In response to my question, Emperor Katria glanced back and forth between her concubines and Princess Resilia.
“Since their words were sharp and their eyes were fierce, I advised them to just fight for real if that was going to happen, but it didn’t work.”
Are you serious?
“...It’s not easy for these women who have never learned martial arts.”
“Since their words were sharp and their eyes were fierce, I advised them to just fight for real if that was going to happen, but it didn’t work.”
Are you serious?
“...It’s not easy for these women who have never learned martial arts.”
I answered, hiding my embarrassment.
“What did you all do when you were young instead of receiving swordsmanship training?”
Then, Emperor Katria looked at the women of the Northern Continent with a look of incomprehension, and spoke even in a rebuking tone.
“I learned about etiquette.”
Princess Resilia got angry for no reason and spoke back to Emperor Katria, but she was immediately overwhelmed by her charisma and looked away.
“I didn’t see anything like that when I looked at it earlier.”
Emperor Katria stretched her head out as if she were really surprised and stared at the Princess. Princess Resilia blushed at Emperor Katria’s words. Judging from the way she pouted her lips, her face was so nervous that she wanted to argue with her. However, since the other person was the Emperor of the Delroy Empire, she couldn’t bring herself to refute her and seemed to be suppressing her anger.
“Poohaha!”
Just as the atmosphere was about to freeze, Melanie's bright laughter echoed through the living room.
“Oh, sorry,”
She kept giggling even though she said she was sorry.
“Melanie, why are you laughing?”
I asked her with a look of caution.
“I suddenly had a funny thought. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not laughing because of you, Princess. Oh my, Princess. If you frown like that, you’ll get wrinkles, wrinkles.”
"What?"
Melanie added, mentioning Princess Resilia. This time, Rosie, sitting next to Melanie, let out a laugh.
“Ugh... I’m sorry.”
At least Rosie, unlike Melanie, immediately apologized and bowed her head.
“Princess Resilia, let me apologize on their behalf for the concubines’ rude behavior.”
Catherine, who had been sipping tea like a lonely fox with a proud expression, raised her pointed chin and spoke to the Princess. Although her tone was not apologetic at all, Princess Resilia nodded and accepted her apology. Now that I think about it, Catherine’s face seemed more lively than usual. Was it because she had met her former lover, Count Ethan, during the day?
“Your Majesty, it is fortunate that you have at least one concubine who knows manners.”
Princess Resilia, who received an apology that didn't seem like an apology from Catherine, glared at Melanie and Rosie and said to me, "You don't know. If you think about it, Catherine is the strangest concubine." I pretended not to hear the Princess's words and glanced at Catherine.
'Meet me at the training center warehouse at 10pm tonight.'
I remembered Count Ethan whispering to her secretly. In fact, I had planned to go to the training ground tonight to personally confirm the secret meeting between the two. However, since my nose was three inches long, I didn’t have the time to do that right now. I looked at the faces of the guests one by one. My eyes met with Elan, the Empress of Emperor Adrian, who was sitting at the very end of the table. Oh, if I only knew the name of the herb that was said to be the most important ingredient in magic potions, I would ask Elan. I asked if she had ever heard of the herb that existed in the cocoa forest in the palace of the Tebello Empire. It might sound strange, but I wondered if Empress Elan might know about the herb... However, the book that Rosie had only had a picture of the herb and its effects, and unfortunately, it didn’t have the name of the herb.
“Oh, by the way, I heard that deer steak will be served for dinner tonight? I wonder what the deer dish at the Lapion Imperial Court will taste like.”
Empress Yulina of the Ekiya Empire on the Northern Continent was licking her lips. She was very happy that this was a good time, as she had been feeling quite weak lately. Incidentally, Empress Yulina is the oldest of the women participating in this continental hunting competition.
Wait, venison? I suddenly remembered the deer I had missed in the forest. Did it run away after being hit by my arrow and get caught by the court ladies? Oh, no.
“Yes, I heard that venison is good for your health.”
I answered Empress Yulena politely.
“Hahaha, that’s right. So I’m going to overeat today.”
Empress Katria also laughed heartily and agreed with Empress Yulina's words.
“It’s one of the foods I enjoyed eating before the war.”
“Oh my, is that true?”
The two men began to have a heated conversation about how to best eat venison.
