"A mistake is just a mistake,"
Hetor said, taking a step back. Melanie questioned him in a tone of incomprehension.
"What mistake did you make so aggressively, so roughly, as if you were going to devour me?"
"..."
"Let's try again, and if you still think it was a mistake, let's only use our mouths when we're talking. Yes?"
Melanie asked, her face raised.
"Right. It wasn't a mistake."
"Really?"
Melanie smiled brightly, as if she knew it would be like that.
"I did it out of pity."
"...Huh?"
"The Emperor wouldn't even look at you, and I felt like you'd never get a kiss again. And..."
Hetor rambled on, but then closed his mouth when he saw Melanie's eyes welling with tears.
Her tears stained his mood.
A moment of silence passed, and then Melanie asked with an uncharacteristic seriousness.
"...You did it out of pity? It wasn't a mistake?"
For a moment, something felt amiss, but Hetor answered unwaveringly.
“Yes. I did it because I thought if it weren’t for an opportunity like yesterday, no one would ever touch your lips again! Do you understand?”
“Oh, I understand.”
“?”
Melanie said nothing more, passing Hetor and walking towards the door.
“What are you?”
Was she just going to leave?
Hetor had unconsciously called out to her.
“If you did it out of pity, then I understood. I mistakenly thought you had begun to open your heart because you opened your lips to me yesterday.”
“...”
Melanie continued without pause.
“I didn’t foolishly show you my feelings so you’d feel pity. Thanks to you, I’ve had plenty of kissing practice. I’m so grateful, I’m crying.”
Hetor stared at her, unable to find the right words.
“Don’t pity me. And return to the Empress’s Palace tomorrow. Both are orders.”
Melanie finally left the room, tears streaming down her face.
Unable to see the smile on her lips as she left, Hetor stood in front of the closed door for a moment.
“Damn it.”
A few minutes later, he swore, opened the door, and ran towards Melanie's bedroom.
Melanie was just at the bedroom door.
"Ah! What are you doing?"
Hetor demanded, grabbing Melanie's wrist and slamming her into the bedroom, slamming her against the wall.
"I won't ask you twice. Even if I'm ignorant and a bad guy... You like it?"
Today, I decided to go to the main palace and have lunch with Grand Duke Joseph.
On the way to the main palace by carriage, I stopped in front of the villa where the distinguished guests were staying. I was there to meet Empress Elan.
This morning, I heard that the distinguished guests and ministers staying at the villa were discussing the issue of the Pasha Empire's congratulatory delegation in the Great Hall.
This was a good opportunity to meet Empress Elan without Emperor Adrian's attention.
"Welcome, Your Highness Zelda. We almost crossed paths."
Empress Elan was surprised by my sudden visit, but greeted me warmly.
Judging by her attire, I thought she was coming from the training ground.
“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you in advance.”
I couldn’t do that, for fear that Emperor Adrian might hear if I sent someone.
“Don’t worry. Please have a seat. I’ll have tea brought out.”
“No. I stopped by on my way to the main palace, so I have to get up soon. I don’t know when the meeting in the Great Hall will end.”
There wasn’t much time, as Emperor Adrian might return to the villa.
I sat down in the seat offered by Empress Elan and stopped her from calling a servant. She understood my meaning and smiled bitterly.
“You go to the martial arts training hall often, right? I heard from Commander Macrom.”
“Yes. I feel itchy when I stay in the villa all the time. I miss those days when I accompanied Your Highness Zelda to the Tebello Empire.”
“To be precise, aren’t you referring to the time when we fought the Allied Forces in the Elanji Forest?”
Empress Elan nodded vigorously, as if I had caught the point.
“Well, Elan does look better in a uniform than a dress.”
"Your Highness Zelda, you're both a good match."
"As expected, I like Empress Elan because we share the same viewpoints."
Empress Elan burst into laughter at my pointless joke.
Just as her laughter died down, I brought up the matter.
"Actually, I came to ask you something."
"Yes, please go ahead."
“I heard that Emperor Adrian told Prince Calvain of the Pasha Empire that the Wyvern Lord is here, in the Lapion Palace. I was wondering if he might have leaked something to Elan.”
I didn’t ask with any expectations.
Emperor Adrian likely hadn’t discussed this matter with her, but he might have subtly leaked something.
“Huh?! T-then the fact that the Wyvern Lord is Your Highness...”
Empress Elan gaped in surprise, then quickly lowered her voice.
As I had expected, she was completely unaware that Emperor Adrian had sent a carrier pigeon to Prince Calvain.
