I found myself laughing at the end.
It was so similar to the laughter of the fallen demon that I flinched.
“If I make what just happened public, you’ll be in a difficult position!”
Princess Resilia staggered to her feet and said with one corner of her mouth raised wickedly.
“Make it public, please.”
“?”
“The Princess ran away from the wine cellar out of loyalty, saying she would live alone, and so I, the Empress, was trapped there all alone.”
“T, that!”
“Would you please shut up for a moment? I’m not finished talking.”
“Huh?!”
I tapped Princess Resilia’s chin with the back of my hand to shut her mouth, then continued speaking.
“Because of that, I ended up blocking the demon fire with my hand, and I was infected with evil energy. Because of that, I unconsciously raised my hand to the Princess. When you make this public, don’t forget to list them in chronological order like this.”
“...Ha.”
“Oh, it’s okay if you forget. If the Princess missed anything, I’ll correct it right away. There are many witnesses here besides me.”
I looked at the faces of my comrades who were in the wine cellar with me, one by one, and spoke to the Princess.
Princess Resilia’s lips, which had opened to refute something, were tightly shut again.
She closed her mouth, but Princess Resilia’s eyes became even fiercer.
“Your face is swollen to the point of being unpleasant. If you still want to keep that face the size of a fist, go see Magician Big right away.”
I advised her while circling Princess Resilia’s swollen face with my finger.
The Princess’s eyes filled with anger.
I looked down at her weak, angry hands.
She was shaking her hands even more than I was, as if she wanted to swing her fist at me right away.
“Can you take your friend to the doctor?”
I turned my gaze to Catherine and gestured to the Princess.
Then Catherine and Princess Jasper greeted me and quickly grabbed Princess Resilia’s arms on both sides.
“Let’s go, Princess.”
Catherine spoke to Princess Resilia, but for some reason, the Princess didn’t move and just stood there, glaring at me.
In my own way, I thought it was an act of defiance against my orders.
I looked back and forth between Catherine and Princess Jasper with eyes that seemed to be saying, “Please get that guy out of my sight!”
Fortunately, the two of them seemed to understand the meaning of my gaze and practically dragged the Princess out.
“I think I’m going to fall in love with Your Majesty!”
Melanie confessed out of the blue.
Melanie clasped her hands together, placed them on her chin, came in front of me, and blinked.
It was quite a burdensome expression.
I looked at Melanie’s pretty face thrusting at me and then replied, lightly pushing her protruding forehead with my index finger.
“Love is fine.”
“No, I want to love! I don’t have anyone to love anyway, well...”
Since the person Melanie was supposed to love was my husband, I had no words to say in response to her words.
“...Then so be it.”
I had no choice but to give her consent in a cold tone, and Melanie’s expression brightened and she giggled shyly, wondering what on earth that meant.
“Um...Your Majesty. Is your violence worse because of the evil aura?”
Rosie, who was next to me, asked me carefully with a worried expression.
“It certainly seems so. What if it gets worse...?”
I looked down at my two hands and muttered softly.
“Wouldn’t the Magic Tower Lord cure you before your symptoms get worse?”
“I thought so too... I guess his skills are worse than I thought. I thought this level of evil aura could be easily cured.”
For a moment, the face of the clumsy fallen demon that had once been like an angel flashed through my mind.
“Still, there’s definitely a way, so don’t worry too much.”
“Yes, I believe in you.”
I nodded at Rosie’s warm voice and blurted out words I didn’t mean.
After all, he was able to save my life because he broke the barrier that the demkn had set up, even at the cost of his own lifespan, and entered the wine cellar.
Oh, now that I think about it, I haven’t thanked the lord of the magic tower separately yet.
I should thank him.
Where could the lord of the magic be at this hour?
“You called, Your Majesty.”
Bellos entered the prayer room inside the monastery after receiving Linel’s call.
Inside the prayer room, Raphael, Commander Macrom, Stiane, and other close associates of Linel were already seated at the table.
“Come and sit down.”
He offered Bellos the seat across from him.
Bellos felt something ominous.
His eyes met Raphael’s, and he looked at him, wondering what was going on.
However, Raphael also slightly raised his shoulders as if he didn’t know what was going on.
Bellos examined Linel’s complexion.
