“Raphael, I... is okay.”
He said, throwing off his soaking-drenched uniform jacket at Raphael.
All the concubines’ eyes, including Roxana’s, were focused on Linel’s body.
The ominous aura was thicker than the fog that hung over the hot springs.
The wet shirt was useless, practically useless.
In fact, the wet shirt clung to his body, making him look even more racy.
He brushed back his hair that had fallen forward with both hands and said to the concubines,
“While we’re at this point, we should go soak for a bit, Moni~.”
!”
...You, you Moni?
Oh my god, what’s going on?
I stared at Linel with my eyes wide open.
His charismatic blue eyes were slightly relaxed.
And judging by his mischievous smile, it was definitely Moni.
Even if Moiya had entered Raphael’s body, why had Moni entered Linel’s?!
The water level was deep where he had fallen.
The hot spring water sloshed beneath his chin.
Linel, no, Moni, began walking towards me.
So far, it was fine.
“My body feels so good now that it’s warming up, I can’t help but dance.”
His broad shoulders slowly moved from side to side.
Surely he wasn’t trying to do a shoulder dance? As the water slowly became shallower, his broad shoulders, creaking from side to side, also emerged above the surface.
Ah, no...!
Beyond the mountain, beyond Moiya, Moni.
‘You stop him.’
I summoned the incarnation and asked,
"So what? If the concubines are disappointed by that kind of hairless dance, wouldn't that be good for you?"
The incarnation cackled, turning my stomach inside out.
He didn't seem to have any intention of helping.
I glared at Raphael.
Raphael, who had been shaking his shoulders just like Linel, quietly averted his gaze.
Seeing him dance the shoulder dance without a hint of embarrassment, it was clear that Moya was still inside Raphael.
This wasn't even a couple's dance...
But something was strange.
Is it true that cool people can still dance funny?
Linel's broad shoulders moved to the rhythm, and far from looking ugly, he looked languidly sexy, like a gesture truly seductive.
In contrast, Raphael's shoulder dance was incredibly frivolous.
Watching the concubines mesmerized by Linel's dance, I began to feel a growing heat.
His body, once visible only to me, was now on display, moving to the rhythm.
And he was even wet.
He had been wading through the hot spring water, but he suddenly disappeared into the water.
A moment later, I saw the concubines, and I was standing there. His head suddenly popped up in the middle of the room.
Then he blurted out something truly imperial.
“Peekaboo!”
It was Moni, not Linel, who had spoken, but the concubines, unaware of this, were startled and held their stomachs in laughter.
Even Roxana beamed and reveled in her delight.
The concubines repeatedly shouted, “Oh, how mischievous!” and splashed water at him.
I can’t stand to watch these wyvern cubs’ atrocities any longer!
If they’re not going to leave the bathhouse, I’ll make sure they have to.
I concentrated.
The temperature of the water in the bathhouse rose in an instant.
“Oh, it’s hot!”
Melanie jumped out first, and everyone else followed suit.
“Why did the water suddenly get so hot?”
Roxana asked him, steam rising from her body.
“I don’t know...”
Linel shrugged with a blank expression, replying to Roxana, then looked at me.
I felt relieved when I saw his face, as if asking what had happened.
I've finally returned to my Linel.
At the same time, at the villa.
The sound of glasses clinking echoed cheerfully in the room where Prince Norton was staying.
The drinking meeting was three or four hours earlier than the scheduled time.
"I called you both early because you're both lonely people,"
Prince Norton said teasingly, pouring wine into the glasses of Grand Duke Martins and Commander Macrom.
"Yes, thank you for your consideration. The Prince will be marrying Her Highness Rosie soon, so you won't be lonely, will you?"
Grand Duke Martins asked indifferently, and Commander Macrom added a word from the side.
“I’m glad I don’t see your happy face, Prince.”
“I’ll take that as jealousy.”
Prince Norton shrugged and smiled, then glanced at Grand Duke Martins and cautiously spoke.
“What are your plans going forward? Now that Prince Tesla has been stripped of his title, it seems like a good opportunity for you, a member of the royal family, too.”
“Yes, I think the Kingdom of Shattonil is about to be reborn.”
Grand Duke Martins spoke indirectly, but Prince Norton and Commander Macrom immediately understood the meaning behind his words.
The Grand Duke didn’t mention the plans and conversations he had secretly discussed with Linel before Prince Tesla’s trial, but he had hinted at his future plans.
Prince Norton nodded as if he had expected it.
