But Commander Macrom stopped me.
“Your Majesty, there is no need to do that... Both of you have plenty of energy.”
“Be quiet.”
“It’s noisy.”
Linel and I simultaneously attacked Commander Macrom. Focus! This is the last arrow, so we must shoot carefully. The deer tilted its head and looked at me. The deer's eyes were so big and beautiful that I felt weak for a moment... I almost lost.
“Hey, can you just give me the horn? I don’t intend to kill you.”
Although the deer couldn't understand, I slowly approached it and spoke to it soothingly.
“Zelda, I told you I like venison steak?”
Linel whispered softly behind me. At that moment, the deer flinched and started to run away, backing away. Instinctively, I picked up my arrow and chased after the deer.
“Your Majesty, where are you going?”
I heard Raphael's screaming voice, but I ignored it and kept running. Ah, I'm out of breath... If I had one more arrow, I would have shot it already.
“Hey, just stick out your horns and go!”
I was exhausted from running in a dress.
“I don’t know.”
Unable to follow the deer any longer, I fired my last arrow into the grass where the deer had just entered. A dull thud was heard.
“Was that right?”
I quickly pushed through the grass, but there were only a few drops of blood on the ground, and no deer.
“How far did you run to come back looking like this?”
Linel asked, pulling the blade of grass off my head.
“I was trying to take care of your health...”
When I made a regretful expression, he burst into laughter.
“Thanks to my wife, I won’t starve to death.”
“It’s such a shame I missed it, I could have caught it.”
“Let’s go to the office and have a classy cup of tea.”
Linel took the bow I was holding and threw it to Commander Macrom, then took a handkerchief out of his uniform pocket and wiped my hands.
The momentary excitement was halved, but the mood was still good.
“Wow, my wife is capable too. Come here. I need to hold you for a while until you go change your dress.”
“I have to go get ready soon because it’s tea time.”
As I entered the office with him, Chamberlain Stiane told me that Emperor Katria had proposed that the ladies attending the hunting competition have tea time before the banquet.
“Don't accept it.”
“There is no reason to refuse.”
“Then just 10 minutes, no, just 5 minutes.”
Linel called me, tapping his knees with both hands. His sensual eyes and voice seduced me one after another. As I sat still, he suddenly picked me up and sat me down on his lap.
“Did a competent secretary tell you something like this?”
I pretended I couldn't win and put both arms around his neck and asked.
“This is my instinct, my desire, my right. Just relax and sit comfortably.”
Linel, who said that to me, actually looked somewhat uncomfortable.
“Your Majesty, are you okay? Your expression looks more uncomfortable than mine.”
“Actually, for a while ago... I’ve been feeling increasingly uncomfortable. But isn’t it okay if I feel uncomfortable?”
Linel spoke in a voice that suddenly became strained, his lips brushing the nape of my neck. His breath made my entire shoulder area tingle.
“I sweated a bit in the training ground earlier...”
“Yeah, it’s a bit salty.”
When his words made my face burn and I tried to pull away,
“Just stay. It doesn’t matter.”
“I guess you had a somewhat bland lunch?”
I relaxed my body again at the sound of his breathing, becoming impatient and asking in a resigned tone.
“I see. Did the chef change? Hehehe.”
“It tickles.”
His laughter indiscriminately woke my sensitive skin.
“Can’t we just cancel the tea time before dinner? Or can we do it after dinner?”
Linel asked several times, moving his throat as if he were thirsty.
“Your Majesty, there is no need to do that... Both of you have plenty of energy.”
“Be quiet.”
“It’s noisy.”
Linel and I simultaneously attacked Commander Macrom. Focus! This is the last arrow, so we must shoot carefully. The deer tilted its head and looked at me. The deer's eyes were so big and beautiful that I felt weak for a moment... I almost lost.
“Hey, can you just give me the horn? I don’t intend to kill you.”