‘It seems that the memory of me mentioned in the conversation with the Princess last night has disappeared.’
Otherwise, he would have stabbed himself in the heart right here and there.
‘Then, why did you call me here?’
Bellos asked him as if he were testing him.
Linel smiled faintly at Bellos’ words, slowly looking around the faces of those sitting around the table.
“Are you worried about Her Majesty’s condition?”
Bellos asked again.
“It’s not the Empress, but I asked you to gather because of my condition.”
Everyone asked him, “Yes?” at Linel’s answer.
“Your Majesty, what’s wrong? Is that why you called the Magic Tower?”
Prince Norton was worried that Linel might have been affected by Zelda’s evil aura.
“Not yet, but I’m planning on getting sick.”
“What do you mean...?”
Prince Norton tilted his head at Linel’s incomprehensible response.
The Emperor was usually good at joking, but today, for some reason, he felt a sense of suppressed emotion in what he said.
Linel’s expression was almost nonexistent, but his eyes were deep and dark.
He seemed to be in agony, but there was an unfamiliar atmosphere.
It was definitely not a good feeling.
“From now on, everyone, listen carefully even when I say something out of the blue.”
Linel took a breath and opened his mouth again.
“From today on, if I... try to do anything that would be even the slightest bit harmful to the Empress, kill me.”
It wasn’t a request, but a solemn order.
Everyone’s mouths dropped open at Linel’s unexpected words.
However, no one laughed because his voice was more serious and earnest than ever.
“If you can’t kill me, then protect the Empress. No one can harm the Empress. No matter what. Understood?”
“Your Majesty!”
“What are you saying that’s so horrible?”
“No, what kind of strange order are you suddenly giving?”
Raphael, Commander Macrom, and even Stiane took turns saying something.
It seemed like they thought he was saying this because Zelda’s condition, infected with another evil energy, was getting worse.
“By any chance... Your Majesty has also been infected with the evil energy?! Didn’t the Magic Tower Master say that it’s not contagious?”
Prince Norton glanced at Bellos and asked Linel.
“That’s not the case. I can’t explain it right now... but by tomorrow morning or by the end of the day, you’ll know why I said this, so even if it’s frustrating for now, I hope you all understand.”
“Her Majesty, has her condition worsened?”
Linel, who wanted to tell Prince Norton’s questions frankly, could not answer the question because he had taken a magic potion with a secret-keeping function.
“I, erase Zelda from my mind...”
He tried to speak, but his voice did not come out.
“I do not understand what you are saying, Your Majesty.”
Raphael said in a questioning voice.
“I know you do not understand. I did not say this to you in the first place. This is a request from me as the Emperor, no, as a long-time friend.”
Linel looked at Raphael, Commander Macrom, and Stiane one by one as he spoke.
The three of them who had been watching him for a long time could tell that what he was saying now was not a joke, but sincere.
That made it even stranger.
They could not even guess why he would say such a thing.
Linel spoke as if he had the possibility of harming the Empress.
Only Bellos regained his usual expression and listened to Linel in silence.
“It sounds like something is going to happen.”
Prince Norton narrowed his eyes and spoke in a cautious voice.
Linel ignored Prince Norton’s words and changed the subject.
“Norton, do you have feelings for Rosie?”
“Yes?”
“If you do, do you intend to take Rosie as your wife?”
“Your Majesty, what are you... saying all of a sudden?”
“I don’t have time, so I’ll say it while I remember. I’ll ask again. Do you have feelings for Rosie?”
“...That.”
Prince Norton chose to leave his words hanging on the road instead of saying no, and slightly hinted at his leeway.
Noticing this, Linel nodded and chuckled briefly.
“If it’s okay with you, I’ll allow you to marry Rosie. I don’t know if your relationship will lead to marriage.”
In the quiet silence, everyone’s eyes moved from Linel to Prince Norton.
“If I say something different later, call the people gathered here as witnesses. I allowed you to marry Rosie.”
Prince Norton exchanged glances with Raphael, Commander Macrom, and Stiane, unable to confirm or deny Linel’s words.
“Do you all understand what I’m saying?”
“...Ah, yes. We’ll make sure to testify about the prince and Her Majesty Rosie. But Your Majesty, shouldn’t you explain the order to protect Your Majesty, the Empress?”
