Roxana's heart started to pound.
Did he realize that he was lying?
Her body was tense, and she barely managed to turn her head to look at Hetor.
"This. Press it and go."
Hetor tore off his robe and handed it to Roxana, gesturing at Nancy's injured arm where her blood was flowing.
"Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty."
When Roxana was momentarily dazed by the unexpected favor, Nancy bowed her head and expressed her gratitude.
Roxana also calmed down her bewilderment and quietly replied, accepting the robe that Hetor had handed her.
"Thank you..."
"Go ahead."
Hetor gestured nonchalantly toward the back door at the bottom of the stairs.
Roxana and Nancy bowed lightly to him and stepped on the giant shadow of Hetor that had fallen down the stairs, and exited through the back door.
At the back door, Nancy’s carriage was waiting.
“Ha, Miss. My heart was pounding so hard I thought I was going to die.”
Did he realize that he was lying?
Her body was tense, and she barely managed to turn her head to look at Hetor.
"This. Press it and go."
Hetor tore off his robe and handed it to Roxana, gesturing at Nancy's injured arm where her blood was flowing.
"Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty."
When Roxana was momentarily dazed by the unexpected favor, Nancy bowed her head and expressed her gratitude.
Roxana also calmed down her bewilderment and quietly replied, accepting the robe that Hetor had handed her.
"Thank you..."
"Go ahead."
Hetor gestured nonchalantly toward the back door at the bottom of the stairs.
Roxana and Nancy bowed lightly to him and stepped on the giant shadow of Hetor that had fallen down the stairs, and exited through the back door.
At the back door, Nancy’s carriage was waiting.
“Ha, Miss. My heart was pounding so hard I thought I was going to die.”
As soon as Nancy opened the carriage door and sat down on the chair, she buried her face in her knees and let out the breath she had been holding.
“I’m sorry, Nancy. I couldn’t help it earlier. You’re bleeding a lot. Let’s use this to stop the bleeding first.”
Roxana used the robe she had received from Hetor to wrap Nancy’s arm wound.
“I’m fine. But, Miss, how did you think that at that moment? Our young lady is really smart.”
“I was skeptical, too. Fortunately, I fooled Hetor.”
“I was shocked, too. He didn’t even listen to his soldier’s words and just killed him with an axe.”
Nancy shuddered as she recalled the moment when Hetor mercilessly cut the soldier’s neck with an axe.
“My father said... that’s how men are. He said that when they fall for a woman, they close their ears and eyes.”
Hetor wasn’t crazy about her yet, but judging from his behavior earlier, it didn’t seem impossible.
“That’s right! I think I’ve heard that too. Well, what man wouldn’t be like that with our young lady’s beauty?”
“Not that much... How much time do we have left?”
Roxana shook her head at Nancy’s compliment and asked the time. Nancy took out her pocket watch.
“You have time to stop by the wardrobe and change your clothes. It’s a bit tight, though.”
“Then let’s go straight to the witch’s house. I need to treat your wounds, too.”
Roxana looked at the cloth of Hetor’s robe wrapped around Nancy’s arm and said.
“Yes, young lady.”
After about two hours of marching, they arrived at the first summer villa in the Elanji Forest.
Everyone was exhausted because the weather was much hotter than usual.
However, when the gate of the villa opened, the nobles’ hunched postures straightened again.
In particular, the northern continent women and concubines, whose faces had shriveled up like dried radishes, fortunately regained their vitality.
I put my horse’s head on the carriage window of Rosie and Bonis and entered the castle gate together.
“Your Majesty, the weather won’t be like this throughout the hunting competition, right?”
Rosie asked me through the carriage window.
“Well, if it continues to be this hot, it’ll be difficult to hunt actively.”
If that happened, the Continental Hunting Competition would lose its meaning, and it would most likely become a simple march to the Southern Continent.
Even the march wouldn’t be easy because of the heat.
Today’s sweltering heat, boiling all the way to the ground, is the worst for me.
According to the incarnation, I haven’t yet properly developed my fire powers, so I can’t control the heat rising inside my body, and the heat from outside is making it even harder.
It’s a good thing I climbed the ladder in the cave earlier, otherwise, I would have probably arrived at the villa sprawled out on my horse.
“The Northern Continent is this hot, so the Southern Continent must be even hotter right now, right?”