“I wonder if he’s planning to expose me after seeing Prince Calvain’s reaction, or if he hasn’t revealed that the Wyvern Lord is me yet.”
“Wouldn’t it be better for Your Highness not to go to the Pasha Empire?”
“That’s not a good idea.”
“Well, it would be more dangerous for you to stay alone.”
“Rather... if I don’t go with you, the Lapion Empire’s celebratory delegation could be held hostage in the Southern Continent or face even greater danger. They’ll either have to talk to them or fight if I’m there.”
Empress Elan agreed with my opinion, but her expression was worried.
“Will... that be okay? If he leaked the Wyvern Lord’s existence to the Pasha Empire, you would have also informed Emperor Katria of the Delroy Empire.”
“For now, they won’t be able to make any rash moves until they reach the Pasha Empire. What I’m worried about is that Emperor Adrian might plot something before then.”
“He’s someone who could easily do that. I’ll look into it.”
Empress Elan said resolutely.
“Thank you. But be careful. He’s such a cunning person; if Elan acts unusually or asks too many questions, he’ll definitely become suspicious.”
“If it weren’t for Your Highness Zelda, I would have died a long time ago. And I’m pretty good at currying favor with Emperor Adrian.”
Empress Elan's face, beaming with joy, seemed even more youthful today, telling me not to worry.
"Don't overdo it. I guess I should go now."
"Yes, and Your Highness Zelda, please take care of yourself as well."
Empress Elan looked at my belly with a kind gaze.
I smiled and took her hand.
"Thank you for your concern."
I hurried out of the villa, boarded the carriage, and headed to the main palace.
Arriving in front of the main palace and climbing the stairs, Sharon whispered quietly behind me.
"I see the meeting is over."
I raised my head at Sharon's words.
"I see."
The distinguished guests were coming out of the main palace entrance.
The guests who met my eyes greeted me first, exchanging greetings.
"Huh? Look, Emperor Adrian is coming out too..."
Sharon whispered nervously.
I exchanged greetings with the distinguished guests coming down the stairs and then looked up at the entrance again.
Emperor Adrian must have noticed me as he began to descend the stairs towards me.
"It's been a while."
Emperor Adrian greeted me, who had been demoted to Second Concubine, with excessive formality.
“Yes, your hair has grown a lot in the meantime. Your bobbed hair, which used to be wavy, really suited you.”
“It’s an honor that such a great person is interested in me.”
Silverfish deliberately added the word “great person” and stared intently at my face.
His tone was undeniably sarcastic, even to a passing wyvern.
“Yes, I am indeed quite beautiful.”
“Hahaha! Yes, yes, yes... You are indeed quite beautiful.”
Emperor Adrian burst into laughter at my not-so-funny remark.
I sensed the other dignitaries glancing at me as they descended the stairs.
Seeing their glances, which suggested they were quite close, made me burst out laughing.
I locked eyes with Silverfish for a moment before looking down at the stairs I had climbed without realizing it.
My fingers twitched, wanting to grab Silverfish by the collar and throw him down the stairs.
But I gave up, thinking a quick shove wouldn't be life-threatening. I barely suppressed my impulse and raised the corners of my mouth.
"Then I'll be heading to the villa now, Your Highness Zelda. I'll see you again on the day I depart for the Pasha Empire."
Emperor Adrian, who had been smiling faintly as if he'd say a few more words, strangely backed away.
There was no hint of a grin on his face.
I watched Emperor Adrian's back, forcing myself to shake off the uneasy feeling, and entered the main palace.
"Where are you going?"
I entered the lobby and walked toward the central staircase, where Linel was coming down.
"I came to see you off. I'm going to go with you to Joseph."
“Is that okay? You said you couldn’t make time today, right?”
“I did, but it turns out even a competent secretary could handle the job. So I tied him to the desk chair in the office and left.”
Poor Raphael...
“What if Stiane lets him go?”
I enjoyed his silly joke and walked with him to the floor where Grand Duke Joseph’s office was.
“I thought so, so I tied Stiane in front of the door. Did you meet the silverfish on your way in?”
“You did?”
“Yeah, through the window.”
Ah, you came out worried because you saw me and Emperor Adrian talking through the office window.
I gave him a reassuring smile and replied,
“Surprisingly, he just said hello and left.”
“It’s normal for people with a plan to be quiet before they do something.”
He narrowed his eyes and sighed.
“Yes, I thought so too.”
“But Zelda, aren’t you tired?”