The other three nodded at Raphael’s words.
“As I said earlier, you will find out gradually. As early as tomorrow, at the latest, in the letter, you will know why I said this... You will know. What you must keep in mind is to protect the Empress.”
“Of course, we will, Your Majesty.”
Commander Macrom felt Linel’s aura fluctuating unsteadily.
In Commander Macrom’s answer, he emphasized it once more as if driving a nail into it.
“From anyone. And in all situations. Can you do that?”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
The four of them, who had been looking at each other for a moment, answered in unison.
There must have been something wrong with the Emperor, but he had been making earnest requests disguised as orders without any explanation.
Linel’s sigh was filled with fatigue mixed with agony.
‘I have to tell you this...’
Since Zelda’s memories would disappear, it was uncertain how much he could protect her without her memories.
He would send her away before that, but he needed to tell her in advance just in case.
“I’m cautious about saying this, but if by any chance Her Majesty’s influence..."
Raphael scratched the back of his head and spoke with a confused expression.
“Do you think I’ve caught some kind of demonic energy from the Empress?”
“The Master of the Tower said it wasn’t contagious, but when I hear the words Her Majesty mentioned, I feel like something’s about to happen!”
Commander Macrom, who had been silent, raised his voice in frustration, but Linel only smiled self-deprecatingly.
There was a moment of deliberate silence.
He opened his mouth again with difficulty, looking tired.
“I have something important to ask of you, Master of the Tower.”
He placed both hands on the old wooden table and interlocked them.
“Go ahead, Your Majesty.”
Bellos said, looking down at Linel’s clasped hands.
His firm voice settled over his tense face.
“Take the Empress out of the monastery.”
Linel and I had dinner alone.
It seemed like he was being considerate of me since I wasn’t feeling well right now.
Before dinner, he gave me a bath himself and even washed my hair with care.
Not only that, he even combed my hair himself after I finished bathing.
Receiving such extravagant service didn’t make it so bad to be infected with evil energy.
“It feels good when Linel combs my hair.”
“Really? If I had known you liked it, I would have done it sooner.”
He muttered in a low voice.
I glanced at him.
“Why?”
“Because I look like a sick chicken.”
Damn.
I’ve developed a habit of saying things like that first and then shutting my mouth with an ‘oops.’
“...”
“Oh, no... Cancel. You look really tired. Like someone who hasn’t slept at all.”
“Do you see it? It’s strange... I slept well...”
He lied, even though the dark circles were clearly under his eyes.
However, looking at him looking tired, I thought to myself, “Wouldn’t that face look cool if I didn’t sleep for a few days?”
I concluded that he certainly didn’t have the looks to lose his luster just because he hadn’t slept for a day or two, and placed my hand on his cheek.
My trembling hand seemed to tremble even more as it touched his handsome features.
Thinking about it, my heart was also speeding up twice as fast.
“Zelda, I have something to tell you.”
He said, taking my hand that was vibrating on his cheek.
I nodded and met his eyes.
“We’ll leave with the magic tower lord early tomorrow morning.”
“...Huh?”
“I don’t think we’ll be able to reach the Tebelo Empire within the scheduled time. So let’s go there first and get ‘Yakante’, which is used in magic potions. Also, the magic tower lord says...”
Linel paused for a moment as he stroked my right cheek where my burn scar was, sighed, and continued.
“They say there’s a good herb in the Tebelo Empire that can cure the condition infected with evil energy.”
Aside from ‘Yakante’, which is used in magic potions, there’s a cure there that can stop this damned trembling?
“Really?!”
“Yeah, really.”
I happily lifted my butt off the bed and swayed my body, causing his body to react as well.
The old bed creaked eerily, and old dust rose like fog from inside the old mattress.
“I was secretly worried, but thank goodness!”
I shouted, shaking the dust that was billowing out with my hand.
“Yes. Then go to the Tebello Empire with the magic tower lord.”
“Yes!”
But, it wasn’t ‘let’s go together.’
“Then Linel...”
“I, I mean, just a moment...”
He stopped what he was about to say and hugged me tightly.
“I’m sorry.”
His voice and body sagged in my arms.
