“Are you crying? Are you crying?!”
I tried to check Linel's face, but he turned his body to the side and wiped away his tears. He was crying. I thought I would never see him cry again in my life unless someone deliberately poked his eyes with their hands. How much pain must it be... I felt bad.
“You even hold my tears with your hand and ask, ‘Are you crying?’”
Linel took my words bluntly.
“...What’s wrong with you to the point where you have to cry? Yes?”
“It hurts here. It feels like someone is grabbing me with their hands and tearing me apart.”
He put his hand on his chest, clenched his fist, and pounded his chest violently.
“Of course, it hurts when you hit your chest like that.”
I quickly released his fist with both hands.
“What does the palace doctor say?”
“Everything will be okay after today.”
“Really?”
“For now.”
“Yes? The palace doctor really said that I’ll be fine after today?”
He nodded.
“Yeah, but if you say it’s okay, I think I’ll feel better right away.”
“Your face doesn’t look okay at all.
As we approached the room where the Lord of Magic Tower was staying, he looked down at my hand, which was linked with his, and said:
“I feel less nervous because Your Majesty is by my side.”
It was true. Just having Linel by my side gave me courage and peace of mind. If he hadn't been there, I would have stopped walking several times on my way here. He smiled and held my hand tightly. It was more reassuring than telling me not to tremble.
I tried to check Linel's face, but he turned his body to the side and wiped away his tears. He was crying. I thought I would never see him cry again in my life unless someone deliberately poked his eyes with their hands. How much pain must it be... I felt bad.
“You even hold my tears with your hand and ask, ‘Are you crying?’”
Linel took my words bluntly.
“...What’s wrong with you to the point where you have to cry? Yes?”
“It hurts here. It feels like someone is grabbing me with their hands and tearing me apart.”
He put his hand on his chest, clenched his fist, and pounded his chest violently.
“Of course, it hurts when you hit your chest like that.”
I quickly released his fist with both hands.
“What does the palace doctor say?”
“Everything will be okay after today.”
“Really?”
“For now.”
“Yes? The palace doctor really said that I’ll be fine after today?”
He nodded.
“Yeah, but if you say it’s okay, I think I’ll feel better right away.”
“Your face doesn’t look okay at all.
"This."
Linel lowered his head, laughed vainly, and whispered with pitiful eyes.
“Hug me.”
Why do those words sound so painful? I hugged him and kissed him. I tried to give him a light kiss, but I couldn't take my lips off his piercing softness.
Today, I felt drowsy because of his kiss, which felt like a gentle caress.
“Yes. I think I’m all better...”
Linel whispered, hiding his face in the crook of my neck.
“Your Majesty, by any chance...”
"Yes?"
“Do you have a cold?”
"What?"
“So you’re not trying to pass it on to me?”
“.mm”
For a moment, I felt something wet on the back of my neck. What was it?
“Are you crying again?”
Linel began to sob softly.
“I’m sorry, I was joking when you were sick.”
I patted his back and soothed him. Oh, boy, why are you crying so embarrassingly? I was caressing Linel's broad back and feeling awkward when he spoke in a deep, resonant voice.
“I love you, Zelda...”
I feel even more sorry for joking with him earlier.
Linel lowered his head, laughed vainly, and whispered with pitiful eyes.
“Hug me.”
Why do those words sound so painful? I hugged him and kissed him. I tried to give him a light kiss, but I couldn't take my lips off his piercing softness.
Today, I felt drowsy because of his kiss, which felt like a gentle caress.
“Yes. I think I’m all better...”
Linel whispered, hiding his face in the crook of my neck.
“Your Majesty, by any chance...”
"Yes?"
“Do you have a cold?”
"What?"
“So you’re not trying to pass it on to me?”
“.mm”
For a moment, I felt something wet on the back of my neck. What was it?
“Are you crying again?”
Linel began to sob softly.
“I’m sorry, I was joking when you were sick.”
I patted his back and soothed him. Oh, boy, why are you crying so embarrassingly? I was caressing Linel's broad back and feeling awkward when he spoke in a deep, resonant voice.
“I love you, Zelda...”
I feel even more sorry for joking with him earlier.
***
“If you go out like this every night, won’t your servants think it’s strange?”
Today, too, Rosie opened the terrace door to Prince Norton, who had come to visit her quarters.
“It’s okay, I’ll put in my own pinch hitter and come back.”
“What if someone barges into your bedroom?”
“No one but Princess Resilia can barge into my bedroom.”
“Oh my, has the Princess ever been to the Prince’s bedroom?”
