Emperor Adrian entered the Empress's dining room just in time for lunch.
"Welcome."
Roxana, who had arrived early, rose from her seat to greet him.
"It's an honor to invite you, Your Majesty."
Emperor Adrian folded one arm in greeting.
"You're welcome. I'm leaving tomorrow on a congratulatory mission, and I wanted to treat you to a meal before I do."
"To commemorate our friendship, you know?"
"Of course."
Roxana instructed Nancy to bring out the food and sat down with Emperor Adrian.
"Yes, this is how we build closer friendships. Hahaha."
Emperor Adrian jokingly picked up the wine bottle and poured some into Roxana's glass.
Roxana drank the wine and gazed at Emperor Adrian's face.
"Your Majesty, is something good happening? You look so happy today."
She asked.
Last time she saw him, his face was pale and lifeless, like a dead person, but today, it was quite lively.
“Haha, is that so? I guess it’s because I’m already looking forward to the sea voyage to the Southern Continent.”
Emperor Adrian shrugged, running a hand along his jawline.
Having absorbed the blood flowing from Elan’s neck wound, he should look rosy for a while.
Beyond his complexion, Emperor Adrian’s physical condition had also improved significantly.
Even a small amount of human blood was far more effective at sustaining his dark magic than consuming large quantities of beast blood.
He would have liked to absorb all the blood circulating in Empress Elan’s body, but if she were dead, things would only get more complicated.
He hadn’t dispelled his suspicions about Elan, having overheard Hetor’s conversation.
He had heard that during the Continental Hunting Tournament, Zelda, infected with demonic energy, had departed for the Tebello Empire with the Magic Tower Lord. Emperor Adrian recommended Empress Elan to Linel as a guide to the Tebello Empire and sent her to Zelda and her party.
He suspected the two might have developed a friendship during their journey to the Tebello Empire, but Zelda and Empress Elan had never shown any particular intimacy in front of him.
However, that too could have been intentional.
He almost killed her out of fear that his conversation with Hetor might leak out.
Of course, that might not have been the case, but Emperor Adrian was a man who trusted no one.
While he still had suspicions about Empress Elan, it wasn't the time to kill her.
He intended to test Empress Elan's loyalty on this journey while also utilizing her for his own plans.
"You've met Hetor, haven't you?"
Roxana spoke first as they began to eat after all the food had been set on the table.
"Of course. He's the one who directly controls Galaco."
Emperor Adrian answered as he sliced his steak. After a moment of deliberate silence, he spoke again.
"Do you trust Hetor completely, Your Majesty?"
If there was any love or problem between them, it would be wise to address it, as it might disrupt our plans.
“Of course. Hetor is completely mine. He is a loyal dog I can trust completely.”
Roxana had complete trust in Hetor.
“Then I can rest assured.”
Emperor Adrian smiled faintly and finished slicing the steak, which was almost raw.
“Your Majesty, if you don’t trust the person you’re entrusting, they should at least be of use. If not... there’s no reason to keep them alive.”
Roxana agreed, tilting her wine glass.
“I agree.”
After lunch, a welcome visitor arrived.
“Rosie, welcome.”
I was just about to go for a walk.
I had planned to stop by her quarters on my way to the West Palace, but it seemed we had a connection.
Just as I was about to tell Sharon to bring out some refreshments, Rosie hurriedly spoke.
“I came to ask a favor.”
Her face was a little tense.
"Speak freely, Rosie."
I said, taking her hand.
Rosie had been so helpful to me, so I wanted to grant her whatever she wanted.
"Before I go to the Pasha Empire, I'd like to meet Princess Resilia. Could you... Come with me?"
"You want to see the Princess?"
"Yes, there's something I really need to tell her."
I wondered what she meant to say to Princess Resilia, but I guess we'll find out when we go together.
I immediately had the carriage ready.
It stopped in front of the Spire Prison, near the drawbridge of the palace.
As I stepped out, unexpectedly, Grand Duke Martins was standing there.
“What brings you two here?”
“I’ve come to see Princess Resilia. And the Grand Duke?”
“I have a matter to report to Prince Tesla regarding royal affairs, so I’m on my way back after a brief visit.”
“I see. Is Commander Macrom still inside?”
“Oh, he just went to the main palace. I heard there was a meeting with the vice-captains regarding the arrangement of the knights escorting the congratulatory delegation. I’ll guide you in place of Commander Macrom.”
I expressed my gratitude for Grand Duke Martins’s hospitality.
“Then, I’ll leave it to you. It’s reassuring.”