As Bonis, sitting in front of Rosie, wiped the sweat running down her neck with the back of her hand, Sharon, next to Bonis, expressed her concern.
“I’m worried about Her Majesty’s health because of the weather.”
“On very hot days, we can just take the carriage.”
She smiled brighter and said to the three who were looking up at me with worried eyes. I thought the heat would cool down a bit at night.
However, even though the sun was setting, the air was still hot.
The servants who arrived first hurriedly opened the main doors of the villa on both sides.
The procession of the guests slowly stopped in front of the villa.
Everyone hurriedly got off their horses and carriages and entered the lobby of the summer villa.
The interior of the villa was very clean, as if it had been cleaned in advance for the Continental Hunting Competition, but the air inside the villa was stuffy because all the windows were closed.
At the order of the chief steward, Stiane, the servants quickly opened all the windows in the villa to ventilate it.
“The servants will show you the rooms where the distinguished guests will stay. The servants will also show you dinner, so please rest well in your rooms or enjoy your free time until then.”
At Linel’s words, the servants moved in unison and approached each of the distinguished guests, taking their luggage and guiding them.
Some of the distinguished guests left their luggage with the servants and headed to the lounge, where wine and drinks were prepared.
I went up to the second floor with Linel first.
I wanted to quickly cool down by soaking in cold water.
The structure of the two-story summer villa was simple.
The rooms were lined up along only one wall, and there were six stairs in between. Right in front of the door was a large rectangular window facing the door.
The room Linel and I were staying in was located in the exact center.
As soon as I entered the room, I went straight to the bed and stretched out on the large bed.
If he weren’t here, I would have fallen asleep right away.
Unlike me, whose body seemed to have dried up like a dried radish, Linel’s face looked more lively than usual.
“Why don’t you take a shower first and then lie down?”
He said, sitting on the bed and stroking the back of my head.
“Of course.”
“You have some time until dinner, so take a shower first and get some shut-eye.”
“If you go to bed now, you won’t be able to sleep at night.”
If that happens, it will affect your physical condition tomorrow.
If your physical condition is not good, you will have difficulty concentrating while hunting.
If your concentration is poor, there is a high probability that the arrows I shoot will end up in the wrong place.
For example, on useless beasts like Prince Tesla or Princess Resilia.
If I were to waste my precious arrows like that, I would end up having to watch when the beast I really wanted to catch appears.
“I will feel less guilty if I get some sleep and recover my strength.”
He slowly lay down next to me, put his arm around my neck, and turned my body toward him.
“You’re not saying we should go night hunting, are you hunting me? The hallway here is long, so it seems like a good place to hunt rabbits, but the rabbits are already exhausted.”
“Yeah, I want to exhaust myself only in bed.”
“...Don’t exhaust yourself from day one.”
“I can’t spend every night at the villa. I should seize the opportunity when I have it. That way I won’t go crazy later.”
His blue eyes already seemed to be crazy with lust.
“You’re looking at me like I’m crazy right now?”
“I... I can see it?”
I tried to deny it, thinking that it would be impossible, but I laughed before I could, so I admitted it obediently.
“If you know how much patience that crazy guy is showing right now, go shower first.”
“Shall we join?”
He needs me, and I desperately need human ice right now.
If I put him in the bathtub, I wouldn’t have to constantly pour cold water into the bathtub.
We should help each other in one way or another. Perhaps my reason had melted in the heat, but now Linel looked like a large piece of ice to my eyes.
“I refuse, Empress.”
Why? Oh, no, my ice!"
“I...”
Linel was about to continue his cold refusal when a knock was heard.
Knock knock.
The door opened at his voice, telling me to come in.
“Let’s go, Your Majesty.”
It was Raphael.
“You’re not going to shower with Raphael, are you?”
I whispered to him, and he whispered back to me.
"Tea or something?"
He repeated what I said earlier and gave me a sticky look.
I laughed in vain as I watched him get up from the bed.
Raphael seemed very curious as we glanced at him and whispered.
“I’ll be back. I have something to discuss with Raphael.”
My ice kissed my cheek and left with Raphael.
I lay back down on the bed. Just as I was about to fall asleep, Sharon came in.
Sharon brought me a dress to wear after showering.
“I have prepared two styles of dresses.”
Both are home dresses that are easy to wear alone, she said.
