Waking up in his arms always feels refreshing.
Perhaps because of my whining last night, he held me in his arms all night.
I felt his arms loosen, but before I knew it, he was wrapped tightly around me again.
I could hear his breathing comfortably behind me.
I turned to face him.
Whose husband is he? He's so handsome...
Isn't it unfair that I get excited even when he sleeps with his eyes closed?
I traced my index finger along his thick, well-defined eyebrows.
He squinted slightly, but didn't break his eyes.
I ran my finger past his high nose, slightly parting the plump lips that had whispered love to me all night.
Even that sight was so beautiful, and I was silently admiring him when he woke up.
"Is this my breakfast?"
He bit down on my finger, which had been teasing his lips.
"Ouch."
It didn't hurt, but I felt embarrassed for having secretly touched him, so I pretended to feel pain.
He chuckled, letting go of my finger before slowly closing his eyes.
“I’m sorry, I woke you up.”
“You don’t have to be sorry.”
“You were awake, were you?”
“Yeah.”
“But why did you pretend to be asleep?”
“So I could touch you comfortably.”
“You’re so kind, aren’t you?”
“My wife started a war with her hormones yesterday.”
“I told you not to tease me.”
When I glared at him, I sulked, and he burst into laughter with a look that made him look like he was dying of cuteness.
“Wouldn’t it be better to kiss me instead of teasing me?”
He raised his upper body and looked down at me.
“Much better...”
After lunch, Grand Duke Martins, who had been out for a walk, stopped in front of the spire.
Commander Macrom was coming out of the spire.
Grand Duke Martins approached Commander Macrom and pretended to know him.
“Are you coming back from seeing Prince Tesla?”
“Yes, Grand Duke. While Prince Tesla is imprisoned here, the spire is under my jurisdiction. Are you here to see me, Grand Duke?”
“I have something to tell you.”
“You’ve come to deliver the news that I will be representing the Kingdom of Shattonil at the coronation of Prince Calvain as Emperor, correct?”
“Hahaha. You’re quick-witted.”
Grand Duke Martins chuckled, patting the Commander's arm.
“So, you came here to turn my stomach?”
Grand Duke Martins didn’t bother denying Commander Macrom’s question.
“Then, let’s go in.”
Commander Macrom bowed and began walking precisely in the direction of his quarters.
Grand Duke Martins watched Commander Macrom’s back with fascination.
Whenever he looked at the Commander, he always forgot that he had lost his eyesight.
Commander Macrom always maintained a precise gaze and moved without hesitation in the direction he intended.
He had never seen him flustered.
Grand Duke Martins, who was about to enter the spire, turned around and called out to Commander Macrom.
“Hey, Macrom!”
“Yes, Grand Duke.”
“I’m having a drink with Prince Norton tonight. Would you like to join us?”
“If you invite me, I’ll go.”
“Then come to the room where Prince Norton is staying around 9 o’clock.”
“Yes, I’ll see you later.”
“Yes.”
Grand Duke Martins left Commander Macrom behind and hurried into the dungeon of the spire, where Prince Tesla and Princess Resilia were. He passed Princess Resilia’s cell and stood in front of Prince Tesla’s cell.
Grand Duke Martins showed the guard standing guard in front of the iron door the visitation pass he had received directly from Emperor Linel.
“Please go in.”
The guard, having confirmed the visitation pass, quickly opened the cell door.
At the sound of the iron door opening, Prince Tesla, who had been lying face down against the wall, sat up in bed.
“Martins!”
Prince Tesla greeted Grand Duke Martins with a look that asked why he had come now.
“Were you asleep?”
“Grand Duke, I'm sick. How could I sleep now?”
Prince Tesla replied irritably.
“Anyway, what on earth is my father thinking? Are you delirious?”
The Prince became furious and began to bombard Grand Duke Martins with questions.
“A few foolish ministers aside, what was my father thinking, abandoning me here?! Is it finally time to go? Otherwise, how could he throw his own son into a foreign prison, yes?”
Grand Duke Martins silently listened to Prince Tesla’s complaints before indifferently saying,
“I decided this for the sake of the kingdom.”
“What nonsense are you talking about? What’s good for Tesla is good for the kingdom!”
Prince Tesla grabbed Grand Duke Martins by the collar and raised his voice.
“Once I get out of here, I’ll get rid of those bastards who insisted on throwing me in Lapion Prison, as well as those who agreed to it.”