Escorted by Grand Duke Martins, I and Rosie disembarked from the carriage and entered the Spire Prison.
Under Grand Duke Martins’ guidance, we headed to the dungeon where the siblings of the Kingdom of Shattonil were imprisoned together.
It was much dreary, but the conditions were better than a regular prison.
“This is where Princess Resilia is.”
Grand Duke Martins stopped in front of a cell with an iron door.
“The last cell, by any chance...”
“Yes, Prince Tesla is staying there.”
“I see. Please open it.”
“Are you sure you’re alright?”
Grand Duke Martins asked worriedly, looking back and forth between me and Rosie.
“Of course, don’t worry.”
I could easily enter Prince Tesla’s cell alone, but Princess Resilia, who only shouts, is a different story.
The guard on guard at Grand Duke Martins’s direction opened the door to Princess Resilia’s cell.
The sound of the heavy iron door opening caused Princess Resilia to sit up in her bed.
She looked at Rosie and me, then narrowed her eyes and glared at me with murderous intent.
“What? The people who did this to me all showed up at once?”
Princess Resilia seemed to be suffering from a persecution complex.
“Resilia, it’s your own fault that you ended up like this.”
“Don’t be ridiculous. It was all your fault, Zelda! And on top of that, some random pumpkin rolled in from nowhere and stole my husband and child!”
Princess Resilia’s gaze, which had been glaring at me, shifted to Rosie, her anger reaching its peak.
“The more I think about it, the more upset I get. How could Norton propose to someone as worthless as you? You’d have to look roughly the same to even understand. What is this, it looks like a tough dough that someone turned over, stepped on, and gave up on...”
"Welcome."
Roxana, who had arrived early, rose from her seat to greet him.
"It's an honor to invite you, Your Majesty."
Emperor Adrian folded one arm in greeting.
"You're welcome. I'm leaving tomorrow on a congratulatory mission, and I wanted to treat you to a meal before I do."
"To commemorate our friendship, you know?"
"Of course."
Roxana instructed Nancy to bring out the food and sat down with Emperor Adrian.
"Yes, this is how we build closer friendships. Hahaha."
Emperor Adrian jokingly picked up the wine bottle and poured some into Roxana's glass.
Roxana drank the wine and gazed at Emperor Adrian's face.
"Your Majesty, is something good happening? You look so happy today."
She asked.
Last time she saw him, his face was pale and lifeless, like a dead person, but today, it was quite lively.
“Haha, is that so? I guess it’s because I’m already looking forward to the sea voyage to the Southern Continent.”
Emperor Adrian shrugged, running a hand along his jawline.
Having absorbed the blood flowing from Elan’s neck wound, he should look rosy for a while.
Beyond his complexion, Emperor Adrian’s physical condition had also improved significantly.
Even a small amount of human blood was far more effective at sustaining his dark magic than consuming large quantities of beast blood.
He would have liked to absorb all the blood circulating in Empress Elan’s body, but if she were dead, things would only get more complicated.
He hadn’t dispelled his suspicions about Elan, having overheard Hetor’s conversation.
He had heard that during the Continental Hunting Tournament, Zelda, infected with demonic energy, had departed for the Tebello Empire with the Magic Tower Lord. Emperor Adrian recommended Empress Elan to Linel as a guide to the Tebello Empire and sent her to Zelda and her party.
He suspected the two might have developed a friendship during their journey to the Tebello Empire, but Zelda and Empress Elan had never shown any particular intimacy in front of him.
However, that too could have been intentional.
He almost killed her out of fear that his conversation with Hetor might leak out.
Of course, that might not have been the case, but Emperor Adrian was a man who trusted no one.
While he still had suspicions about Empress Elan, it wasn't the time to kill her.
He intended to test Empress Elan's loyalty on this journey while also utilizing her for his own plans.
"You've met Hetor, haven't you?"
Roxana spoke first as they began to eat after all the food had been set on the table.
"Of course. He's the one who directly controls Galaco."
Emperor Adrian answered as he sliced his steak. After a moment of deliberate silence, he spoke again.
"Do you trust Hetor completely, Your Majesty?"
If there was any love or problem between them, it would be wise to address it, as it might disrupt our plans.
“Of course. Hetor is completely mine. He is a loyal dog I can trust completely.”
Roxana had complete trust in Hetor.
“Then I can rest assured.”
Emperor Adrian smiled faintly and finished slicing the steak, which was almost raw.
“Your Majesty, if you don’t trust the person you’re entrusting, they should at least be of use. If not... there’s no reason to keep them alive.”
