"Calm down, Zelda. Why are you clenching your fists?"
He relaxed my clenched fists as he sat me back down.
My insides were boiling over at the absurd news, threatening to burst into flames from my fingertips.
Linel, noticing this, quietly brought the water cup from the table under the table and placed my fingertips into it, then withdrew them.
The cold water in the cup quickly heated up.
"You really are the Wyvern Lord with the power of fire."
Said Emperor Katria, watching from the side, her eyes widening in amazement.
Unable to respond, I smiled faintly and whispered,
"I need to see Rosie right now."
A thousand fires welled up inside me, making it impossible for me to sit still.
"Don't you think you need to meet my lips first?"
He whispered so only I could hear.
"?"
"Come out for a moment."
He asked for the understanding of Emperor Katria and Grand Duke Martins, took my hand, and left the audience room. He then headed to the nearest room, opened the door, and entered without a second thought.
Perhaps because he was an Emperor who didn't care about what others thought, even in a foreign land, his actions were unhesitating.
"Do you know where this is and just barge in?"
"If you don't, then just barge in."
Linel grabbed my shoulder and looked down at me.
His blue eyes were filled with affection.
He hadn't brought me here out of lust. He had sought to cool the heat within me, boiling with rage.
"It's hot."
His icy hands touched my face and the back of my neck, one after the other.
Thanks to this, the fever that had surged to the brink of explosion gradually subsided.
"I can't stand it."
"I understand. But it's best not to get excited,"
Linel said gently, stroking my stomach.
"Let's put out the fire first."
"Yes, I'm ready."
With the meeting about to begin, we didn't have much time.
I closed my eyes and raised my head towards him.
Before I could even turn my head, a cool, refreshing sensation surged through my fiery mouth.
It felt like biting a piece of ice.
A tingling sensation ran down my spine.
I thought that if someone who didn't know this was happening were to overhear our conversation, they might misinterpret this situation as something strange.
They would certainly misunderstand.
"Zelda, I have something to confess..."
He whispered shyly through my parted lips.
"What is it?"
"When you get angry, I worry about the heat, yet I tremble uncontrollably."
He relaxed my clenched fists as he sat me back down.
My insides were boiling over at the absurd news, threatening to burst into flames from my fingertips.
Linel, noticing this, quietly brought the water cup from the table under the table and placed my fingertips into it, then withdrew them.
The cold water in the cup quickly heated up.
"You really are the Wyvern Lord with the power of fire."
Said Emperor Katria, watching from the side, her eyes widening in amazement.
Unable to respond, I smiled faintly and whispered,
"I need to see Rosie right now."
A thousand fires welled up inside me, making it impossible for me to sit still.
"Don't you think you need to meet my lips first?"
He whispered so only I could hear.
"?"
"Come out for a moment."
He asked for the understanding of Emperor Katria and Grand Duke Martins, took my hand, and left the audience room. He then headed to the nearest room, opened the door, and entered without a second thought.
Perhaps because he was an Emperor who didn't care about what others thought, even in a foreign land, his actions were unhesitating.
"Do you know where this is and just barge in?"
"If you don't, then just barge in."
Linel grabbed my shoulder and looked down at me.
His blue eyes were filled with affection.
He hadn't brought me here out of lust. He had sought to cool the heat within me, boiling with rage.
"It's hot."
His icy hands touched my face and the back of my neck, one after the other.
Thanks to this, the fever that had surged to the brink of explosion gradually subsided.
"I can't stand it."
"I understand. But it's best not to get excited,"
Linel said gently, stroking my stomach.
"Let's put out the fire first."
"Yes, I'm ready."
With the meeting about to begin, we didn't have much time.
I closed my eyes and raised my head towards him.
Before I could even turn my head, a cool, refreshing sensation surged through my fiery mouth.
It felt like biting a piece of ice.
A tingling sensation ran down my spine.
I thought that if someone who didn't know this was happening were to overhear our conversation, they might misinterpret this situation as something strange.
