“Melanie, I’m sorry, but I can't.”
He straightened up.
“...It is not Your Majesty?”
Melanie straightened up even more, even frowning.
“Not me?”
He pointed at himself with a finger, still looking suspicious, to confirm.
“Yes. I’m sorry, but Your Majesty isn't.”
“Nothing to be sorry about. It’s actually nice and not burdensome. So, who do you want?”
The conversation felt a bit odd, but he was very curious about who Melanie wanted.
Surely it wasn’t me?
“Can I have it if I ask?”
Melanie asked him, confirming.
“Ummm... There are probably more people you can’t have, but if you ask for someone like Raphael, I’d be happy to give him to you.”
“Raphael? Hmm, that secretary who looks like grilled squid every time he frowns?”
Her expression crumpled like grilled squid.
She looked quite displeased. It’s a good thing Raphael isn’t here.
He prided himself on being quite attractive, but hearing Melanie call him a squid after Linel was sure to hurt.
“Raphael, right? Well, Melanie has a keen sense of aesthetics, so she wouldn’t ask for squid. Then who is it?”
“Have you noticed any servants?”
Curious, I suddenly interjected.
“Wild... this guy.”
“What? I can’t hear you well.”
Melanie’s pronunciation sounded muffled, so he asked again.
Her words were becoming increasingly difficult to understand.
“... Whaaaat.”
“...What do you want me to do?”
Linel put his ear right in front of Melanie, looking frustrated.
“The Empress’s Palace... Dog.”
“Oh my, are you talking about Bulldog Nana?”
Rosie managed to understand Melanie.
Aoshi, who had been peacefully groping with half-closed eyes at Rosie’s feet, opened his eyes wide and looked up at Nana’s name.
As if Aoshi had asked me to understand Nana's name.
By the way, you want Nana?
That wouldn't be possible, right?
Nana is said to be the dog Roxana raised in the Principality of Aklatto, right?
"Melanie, a dog in the Empress's Palace would be difficult. Wouldn't it be better to get another pet?"
I said, as if trying to persuade her. Melanie moved her mouth here and there as if she had something to say, watching me closely.
"That's right. And why do you want to raise one in the Empress's Palace? There are so many dogs cuter and prettier than Nana. "
“Yeah, to our descendants.”
Moiya answered smugly, and Moni added,
“The wyverns have returned.”
Born with exceptionally keen senses, Moni could feel it with her whole body.
“I asked Rosie a little while ago, and she said that humans call our children’s habitat the Valley of Death, Moni~?”
“What are you guys doing? Are you taking me to a place where wyverns are swarming?”
Aoshi was so surprised that he couldn’t even cry. He thought that even if he fell into the West Palace garden like this, he would be less shocked.
“Meow, meow! (I-I might become food if I go!)”
“I wonder? They wouldn’t eat anything with fur, would they?”
Moni replied calmly.
“Can’t you just pluck the fur? And there might be a wyvern with a strange diet.”
Moiya’s tone even seemed to anticipate the existence of such a strange wyvern.
Aoshi's sad cry echoed through the night sky.
"Meow? (But why are you going there all of a sudden?)"
Aoshi, who had put everything down, asked in a weary voice.
"You're just going to educate the young ones, right?"
"Let's see some talent, Moiya~?"
The two baby wyverns that had been in the egg for 300 years headed to the Valley of Death to establish a pecking order.
He straightened up.
“...It is not Your Majesty?”
Melanie straightened up even more, even frowning.
“Not me?”
He pointed at himself with a finger, still looking suspicious, to confirm.
“Yes. I’m sorry, but Your Majesty isn't.”
“Nothing to be sorry about. It’s actually nice and not burdensome. So, who do you want?”
The conversation felt a bit odd, but he was very curious about who Melanie wanted.
Surely it wasn’t me?
“Can I have it if I ask?”
Melanie asked him, confirming.
“Ummm... There are probably more people you can’t have, but if you ask for someone like Raphael, I’d be happy to give him to you.”
“Raphael? Hmm, that secretary who looks like grilled squid every time he frowns?”
Her expression crumpled like grilled squid.
She looked quite displeased. It’s a good thing Raphael isn’t here.