Roxana agreed, tilting her wine glass.
“I agree.”
***
After lunch, a welcome visitor arrived.
“Rosie, welcome.”
I was just about to go for a walk.
I had planned to stop by her quarters on my way to the West Palace, but it seemed we had a connection.
Just as I was about to tell Sharon to bring out some refreshments, Rosie hurriedly spoke.
“I came to ask a favor.”
Her face was a little tense.
"Speak freely, Rosie."
I said, taking her hand.
Rosie had been so helpful to me, so I wanted to grant her whatever she wanted.
"Before I go to the Pasha Empire, I'd like to meet Princess Resilia. Could you... Come with me?"
"You want to see the Princess?"
"Yes, there's something I really need to tell her."
I wondered what she meant to say to Princess Resilia, but I guess we'll find out when we go together.
I immediately had the carriage ready.
It stopped in front of the Spire Prison, near the drawbridge of the palace.
As I stepped out, unexpectedly, Grand Duke Martins was standing there.
“What brings you two here?”
“I’ve come to see Princess Resilia. And the Grand Duke?”
“I have a matter to report to Prince Tesla regarding royal affairs, so I’m on my way back after a brief visit.”
“I see. Is Commander Macrom still inside?”
“Oh, he just went to the main palace. I heard there was a meeting with the vice-captains regarding the arrangement of the knights escorting the congratulatory delegation. I’ll guide you in place of Commander Macrom.”
I expressed my gratitude for Grand Duke Martins’s hospitality.
“Then, I’ll leave it to you. It’s reassuring.”
Escorted by Grand Duke Martins, I and Rosie disembarked from the carriage and entered the Spire Prison.
Under Grand Duke Martins’ guidance, we headed to the dungeon where the siblings of the Kingdom of Shattonil were imprisoned together.
It was much dreary, but the conditions were better than a regular prison.
“This is where Princess Resilia is.”
Grand Duke Martins stopped in front of a cell with an iron door.
“The last cell, by any chance...”
“Yes, Prince Tesla is staying there.”
“I see. Please open it.”
“Are you sure you’re alright?”
Grand Duke Martins asked worriedly, looking back and forth between me and Rosie.
“Of course, don’t worry.”
I could easily enter Prince Tesla’s cell alone, but Princess Resilia, who only shouts, is a different story.
The guard on guard at Grand Duke Martins’s direction opened the door to Princess Resilia’s cell.
The sound of the heavy iron door opening caused Princess Resilia to sit up in her bed.
She looked at Rosie and me, then narrowed her eyes and glared at me with murderous intent.
“What? The people who did this to me all showed up at once?”
Princess Resilia seemed to be suffering from a persecution complex.
“Resilia, it’s your own fault that you ended up like this.”
“Don’t be ridiculous. It was all your fault, Zelda! And on top of that, some random pumpkin rolled in from nowhere and stole my husband and child!”
Princess Resilia’s gaze, which had been glaring at me, shifted to Rosie, her anger reaching its peak.
“The more I think about it, the more upset I get. How could Norton propose to someone as worthless as you? You’d have to look roughly the same to even understand. What is this, it looks like a tough dough that someone turned over, stepped on, and gave up on...”
Princess Resilia looked Rosie up and down, spewing unspeakable curses.
“Princess. Haven’t you been looking in a mirror lately?”
Rosie, who had been listening to Princess Resilia’s rant indifferently, looked around the cell and asked,
“What?”
“Oh, there really isn’t a mirror? That’s why you don’t know what your own face looks like and are pointing out other people’s faces...”
“What are you talking about?!”
Princess Resilia glared and shouted, but Rosie responded in a calmer tone.
“Your face has become very dull from lack of sunlight. The skin under your eyes is darker than the dark circles in this dungeon. And your once-lustrous pink hair has become frizzy... and those eyes, in particular, are truly eerie.”
“This is the real deal!”
Princess Resilia raised her hand to slap Rosie, who was gently and kindly reciting her condition.
“If you can’t watch your mouth, then watch your body.”
I blocked Rosie’s path and grabbed Princess Resilia’s raised wrist tightly.
“Ah, ah... it hurts!”
I watched Princess Resilia squirm with a pitiful expression before releasing my grip.
She fell to the bed, breathing heavily.
The Princess sat up on the bed, rubbing the wrist I had grabbed with her other hand and glaring.
“You two, why on earth did you come here? Did you two, who stole everything from me, come here to laugh at me?”
“That’s serious. Are you really suffering from delusions of persecution? I don’t remember ever stealing anything from you?”
