This wasn't a dream?
The person before me was really Linel.
I hugged him tightly, trembling violently.
A few minutes later, his trembling seemed to gradually subside.
"When did you sneak into my room like a thief?"
"The main palace is mine, so I'm not a thief."
"...That's true. Are you feeling better now?"
I asked, stroking his still-icy back with my hand.
"It's getting better. Your embrace is better than any potion that raises my body temperature."
His cold breath touched my collarbone.
"Have I ever hugged you this often?"
"Huh?"
"During our marriage."
"I don't know..."
He replied weakly, chuckling.
"I don't know" was the correct answer.
Since neither of us had any memories of each other, I couldn't remember what had happened when we were alone.
About an hour passed while I held him in my arms.
He had been resting his face on the nape of my neck, slowly raising his head.
“Do you think life is starting to get a little easier now?”
Linel nodded and smiled.
“But, was your speech always a bit aggressive? Or is it because you still think I abandoned you because I was attracted to another woman?”
“I heard I became a bit harsh after being infected by the evil energy.”
“Oh, the evil energy...”
“Do you remember?”
“I heard it from Raphael. He said so.”
I bristled slightly at the lack of gratitude in his voice.
“Yes, I also heard it from the Magic Tower Master... that I blocked the fire demon with my hand for Your Majesty, and I was infected by the evil energy. I was trying to save you, and I got hit! ”
Linel’s head tilted slightly to the side.
“Really? That’s the first time I’ve heard that.”
“Raphael’s communication skills are really poor.”
He knew I left for the Tebello Empire to heal the evil energy, but he didn’t quite understand why I was infected.
However, he seemed to believe me.
“It would have been quite something if the hypothermia curse had also infected me with evil energy.”
He let out a self-deprecating laugh.
Then, looking into my eyes again, he asked,
“How are you doing now? Judging by your tone, I don’t think you’re completely cured, though.”
“Your Majesty, did you hear the story?”
“I see you’ve already finished preparing, so you did.”
Rosie and Melanie came to my room.
“I heard from Sharon a little while ago.”
I stood from the vanity and greeted them.
This morning, there had been a message from the Empress’s palace asking for lunch with the concubines. It seemed Roxana’s first act as Empress would be a meal with the concubines.
“And Rosie, don’t call me Your Majesty even when we’re alone.”
“That’s true, but... 'Your Highness’ just doesn’t roll off the tongue.”
“Your Highness Zelda. It just rolls off the tongue, so what’s so hard about it?”
Melanie continued, nudging Rosie with her elbow.
“And if you say ‘Your Majesty’ for no reason and the people in the Empress’s Palace hear about it, it’ll only be Her Highness Zelda who’ll be in trouble.”
“Melanie’s right,”
I said to Rosie with a smile. She nodded and lowered her voice to ask about yesterday.
“Did you really go to the Empress’s Palace last night? Did you meet Her Majesty?”
“I only saw her briefly.”
“Oh, did you ask her what you meant by ‘ask’?”
Melanie asked curiously.
“Yeah, sorry I couldn’t tell you two.”
“Well, since you came back safely, that’s fine. You should come back safely from the Empress’s Palace luncheon today...”
Rosie and Sharon’s expressions darkened suddenly at Melanie’s laughing joke.
As I entered the Empress’s dining room, I was reminded of when I was the Empress.
Not long after becoming Empress, I had lunch with the concubines.
The concubines-to-be, from the Aklatto clan, had already arrived in the dining room.
Guided by the Empress's attendant, I took my seat.
The existing concubines were seated together, while I was assigned to sit with the concubines-to-be.
A moment later, Roxana, wearing the Empress's crown, strode into the dining room with an elegant gait.
I gazed at the crown that had once belonged to me, and then Roxana's eyes met mine.
She sat down at the head of the table, her chin slightly raised and her expression lifted with a commanding air. She then gazed at the concubines in silence.
“What?”
Why wasn’t anyone telling us to sit?
The concubines were visibly flustered. They all waited for Roxana’s order to take their seats.
Roxana studied the faces of the concubines closely, finally gazing at me, whom she held for the longest time.
Making people uncomfortable is truly a skill.
Barely suppressing a pout, she stubbornly maintained a blank expression.
