“Your Majesty? You’re not serious, are you?”
Raphael leapt forward, blocking Linel.
“If I'm serious, then why?”
“...Hey, you just wanted me to laugh, Raphael, right? Yes?”
“I don’t like to be laughed at with my body.”
Not even a funny body.
He was serious.
“That’s not what I meant, is it?”
Raphael patted his clothes as if frustrated.
“Oh? Raphael must be jealous. I think our master would like it, right?”
Moiya said, nudging Raphael’s flat chest.
“Do you really think Zelda would like it?”
“Yes, I’m sure our master would be so proud, saying, ‘You concubines, this is my mating male!’”
Moiya confirmed, staring at his cleavage revealed through his shirt.
“But you don’t want other females to see His Majesty’s naked body, do you, Moni~?”
Moni whined, sticking her head between his open shirt.
“Are you crazy... Are you hot? Why are you burying your head in my icy chest and making a fuss?”
Moiya pecked Moni’s back with his sparrow beak, causing Moni to flap her wings in annoyance.
The two little sparrows bickered and flew out the window, and Linel finally left the office.
Raphael followed him, continuing to advise him.
“Please, keep your dignity, Your Majesty.”
“What have I done to start nagging me?”
Raphael leapt forward, blocking Linel.
“If I'm serious, then why?”
“...Hey, you just wanted me to laugh, Raphael, right? Yes?”
“I don’t like to be laughed at with my body.”
Not even a funny body.
He was serious.
“That’s not what I meant, is it?”
Raphael patted his clothes as if frustrated.
“Oh? Raphael must be jealous. I think our master would like it, right?”
Moiya said, nudging Raphael’s flat chest.
“Do you really think Zelda would like it?”
“Yes, I’m sure our master would be so proud, saying, ‘You concubines, this is my mating male!’”
Moiya confirmed, staring at his cleavage revealed through his shirt.
“But you don’t want other females to see His Majesty’s naked body, do you, Moni~?”
Moni whined, sticking her head between his open shirt.
“Are you crazy... Are you hot? Why are you burying your head in my icy chest and making a fuss?”
Moiya pecked Moni’s back with his sparrow beak, causing Moni to flap her wings in annoyance.
The two little sparrows bickered and flew out the window, and Linel finally left the office.
Raphael followed him, continuing to advise him.
“Please, keep your dignity, Your Majesty.”
“What have I done to start nagging me?”
“I’m telling you this in advance because I thought you might do something when you go to the hot springs.”
Raphael already knew he couldn’t stop the Emperor.
If he had a small wish, he would only hope that he would go to the hot springs and maintain his dignified appearance as an Emperor.
But what kind of person was Emperor Linel?
Back when Zelda was Empress, wasn't he the one who showed up at the Empress and her concubines' first meal, claiming to be there for dessert, and devoured Zelda's lips like a sweet cake, even as the concubines widened their eyes? He must have sacrificed all his dignity back then.
Raphael had already given up, but since Zelda was Empress back then, he was only met with jealous glances from the concubines.
However, the circumstances in the palace were much different now.
The only thing that hadn't changed was Emperor Linel, who, even after Zelda's demotion to second concubine, still loved her.
Therefore, the more the Emperor's favor became apparent, the more jealous and envious the new Empress and concubines would become, and the more likely it was that their anger would spill over into Zelda.
As his secretary, Raphael couldn't help but see Linel's sometimes blindly precarious behavior.
"Raphael, I know what you're worried about,"
He said with a chuckle.
Raphael already knew he couldn’t stop the Emperor.
If he had a small wish, he would only hope that he would go to the hot springs and maintain his dignified appearance as an Emperor.
But what kind of person was Emperor Linel?
Back when Zelda was Empress, wasn't he the one who showed up at the Empress and her concubines' first meal, claiming to be there for dessert, and devoured Zelda's lips like a sweet cake, even as the concubines widened their eyes? He must have sacrificed all his dignity back then.
Raphael had already given up, but since Zelda was Empress back then, he was only met with jealous glances from the concubines.
However, the circumstances in the palace were much different now.
The only thing that hadn't changed was Emperor Linel, who, even after Zelda's demotion to second concubine, still loved her.