“Martins, I believe you will lead the kingdom well. Come to think of it, isn’t it soon enough for me to call you ‘you’? Will the title change in a few years?”
At Prince Norton's words, Grand Duke Martins simply gave a gentle laugh.
Commander Macrom quickly drained his glass and held it out to the two of them.
"Please pour me another. I won't have another such prestigious occasion, so tonight I'll be sure to drink until you're both full."
"Macrom, you're always welcome as a drinking buddy."
Prince Norton burst into laughter and poured the captain a glass of wine.
"That goes for me, too. Oh, and the white wine our family makes is exquisite. Come visit the Kingdom of Shattonil sometime next year."
"To taste wine, you know?"
"Well, who knows? You might find a good match in the kingdom. Just like His Majesty."
Grand Duke Martins smiled bitterly, remembering Zelda.
Commander Macrom's smile, echoing the Grand Duke's, held a hint of bitterness.
Commander Macrom thought of Bonis, who had died from an arrow in his place.
Thinking of her still made an ache in his heart.
While the Commander believed he had exacted the revenge he could for Bonis, his thirst remained sated.
On his way to the Tebelo Empire, he tore apart the Allied soldier who had shot Bonis.
And during a continental hunt, he attempted to forcefully molest Bonis, but failed, and ultimately turned Prince Tesla into a eunuch.
But he failed to kill him.
It was Grand Duke Martin's job to take Prince Tesla's life.
Commander Macrom had been informed of Linel's plan beforehand, so he couldn't decapitate Prince Tesla, and in fact, he shouldn't have. If, as Linel suggested, he had killed Prince Tesla in a fit of rage, Commander Macrom would have been sentenced to death by the Kingdom of Shattonil for murdering a member of the royal family, regardless of the reason.
"Your Highness, look over there. Isn't that a homing pigeon?"
Grand Duke Martins, about to take a sip of his drink, pointed to the central window in Prince Norton's room.
"I think so..."
Prince Norton rose from his chair at the table and walked to the window where the carrier pigeon was.
He opened the window, and the pigeon entered the room.
Prince Norton removed the paper the pigeon had hung around its neck and unfolded it.
“Is this a love letter from Her Highness Rosie?”
Commander Macrom asked Prince Norton, dismissing his thoughts about Bonis.
"Her Highness Rosie, I suppose. Who else would send a carrier pigeon to a distinguished guest? Let’s have a drink.”
Grand Duke Martins laughed hollowly and filled Macrom’s and his glasses with wine.
However, as Prince Norton read the letter, his expression seemed unusual, so Grand Duke Martins asked him in a voice that had lost its smile.
“Your Highness, what’s wrong? Isn’t this from Her Highness Rosie?”
Prince Norton frowned and turned to Grand Duke Martins.
“It’s a carrier pigeon... sent by my brother, Prince Calvain.”
Roxana, returning from the spa to the Empress's Palace, collapsed onto the bed as soon as she entered her bedroom. She'd only been soaking in the spa for less than 30 minutes, but it felt like she'd been soaking all day.
Despite her smooth skin, Roxana felt uneasy in many ways.
She tried to figure out where her troubles had stemmed from.
The reason she'd brought the concubines to the spa was to get Pecilini to open up to Yulina and become closer to her.
The plan was quite successful.
She had her maid, Nancy, gently push Pecilini and had arranged for Yulina to catch her and help her as she was about to fall into the spa.
Fortunately, they worked together perfectly.
After that, Pecilini and Julina began to talk more and more. They even returned to their respective quarters together after leaving the spa.
Emperor Linel had unexpectedly barged into the spa, but it was a pleasant moment.
He said, throwing off his soaking-drenched uniform jacket at Raphael.
All the concubines’ eyes, including Roxana’s, were focused on Linel’s body.
The ominous aura was thicker than the fog that hung over the hot springs.
The wet shirt was useless, practically useless.
In fact, the wet shirt clung to his body, making him look even more racy.
He brushed back his hair that had fallen forward with both hands and said to the concubines,
“While we’re at this point, we should go soak for a bit, Moni~.”
!”
...You, you Moni?
Oh my god, what’s going on?
I stared at Linel with my eyes wide open.
His charismatic blue eyes were slightly relaxed.
And judging by his mischievous smile, it was definitely Moni.
Even if Moiya had entered Raphael’s body, why had Moni entered Linel’s?!
The water level was deep where he had fallen.
The hot spring water sloshed beneath his chin.
Linel, no, Moni, began walking towards me.
So far, it was fine.