“Your Majesty, I have also brought you a slip and gown to wear while you sleep. Where should I put them?”
“I’m sorry, Nancy. I couldn’t help it earlier. You’re bleeding a lot. Let’s use this to stop the bleeding first.”
Roxana used the robe she had received from Hetor to wrap Nancy’s arm wound.
“I’m fine. But, Miss, how did you think that at that moment? Our young lady is really smart.”
“I was skeptical, too. Fortunately, I fooled Hetor.”
“I was shocked, too. He didn’t even listen to his soldier’s words and just killed him with an axe.”
Nancy shuddered as she recalled the moment when Hetor mercilessly cut the soldier’s neck with an axe.
“My father said... that’s how men are. He said that when they fall for a woman, they close their ears and eyes.”
Hetor wasn’t crazy about her yet, but judging from his behavior earlier, it didn’t seem impossible.
“That’s right! I think I’ve heard that too. Well, what man wouldn’t be like that with our young lady’s beauty?”
“Not that much... How much time do we have left?”
Roxana shook her head at Nancy’s compliment and asked the time. Nancy took out her pocket watch.
“You have time to stop by the wardrobe and change your clothes. It’s a bit tight, though.”
“Then let’s go straight to the witch’s house. I need to treat your wounds, too.”
Roxana looked at the cloth of Hetor’s robe wrapped around Nancy’s arm and said.
“Yes, young lady.”
***
After about two hours of marching, they arrived at the first summer villa in the Elanji Forest.
Everyone was exhausted because the weather was much hotter than usual.
However, when the gate of the villa opened, the nobles’ hunched postures straightened again.
In particular, the northern continent women and concubines, whose faces had shriveled up like dried radishes, fortunately regained their vitality.
I put my horse’s head on the carriage window of Rosie and Bonis and entered the castle gate together.
“Your Majesty, the weather won’t be like this throughout the hunting competition, right?”
Rosie asked me through the carriage window.
“Well, if it continues to be this hot, it’ll be difficult to hunt actively.”
If that happened, the Continental Hunting Competition would lose its meaning, and it would most likely become a simple march to the Southern Continent.
Even the march wouldn’t be easy because of the heat.
Today’s sweltering heat, boiling all the way to the ground, is the worst for me.
According to the incarnation, I haven’t yet properly developed my fire powers, so I can’t control the heat rising inside my body, and the heat from outside is making it even harder.
It’s a good thing I climbed the ladder in the cave earlier, otherwise, I would have probably arrived at the villa sprawled out on my horse.
“The Northern Continent is this hot, so the Southern Continent must be even hotter right now, right?”
As Bonis, sitting in front of Rosie, wiped the sweat running down her neck with the back of her hand, Sharon, next to Bonis, expressed her concern.
“I’m worried about Her Majesty’s health because of the weather.”
“On very hot days, we can just take the carriage.”
She smiled brighter and said to the three who were looking up at me with worried eyes. I thought the heat would cool down a bit at night.
However, even though the sun was setting, the air was still hot.
The servants who arrived first hurriedly opened the main doors of the villa on both sides.
The procession of the guests slowly stopped in front of the villa.
Everyone hurriedly got off their horses and carriages and entered the lobby of the summer villa.
The interior of the villa was very clean, as if it had been cleaned in advance for the Continental Hunting Competition, but the air inside the villa was stuffy because all the windows were closed.
At the order of the chief steward, Stiane, the servants quickly opened all the windows in the villa to ventilate it.
“The servants will show you the rooms where the distinguished guests will stay. The servants will also show you dinner, so please rest well in your rooms or enjoy your free time until then.”
At Linel’s words, the servants moved in unison and approached each of the distinguished guests, taking their luggage and guiding them.
Some of the distinguished guests left their luggage with the servants and headed to the lounge, where wine and drinks were prepared.
I went up to the second floor with Linel first.
I wanted to quickly cool down by soaking in cold water.
The structure of the two-story summer villa was simple.
The rooms were lined up along only one wall, and there were six stairs in between. Right in front of the door was a large rectangular window facing the door.
The room Linel and I were staying in was located in the exact center.
As soon as I entered the room, I went straight to the bed and stretched out on the large bed.
If he weren’t here, I would have fallen asleep right away.
Unlike me, whose body seemed to have dried up like a dried radish, Linel’s face looked more lively than usual.