It was so similar to the laughter of the fallen demon that I flinched.
“If I make what just happened public, you’ll be in a difficult position!”
Princess Resilia staggered to her feet and said with one corner of her mouth raised wickedly.
“Make it public, please.”
“?”
“The Princess ran away from the wine cellar out of loyalty, saying she would live alone, and so I, the Empress, was trapped there all alone.”
“T, that!”
“Would you please shut up for a moment? I’m not finished talking.”
“Huh?!”
I tapped Princess Resilia’s chin with the back of my hand to shut her mouth, then continued speaking.
“Because of that, I ended up blocking the demon fire with my hand, and I was infected with evil energy. Because of that, I unconsciously raised my hand to the Princess. When you make this public, don’t forget to list them in chronological order like this.”
“...Ha.”
“Oh, it’s okay if you forget. If the Princess missed anything, I’ll correct it right away. There are many witnesses here besides me.”
I looked at the faces of my comrades who were in the wine cellar with me, one by one, and spoke to the Princess.
Princess Resilia’s lips, which had opened to refute something, were tightly shut again.
She closed her mouth, but Princess Resilia’s eyes became even fiercer.
“Your face is swollen to the point of being unpleasant. If you still want to keep that face the size of a fist, go see Magician Big right away.”
I advised her while circling Princess Resilia’s swollen face with my finger.
The Princess’s eyes filled with anger.
I looked down at her weak, angry hands.
She was shaking her hands even more than I was, as if she wanted to swing her fist at me right away.
“Can you take your friend to the doctor?”
I turned my gaze to Catherine and gestured to the Princess.
Then Catherine and Princess Jasper greeted me and quickly grabbed Princess Resilia’s arms on both sides.
“Let’s go, Princess.”
Catherine spoke to Princess Resilia, but for some reason, the Princess didn’t move and just stood there, glaring at me.
In my own way, I thought it was an act of defiance against my orders.
I looked back and forth between Catherine and Princess Jasper with eyes that seemed to be saying, “Please get that guy out of my sight!”
Fortunately, the two of them seemed to understand the meaning of my gaze and practically dragged the Princess out.
“I think I’m going to fall in love with Your Majesty!”
Melanie confessed out of the blue.
Melanie clasped her hands together, placed them on her chin, came in front of me, and blinked.
It was quite a burdensome expression.
I looked at Melanie’s pretty face thrusting at me and then replied, lightly pushing her protruding forehead with my index finger.
“Love is fine.”
“No, I want to love! I don’t have anyone to love anyway, well...”
Since the person Melanie was supposed to love was my husband, I had no words to say in response to her words.
“...Then so be it.”
I had no choice but to give her consent in a cold tone, and Melanie’s expression brightened and she giggled shyly, wondering what on earth that meant.
“Um...Your Majesty. Is your violence worse because of the evil aura?”
Rosie, who was next to me, asked me carefully with a worried expression.
“It certainly seems so. What if it gets worse...?”
I looked down at my two hands and muttered softly.
“Wouldn’t the Magic Tower Lord cure you before your symptoms get worse?”
“I thought so too... I guess his skills are worse than I thought. I thought this level of evil aura could be easily cured.”
For a moment, the face of the clumsy fallen demon that had once been like an angel flashed through my mind.
“Still, there’s definitely a way, so don’t worry too much.”
“Yes, I believe in you.”
I nodded at Rosie’s warm voice and blurted out words I didn’t mean.
After all, he was able to save my life because he broke the barrier that the demkn had set up, even at the cost of his own lifespan, and entered the wine cellar.
Oh, now that I think about it, I haven’t thanked the lord of the magic tower separately yet.
I should thank him.
Where could the lord of the magic be at this hour?
***
“You called, Your Majesty.”
Bellos entered the prayer room inside the monastery after receiving Linel’s call.
Inside the prayer room, Raphael, Commander Macrom, Stiane, and other close associates of Linel were already seated at the table.
“Come and sit down.”
He offered Bellos the seat across from him.
Bellos felt something ominous.
His eyes met Raphael’s, and he looked at him, wondering what was going on.
However, Raphael also slightly raised his shoulders as if he didn’t know what was going on.
Bellos examined Linel’s complexion.