Rosie asked, staring intently at Prince Norton's face. Prince Norton avoided her gaze and turned his gaze to Rams, who was sleeping soundly on the bed.
“Didn’t he whine a lot today?”
He didn't understand why he avoided Rosie's gaze. Why did he feel guilty? Even though she hadn't asked him in a questioning tone. Fortunately, Rosie didn't bring up Princess Resilia anymore.
“He had fun, ate, laughed, and fought well today.”
"Thank you."
“Yes, it’s time to repay that gratitude. Rams is sleeping, so we should do what we have to do?”
Rosie picked up the old book she had been reading before Prince Norton arrived.
“What are you curious about today?”
Prince Norton sat down on the sofa, pushing aside the books that were spread out on it.
“Here it is.”
Rose sat down next to him and pointed to a map drawn in the book.
“It’s the Principality of Aklatto.”
Prince Norton read the ancient script written next to the map.
“Ah, as expected...”
Since only an island was drawn and it was written in the ancient language of Pasha, she was a bit confused, but as she had expected, the island drawn in the ancient book was the Principality of Aklatto.
“Do you know this place, Your Highness Rosie? It’s closer to the Southern Continent.”
“My mother was from here. Before she got married, she practiced at Magic Tower on Aklatto Island.”
“Ah, she learned magic. I heard that this Magic Tower used to produce many magicians. I heard that they don’t accept disciples anymore.”
“That’s right. One of the last disciples that the Magic Tower Lord taught was my mother. She learned healing magic.”
“Then, did you receive this report from your mother?”
“Yes, I received it before she passed away.”
Prince Norton's smiling expression hardened at Rosie's answer.
“That’s too bad.”
“It’s okay. My mother passed away when I was young, so I can’t remember her face clearly. When that happens, I look at the portrait of her on my necklace pendant. Then I remember her again.”
Prince Norton listened to Rosie's story and then quietly opened his mouth.
“I feel bad saying this, but I still envy Your Highness Rosie. I don’t even remember what my mother looked like. My mother, who was a concubine, passed away less than a year after giving birth to me.”
Today, too, Rosie opened the terrace door to Prince Norton, who had come to visit her quarters.
“It’s okay, I’ll put in my own pinch hitter and come back.”
“What if someone barges into your bedroom?”
“No one but Princess Resilia can barge into my bedroom.”
“Oh my, has the Princess ever been to the Prince’s bedroom?”
Rosie asked, staring intently at Prince Norton's face. Prince Norton avoided her gaze and turned his gaze to Rams, who was sleeping soundly on the bed.
“Didn’t he whine a lot today?”
He didn't understand why he avoided Rosie's gaze. Why did he feel guilty? Even though she hadn't asked him in a questioning tone. Fortunately, Rosie didn't bring up Princess Resilia anymore.
“He had fun, ate, laughed, and fought well today.”
"Thank you."
“Yes, it’s time to repay that gratitude. Rams is sleeping, so we should do what we have to do?”
Rosie picked up the old book she had been reading before Prince Norton arrived.
“What are you curious about today?”
Prince Norton sat down on the sofa, pushing aside the books that were spread out on it.
“Here it is.”
Rose sat down next to him and pointed to a map drawn in the book.
“It’s the Principality of Aklatto.”
Prince Norton read the ancient script written next to the map.
“Ah, as expected...”
Since only an island was drawn and it was written in the ancient language of Pasha, she was a bit confused, but as she had expected, the island drawn in the ancient book was the Principality of Aklatto.
“Do you know this place, Your Highness Rosie? It’s closer to the Southern Continent.”
“My mother was from here. Before she got married, she practiced at Magic Tower on Aklatto Island.”
“Ah, she learned magic. I heard that this Magic Tower used to produce many magicians. I heard that they don’t accept disciples anymore.”
“That’s right. One of the last disciples that the Magic Tower Lord taught was my mother. She learned healing magic.”
“Then, did you receive this report from your mother?”
“Yes, I received it before she passed away.”
Prince Norton's smiling expression hardened at Rosie's answer.
“That’s too bad.”
“It’s okay. My mother passed away when I was young, so I can’t remember her face clearly. When that happens, I look at the portrait of her on my necklace pendant. Then I remember her again.”
Prince Norton listened to Rosie's story and then quietly opened his mouth.
“I feel bad saying this, but I still envy Your Highness Rosie. I don’t even remember what my mother looked like. My mother, who was a concubine, passed away less than a year after giving birth to me.”
“Oh, that...”
“I, too, have seen a portrait of my mother, just like Your Highness Rosie. Even that was only possible when I was 15 years old, with the Empress’s permission.”
“I think she is beautiful.”