“My body feels so good now that it’s warming up, I can’t help but dance.”
His broad shoulders slowly moved from side to side.
Surely he wasn’t trying to do a shoulder dance? As the water slowly became shallower, his broad shoulders, creaking from side to side, also emerged above the surface.
Ah, no...!
Beyond the mountain, beyond Moiya, Moni.
‘You stop him.’
I summoned the incarnation and asked,
"So what? If the concubines are disappointed by that kind of hairless dance, wouldn't that be good for you?"
The incarnation cackled, turning my stomach inside out.
He didn't seem to have any intention of helping.
I glared at Raphael.
Raphael, who had been shaking his shoulders just like Linel, quietly averted his gaze.
Seeing him dance the shoulder dance without a hint of embarrassment, it was clear that Moya was still inside Raphael.
This wasn't even a couple's dance...
But something was strange.
Is it true that cool people can still dance funny?
Linel's broad shoulders moved to the rhythm, and far from looking ugly, he looked languidly sexy, like a gesture truly seductive.
In contrast, Raphael's shoulder dance was incredibly frivolous.
Watching the concubines mesmerized by Linel's dance, I began to feel a growing heat.
His body, once visible only to me, was now on display, moving to the rhythm.
And he was even wet.
He had been wading through the hot spring water, but he suddenly disappeared into the water.
A moment later, I saw the concubines, and I was standing there. His head suddenly popped up in the middle of the room.
Then he blurted out something truly imperial.
“Peekaboo!”
It was Moni, not Linel, who had spoken, but the concubines, unaware of this, were startled and held their stomachs in laughter.
Even Roxana beamed and reveled in her delight.
The concubines repeatedly shouted, “Oh, how mischievous!” and splashed water at him.
I can’t stand to watch these wyvern cubs’ atrocities any longer!
If they’re not going to leave the bathhouse, I’ll make sure they have to.
I concentrated.
The temperature of the water in the bathhouse rose in an instant.
“Oh, it’s hot!”
Melanie jumped out first, and everyone else followed suit.
“Why did the water suddenly get so hot?”
Roxana asked him, steam rising from her body.
“I don’t know...”
Linel shrugged with a blank expression, replying to Roxana, then looked at me.
I felt relieved when I saw his face, as if asking what had happened.
I've finally returned to my Linel.
***
At the same time, at the villa.
The sound of glasses clinking echoed cheerfully in the room where Prince Norton was staying.
The drinking meeting was three or four hours earlier than the scheduled time.
"I called you both early because you're both lonely people,"
Prince Norton said teasingly, pouring wine into the glasses of Grand Duke Martins and Commander Macrom.
"Yes, thank you for your consideration. The Prince will be marrying Her Highness Rosie soon, so you won't be lonely, will you?"
Grand Duke Martins asked indifferently, and Commander Macrom added a word from the side.
“I’m glad I don’t see your happy face, Prince.”
“I’ll take that as jealousy.”
Prince Norton shrugged and smiled, then glanced at Grand Duke Martins and cautiously spoke.
“What are your plans going forward? Now that Prince Tesla has been stripped of his title, it seems like a good opportunity for you, a member of the royal family, too.”
“Yes, I think the Kingdom of Shattonil is about to be reborn.”
Grand Duke Martins spoke indirectly, but Prince Norton and Commander Macrom immediately understood the meaning behind his words.
The Grand Duke didn’t mention the plans and conversations he had secretly discussed with Linel before Prince Tesla’s trial, but he had hinted at his future plans.
Prince Norton nodded as if he had expected it.
“Martins, I believe you will lead the kingdom well. Come to think of it, isn’t it soon enough for me to call you ‘you’? Will the title change in a few years?”
At Prince Norton's words, Grand Duke Martins simply gave a gentle laugh.
Commander Macrom quickly drained his glass and held it out to the two of them.
"Please pour me another. I won't have another such prestigious occasion, so tonight I'll be sure to drink until you're both full."
"Macrom, you're always welcome as a drinking buddy."
Prince Norton burst into laughter and poured the captain a glass of wine.
"That goes for me, too. Oh, and the white wine our family makes is exquisite. Come visit the Kingdom of Shattonil sometime next year."
"To taste wine, you know?"
"Well, who knows? You might find a good match in the kingdom. Just like His Majesty."
Grand Duke Martins smiled bitterly, remembering Zelda.
Commander Macrom's smile, echoing the Grand Duke's, held a hint of bitterness.
Commander Macrom thought of Bonis, who had died from an arrow in his place.