“How can you do it? Haven’t you already been stripped of your princely status?”
Grand Duke Martins said, pulling away Prince Tesla’s hands that were holding onto his collar.
“What, what is it?”
“Eat the food they give you here and behave yourself.”
“...Martins, did you eat something bad?”
“Oh, and I don’t think I’ll be able to visit you for a while.”
“Hold on.”
Prince Tesla, who had been annoyed by the strangely dismissive tone, grabbed Grand Duke Martins’s arm and asked.
“Where are you going?”
“Prince Calvain’s coronation ceremony will be held soon. I’m going as a congratulatory delegation. I’m representing the Kingdom of Shattonil.”
“Where are you going?!”
Wasn’t it the Pasha Empire of the Southern Continent that both Prince Tesla and Princess Resilia longed for?
“Why... are you representing the Kingdom of Shattonil?”
“Since the Prince has been stripped of his title as Prince, I will be taking over all external activities for the time being.”
Grand Duke Martins responded politely, but his eyes and expression clearly showed that he was disrespecting Prince Tesla.
“Huh? Are you saying you want to become Prince in my place?”
Prince Tesla shouted, spitting in excitement.
“No, that’s not it.”
Grand Duke Martins shook his head slowly and smiled.
“Then what is it, you brat!”
Prince Tesla roared, gripping Grand Duke Martins’s arm tightly again.
“I want to be King?”
Grand Duke Martins whispered quietly.
Then he coldly swatted away Prince Tesla’s frozen hand and patted it as if dusting his clothes.
“...W-what the hell are you talking about?!”
Prince Tesla’s scream echoed loudly within the dungeon.
The day of departure for the Pasha Empire was drawing near.
Rosie was probably the busiest person in the Lapion Palace, with the most preparations to do.
Sure enough, Rosie was already gathering her books, wasn’t she?
Melanie must have been thinking the same thing, as she came to me and pestered me to visit Rosie’s quarters.
I had planned to stop by Rosie’s quarters today or tomorrow anyway, so I headed there with Melanie.
As I had expected, Rosie was tying up the books with a rope.
Melanie proudly introduced the pomegranate she'd brought from her quarters and put a fork in Rosie's hand.
"Try this. It's on a whole other level than the pomegranates you usually eat!"
Pomegranates taste just like that, so why all the fuss? Unable to resist Melanie's urging, she put a pomegranate kernel in her mouth and chewed, exclaiming in admiration.
"It's really delicious."
"Isn't it? This is the best grade of pomegranate on Tanya Island. Hetor gave it to me as a gift."
"Melanie, you didn't steal it, did you?"
Indeed.
Melanie replied with a smug expression before sidling up to Rosie, who was binding books with rope alone.
"I really don't understand. Please just throw all your books away!"
Melanie said, sitting down on a mountain of bound books.
"Do you know how old that book Your Highness Melanie is sitting on right now is?"
Rosie asked with a deep frown.
“You don’t want to know?”
“It’s a book from 300 years ago!”
“That’s good. It’s not a new book,”
Melanie said nonchalantly.
“Wow, how could you say such an ignorant thing...!”
Rosie was astonished.
It was time for mediation.
“Get up. It’s important to Rosie.”
I grabbed Melanie’s hand and forcibly pulled her to her feet, and she grumbled and stood up.
“Anyway, Your Highness Rosie has such unique tastes.”
“I think it’s better than Your Highness Melanie?”
Rosie said sarcastically, determined to do so, and Melanie blinked and asked,
“My taste... what?”
“That Hetor guy.”
“Oh, what’s wrong with Hetor? He’s more handsome than His Majesty or Prince Norton?”
Hey, that’s not true!
Melanie’s firm assessment made me blush involuntarily.
“Are you serious?”
I usually tried to remain silent, but when it came to his honor, no, his appearance, I couldn’t remain silent.
Prince Norton may be like that, but isn’t Linel’s face the kind of thing that you can only try to please?
“Are you serious? To me, Hetor is the most manly. I don’t know about His Majesty, but Prince Norton looks rather wiry.”
“Melanie, it’s because you haven’t seen His Majesty’s muscles.”
They say that enormous muscles radiate from his neat uniform.
“Prince Norton has such a manly body!”
“Hmm? Rosie, how do you know that? You said you’ve only kissed him?”
