The moment Bellos called his name, Emperor Adrian felt a chill down his spine.
“...What did you just say?”
“Philike, you crazy bastard.”
“!”
“Ah, that disciple’s name,”
Bellos replied, one corner of his mouth raised.
Emperor Adrian, momentarily dazed, regained his senses and asked slyly.
“Aha...? That wizard’s name is Philike. Was he a skilled disciple?”
“If obsession is a skill, then yes. He was outstanding.”
Bellos replied with a mocking grin.
Emperor Adrian laughed along, forcing his crumpled expression to smooth out.
“I warned him that his obsession with wyverns would lead to ruin, but he wouldn’t listen.”
Bellos arrived in front of the restaurant and said, his smile fading.
“Hmm, so what happened to that disciple?”
Emperor Adrian entered the dining room first and asked tentatively.
“Well, it’s been a while since we’ve been apart, so I don’t know. But I’m sure he’s headed that way.”
“What path?”
“The path to destruction. Enjoy your meal, Your Majesty Emperor Adrian.”
Bellos placed a hand on his chest and bowed his head, offering a polite greeting.
“Have you sensed something?”
Emperor Adrian smiled as he received the greeting, his lips trembling slightly.
Anxiety gave way to impatience.
“Then we have no choice but to expedite our plans.”
Melanie, who had given up breakfast and slept in, woke to a small noise.
Hetor was kneeling in front of her guest room door, doing something.
Melanie rubbed her eyes, got up, took a drink of water, and then crouched down beside him.
Hetor was tightening a screw dangling from the doorknob with a screwdriver, but then, as if he felt something was bothering him, he began turning the screw with his bare hands instead.
“What are you doing?”
Melanie asked, blinking.
“It’s done.”
Hetor tugged on the doorknob up and down until it made a clicking sound, then looked satisfied.
“What happened?”
“The lock was loose. It would just open if I pushed with my body.”
“We’ll be there in two more days, so why fix it?”
“Look at last night. It only takes a moment for something to happen.”
Hetor said, helping Melanie up with his own hands.
“If you’re that worried, you could just sleep here.”
At Melanie’s words, Hetor, who was about to put the screwdriver in his toolbox, stopped and just turned his head to look at her.
“Are you serious?”
“If I'm serious, you’re going to prick my mouth with it?”
Melanie smiled, winking at the screwdriver in Hetor’s hand.
“You’re the concubine of the Emperor of the Lapion Empire.”
It was a joke meant to be humorous, but Hetor responded with more seriousness than necessary.
“What did someone who knew all that do to that concubine~?”
Melanie asked teasingly.
“Those were things you could do secretly. Sleeping in the same bed is a different matter.”
“Also, I thought you were fixing the doorknob so we could sleep here secretly.”
Melanie whined, pushing Hetor’s arm against her body. He closed the toolbox with a dumbfounded expression.
“You know... His Majesty said he’d kick me out soon.”
Melanie said seriously, and Hetor’s eyebrows shot up.
“What? Where?”
“To you.”
She didn’t have a face for making up nonsense.
Besides, Emperor Linel was a man who wouldn’t hesitate to say such things, so Hetor couldn’t help but take Melanie’s words seriously.
“Really. I asked him when you left the restaurant first on my birthday.”
“What?”
“I want him to marry me off like Her Highness Rosie.”
“!”
You really thought she’d say something like that out loud?
She wasn’t complaining to her brother, and this... this... this was something no concubine in her right mind would do.
However, the opponent was 'Melanie', and she was a concubine acknowledged by everyone within the Lapion Imperial Family as a crazy one.
She smiled brightly.
Hetor stared at her, speechless, before confirming the facts again.
"You said that out loud? In front of Emperor Linel?"
"Why? Shouldn't you have said it behind his back?"
"..."
Melanie completely failed to grasp the meaning of the question.
“Don’t worry. I spoke without beating around the bush. I said it clearly, ‘Your Majesty, please let me marry off like Her Highness Rosie! I want to be a remarried concubine too!"
“You really did...”
Hetor pressed his hand to his temple and asked.
“Yes, exactly the same.”
Melanie answered with a clean face.
“And what did he say?”
“The imperial family is doing well, isn’t it?”
“?”
When Hetor’s expression hardened, Melanie waved her hand and quickly added.
“He wasn’t displeased, but rather pleased. He said he would go down in history as the Emperor who remarried all his concubines to other men, and that he would be remembered even after death.”
