After meeting Zelda, Grand Duke Martins returned straight to the annex where the VIPs stayed and searched for Prince Tesla's room.
Upon entering, Princess Resilia was also present.
"What's going on?"
Prince Tesla, who had left the Kingdom of Shattonil in the early morning and arrived in the Lapion Empire in the late afternoon, looked tired.
"Prince, I have something urgent to tell you."
"Why are you so serious?"
"It's about Empress Roxana."
"You're not talking about raising tariffs on our kingdom, are you?"
Prince Tesla's expression darkened.
"No. It's about the Avatar Sword."
"What?!"
Prince Tesla, who had been leaning back on the sofa, sat up in surprise at Grand Duke Martins's words.
"I heard it from one of the ministers of the Principality of Aklatto, whom I've become close with while staying here..."
Grand Duke Martins began speaking with a hint of humor.
“I heard that the Avatar Sword is currently with Empress Roxana. And she’s also been keeping an unhatched wyvern egg that hasn’t hatched in ages.”
“Oh my, a country bumpkin from an island nation has all that precious stuff?”
Princess Resilia asked with a displeased expression.
“Yes, Princess.”
“I’ve heard that there are unhatched wyvern eggs in the Duchy of Aklatto that are about 300 years old. But why is the Avatar Sword of the Magic Tower Lord with Empress Roxana?”
Clearly, Hetor had the Avatar Sword in his possession at the monastery a month ago.
Prince Tesla’s expression became serious.
“It seems that Hetor gave the Avatar Sword to Empress Roxana.”
“You idiot. To hand over that precious sword to a woman! So both the wyvern egg and the Avatar Sword are now in the Empress’s palace?”
Prince Tesla asked with a sinister expression.
“They’re all stored in the Empress’s bedroom, but no one seems to know the exact location.”
Grand Duke Martins relayed to Prince Tesla what Zelda had instructed.
“Brother, the Empress invited me to her chambers. Should I ask?”
“You? No, keep quiet, so as not to create any strange misunderstandings. Instead, try to arrive a little early.”
“Why?”
“If the Empress is away, there might be a chance to go in and look around.”
“How vulgar!”
Princess Resilia agreed, trying to please Roxana.
“If I were her, I would ask for time to prepare a wedding dress, but seeing her going to such lengths to fit it into the concubine ceremony date is truly... pitiful.”
Roxana deliberately brought up the subject of the wedding dress.
“Really? She wouldn’t have had time to get one made, so what is she going to wear?”
“I found out she will be wearing a ready-made wedding dress, the kind worn by commoners.”
“Yes? You must not know shame! I would never wear something like that again.”
“I agree,”
Roxana said, her tone much softer than before.
“She's desperately trying to catch His Majesty’s eye again? You must be upset, Your Majesty. You’re still newlyweds, and you have to attend a concubine ceremony right away.”
Princess Resilia subtly provoked Roxana.
Roxana smiled gently and asked,
“Not only me, but Princess Resilia also has a debt to repay to the former Empress Zelda, right?”
“Yes?”
“If she had stepped down from the position of Empress in time, you would be here now, not me. Don’t you think so?”
“Ah... that’s true..”
Princess Resilia clenched her teeth, clutching the hem of her dress with both hands.
“What kind of fortune is it, former Empress Zelda, that she gets to hold a ceremony with His Majesty twice...”
“Yes, the more I think about it, the angrier I get.”
“What can I do? Unless she has a wedding dress...”
Roxana trailed off, and Princess Resilia showed interest.
“And if she doesn’t have one?”
“Tomorrow is the concubine ceremony, and we can’t let the other prospective concubines suffer because of her. First, shouldn’t we proceed with the ceremony without the former Empress Zelda?”
“...Really?”
Roxana nodded and continued.
“Oh, right. You’re planning to meet His Majesty with Prince Tesla in the audience room of the main palace before the concubine ceremony tomorrow, right?”
“Yes, I would like to greet you today, but I heard that you are so busy that you will only have time for a short time before the concubine ceremony tomorrow.”
“Princess Resilia, so... how about we use this opportunity to repay our debt of gratitude to the former Empress Zelda?”
Roxana asked secretly, putting down her teacup.