Melanie quickly chimed in when I hit the nail on the head.
“And I don’t know about His Majesty, but Prince Norton has such a pretty face that he doesn’t look like he has any muscles at all.”
“No, right? He’s incredibly strong!”
Rosie shouted, her eyes burning with anger at the repeated attacks.
A moment of silence passed.
Rosie’s face was slowly turning into a pomegranate.
“Where?”
“Where?”
Melanie and I asked the same question at the same time.
At the same time, in the imperial palace of the Partsha Empire, Princess Jasper waited for Prince Calvain, who was having a meeting alone in the study.
Dismissing all the servants and entering the study alone, she took out a small bottle from a pocket she had secretly made in her dress skirt.
The small bottle contained well-dried poison strawberry powder.
She watched the study door, quickly opened the small bottle, poured the poison strawberry powder into the black teapot the servant had brought, and stirred it well with a teaspoon.
Princess Jasper also had to drink the black tea with the dried poison strawberry powder.
Pouring the tea into her teacups in advance and then offering it to him when it had cooled might have aroused Calvain's suspicion, so it was an unavoidable choice.
Even if she had poured the non-poisoned tea into her own cup first, if their conversation dragged on, she would have to drink a second cup anyway.
Just like Prince Calvain, her body was slowly becoming poisoned by the poisoned strawberries. She was controlling her tea intake, but she could still feel her stamina fading.
'I was going to die after revenge anyway. It's okay.'
Princess Jasper steeled herself and stared at the teapot.
"My love, have you been waiting long?"
Just then, the office door opened and Prince Calvain entered with a smile.
"No, I just got here."
Princess Jasper forced a smile, picked up the teapot, poured the tea into a cup, and handed it to Prince Calvain.
"Shouldn't you have had it first?"
Prince Calvain savored the tea, the dried, poisoned strawberry powder well-dissolved in it.
"It tastes better when we drink it together."
She replied, pouring the same amount of black tea into her own cup.
The cup shook slightly as she brought it to her lips.
"Wait, what is that?"
Just as Princess Jasper was about to take a sip, Prince Calvain slammed the teacup down on its saucer with such force that it made a loud clank and rose from the sofa.
"Why... is that?"
Perhaps because of my whining last night, he held me in his arms all night.
I felt his arms loosen, but before I knew it, he was wrapped tightly around me again.
I could hear his breathing comfortably behind me.
I turned to face him.
Whose husband is he? He's so handsome...
Isn't it unfair that I get excited even when he sleeps with his eyes closed?
I traced my index finger along his thick, well-defined eyebrows.
He squinted slightly, but didn't break his eyes.
I ran my finger past his high nose, slightly parting the plump lips that had whispered love to me all night.
Even that sight was so beautiful, and I was silently admiring him when he woke up.
"Is this my breakfast?"
He bit down on my finger, which had been teasing his lips.
"Ouch."
It didn't hurt, but I felt embarrassed for having secretly touched him, so I pretended to feel pain.
He chuckled, letting go of my finger before slowly closing his eyes.
“I’m sorry, I woke you up.”
“You don’t have to be sorry.”
“You were awake, were you?”
“Yeah.”
“But why did you pretend to be asleep?”
“So I could touch you comfortably.”
“You’re so kind, aren’t you?”
“My wife started a war with her hormones yesterday.”
“I told you not to tease me.”
When I glared at him, I sulked, and he burst into laughter with a look that made him look like he was dying of cuteness.
“Wouldn’t it be better to kiss me instead of teasing me?”
He raised his upper body and looked down at me.
“Much better...”
***
After lunch, Grand Duke Martins, who had been out for a walk, stopped in front of the spire.
Commander Macrom was coming out of the spire.
Grand Duke Martins approached Commander Macrom and pretended to know him.
“Are you coming back from seeing Prince Tesla?”
“Yes, Grand Duke. While Prince Tesla is imprisoned here, the spire is under my jurisdiction. Are you here to see me, Grand Duke?”
“I have something to tell you.”
“You’ve come to deliver the news that I will be representing the Kingdom of Shattonil at the coronation of Prince Calvain as Emperor, correct?”
“Hahaha. You’re quick-witted.”
Grand Duke Martins chuckled, patting the Commander's arm.
“So, you came here to turn my stomach?”
Grand Duke Martins didn’t bother denying Commander Macrom’s question.
“Then, let’s go in.”