He prided himself on being quite attractive, but hearing Melanie call him a squid after Linel was sure to hurt.
“Raphael, right? Well, Melanie has a keen sense of aesthetics, so she wouldn’t ask for squid. Then who is it?”
“Have you noticed any servants?”
Curious, I suddenly interjected.
“Wild... this guy.”
“What? I can’t hear you well.”
Melanie’s pronunciation sounded muffled, so he asked again.
Her words were becoming increasingly difficult to understand.
“... Whaaaat.”
“...What do you want me to do?”
Linel put his ear right in front of Melanie, looking frustrated.
“The Empress’s Palace... Dog.”
“Oh my, are you talking about Bulldog Nana?”
Rosie managed to understand Melanie.
Aoshi, who had been peacefully groping with half-closed eyes at Rosie’s feet, opened his eyes wide and looked up at Nana’s name.
As if Aoshi had asked me to understand Nana's name.
By the way, you want Nana?
That wouldn't be possible, right?
Nana is said to be the dog Roxana raised in the Principality of Aklatto, right?
"Melanie, a dog in the Empress's Palace would be difficult. Wouldn't it be better to get another pet?"
I said, as if trying to persuade her. Melanie moved her mouth here and there as if she had something to say, watching me closely.
"That's right. And why do you want to raise one in the Empress's Palace? There are so many dogs cuter and prettier than Nana. "
Rosie agreed, shaking a rattle at Rams.
"There's another dog in the Empress's Palace besides that bulldog..."
Melanie said hesitantly.
"Hahaha. Are you talking about that Hetor?"
Linel asked heartily.
I laughed at the absurdity, Rosie laughed, and Rams laughed too.
"Yes, that man. Give it to me!"
"?"
Everyone paused.
Everyone gaped in laughter, then froze.
“You want Hetor...?”
He asked again, his expression unbelievable.
Melanie nodded repeatedly as if she had no vertebrae in her neck. She kept nodding, as if she wanted to keep shaking her head until Linel gave her permission.
“Yes. As my bodyguard.”
“And of all the palace bodyguards, why Roxana’s dog?”
“I’m going to tame him, but he’s really arrogant.”
“He's Roxana’s bodyguard now, but he’s actually the King of Tanya Island.”
He spoke clearly, hiding his embarrassment.
Melanie continued speaking, ignoring his words.
“Your Majesty allowed Her Highness Rosie to marry Prince Norton, so you can grant me this much, right?”
“Your Highness, my situation is different…”
Rosie was displeased to see Melanie tripping over herself and Prince Norton.
"There's another dog in the Empress's Palace besides that bulldog..."
Melanie said hesitantly.
"Hahaha. Are you talking about that Hetor?"
Linel asked heartily.
I laughed at the absurdity, Rosie laughed, and Rams laughed too.
"Yes, that man. Give it to me!"
"?"
Everyone paused.
Everyone gaped in laughter, then froze.
“You want Hetor...?”
He asked again, his expression unbelievable.
Melanie nodded repeatedly as if she had no vertebrae in her neck. She kept nodding, as if she wanted to keep shaking her head until Linel gave her permission.
“Yes. As my bodyguard.”
“And of all the palace bodyguards, why Roxana’s dog?”
“I’m going to tame him, but he’s really arrogant.”
“He's Roxana’s bodyguard now, but he’s actually the King of Tanya Island.”
He spoke clearly, hiding his embarrassment.
Melanie continued speaking, ignoring his words.
“Your Majesty allowed Her Highness Rosie to marry Prince Norton, so you can grant me this much, right?”
“Your Highness, my situation is different…”
Rosie was displeased to see Melanie tripping over herself and Prince Norton.
"Let's talk to Roxana. Hetor is Roxana's, so if she refuses, there's nothing we can do."
"Even if Your Majesty orders it?"
Melanie asked with a disgruntled expression, so I spoke in Linel's stead.
"Since His Majesty is here, we can at least bring it up."
"Zelda's right. But Melanie, why do you want to keep that Hetor by your side? He's quite abrasive."
"I only look at his face."
"!"
Melanie's words, filled with sincerity, once again threw everyone into confusion.
What part of a face are you judging by?