‘It seems that the memory of me mentioned in the conversation with the Princess last night has disappeared.’
Otherwise, he would have stabbed himself in the heart right here and there.
‘Then, why did you call me here?’
Bellos asked him as if he were testing him.
“Your Majesty, you don’t look so well... What is the matter?”
Linel smiled faintly at Bellos’ words, slowly looking around the faces of those sitting around the table.
“Are you worried about Her Majesty’s condition?”
Bellos asked again.
“It’s not the Empress, but I asked you to gather because of my condition.”
Everyone asked him, “Yes?” at Linel’s answer.
“Your Majesty, what’s wrong? Is that why you called the Magic Tower?”
Prince Norton was worried that Linel might have been affected by Zelda’s evil aura.
“Not yet, but I’m planning on getting sick.”
“What do you mean...?”
Prince Norton tilted his head at Linel’s incomprehensible response.
The Emperor was usually good at joking, but today, for some reason, he felt a sense of suppressed emotion in what he said.
Linel’s expression was almost nonexistent, but his eyes were deep and dark.
He seemed to be in agony, but there was an unfamiliar atmosphere.
It was definitely not a good feeling.
“From now on, everyone, listen carefully even when I say something out of the blue.”
Linel took a breath and opened his mouth again.
“From today on, if I... try to do anything that would be even the slightest bit harmful to the Empress, kill me.”
It wasn’t a request, but a solemn order.
Everyone’s mouths dropped open at Linel’s unexpected words.
However, no one laughed because his voice was more serious and earnest than ever.
“If you can’t kill me, then protect the Empress. No one can harm the Empress. No matter what. Understood?”
“Your Majesty!”
“What are you saying that’s so horrible?”
“No, what kind of strange order are you suddenly giving?”
Raphael, Commander Macrom, and even Stiane took turns saying something.
It seemed like they thought he was saying this because Zelda’s condition, infected with another evil energy, was getting worse.
“By any chance... Your Majesty has also been infected with the evil energy?! Didn’t the Magic Tower Master say that it’s not contagious?”
Prince Norton glanced at Bellos and asked Linel.
“That’s not the case. I can’t explain it right now... but by tomorrow morning or by the end of the day, you’ll know why I said this, so even if it’s frustrating for now, I hope you all understand.”
“Her Majesty, has her condition worsened?”
Linel, who wanted to tell Prince Norton’s questions frankly, could not answer the question because he had taken a magic potion with a secret-keeping function.
“I, erase Zelda from my mind...”
He tried to speak, but his voice did not come out.
“I do not understand what you are saying, Your Majesty.”
Raphael said in a questioning voice.
“I know you do not understand. I did not say this to you in the first place. This is a request from me as the Emperor, no, as a long-time friend.”
Linel looked at Raphael, Commander Macrom, and Stiane one by one as he spoke.
The three of them who had been watching him for a long time could tell that what he was saying now was not a joke, but sincere.
That made it even stranger.
They could not even guess why he would say such a thing.
Linel spoke as if he had the possibility of harming the Empress.
Only Bellos regained his usual expression and listened to Linel in silence.
“It sounds like something is going to happen.”
Prince Norton narrowed his eyes and spoke in a cautious voice.
Linel ignored Prince Norton’s words and changed the subject.
“Norton, do you have feelings for Rosie?”
“Yes?”
“If you do, do you intend to take Rosie as your wife?”
“Your Majesty, what are you... saying all of a sudden?”
“I don’t have time, so I’ll say it while I remember. I’ll ask again. Do you have feelings for Rosie?”
“...That.”
Prince Norton chose to leave his words hanging on the road instead of saying no, and slightly hinted at his leeway.
Noticing this, Linel nodded and chuckled briefly.
“If it’s okay with you, I’ll allow you to marry Rosie. I don’t know if your relationship will lead to marriage.”
In the quiet silence, everyone’s eyes moved from Linel to Prince Norton.
“If I say something different later, call the people gathered here as witnesses. I allowed you to marry Rosie.”
Prince Norton exchanged glances with Raphael, Commander Macrom, and Stiane, unable to confirm or deny Linel’s words.
“Do you all understand what I’m saying?”
“...Ah, yes. We’ll make sure to testify about the prince and Her Majesty Rosie. But Your Majesty, shouldn’t you explain the order to protect Your Majesty, the Empress?”