Therefore, the more the Emperor's favor became apparent, the more jealous and envious the new Empress and concubines would become, and the more likely it was that their anger would spill over into Zelda.
As his secretary, Raphael couldn't help but see Linel's sometimes blindly precarious behavior.
"Raphael, I know what you're worried about,"
He said with a chuckle.
"Your Majesty, really... Do you understand correctly?
Raphael's eyes were filled with distrust.
"I amn't going to enjoy the hot springs right now."
"Yes, I know. You're going to protect Her Highness Zelda under the pretense of bathing, right?"
"That's right, but I won't be staying at the hot springs for long. I'll just pretend to stop by on my way to the martial arts training center."
"Oh, really?"
Raphael beamed.
"Yes. I'm just going to check on my woman to see if she's feeling intimidated."
Who's feeling intimidated?
Her Highness Zelda?
Before Raphael could even ask, Linel's worries poured out.
"She's such a delicate woman. It's like leaving a child unattended by the lake."
"?"
"I think I'll feel better only after I see for myself that she's okay at the hot springs."
"Her Highness Zelda doesn't seem like the type of person to be intimidated, no matter where she goes..."
Raphael quietly retorted, following Linel as he quickly descended the central staircase.
The hot springs in the cypress forest were, as Sharon had said, not far from the training grounds. When Rosie, Melanie, and I arrived at the hot springs, Roxana and the other concubines seemed to have just arrived.
They all seemed excited.
Roxana and the other concubines must have heard from Yulina beforehand, as they greeted us calmly without any surprise.
Only Pecilini and Catherine looked apologetic and uncomfortable, perhaps observing our reaction.
The knight escorts began setting up a tent around the hot springs where they could change dresses.
Meanwhile, the concubines sat on rugs they had brought from their quarters and waited for the tents to be completed.
“Your Highness Zelda, are you three really planning to come to the hot springs today?”
Yulina asked me, her eyes narrowed into triangles.
“I thought Melanie said something at Pecilini’s residence yesterday? That’s why you came here, right?”
“Yes, I heard. But, strangely, the day you’re coming to the spa happened to be the same day as us.”
There are many strange things.
“Are you chirping like that because you think we followed you?”
I asked in a natural, friendly tone.
My mouth was smiling, but my eyes remained silent.
“...Huh?”
Yulina’s face was flustered, and she rolled her eyes, not knowing what to say.
“Actually, I think it’s more surprising that everyone else decided to go to the spa except for the three of us.”
As Melanie spoke sharply, Yulina’s eyes slid to Roxana.
I could feel Roxana staring at me, but I pretended not to see her gaze and looked up at Sharon.
“Sharon, pour Her Majesty the Empress and the concubines a glass of juice each. It’ll be a lot easier if Misha and Heather help, right?”
I pointed to the basket containing the apricot juice bottles and glasses I'd prepared in the quarters and commanded Sharon.
"Yes, Ma'am."
Misha, Rosie's maid, and Heather, Melanie's maid, obediently helped Sharon.
The three of them took the glasses from the basket and distributed them to the concubines, then each grabbed a bottle of apricot juice and poured it for each of them.
"Here you go. I heard from Melanie that the Empress was coming to the spa with the concubines without us, so I prepared extra juice. We can't have juice 'only for us,'"
I said, trying my best to be polite, not to offend Roxana. I couldn't help but notice the strain in my voice, as if emphasizing certain points.
"Don't misunderstand, I didn't intentionally avoid inviting you."
Roxana took a sip of her apricot juice and looked at Rosie, Melanie, and me, looking sheepishly.
"Is that so?"
Melanie asked Roxana in my stead.
Roxana hesitated for a moment, then, as if remembering an excuse, said, "Ah."
Raphael's eyes were filled with distrust.
"I amn't going to enjoy the hot springs right now."
"Yes, I know. You're going to protect Her Highness Zelda under the pretense of bathing, right?"
"That's right, but I won't be staying at the hot springs for long. I'll just pretend to stop by on my way to the martial arts training center."
"Oh, really?"
Raphael beamed.
"Yes. I'm just going to check on my woman to see if she's feeling intimidated."
Who's feeling intimidated?
Her Highness Zelda?
Before Raphael could even ask, Linel's worries poured out.