Although the deer couldn't understand, I slowly approached it and spoke to it soothingly.
“Zelda, I told you I like venison steak?”
Linel whispered softly behind me. At that moment, the deer flinched and started to run away, backing away. Instinctively, I picked up my arrow and chased after the deer.
“Your Majesty, where are you going?”
I heard Raphael's screaming voice, but I ignored it and kept running. Ah, I'm out of breath... If I had one more arrow, I would have shot it already.
“Hey, just stick out your horns and go!”
I was exhausted from running in a dress.
“I don’t know.”
Unable to follow the deer any longer, I fired my last arrow into the grass where the deer had just entered. A dull thud was heard.
“Was that right?”
I quickly pushed through the grass, but there were only a few drops of blood on the ground, and no deer.
***
“How far did you run to come back looking like this?”
Linel asked, pulling the blade of grass off my head.
“I was trying to take care of your health...”
When I made a regretful expression, he burst into laughter.
“Thanks to my wife, I won’t starve to death.”
“It’s such a shame I missed it, I could have caught it.”
“Let’s go to the office and have a classy cup of tea.”
Linel took the bow I was holding and threw it to Commander Macrom, then took a handkerchief out of his uniform pocket and wiped my hands.
***
The main palace office. My mouth was dry after running around the forest for the first time in a while. I drank a glass of cool lemon tea with Linel, and my thirst was quickly quenched. After returning to the office, he had a thoughtful expression on his face. Now that I think about it, it seems like he became quieter after the cypress forest.
“Is there a reason why you’re suddenly having dinner with the guests today?”
I watched him for a moment and then asked cautiously. He remained lost in thought for a while, then raised his eyebrows at my voice and opened his mouth, saying, “Ah.”
“Usually, we have dinner just before leaving for a hunting competition. The timing varies slightly depending on the circumstances of the country of departure.”
"Aha."
“And there are only three days left until the hunting competition. I thought about it and thought that having dinner today would be the most enjoyable way to spend time.”
“I guess so.”
I nodded and continued to look at him. Linel definitely looked troubled by something.
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
He asked as he finished drinking the lemon tea he was holding.
“I wonder what is bothering you.”
“The Emperor’s life itself is a struggle?”
"But."
“Don’t talk like you’re talking about someone else. This applies to the Empress, too.”
Linel leaned in closer to me and chuckled. I followed suit with a small smile, but he reached out and wrapped one arm around my shoulder, pulling me into his embrace.
“How is the life of an Empress? Isn’t it difficult?”
At the unexpected question, I raised my head and looked at his face.
“Why are you suddenly asking me that? Do I look like I’m having a hard time?”
“Rather than that, no one has ever asked me this question.”
“Is the Emperor’s life very difficult?”
He shook his head.
“I’ve been living in the palace since I was born, so it’s not really hard for me. I’m just curious about what you’re like.”
“I am grateful to be able to be by Your Majesty’s side... not because of my position as Empress.”
I was so sincere.
“Does it sound like you don’t mind if you're not the Empress, as long as you’re by my side?”
“Well, it can’t be that it doesn’t matter at all. Because it’s the position where I can be closest to Your Majesty.”
“If you look at the examples of previous Emperors, isn’t that always the case? More Emperors were closer to their concubines than to their Empresses.”
“Those words sound like you’re telling me to... not let my guard down and keep working hard?”
I wiped away my smile and opened my eyes slightly. Linel pressed his lips against my pouting lips as if scolding me.
“That won’t happen unless I lose my memories. No, even if I lose my memories, Zelda, I will still love you again.”
Linel spoke with a confident voice. I wanted to listen to his last words all night long, like a lullaby.
“Can that really be true?”
“It will be there.”
An answer without a single moment of hesitation. I couldn't hide my happiness. My clown was going up wildly.
“How can you be so sure?”
Still, he asked, pretending to be indifferent in his voice.
“They say that when you flatter a woman, you have to speak with confidence.”