“Will that be alright?”
Sharon asked in a trembling voice as she handed me the mask.
“Tonight is our chance. If not tonight, it might be harder to get the Incarnation Sword back.”
“I know that, but I’m even more worried because it’s the night before the concubine ceremony.”
“That might be why Roxana feels more at ease.”
I opened the window facing the back of the main palace building.
“Be careful, Your Majesty...!”
“Don’t worry. Just keep a close eye on those guys.”
I pointed to Moiya and Moni, who were tied under the bedpost.
“Yes, I’ll keep a good watch.”
“Keep the window closed in case something like an insect comes in and transforms.”
“Of course.”
“Master, let me go. I won’t follow you. I’m serious!”
Moiya pleaded, and Moni stamped her foot in unison.
“I won’t go there even if you tell me to. What the hell is Moni~?”
Upon entering, Princess Resilia was also present.
"What's going on?"
Prince Tesla, who had left the Kingdom of Shattonil in the early morning and arrived in the Lapion Empire in the late afternoon, looked tired.
"Prince, I have something urgent to tell you."
"Why are you so serious?"
"It's about Empress Roxana."
"You're not talking about raising tariffs on our kingdom, are you?"
Prince Tesla's expression darkened.
"No. It's about the Avatar Sword."
"What?!"
Prince Tesla, who had been leaning back on the sofa, sat up in surprise at Grand Duke Martins's words.
"I heard it from one of the ministers of the Principality of Aklatto, whom I've become close with while staying here..."
Grand Duke Martins began speaking with a hint of humor.
“I heard that the Avatar Sword is currently with Empress Roxana. And she’s also been keeping an unhatched wyvern egg that hasn’t hatched in ages.”
“Oh my, a country bumpkin from an island nation has all that precious stuff?”
Princess Resilia asked with a displeased expression.
“Yes, Princess.”
“I’ve heard that there are unhatched wyvern eggs in the Duchy of Aklatto that are about 300 years old. But why is the Avatar Sword of the Magic Tower Lord with Empress Roxana?”
Clearly, Hetor had the Avatar Sword in his possession at the monastery a month ago.
Prince Tesla’s expression became serious.
“It seems that Hetor gave the Avatar Sword to Empress Roxana.”
“You idiot. To hand over that precious sword to a woman! So both the wyvern egg and the Avatar Sword are now in the Empress’s palace?”
Prince Tesla asked with a sinister expression.
“They’re all stored in the Empress’s bedroom, but no one seems to know the exact location.”
Grand Duke Martins relayed to Prince Tesla what Zelda had instructed.
“Brother, the Empress invited me to her chambers. Should I ask?”
“You? No, keep quiet, so as not to create any strange misunderstandings. Instead, try to arrive a little early.”
“Why?”
“If the Empress is away, there might be a chance to go in and look around.”
There was nothing he could do if Roxana was staying in the bedroom, but it was better to try than lose.
“Oh, Princess. If Empress Roxana isn’t in her bedroom, take a look at the cosmetics on the dressing table.”
“Oh, Princess. If Empress Roxana isn’t in her bedroom, take a look at the cosmetics on the dressing table.”
Grand Duke Martins then slyly asked Princess Resilia.
“Why the dressing table?”
“Every woman in the Lapion Imperial Family envies Empress Roxana’s smooth skin, and it’s said to be due to the cosmetics produced only in the Principality of Aklatto. Everyone is desperate to find out what they are.”
“Well, her skin is particularly good. I thought there must be some secret to it...”
As Zelda had predicted, Princess Resilia immediately showed interest and took the bait thrown by Grand Duke Martins.
“Yes, if we find out what kind of product it is, we can import it from our kingdom and sell it to the noble ladies of the Lapion Empire at a high price.”
“Hahaha, who would say we’re from a merchant family?”
Prince Tesla chuckled, patting Grand Duke Martins on the shoulder.
“Not a bad idea. Since we’re charging such high tariffs, there must be products with a profit margin.”
“Then I think it would be better to go to the Empress’s Palace now.”
Princess Resilia glanced at the wall clock and stood up from the sofa.
There was still an hour left until her appointment with Roxana.