"She's such a delicate woman. It's like leaving a child unattended by the lake."
"?"
"I think I'll feel better only after I see for myself that she's okay at the hot springs."
"Her Highness Zelda doesn't seem like the type of person to be intimidated, no matter where she goes..."
Raphael quietly retorted, following Linel as he quickly descended the central staircase.
***
The hot springs in the cypress forest were, as Sharon had said, not far from the training grounds. When Rosie, Melanie, and I arrived at the hot springs, Roxana and the other concubines seemed to have just arrived.
They all seemed excited.
Roxana and the other concubines must have heard from Yulina beforehand, as they greeted us calmly without any surprise.
Only Pecilini and Catherine looked apologetic and uncomfortable, perhaps observing our reaction.
The knight escorts began setting up a tent around the hot springs where they could change dresses.
Meanwhile, the concubines sat on rugs they had brought from their quarters and waited for the tents to be completed.
“Your Highness Zelda, are you three really planning to come to the hot springs today?”
Yulina asked me, her eyes narrowed into triangles.
“I thought Melanie said something at Pecilini’s residence yesterday? That’s why you came here, right?”
“Yes, I heard. But, strangely, the day you’re coming to the spa happened to be the same day as us.”
There are many strange things.
“Are you chirping like that because you think we followed you?”
I asked in a natural, friendly tone.
My mouth was smiling, but my eyes remained silent.
“...Huh?”
Yulina’s face was flustered, and she rolled her eyes, not knowing what to say.
“Actually, I think it’s more surprising that everyone else decided to go to the spa except for the three of us.”
As Melanie spoke sharply, Yulina’s eyes slid to Roxana.
I could feel Roxana staring at me, but I pretended not to see her gaze and looked up at Sharon.
“Sharon, pour Her Majesty the Empress and the concubines a glass of juice each. It’ll be a lot easier if Misha and Heather help, right?”
I pointed to the basket containing the apricot juice bottles and glasses I'd prepared in the quarters and commanded Sharon.
"Yes, Ma'am."
Misha, Rosie's maid, and Heather, Melanie's maid, obediently helped Sharon.
The three of them took the glasses from the basket and distributed them to the concubines, then each grabbed a bottle of apricot juice and poured it for each of them.
"Here you go. I heard from Melanie that the Empress was coming to the spa with the concubines without us, so I prepared extra juice. We can't have juice 'only for us,'"
I said, trying my best to be polite, not to offend Roxana. I couldn't help but notice the strain in my voice, as if emphasizing certain points.
"Don't misunderstand, I didn't intentionally avoid inviting you."
Roxana took a sip of her apricot juice and looked at Rosie, Melanie, and me, looking sheepishly.
"Is that so?"
Melanie asked Roxana in my stead.
Roxana hesitated for a moment, then, as if remembering an excuse, said, "Ah."
“ I was planning to split up the group since I have so many concubines,”
Melanie said, her lips curled into a curt “Yes.”
“Yes, I had such deep intentions... but why did you three come alone?”
Roxana’s sharp gaze darted to us one by one.
“We shared Her Majesty’s thoughts.”
Melanie said, her lips curled into a curt “Yes.”
“Yes, I had such deep intentions... but why did you three come alone?”
Roxana’s sharp gaze darted to us one by one.
“We shared Her Majesty’s thoughts.”
I replied calmly this time.
“What?”
“We planned to first come to the hot springs to experience the quality of the water ourselves, and then bring Her Majesty the Empress and the other concubines. If the water is too cold or too hot, your noble bodies might be startled.”
Since it was a hot spring, even the lies flowed out like the hot spring water— gurgling gurgling. Roxana sipped her apricot juice, making a “gurgling” sound as if her throat was choking.
While the concubines were amicably sharing the juice, the tent for changing dresses was completed. Everyone went into their tents and changed into their bathing attire. Rosie and I were the first to change into our dresses and soak our feet in the hot spring water. A little later, the other concubines also came out, one by one, changing into their bathing attire.