“...What did you just say?”
“Philike, you crazy bastard.”
“!”
“Ah, that disciple’s name,”
Bellos replied, one corner of his mouth raised.
Emperor Adrian, momentarily dazed, regained his senses and asked slyly.
“Aha...? That wizard’s name is Philike. Was he a skilled disciple?”
“If obsession is a skill, then yes. He was outstanding.”
Bellos replied with a mocking grin.
Emperor Adrian laughed along, forcing his crumpled expression to smooth out.
“I warned him that his obsession with wyverns would lead to ruin, but he wouldn’t listen.”
Bellos arrived in front of the restaurant and said, his smile fading.
“Hmm, so what happened to that disciple?”
Emperor Adrian entered the dining room first and asked tentatively.
“Well, it’s been a while since we’ve been apart, so I don’t know. But I’m sure he’s headed that way.”
“What path?”
“The path to destruction. Enjoy your meal, Your Majesty Emperor Adrian.”
Bellos placed a hand on his chest and bowed his head, offering a polite greeting.
“Have you sensed something?”
Emperor Adrian smiled as he received the greeting, his lips trembling slightly.
Anxiety gave way to impatience.
“Then we have no choice but to expedite our plans.”
***
Melanie, who had given up breakfast and slept in, woke to a small noise.
Hetor was kneeling in front of her guest room door, doing something.
Melanie rubbed her eyes, got up, took a drink of water, and then crouched down beside him.
Hetor was tightening a screw dangling from the doorknob with a screwdriver, but then, as if he felt something was bothering him, he began turning the screw with his bare hands instead.
“What are you doing?”
Melanie asked, blinking.
“It’s done.”
Hetor tugged on the doorknob up and down until it made a clicking sound, then looked satisfied.
“What happened?”
“The lock was loose. It would just open if I pushed with my body.”
“We’ll be there in two more days, so why fix it?”
“Look at last night. It only takes a moment for something to happen.”
Hetor said, helping Melanie up with his own hands.
“If you’re that worried, you could just sleep here.”
At Melanie’s words, Hetor, who was about to put the screwdriver in his toolbox, stopped and just turned his head to look at her.
“Are you serious?”
“If I'm serious, you’re going to prick my mouth with it?”
Melanie smiled, winking at the screwdriver in Hetor’s hand.
“You’re the concubine of the Emperor of the Lapion Empire.”
It was a joke meant to be humorous, but Hetor responded with more seriousness than necessary.
“What did someone who knew all that do to that concubine~?”
Melanie asked teasingly.
“Those were things you could do secretly. Sleeping in the same bed is a different matter.”
“Also, I thought you were fixing the doorknob so we could sleep here secretly.”
Melanie whined, pushing Hetor’s arm against her body. He closed the toolbox with a dumbfounded expression.
“You know... His Majesty said he’d kick me out soon.”
Melanie said seriously, and Hetor’s eyebrows shot up.
“What? Where?”
“To you.”
She didn’t have a face for making up nonsense.
Besides, Emperor Linel was a man who wouldn’t hesitate to say such things, so Hetor couldn’t help but take Melanie’s words seriously.
“Really. I asked him when you left the restaurant first on my birthday.”
“What?”
“I want him to marry me off like Her Highness Rosie.”
“!”
You really thought she’d say something like that out loud?
She wasn’t complaining to her brother, and this... this... this was something no concubine in her right mind would do.
However, the opponent was 'Melanie', and she was a concubine acknowledged by everyone within the Lapion Imperial Family as a crazy one.
She smiled brightly.
Hetor stared at her, speechless, before confirming the facts again.
"You said that out loud? In front of Emperor Linel?"
"Why? Shouldn't you have said it behind his back?"
"..."
Melanie completely failed to grasp the meaning of the question.
“Don’t worry. I spoke without beating around the bush. I said it clearly, ‘Your Majesty, please let me marry off like Her Highness Rosie! I want to be a remarried concubine too!"
“You really did...”
Hetor pressed his hand to his temple and asked.
“Yes, exactly the same.”
Melanie answered with a clean face.
“And what did he say?”
“The imperial family is doing well, isn’t it?”
“?”
When Hetor’s expression hardened, Melanie waved her hand and quickly added.
“He wasn’t displeased, but rather pleased. He said he would go down in history as the Emperor who remarried all his concubines to other men, and that he would be remembered even after death.”