“Resilia, don’t ask Empress Roxana useless questions. You’ll just find fault with her.”
“Do you think I’m an idiot?”
Princess Resilia got angry at Prince Tesla's nagging and left the room.
"Is Her Majesty the Empress inside?"
Princess Resilia arrived in front of the Empress's bedroom 40 minutes earlier than the time she had promised with Roxana.
Nancy glanced at Princess Resilia with a questioning look and answered.
"Excuse me, Her Majesty the Empress is currently in the drawing room with the costume designer. I think you'll have to wait a moment."
"Really? Then why don't I go in and wait? She called me here for tea time anyway."
Princess Resilia opened the door to the Empress's bedroom.
"Princess! When Her Majesty the Empress arrives, you should go in then...!"
Nancy was startled as she stubbornly opened the door to the Empress's bedroom.
“I don’t know about the etiquette of the island nation of Aklatto, but on the continent, it’s not customary to have guests from other countries standing like this.”
Princess Resilia glared at Nancy.
“...I’m sorry. If you wait in the waiting room for a moment, I’ll relay the message to Her Majesty the Empress.”
“Really? Then, I’ll be off.”
“Yes, Princess.”
Nancy hurried to the reception room.
Meanwhile, Princess Resilia finally opened the bedroom door and went inside.
The other attendants didn’t dare speak to the Princess, just looked at each other.
Princess Resilia entered the bedroom and walked straight to the dressing table.
“Wyvern eggs, incarnation swords, I don’t care about that kind of stuff.”
Princess Resilia looked excitedly at the makeup products that filled the dressing table.
“For someone from an island nation, how come you have so many facial products? Even more than me?”
It seemed to be twice as many as she used herself.
The Princess memorized the names of the products, muttering them several times.
Just as she was about to turn away from the vanity, the bedroom door opened and Roxana entered.
“What are you doing there?”
Roxana frowned, her expression revealing displeased.
The vanity was a sensitive place for Roxana, as it was where she kept her wyvern eggs.
“Hello, Your Majesty, the new moon of the Lapion Empire! I was looking in the mirror for a moment because I felt untidy, Your Majesty.”
Princess Resilia hurriedly knelt and greeted Roxana politely.
“Yes, it’s been a month since we briefly met at the monastery.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Roxana’s frown softened, and she greeted Princess Resilia.
Moreover, it didn’t hurt to hear the Princess regularly addressing her as Your Majesty.
“Please, sit down. We’ll have refreshments served shortly.”
“Yes, thank you.”
While they were chatting over tea, Princess Resilia was the first to mention the concubine ceremony.
“I cannot understand His Majesty, who would take back the former Empress Zelda, who defrauded two countries, as his concubine!”
“It is His Majesty’s will, so what can I do? However, it is unpleasant to see her trying to become a concubine as soon as possible and win His Majesty’s favor.”
“Why the dressing table?”
“Every woman in the Lapion Imperial Family envies Empress Roxana’s smooth skin, and it’s said to be due to the cosmetics produced only in the Principality of Aklatto. Everyone is desperate to find out what they are.”
“Well, her skin is particularly good. I thought there must be some secret to it...”
As Zelda had predicted, Princess Resilia immediately showed interest and took the bait thrown by Grand Duke Martins.
“Yes, if we find out what kind of product it is, we can import it from our kingdom and sell it to the noble ladies of the Lapion Empire at a high price.”
“Hahaha, who would say we’re from a merchant family?”
Prince Tesla chuckled, patting Grand Duke Martins on the shoulder.
“Not a bad idea. Since we’re charging such high tariffs, there must be products with a profit margin.”
“Then I think it would be better to go to the Empress’s Palace now.”
Princess Resilia glanced at the wall clock and stood up from the sofa.
There was still an hour left until her appointment with Roxana.
“Resilia, don’t ask Empress Roxana useless questions. You’ll just find fault with her.”
“Do you think I’m an idiot?”
Princess Resilia got angry at Prince Tesla's nagging and left the room.
***
"Is Her Majesty the Empress inside?"
Princess Resilia arrived in front of the Empress's bedroom 40 minutes earlier than the time she had promised with Roxana.
Nancy glanced at Princess Resilia with a questioning look and answered.
