Upon arriving at the blacksmith shop, I headed straight for Count Ethan's personal workshop.
“Hello, Your Majesty, the Empress.”
Count Ethan, who was working on his extension while sweating, recognized me and hurriedly greeted me.
“How did you come to such a shabby place?”
“I heard from Commander Macrom that the sword has been completed.”
“Yes. Although my skills are humble, I did my best to make it. All that’s left is the final pickling. Would you like to take a look?”
“Yeah.”
Count Ethan wiped the sword handle with a clean rag he had placed on the workbench and handed it to me. The sword itself was light and nimble.
“It’s a nice sword.”
I said, swinging my sword in the air. I just moved my wrist slightly to turn the sword, but Sharon clapped her hands, and I quickly put the sword down in embarrassment. Count Ethan also looked very surprised at the fact that I was handling a sword.
“Yes, as Commander Macrom will tell you, it is the lightest sword in His Majesty’s possession.”
“Yes, it’s light as a feather.”
That was the problem. I held up my sword and held the blade in the sunlight. The blade was quite sharp, but the sword itself was thin, so it felt a little lacking. This sword was not good enough for hunting large game or fighting multiple people at once. Of course, I would not have the opportunity to fight anyone during the hunting season, but there might be a time when I would kill a large animal with a sword instead of a bow. After I swung the sword a few times, Count Ethan said with a pleased expression.
“The sword itself is light, but the blade is quite sharp and can cut most things cleanly.”
“Wouldn’t it be nice if human relationships could be cut cleanly like a sword?”
"... Yes?"
“I sometimes have that thought whenever I handle a sword. Have you ever thought that, Count Ethan?”
A bitter smile crossed Count Ethan’s face, who had been puzzled by my words. There was no reply, but the Count seemed to agree with what I said.
“I think loving someone is similar to the process of making a sword.”
I said, putting down my sword. This time, Count Ethan flinched.
“Just like the process of making a sword, love also needs to go through a process of being hot and cold like a furnace, continuously refining, and being patient. If maintaining a relationship is the process of making a sword, then ending a relationship would be like using the sword.”
"You're right."
Count Ethan nodded and quietly agreed with what I said.
“When you have to cut off a relationship, you have to cut it off with a single blow, like a sword. There will be wounds, and you will shed blood from sorrow, but isn’t that right?”
“Yes... I think so, too.”
I could tell from the expression on Count Ethan's face that he was thinking of Catherine right now. I wanted to advise him to stay away from Catherine, but I couldn't just say that out loud. Fortunately, Count Ethan had shown himself to be drawing a line with Catherine in the training room, so I thought it would be best to keep an eye on her after returning from the hunting competition.
“I have a favor to ask.”
“Please speak, Your Majesty, the Empress.”
“Do you have a spare sword with a wider blade and a bit more weight than this one? Oh, you have one over there.”
I walked over to the weapons display case on one side of the workshop, pointing to the swords lined up in a row. I looked through them and picked up a sword of similar size that I usually used.
“Can you please take a look at this sword as well? Is there too little time?”
“Oh, no. However, wouldn’t that be a bit inconvenient for Your Majesty the Empress, to use?”
“It’s heavier than that pretty sword, but it can cut a lot more things at once.”
“Hello, Your Majesty, the Empress.”
Count Ethan, who was working on his extension while sweating, recognized me and hurriedly greeted me.
“How did you come to such a shabby place?”
“I heard from Commander Macrom that the sword has been completed.”
“Yes. Although my skills are humble, I did my best to make it. All that’s left is the final pickling. Would you like to take a look?”
“Yeah.”
Count Ethan wiped the sword handle with a clean rag he had placed on the workbench and handed it to me. The sword itself was light and nimble.
“It’s a nice sword.”
I said, swinging my sword in the air. I just moved my wrist slightly to turn the sword, but Sharon clapped her hands, and I quickly put the sword down in embarrassment. Count Ethan also looked very surprised at the fact that I was handling a sword.
“Yes, as Commander Macrom will tell you, it is the lightest sword in His Majesty’s possession.”
“Yes, it’s light as a feather.”
That was the problem. I held up my sword and held the blade in the sunlight. The blade was quite sharp, but the sword itself was thin, so it felt a little lacking. This sword was not good enough for hunting large game or fighting multiple people at once. Of course, I would not have the opportunity to fight anyone during the hunting season, but there might be a time when I would kill a large animal with a sword instead of a bow. After I swung the sword a few times, Count Ethan said with a pleased expression.
“The sword itself is light, but the blade is quite sharp and can cut most things cleanly.”
