"So, you're pregnant with the Emperor's child?"
That must be why she trembles so terribly, yet her attitude changes so suddenly.
Roxana snorted hotly at Pecilini's suddenly reckless attitude.
"I thought something was strange the whole time at the banquet..."
Pecilini felt Roxana's sharp voice stab her in the stomach.
"I was suspicious when you shoveled food into your mouth, but I let it slide because Zelda in front of you was eating like that, too."
Roxana looked like she wanted to whip Pecilini right then and there.
"But, after His Majesty arrived, I saw you gagging and got a feeling. Did you do it on purpose to tell His Majesty?"
"T-that's not it! It seems the baby reacted to seeing His Majesty."
"!"
"What did I just say?"
Pecilini was surprised at the lie she had just made up.
The thought of protecting the unborn child moved her lips involuntarily. She didn't want to provoke Roxana, but Emperor Linel was the only one who could protect her and the child at the moment.
Even as Empress, she couldn't treat a concubine carrying the Emperor's child carelessly, so she spoke with understanding of that.
Her words were spoken with determination, but the venomous gaze of Roxana staring at her belly was too much to bear.
Roxana asked breathlessly,
"His Majesty doesn't seem to know yet...?"
He couldn't know yet.
Even if she did, she had to let him know after the Emperor's lower body, which had been dysfunctional since the Continental Hunting Tournament, had healed normally.
'Then I'll do whatever it takes to have his child.'
What if Pecilini gave birth to a Prince?
No, even if it was only a year or two later, it would be fine. The child born in the Empress's womb would have a much higher chance of inheriting the throne.
Roxana's pride was hurt, but she asked Pecilini subtly.
“Were you sane when His Majesty held you?”
“Yes?”
Pecilini didn’t understand her question.
“What do you mean... Oh, you’re saying he held me while drunk?”
Roxana asked, as she had guessed, and Roxana nodded immediately.
“...Yes.”
Roxana left Pecilini to ponder that.
‘If it becomes known that the Emperor’s lower body is useless, the pregnant Pecilini will be arrogant. I can’t stand seeing that. I mustn’t let him know!’
“I remember him drinking a lot, but I was also quite drunk, so I don’t remember clearly.”
Pecilini tried to evade.
The safest answer would be to say they were both drunk.
After all, Roxana wouldn’t know the palace’s circumstances before she became Empress.
Even though it was known that Zelda was favored by Linel, the Emperor might have spent a night or two with another concubine.
“Was this the first time? That His Majesty held you?”
“Yes... That’s right.”
Although she was the Emperor’s concubine in name, they had never properly exchanged a single word. Pesilini was afraid that the lie was growing louder, but she steeled herself by thinking of the child in her womb once more.
“Getting pregnant in just one night... how lucky.”
The four children to be born in the future would be unlucky, though.
Roxana swallowed what she really wanted to say.
“I’m sorry, Your Majesty.”
“But what was your ulterior motive for hiding the pregnancy until now?”
Her voice was filled with doubt.
A cold sweat ran down Pesilini’s spine.
“T-the family doctor said that I, because I am so weak, need to be careful in the early stages of pregnancy...”
“Does that mean you were trying to hide it until your belly was full for fear that someone might harm the fetus? Did you take note of Zelda, the former Empress who monopolized His Majesty’s favor?”
Roxana asked with a mocking laugh.
She seemed to want to hear a 'yes' answer.
Pesilini gave Roxana what she wanted to hear, just as Roxana had intended.
"I'm sure Empress Zelda wasn't pleased with that back then."
Pesilini felt sorry, remembering Zelda's face at the banquet when she had given up the lobster dish to her.
"Hohoho, I guess there was more than enough."
Roxana burst out laughing, then quickly glared at Pesilini with a fierce gaze.
"But Pesilini, you know that my situation now is no different from Zelda's back then, right?"
Pesilini swallowed dryly and looked at Roxana.
“For the time being, don’t tell His Majesty about the pregnancy.”
“...Yes?”
“I’ll get the chance soon, so until then, just focus on prenatal care. Will that be difficult?”
Roxana’s expression softened, but her tone was clearly threatening.