"Excuse me, Her Majesty the Empress is currently in the drawing room with the costume designer. I think you'll have to wait a moment."
"Really? Then why don't I go in and wait? She called me here for tea time anyway."
Princess Resilia opened the door to the Empress's bedroom.
"Princess! When Her Majesty the Empress arrives, you should go in then...!"
Nancy was startled as she stubbornly opened the door to the Empress's bedroom.
“I don’t know about the etiquette of the island nation of Aklatto, but on the continent, it’s not customary to have guests from other countries standing like this.”
Princess Resilia glared at Nancy.
“...I’m sorry. If you wait in the waiting room for a moment, I’ll relay the message to Her Majesty the Empress.”
“Really? Then, I’ll be off.”
“Yes, Princess.”
Nancy hurried to the reception room.
Meanwhile, Princess Resilia finally opened the bedroom door and went inside.
The other attendants didn’t dare speak to the Princess, just looked at each other.
Princess Resilia entered the bedroom and walked straight to the dressing table.
“Wyvern eggs, incarnation swords, I don’t care about that kind of stuff.”
Princess Resilia looked excitedly at the makeup products that filled the dressing table.
“For someone from an island nation, how come you have so many facial products? Even more than me?”
It seemed to be twice as many as she used herself.
The Princess memorized the names of the products, muttering them several times.
Just as she was about to turn away from the vanity, the bedroom door opened and Roxana entered.
“What are you doing there?”
Roxana frowned, her expression revealing displeased.
The vanity was a sensitive place for Roxana, as it was where she kept her wyvern eggs.
“Hello, Your Majesty, the new moon of the Lapion Empire! I was looking in the mirror for a moment because I felt untidy, Your Majesty.”
Princess Resilia hurriedly knelt and greeted Roxana politely.
“Yes, it’s been a month since we briefly met at the monastery.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Roxana’s frown softened, and she greeted Princess Resilia.
Moreover, it didn’t hurt to hear the Princess regularly addressing her as Your Majesty.
“Please, sit down. We’ll have refreshments served shortly.”
“Yes, thank you.”
While they were chatting over tea, Princess Resilia was the first to mention the concubine ceremony.
“I cannot understand His Majesty, who would take back the former Empress Zelda, who defrauded two countries, as his concubine!”
“It is His Majesty’s will, so what can I do? However, it is unpleasant to see her trying to become a concubine as soon as possible and win His Majesty’s favor.”
“How vulgar!”
Princess Resilia agreed, trying to please Roxana.
“If I were her, I would ask for time to prepare a wedding dress, but seeing her going to such lengths to fit it into the concubine ceremony date is truly... pitiful.”
Roxana deliberately brought up the subject of the wedding dress.
“Really? She wouldn’t have had time to get one made, so what is she going to wear?”
“I found out she will be wearing a ready-made wedding dress, the kind worn by commoners.”
“Yes? You must not know shame! I would never wear something like that again.”
“I agree,”
Roxana said, her tone much softer than before.
“She's desperately trying to catch His Majesty’s eye again? You must be upset, Your Majesty. You’re still newlyweds, and you have to attend a concubine ceremony right away.”
Princess Resilia subtly provoked Roxana.
Roxana smiled gently and asked,
“Not only me, but Princess Resilia also has a debt to repay to the former Empress Zelda, right?”
“Yes?”
“If she had stepped down from the position of Empress in time, you would be here now, not me. Don’t you think so?”
“Ah... that’s true..”
Princess Resilia clenched her teeth, clutching the hem of her dress with both hands.
“What kind of fortune is it, former Empress Zelda, that she gets to hold a ceremony with His Majesty twice...”
“Yes, the more I think about it, the angrier I get.”
“What can I do? Unless she has a wedding dress...”
Roxana trailed off, and Princess Resilia showed interest.
“And if she doesn’t have one?”
“Tomorrow is the concubine ceremony, and we can’t let the other prospective concubines suffer because of her. First, shouldn’t we proceed with the ceremony without the former Empress Zelda?”
“...Really?”
Roxana nodded and continued.
“Oh, right. You’re planning to meet His Majesty with Prince Tesla in the audience room of the main palace before the concubine ceremony tomorrow, right?”