“Why don’t you take a shower first and then lie down?”
He said, sitting on the bed and stroking the back of my head.
“Of course.”
“You have some time until dinner, so take a shower first and get some shut-eye.”
“If you go to bed now, you won’t be able to sleep at night.”
If that happens, it will affect your physical condition tomorrow.
If your physical condition is not good, you will have difficulty concentrating while hunting.
If your concentration is poor, there is a high probability that the arrows I shoot will end up in the wrong place.
For example, on useless beasts like Prince Tesla or Princess Resilia.
If I were to waste my precious arrows like that, I would end up having to watch when the beast I really wanted to catch appears.
“I will feel less guilty if I get some sleep and recover my strength.”
He slowly lay down next to me, put his arm around my neck, and turned my body toward him.
“You’re not saying we should go night hunting, are you hunting me? The hallway here is long, so it seems like a good place to hunt rabbits, but the rabbits are already exhausted.”
“Yeah, I want to exhaust myself only in bed.”
“...Don’t exhaust yourself from day one.”
“I can’t spend every night at the villa. I should seize the opportunity when I have it. That way I won’t go crazy later.”
His blue eyes already seemed to be crazy with lust.
“You’re looking at me like I’m crazy right now?”
“I... I can see it?”
I tried to deny it, thinking that it would be impossible, but I laughed before I could, so I admitted it obediently.
“If you know how much patience that crazy guy is showing right now, go shower first.”
“Shall we join?”
He needs me, and I desperately need human ice right now.
If I put him in the bathtub, I wouldn’t have to constantly pour cold water into the bathtub.
We should help each other in one way or another. Perhaps my reason had melted in the heat, but now Linel looked like a large piece of ice to my eyes.
“I refuse, Empress.”
Why? Oh, no, my ice!"
“I...”
Linel was about to continue his cold refusal when a knock was heard.
Knock knock.
The door opened at his voice, telling me to come in.
“Let’s go, Your Majesty.”
It was Raphael.
“You’re not going to shower with Raphael, are you?”
I whispered to him, and he whispered back to me.
"Tea or something?"
He repeated what I said earlier and gave me a sticky look.
I laughed in vain as I watched him get up from the bed.
Raphael seemed very curious as we glanced at him and whispered.
“I’ll be back. I have something to discuss with Raphael.”
My ice kissed my cheek and left with Raphael.
I lay back down on the bed. Just as I was about to fall asleep, Sharon came in.
Sharon brought me a dress to wear after showering.
“I have prepared two styles of dresses.”
Both are home dresses that are easy to wear alone, she said.
“Your Majesty, I have also brought you a slip and gown to wear while you sleep. Where should I put them?”
“Put them on the bed, too.”
“Yes, I will fill the bathtub with cold water right now.”
“Yes, please.”
I replied with my eyes closed.
After a while, I got up from the bed with a heavy body at the sound of Sharon’s voice.
“I’m ready to take a bath. I’ve put the towels in the bathroom. Should I put extra towels in the bathroom too?”
“Just leave them on the bed. Sharon, you should rest until dinner. I can take care of the rest.”
“Yes, Your Majesty. Then, if you need anything, just call me right away.”
“I will.”
After Sharon left, I went into the bathroom and took off my uniform.
I quickly got into the cold bath water and closed my eyes.
“Haa... I feel alive now.”
However, the cold water was already warming up.
Arriving at the witch Carline’s house, Roxana first had her treat Nancy’s arm wound.
“While I treat Miss Nancy, Your Highness, take this quickly.”
The witch handed Roxana the potion she had requested.
“This is supposed to prevent pregnancy for a month with one bottle. Is it really effective?”
Roxana turned the cap of the potion and sniffed the contents.
The potion, which was supposed to have strong contraceptive effects, had no smell.
“I’m talking to you, my lady. If we just collect all the potions that have been used to prevent unwanted illegitimate children from noble families, we can easily create a knighthood.”
The witch confidently revealed her yellow teeth.
Roxana, who had been skeptical about its efficacy, began to believe it when she saw the witch’s proud eyes.
“So don’t worry and drink it all up. This old woman made it with all her heart and soul, so don’t worry about its effectiveness.”
Roxana drank the potion in one gulp at the witch’s urging.
The odorless potion tasted much bitter than she had expected.