He held my hand and walked forward, staring straight ahead. Then he whispered in my ear.
“I’m tired. I slept well, but I didn’t get enough sleep. Because of someone...”
I grumbled, but he gave me an apologetic look.
“I couldn’t help it because I was personally proving my love.”
“Yes, thanks to that, I think I won’t feel hot for a few days.”
“So does that mean you don’t need me for the time being?”
Linel muttered with a sour tone.
When I just laughed silently, he asked in a questioning tone.
“You’re just using me and pretending not to know?”
“I told you to use me as much as you want.”
Hetor said, taking a step back. Melanie questioned him in a tone of incomprehension.
"What mistake did you make so aggressively, so roughly, as if you were going to devour me?"
"..."
"Let's try again, and if you still think it was a mistake, let's only use our mouths when we're talking. Yes?"
Melanie asked, her face raised.
"Right. It wasn't a mistake."
"Really?"
Melanie smiled brightly, as if she knew it would be like that.
"I did it out of pity."
"...Huh?"
"The Emperor wouldn't even look at you, and I felt like you'd never get a kiss again. And..."
Hetor rambled on, but then closed his mouth when he saw Melanie's eyes welling with tears.
Her tears stained his mood.
A moment of silence passed, and then Melanie asked with an uncharacteristic seriousness.
"...You did it out of pity? It wasn't a mistake?"
For a moment, something felt amiss, but Hetor answered unwaveringly.
“Yes. I did it because I thought if it weren’t for an opportunity like yesterday, no one would ever touch your lips again! Do you understand?”
“Oh, I understand.”
“?”
Melanie said nothing more, passing Hetor and walking towards the door.
“What are you?”
Was she just going to leave?
Hetor had unconsciously called out to her.
“If you did it out of pity, then I understood. I mistakenly thought you had begun to open your heart because you opened your lips to me yesterday.”
“...”
Melanie continued without pause.
“I didn’t foolishly show you my feelings so you’d feel pity. Thanks to you, I’ve had plenty of kissing practice. I’m so grateful, I’m crying.”
Hetor stared at her, unable to find the right words.
“Don’t pity me. And return to the Empress’s Palace tomorrow. Both are orders.”
Melanie finally left the room, tears streaming down her face.
Unable to see the smile on her lips as she left, Hetor stood in front of the closed door for a moment.
“Damn it.”
A few minutes later, he swore, opened the door, and ran towards Melanie's bedroom.
Melanie was just at the bedroom door.
"Ah! What are you doing?"
Hetor demanded, grabbing Melanie's wrist and slamming her into the bedroom, slamming her against the wall.
"I won't ask you twice. Even if I'm ignorant and a bad guy... You like it?"
***
Today, I decided to go to the main palace and have lunch with Grand Duke Joseph.
On the way to the main palace by carriage, I stopped in front of the villa where the distinguished guests were staying. I was there to meet Empress Elan.
This morning, I heard that the distinguished guests and ministers staying at the villa were discussing the issue of the Pasha Empire's congratulatory delegation in the Great Hall.
This was a good opportunity to meet Empress Elan without Emperor Adrian's attention.
"Welcome, Your Highness Zelda. We almost crossed paths."
Empress Elan was surprised by my sudden visit, but greeted me warmly.
Judging by her attire, I thought she was coming from the training ground.
“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you in advance.”
I couldn’t do that, for fear that Emperor Adrian might hear if I sent someone.
“Don’t worry. Please have a seat. I’ll have tea brought out.”
“No. I stopped by on my way to the main palace, so I have to get up soon. I don’t know when the meeting in the Great Hall will end.”
There wasn’t much time, as Emperor Adrian might return to the villa.
I sat down in the seat offered by Empress Elan and stopped her from calling a servant. She understood my meaning and smiled bitterly.
“You go to the martial arts training hall often, right? I heard from Commander Macrom.”
“Yes. I feel itchy when I stay in the villa all the time. I miss those days when I accompanied Your Highness Zelda to the Tebello Empire.”
“To be precise, aren’t you referring to the time when we fought the Allied Forces in the Elanji Forest?”
Empress Elan nodded vigorously, as if I had caught the point.
“Well, Elan does look better in a uniform than a dress.”
"Your Highness Zelda, you're both a good match."
"As expected, I like Empress Elan because we share the same viewpoints."
Empress Elan burst into laughter at my pointless joke.
Just as her laughter died down, I brought up the matter.
"Actually, I came to ask you something."
"Yes, please go ahead."