“...Who is it? Your Majesty’s capable secretary?”
“Is there a reason why you’re suddenly having dinner with the guests today?”
I watched him for a moment and then asked cautiously. He remained lost in thought for a while, then raised his eyebrows at my voice and opened his mouth, saying, “Ah.”
“Usually, we have dinner just before leaving for a hunting competition. The timing varies slightly depending on the circumstances of the country of departure.”
"Aha."
“And there are only three days left until the hunting competition. I thought about it and thought that having dinner today would be the most enjoyable way to spend time.”
“I guess so.”
I nodded and continued to look at him. Linel definitely looked troubled by something.
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
He asked as he finished drinking the lemon tea he was holding.
“I wonder what is bothering you.”
“The Emperor’s life itself is a struggle?”
"But."
“Don’t talk like you’re talking about someone else. This applies to the Empress, too.”
Linel leaned in closer to me and chuckled. I followed suit with a small smile, but he reached out and wrapped one arm around my shoulder, pulling me into his embrace.
“How is the life of an Empress? Isn’t it difficult?”
At the unexpected question, I raised my head and looked at his face.
“Why are you suddenly asking me that? Do I look like I’m having a hard time?”
“Rather than that, no one has ever asked me this question.”
“Is the Emperor’s life very difficult?”
He shook his head.
“I’ve been living in the palace since I was born, so it’s not really hard for me. I’m just curious about what you’re like.”
“I am grateful to be able to be by Your Majesty’s side... not because of my position as Empress.”
I was so sincere.
“Does it sound like you don’t mind if you're not the Empress, as long as you’re by my side?”
“Well, it can’t be that it doesn’t matter at all. Because it’s the position where I can be closest to Your Majesty.”
“If you look at the examples of previous Emperors, isn’t that always the case? More Emperors were closer to their concubines than to their Empresses.”
“Those words sound like you’re telling me to... not let my guard down and keep working hard?”
I wiped away my smile and opened my eyes slightly. Linel pressed his lips against my pouting lips as if scolding me.
“That won’t happen unless I lose my memories. No, even if I lose my memories, Zelda, I will still love you again.”
Linel spoke with a confident voice. I wanted to listen to his last words all night long, like a lullaby.
“Can that really be true?”
“It will be there.”
An answer without a single moment of hesitation. I couldn't hide my happiness. My clown was going up wildly.
“How can you be so sure?”
Still, he asked, pretending to be indifferent in his voice.
“They say that when you flatter a woman, you have to speak with confidence.”
“...Who is it? Your Majesty’s capable secretary?”
The momentary excitement was halved, but the mood was still good.
“Wow, my wife is capable too. Come here. I need to hold you for a while until you go change your dress.”
“I have to go get ready soon because it’s tea time.”
As I entered the office with him, Chamberlain Stiane told me that Emperor Katria had proposed that the ladies attending the hunting competition have tea time before the banquet.
“Don't accept it.”
“There is no reason to refuse.”
“Then just 10 minutes, no, just 5 minutes.”
Linel called me, tapping his knees with both hands. His sensual eyes and voice seduced me one after another. As I sat still, he suddenly picked me up and sat me down on his lap.
“Did a competent secretary tell you something like this?”
I pretended I couldn't win and put both arms around his neck and asked.
“This is my instinct, my desire, my right. Just relax and sit comfortably.”
Linel, who said that to me, actually looked somewhat uncomfortable.
“Your Majesty, are you okay? Your expression looks more uncomfortable than mine.”
“Actually, for a while ago... I’ve been feeling increasingly uncomfortable. But isn’t it okay if I feel uncomfortable?”
Linel spoke in a voice that suddenly became strained, his lips brushing the nape of my neck. His breath made my entire shoulder area tingle.
“I sweated a bit in the training ground earlier...”
“Yeah, it’s a bit salty.”