“I-I will do so, Your Majesty!”
For Pesilini, it was a blessing in disguise.
Even after Pesilini returned to his quarters, Roxana remained in the drawing room, drinking wine and trying to calm her upset stomach.
Just as she was about to empty her glass, Hetor entered the drawing room.
“I’ve received a report that Commander Macrom departed for the main palace a little while ago. Now is your chance to meet Prince Tesla.”
“Yes, we must make sure of this before the trial...”
Since she had asked Pesilini to keep quiet about the pregnancy for the time being, she had to deal with the Incarnation Sword first.
“Wouldn’t it be better to travel by horse rather than carriage?”
Roxana set the wine glass she was holding down on the table and spoke to Hetor.
But Hetor had a thoughtful expression on his face.
“Are you listening to me? Hetor. Hetor!”
“...What?”
“Wouldn’t it be better to travel by horse?”
Joseph replied with a confident expression.
"Oh, my head."
Linel left the room after being hit twice by his younger brother.
"Why does that brat talk nonsense, dividing us and creating rivalries?"
He cursed Commander Macrom inwardly all the way to the office, where Raphael and Commander Macrom had been waiting for him for thirty minutes.
"Your Majesty, what have you been doing to be sweating today?"
Raphael asked, carefully observing Linel, whose hair and shirt collar were soaking wet.
"Again?"
“Last time you were in the office with your shirt unbuttoned, but today it’s soaking wet, so I’m telling you this. Were you with Her Majesty the Empress... no, Her Highness Zelda?”
“Yes, so?”
Linel shrugged, pretending to be.
“No, you’re coming from Grand Duke Joseph’s room, aren’t you? Oh, you were with him? Um... please refrain from showing too much affection in the presence of the young Grand Duke.”
Linel glanced away from Commander Macrom, pretending not to hear Raphael’s nagging.
“Macrom, didn’t you say something really unnecessary to Joseph?”
“I’m usually the type of person who gets criticized for not saying what I should say? What do you mean?”
“You said that when I was his age, I was worse at swordsmanship than him?”
“Yes, that’s true.”
“Even if it’s true, why are you saying such useless things?”
“Your Majesty, please excuse me.”
When Commander Macrom frowned, Raphael, who was standing next to him, patted the Commander's arm and said indifferently,
"Your Majesty is the type who shows off his body so readily, how could you possibly want to leave?"
"Even so, how could you say 'I teased you?' coming from the Emperor's majesty? And I was only offering a dream and hope by giving him a close example, since the Grand Duke was so worried about his swordsmanship."
"You did well. Still, I have my dignity, so I shouldn't have carelessly revealed such a truth."
That 'close example' snickered, secretly proud of Joseph.
"Why, was Her Highness Zelda disappointed when she heard that?"
"Is there anything she should be disappointed about?"
Most of his boasting was true, so it was impossible to refute.
"...By the way, Your Majesty. Are you jealous of the young Grand Duke? My, in times like these, Your Majesty is so~"
"Well, well."
Linel tilted his head back and forth, interrupting Raphael.
“You’re pure. Yes, of course. You’re pure. Is that all I can say?”
The childish word waiting on Raphael’s tongue was transformed into pure by his fierce gaze.
“Report.”
Linel’s smile faded again, and he asked Commander Macrom.
Since imprisoning Prince Tesla in the spire, he had been receiving daily reports on the Prince’s condition from Commander Macrom.
“As Your Majesty expected, there were those who came to see Prince Tesla,”
Commander Macrom said in a low voice.
“Who, Grand Duke Martins?”
It was as expected.
However, Grand Duke Martins had already sided with Zelda and had been a great help in this matter.
Until the trial was over, he would continue to act as if he were at Prince Tesla’s side.
“Besides Grand Duke Martins, there were others who secretly visited Prince Tesla.”
“You mean there was more than one?”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“Who?”
“Concubine Pesilini and Empress Roxana.”
Commander Macrom’s mouth quirked mockingly as he addressed Roxana as
“Hmm, I thought she’d move sooner, but she's a bit later than I thought.”
Linel was also certain that Roxana would attempt to contact Prince Tesla before the trial, if only to find out the whereabouts of the Incarnation Sword.