“Wouldn’t it be nice if human relationships could be cut cleanly like a sword?”
"... Yes?"
“I sometimes have that thought whenever I handle a sword. Have you ever thought that, Count Ethan?”
A bitter smile crossed Count Ethan’s face, who had been puzzled by my words. There was no reply, but the Count seemed to agree with what I said.
“I think loving someone is similar to the process of making a sword.”
I said, putting down my sword. This time, Count Ethan flinched.
“Just like the process of making a sword, love also needs to go through a process of being hot and cold like a furnace, continuously refining, and being patient. If maintaining a relationship is the process of making a sword, then ending a relationship would be like using the sword.”
"You're right."
Count Ethan nodded and quietly agreed with what I said.
“When you have to cut off a relationship, you have to cut it off with a single blow, like a sword. There will be wounds, and you will shed blood from sorrow, but isn’t that right?”
“Yes... I think so, too.”
I could tell from the expression on Count Ethan's face that he was thinking of Catherine right now. I wanted to advise him to stay away from Catherine, but I couldn't just say that out loud. Fortunately, Count Ethan had shown himself to be drawing a line with Catherine in the training room, so I thought it would be best to keep an eye on her after returning from the hunting competition.
“I have a favor to ask.”
“Please speak, Your Majesty, the Empress.”
“Do you have a spare sword with a wider blade and a bit more weight than this one? Oh, you have one over there.”
I walked over to the weapons display case on one side of the workshop, pointing to the swords lined up in a row. I looked through them and picked up a sword of similar size that I usually used.
“Can you please take a look at this sword as well? Is there too little time?”
“Oh, no. However, wouldn’t that be a bit inconvenient for Your Majesty the Empress, to use?”
“It’s heavier than that pretty sword, but it can cut a lot more things at once.”
“That is true, but...”
Count Ethan tilted his head and smiled awkwardly. He seemed to be asking why I would ever use a sword that only knights would carry, even if it was a sword for a hunting tournament.
“I’m not sure if I’m bothering you unnecessarily when you’re already busy.”
“That is not true. It will take some time for the furnace to heat up, but as soon as it does, I will reforge the sword you mentioned. The sword Your Majesty ordered only needs the final tempering, so everything should be finished by tomorrow afternoon.”
“Thank you, I’m already looking forward to it.”
Before leaving Count Ethan's workshop, I looked at the furnace and raised the temperature so that the Count could finish his work a little faster.
Count Ethan tilted his head and smiled awkwardly. He seemed to be asking why I would ever use a sword that only knights would carry, even if it was a sword for a hunting tournament.
“I’m not sure if I’m bothering you unnecessarily when you’re already busy.”
“That is not true. It will take some time for the furnace to heat up, but as soon as it does, I will reforge the sword you mentioned. The sword Your Majesty ordered only needs the final tempering, so everything should be finished by tomorrow afternoon.”
“Thank you, I’m already looking forward to it.”
Before leaving Count Ethan's workshop, I looked at the furnace and raised the temperature so that the Count could finish his work a little faster.
***
I returned to the main palace from the blacksmith shop. I tried to visit Rosie's quarters, but I couldn't stop worrying about Bonis, who had a stomachache. As soon as I returned to the main palace, I went to Bonis's room to check on her condition. Fortunately, the stomachache had stopped. However, Bonis's expression looked worse than when she had a stomachache. It was like someone was anxious, not knowing when she would have to run to the bathroom again.
“I’m sorry, Your Majesty the Empress..."
Bonis repeated to me that she was sorry more than necessary.
“What are you sorry about? You don’t usually have anything to be sorry about, so why are you apologizing for giving yourself a stomachache?”
When I laughed and joked, Bonis laughed too. But her expression darkened again. She didn't have the strength to laugh. I told Bonis to lie back down on the bed and get some rest, and then I hurriedly left her room.
“I think she has a bad stomachache. Her face looks worse than before.”
On the way back to the bedroom, Sharon said.
“Does it look that way to you, too?”
“Yes, when I have a stomachache, I usually feel a bit anxious that day.”
“I guess I’ll have to order something light for breakfast tomorrow.”
“I’ll tell the chef in advance.”
“Yeah, okay, do that.”
I went into the bedroom waiting room while chatting with Sharon. Sollie and Delissa were loitering around the bedroom door, and when they saw me, they came over to me.
“His Majesty has been waiting in the bedroom for an hour.”
He spoke to Sollie in a low voice.
"Already?"
I asked, looking at the large grandfather clock in the bedroom and, waiting room. It wasn't time for Linel to come back yet.
“His Majesty seemed a little... unhappy.”