When his words made my face burn and I tried to pull away,
“Just stay. It doesn’t matter.”
“I guess you had a somewhat bland lunch?”
I relaxed my body again at the sound of his breathing, becoming impatient and asking in a resigned tone.
“I see. Did the chef change? Hehehe.”
“It tickles.”
His laughter indiscriminately woke my sensitive skin.
“Can’t we just cancel the tea time before dinner? Or can we do it after dinner?”
Linel asked several times, moving his throat as if he were thirsty.
***
At the same time, in the main palace reception room. Before the banquet began, the distinguished ladies from each country participated in the hunting competition, and the concubines of the Lapion Empire gathered in the reception room. Princess Resilia was the last to arrive in the reception room and sit down, except for Zelda.
“Has Her Majesty the Empress arrived yet?”
The Princess looked at the empty seat of the Empress with displeasure and asked.
“I have a message to say that Her Majesty might be a little late, so let’s chat first.”
Princess Jasper of the Pasha Empire spoke to Princess Resilia, who was sitting across from her.
“I see? It seems that Her Majesty the Empress has more to do than welcome distinguished guests from different countries.”
Princess Resilia spoke with a gentle smile, but there was definitely some truth to her words.
“Her Majesty must have something important to do.”
Princess Jasper spoke quietly, looking slightly flustered at Princess Resilia’s sharp reaction. Rosie, sitting diagonally across from the Princess, stared at her intently. Rosie had been staring at Princess Resilia with a disapproving gaze ever since she entered the reception room.
'You abandoned your own child and are here smiling brightly and acting pretty? And look at the way you speak so rudely about Her Majesty the Empress.'
Before coming to the main palace, Rams' lovely face, which he had let fall asleep in her arms, overlapped with Princess Resilia's shameless face, and she suddenly became angry.
“I know Her Majesty the Empress well, having been close to her since childhood, but she has often been like this. Why is there always someone who shows up late to every event? As if they were the most important person.”
“You speak too harshly. Her Majesty the Empress is not that kind of person.”
Rosie spoke to Princess Resilia in a harsh voice. Princess Resilia glanced at Rosie for a moment and then looked away.
“Please correct it.”
Rosie spoke again. Her voice was a little shaky, but she sounded quite strong. The other concubines sitting close to her all turned their gazes to Rosie.
'Did she suddenly put a knife in her mouth? Why is she acting like that out of the ordinary?'
Catherine glanced at Rosie's face and thought to herself.
“I think you misunderstood what I said. Would you like some tea, Your Highness the Second Concubine?”
Princess Resilia deliberately emphasized the title 'Second Concubine' and secretly ignored Rosie.
“Oh my, you are talking because the Princess does not know. The books that Her Highness Rosie has read alone must be as high as the Shattonil Palace. How could someone like her not understand even that much?”
Melanie interjected. Princess Resilia looked at her and replied vaguely, “I see,” before closing her mouth. Consort Melanie was a difficult person to deal with, so it was best not to talk to her at all.
“Hey, Princess...”
Melanie whispered to Princess Resilia.
“But just now, you said that Her Majesty the Empress of the Lapion Empire has a disease of interest?”
Everyone stared at her with their mouths wide open at Melanie's very blunt question. Princess Resilia hesitated for a moment, looking at Melanie's ambiguous expression. Is that fool asking a question right now? Or is she asking excitedly? Melanie's constant tone and fierce expression made it difficult to discern her intentions.
“Well, I guess that’s not the case. I didn’t mean to say that, though.”
Princess Resilia spoke vaguely and picked up her teacup.
“It sounded exactly like that was your intention...?”
Melanie muttered to herself, then raised her voice to continue.
“Then, Princess, is peeling fruit your hobby? Some nobles peel fruit themselves as a hobby.”
“No, why are you suddenly asking that?”
Princess Resilia frowned and asked Melanie back.
“I also thought you were good at peeling fruit because you were so good at turning the conversation around.”