But why was Pesilini’s name mentioned?
“Pesilini met Prince Tesla?”
Linel let out a laugh, dumbfounded, while Commander Macrom pulled a small silk pouch from his pocket and placed it on the table.
“What’s this?”
He discovered a small diamond jewel inside.
“It’s a separate reward given to the guard by Majesty Pesilini.”
Commander Macrom replied with a scoff.
“This is really strange. What kind of relationship does Madame Pesilini have with Prince Tesla that she would risk a secret visit?”
Raphael asked him with a look of incomprehension.
He put the diamond back in the silk pouch and jumped up from the sofa.
“I’m going to Pesilini’s quarters right now.”
“Your Majesty... why are you in my quarters?!”
Pesilini, who had just finished bathing, almost fainted when she saw Linel in her bedroom. She was about to fall to the floor when a servant nearby quickly helped her up, saving her from a comical sight, but that wasn’t the real problem.
If she had fallen on her butt, it could have shocked the fetus, which could have been dangerous.
“Did you hear from Empress Roxana that I was pregnant?”
That was highly unlikely.
Roxana had certainly threatened her in the reception room of the Empress’s palace, telling her not to tell anyone, including the Emperor, about her pregnancy for the time being.
But if Roxana hadn’t told him, there was absolutely no reason for the Emperor to seek her quarters
“Why do you think I’ve come?”
Linel asked calmly.
“I don’t know, Your Majesty.”
It was true.
“If you think about it slowly, something will surely come to mind.”
Linel sat on the windowsill, crossing his arms and looking at Pecilini.
Then, suddenly, with an embarrassed expression, he changed his tone.
“Your nights may be long, but my nights are always short. So, could you please remember it quickly?”
The Emperor’s smiling face, with the moonlight behind him, looked cold yet captivating.
That must be why she trembles so terribly, yet her attitude changes so suddenly.
Roxana snorted hotly at Pecilini's suddenly reckless attitude.
"I thought something was strange the whole time at the banquet..."
Pecilini felt Roxana's sharp voice stab her in the stomach.
"I was suspicious when you shoveled food into your mouth, but I let it slide because Zelda in front of you was eating like that, too."
Roxana looked like she wanted to whip Pecilini right then and there.
"But, after His Majesty arrived, I saw you gagging and got a feeling. Did you do it on purpose to tell His Majesty?"
"T-that's not it! It seems the baby reacted to seeing His Majesty."
"!"
"What did I just say?"
Pecilini was surprised at the lie she had just made up.
The thought of protecting the unborn child moved her lips involuntarily. She didn't want to provoke Roxana, but Emperor Linel was the only one who could protect her and the child at the moment.
Even as Empress, she couldn't treat a concubine carrying the Emperor's child carelessly, so she spoke with understanding of that.
Her words were spoken with determination, but the venomous gaze of Roxana staring at her belly was too much to bear.
Roxana asked breathlessly,
"His Majesty doesn't seem to know yet...?"
He couldn't know yet.
Even if she did, she had to let him know after the Emperor's lower body, which had been dysfunctional since the Continental Hunting Tournament, had healed normally.
'Then I'll do whatever it takes to have his child.'
What if Pecilini gave birth to a Prince?
No, even if it was only a year or two later, it would be fine. The child born in the Empress's womb would have a much higher chance of inheriting the throne.
Roxana's pride was hurt, but she asked Pecilini subtly.
“Were you sane when His Majesty held you?”
“Yes?”
Pecilini didn’t understand her question.
“What do you mean... Oh, you’re saying he held me while drunk?”
Roxana asked, as she had guessed, and Roxana nodded immediately.
“...Yes.”
Roxana left Pecilini to ponder that.
‘If it becomes known that the Emperor’s lower body is useless, the pregnant Pecilini will be arrogant. I can’t stand seeing that. I mustn’t let him know!’
“I remember him drinking a lot, but I was also quite drunk, so I don’t remember clearly.”
Pecilini tried to evade.
The safest answer would be to say they were both drunk.
After all, Roxana wouldn’t know the palace’s circumstances before she became Empress.