“Yes, I would like to greet you today, but I heard that you are so busy that you will only have time for a short time before the concubine ceremony tomorrow.”
“Princess Resilia, so... how about we use this opportunity to repay our debt of gratitude to the former Empress Zelda?”
Roxana asked secretly, putting down her teacup.
***
“Will that be alright?”
Sharon asked in a trembling voice as she handed me the mask.
“Tonight is our chance. If not tonight, it might be harder to get the Incarnation Sword back.”
“I know that, but I’m even more worried because it’s the night before the concubine ceremony.”
“That might be why Roxana feels more at ease.”
I opened the window facing the back of the main palace building.
“Be careful, Your Majesty...!”
“Don’t worry. Just keep a close eye on those guys.”
I pointed to Moiya and Moni, who were tied under the bedpost.
“Yes, I’ll keep a good watch.”
“Keep the window closed in case something like an insect comes in and transforms.”
“Of course.”
“Master, let me go. I won’t follow you. I’m serious!”
Moiya pleaded, and Moni stamped her foot in unison.
“I won’t go there even if you tell me to. What the hell is Moni~?”
“If you behave, Sharon will give you sausages. Sharon, if they say one more word from now on, you’ll take one sausage away.”
“Yes, I understand.”
At my words, Moiya and Moni simultaneously shut their mouths tightly and gave me a belly-button nod.
I chuckled and went out the window. I tried to climb straight down the wall, but since I was in the middle of the building, there was a high chance of being seen by the palace staff.
I decided to move sideways to the end of the wall and descend.
I stepped on a statue and cautiously moved to the side.
I noticed the light on in the Emperor's bedroom at the end of the building, so I peeked through the window.
He was sitting with his back against the headboard, studying some papers.
His engrossed work was so impressive that I couldn't take my eyes off him.
He stopped flipping through the papers and turned his head in my direction.
'Huh!'
I quickly descended down the building.
As soon as my feet touched the ground, I ducked behind the corner and looked up.
Linel had opened the window and was looking outside.
'He didn't see me, did he?'
I muffled my steps, turning my back on the main palace building, and hurried toward the rear garden.
I ran to the Empress's Palace, concealed in the darkness.
I hid behind a tree until the guards passed behind the Empress's Palace building, then quickly slipped through the back door leading to the laundry room.
"What is this?"
A large display case sat in front of the stairwell leading to the dressing room.
It hadn't been there before.
I figured it must have been there after Sharon sneaked into the dressing room.
I lightly pushed the display case aside, took the key Sharon had given me from my pocket, unlocked the door leading to the dressing room, and stepped inside.
I continued up the narrow spiral staircase without stopping.
I pulled out the key again at the door leading to the dressing room.
I worried it wouldn't fit, but thankfully, the key Sharon had modeled for me fit just fine.
However, when I opened the door, just like the laundry room, a display case blocked the doorway.
I bent down, lifted the bottom of the display case, and slowly moved it to the side.
It would have been easier to just push it in one motion, but that would have definitely made the display case drag on the floor, so it was safer, even if it was difficult.
I pushed myself into the dressing room, barely enough to squeeze through.
I lifted the display case again to block the doorway.
The dressing room was pitch-black, devoid of any light, but I easily found the Incarnation Sword.
I held out both palms and slowly traced the path I felt for the sword.
It was stored in a dress closet directly opposite the door leading to the bedroom.
"Here it is."
I searched through the dozens of dresses hanging there several times before finally finding the sword.
The red jewel embedded in its handle flashed, glowing in the darkness.
Suddenly, my blood began to circulate rapidly.
"I have to get out of here."
The moment I slung the sword on my back, the door to the dressing room connected to the bedroom slowly opened.
I took a deep breath, ducked into the dress closet, and pressed my back against the wall.
Between the dresses, I saw Roxana holding an oil lamp.
"What should I do...?"
Roxana began to slowly look around the dressing room.
Did she sense something strange?
Did she notice that the wyvern egg she had stored in the dresser drawer was missing after Princess Resilia's visit?
Oh, so maybe she came into the dressing room to check if the Avatar was okay.
Roxana placed the oil lamp on the shelf and started walking towards me.
