blunt Linel did not respond to the servants' greetings, so I responded to each one individually.
“I need to open the door, but I can’t get my hands off your butt right now.”
"Why?"
“Why would that be?”
“Because you like it?”
“Aha, I was so tired that I didn’t even realize that part.”
Linel muttered as he picked me up again.
“Stiane! Open the door.”
When he saw the bedroom door in the distance, he shouted to the attendant waiting in front of it. Stiane unconsciously let out 'Oh my!' repeatedly and quickly opened the bedroom door.
“Your Majesty, what is wrong with His Majesty?”
Stiane asked me, smiling brightly from the Emperor's back.
“I think I’m going to get sick carrying the Empress.”
Linel answered Stiane instead of me and went into the bedroom, closing the door with his heel. How dare you tell everyone that I'm heavy like this.
“I said it was the weight of the dress?”
I patted his shoulder and protested.
“Really? Then I guess I’ll have to exercise tomorrow holding the dress in both hands.”
“...”
I was taken aback by Linel's sharp observation.
“I’m sorry. It’s heavy...”
“It’s okay. I’m going to make you exercise tonight.”
He said as he fell onto the bed carrying me.
"Oh, good night!”
“Good night everyone.”
The blunt Linel did not respond to the servants' greetings, so I responded to each one individually.
“I need to open the door, but I can’t get my hands off your butt right now.”
"Why?"
“Why would that be?”
“Because you like it?”
“Aha, I was so tired that I didn’t even realize that part.”
Linel muttered as he picked me up again.
“Stiane! Open the door.”
When he saw the bedroom door in the distance, he shouted to the attendant waiting in front of it. Stiane unconsciously let out 'Oh my!' repeatedly and quickly opened the bedroom door.
“Your Majesty, what is wrong with His Majesty?”
Stiane asked me, smiling brightly from the Emperor's back.
“I think I’m going to get sick carrying the Empress.”
Linel answered Stiane instead of me and went into the bedroom, closing the door with his heel. How dare you tell everyone that I'm heavy like this.
“I said it was the weight of the dress?”
I patted his shoulder and protested.
“Really? Then I guess I’ll have to exercise tomorrow holding the dress in both hands.”
“...”
I was taken aback by Linel's sharp observation.
“I’m sorry. It’s heavy...”
“It’s okay. I’m going to make you exercise tonight.”
He said as he fell onto the bed carrying me.
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