Even though it was known that Zelda was favored by Linel, the Emperor might have spent a night or two with another concubine.
“Was this the first time? That His Majesty held you?”
“Yes... That’s right.”
Although she was the Emperor’s concubine in name, they had never properly exchanged a single word. Pesilini was afraid that the lie was growing louder, but she steeled herself by thinking of the child in her womb once more.
“Getting pregnant in just one night... how lucky.”
The four children to be born in the future would be unlucky, though.
Roxana swallowed what she really wanted to say.
“I’m sorry, Your Majesty.”
“But what was your ulterior motive for hiding the pregnancy until now?”
Her voice was filled with doubt.
A cold sweat ran down Pesilini’s spine.
“T-the family doctor said that I, because I am so weak, need to be careful in the early stages of pregnancy...”
“Does that mean you were trying to hide it until your belly was full for fear that someone might harm the fetus? Did you take note of Zelda, the former Empress who monopolized His Majesty’s favor?”
Roxana asked with a mocking laugh.
She seemed to want to hear a 'yes' answer.
Pesilini gave Roxana what she wanted to hear, just as Roxana had intended.
"I'm sure Empress Zelda wasn't pleased with that back then."
Pesilini felt sorry, remembering Zelda's face at the banquet when she had given up the lobster dish to her.
"Hohoho, I guess there was more than enough."
Roxana burst out laughing, then quickly glared at Pesilini with a fierce gaze.
"But Pesilini, you know that my situation now is no different from Zelda's back then, right?"
Pesilini swallowed dryly and looked at Roxana.
“For the time being, don’t tell His Majesty about the pregnancy.”
“...Yes?”
“I’ll get the chance soon, so until then, just focus on prenatal care. Will that be difficult?”
Roxana’s expression softened, but her tone was clearly threatening.
“I-I will do so, Your Majesty!”
For Pesilini, it was a blessing in disguise.
***
Even after Pesilini returned to his quarters, Roxana remained in the drawing room, drinking wine and trying to calm her upset stomach.
Just as she was about to empty her glass, Hetor entered the drawing room.
“I’ve received a report that Commander Macrom departed for the main palace a little while ago. Now is your chance to meet Prince Tesla.”
“Yes, we must make sure of this before the trial...”
Since she had asked Pesilini to keep quiet about the pregnancy for the time being, she had to deal with the Incarnation Sword first.
“Wouldn’t it be better to travel by horse rather than carriage?”
Roxana set the wine glass she was holding down on the table and spoke to Hetor.
But Hetor had a thoughtful expression on his face.
“Are you listening to me? Hetor. Hetor!”
“...What?”
“Wouldn’t it be better to travel by horse?”
“Oh, right, I already have a horse ready at the back door. Even if we go back by the garden road, it’ll be much faster than a carriage.”
“What are you thinking?”
Roxana glared.
The man, who never looked dazed, seemed suspicious.
“It’s just... I think the current situation is making things difficult for you. And Her Highness Pecilini’s pregnancy.”
Hetor spoke to Roxana as if to comfort her.
But in truth, he was thinking about the unpleasant incident that had just occurred.
‘Damn it! Why do I keep thinking about the feel of that fierce concubine’s lips?’
Linel stopped by Joseph’s room on his way back to his office after a political meeting.
Joseph was swinging his sword in his room, practicing for his swordsmanship class tomorrow.
“Your Majesty! I heard you were terrible at swordsmanship when you were my age?”
Who could have revealed such a blatant truth?
The culprit, of course, was Joseph’s new swordsmanship instructor.
“Macrom said so.”
“Yes! He said I was far superior compared to Your Majesty back then. Your Majesty was always sniffling and losing his temper, but I was like, ‘If you tell me one thing, I’ll know ten.’ So I bragged to Her Highness Zelda, and she praised me immensely! Hehe.”
“What are you thinking?”
Roxana glared.
The man, who never looked dazed, seemed suspicious.
“It’s just... I think the current situation is making things difficult for you. And Her Highness Pecilini’s pregnancy.”
Hetor spoke to Roxana as if to comfort her.
But in truth, he was thinking about the unpleasant incident that had just occurred.