Since the Avatar Sword was here, it was obvious she would.
What should I do? If I keep going like this, I’ll be found out right away.
‘Zelda, oil lamp!’
The incarnation inside me shouted.
I immediately knew what the incarnation meant.
It was a dangerous method, but I had no choice now.
I stared at the oil lamp and concentrated my mind.
‘Please, please...!’
The moment Roxana put her hand between the dresses in the closet where I was hiding,
Thud-!
The oil lamp fell to the floor.
‘Enough.’
“Gyaaaaak...!!”
The flames swept through the dressing room in an instant, drowning out Roxana’s screams.
“Yes, I understand.”
At my words, Moiya and Moni simultaneously shut their mouths tightly and gave me a belly-button nod.
I chuckled and went out the window. I tried to climb straight down the wall, but since I was in the middle of the building, there was a high chance of being seen by the palace staff.
I decided to move sideways to the end of the wall and descend.
I stepped on a statue and cautiously moved to the side.
I noticed the light on in the Emperor's bedroom at the end of the building, so I peeked through the window.
He was sitting with his back against the headboard, studying some papers.
His engrossed work was so impressive that I couldn't take my eyes off him.
He stopped flipping through the papers and turned his head in my direction.
'Huh!'
I quickly descended down the building.
As soon as my feet touched the ground, I ducked behind the corner and looked up.
Linel had opened the window and was looking outside.
'He didn't see me, did he?'
I muffled my steps, turning my back on the main palace building, and hurried toward the rear garden.
***
I ran to the Empress's Palace, concealed in the darkness.
I hid behind a tree until the guards passed behind the Empress's Palace building, then quickly slipped through the back door leading to the laundry room.
"What is this?"
A large display case sat in front of the stairwell leading to the dressing room.
It hadn't been there before.
I figured it must have been there after Sharon sneaked into the dressing room.
I lightly pushed the display case aside, took the key Sharon had given me from my pocket, unlocked the door leading to the dressing room, and stepped inside.
I continued up the narrow spiral staircase without stopping.
I pulled out the key again at the door leading to the dressing room.
I worried it wouldn't fit, but thankfully, the key Sharon had modeled for me fit just fine.
However, when I opened the door, just like the laundry room, a display case blocked the doorway.
I bent down, lifted the bottom of the display case, and slowly moved it to the side.
It would have been easier to just push it in one motion, but that would have definitely made the display case drag on the floor, so it was safer, even if it was difficult.
I pushed myself into the dressing room, barely enough to squeeze through.
I lifted the display case again to block the doorway.
The dressing room was pitch-black, devoid of any light, but I easily found the Incarnation Sword.
I held out both palms and slowly traced the path I felt for the sword.
It was stored in a dress closet directly opposite the door leading to the bedroom.
"Here it is."
I searched through the dozens of dresses hanging there several times before finally finding the sword.
The red jewel embedded in its handle flashed, glowing in the darkness.
Suddenly, my blood began to circulate rapidly.
"I have to get out of here."
The moment I slung the sword on my back, the door to the dressing room connected to the bedroom slowly opened.
I took a deep breath, ducked into the dress closet, and pressed my back against the wall.
Between the dresses, I saw Roxana holding an oil lamp.
"What should I do...?"
Roxana began to slowly look around the dressing room.
Did she sense something strange?
Did she notice that the wyvern egg she had stored in the dresser drawer was missing after Princess Resilia's visit?
Oh, so maybe she came into the dressing room to check if the Avatar was okay.
Roxana placed the oil lamp on the shelf and started walking towards me.
Since the Avatar Sword was here, it was obvious she would.
What should I do? If I keep going like this, I’ll be found out right away.
‘Zelda, oil lamp!’
The incarnation inside me shouted.
I immediately knew what the incarnation meant.
It was a dangerous method, but I had no choice now.
I stared at the oil lamp and concentrated my mind.
‘Please, please...!’
The moment Roxana put her hand between the dresses in the closet where I was hiding,
Thud-!
The oil lamp fell to the floor.
‘Enough.’
“Gyaaaaak...!!”
The flames swept through the dressing room in an instant, drowning out Roxana’s screams.
Comments
Post a Comment