The other three nodded at Raphael’s words.
“As I said earlier, you will find out gradually. As early as tomorrow, at the latest, in the letter, you will know why I said this... You will know. What you must keep in mind is to protect the Empress.”
“Of course, we will, Your Majesty.”
Commander Macrom felt Linel’s aura fluctuating unsteadily.
In Commander Macrom’s answer, he emphasized it once more as if driving a nail into it.
“From anyone. And in all situations. Can you do that?”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
The four of them, who had been looking at each other for a moment, answered in unison.
There must have been something wrong with the Emperor, but he had been making earnest requests disguised as orders without any explanation.
Linel’s sigh was filled with fatigue mixed with agony.
‘I have to tell you this...’
Since Zelda’s memories would disappear, it was uncertain how much he could protect her without her memories.
He would send her away before that, but he needed to tell her in advance just in case.
“I’m cautious about saying this, but if by any chance Her Majesty’s influence..."
Raphael scratched the back of his head and spoke with a confused expression.
“Do you think I’ve caught some kind of demonic energy from the Empress?”
“The Master of the Tower said it wasn’t contagious, but when I hear the words Her Majesty mentioned, I feel like something’s about to happen!”
Commander Macrom, who had been silent, raised his voice in frustration, but Linel only smiled self-deprecatingly.
There was a moment of deliberate silence.
He opened his mouth again with difficulty, looking tired.
“I have something important to ask of you, Master of the Tower.”
He placed both hands on the old wooden table and interlocked them.
“Go ahead, Your Majesty.”
Bellos said, looking down at Linel’s clasped hands.
His firm voice settled over his tense face.
“Take the Empress out of the monastery.”
***
Linel and I had dinner alone.
It seemed like he was being considerate of me since I wasn’t feeling well right now.
Before dinner, he gave me a bath himself and even washed my hair with care.
Not only that, he even combed my hair himself after I finished bathing.
Receiving such extravagant service didn’t make it so bad to be infected with evil energy.
“It feels good when Linel combs my hair.”
“Really? If I had known you liked it, I would have done it sooner.”
He muttered in a low voice.
I glanced at him.
“Why?”
“Because I look like a sick chicken.”
Damn.
I’ve developed a habit of saying things like that first and then shutting my mouth with an ‘oops.’
“...”
“Oh, no... Cancel. You look really tired. Like someone who hasn’t slept at all.”
“Do you see it? It’s strange... I slept well...”
He lied, even though the dark circles were clearly under his eyes.
However, looking at him looking tired, I thought to myself, “Wouldn’t that face look cool if I didn’t sleep for a few days?”
I concluded that he certainly didn’t have the looks to lose his luster just because he hadn’t slept for a day or two, and placed my hand on his cheek.
My trembling hand seemed to tremble even more as it touched his handsome features.
Thinking about it, my heart was also speeding up twice as fast.
“Zelda, I have something to tell you.”
He said, taking my hand that was vibrating on his cheek.
I nodded and met his eyes.
“We’ll leave with the magic tower lord early tomorrow morning.”
“...Huh?”
“I don’t think we’ll be able to reach the Tebelo Empire within the scheduled time. So let’s go there first and get ‘Yakante’, which is used in magic potions. Also, the magic tower lord says...”
Linel paused for a moment as he stroked my right cheek where my burn scar was, sighed, and continued.
“They say there’s a good herb in the Tebelo Empire that can cure the condition infected with evil energy.”
Aside from ‘Yakante’, which is used in magic potions, there’s a cure there that can stop this damned trembling?
“Really?!”
“Yeah, really.”
I happily lifted my butt off the bed and swayed my body, causing his body to react as well.
The old bed creaked eerily, and old dust rose like fog from inside the old mattress.
“I was secretly worried, but thank goodness!”
I shouted, shaking the dust that was billowing out with my hand.
“Yes. Then go to the Tebello Empire with the magic tower lord.”
“Yes!”
But, it wasn’t ‘let’s go together.’
“Then Linel...”
“I, I mean, just a moment...”
He stopped what he was about to say and hugged me tightly.
“I’m sorry.”
His voice and body sagged in my arms.
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