Thinking of her still made an ache in his heart.
While the Commander believed he had exacted the revenge he could for Bonis, his thirst remained sated.
On his way to the Tebelo Empire, he tore apart the Allied soldier who had shot Bonis.
And during a continental hunt, he attempted to forcefully molest Bonis, but failed, and ultimately turned Prince Tesla into a eunuch.
But he failed to kill him.
It was Grand Duke Martin's job to take Prince Tesla's life.
Commander Macrom had been informed of Linel's plan beforehand, so he couldn't decapitate Prince Tesla, and in fact, he shouldn't have. If, as Linel suggested, he had killed Prince Tesla in a fit of rage, Commander Macrom would have been sentenced to death by the Kingdom of Shattonil for murdering a member of the royal family, regardless of the reason.
"Your Highness, look over there. Isn't that a homing pigeon?"
Grand Duke Martins, about to take a sip of his drink, pointed to the central window in Prince Norton's room.
"I think so..."
Prince Norton rose from his chair at the table and walked to the window where the carrier pigeon was.
He opened the window, and the pigeon entered the room.
Prince Norton removed the paper the pigeon had hung around its neck and unfolded it.
“Is this a love letter from Her Highness Rosie?”
Commander Macrom asked Prince Norton, dismissing his thoughts about Bonis.
"Her Highness Rosie, I suppose. Who else would send a carrier pigeon to a distinguished guest? Let’s have a drink.”
Grand Duke Martins laughed hollowly and filled Macrom’s and his glasses with wine.
However, as Prince Norton read the letter, his expression seemed unusual, so Grand Duke Martins asked him in a voice that had lost its smile.
“Your Highness, what’s wrong? Isn’t this from Her Highness Rosie?”
Prince Norton frowned and turned to Grand Duke Martins.
“It’s a carrier pigeon... sent by my brother, Prince Calvain.”
***
Roxana, returning from the spa to the Empress's Palace, collapsed onto the bed as soon as she entered her bedroom. She'd only been soaking in the spa for less than 30 minutes, but it felt like she'd been soaking all day.
Despite her smooth skin, Roxana felt uneasy in many ways.
She tried to figure out where her troubles had stemmed from.
The reason she'd brought the concubines to the spa was to get Pecilini to open up to Yulina and become closer to her.
The plan was quite successful.
She had her maid, Nancy, gently push Pecilini and had arranged for Yulina to catch her and help her as she was about to fall into the spa.
Fortunately, they worked together perfectly.
After that, Pecilini and Julina began to talk more and more. They even returned to their respective quarters together after leaving the spa.
Emperor Linel had unexpectedly barged into the spa, but it was a pleasant moment.
She even laughed at the Emperor's unusual behavior.
"But why do I keep feeling so dirty?"
The answer came without much thought: it was Melanie and Hetor.
She kept picturing Hetor neatly gathering Melanie's shoes, which she had carelessly left behind.
"You didn't have to go that far..."
However, she had been the one who had told Hetor to please Melanie as much as possible before sending him to Melanie's quarters. She thought only then could she find out about Zelda.
Hetor not only obeyed her orders but also meticulously cared for Melanie.
Even his actions were fine, and his gaze didn't need to be put on, but something was jarring about Hetor's gaze as he stared at Melanie.
"Is this an illusion? How could he possibly be attracted to that foolish girl?"
Roxana snorted several times. Since she'd called Hetor, she'd just pry a little to find out.
Knock, knock.
The bedroom door opened with a knock.
“Your Majesty, Hetor has arrived.”
She thought he would escort Melanie to her quarters?
As expected, Hetor had rushed to her summons without hesitation, and Roxana was secretly proud of him.
“Bring him in.”
“Yes.”
“What’s the matter?”
Hetor asked, entering the bedroom with his usual gruff expression.
“Have you found out anything about Zelda yet?”
“If I had, I would have come to you first.”
“Of course.”
“Is that why you called?”
“Well, that’s one thing, but I was also curious to see how Melanie was doing in her quarters.”
“Not bad.”
Roxana raised an eyebrow.
Hetor’s answer was completely unsatisfactory.
She had expected him to grumble about how difficult it was to live with the dim-witted and absent-minded Melanie, but even in Roxana’s eyes, he seemed to be doing really well.
His face seemed brighter than before, for some reason.
“I guess Melanie is doing better than I thought?”
“I don’t know about that, but I’m trying to do my best.”
“...What?”
“You told me to do so. I’m doing as you command, why?”