Delissa also whispered with a worried expression. I nodded to the servants and looked at Sharon. Sharon also opened the bedroom door with a nervous expression. Linel was looking down at the Empress's palace garden from outside the terrace. I approached him while looking at his back.
“Your Majesty, didn’t you say that today would be your busiest day?”
Linel slowly turned to me.
“I’m sorry, Your Majesty the Empress..."
Bonis repeated to me that she was sorry more than necessary.
“What are you sorry about? You don’t usually have anything to be sorry about, so why are you apologizing for giving yourself a stomachache?”
When I laughed and joked, Bonis laughed too. But her expression darkened again. She didn't have the strength to laugh. I told Bonis to lie back down on the bed and get some rest, and then I hurriedly left her room.
“I think she has a bad stomachache. Her face looks worse than before.”
On the way back to the bedroom, Sharon said.
“Does it look that way to you, too?”
“Yes, when I have a stomachache, I usually feel a bit anxious that day.”
“I guess I’ll have to order something light for breakfast tomorrow.”
“I’ll tell the chef in advance.”
“Yeah, okay, do that.”
I went into the bedroom waiting room while chatting with Sharon. Sollie and Delissa were loitering around the bedroom door, and when they saw me, they came over to me.
“His Majesty has been waiting in the bedroom for an hour.”
He spoke to Sollie in a low voice.
"Already?"
I asked, looking at the large grandfather clock in the bedroom and, waiting room. It wasn't time for Linel to come back yet.
“His Majesty seemed a little... unhappy.”
Delissa also whispered with a worried expression. I nodded to the servants and looked at Sharon. Sharon also opened the bedroom door with a nervous expression. Linel was looking down at the Empress's palace garden from outside the terrace. I approached him while looking at his back.
“Your Majesty, didn’t you say that today would be your busiest day?”
Linel slowly turned to me.
***
At the same time, Princess Resilia was looking for the floor where the Pasha Empire's VIPs stayed in the same palace.
“Tell me.”
The Princess arrived in front of the room where Prince Norton was staying and spoke to the servant waiting at the door.
“The Prince had a cold and went to bed early.”
The servant spoke politely, although he was taken aback by the visit of the princess of the Kingdom of Shattonil.
“Where does your Prince fall ill?”
“He has been feeling a bit cold since attending the banquet at the main palace last night. That’s why he went to bed early today.”
“It’s still early evening, and already? But if I tell him that Princess Resilia has arrived, he’ll come to see me.”
Princess Resilia didn't care at all about the person being sick. The servant, with a troubled expression, reluctantly opened Prince Norton's bedroom door and went in. After a while. In less than a minute, the servant opened the bedroom door again and came out. The servant relayed Prince Norton's words to Princess Resilia, who was standing there with a confident expression.
“I’m sorry, Princess Regilia. The Prince told you to just go home today.”
“...He told me to just go back?”
“Yes, I’m sorry.”
“Hey, did he get what I said right?”
Princess Resilia's voice became fierce. The gentle expression she had at first was nowhere to be found. Even the attendants around her were startled by the change and glanced at Princess Resilia.
“Re, Sil, Lia, did you clearly tell the Prince that I was here?”
The Princess kept repeating her name in a tone of disbelief as she questioned the servant. She was in a bad mood after being hit in the stomach by Zelda this afternoon. In the midst of all this, she was getting unexpectedly rudely treated by Prince Norton, which made her irritable.
“Yes, Princess. How many times have I told you exactly?”
The attendant gradually became more and more annoyed, but he bowed his head and answered obediently.
“Get out of the way, I need to go see him and check on his condition.”
Princess Resilia pushed the servant aside and tried to force open the bedroom door.
“Tell me.”
The Princess arrived in front of the room where Prince Norton was staying and spoke to the servant waiting at the door.
“The Prince had a cold and went to bed early.”
The servant spoke politely, although he was taken aback by the visit of the princess of the Kingdom of Shattonil.
“Where does your Prince fall ill?”
“He has been feeling a bit cold since attending the banquet at the main palace last night. That’s why he went to bed early today.”
“It’s still early evening, and already? But if I tell him that Princess Resilia has arrived, he’ll come to see me.”
Princess Resilia didn't care at all about the person being sick. The servant, with a troubled expression, reluctantly opened Prince Norton's bedroom door and went in. After a while. In less than a minute, the servant opened the bedroom door again and came out. The servant relayed Prince Norton's words to Princess Resilia, who was standing there with a confident expression.
“I’m sorry, Princess Regilia. The Prince told you to just go home today.”
“...He told me to just go back?”