Yes, and we would become famous too.
It was a topic of conversation not only in the Lapion Empire, but in every country.
“But he said we should discuss it again after returning from the Pasha Empire. So do your best.”
“Do your best for what?”
“Don’t be disliked by His Majesty and do well. If you want to marry me.”
“Marriage... you and I...”
Hetor muttered solemnly.
“Then who will you marry? I told you I’ll take responsibility, right? And you already have no choice.”
“Why not?”
Hetor asked with a chuckle.
“What? Do you have gifts that you can give and take away? You’re my birthday present, after all.”
“Hmm, if you marry me, it’ll be difficult in many ways. Think carefully.”
Hetor doubted whether she could endure a life far less rigorous than royal life.
“I don’t have to work as a pirate, do I?”
“...You don’t have to step in for that. There’s plenty of work.”
“Then, on the island, do you really have to wear clothes that cover your private parts?”
Melanie asked cautiously, her voice visibly contemplating something.
“...And that’s only allowed in front of me.”
“Oh, are you going to take in concubines like His Majesty? I can’t stand that even after remarrying. I won’t be a generous Queen.”
“Why are you bringing in concubines to marry again?”
Hetor replied, holding back a laugh.
He wasn’t the type of man who’d been close to women even on Tanya Island anyway.
“That wouldn’t happen if you didn’t make me lonely. I have savage blood in my veins, but I’m only savage to one woman.”
“Oh my! Why does that make me so excited?”
Melanie tapped her fingertips together, her body swaying.
“Heh.”
Hetor lightly brushed his index finger against Melanie’s cheek.
“Why?”
“Because you’re cute. I find you cute whenever you say something strange.”
“Then aren’t you strange too?”
“Perhaps.”
Hetor readily agreed and picked up the toolbox.
“Are you going? Stay a little longer.”
“That’s difficult. There are too many eyes watching.”
“Yoy even fixed the guest room door, so where are the eyes watching? I woke up so early, so I need more sleep. So, you lie down next to me.”
“Then... I’ll sit until you fall asleep.”
Hetor brought a chair in front of the bed and sat down.
“If you do that, I’ll wake up.”
“What do you want me to do?”
“Make me tired. That way I’ll fall asleep faster.”
Melanie raised both arms and pouted her lips.
“Then get up and grab the sword.”
Hetor said, pressing his hand against her pouting lips.
“Tch, not sword training. I want you to train my lips!”
Hetor watched Melanie fall asleep again before returning to his room, where Emperor Adrian was waiting.
“...What is it?”
“We need to bring the plan forward by a day. We will proceed at midnight tonight. Of course, I have discussed it with Her Majesty Empress Roxana.”
Emperor Adrian looked somewhat uneasy.
Hetor studied his face as if observing him.
Something felt off.
“Why did you suddenly change the plan?”
“Come to think of it, it would be better to finish everything before arriving at the Pasha Empire. They might interfere, pretending to mediate,”
It was a topic of conversation not only in the Lapion Empire, but in every country.
“But he said we should discuss it again after returning from the Pasha Empire. So do your best.”
“Do your best for what?”
“Don’t be disliked by His Majesty and do well. If you want to marry me.”
“Marriage... you and I...”
Hetor muttered solemnly.
“Then who will you marry? I told you I’ll take responsibility, right? And you already have no choice.”
“Why not?”
Hetor asked with a chuckle.
“What? Do you have gifts that you can give and take away? You’re my birthday present, after all.”
“Hmm, if you marry me, it’ll be difficult in many ways. Think carefully.”
Hetor doubted whether she could endure a life far less rigorous than royal life.
“I don’t have to work as a pirate, do I?”
“...You don’t have to step in for that. There’s plenty of work.”
“Then, on the island, do you really have to wear clothes that cover your private parts?”
Melanie asked cautiously, her voice visibly contemplating something.
“...And that’s only allowed in front of me.”
“Oh, are you going to take in concubines like His Majesty? I can’t stand that even after remarrying. I won’t be a generous Queen.”
“Why are you bringing in concubines to marry again?”
Hetor replied, holding back a laugh.
He wasn’t the type of man who’d been close to women even on Tanya Island anyway.
“That wouldn’t happen if you didn’t make me lonely. I have savage blood in my veins, but I’m only savage to one woman.”
“Oh my! Why does that make me so excited?”