Commander Macrom bowed and began walking precisely in the direction of his quarters.
Grand Duke Martins watched Commander Macrom’s back with fascination.
Whenever he looked at the Commander, he always forgot that he had lost his eyesight.
Commander Macrom always maintained a precise gaze and moved without hesitation in the direction he intended.
He had never seen him flustered.
Grand Duke Martins, who was about to enter the spire, turned around and called out to Commander Macrom.
“Hey, Macrom!”
“Yes, Grand Duke.”
“I’m having a drink with Prince Norton tonight. Would you like to join us?”
“If you invite me, I’ll go.”
“Then come to the room where Prince Norton is staying around 9 o’clock.”
“Yes, I’ll see you later.”
“Yes.”
Grand Duke Martins left Commander Macrom behind and hurried into the dungeon of the spire, where Prince Tesla and Princess Resilia were. He passed Princess Resilia’s cell and stood in front of Prince Tesla’s cell.
Grand Duke Martins showed the guard standing guard in front of the iron door the visitation pass he had received directly from Emperor Linel.
“Please go in.”
The guard, having confirmed the visitation pass, quickly opened the cell door.
At the sound of the iron door opening, Prince Tesla, who had been lying face down against the wall, sat up in bed.
“Martins!”
Prince Tesla greeted Grand Duke Martins with a look that asked why he had come now.
“Were you asleep?”
“Grand Duke, I'm sick. How could I sleep now?”
Prince Tesla replied irritably.
“Anyway, what on earth is my father thinking? Are you delirious?”
The Prince became furious and began to bombard Grand Duke Martins with questions.
“A few foolish ministers aside, what was my father thinking, abandoning me here?! Is it finally time to go? Otherwise, how could he throw his own son into a foreign prison, yes?”
Grand Duke Martins silently listened to Prince Tesla’s complaints before indifferently saying,
“I decided this for the sake of the kingdom.”
“What nonsense are you talking about? What’s good for Tesla is good for the kingdom!”
Prince Tesla grabbed Grand Duke Martins by the collar and raised his voice.
“Once I get out of here, I’ll get rid of those bastards who insisted on throwing me in Lapion Prison, as well as those who agreed to it.”
“How can you do it? Haven’t you already been stripped of your princely status?”
Grand Duke Martins said, pulling away Prince Tesla’s hands that were holding onto his collar.
“What, what is it?”
“Eat the food they give you here and behave yourself.”
“...Martins, did you eat something bad?”
“Oh, and I don’t think I’ll be able to visit you for a while.”
“Hold on.”
Prince Tesla, who had been annoyed by the strangely dismissive tone, grabbed Grand Duke Martins’s arm and asked.
“Where are you going?”
“Prince Calvain’s coronation ceremony will be held soon. I’m going as a congratulatory delegation. I’m representing the Kingdom of Shattonil.”
“Where are you going?!”
Wasn’t it the Pasha Empire of the Southern Continent that both Prince Tesla and Princess Resilia longed for?
“Why... are you representing the Kingdom of Shattonil?”
“Since the Prince has been stripped of his title as Prince, I will be taking over all external activities for the time being.”
Grand Duke Martins responded politely, but his eyes and expression clearly showed that he was disrespecting Prince Tesla.
“Huh? Are you saying you want to become Prince in my place?”
Prince Tesla shouted, spitting in excitement.
“No, that’s not it.”
Grand Duke Martins shook his head slowly and smiled.
“Then what is it, you brat!”
Prince Tesla roared, gripping Grand Duke Martins’s arm tightly again.
“I want to be King?”
Grand Duke Martins whispered quietly.
Then he coldly swatted away Prince Tesla’s frozen hand and patted it as if dusting his clothes.
“...W-what the hell are you talking about?!”
Prince Tesla’s scream echoed loudly within the dungeon.
***
The day of departure for the Pasha Empire was drawing near.
Rosie was probably the busiest person in the Lapion Palace, with the most preparations to do.
Sure enough, Rosie was already gathering her books, wasn’t she?
Melanie must have been thinking the same thing, as she came to me and pestered me to visit Rosie’s quarters.
I had planned to stop by Rosie’s quarters today or tomorrow anyway, so I headed there with Melanie.
As I had expected, Rosie was tying up the books with a rope.
Melanie proudly introduced the pomegranate she'd brought from her quarters and put a fork in Rosie's hand.