“Yes, I’m sorry.”
“Hey, did he get what I said right?”
Princess Resilia's voice became fierce. The gentle expression she had at first was nowhere to be found. Even the attendants around her were startled by the change and glanced at Princess Resilia.
“Re, Sil, Lia, did you clearly tell the Prince that I was here?”
The Princess kept repeating her name in a tone of disbelief as she questioned the servant. She was in a bad mood after being hit in the stomach by Zelda this afternoon. In the midst of all this, she was getting unexpectedly rudely treated by Prince Norton, which made her irritable.
“Yes, Princess. How many times have I told you exactly?”
The attendant gradually became more and more annoyed, but he bowed his head and answered obediently.
“Get out of the way, I need to go see him and check on his condition.”
Princess Resilia pushed the servant aside and tried to force open the bedroom door.
“Princess! This will be problematic!”
“What’s so difficult?”
Despite the servant's warnings, she flung open the bedroom door, quickly went inside, and locked the door.
“I'm here.”
Princess Resilia spoke in a sullen voice and walked to the bed. However, when Prince Norton did not respond, her voice became even more muffled.
“Norton? Are you feeling very unwell? The hunting competition starts in two days. What if you catch a cold...”
There was still no answer. Prince Norton remained completely covered in the blanket and did not move.
'Are you feeling very unwell?'
Princess Resilia felt slightly embarrassed about being irritated, so she hesitated for a moment in front of the bed. If he had already taken the cold medicine and fallen asleep, she felt bad about waking him up. Today, she was going to show her true self by talking to Prince Norton about 'their son'. Besides, she wanted to see Rams especially tonight.
'Because he is the child who will bring me success, joy, and happiness.'
She had no intention of asking Prince Norton where Rams was. She had only come today to tell Norton how much she missed her son and to show him her maternal love. So her business could be discussed tomorrow.
'But since I've already come all the way to the bedroom, I should at least see his face before I go.'
He was the man who said that he felt better when he saw her smiling face. Princess Resilia carefully sat down on the bed, turned her back, and carefully shook Norton's body as he lay there.
“Honey, I’ll just see your face and go. Yes?”
But Prince Norton was already deeply asleep, so there was no answer this time either. Princess Resilia felt inwardly disappointed as she watched Prince Norton, who was still covered with the blanket, not move. Feeling reluctant to just go back, she curled up next to Prince Norton and lay down. Then she hugged him from behind. She felt Prince Norton flinch.
“Are you awake? Are you awake because of me?”
Princess Resilia raised her body and asked in a secretive voice. She grabbed the blanket that Prince Norton had pulled over his head and pulled it down. At that moment, Prince Norton coughed and turned his back further to avoid having the blanket taken away.
“Cough, cough, cough, I’m sorry but you have to stop today...”
“Oh my god, Norton. Your voice is completely hoarse.”
Prince Norton seemed to have caught a serious cold.
“Cough, my body is so... cough!”
“Yes, yes. Sorry for waking you up. We can talk tomorrow.”
Resilia pressed the blanket down even more and hurried out of the bedroom. The bedroom door slammed shut, and after a while, Prince Norton pulled back the blanket and sat up.
“Haa, I can’t breathe...”
The man under the blanket was Prince Norton's bodyguard, Knight Crisson.
“I thought I was going to die because my heart was pounding because I knew I was going to get caught.”
Sir Crisson muttered as he wiped the sweat from his forehead and looked at the terrace door through which Prince Norton had sneaked out of the room ten minutes before Princess Resilia arrived.
“What the hell are you doing every night these past few days? Where does His Highness go every night?”
“I took care of urgent matters. I’m going to rest early today.”
Linel said as he closed the terrace door and entered the bedroom. His expression seemed somehow subtle. He was smiling, but there was a redness around his eyes, as if he had just come from crying.
“Then that’s good. Where... are you feeling unwell?”
“No way. I'm too healthy to be a problem. Except for my cold body.”
Linel snickered as he repeated what Moiya had said to him. His speech and expression were the same as usual, but his eyes looked a little different than usual.
“That’s why I always keep you warm.”
I lifted my heels and threw my arms around his neck.
“Yeah, it’s warm...”
He also hugged me and said.
“You are what I need most. I don’t need anything else.”
His voice sounded strange, as if his throat was choked up.
“Your Majesty, are you really not feeling well?”
“Actually, actually...”
After he finished speaking, he hesitated for a few seconds before muttering lowly in a sigh-filled voice.
“I’m a little sick...”
“Really? Where are you going?”