If you only look at faces, there's also Magic Tower Lord, Prince Norton, and Grand Duke Martins, besides Linel.
"Melanie, what's the name of that book? Can you see it?"
I couldn't ask outright, 'How good is your eyesight?', so I pointed to the book on Rosie's bedroom floor and asked.
"Um... It says 'How to Lose Weight Faster'."
Melanie squinted, telling me the title, then looked at Rosie.
"But what's the name of that book? The top part is covered by another book, so I can't see the full title."
"Really? What do you mean by 'lose weight fast'...?"
He asked, rising from his chair.
"Oh, it's nothing, Your Majesty!"
Rosie then hurried over to the book, still holding Rams in her arms, and knocked it under the bed with her toe.
"What's wrong? You just got up to get me out of here."
“Huh? Oh, sorry...”
Rosie’s voice trailed off.
“Are you going?”
I stood to see him off.
“I’m going to grant Melanie’s wish. I should at least speak to Roxana. If she refuses, there’s nothing I can do.”
“Really? So you’re going to the Empress’s Palace to ask the new Empress a favor?”
Melanie clapped her hands vigorously and kicked her heels.
“Why would I go there? The Emperor makes requests at his own palace.”
"Even if Your Majesty orders it?"
Melanie asked with a disgruntled expression, so I spoke in Linel's stead.
"Since His Majesty is here, we can at least bring it up."
"Zelda's right. But Melanie, why do you want to keep that Hetor by your side? He's quite abrasive."
"I only look at his face."
"!"
Melanie's words, filled with sincerity, once again threw everyone into confusion.
What part of a face are you judging by?
If you only look at faces, there's also Magic Tower Lord, Prince Norton, and Grand Duke Martins, besides Linel.
"Melanie, what's the name of that book? Can you see it?"
I couldn't ask outright, 'How good is your eyesight?', so I pointed to the book on Rosie's bedroom floor and asked.
"Um... It says 'How to Lose Weight Faster'."
Melanie squinted, telling me the title, then looked at Rosie.
"But what's the name of that book? The top part is covered by another book, so I can't see the full title."
"Really? What do you mean by 'lose weight fast'...?"
He asked, rising from his chair.
"Oh, it's nothing, Your Majesty!"
Rosie then hurried over to the book, still holding Rams in her arms, and knocked it under the bed with her toe.
"What's wrong? You just got up to get me out of here."
“Huh? Oh, sorry...”
Rosie’s voice trailed off.
“Are you going?”
I stood to see him off.
“I’m going to grant Melanie’s wish. I should at least speak to Roxana. If she refuses, there’s nothing I can do.”
“Really? So you’re going to the Empress’s Palace to ask the new Empress a favor?”
Melanie clapped her hands vigorously and kicked her heels.
“Why would I go there? The Emperor makes requests at his own palace.”
I loved the way Linel, conscious of me, answered Melanie.
“I guess I’ll leave you alone tonight. ”
I sent him a furtive glance, but I wasn’t sure if he understood.
“Thank you, Your Majesty!”
Melanie jumped to her feet and bowed ninety degrees to see him off.
“Zelda,”
He called, glancing at Rosie.
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“Find out why Rosie tried to conceal the title of that book earlier. You’ll report back at night.”
“I will obey Your Majesty, the Emperor’s orders.”
I answered like a loyal knight and looked at Rosie.
Her embarrassed, bewildered face was truly adorable.
Leaving Rosie’s quarters, Linel immediately sent Stiane to the Empress’s Palace.
“His Majesty summoned me to his office?”
Roxana asked Stiane again.
“Yes, Your Majesty. He said he had some time for tea before the afternoon meeting, and I was instructed to bring you here.”
“Understood. Give me some time to prepare.”
“Then I will wait in front of the carriage.”
As Stiane left the bedroom, Roxana quickly called Nancy over.
A moment later, Roxana, fully dressed, excitedly boarded the carriage sent from the main palace.
“What is he calling you for?”
It was the first time he had summoned her to his own office, so she wondered why he was looking for her.
I racked my brain the entire way to the main palace, but I couldn't quite grasp it.
Arriving at the main palace, Roxana felt a thrill the moment she stepped into her study.