“Ugh.”
At that moment, someone retched. All eyes turned to the person who retched... Pecilini? She covered her mouth with one hand and retched, but when the attention of the guests turned to her, she slowly lowered the hand that was covering her mouth and pounded her chest.
“I’m sorry, I feel a bit queasy after eating lunch... ugh!”
The nausea grew worse. Pesilini finally got up from her seat, covered her mouth with both hands, and hurriedly left the living room.
“I think you have a bad cold. I think you should call a doctor.”
As Rosie spoke, looking at the door of the reception room through which Pesilini had left, Princess Jasper cautiously intervened.
“It’s not the body, it’s the fetus... isn’t it?”
At Jasper's words, the guests all let out a low sigh of 'Aha!'. Then, as if they had made a promise, they all began to secretly look at me. I had nothing to say in response. I knew better than anyone that Pecilini's nausea had nothing to do with Linel. I smiled awkwardly and then met Princess Resilia's eyes.
'You're going to turn my stomach upside down again by taunting me for catching a good deal? Go ahead and do it, and I'll turn all your hair upside down.'
I finished my little mental preparations like that. But for some reason, Princess Resilia avoided my gaze first and only sipped her tea without saying anything. As if she had never seen Pecilini, who had retched.
“Yes, I heard that venison is good for your health.”
I answered Empress Yulena politely.
“Hahaha, that’s right. So I’m going to overeat today.”
Empress Katria also laughed heartily and agreed with Empress Yulina's words.
“It’s one of the foods I enjoyed eating before the war.”
“Oh my, is that true?”
The two men began to have a heated conversation about how to best eat venison.
“Ugh.”
At that moment, someone retched. All eyes turned to the person who retched... Pecilini? She covered her mouth with one hand and retched, but when the attention of the guests turned to her, she slowly lowered the hand that was covering her mouth and pounded her chest.
“I’m sorry, I feel a bit queasy after eating lunch... ugh!”
The nausea grew worse. Pesilini finally got up from her seat, covered her mouth with both hands, and hurriedly left the living room.
“I think you have a bad cold. I think you should call a doctor.”
As Rosie spoke, looking at the door of the reception room through which Pesilini had left, Princess Jasper cautiously intervened.
“It’s not the body, it’s the fetus... isn’t it?”
At Jasper's words, the guests all let out a low sigh of 'Aha!'. Then, as if they had made a promise, they all began to secretly look at me. I had nothing to say in response. I knew better than anyone that Pecilini's nausea had nothing to do with Linel. I smiled awkwardly and then met Princess Resilia's eyes.
'You're going to turn my stomach upside down again by taunting me for catching a good deal? Go ahead and do it, and I'll turn all your hair upside down.'
I finished my little mental preparations like that. But for some reason, Princess Resilia avoided my gaze first and only sipped her tea without saying anything. As if she had never seen Pecilini, who had retched.
Could it be that Pecilini’s retching was related to Prince Tesla?
***
The main palace banquet hall. After all the guests had taken their seats, food began to be set on the banquet table. This was the second time since the banquet that all the guests from each country had gathered. Pecilini, who had retched and left the reception room, also attended. When Rosie asked Pecilini if she was okay, she nodded and smiled.
Was it really diarrhoea? What would happen if it were morning sickness?
I looked at Prince Tesla. That cunning bastard. Prince Tesla was talking to Prince Calvaine of the Pasha Empire, who was sitting across from him, trying to please him. As I sat at the head of the table, I could see the guests from the two continents sitting on either side of me at a glance.
During the Continental Hunting Competition, I will travel together with the people gathered here to the Pasha Empire in the Southern Continent. And everyone will see the burn scars on my face...
Suddenly, my breathing became suffocating. I took a deep breath and exhaled, but the stuffiness did not go away. My head kept going down.
“Are you nervous? Straighten your shoulders and lift your head.”
Linel whispered to me. I lifted my head from where I had been bowing and looked at him.
“You are the Empress of the Lapion Empire.”
His firm and powerful voice made me feel a little better.
“Ah, I was just thinking about something else for a moment...”