Melanie tapped her fingertips together, her body swaying.
“Heh.”
Hetor lightly brushed his index finger against Melanie’s cheek.
“Why?”
“Because you’re cute. I find you cute whenever you say something strange.”
“Then aren’t you strange too?”
“Perhaps.”
Hetor readily agreed and picked up the toolbox.
“Are you going? Stay a little longer.”
“That’s difficult. There are too many eyes watching.”
“Yoy even fixed the guest room door, so where are the eyes watching? I woke up so early, so I need more sleep. So, you lie down next to me.”
“Then... I’ll sit until you fall asleep.”
Hetor brought a chair in front of the bed and sat down.
“If you do that, I’ll wake up.”
“What do you want me to do?”
“Make me tired. That way I’ll fall asleep faster.”
Melanie raised both arms and pouted her lips.
“Then get up and grab the sword.”
Hetor said, pressing his hand against her pouting lips.
“Tch, not sword training. I want you to train my lips!”
***
Hetor watched Melanie fall asleep again before returning to his room, where Emperor Adrian was waiting.
“...What is it?”
“We need to bring the plan forward by a day. We will proceed at midnight tonight. Of course, I have discussed it with Her Majesty Empress Roxana.”
Emperor Adrian looked somewhat uneasy.
Hetor studied his face as if observing him.
Something felt off.
“Why did you suddenly change the plan?”
“Come to think of it, it would be better to finish everything before arriving at the Pasha Empire. They might interfere, pretending to mediate,”
Emperor Adrian said.
Hetor nodded, but continued to observe his expression.
He made excuses about the Pasha Empire, but the real reason seemed different.
Emperor Adrian looked at Hetor disapprovingly, trying to see through his thoughts.
'If you're told to do something, do it. Why question it?'
On the surface, he treated them like comrades sharing plans, but his true feelings were different.
As if he were the Emperor of the Tebello Empire from the beginning, Philike was already, in every sense, Emperor Adrian himself.
“You’ve thoroughly prepared, right?”
“Of course.”
“Oh, we need to capture the Wyvern Lord Zelda.”
“Yes...”
Hetor’s head began to spin at the sudden change in plan.
He had to relay this to Emperor Linel quickly.
Emperor Adrian tapped his forehead with his hand, reminding Hetor that while discussing the plan after releasing the Galacos, he had forgotten something.
“Oh, the Galacos have one more meal.”
“What do you mean?”
“Emperor Linel. Throw him to the Galakos.”
“Huh? But Emperor Linel will never...”
“It’s the Empress’s will,”
Emperor Adrian said, cutting Hetor off.
“But if Emperor Linel dies, wouldn’t the ministers of Lapion have no reason to support Her Majesty the Empress?”
Perhaps it was because Roxana had imperial blood.
Clearly, Roxana’s state of mind had changed.
“What on earth?”
Hetor’s doubts grew.
“I told you so, too. But it seemed like you had some other plan.”
Hetor’s eyes narrowed at Emperor Adrian’s words.
“Judging by your expression, you still don’t know anything.”
“Yes.”
“Find out why, and if it’s a reckless decision, stop it.”
Emperor Adrian placed a hand on Hetor’s shoulder and spoke as if giving advice. He also explained that as long as he captured Zelda, the Wyvern Lord, he didn’t really care about the lives of others, nor did he want to interfere.
“We’ll discuss the detailed plan before dinner.”
Emperor Adrian left the room with a nervous yet excited expression.
Hetor planned to go to Roxana's room right away and ask her why she suddenly wanted to kill Emperor Linel.
He was curious about why Emperor Adrian had brought forward the plan, but he was even more curious about why Roxana wanted to kill Emperor Linel.
Hetor, who had been lost in thought in his chair, looked up at the sound of the guest room door opening.
It was Roxana.
Now that he thought about it, she had come to visit last night, saying she had something to say.
'Oh, you were going to tell me about your plan to eliminate Emperor Linel?'
Hetor stared at Roxana silently, and she spoke first.
"I said I had something to say yesterday."
"Do it,"
Hetor said calmly.
"You heard from Emperor Adrian that the plan had been brought forward?"
"A little while ago."
"Hetor. This... must succeed,"
Roxana pleaded, her eyes brimming with desire.
Hetor simply shrugged and replied,
"If God allows it, it will succeed."
"God will allow it this time, too."
Roxana said with a confident expression.