“Just soaking my feet seems to relieve my fatigue. Oh? Look, there’s Her Highness Pecilini coming out,”
Rosie said, tapping her feet before hushing her voice and gesturing. I watched Pecilini closely as she emerged from her tent. Fortunately, her belly wasn’t so obviously pregnant. Roxana and her attendant were walking behind Pecilini. Roxana spoke to Pecilini and moved closer to her. Pecilini must have been nervous, because she stumbled on the stone floor right next to the bathhouse and swayed. Just as Pecilini was about to fall into the bathhouse, a voice called out,
“Careful! Your Highness!”
Instead of entering the hot springs, Yulina, who had been idly wandering around alone, grabbed Pecilini's arm as if she had been waiting.
"Oh my goodness. You almost got hurt. Are you okay?"
Yulina asked rather affectionately, and Pecilini nodded, stroking her chest.
"Thank you so much. If it weren't for Your Highness Yulina, I would have been really surprised."
Pecilini unconsciously covered her stomach with both hands and said. Yulina's gaze briefly glanced at her stomach and smiled.
"I think Yulina knows..."
Rosie whispered to me with ventriloquism. "I thought so too," I replied with ventriloquism.
Melanie, the last to emerge from the tent, appeared wearing a large, brimmed hat. The other concubines looked at her with disdain.
"Your Highness Melanie, who wears a hat like that when they come to enjoy the hot springs? Take it off."
Rosie quietly advised Melanie,
“Don’t talk nonsense. The autumn sun is so strong! You could come here to relax and end up with freckles.”
“...Yes. Do as you wish.”
Strictly speaking, it wasn’t entirely wrong, so Rosie didn’t say anything else.
One of the knights, who knew the hot springs well, approached and spoke to the concubines as if giving them a warning.
“The area where the large rock is over there is deeper than a grown man. So please only bathe around here, where the water is light blue.”
Everyone nodded, looking toward the large rock.
As the escort knight had explained, the water in the deep and shallow areas differed in color.
The deep area was a deep emerald, while the water where we were going to soak was closer to a cloudy light blue, and the water was waist-deep.
Roxana and the other concubines took turns soaking in the hot springs, holding the servant’s hand.
I could hear people saying how cool it was, how fatigue seemed to be easing, how their skin was already smooth.
With my naturally high body temperature, I wasn't particularly impressed.
Instead, I was desperate for smooth skin, so I repeatedly poured hot spring water on my neck and arms with both hands.
"Hetor! Pick me up and put me in the water!"
Melanie whined, waving her arms and whining at Hetor, who stood with his back turned like the other knights.
Before I knew it, my gaze fell on Roxana's face.
Roxana's nostrils were so large, I wondered, growing larger as they tried to match the size of her eyes.
Melanie, who had just taken off her shoes, called out to Hetor, who had been standing with his back turned like the other knights, and looked at Melanie with an embarrassed expression and cleared his throat.
"Hold her."
At that moment, Roxana gave Hetor a leisurely smile and ordered him.
Hetor moved at her command.
Melanie looked between them with a strange look.
But I witnessed Hetor's feet flinch even before Roxana's command.
Even if it hadn't been for Roxana's words, he would have approached Melanie and taken her hand.
However, from where Roxana was, Hetor was hard to see, so it was easy to assume he had acted on his own command.
"Your Majesty, isn't Sir Hetor originally Your Majesty's bodyguard? Why did you come to Her Highness Melanie..."
Yulina, well aware that Hetor was the King of Tanya Island, asked with the prefix "sir,"
"I gave him Melanie to guard for a while."
"Your Majesty is truly generous."
Yulina flattered Roxana with a look of admiration.
Hetor approached Melanie and, without hesitation, lifted her lightly as if he were holding a sword, then carefully placed her in the bathhouse.
"Thank you."
Hetor shook Melanie's hand and smiled. Hetor nodded slightly, placed the shoes she had removed neatly, and walked back to where he had been standing.
It was an act of his own free will.
Roxana's sharp eyes followed Hetor's back, from the shoes Melanie had removed.
It was like the gaze of a wife witnessing her husband commit adultery right before her eyes.
Was she feeling sick at the sight of her own knight serving another woman as his master?
"Why is Your Highness Zelda just soaking her feet?"
Catherine asked me, casually.
"I'll be in soon."
I hesitated to soak in the hot springs. It wouldn't matter if I didn't stay long, but I wanted to get in as late as possible.
If I'd known this would happen, I should have soaked in Linel's cold energy early in the morning...