“Oh, right. You’re doing well. If you’re going to do it, you should steal Melanie’s heart too.”
Roxana deliberately prodded Hetor further.
“Are you serious?”
“Of course. Wouldn’t that make it easier to get information?”
“I’ll do my best.”
When Hetor readily accepted Roxana’s order, she began to feel strange.
For a moment, an awkward gaze lingered between them.
She was the first to change the subject.
“I thought Melanie was really anxious to join the congratulatory delegation?”
“That’s right.”
“Oh, you know a lot about the sea, as befitting the title of Pirate King?”
Roxana’s expression suddenly brightened as a thought occurred to her.
“...So?”
“I heard that it takes about a day and a half to get to the Pasha Empire after boarding the ship.”
“Yes, if you take a boat from the land of Lapion in the morning, you’ll pass near the Valley of Death around sunrise the next morning. After that, it’s right into the territorial waters of the Pasha Empire.”
“I see. If we’re lucky, we might be able to throw all the unsightly things into the sea before sunrise..."
“What?”
Hetor asked, taking a step closer to Roxana’s face, which seemed to have some kind of plan.
Roxana, who had been muttering to herself, whispered back,
“I wish the night sea would sweep everything away...”
“What are you talking about all of a sudden?”
“If you fall into the sea, you can just hold on and be rescued, but if you drown, that’s all.”
“...What are you thinking?”
“Hohoho, why the uncharacteristically tense expression?”
“It’s best not to act rashly. The Emperor is accompanying you.”
“I know. So I’m debating whether or not to go through with it. The original plan was to eliminate just one person... But I think I might be able to be greedier if you help me.”
Roxana's eyes flashed with an eerie glow.
"..."
"I'll think about it some more and tell you. After all, you're the King on board, Hetor. Aren't you?"
Roxana smiled seductively, running her hands down Hetor's strong, muscular arms.
Returning to Melanie's palace, Hetor found himself heading toward her bedroom.
Even as he knocked on the bedroom door, he didn't know why he was doing this.
"Huh? What's going on?"
She, too, was debating whether to call Hetor.
After all, this was the first time he had come to her without being specifically summoned.
"Do you know how to swim?"
Hetor's first words were somewhat absurd. He hadn't prepared them either.
They simply came out of nowhere when he saw Melanie's face welcoming him.
"...You came to ask that?"
Melanie, holding a wooden sword, tilted her head.
She seemed to be practicing her swordsmanship.
"You can't swim?"
Hetor knew how abrupt his question was.
But he was no good at indirect questions.
"Do you think swimming is the only thing I can't do?"
Melanie declared confidently, smiling brightly.
"Of course I can't!"
Hetor sighed deeply and frowned, wondering why it was normal for her to not be able to swim.
"Why are you asking that?"
"Are you really not able to?"
“Oh! You don’t know because you’re from an island country surrounded by the sea, but I was a noble daughter. Normally, I’m a noble who can’t even touch water.”
“Ha, I’m going crazy. F*ck..."
Hetor swore softly while washing his face with both hands.
“Why are you doing that?”
“Do you have to go to the congratulatory delegation?”
“Of course not? These days, I sleep with my wooden sword next to me! I practice as soon as I open my eyes!”
Melanie swung the wooden sword she happened to be holding, expressing her firm determination.
Funnily enough, her movements had become quite refined, incomparable to the first time.
Even though it was only a light wooden sword.
Hetor laughed and thought for a moment.
If her determination was like that, there was only one way.
“Then come out.”
“Where are you going?”
Melanie asked with a bewildered expression, and Hetor turned around while holding the doorknob.
“To go swimming.”
“...At this hour?”
"But why do I keep feeling so dirty?"
The answer came without much thought: it was Melanie and Hetor.
She kept picturing Hetor neatly gathering Melanie's shoes, which she had carelessly left behind.
"You didn't have to go that far..."
However, she had been the one who had told Hetor to please Melanie as much as possible before sending him to Melanie's quarters. She thought only then could she find out about Zelda.
Hetor not only obeyed her orders but also meticulously cared for Melanie.
Even his actions were fine, and his gaze didn't need to be put on, but something was jarring about Hetor's gaze as he stared at Melanie.
"Is this an illusion? How could he possibly be attracted to that foolish girl?"
Roxana snorted several times. Since she'd called Hetor, she'd just pry a little to find out.
Knock, knock.
The bedroom door opened with a knock.
“Your Majesty, Hetor has arrived.”
She thought he would escort Melanie to her quarters?
As expected, Hetor had rushed to her summons without hesitation, and Roxana was secretly proud of him.