‘Damn it! Why do I keep thinking about the feel of that fierce concubine’s lips?’
***
Linel stopped by Joseph’s room on his way back to his office after a political meeting.
Joseph was swinging his sword in his room, practicing for his swordsmanship class tomorrow.
“Your Majesty! I heard you were terrible at swordsmanship when you were my age?”
Who could have revealed such a blatant truth?
The culprit, of course, was Joseph’s new swordsmanship instructor.
“Macrom said so.”
“Yes! He said I was far superior compared to Your Majesty back then. Your Majesty was always sniffling and losing his temper, but I was like, ‘If you tell me one thing, I’ll know ten.’ So I bragged to Her Highness Zelda, and she praised me immensely! Hehe.”
What?
Who did you tell that to?
“I told you everything... exactly?”
“Of course not. I told you everything, without leaving anything out. I told you twice, no, three times, just in case you forgot, didn’t I?”
“?”
Have you ever seen such a meticulous and meticulous little brother?
"She hugged me so tightly, it was so warm and happy! It felt so soft and good. When I grow up, I’m going to marry Her Highness Zelda!”
Not that I want to... I’m going to?
This was practically an announcement.
Joseph hugged him with both arms and rocked his body with a joyful expression.
‘This kid keeps saying yes, yes, so this won’t do.’
“Joseph, from now on, let Zelda hold you warm, but don’t feel it.”
“Yes? Why?”
Linel said firmly to his weeping younger brother.
“Why, man, she’s my woman.”
“Commander Macrom said that love and swords are both moving. When I asked him, he said it was a fight worth trying.”
After being struck by Joseph, Linel demonstrated his impressive swordsmanship, even sweating profusely.
Despite all the sweat, Joseph’s reaction was indifferent.
“Why aren’t you surprised?”
"I'll be even better when I'm Your Majesty's age anyway."
Who did you tell that to?
“I told you everything... exactly?”
“Of course not. I told you everything, without leaving anything out. I told you twice, no, three times, just in case you forgot, didn’t I?”
“?”
Have you ever seen such a meticulous and meticulous little brother?
"She hugged me so tightly, it was so warm and happy! It felt so soft and good. When I grow up, I’m going to marry Her Highness Zelda!”
Not that I want to... I’m going to?
This was practically an announcement.
Joseph hugged him with both arms and rocked his body with a joyful expression.
‘This kid keeps saying yes, yes, so this won’t do.’
“Joseph, from now on, let Zelda hold you warm, but don’t feel it.”
“Yes? Why?”
Linel said firmly to his weeping younger brother.
“Why, man, she’s my woman.”
***
“Commander Macrom said that love and swords are both moving. When I asked him, he said it was a fight worth trying.”
After being struck by Joseph, Linel demonstrated his impressive swordsmanship, even sweating profusely.
Despite all the sweat, Joseph’s reaction was indifferent.
“Why aren’t you surprised?”
"I'll be even better when I'm Your Majesty's age anyway."
Joseph replied with a confident expression.
"Oh, my head."
Linel left the room after being hit twice by his younger brother.
"Why does that brat talk nonsense, dividing us and creating rivalries?"
He cursed Commander Macrom inwardly all the way to the office, where Raphael and Commander Macrom had been waiting for him for thirty minutes.
"Your Majesty, what have you been doing to be sweating today?"
Raphael asked, carefully observing Linel, whose hair and shirt collar were soaking wet.
"Again?"
“Last time you were in the office with your shirt unbuttoned, but today it’s soaking wet, so I’m telling you this. Were you with Her Majesty the Empress... no, Her Highness Zelda?”
“Yes, so?”
Linel shrugged, pretending to be.
“No, you’re coming from Grand Duke Joseph’s room, aren’t you? Oh, you were with him? Um... please refrain from showing too much affection in the presence of the young Grand Duke.”
Linel glanced away from Commander Macrom, pretending not to hear Raphael’s nagging.
“Macrom, didn’t you say something really unnecessary to Joseph?”
“I’m usually the type of person who gets criticized for not saying what I should say? What do you mean?”
“You said that when I was his age, I was worse at swordsmanship than him?”