Yes, there’s no need to be discouraged. I gathered my courage again and raised my head to look straight ahead. My gaze naturally shifted to where the dignitaries of the Kingdom of Shattonil were sitting. Grand Duke Martins was looking at me with a worried expression. I wanted to show the Grand Duke a slight smile, but the corners of my mouth wouldn’t cooperate. I also needed some time. How can I overcome this unavoidable reality...
“Are you nervous? Straighten your shoulders and lift your head.”
Linel whispered to me. I lifted my head from where I had been bowing and looked at him.
“You are the Empress of the Lapion Empire.”
His firm and powerful voice made me feel a little better.
“Ah, I was just thinking about something else for a moment...”
Yes, there’s no need to be discouraged. I gathered my courage again and raised my head to look straight ahead. My gaze naturally shifted to where the dignitaries of the Kingdom of Shattonil were sitting. Grand Duke Martins was looking at me with a worried expression. I wanted to show the Grand Duke a slight smile, but the corners of my mouth wouldn’t cooperate. I also needed some time. How can I overcome this unavoidable reality...
Rather, I needed time to accept this situation I was in and become stronger. I might have to live with a burn scar on my face again. No, that’s what it would be like. What kind of expression would Linel make when he saw the burn scar on my face? Right now, he was smiling at me so affectionately... My eyes naturally met with his. When I averted my gaze without realizing it, he grabbed my hand. When Linel’s cold hand dug between my fingers, I came to my senses.
“Before we begin the banquet, I have something to discuss with your distinguished guests.”
At his words, the voices of the guests who had been conversing with each other suddenly stopped.
“Is this by any chance something to do with the hunting competition?”
Emperor Adrian asked, turning the wine glass with his left hand.
“Yes, that’s right.”
Linel gave a short answer to Silverfish and then got straight to the point.
“How about changing the destination of this Continental Hunting Competition from the Patsha Empire to the Tebello Empire?”
“!”
Where? The Tebello Empire?!
The herb used in the magic potion is in a place called 'Cocoa Forest'. That forest is inside the Tebello Palace!
“Before we begin the banquet, I have something to discuss with your distinguished guests.”
At his words, the voices of the guests who had been conversing with each other suddenly stopped.
“Is this by any chance something to do with the hunting competition?”
Emperor Adrian asked, turning the wine glass with his left hand.
“Yes, that’s right.”
Linel gave a short answer to Silverfish and then got straight to the point.
“How about changing the destination of this Continental Hunting Competition from the Patsha Empire to the Tebello Empire?”
“!”
Where? The Tebello Empire?!
The herb used in the magic potion is in a place called 'Cocoa Forest'. That forest is inside the Tebello Palace!
Maybe we can get the herb through the Continental Hunting Competition. If the destination changes to the Tebello Empire like Linel said earlier... Does your heartbeat slow down when you're too surprised?
It felt like all of your functions and senses had stopped. I stared at his side profile in surprise at Linel's suggestion. He didn't look at me, but his hand that held mine gained strength. The guests began to murmur here and there. He seemed to have expected this reaction and continued speaking with an expression that showed no concern at all.
“I was planning to first consult with Prince Calvain and Emperor Adrian, but I thought it would be better to make the proposal publicly in front of all the distinguished guests, so I am taking this opportunity to say so.”
“Your Majesty, is there a reason why you would like to change the destination to the Tebello Empire?”
Prince Calvain of the Pasha Empire, the original destination, asked with an openly unpleasant expression. Emperor Adrian also looked quite embarrassed. As expected.
'What on earth is Your Majesty's plan?'
Emperor Adrian spoke to me inwardly.
'Ah, judging by your expression, it seems that the Empress also knows now.'
'Yeah, I don't know. This is a silver carp.'
I also answered with my heart, but as expected, today, my heart did not seem to be conveyed to Emperor Adrian. Did Linel really change the destination of the hunting competition to Emperor Adrian’s country for convenience?
“I was planning to first consult with Prince Calvain and Emperor Adrian, but I thought it would be better to make the proposal publicly in front of all the distinguished guests, so I am taking this opportunity to say so.”
“Your Majesty, is there a reason why you would like to change the destination to the Tebello Empire?”
Prince Calvain of the Pasha Empire, the original destination, asked with an openly unpleasant expression. Emperor Adrian also looked quite embarrassed. As expected.
'What on earth is Your Majesty's plan?'
Emperor Adrian spoke to me inwardly.