“She had long pink hair and a lovely face.”
Long pink hair...? Rosie thought of Princess Resilia. She wondered if Prince Norton had been attracted to Princess Resilia because she resembled his mother’s portrait. Rosie quickly changed the subject after looking at Prince Norton’s lonely eyes, lost in memories.
“What does it say under the map of Aklatto?”
In addition to Death Valley in the middle of the continent, wyverns also live in the volcanic region of Aklatto Island. Everyone already knows this, so it seemed like there would be some other information written in the book. Rose stared intently at Prince Norton, who was reading the ancient language written under the Aklatto map.
“I thought it was about a wyvern, but it says something strange?”
Prince Norton tilted his head and pointed to the last sentence with his finger.
“Why? What does it say?”
“I, too, have seen a portrait of my mother, just like Your Highness Rosie. Even that was only possible when I was 15 years old, with the Empress’s permission.”
“I think she is beautiful.”
“She had long pink hair and a lovely face.”
Long pink hair...? Rosie thought of Princess Resilia. She wondered if Prince Norton had been attracted to Princess Resilia because she resembled his mother’s portrait. Rosie quickly changed the subject after looking at Prince Norton’s lonely eyes, lost in memories.
“What does it say under the map of Aklatto?”
In addition to Death Valley in the middle of the continent, wyverns also live in the volcanic region of Aklatto Island. Everyone already knows this, so it seemed like there would be some other information written in the book. Rose stared intently at Prince Norton, who was reading the ancient language written under the Aklatto map.
“I thought it was about a wyvern, but it says something strange?”
Prince Norton tilted his head and pointed to the last sentence with his finger.
“Why? What does it say?”
***
The next afternoon, in the main palace bedroom.
“Your Majesty, the Empress, Her Highness Rosie has arrived.”
“Rosie?”
I put down the milk tea I was drinking and greeted Rosie.
“Hello, Your Majesty, the Empress.”
“Come in.”
In Rosie's hand was a small basket.
“Master, Moiya has come too, Moiya~.”
Moiya pushed the lid of the basket up with her head and flew towards me. Aoshi was also inside the basket. Aoshi jumped down to the floor with her pink mouth wide open and yawned.
“Aoshi, you’re here too?”
“Meow.”
As I was touching Aoshi's head, Moiya grabbed Aoshi by the nape of her neck and threw him away, speaking to me.
“Moiya is a great wyvern, so I must not be seen by people, so I came as a doppelganger for Aoshi.”
“Yeah, good job.”
I looked up at Moiya flying around me and smiled.
“Your Majesty, the Empress.”
Rosie took a step toward me with a solemn expression.
"Yes?"
“I figured it out!”
Suddenly, Rosie clenched her fists and spoke with force in her voice.
“What?”
“It’s a cure.”
“!”
“Your Majesty, the Empress, Her Highness Rosie has arrived.”
“Rosie?”
I put down the milk tea I was drinking and greeted Rosie.
“Hello, Your Majesty, the Empress.”
“Come in.”
In Rosie's hand was a small basket.
“Master, Moiya has come too, Moiya~.”
Moiya pushed the lid of the basket up with her head and flew towards me. Aoshi was also inside the basket. Aoshi jumped down to the floor with her pink mouth wide open and yawned.
“Aoshi, you’re here too?”
“Meow.”
As I was touching Aoshi's head, Moiya grabbed Aoshi by the nape of her neck and threw him away, speaking to me.
“Moiya is a great wyvern, so I must not be seen by people, so I came as a doppelganger for Aoshi.”
“Yeah, good job.”
I looked up at Moiya flying around me and smiled.
“Your Majesty, the Empress.”
Rosie took a step toward me with a solemn expression.
"Yes?"
“I figured it out!”
Suddenly, Rosie clenched her fists and spoke with force in her voice.
“What?”
“It’s a cure.”
“!”
“It’s a herb that can completely remove burn scars. It’s written in the old book, where is it?”
“Oh my goodness... Your Majesty, the Empress!”
Sharon cried out with tears in her eyes. I held my breath and asked Rosie back.
“Is that... true?!”
“Yes. It’s a medicinal herb called ‘Kelvarn’, and it’s said to only grow on islands.”
“Island... then?”
“The Principality of Aklatto. I heard from Moiya last night that the Lord of Aklatto Island visited?”
“Right now... he’s staying at the main palace. He said he was hit by an arrow in the forest while traveling.”
I was a bit dazed, unable to believe what Rosie was saying. There was a cure. There was. A cure...! My heart was beating so fast that my entire chest felt numb.