“Yes, that’s true.”
“Even if it’s true, why are you saying such useless things?”
“Your Majesty, please excuse me.”
When Commander Macrom frowned, Raphael, who was standing next to him, patted the Commander's arm and said indifferently,
"Your Majesty is the type who shows off his body so readily, how could you possibly want to leave?"
"Even so, how could you say 'I teased you?' coming from the Emperor's majesty? And I was only offering a dream and hope by giving him a close example, since the Grand Duke was so worried about his swordsmanship."
"You did well. Still, I have my dignity, so I shouldn't have carelessly revealed such a truth."
That 'close example' snickered, secretly proud of Joseph.
"Why, was Her Highness Zelda disappointed when she heard that?"
"Is there anything she should be disappointed about?"
Most of his boasting was true, so it was impossible to refute.
"...By the way, Your Majesty. Are you jealous of the young Grand Duke? My, in times like these, Your Majesty is so~"
"Well, well."
Linel tilted his head back and forth, interrupting Raphael.
“You’re pure. Yes, of course. You’re pure. Is that all I can say?”
The childish word waiting on Raphael’s tongue was transformed into pure by his fierce gaze.
“Report.”
Linel’s smile faded again, and he asked Commander Macrom.
Since imprisoning Prince Tesla in the spire, he had been receiving daily reports on the Prince’s condition from Commander Macrom.
“As Your Majesty expected, there were those who came to see Prince Tesla,”
Commander Macrom said in a low voice.
“Who, Grand Duke Martins?”
It was as expected.
However, Grand Duke Martins had already sided with Zelda and had been a great help in this matter.
Until the trial was over, he would continue to act as if he were at Prince Tesla’s side.
“Besides Grand Duke Martins, there were others who secretly visited Prince Tesla.”
“You mean there was more than one?”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“Who?”
“Concubine Pesilini and Empress Roxana.”
Commander Macrom’s mouth quirked mockingly as he addressed Roxana as
“Empress.”
“One of my men, who was lurking in the spire, came to my office a little while ago. He witnessed Empress Roxana and Hetor sneaking into the back door of the spire.”
“Hmm, I thought she’d move sooner, but she's a bit later than I thought.”
Linel was also certain that Roxana would attempt to contact Prince Tesla before the trial, if only to find out the whereabouts of the Incarnation Sword.
But why was Pesilini’s name mentioned?
“Pesilini met Prince Tesla?”
Linel let out a laugh, dumbfounded, while Commander Macrom pulled a small silk pouch from his pocket and placed it on the table.
“What’s this?”
He discovered a small diamond jewel inside.
“It’s a separate reward given to the guard by Majesty Pesilini.”
Commander Macrom replied with a scoff.
“This is really strange. What kind of relationship does Madame Pesilini have with Prince Tesla that she would risk a secret visit?”
Raphael asked him with a look of incomprehension.
He put the diamond back in the silk pouch and jumped up from the sofa.
“I’m going to Pesilini’s quarters right now.”
***
“Your Majesty... why are you in my quarters?!”
Pesilini, who had just finished bathing, almost fainted when she saw Linel in her bedroom. She was about to fall to the floor when a servant nearby quickly helped her up, saving her from a comical sight, but that wasn’t the real problem.
If she had fallen on her butt, it could have shocked the fetus, which could have been dangerous.
“Did you hear from Empress Roxana that I was pregnant?”
That was highly unlikely.
Roxana had certainly threatened her in the reception room of the Empress’s palace, telling her not to tell anyone, including the Emperor, about her pregnancy for the time being.
But if Roxana hadn’t told him, there was absolutely no reason for the Emperor to seek her quarters
“Why do you think I’ve come?”
Linel asked calmly.
“I don’t know, Your Majesty.”
It was true.
“If you think about it slowly, something will surely come to mind.”
Linel sat on the windowsill, crossing his arms and looking at Pecilini.
Then, suddenly, with an embarrassed expression, he changed his tone.
“Your nights may be long, but my nights are always short. So, could you please remember it quickly?”
The Emperor’s smiling face, with the moonlight behind him, looked cold yet captivating.
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