'Ah, judging by your expression, it seems that the Empress also knows now.'
'Yeah, I don't know. This is a silver carp.'
I also answered with my heart, but as expected, today, my heart did not seem to be conveyed to Emperor Adrian. Did Linel really change the destination of the hunting competition to Emperor Adrian’s country for convenience?
There must have been some other reason. Maybe because of me? So, to obtain the herbs that go into the magic potion? But how would Linel know that?
Yeah, that doesn’t make sense. In any case, whatever the reason, I had a glimmer of hope. His eyes were so peaceful right now that I couldn’t figure out what he really meant. Linel continued his explanation.
“As you all know, the safest way to go to the Southern Continent from here is through the Tebello Empire, which is closest to the Valley of Death, and the terrain is gentle. On the other hand, when going from the Southern Continent to the Northern Continent, the easiest way is to take a boat from the Delphi Empire, which borders the sea.”
On the continental map, the Pasha Empire is located at the very bottom.
“Wait a minute, is there anyone here who doesn’t know that? It’s not a legal requirement, but it’s never happened in history that a country’s destination has been changed midway.”
Prince Calvain interrupted him in a somewhat agitated tone. Prince Norton then stopped his brother and apologized to him.
“Brother, His Majesty has not finished speaking. I apologize, Your Majesty. Please continue speaking.”
As Linel nodded to Prince Norton and continued speaking, this time, Empress Katria intervened.
“I believe that His Majesty Linel has a point. This tournament will especially involve women from the Northern Continent, and it will be difficult for them, who are already weak, to go straight to the Pasha Empire and then head back to the Northern Continent.”
Emperor Katria drank the aperitif to support his opinion. Although she did make a slight mockery of the women of the Northern Continent, her words were not wrong. The concubines were very pleased with Empress Katria’s opinion. Among the guests, the only one who died was Prince Calvain. It would be so because the Pasha Empire had already prepared to welcome the guests. However, for convenience’s sake, the departure point was changed to a different destination, so it was a situation where it was not only absurd but also enough to feel ignored.
“Oh, before we get to that... I understand that Prince Calvain and his wife haven’t had their wedding ceremony yet, is that correct?”
He brought up a topic that was off topic with a meaningful expression. Why are you suddenly talking about such a sensitive topic? The atmosphere at the dinner party became as cold as Linel's body.
“What does that have to do with this matter right now?!”
Prince Calvain's expression suddenly distorted.
“As you all know, the safest way to go to the Southern Continent from here is through the Tebello Empire, which is closest to the Valley of Death, and the terrain is gentle. On the other hand, when going from the Southern Continent to the Northern Continent, the easiest way is to take a boat from the Delphi Empire, which borders the sea.”
On the continental map, the Pasha Empire is located at the very bottom.
“Wait a minute, is there anyone here who doesn’t know that? It’s not a legal requirement, but it’s never happened in history that a country’s destination has been changed midway.”
Prince Calvain interrupted him in a somewhat agitated tone. Prince Norton then stopped his brother and apologized to him.
“Brother, His Majesty has not finished speaking. I apologize, Your Majesty. Please continue speaking.”
As Linel nodded to Prince Norton and continued speaking, this time, Empress Katria intervened.
“I believe that His Majesty Linel has a point. This tournament will especially involve women from the Northern Continent, and it will be difficult for them, who are already weak, to go straight to the Pasha Empire and then head back to the Northern Continent.”
Emperor Katria drank the aperitif to support his opinion. Although she did make a slight mockery of the women of the Northern Continent, her words were not wrong. The concubines were very pleased with Empress Katria’s opinion. Among the guests, the only one who died was Prince Calvain. It would be so because the Pasha Empire had already prepared to welcome the guests. However, for convenience’s sake, the departure point was changed to a different destination, so it was a situation where it was not only absurd but also enough to feel ignored.
“Oh, before we get to that... I understand that Prince Calvain and his wife haven’t had their wedding ceremony yet, is that correct?”
He brought up a topic that was off topic with a meaningful expression. Why are you suddenly talking about such a sensitive topic? The atmosphere at the dinner party became as cold as Linel's body.
“What does that have to do with this matter right now?!”
Prince Calvain's expression suddenly distorted.
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Where can I read the earlier chapters?
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