"Come in."
Stiane opened the study door.
Roxana stepped inside and looked at Linel, who was sitting on the sofa directly in front of her.
He had his eyes closed, gazing at the sunlight-filled window.
His appearance was more beautiful than any beautiful woman.
"Why have you called me?"
Roxana approached him and asked softly.
Linel slowly opened his eyes at the sound of her voice.
"I have a favor to ask of the Empress."
Every time Linel called Roxana "Empress," her stomach lurched, but she persevered.
"What... favor?"
"Hetor, I mean. Is it a special relationship with the Empress?"
Roxana opened her mouth, tense at the Emperor's incomprehensible words.
"Not at all. Since the Principality of Aklatto has become an alliance with Tanya Island, he's simply escorting me."
Roxana dismissed Hetor's presence, wondering if he had begun to suspect her relationship with him.
"Really?"
"Yes... He's just one of many knights."
"Well, is that so? Then let's borrow him."
Linel said with an unusually gentle gaze.
Seeing the Emperor's bright smile for the first time, Roxana couldn't bring herself to refuse.
Returning to the Empress's Palace, Roxana called Hetor over and told him what had happened in the main palace office.
“...So you want me to guard that concubine?”
Hetor snorted.
“Yes. But don’t worry, it’s only for a while.”
Roxana had been worried that Hetor would react with anger. He seemed surprised, but thankfully, he didn’t seem angry.
She interpreted this as Hetor not opposing her orders much due to the effects of the obedience potion.
Hetor didn’t even ask why such a decision was made.
Melanie would tell him anyway.
“I don’t know why that stupid woman asked you to be her escort knight, but it might actually be a good thing,”
Roxana said, her lips twisting.
“?”
“Hetor, keep her babbling mouth shut.”
“What?”
“I’m saying to get information about Zelda from Melanie. No matter how many servants I have at her residence, one close to Zelda would be far better.”
I sent him a furtive glance, but I wasn’t sure if he understood.
“Thank you, Your Majesty!”
Melanie jumped to her feet and bowed ninety degrees to see him off.
“Zelda,”
He called, glancing at Rosie.
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“Find out why Rosie tried to conceal the title of that book earlier. You’ll report back at night.”
“I will obey Your Majesty, the Emperor’s orders.”
I answered like a loyal knight and looked at Rosie.
Her embarrassed, bewildered face was truly adorable.
***
Leaving Rosie’s quarters, Linel immediately sent Stiane to the Empress’s Palace.
“His Majesty summoned me to his office?”
Roxana asked Stiane again.
“Yes, Your Majesty. He said he had some time for tea before the afternoon meeting, and I was instructed to bring you here.”
“Understood. Give me some time to prepare.”
“Then I will wait in front of the carriage.”
As Stiane left the bedroom, Roxana quickly called Nancy over.
A moment later, Roxana, fully dressed, excitedly boarded the carriage sent from the main palace.
“What is he calling you for?”
It was the first time he had summoned her to his own office, so she wondered why he was looking for her.
I racked my brain the entire way to the main palace, but I couldn't quite grasp it.
Arriving at the main palace, Roxana felt a thrill the moment she stepped into her study.
"Come in."
Stiane opened the study door.
Roxana stepped inside and looked at Linel, who was sitting on the sofa directly in front of her.
He had his eyes closed, gazing at the sunlight-filled window.
His appearance was more beautiful than any beautiful woman.
"Why have you called me?"
Roxana approached him and asked softly.
Linel slowly opened his eyes at the sound of her voice.
"I have a favor to ask of the Empress."
Every time Linel called Roxana "Empress," her stomach lurched, but she persevered.
"What... favor?"
"Hetor, I mean. Is it a special relationship with the Empress?"
Roxana opened her mouth, tense at the Emperor's incomprehensible words.
"Not at all. Since the Principality of Aklatto has become an alliance with Tanya Island, he's simply escorting me."
Roxana dismissed Hetor's presence, wondering if he had begun to suspect her relationship with him.
"Really?"
"Yes... He's just one of many knights."
"Well, is that so? Then let's borrow him."
Linel said with an unusually gentle gaze.