“I heard that Emperor Adrian told Prince Calvain of the Pasha Empire that the Wyvern Lord is here, in the Lapion Palace. I was wondering if he might have leaked something to Elan.”
I didn’t ask with any expectations.
Emperor Adrian likely hadn’t discussed this matter with her, but he might have subtly leaked something.
“Huh?! T-then the fact that the Wyvern Lord is Your Highness...”
Empress Elan gaped in surprise, then quickly lowered her voice.
As I had expected, she was completely unaware that Emperor Adrian had sent a carrier pigeon to Prince Calvain.
“I wonder if he’s planning to expose me after seeing Prince Calvain’s reaction, or if he hasn’t revealed that the Wyvern Lord is me yet.”
“Wouldn’t it be better for Your Highness not to go to the Pasha Empire?”
“That’s not a good idea.”
“Well, it would be more dangerous for you to stay alone.”
“Rather... if I don’t go with you, the Lapion Empire’s celebratory delegation could be held hostage in the Southern Continent or face even greater danger. They’ll either have to talk to them or fight if I’m there.”
Empress Elan agreed with my opinion, but her expression was worried.
“Will... that be okay? If he leaked the Wyvern Lord’s existence to the Pasha Empire, you would have also informed Emperor Katria of the Delroy Empire.”
“For now, they won’t be able to make any rash moves until they reach the Pasha Empire. What I’m worried about is that Emperor Adrian might plot something before then.”
“He’s someone who could easily do that. I’ll look into it.”
Empress Elan said resolutely.
“Thank you. But be careful. He’s such a cunning person; if Elan acts unusually or asks too many questions, he’ll definitely become suspicious.”
“If it weren’t for Your Highness Zelda, I would have died a long time ago. And I’m pretty good at currying favor with Emperor Adrian.”
Empress Elan's face, beaming with joy, seemed even more youthful today, telling me not to worry.
"Don't overdo it. I guess I should go now."
"Yes, and Your Highness Zelda, please take care of yourself as well."
Empress Elan looked at my belly with a kind gaze.
I smiled and took her hand.
"Thank you for your concern."
I hurried out of the villa, boarded the carriage, and headed to the main palace.
***
Arriving in front of the main palace and climbing the stairs, Sharon whispered quietly behind me.
"I see the meeting is over."
I raised my head at Sharon's words.
"I see."
The distinguished guests were coming out of the main palace entrance.
The guests who met my eyes greeted me first, exchanging greetings.
"Huh? Look, Emperor Adrian is coming out too..."
Sharon whispered nervously.
I exchanged greetings with the distinguished guests coming down the stairs and then looked up at the entrance again.
Emperor Adrian must have noticed me as he began to descend the stairs towards me.
"It's been a while."
Emperor Adrian greeted me, who had been demoted to Second Concubine, with excessive formality.
“Yes, your hair has grown a lot in the meantime. Your bobbed hair, which used to be wavy, really suited you.”
“It’s an honor that such a great person is interested in me.”
Silverfish deliberately added the word “great person” and stared intently at my face.
His tone was undeniably sarcastic, even to a passing wyvern.
“Yes, I am indeed quite beautiful.”
“Hahaha! Yes, yes, yes... You are indeed quite beautiful.”
Emperor Adrian burst into laughter at my not-so-funny remark.
I sensed the other dignitaries glancing at me as they descended the stairs.
Seeing their glances, which suggested they were quite close, made me burst out laughing.
I locked eyes with Silverfish for a moment before looking down at the stairs I had climbed without realizing it.
My fingers twitched, wanting to grab Silverfish by the collar and throw him down the stairs.
But I gave up, thinking a quick shove wouldn't be life-threatening. I barely suppressed my impulse and raised the corners of my mouth.
"Then I'll be heading to the villa now, Your Highness Zelda. I'll see you again on the day I depart for the Pasha Empire."
Emperor Adrian, who had been smiling faintly as if he'd say a few more words, strangely backed away.
There was no hint of a grin on his face.
I watched Emperor Adrian's back, forcing myself to shake off the uneasy feeling, and entered the main palace.
***
"Where are you going?"
I entered the lobby and walked toward the central staircase, where Linel was coming down.
"I came to see you off. I'm going to go with you to Joseph."
“Is that okay? You said you couldn’t make time today, right?”
“I did, but it turns out even a competent secretary could handle the job. So I tied him to the desk chair in the office and left.”
Poor Raphael...
“What if Stiane lets him go?”