“Huh? What did you say?”
Princess Resilia put down her teacup and spoke nervously.
“Haaam.”
At that moment, Emperor Katria intervened, stretching and yawning heavily.
“As expected, women’s fights are boring. If you’re going to fight, each fight with a weapon in one hand. Don’t waste your energy just talking. Isn’t that right, Empress Elan?”
Emperor Katria asked Empress Elan of the Tebello Empire, a country in the same southern continent.
“That’s right. The reception room of the Lapion Palace is spacious, so it’s perfect for a game.”
Empress Elan touched the scar on her face that she had received during the banquet with her hand and replied. The women of the Northern Continent were shocked by the conversation between them and kept their mouths shut.
“Has Her Majesty the Empress arrived yet?”
The Princess looked at the empty seat of the Empress with displeasure and asked.
“I have a message to say that Her Majesty might be a little late, so let’s chat first.”
Princess Jasper of the Pasha Empire spoke to Princess Resilia, who was sitting across from her.
“I see? It seems that Her Majesty the Empress has more to do than welcome distinguished guests from different countries.”
Princess Resilia spoke with a gentle smile, but there was definitely some truth to her words.
“Her Majesty must have something important to do.”
Princess Jasper spoke quietly, looking slightly flustered at Princess Resilia’s sharp reaction. Rosie, sitting diagonally across from the Princess, stared at her intently. Rosie had been staring at Princess Resilia with a disapproving gaze ever since she entered the reception room.
'You abandoned your own child and are here smiling brightly and acting pretty? And look at the way you speak so rudely about Her Majesty the Empress.'
Before coming to the main palace, Rams' lovely face, which he had let fall asleep in her arms, overlapped with Princess Resilia's shameless face, and she suddenly became angry.
“I know Her Majesty the Empress well, having been close to her since childhood, but she has often been like this. Why is there always someone who shows up late to every event? As if they were the most important person.”
“You speak too harshly. Her Majesty the Empress is not that kind of person.”
Rosie spoke to Princess Resilia in a harsh voice. Princess Resilia glanced at Rosie for a moment and then looked away.
“Please correct it.”
Rosie spoke again. Her voice was a little shaky, but she sounded quite strong. The other concubines sitting close to her all turned their gazes to Rosie.
'Did she suddenly put a knife in her mouth? Why is she acting like that out of the ordinary?'
Catherine glanced at Rosie's face and thought to herself.
“I think you misunderstood what I said. Would you like some tea, Your Highness the Second Concubine?”
Princess Resilia deliberately emphasized the title 'Second Concubine' and secretly ignored Rosie.
“Oh my, you are talking because the Princess does not know. The books that Her Highness Rosie has read alone must be as high as the Shattonil Palace. How could someone like her not understand even that much?”
Melanie interjected. Princess Resilia looked at her and replied vaguely, “I see,” before closing her mouth. Consort Melanie was a difficult person to deal with, so it was best not to talk to her at all.
“Hey, Princess...”
Melanie whispered to Princess Resilia.
“But just now, you said that Her Majesty the Empress of the Lapion Empire has a disease of interest?”
Everyone stared at her with their mouths wide open at Melanie's very blunt question. Princess Resilia hesitated for a moment, looking at Melanie's ambiguous expression. Is that fool asking a question right now? Or is she asking excitedly? Melanie's constant tone and fierce expression made it difficult to discern her intentions.
“Well, I guess that’s not the case. I didn’t mean to say that, though.”
Princess Resilia spoke vaguely and picked up her teacup.
“It sounded exactly like that was your intention...?”
Melanie muttered to herself, then raised her voice to continue.
“Then, Princess, is peeling fruit your hobby? Some nobles peel fruit themselves as a hobby.”
“No, why are you suddenly asking that?”
Princess Resilia frowned and asked Melanie back.
“I also thought you were good at peeling fruit because you were so good at turning the conversation around.”