Seeing the Emperor's bright smile for the first time, Roxana couldn't bring herself to refuse.
***
Returning to the Empress's Palace, Roxana called Hetor over and told him what had happened in the main palace office.
“...So you want me to guard that concubine?”
Hetor snorted.
“Yes. But don’t worry, it’s only for a while.”
Roxana had been worried that Hetor would react with anger. He seemed surprised, but thankfully, he didn’t seem angry.
She interpreted this as Hetor not opposing her orders much due to the effects of the obedience potion.
Hetor didn’t even ask why such a decision was made.
Melanie would tell him anyway.
“I don’t know why that stupid woman asked you to be her escort knight, but it might actually be a good thing,”
Roxana said, her lips twisting.
“?”
“Hetor, keep her babbling mouth shut.”
“What?”
“I’m saying to get information about Zelda from Melanie. No matter how many servants I have at her residence, one close to Zelda would be far better.”
She wasn’t wrong.
The problem was that the person close to her had a savage mind.
“They just hang out often, but I don’t think the former Empress would share important things with Melanie, do she?”
“Still, you don’t know. While we’re on the subject, let’s go to Melanie’s quarters right now.”
“Tonight... right?”
“Yes.”
As Hetor was heading to Melanie’s quarters, Prince Norton visited Rosie’s quarters.
His excuse was to see Rams, but his eyes kept focusing on Rosie’s face as she held Rams in her arms.
“Norton, did you come to see your child?”
Moiya asked, staring intently at Prince Norton.
“Of course. Otherwise, why would I come at this time of night, ah, hahaha.”
Prince Norton smiled awkwardly before looking happily at Moiya and Moni sitting side by side.
“Moiya must be less bored with Moni around. Our Rams wouldn’t be lonely if he had a little brother too...”
“Oh? I see why Norton came! You came to give Rams a little brother?”
“Moiya!”
Rosie squeaked.
Prince Norton covered his mouth with his clenched fist and suppressed his laughter, wondering what was so funny.
“So today is mating day?”
Moni whined, placing both hands on her cheeks.
“We’ll go out and sleep. Rosie, you can do it, right?”
Moiya patted Rosie on the shoulder, giving her an encouraging look as he continued.
“Remember when I told you the mating order before?”
Moiya asked, dancing his shoulders.
“Guys, please shut up...”
Rosie felt absolutely ashamed to face Prince Norton.
But she forced a composed expression and changed the subject.
“But where are you guys going at this hour? Are you going to disturb the two of them?”
“No. Even the cold bodies must have been tired from working all day. He needs to warm up a bit.”
“Ah! You often go to the master’s room and come back near the window, right~?”
“...Why?”
Rosie asked with a harmless expression, her eyes rolling.
“Why, it’s because the two are so hot together, Moiya~.”
“That’s right, that’s right.”
Moiya and Moni giggled, pushing each other.
“Anyway, Rosie, listen carefully to what this great wyvern says. You have to start with the shoulder dance! Got it? Definitely, definitely!”
Moiya whispered in their ears, urging them that this was the shortcut to mating.
“...”
Rosie was crawling under the bed.
‘What are you whispering so loudly?’
Judging by the way Prince Norton’s cheeks twitched, it seemed like he heard Moiya, too.
Regardless, the two wyvern cubs grabbed Aoshi’s nape and flew up.
“Meow meow?! (Let go, you guys! Why are you taking me with you?!)”
Aoshi swung the cotton bat, but it was of no use.
“You have no clue. Ah, should I take Rams too?”
Moni asked, looking down at the sleeping Rams.
"Leave him alone. Sleeping is what helps him. Let's go now."
Prince Norton slyly threw open the terrace door.
The troublemakers vanished into the dark sky in an instant.
Only Aoshi's cries could be faintly heard in the distance.
"What are we going to do now?"
Prince Norton asked, closing the terrace door.
"Should we really do the shoulder dance?"
Rosie swallowed and wiggled her shoulders.
"Meow meow! (I'm not going! Leave me alone!")
“Hold still. I’m going to be treated.”
“...Meow? (...To whom?)”
The problem was that the person close to her had a savage mind.
“They just hang out often, but I don’t think the former Empress would share important things with Melanie, do she?”