"Try this. It's on a whole other level than the pomegranates you usually eat!"
Pomegranates taste just like that, so why all the fuss? Unable to resist Melanie's urging, she put a pomegranate kernel in her mouth and chewed, exclaiming in admiration.
"It's really delicious."
"Isn't it? This is the best grade of pomegranate on Tanya Island. Hetor gave it to me as a gift."
"Melanie, you didn't steal it, did you?"
“Do you think that big guy will let you take it? Where?”
Melanie replied with a smug expression before sidling up to Rosie, who was binding books with rope alone.
"I really don't understand. Please just throw all your books away!"
Melanie said, sitting down on a mountain of bound books.
"Do you know how old that book Your Highness Melanie is sitting on right now is?"
Rosie asked with a deep frown.
“You don’t want to know?”
“It’s a book from 300 years ago!”
“That’s good. It’s not a new book,”
Melanie said nonchalantly.
“Wow, how could you say such an ignorant thing...!”
Rosie was astonished.
It was time for mediation.
“Get up. It’s important to Rosie.”
I grabbed Melanie’s hand and forcibly pulled her to her feet, and she grumbled and stood up.
“Anyway, Your Highness Rosie has such unique tastes.”
“I think it’s better than Your Highness Melanie?”
Rosie said sarcastically, determined to do so, and Melanie blinked and asked,
“My taste... what?”
“That Hetor guy.”
“Oh, what’s wrong with Hetor? He’s more handsome than His Majesty or Prince Norton?”
Hey, that’s not true!
Melanie’s firm assessment made me blush involuntarily.
“Are you serious?”
I usually tried to remain silent, but when it came to his honor, no, his appearance, I couldn’t remain silent.
Prince Norton may be like that, but isn’t Linel’s face the kind of thing that you can only try to please?
“Are you serious? To me, Hetor is the most manly. I don’t know about His Majesty, but Prince Norton looks rather wiry.”
“Melanie, it’s because you haven’t seen His Majesty’s muscles.”
They say that enormous muscles radiate from his neat uniform.
“Prince Norton has such a manly body!”
“Hmm? Rosie, how do you know that? You said you’ve only kissed him?”
Melanie quickly chimed in when I hit the nail on the head.
“And I don’t know about His Majesty, but Prince Norton has such a pretty face that he doesn’t look like he has any muscles at all.”
“No, right? He’s incredibly strong!”
Rosie shouted, her eyes burning with anger at the repeated attacks.
A moment of silence passed.
Rosie’s face was slowly turning into a pomegranate.
“Where?”
“Where?”
Melanie and I asked the same question at the same time.
***
At the same time, in the imperial palace of the Partsha Empire, Princess Jasper waited for Prince Calvain, who was having a meeting alone in the study.
Dismissing all the servants and entering the study alone, she took out a small bottle from a pocket she had secretly made in her dress skirt.
The small bottle contained well-dried poison strawberry powder.
She watched the study door, quickly opened the small bottle, poured the poison strawberry powder into the black teapot the servant had brought, and stirred it well with a teaspoon.
Princess Jasper also had to drink the black tea with the dried poison strawberry powder.
Pouring the tea into her teacups in advance and then offering it to him when it had cooled might have aroused Calvain's suspicion, so it was an unavoidable choice.
Even if she had poured the non-poisoned tea into her own cup first, if their conversation dragged on, she would have to drink a second cup anyway.
Just like Prince Calvain, her body was slowly becoming poisoned by the poisoned strawberries. She was controlling her tea intake, but she could still feel her stamina fading.
'I was going to die after revenge anyway. It's okay.'
Princess Jasper steeled herself and stared at the teapot.
"My love, have you been waiting long?"
Just then, the office door opened and Prince Calvain entered with a smile.
"No, I just got here."
Princess Jasper forced a smile, picked up the teapot, poured the tea into a cup, and handed it to Prince Calvain.
"Shouldn't you have had it first?"
Prince Calvain savored the tea, the dried, poisoned strawberry powder well-dissolved in it.
"It tastes better when we drink it together."
She replied, pouring the same amount of black tea into her own cup.
The cup shook slightly as she brought it to her lips.
"Wait, what is that?"
Just as Princess Jasper was about to take a sip, Prince Calvain slammed the teacup down on its saucer with such force that it made a loud clank and rose from the sofa.
"Why... is that?"
Comments
Post a Comment