“Everyone, sit down.”
Roxana’s tone sounded like someone training a dog.
I wasn’t the only one who felt this way; the concubines’ expressions were not so good either.
“It would be better to tell you before we eat.”
Roxana said after taking a sip of water.
Her eyes were fierce, but her voice seemed kind, and she must have been struggling.
Judging by her hesitation, I could tell she was about to make some important announcement.
Did you know Linel came to my room early this morning?
Roxana opened her mouth, looking at the concubines-to-be and me.
“We’re planning to hold the concubine ceremony in a few days.”
“!”
It was unexpected.
I thought they’d postpone the ceremony as much as possible?
At Roxana’s words, the faces of the three concubines-to-be brightened simultaneously.
“Really, Your Majesty?”
“Thank you!”
“I’ve been waiting for you anyway.”
They thanked Roxana as they went.
All three glanced at me.
I felt an unspoken pressure to thank Roxana, too.
“...”
I chose silence, not particularly grateful or resentful.
“Oh, Zelda, you’re the only one without a place to stay right now, aren’t you?”
Roxana asked with a pitiful expression, and I shared hers.
However, my voice was relaxed, like the Emperor’s concubine living in the main palace.
“Yes. I’m not a passing stranger, I’m the only one without a place to stay.”
“!”
Then Roxana’s eyebrows furrowed.
The person before me was really Linel.
I hugged him tightly, trembling violently.
A few minutes later, his trembling seemed to gradually subside.
"When did you sneak into my room like a thief?"
"The main palace is mine, so I'm not a thief."
"...That's true. Are you feeling better now?"
I asked, stroking his still-icy back with my hand.
"It's getting better. Your embrace is better than any potion that raises my body temperature."
His cold breath touched my collarbone.
"Have I ever hugged you this often?"
"Huh?"
"During our marriage."
"I don't know..."
He replied weakly, chuckling.
"I don't know" was the correct answer.
Since neither of us had any memories of each other, I couldn't remember what had happened when we were alone.
About an hour passed while I held him in my arms.
He had been resting his face on the nape of my neck, slowly raising his head.
“Do you think life is starting to get a little easier now?”
Linel nodded and smiled.
“But, was your speech always a bit aggressive? Or is it because you still think I abandoned you because I was attracted to another woman?”
“I heard I became a bit harsh after being infected by the evil energy.”
“Oh, the evil energy...”
“Do you remember?”
“I heard it from Raphael. He said so.”
I bristled slightly at the lack of gratitude in his voice.
“Yes, I also heard it from the Magic Tower Master... that I blocked the fire demon with my hand for Your Majesty, and I was infected by the evil energy. I was trying to save you, and I got hit! ”
Linel’s head tilted slightly to the side.
“Really? That’s the first time I’ve heard that.”
“Raphael’s communication skills are really poor.”
He knew I left for the Tebello Empire to heal the evil energy, but he didn’t quite understand why I was infected.
However, he seemed to believe me.
“It would have been quite something if the hypothermia curse had also infected me with evil energy.”
He let out a self-deprecating laugh.
Then, looking into my eyes again, he asked,
“How are you doing now? Judging by your tone, I don’t think you’re completely cured, though.”
“I’m cured, but I’m experiencing some aftereffects.”
“How so?”
“My innermost thoughts often spill out, and sometimes my hands move before my words. I’m quite rational, so I’m able to control them well, though.”
“...Considering that you came to the Empress’s Palace today, I guess you’re not the most rational of people, are you?”
He looked at me with distrustful eyes.
I averted my gaze and quickly changed the subject.
“By the way, what happened on your first night?”
“What do you think happened?”
He asked me in a low voice.
“Really... nothing happened?”
“Nothing could have happened.”
“Because it’s not working properly?”
“Do you really need to explain it like that?”
Linel asked in a displeased tone.
“It really only works on me... is that true?”
I peeked under the blanket and asked,
“What are you doing?”
He asked playfully.
“I was worried you were freezing there, too.”
Instead of answering, he raised his upper body and took over me.
“What’s wrong?”
“You didn’t ask because you wanted to check, did you?”
“I think you’re really alive now.”
I raised my hand and placed it on his cheek.