Then I wouldn't have hesitated so much and soaked in the hot springs.
Huh? Am I hallucinating?
The moment I thought of Linel, he appeared before my eyes.
I quickly rubbed my eyes with my hand.
"Your Majesty?!"
Judging by the startled voices of the concubines here and there, I knew I wasn't hallucinating.
But why was that man here?
"Your Majesty, what brings you here?"
Roxana, like a virtuous Empress, shot the concubines a look, telling them to shut up and asked him,
"I heard you were at the hot springs on my way to the training center, so I stopped by for a moment."
"I see. I'm sorry for your disguise."
"I'm even more sorry for your eyes. How is everyone doing?"
Linel slowly walked towards us.
As he drew near, the concubines all looked up at him, as if entranced, their expressions shy.
The foggy surroundings of the hot springs seemed to make him appear even more mysterious.
They're not even naked, so why are they blushing so much?
The concubines, already flushed from the hot springs, blushed even more at his appearance.
"Did I disturb you?"
Linel, sensing the chaotic atmosphere, shoved his hands into his pockets and made an apologetic expression.
Roxana and the other concubines opened and closed their mouths, widened and narrowed their eyes, and repeated this cycle at his every gesture.
Well, even I, who slept and woke with him every day, saw his face as fresh as ever.
"No way! Your Majesty, come in!"
The concubines from the Principality of Aklatto sang in unison, laughing flirtatiously.
"No. That's not what I came for,"
He firmly refused.
Before turning away, he met my eyes and smiled faintly.
I could sense that he had come out of concern for me.
"Then, I'll take my leave..."
He glanced around at the concubines and raised his hand, indicating he was going back on his way.
Linel neatly turned around, leaving the concubines who were groaning in disappointment behind.
"As expected, he's handsome, my man."
I smiled happily and admired his beautiful backside.
Then, with a splash, he, who had been walking with Raphael, disappeared.
"Your Majesty!!"
I jumped into the hot springs in shock.
Raphael, who had been walking with him, tripped over a rock and fell, seemingly colliding with his body.
Because of that, he, who had been walking right next to the hot springs, lost his balance and fell straight into the water.
"Phuuuup!"
Linel threw his face back and jumped out of the water.
Through the gap in his open uniform, I could see his wet shirt.
His well-toned chest muscles, which I had only ever admired, were clearly visible.
Suddenly, the concubines' eyes began to feast on him.
Damn it!
Before his head could even pop out of the water, Raphael hurriedly knelt, bowed his head, and begged for forgiveness.
“Oh, Your Majesty! Please forgive me, I have committed a mortal sin, Moiya~!”
“?!”
...You, Moiya, not Raphael?
Rosie quietly advised Melanie,
“Don’t talk nonsense. The autumn sun is so strong! You could come here to relax and end up with freckles.”
“...Yes. Do as you wish.”
Strictly speaking, it wasn’t entirely wrong, so Rosie didn’t say anything else.
One of the knights, who knew the hot springs well, approached and spoke to the concubines as if giving them a warning.
“The area where the large rock is over there is deeper than a grown man. So please only bathe around here, where the water is light blue.”
Everyone nodded, looking toward the large rock.
As the escort knight had explained, the water in the deep and shallow areas differed in color.
The deep area was a deep emerald, while the water where we were going to soak was closer to a cloudy light blue, and the water was waist-deep.
Roxana and the other concubines took turns soaking in the hot springs, holding the servant’s hand.
I could hear people saying how cool it was, how fatigue seemed to be easing, how their skin was already smooth.
With my naturally high body temperature, I wasn't particularly impressed.
Instead, I was desperate for smooth skin, so I repeatedly poured hot spring water on my neck and arms with both hands.
"Hetor! Pick me up and put me in the water!"
Melanie whined, waving her arms and whining at Hetor, who stood with his back turned like the other knights.
Before I knew it, my gaze fell on Roxana's face.
Roxana's nostrils were so large, I wondered, growing larger as they tried to match the size of her eyes.
Melanie, who had just taken off her shoes, called out to Hetor, who had been standing with his back turned like the other knights, and looked at Melanie with an embarrassed expression and cleared his throat.
"Hold her."