“Huh? What did you say?”
Princess Resilia put down her teacup and spoke nervously.
“Haaam.”
At that moment, Emperor Katria intervened, stretching and yawning heavily.
“As expected, women’s fights are boring. If you’re going to fight, each fight with a weapon in one hand. Don’t waste your energy just talking. Isn’t that right, Empress Elan?”
Emperor Katria asked Empress Elan of the Tebello Empire, a country in the same southern continent.
“That’s right. The reception room of the Lapion Palace is spacious, so it’s perfect for a game.”
Empress Elan touched the scar on her face that she had received during the banquet with her hand and replied. The women of the Northern Continent were shocked by the conversation between them and kept their mouths shut.
***
The women's tea time had probably already begun. I smiled and joked with him.
“Should I? Should I tell them that I will go straight to the banquet hall while I spend time with Your Majesty on the sofa in the office?”
Linel asked with a serious expression, taking it a step further.
“Wouldn’t it be more understandable if I spoke more openly so that it feels more sincere?”
He laid me down on the sofa and held me between his knees to keep me from running away.
“How can I say this so that it feels genuine?”
I whispered as I looked up at his profile, bathed in the setting sun. He took my hand and brought it to his face, his eyes filled with desire.
“His Majesty can’t wait until night, your pink eyes are so crazy and lovely, he can’t stand it...”
Before Linel could finish speaking, he kissed me hard, then pulled away for a moment and asked,
“Let me tell you so. Yes?”
His rampant desire was becoming more and more persistent and hotter.
“Zelda...”
The occasional call of my name was so sweet, like honey, that I couldn't leave him. His body was clearly telling me how much he wanted me right now. But it would be difficult if I let go of my reason here.
“This is the first time that only women have gathered, so I, the Empress, cannot be absent... Just a moment, please.”
He kept covering my mouth with his lips, interrupting my conversation. I forced myself to turn my head to the side, trying to escape the irresistible temptation.
“No matter how hard I hold on, I know you’ll go.”
Linel said, running the back of his hand over his quivering lips.
“That’s why you’re holding on any longer and getting in the way.”
He laughed as he confessed his misdeeds. I wanted to grab his hand and run into the break room in the office.
“Zelda, I think you were thinking the same thing as me just now?”
Linel glanced at the break room, then whispered in my ear with his lips.
“Should I? Should I tell them that I will go straight to the banquet hall while I spend time with Your Majesty on the sofa in the office?”
Linel asked with a serious expression, taking it a step further.
“Wouldn’t it be more understandable if I spoke more openly so that it feels more sincere?”
He laid me down on the sofa and held me between his knees to keep me from running away.
“How can I say this so that it feels genuine?”
I whispered as I looked up at his profile, bathed in the setting sun. He took my hand and brought it to his face, his eyes filled with desire.
“His Majesty can’t wait until night, your pink eyes are so crazy and lovely, he can’t stand it...”
Before Linel could finish speaking, he kissed me hard, then pulled away for a moment and asked,
“Let me tell you so. Yes?”
His rampant desire was becoming more and more persistent and hotter.
“Zelda...”
The occasional call of my name was so sweet, like honey, that I couldn't leave him. His body was clearly telling me how much he wanted me right now. But it would be difficult if I let go of my reason here.
“This is the first time that only women have gathered, so I, the Empress, cannot be absent... Just a moment, please.”
He kept covering my mouth with his lips, interrupting my conversation. I forced myself to turn my head to the side, trying to escape the irresistible temptation.
“No matter how hard I hold on, I know you’ll go.”
Linel said, running the back of his hand over his quivering lips.
“That’s why you’re holding on any longer and getting in the way.”
He laughed as he confessed his misdeeds. I wanted to grab his hand and run into the break room in the office.
“Zelda, I think you were thinking the same thing as me just now?”
Linel glanced at the break room, then whispered in my ear with his lips.
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