His body temperature had definitely risen significantly compared to before.
“I think so,” he whispered, leaning against my body.
“The sun is already rising.”
I turned my head to the side and looked out the window.
“My desire is rising too.”
“Oh, wait a minute. Aren’t there Roxana’s attendants in the main palace?”
“What?”
“Even if they aren’t Roxana’s attendants, if the other court ladies see Your Majesty coming out of this room on the first night of your remarriage, I think it’ll be very embarrassing for me.”
“So?”
“Let’s do it properly and proudly.”
“Hmm...”
He let out a groan of pain and slowly lifted himself off of me.
“Are you talking about after the concubine ceremony?”
I nodded.
“Are you trying to tease me on purpose?”
I was about to burn to death, so why would I do it on purpose?
I was just being careful.
“Anyway, thanks to you, my body temperature has definitely risen,”
Linel said, slightly grumpy.
“Are you upset?”
“In many ways. Then I’ll be going now. Good night...”
He stroked my cheek with his large hand and got out of bed.
A feeling of regret trailed behind his toes.
In an instant, my body practically jumped off the bed. I overtook him as he reached for the doorknob, and I pressed my back against the door.
“Wait!”
“What does this... mean?”
Linel asked quietly, placing a hand on the side of my head and leaning in.
“Kiss me before you go.”
“What?”
“I deserve to be rewarded for warming your body.”
“...Zelda.”
“Do it, really hard.”
I demanded confidently, closing my eyes.
“And really racy.”
My toes curled.
He faithfully carried out every single request I made.
I held his waist close to mine with both hands.
His broad back grew warm before I knew it.
His lips, pressed against mine, made me breathless.
My suppressed desire was crinkling his shirt.
His hands began to graze my sides.
“Do I really have to just kiss you?”
“Yes, that’s enough.”
“...Why?”
“Because I sensed you only responding to me,”
I whispered, eyes lowered.
Then he took a deep breath and hugged me tighter.
“That’s right...”
Roxana, who had fallen asleep after Linel left the Empress’s palace, woke up again less than an hour later.
Thinking back, she thinks she felt Emperor Linel’s hypothermia curse particularly clearly today. It was especially worse when they were lying in bed together.
But there was something else that made Roxana freeze.
“That part is broken.”
Roxana was momentarily stunned by his shocking confession.
If he couldn't function, what use was seduction?
It was worse than sleeping with a piece of wood next to her.
"I never imagined it. He looked so perfectly fine..."
Roxana bit her lip, thinking of Linel.
She hadn't been hoping for anything passionate either. She'd just expected a normal first night for married couples...
"A eunuch!"
The more she thought about it, the more absurd it became.
Roxana thought of Linel again.
A perfect face and a strong body.
But that was all?
A mere facade?
A useless part of his perfect body.
And of all things...
The inability to function most crucially disturbed Roxana.
This would disrupt her plans to produce an heir and solidify her position in the Lapion Empire.
Anxiety about the future made sleep impossible.
Roxana opened the bedroom door and went out to find her servant.
"Nancy, bring Hetor."
"Yes? Yes, I understand."
Nancy was momentarily taken aback, then followed her orders.
Hetor appeared before Roxana sooner than expected.
Hetor entered the bedroom without knocking and approached her, who was sitting on the bed.
“What’s wrong? The Emperor?”
“He just returned to the main palace.”
“...Why? It’s your wedding night.”
“It was trash.”
“What?”
“The Emperor,”
Roxana said to Hetor with a dejected expression.
“Did the Emperor do something terrible to you? Did he hurt you?”
Hetor quickly scanned Roxana’s body with a serious gaze.
“Something terrible? Well, not touching your wife on your wedding night is truly terrible.”
“...Did he?”
Hetor didn’t show it on the outside, but he was secretly relieved.
“Besides, as it turns out... No, no. Nothing.”
“?”
Roxana didn’t tell Hetor about the Emperor’s physical defect.
It hurt her pride.
“Come here and hug me for a moment,”
Roxana said with a pitiful face.
Hetor just stared at her blankly, flustered.
“Don’t misunderstand. It’s because Emperor Linel’s curse of freezing to death caused my body to shiver. I thought I was going to die from the cold, too. Achoo!”