“Are you okay, miss?”
Nancy asked, supporting Roxana as she twisted her body slightly.
“Water, water...”
Roxana, who had been tightly shutting her lips, finally opened her mouth to speak, and the witch firmly said.
“Oh no, you can’t! If you drink water, the potion’s efficacy will be diluted, so hold on.”
Roxana nodded, tightly shut her mouth, and swallowed until the bitter taste in her mouth disappeared.
After a few minutes, when the bitterness had disappeared, Roxana, who had become calm again, looked around the witch’s house and stopped at one place.
She stared at the witch’s purple crystal ball that looked obviously magical.
“Caline, is that the spell that you said would show you what you want to see?”
“Yes, it is. However, it can only show you what happened three hours ago.”
“Three hours ago... How much time can you see?”
“About a minute. Is there anyone you want to see?”
The witch stroked her crystal ball and asked Roxana, who nodded.
“Good. Then tell me who you want to see.”
The first person Roxana thought of was Prince Tesla of the Kingdom of Shattonil.
Then she suddenly became curious about the whereabouts of Beloss, who had gone to the continent with the Sword of Incarnation.
And she also wanted to see the face of Empress Zelda, whom Bellos had called his companion.
Prince Tesla, Bellos, Empress Zelda.
Who should she see?
Roxana, who hesitated for a moment, made a decision.
“The person I want to see...”
“Yes, I will fill the bathtub with cold water right now.”
“Yes, please.”
I replied with my eyes closed.
After a while, I got up from the bed with a heavy body at the sound of Sharon’s voice.
“I’m ready to take a bath. I’ve put the towels in the bathroom. Should I put extra towels in the bathroom too?”
“Just leave them on the bed. Sharon, you should rest until dinner. I can take care of the rest.”
“Yes, Your Majesty. Then, if you need anything, just call me right away.”
“I will.”
After Sharon left, I went into the bathroom and took off my uniform.
I quickly got into the cold bath water and closed my eyes.
“Haa... I feel alive now.”
However, the cold water was already warming up.
***
Arriving at the witch Carline’s house, Roxana first had her treat Nancy’s arm wound.
“While I treat Miss Nancy, Your Highness, take this quickly.”
The witch handed Roxana the potion she had requested.
“This is supposed to prevent pregnancy for a month with one bottle. Is it really effective?”
Roxana turned the cap of the potion and sniffed the contents.
The potion, which was supposed to have strong contraceptive effects, had no smell.
“I’m talking to you, my lady. If we just collect all the potions that have been used to prevent unwanted illegitimate children from noble families, we can easily create a knighthood.”
The witch confidently revealed her yellow teeth.
Roxana, who had been skeptical about its efficacy, began to believe it when she saw the witch’s proud eyes.
“So don’t worry and drink it all up. This old woman made it with all her heart and soul, so don’t worry about its effectiveness.”
Roxana drank the potion in one gulp at the witch’s urging.
The odorless potion tasted much bitter than she had expected.
“Are you okay, miss?”
Nancy asked, supporting Roxana as she twisted her body slightly.
“Water, water...”
Roxana, who had been tightly shutting her lips, finally opened her mouth to speak, and the witch firmly said.
“Oh no, you can’t! If you drink water, the potion’s efficacy will be diluted, so hold on.”
Roxana nodded, tightly shut her mouth, and swallowed until the bitter taste in her mouth disappeared.
After a few minutes, when the bitterness had disappeared, Roxana, who had become calm again, looked around the witch’s house and stopped at one place.
She stared at the witch’s purple crystal ball that looked obviously magical.
“Caline, is that the spell that you said would show you what you want to see?”
“Yes, it is. However, it can only show you what happened three hours ago.”
“Three hours ago... How much time can you see?”
“About a minute. Is there anyone you want to see?”
The witch stroked her crystal ball and asked Roxana, who nodded.
“Good. Then tell me who you want to see.”
The first person Roxana thought of was Prince Tesla of the Kingdom of Shattonil.
Then she suddenly became curious about the whereabouts of Beloss, who had gone to the continent with the Sword of Incarnation.
And she also wanted to see the face of Empress Zelda, whom Bellos had called his companion.
Prince Tesla, Bellos, Empress Zelda.
Who should she see?
Roxana, who hesitated for a moment, made a decision.
“The person I want to see...”
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