“Still, you don’t know. While we’re on the subject, let’s go to Melanie’s quarters right now.”
“Tonight... right?”
“Yes.”
***
As Hetor was heading to Melanie’s quarters, Prince Norton visited Rosie’s quarters.
His excuse was to see Rams, but his eyes kept focusing on Rosie’s face as she held Rams in her arms.
“Norton, did you come to see your child?”
Moiya asked, staring intently at Prince Norton.
“Of course. Otherwise, why would I come at this time of night, ah, hahaha.”
Prince Norton smiled awkwardly before looking happily at Moiya and Moni sitting side by side.
“Moiya must be less bored with Moni around. Our Rams wouldn’t be lonely if he had a little brother too...”
“Oh? I see why Norton came! You came to give Rams a little brother?”
“Moiya!”
Rosie squeaked.
Prince Norton covered his mouth with his clenched fist and suppressed his laughter, wondering what was so funny.
“So today is mating day?”
Moni whined, placing both hands on her cheeks.
“We’ll go out and sleep. Rosie, you can do it, right?”
Moiya patted Rosie on the shoulder, giving her an encouraging look as he continued.
“Remember when I told you the mating order before?”
Moiya asked, dancing his shoulders.
“Guys, please shut up...”
Rosie felt absolutely ashamed to face Prince Norton.
But she forced a composed expression and changed the subject.
“But where are you guys going at this hour? Are you going to disturb the two of them?”
“No. Even the cold bodies must have been tired from working all day. He needs to warm up a bit.”
“Ah! You often go to the master’s room and come back near the window, right~?”
“...Why?”
Rosie asked with a harmless expression, her eyes rolling.
“Why, it’s because the two are so hot together, Moiya~.”
“That’s right, that’s right.”
Moiya and Moni giggled, pushing each other.
“Anyway, Rosie, listen carefully to what this great wyvern says. You have to start with the shoulder dance! Got it? Definitely, definitely!”
Moiya whispered in their ears, urging them that this was the shortcut to mating.
“...”
Rosie was crawling under the bed.
‘What are you whispering so loudly?’
Judging by the way Prince Norton’s cheeks twitched, it seemed like he heard Moiya, too.
Regardless, the two wyvern cubs grabbed Aoshi’s nape and flew up.
“Meow meow?! (Let go, you guys! Why are you taking me with you?!)”
Aoshi swung the cotton bat, but it was of no use.
“You have no clue. Ah, should I take Rams too?”
Moni asked, looking down at the sleeping Rams.
"Leave him alone. Sleeping is what helps him. Let's go now."
Prince Norton slyly threw open the terrace door.
The troublemakers vanished into the dark sky in an instant.
Only Aoshi's cries could be faintly heard in the distance.
"What are we going to do now?"
Prince Norton asked, closing the terrace door.
"Should we really do the shoulder dance?"
Rosie swallowed and wiggled her shoulders.
***
"Meow meow! (I'm not going! Leave me alone!")
“Hold still. I’m going to be treated.”
“...Meow? (...To whom?)”
“Yeah, to our descendants.”
Moiya answered smugly, and Moni added,
“The wyverns have returned.”
Born with exceptionally keen senses, Moni could feel it with her whole body.
“I asked Rosie a little while ago, and she said that humans call our children’s habitat the Valley of Death, Moni~?”
“What are you guys doing? Are you taking me to a place where wyverns are swarming?”
Aoshi was so surprised that he couldn’t even cry. He thought that even if he fell into the West Palace garden like this, he would be less shocked.
“Meow, meow! (I-I might become food if I go!)”
“I wonder? They wouldn’t eat anything with fur, would they?”
Moni replied calmly.
“Can’t you just pluck the fur? And there might be a wyvern with a strange diet.”
Moiya’s tone even seemed to anticipate the existence of such a strange wyvern.
Aoshi's sad cry echoed through the night sky.
"Meow? (But why are you going there all of a sudden?)"
Aoshi, who had put everything down, asked in a weary voice.
"You're just going to educate the young ones, right?"
"Let's see some talent, Moiya~?"
The two baby wyverns that had been in the egg for 300 years headed to the Valley of Death to establish a pecking order.
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