Roxana sneezed and sniffled.
Only then did he sit down on the bed without saying a word and hug her.
She closed her eyes in Hetor’s arms.
The temperature was noticeably different from Emperor Linel’s.
‘Is it because Tanya Island is a tropical island?’
Hetor’s embrace was unusually warm.
“I want to kiss you.”
Roxana looked up at Hetor’s sincere words, spoken without thinking.
“No, I was just saying.”
Just as Roxana was about to close her eyes, Hetor shook his head.
“I know I shouldn’t be feeling this way, but seeing you makes it hard. I guess it’s because I’m an ignorant, barbarian-blooded fool.”
Hetor apologized, stroking Roxana’s red hair.
At that moment, Roxana unconsciously kissed Hetor, seeking redress for her hurt feelings towards Emperor Linel.
Hetor knew this, but he couldn’t push her away.
Roxana’s cold body was heating up.
“Lie down for a moment.”
“It’s the Empress’s order, so I will obey.”
As Hetor removed his shirt, Roxana closed her eyes with a languid expression.
As their breathing began to ragged, Hetor said to her,
“Do you know that the former Empress Zelda is still staying at the main palace?”
Roxana’s eyes snapped open at those words.
“What?!”
She pushed Hetor’s chest with both hands and sat up.
“You’re saying she didn’t treat her and send her somewhere else, but kept her in the main palace the whole time?”
Was she insisting on staying in the main palace?
Or was it Emperor Linel?
Why would two people who clearly had no memory of each other...?
This was an act of disrespect towards her, now Empress.
Moreover, if feelings were to rekindle between them, it would be a serious problem.
“I heard that the Empress sometimes decides where the concubines live, right?”
Hetor asked, stroking Roxana’s forearm with his fingertips.
“Yes, that’s right. That’s right...!”
Roxana’s lips quirked up as she thought about something.
“How so?”
“My innermost thoughts often spill out, and sometimes my hands move before my words. I’m quite rational, so I’m able to control them well, though.”
“...Considering that you came to the Empress’s Palace today, I guess you’re not the most rational of people, are you?”
He looked at me with distrustful eyes.
I averted my gaze and quickly changed the subject.
“By the way, what happened on your first night?”
“What do you think happened?”
He asked me in a low voice.
“Really... nothing happened?”
“Nothing could have happened.”
“Because it’s not working properly?”
“Do you really need to explain it like that?”
Linel asked in a displeased tone.
“It really only works on me... is that true?”
I peeked under the blanket and asked,
“What are you doing?”
He asked playfully.
“I was worried you were freezing there, too.”
Instead of answering, he raised his upper body and took over me.
“What’s wrong?”
“You didn’t ask because you wanted to check, did you?”
“I think you’re really alive now.”
I raised my hand and placed it on his cheek.
His body temperature had definitely risen significantly compared to before.
“I think so,” he whispered, leaning against my body.
“The sun is already rising.”
I turned my head to the side and looked out the window.
“My desire is rising too.”
“Oh, wait a minute. Aren’t there Roxana’s attendants in the main palace?”
“What?”
“Even if they aren’t Roxana’s attendants, if the other court ladies see Your Majesty coming out of this room on the first night of your remarriage, I think it’ll be very embarrassing for me.”
“So?”
“Let’s do it properly and proudly.”
“Hmm...”
He let out a groan of pain and slowly lifted himself off of me.
“Are you talking about after the concubine ceremony?”
I nodded.
“Are you trying to tease me on purpose?”
I was about to burn to death, so why would I do it on purpose?
I was just being careful.
“Anyway, thanks to you, my body temperature has definitely risen,”
Linel said, slightly grumpy.
“Are you upset?”
“In many ways. Then I’ll be going now. Good night...”
He stroked my cheek with his large hand and got out of bed.
A feeling of regret trailed behind his toes.
In an instant, my body practically jumped off the bed. I overtook him as he reached for the doorknob, and I pressed my back against the door.
“Wait!”
“What does this... mean?”
Linel asked quietly, placing a hand on the side of my head and leaning in.
“Kiss me before you go.”
“What?”
“I deserve to be rewarded for warming your body.”