“Bring him in.”
“Yes.”
“What’s the matter?”
Hetor asked, entering the bedroom with his usual gruff expression.
“Have you found out anything about Zelda yet?”
“If I had, I would have come to you first.”
“Of course.”
“Is that why you called?”
“Well, that’s one thing, but I was also curious to see how Melanie was doing in her quarters.”
“Not bad.”
Roxana raised an eyebrow.
Hetor’s answer was completely unsatisfactory.
She had expected him to grumble about how difficult it was to live with the dim-witted and absent-minded Melanie, but even in Roxana’s eyes, he seemed to be doing really well.
His face seemed brighter than before, for some reason.
“I guess Melanie is doing better than I thought?”
“I don’t know about that, but I’m trying to do my best.”
“...What?”
“You told me to do so. I’m doing as you command, why?”
“Oh, right. You’re doing well. If you’re going to do it, you should steal Melanie’s heart too.”
Roxana deliberately prodded Hetor further.
“Are you serious?”
“Of course. Wouldn’t that make it easier to get information?”
“I’ll do my best.”
When Hetor readily accepted Roxana’s order, she began to feel strange.
For a moment, an awkward gaze lingered between them.
She was the first to change the subject.
“I thought Melanie was really anxious to join the congratulatory delegation?”
“That’s right.”
“Oh, you know a lot about the sea, as befitting the title of Pirate King?”
Roxana’s expression suddenly brightened as a thought occurred to her.
“...So?”
“I heard that it takes about a day and a half to get to the Pasha Empire after boarding the ship.”
“Yes, if you take a boat from the land of Lapion in the morning, you’ll pass near the Valley of Death around sunrise the next morning. After that, it’s right into the territorial waters of the Pasha Empire.”
“I see. If we’re lucky, we might be able to throw all the unsightly things into the sea before sunrise..."
“What?”
Hetor asked, taking a step closer to Roxana’s face, which seemed to have some kind of plan.
Roxana, who had been muttering to herself, whispered back,
“I wish the night sea would sweep everything away...”
“What are you talking about all of a sudden?”
“If you fall into the sea, you can just hold on and be rescued, but if you drown, that’s all.”
“...What are you thinking?”
“Hohoho, why the uncharacteristically tense expression?”
“It’s best not to act rashly. The Emperor is accompanying you.”
“I know. So I’m debating whether or not to go through with it. The original plan was to eliminate just one person... But I think I might be able to be greedier if you help me.”
Roxana's eyes flashed with an eerie glow.
"..."
"I'll think about it some more and tell you. After all, you're the King on board, Hetor. Aren't you?"
Roxana smiled seductively, running her hands down Hetor's strong, muscular arms.
***
Returning to Melanie's palace, Hetor found himself heading toward her bedroom.
Even as he knocked on the bedroom door, he didn't know why he was doing this.
"Huh? What's going on?"
She, too, was debating whether to call Hetor.
After all, this was the first time he had come to her without being specifically summoned.
"Do you know how to swim?"
Hetor's first words were somewhat absurd. He hadn't prepared them either.
They simply came out of nowhere when he saw Melanie's face welcoming him.
"...You came to ask that?"
Melanie, holding a wooden sword, tilted her head.
She seemed to be practicing her swordsmanship.
"You can't swim?"
Hetor knew how abrupt his question was.
But he was no good at indirect questions.
"Do you think swimming is the only thing I can't do?"
Melanie declared confidently, smiling brightly.
"Of course I can't!"
Hetor sighed deeply and frowned, wondering why it was normal for her to not be able to swim.
"Why are you asking that?"
"Are you really not able to?"
“Oh! You don’t know because you’re from an island country surrounded by the sea, but I was a noble daughter. Normally, I’m a noble who can’t even touch water.”
“Ha, I’m going crazy. F*ck..."
Hetor swore softly while washing his face with both hands.
“Why are you doing that?”
“Do you have to go to the congratulatory delegation?”
“Of course not? These days, I sleep with my wooden sword next to me! I practice as soon as I open my eyes!”
Melanie swung the wooden sword she happened to be holding, expressing her firm determination.
Funnily enough, her movements had become quite refined, incomparable to the first time.
Even though it was only a light wooden sword.
Hetor laughed and thought for a moment.
If her determination was like that, there was only one way.
“Then come out.”
“Where are you going?”
Melanie asked with a bewildered expression, and Hetor turned around while holding the doorknob.
“To go swimming.”
“...At this hour?”
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