“Before the Lord of the Tower leaves the palace, ask him immediately if he knows anything about the herb ‘Kelvarn’!”
“The Magic tower lord will accompany you to this Continental Hunting Competition. He said he wanted to do so.”
“Really? That’s great!”
Rosie stomped her feet excitedly. I took several deep breaths and asked Sharon.
“Sharon, where is the Lord of Magic Tower staying in the main palace right now?”
“Oh my goodness... Your Majesty, the Empress!”
Sharon cried out with tears in her eyes. I held my breath and asked Rosie back.
“Is that... true?!”
“Yes. It’s a medicinal herb called ‘Kelvarn’, and it’s said to only grow on islands.”
“Island... then?”
“The Principality of Aklatto. I heard from Moiya last night that the Lord of Aklatto Island visited?”
“Right now... he’s staying at the main palace. He said he was hit by an arrow in the forest while traveling.”
I was a bit dazed, unable to believe what Rosie was saying. There was a cure. There was. A cure...! My heart was beating so fast that my entire chest felt numb.
“Before the Lord of the Tower leaves the palace, ask him immediately if he knows anything about the herb ‘Kelvarn’!”
“The Magic tower lord will accompany you to this Continental Hunting Competition. He said he wanted to do so.”
“Really? That’s great!”
Rosie stomped her feet excitedly. I took several deep breaths and asked Sharon.
“Sharon, where is the Lord of Magic Tower staying in the main palace right now?”
***
The moment I heard about the cure from Rosie, I wanted to run to the Lord of Magic Tower and ask if he knew about the herb called 'Kelbarn'. However, Moiya kept making a fuss about wanting to sleep at the main palace again today, so it took a while. Fortunately, Sharon put a lot of sausages in the basket, so I was able to appease him with those. Moiya changed his mind and insisted that instead of sleeping at the main palace, he would doppelganger into Aoshi and go see the Lord of Magic Tower himself. I thought about it for a moment and shook my head. It was dangerous because the Lord of Magic Tower might recognize Moiya, who had doppelganged into Aoshi. Should he just leave it alone when he saw that the 300-year-old wyvern egg that he owned had hatched?
Come to think of it, the incarnation inside me was originally in the Lord of Magic Tower's body, and when Moiya was in the egg, it was the Lord of Magic Tower's. Things that the Lord of Magic Tower had unintentionally come to me. The Lord of Magic Tower would naturally become hostile to me if he found out about this. So I had to find out information about the cure before that. Rosie also seemed very curious about the Lord of Magic Tower, the master of her mother, who was a healing wizard. However, since the Lord of Magic Tower was joining this continental hunting competition, there were many opportunities to introduce the Lord of Magic Tower to Rosie, even if it wasn’t today.
Unlike Moiy,a who was being stubborn, Rosie understood my situation. She put Moiya, who was Aoshi’s doppelganger, in a basket and returned to her quarters. After seeing her off, I headed to Linel’s office. Lord of Magic Tower seemed to like visiting with him, the Emperor, much more than I, the Empress, visiting alone.
***
As soon as I entered the office, I told him about the cure that Rosie had told me about. As I expected, he was very happy. He cooed, saying that he was glad to have a concubine. I didn’t even need to ask if he could go with me to meet the Lord of Magic Tower. Linel naturally postponed all his schedules and headed to the VIP room of the main palace with me.
“Are you shaking?”
“Are you shaking?”
As we approached the room where the Lord of Magic Tower was staying, he looked down at my hand, which was linked with his, and said:
“I feel less nervous because Your Majesty is by my side.”
It was true. Just having Linel by my side gave me courage and peace of mind. If he hadn't been there, I would have stopped walking several times on my way here. He smiled and held my hand tightly. It was more reassuring than telling me not to tremble.
Knock knock.
Sharon knocked on the door of the VIP room, and a few seconds later, the Lord of Magic Tower himself opened the door.
“Your Majesty, the Empress... I am honored that you have come to see me in person!”
When Lord of Magic Tower saw me, he hesitated for a moment with a look of surprise before smiling brightly and welcoming me.
“Come in. Actually, I’m already...”
But when he saw him standing aside by the door, he stopped talking. Lord of Magic Tower's expression hardened when he saw Linel.
“Your Majesty has come too...?”
“Your Majesty, the Empress... I am honored that you have come to see me in person!”
When Lord of Magic Tower saw me, he hesitated for a moment with a look of surprise before smiling brightly and welcoming me.
“Come in. Actually, I’m already...”
But when he saw him standing aside by the door, he stopped talking. Lord of Magic Tower's expression hardened when he saw Linel.
“Your Majesty has come too...?”
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