“...Zelda.”
“Do it, really hard.”
I demanded confidently, closing my eyes.
“And really racy.”
My toes curled.
He faithfully carried out every single request I made.
I held his waist close to mine with both hands.
His broad back grew warm before I knew it.
His lips, pressed against mine, made me breathless.
My suppressed desire was crinkling his shirt.
His hands began to graze my sides.
“Do I really have to just kiss you?”
“Yes, that’s enough.”
“...Why?”
“Because I sensed you only responding to me,”
I whispered, eyes lowered.
Then he took a deep breath and hugged me tighter.
“That’s right...”
***
Roxana, who had fallen asleep after Linel left the Empress’s palace, woke up again less than an hour later.
Thinking back, she thinks she felt Emperor Linel’s hypothermia curse particularly clearly today. It was especially worse when they were lying in bed together.
But there was something else that made Roxana freeze.
“That part is broken.”
Roxana was momentarily stunned by his shocking confession.
If he couldn't function, what use was seduction?
It was worse than sleeping with a piece of wood next to her.
"I never imagined it. He looked so perfectly fine..."
Roxana bit her lip, thinking of Linel.
She hadn't been hoping for anything passionate either. She'd just expected a normal first night for married couples...
"A eunuch!"
The more she thought about it, the more absurd it became.
Roxana thought of Linel again.
A perfect face and a strong body.
But that was all?
A mere facade?
A useless part of his perfect body.
And of all things...
The inability to function most crucially disturbed Roxana.
This would disrupt her plans to produce an heir and solidify her position in the Lapion Empire.
Anxiety about the future made sleep impossible.
Roxana opened the bedroom door and went out to find her servant.
"Nancy, bring Hetor."
"Yes? Yes, I understand."
Nancy was momentarily taken aback, then followed her orders.
Hetor appeared before Roxana sooner than expected.
Hetor entered the bedroom without knocking and approached her, who was sitting on the bed.
“What’s wrong? The Emperor?”
“He just returned to the main palace.”
“...Why? It’s your wedding night.”
“It was trash.”
“What?”
“The Emperor,”
Roxana said to Hetor with a dejected expression.
“Did the Emperor do something terrible to you? Did he hurt you?”
Hetor quickly scanned Roxana’s body with a serious gaze.
“Something terrible? Well, not touching your wife on your wedding night is truly terrible.”
“...Did he?”
Hetor didn’t show it on the outside, but he was secretly relieved.
“Besides, as it turns out... No, no. Nothing.”
“?”
Roxana didn’t tell Hetor about the Emperor’s physical defect.
It hurt her pride.
“Come here and hug me for a moment,”
Roxana said with a pitiful face.
Hetor just stared at her blankly, flustered.
“Don’t misunderstand. It’s because Emperor Linel’s curse of freezing to death caused my body to shiver. I thought I was going to die from the cold, too. Achoo!”
Roxana sneezed and sniffled.
Only then did he sit down on the bed without saying a word and hug her.
She closed her eyes in Hetor’s arms.
The temperature was noticeably different from Emperor Linel’s.
‘Is it because Tanya Island is a tropical island?’
Hetor’s embrace was unusually warm.
“I want to kiss you.”
Roxana looked up at Hetor’s sincere words, spoken without thinking.
“No, I was just saying.”
Just as Roxana was about to close her eyes, Hetor shook his head.
“I know I shouldn’t be feeling this way, but seeing you makes it hard. I guess it’s because I’m an ignorant, barbarian-blooded fool.”
Hetor apologized, stroking Roxana’s red hair.
At that moment, Roxana unconsciously kissed Hetor, seeking redress for her hurt feelings towards Emperor Linel.
Hetor knew this, but he couldn’t push her away.
Roxana’s cold body was heating up.
“Lie down for a moment.”
“It’s the Empress’s order, so I will obey.”
As Hetor removed his shirt, Roxana closed her eyes with a languid expression.
As their breathing began to ragged, Hetor said to her,
“Do you know that the former Empress Zelda is still staying at the main palace?”
Roxana’s eyes snapped open at those words.
“What?!”
She pushed Hetor’s chest with both hands and sat up.
“You’re saying she didn’t treat her and send her somewhere else, but kept her in the main palace the whole time?”