I tried to open my arms to look at his face, but he was holding me so tightly that I couldn't even raise my head. If it were a normal woman, I would have been overwhelmed by his strength and stayed still, but I was needlessly strong.
"Your Majesty?"
I pushed his arms away with both hands and pulled away from his embrace. I managed to pull myself away, but this time Linel had his head down. As I was about to turn my head to look at his face, something fell onto the marble floor. I put my palm under his face, which was bent down. Something very cold touched my palm. It was Linel’s tears.
“What’s so difficult?”
Despite the servant's warnings, she flung open the bedroom door, quickly went inside, and locked the door.
“I'm here.”
Princess Resilia spoke in a sullen voice and walked to the bed. However, when Prince Norton did not respond, her voice became even more muffled.
“Norton? Are you feeling very unwell? The hunting competition starts in two days. What if you catch a cold...”
There was still no answer. Prince Norton remained completely covered in the blanket and did not move.
'Are you feeling very unwell?'
Princess Resilia felt slightly embarrassed about being irritated, so she hesitated for a moment in front of the bed. If he had already taken the cold medicine and fallen asleep, she felt bad about waking him up. Today, she was going to show her true self by talking to Prince Norton about 'their son'. Besides, she wanted to see Rams especially tonight.
'Because he is the child who will bring me success, joy, and happiness.'
She had no intention of asking Prince Norton where Rams was. She had only come today to tell Norton how much she missed her son and to show him her maternal love. So her business could be discussed tomorrow.
'But since I've already come all the way to the bedroom, I should at least see his face before I go.'
He was the man who said that he felt better when he saw her smiling face. Princess Resilia carefully sat down on the bed, turned her back, and carefully shook Norton's body as he lay there.
“Honey, I’ll just see your face and go. Yes?”
But Prince Norton was already deeply asleep, so there was no answer this time either. Princess Resilia felt inwardly disappointed as she watched Prince Norton, who was still covered with the blanket, not move. Feeling reluctant to just go back, she curled up next to Prince Norton and lay down. Then she hugged him from behind. She felt Prince Norton flinch.
“Are you awake? Are you awake because of me?”
Princess Resilia raised her body and asked in a secretive voice. She grabbed the blanket that Prince Norton had pulled over his head and pulled it down. At that moment, Prince Norton coughed and turned his back further to avoid having the blanket taken away.
“Cough, cough, cough, I’m sorry but you have to stop today...”
“Oh my god, Norton. Your voice is completely hoarse.”
Prince Norton seemed to have caught a serious cold.
“Cough, my body is so... cough!”
“Yes, yes. Sorry for waking you up. We can talk tomorrow.”
Resilia pressed the blanket down even more and hurried out of the bedroom. The bedroom door slammed shut, and after a while, Prince Norton pulled back the blanket and sat up.
“Haa, I can’t breathe...”
The man under the blanket was Prince Norton's bodyguard, Knight Crisson.
“I thought I was going to die because my heart was pounding because I knew I was going to get caught.”
Sir Crisson muttered as he wiped the sweat from his forehead and looked at the terrace door through which Prince Norton had sneaked out of the room ten minutes before Princess Resilia arrived.
“What the hell are you doing every night these past few days? Where does His Highness go every night?”
***
“I took care of urgent matters. I’m going to rest early today.”
Linel said as he closed the terrace door and entered the bedroom. His expression seemed somehow subtle. He was smiling, but there was a redness around his eyes, as if he had just come from crying.
“Then that’s good. Where... are you feeling unwell?”
“No way. I'm too healthy to be a problem. Except for my cold body.”
Linel snickered as he repeated what Moiya had said to him. His speech and expression were the same as usual, but his eyes looked a little different than usual.
“That’s why I always keep you warm.”
I lifted my heels and threw my arms around his neck.
“Yeah, it’s warm...”
He also hugged me and said.
“You are what I need most. I don’t need anything else.”
His voice sounded strange, as if his throat was choked up.
“Your Majesty, are you really not feeling well?”
“Actually, actually...”
After he finished speaking, he hesitated for a few seconds before muttering lowly in a sigh-filled voice.
“I’m a little sick...”
“Really? Where are you going?”
I tried to open my arms to look at his face, but he was holding me so tightly that I couldn't even raise my head. If it were a normal woman, I would have been overwhelmed by his strength and stayed still, but I was needlessly strong.
"Your Majesty?"
I pushed his arms away with both hands and pulled away from his embrace. I managed to pull myself away, but this time Linel had his head down. As I was about to turn my head to look at his face, something fell onto the marble floor. I put my palm under his face, which was bent down. Something very cold touched my palm. It was Linel’s tears.
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