“This time too...?”
Hetor asked, his brows narrowing.
“You already gave me one of the things I wanted.”
Roxana placed both hands on her stomach, her expression seeming to possess the world.
Hetor’s pupils flickered.
Something caught his eye in her actions.
But he was afraid to ask.
His hopes of it not being true were dashed by Roxana’s satisfied smile.
“Your child is growing here.”
She finally whispered sweetly, stroking her stomach again.
Hetor remained silent for several minutes, his focus fixed on some empty space.
Roxana, who had come closer, looked up at him and urged him.
“Say something. Aren’t you happy?”
Then Hetor very slowly lowered his head, pressed his lips close to Roxana’s ear, and whispered something.
“...W-what?!”
Roxana’s face suddenly contorted.
Hetor nodded, but continued to observe his expression.
He made excuses about the Pasha Empire, but the real reason seemed different.
Emperor Adrian looked at Hetor disapprovingly, trying to see through his thoughts.
'If you're told to do something, do it. Why question it?'
On the surface, he treated them like comrades sharing plans, but his true feelings were different.
As if he were the Emperor of the Tebello Empire from the beginning, Philike was already, in every sense, Emperor Adrian himself.
“You’ve thoroughly prepared, right?”
“Of course.”
“Oh, we need to capture the Wyvern Lord Zelda.”
“Yes...”
Hetor’s head began to spin at the sudden change in plan.
He had to relay this to Emperor Linel quickly.
Emperor Adrian tapped his forehead with his hand, reminding Hetor that while discussing the plan after releasing the Galacos, he had forgotten something.
“Oh, the Galacos have one more meal.”
“What do you mean?”
“Emperor Linel. Throw him to the Galakos.”
“Huh? But Emperor Linel will never...”
“It’s the Empress’s will,”
Emperor Adrian said, cutting Hetor off.
“But if Emperor Linel dies, wouldn’t the ministers of Lapion have no reason to support Her Majesty the Empress?”
Perhaps it was because Roxana had imperial blood.
Clearly, Roxana’s state of mind had changed.
“What on earth?”
Hetor’s doubts grew.
“I told you so, too. But it seemed like you had some other plan.”
Hetor’s eyes narrowed at Emperor Adrian’s words.
“Judging by your expression, you still don’t know anything.”
“Yes.”
“Find out why, and if it’s a reckless decision, stop it.”
Emperor Adrian placed a hand on Hetor’s shoulder and spoke as if giving advice. He also explained that as long as he captured Zelda, the Wyvern Lord, he didn’t really care about the lives of others, nor did he want to interfere.
“We’ll discuss the detailed plan before dinner.”
Emperor Adrian left the room with a nervous yet excited expression.
Hetor planned to go to Roxana's room right away and ask her why she suddenly wanted to kill Emperor Linel.
He was curious about why Emperor Adrian had brought forward the plan, but he was even more curious about why Roxana wanted to kill Emperor Linel.
Hetor, who had been lost in thought in his chair, looked up at the sound of the guest room door opening.
It was Roxana.
Now that he thought about it, she had come to visit last night, saying she had something to say.
'Oh, you were going to tell me about your plan to eliminate Emperor Linel?'
Hetor stared at Roxana silently, and she spoke first.
"I said I had something to say yesterday."
"Do it,"
Hetor said calmly.
"You heard from Emperor Adrian that the plan had been brought forward?"
"A little while ago."
"Hetor. This... must succeed,"
Roxana pleaded, her eyes brimming with desire.
Hetor simply shrugged and replied,
"If God allows it, it will succeed."
"God will allow it this time, too."
Roxana said with a confident expression.
“This time too...?”
Hetor asked, his brows narrowing.
“You already gave me one of the things I wanted.”
Roxana placed both hands on her stomach, her expression seeming to possess the world.
Hetor’s pupils flickered.
Something caught his eye in her actions.
But he was afraid to ask.
His hopes of it not being true were dashed by Roxana’s satisfied smile.
“Your child is growing here.”
She finally whispered sweetly, stroking her stomach again.
Hetor remained silent for several minutes, his focus fixed on some empty space.
Roxana, who had come closer, looked up at him and urged him.
“Say something. Aren’t you happy?”
Then Hetor very slowly lowered his head, pressed his lips close to Roxana’s ear, and whispered something.
“...W-what?!”
Roxana’s face suddenly contorted.
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