I enjoyed his silly joke and walked with him to the floor where Grand Duke Joseph’s office was.
“I thought so, so I tied Stiane in front of the door. Did you meet the silverfish on your way in?”
“You did?”
“Yeah, through the window.”
Ah, you came out worried because you saw me and Emperor Adrian talking through the office window.
I gave him a reassuring smile and replied,
“Surprisingly, he just said hello and left.”
“It’s normal for people with a plan to be quiet before they do something.”
He narrowed his eyes and sighed.
“Yes, I thought so too.”
“But Zelda, aren’t you tired?”
He held my hand and walked forward, staring straight ahead. Then he whispered in my ear.
“I’m tired. I slept well, but I didn’t get enough sleep. Because of someone...”
I grumbled, but he gave me an apologetic look.
“I couldn’t help it because I was personally proving my love.”
“Yes, thanks to that, I think I won’t feel hot for a few days.”
“So does that mean you don’t need me for the time being?”
Linel muttered with a sour tone.
When I just laughed silently, he asked in a questioning tone.
“You’re just using me and pretending not to know?”
“I told you to use me as much as you want.”
“I told you to use me, not throw me away.”
“I’m not throwing yoy away, I’m just holding on to it for a while.”
“But please keep me by your side.”
When we arrived at Joseph’s room and the servant knocked, he linked arms with me and stood next to me.
Maintaining that posture, I entered Joseph’s room.
“Your Highness Zelda!”
Grand Duke Joseph ran to me and hugged me.
“How have you been? What have you been doing?”
“I was playing with my friends.”
“Friends?”
“Yes!”
Joseph took my hand and led me to where they were playing.
“...You guys were here?”
Moiya and Moni were sitting on the marble floor eating sausages.
There were already quite a few empty plates piled up between them, forming a tower.
“Surely...you didn’t cause an accident in the Valley of Death yesterday and sneak into Grand Duke Joseph’s room, did you?”
The way the two guys flinched at my words and furtively looked around made me suspicious.
Moiya and Moni placed the sausages they were biting on their plates and whispered.
“It doesn’t seem like an accident, does it, Moni~?”
“Right? Let’s check first and then tell you.”
The two guys exchanged suspicious words before Moiya looked up at Linel and asked,
“Your Majesty, Your Majesty.”
“Why?”
“What do you think would happen if Your Majesty’s head and the head of the Magic Tower were stuck together in Your Majesty’s neck?”
Moiya asked the strange question in an innocent voice.
“...What kind of question is that? That's terrible.”
Linel frowned, rubbing the back of his neck.
This time, Moni continued with the terrible questions.
“?”
“Oh? Don’t just roll your blue eyes, answer, Moiya~? What will your cold body choose?”
“!”
Moiya swallowed and watched Linel’s lips.
It seems like these guys... have caused a real problem somewhere?
When we arrived at Joseph’s room and the servant knocked, he linked arms with me and stood next to me.
Maintaining that posture, I entered Joseph’s room.
“Your Highness Zelda!”
Grand Duke Joseph ran to me and hugged me.
“How have you been? What have you been doing?”
“I was playing with my friends.”
“Friends?”
“Yes!”
Joseph took my hand and led me to where they were playing.
“...You guys were here?”
Moiya and Moni were sitting on the marble floor eating sausages.
There were already quite a few empty plates piled up between them, forming a tower.
“Surely...you didn’t cause an accident in the Valley of Death yesterday and sneak into Grand Duke Joseph’s room, did you?”
The way the two guys flinched at my words and furtively looked around made me suspicious.
Moiya and Moni placed the sausages they were biting on their plates and whispered.
“It doesn’t seem like an accident, does it, Moni~?”
“Right? Let’s check first and then tell you.”
The two guys exchanged suspicious words before Moiya looked up at Linel and asked,
“Your Majesty, Your Majesty.”
“Why?”
“What do you think would happen if Your Majesty’s head and the head of the Magic Tower were stuck together in Your Majesty’s neck?”
Moiya asked the strange question in an innocent voice.
“...What kind of question is that? That's terrible.”
Linel frowned, rubbing the back of his neck.
It seemed like the mention of Bellos in the example made him even more displeased.
“My master needs to mate, but what if the Tower Lord keeps interfering? Are you just going to stand by and do nothing?”
“Oh? Don’t just roll your blue eyes, answer, Moiya~? What will your cold body choose?”
“!”
Moiya swallowed and watched Linel’s lips.
It seems like these guys... have caused a real problem somewhere?
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