I approached Princess Resilia and asked.
The Princess gaped in bewilderment.
If anyone who didn’t know the circumstances saw Princess Resilia’s now aggrieved expression, they would surely side with her.
“It was originally mine, but you’ve been occupying it all along! You were just a substitute Empress! If I came here, you should have died on the way to the Kingdom of Shattonil!”
“...But I’m sorry I’m still alive and well.”
I retorted, holding back a laugh.
“I feel guilty for surviving every single crisis. ”
Princess Resilia began to choke on my almost mocking reply.
“Emperor Linel aside, the thought of Norton giving his heart to a pumpkin like you, I’m going crazy with hurt pride. I can’t stand the thought of my son Rams following Pumpkin around and calling you “Mommy, Mommy!”
The arrows of anger that had been aimed at me changed direction and poured out at Rosie.
“If it weren’t for you, I could have become the Crown Princess of the Pasha Empire. If Rams were adopted by Calvain and later became Emperor, I could have become the Empress Dowager!”
Princess Resilia jumped up, ran to Rosie, and shook her shoulders violently with both hands.
“What on earth did you do to Norton? What did you do to make him abandon me for someone like you!”
She shook Rosie with all her might, but her body remained unmoved by Princess Resilia’s struggles.
Just like her stubborn personality.
“This is like a tree and a stone!”
Princess Resilia huffed as she fell to the ground.
“I didn’t come here to brag about how much Prince Norton cherishes me, or how Rams smiles brightly when he sees me,”
Rosie said with a sigh.
“W-what?!”
“Before I left for the Pasha Empire, I came to see you, Princess, because I wanted to tell you not to worry.”
“Who are you kidding? What the hell are you talking about!”
“Rams, I’ll do my best to raise him well, as if he were my own child.”
“...”
“That’s what I wanted to say. Don’t worry.”
Rosie conveyed her feelings with sincerity.
“Yes. Do your best, you know. No matter how well you raise someone else’s child, in the end, he’ll end up giving his heart to his biological mother! Just wait and see. I’ll show you how dangerous bloodlines can be!”
Princess Resilia continued to fume.
Knock knock-.
Palto, who had visited the Principality of Aklatto on Hetor’s orders, came to see him as soon as he arrived at the palace.
“Are you coming from the Principality?”
Hetor, sitting on a chair, glanced at Palto and asked.
“Yes...”
“How are the Galacos?”
Palto hesitated at Hetor's question, then opened his mouth.
"Your Majesty, we're in trouble."
"What's going on?"
Judging by the expression on his right-hand man's face, it seemed something had happened in the duchy.
"T-That... How should I explain this..."
"What are you talking about that takes so long?"
"The Galaco,"
Palto began, his face showing embarrassment.
"Didn't the males have two heads?"
"But..."
"They're gone."
"...What?"
"Each of the two heads was reduced to one."
Palto recalled the sight of the galaco imprisoned in the spire prison.
The shock still lingered.
Hetor stared at Palto.
His tone was quite serious. He wasn't joking.
"What the hell are you talking about? What's missing?"
Hetor asked again with a puzzled look.
"Here, here, it's gone."
Palto raised his voice, tapping the side of his head with his finger in frustration.
“What the hell are you talking about?”
“Oh, well! A head, I said it has no head?”
At that moment, Melanie’s gruff voice was heard.
“Are you talking bad about me?”
“Mel, Your Highness Melanie?!”
Palto turned around in surprise.
Melanie was outside the door with her small head sticking out, her eyes wide open.
“You two were talking about me, weren’t you?”
What the hell is she talking about all of a sudden?
Hetor frowned and asked Melanie.
What the hell are you...
“...What are you talking about?”
“You said it has no head.”
“?”
She came up to Hetor and Palto, stomped one foot down, and began to argue fiercely.
“Huh, so that’s what I was swearing at!”
Melanie’s eyes were filled with conviction.
“Princess. Haven’t you been looking in a mirror lately?”
Rosie, who had been listening to Princess Resilia’s rant indifferently, looked around the cell and asked,
“What?”
“Oh, there really isn’t a mirror? That’s why you don’t know what your own face looks like and are pointing out other people’s faces...”
“What are you talking about?!”
Princess Resilia glared and shouted, but Rosie responded in a calmer tone.
“Your face has become very dull from lack of sunlight. The skin under your eyes is darker than the dark circles in this dungeon. And your once-lustrous pink hair has become frizzy... and those eyes, in particular, are truly eerie.”
“This is the real deal!”