Was she insisting on staying in the main palace?
Or was it Emperor Linel?
Why would two people who clearly had no memory of each other...?
This was an act of disrespect towards her, now Empress.
Moreover, if feelings were to rekindle between them, it would be a serious problem.
“I heard that the Empress sometimes decides where the concubines live, right?”
Hetor asked, stroking Roxana’s forearm with his fingertips.
“Yes, that’s right. That’s right...!”
Roxana’s lips quirked up as she thought about something.
***
“Your Majesty, did you hear the story?”
“I see you’ve already finished preparing, so you did.”
Rosie and Melanie came to my room.
“I heard from Sharon a little while ago.”
I stood from the vanity and greeted them.
This morning, there had been a message from the Empress’s palace asking for lunch with the concubines. It seemed Roxana’s first act as Empress would be a meal with the concubines.
“And Rosie, don’t call me Your Majesty even when we’re alone.”
“That’s true, but... 'Your Highness’ just doesn’t roll off the tongue.”
“Your Highness Zelda. It just rolls off the tongue, so what’s so hard about it?”
Melanie continued, nudging Rosie with her elbow.
“And if you say ‘Your Majesty’ for no reason and the people in the Empress’s Palace hear about it, it’ll only be Her Highness Zelda who’ll be in trouble.”
“Melanie’s right,”
I said to Rosie with a smile. She nodded and lowered her voice to ask about yesterday.
“Did you really go to the Empress’s Palace last night? Did you meet Her Majesty?”
“I only saw her briefly.”
“Oh, did you ask her what you meant by ‘ask’?”
Melanie asked curiously.
“Yeah, sorry I couldn’t tell you two.”
“Well, since you came back safely, that’s fine. You should come back safely from the Empress’s Palace luncheon today...”
Rosie and Sharon’s expressions darkened suddenly at Melanie’s laughing joke.
***
As I entered the Empress’s dining room, I was reminded of when I was the Empress.
Not long after becoming Empress, I had lunch with the concubines.
The concubines-to-be, from the Aklatto clan, had already arrived in the dining room.
Guided by the Empress's attendant, I took my seat.
The existing concubines were seated together, while I was assigned to sit with the concubines-to-be.
A moment later, Roxana, wearing the Empress's crown, strode into the dining room with an elegant gait.
I gazed at the crown that had once belonged to me, and then Roxana's eyes met mine.
She sat down at the head of the table, her chin slightly raised and her expression lifted with a commanding air. She then gazed at the concubines in silence.
“What?”
Why wasn’t anyone telling us to sit?
The concubines were visibly flustered. They all waited for Roxana’s order to take their seats.
Roxana studied the faces of the concubines closely, finally gazing at me, whom she held for the longest time.
Making people uncomfortable is truly a skill.
Barely suppressing a pout, she stubbornly maintained a blank expression.
“Everyone, sit down.”
Roxana’s tone sounded like someone training a dog.
I wasn’t the only one who felt this way; the concubines’ expressions were not so good either.
“It would be better to tell you before we eat.”
Roxana said after taking a sip of water.
Her eyes were fierce, but her voice seemed kind, and she must have been struggling.
Judging by her hesitation, I could tell she was about to make some important announcement.
Did you know Linel came to my room early this morning?
Roxana opened her mouth, looking at the concubines-to-be and me.
“We’re planning to hold the concubine ceremony in a few days.”
“!”
It was unexpected.
I thought they’d postpone the ceremony as much as possible?
At Roxana’s words, the faces of the three concubines-to-be brightened simultaneously.
“Really, Your Majesty?”
“Thank you!”
“I’ve been waiting for you anyway.”
They thanked Roxana as they went.
All three glanced at me.
I felt an unspoken pressure to thank Roxana, too.
“...”
I chose silence, not particularly grateful or resentful.
“Oh, Zelda, you’re the only one without a place to stay right now, aren’t you?”
Roxana asked with a pitiful expression, and I shared hers.
However, my voice was relaxed, like the Emperor’s concubine living in the main palace.
“Yes. I’m not a passing stranger, I’m the only one without a place to stay.”
“!”
Then Roxana’s eyebrows furrowed.
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