At that moment, Roxana gave Hetor a leisurely smile and ordered him.
Hetor moved at her command.
Melanie looked between them with a strange look.
But I witnessed Hetor's feet flinch even before Roxana's command.
Even if it hadn't been for Roxana's words, he would have approached Melanie and taken her hand.
However, from where Roxana was, Hetor was hard to see, so it was easy to assume he had acted on his own command.
"Your Majesty, isn't Sir Hetor originally Your Majesty's bodyguard? Why did you come to Her Highness Melanie..."
Yulina, well aware that Hetor was the King of Tanya Island, asked with the prefix "sir,"
"I gave him Melanie to guard for a while."
"Your Majesty is truly generous."
Yulina flattered Roxana with a look of admiration.
Hetor approached Melanie and, without hesitation, lifted her lightly as if he were holding a sword, then carefully placed her in the bathhouse.
"Thank you."
Hetor shook Melanie's hand and smiled. Hetor nodded slightly, placed the shoes she had removed neatly, and walked back to where he had been standing.
It was an act of his own free will.
Roxana's sharp eyes followed Hetor's back, from the shoes Melanie had removed.
It was like the gaze of a wife witnessing her husband commit adultery right before her eyes.
Was she feeling sick at the sight of her own knight serving another woman as his master?
"Why is Your Highness Zelda just soaking her feet?"
Catherine asked me, casually.
"I'll be in soon."
I hesitated to soak in the hot springs. It wouldn't matter if I didn't stay long, but I wanted to get in as late as possible.
If I'd known this would happen, I should have soaked in Linel's cold energy early in the morning...
Then I wouldn't have hesitated so much and soaked in the hot springs.
Huh? Am I hallucinating?
The moment I thought of Linel, he appeared before my eyes.
I quickly rubbed my eyes with my hand.
"Your Majesty?!"
Judging by the startled voices of the concubines here and there, I knew I wasn't hallucinating.
But why was that man here?
"Your Majesty, what brings you here?"
Roxana, like a virtuous Empress, shot the concubines a look, telling them to shut up and asked him,
"I heard you were at the hot springs on my way to the training center, so I stopped by for a moment."
"I see. I'm sorry for your disguise."
"I'm even more sorry for your eyes. How is everyone doing?"
Linel slowly walked towards us.
As he drew near, the concubines all looked up at him, as if entranced, their expressions shy.
The foggy surroundings of the hot springs seemed to make him appear even more mysterious.
They're not even naked, so why are they blushing so much?
The concubines, already flushed from the hot springs, blushed even more at his appearance.
"Did I disturb you?"
Linel, sensing the chaotic atmosphere, shoved his hands into his pockets and made an apologetic expression.
Roxana and the other concubines opened and closed their mouths, widened and narrowed their eyes, and repeated this cycle at his every gesture.
Well, even I, who slept and woke with him every day, saw his face as fresh as ever.
"No way! Your Majesty, come in!"
The concubines from the Principality of Aklatto sang in unison, laughing flirtatiously.
"No. That's not what I came for,"
He firmly refused.
Before turning away, he met my eyes and smiled faintly.
I could sense that he had come out of concern for me.
"Then, I'll take my leave..."
He glanced around at the concubines and raised his hand, indicating he was going back on his way.
Linel neatly turned around, leaving the concubines who were groaning in disappointment behind.
"As expected, he's handsome, my man."
I smiled happily and admired his beautiful backside.
Then, with a splash, he, who had been walking with Raphael, disappeared.
"Your Majesty!!"
I jumped into the hot springs in shock.
Raphael, who had been walking with him, tripped over a rock and fell, seemingly colliding with his body.
Because of that, he, who had been walking right next to the hot springs, lost his balance and fell straight into the water.
"Phuuuup!"
Linel threw his face back and jumped out of the water.
Through the gap in his open uniform, I could see his wet shirt.
His well-toned chest muscles, which I had only ever admired, were clearly visible.
Suddenly, the concubines' eyes began to feast on him.
Damn it!
Before his head could even pop out of the water, Raphael hurriedly knelt, bowed his head, and begged for forgiveness.
“Oh, Your Majesty! Please forgive me, I have committed a mortal sin, Moiya~!”
“?!”
...You, Moiya, not Raphael?
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