Princess Resilia raised her hand to slap Rosie, who was gently and kindly reciting her condition.
“If you can’t watch your mouth, then watch your body.”
I blocked Rosie’s path and grabbed Princess Resilia’s raised wrist tightly.
“Ah, ah... it hurts!”
I watched Princess Resilia squirm with a pitiful expression before releasing my grip.
She fell to the bed, breathing heavily.
The Princess sat up on the bed, rubbing the wrist I had grabbed with her other hand and glaring.
“You two, why on earth did you come here? Did you two, who stole everything from me, come here to laugh at me?”
“That’s serious. Are you really suffering from delusions of persecution? I don’t remember ever stealing anything from you?”
I approached Princess Resilia and asked.
The Princess gaped in bewilderment.
If anyone who didn’t know the circumstances saw Princess Resilia’s now aggrieved expression, they would surely side with her.
“It was originally mine, but you’ve been occupying it all along! You were just a substitute Empress! If I came here, you should have died on the way to the Kingdom of Shattonil!”
“...But I’m sorry I’m still alive and well.”
I retorted, holding back a laugh.
“I feel guilty for surviving every single crisis. ”
Princess Resilia began to choke on my almost mocking reply.
“Emperor Linel aside, the thought of Norton giving his heart to a pumpkin like you, I’m going crazy with hurt pride. I can’t stand the thought of my son Rams following Pumpkin around and calling you “Mommy, Mommy!”
The arrows of anger that had been aimed at me changed direction and poured out at Rosie.
“If it weren’t for you, I could have become the Crown Princess of the Pasha Empire. If Rams were adopted by Calvain and later became Emperor, I could have become the Empress Dowager!”
Princess Resilia jumped up, ran to Rosie, and shook her shoulders violently with both hands.
“What on earth did you do to Norton? What did you do to make him abandon me for someone like you!”
She shook Rosie with all her might, but her body remained unmoved by Princess Resilia’s struggles.
Just like her stubborn personality.
“This is like a tree and a stone!”
Princess Resilia huffed as she fell to the ground.
“I didn’t come here to brag about how much Prince Norton cherishes me, or how Rams smiles brightly when he sees me,”
Rosie said with a sigh.
“W-what?!”
“Before I left for the Pasha Empire, I came to see you, Princess, because I wanted to tell you not to worry.”
“Who are you kidding? What the hell are you talking about!”
“Rams, I’ll do my best to raise him well, as if he were my own child.”
“...”
“That’s what I wanted to say. Don’t worry.”
Rosie conveyed her feelings with sincerity.
“Yes. Do your best, you know. No matter how well you raise someone else’s child, in the end, he’ll end up giving his heart to his biological mother! Just wait and see. I’ll show you how dangerous bloodlines can be!”
Princess Resilia continued to fume.
***
Knock knock-.
Palto, who had visited the Principality of Aklatto on Hetor’s orders, came to see him as soon as he arrived at the palace.
“Are you coming from the Principality?”
Hetor, sitting on a chair, glanced at Palto and asked.
“Yes...”
“How are the Galacos?”
Palto hesitated at Hetor's question, then opened his mouth.
"Your Majesty, we're in trouble."
"What's going on?"
Judging by the expression on his right-hand man's face, it seemed something had happened in the duchy.
"T-That... How should I explain this..."
"What are you talking about that takes so long?"
"The Galaco,"
Palto began, his face showing embarrassment.
"Didn't the males have two heads?"
"But..."
"They're gone."
"...What?"
"Each of the two heads was reduced to one."
Palto recalled the sight of the galaco imprisoned in the spire prison.
The shock still lingered.
Hetor stared at Palto.
His tone was quite serious. He wasn't joking.
"What the hell are you talking about? What's missing?"
Hetor asked again with a puzzled look.
"Here, here, it's gone."
Palto raised his voice, tapping the side of his head with his finger in frustration.
“What the hell are you talking about?”
“Oh, well! A head, I said it has no head?”
At that moment, Melanie’s gruff voice was heard.
“Are you talking bad about me?”
“Mel, Your Highness Melanie?!”
Palto turned around in surprise.
Melanie was outside the door with her small head sticking out, her eyes wide open.
“You two were talking about me, weren’t you?”
What the hell is she talking about all of a sudden?
Hetor frowned and asked Melanie.
What the hell are you...
“...What are you talking about?”
“You said it has no head.”
“?”
She came up to Hetor and Palto, stomped one foot down, and began to argue fiercely.
“Huh, so that’s what I was swearing at!”
Melanie’s eyes were filled with conviction.
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