They would certainly misunderstand.
"Zelda, I have something to confess..."
He whispered shyly through my parted lips.
"What is it?"
"When you get angry, I worry about the heat, yet I tremble uncontrollably."
The warmth that had swirled through my body at his adorable confession began to fade.
"Let's talk later, but let's talk more..."
I wrapped my arms around his neck and swallowed his confessional lips.
It didn't take long for the coolness that had started in my mouth to spread to my stomach.
"Do you think we've put out the fire?"
"Yes. I think I can hold out until the meeting is over."
“If you can’t stand it, tell me right away. If you hold it in, it’ll be hard on our baby.”
Linel patted my waist again and urged me.
“Yes. I’ll go now.”
“Yes.”
When I opened the door, Prince Norton was standing right in front of me.
Judging by the way he was holding out his hand, was he about to come in?
“I thought the audience room was next door? Is there some business here?”
“It seems you two have already done it.”
Even though we hadn’t done anything wrong, Prince Norton’s words startled both of us.
“I saw you two leave the audience room and enter here. I was just about to knock because I had something to discuss.”
Prince Norton entered the room and closed the door.
“I heard the story. Bringing Princess Resilia here? Does that make sense?”
I asked, unconsciously questioning him, even though it wasn’t Prince Norton’s opinion.
“I expected it, but now that my position has changed, the opposition from the ministers is unusual.”
“You mean you can’t accept a woman who was a concubine of another country as Empress?”
"Yes, Your Majesty. Moreover, it seems that they believe that Rams's biological mother, Resilia, is more suitable for the position of Empress than the concubine, Rosie."
"It's not unreasonable for ministers who are completely unaware of the circumstances to think that way, but Princess Resilia is truly unqualified!"
The fever, barely abated, reared its head again.
“I know that better than anyone,”
Prince Norton replied, patting his face dry.
“You have to stop it!”
“Zelda, you’re getting a fever, so don’t raise your voice.”
Linel placed his hand on the back of my neck like a wet towel, trying to calm me down.
I placed his hand on my forehead, reassuring him.
Trying to calm my agitation, I took a deep breath and gazed closely at Prince Norton’s face. His slender face had grown even more emaciated in the past few days.
If I struggled a little more, I might be able to hit the heads of the ministers with my chin.
Frankly, seeing Rosie’s face yesterday, while Prince Norton was thinning, was a bit startling.
The person who should have lost her appetite was actually enjoying the food of the Pasha Empire, her face paler and plumper.
Her expression was filled with worry, but her appetite was like that of a fairy living in a peaceful world.
Rosie’s mouth, constantly filling, was so mysterious and beautiful.
“So, is there anything you need to discuss with me separately?”
“Since Rosie was Your Majesty’s concubine, I think there might be something Your Majesty can tell them.”
“For example... Even though she was a concubine, she was like an invisible person. Do we need that kind of testimony?”
Linel asked, immediately understanding Prince Norton’s intentions.
“...Well, it’s similar. You just need to tell the truth about the concerns the ministers have about Rosie, who was a concubine.”
“Rosie might be hurt if I speak too honestly, but I have no choice for the greater good.”
He readily accepted Prince Norton’s request.
Why am I a little uneasy?
I don’t know how honest he is about Rosie to be smiling like that.
“And I think it would be better to bring Resilia here.”
What?
Prince Norton’s face was completely serious as he spoke such an absurd thing.
“Are you crazy?!”
It was just as crazy as he said.
I forgot that the person before me was the one soon to be Emperor of the Pasha Empire and shouted out.
“No, Zelda. I think it might be better to have Princess Resilia come here and settle things once and for all. A leaky bowl on the inside could end up leaking on the outside.”
“After the funeral, just as the guests were being guided, there will be a party before the coronation. Wouldn’t it be better to bring her in before then?”
Prince Norton asked with a cautious expression.
“But no matter how quickly we get here, Princess Resilia will arrive after the coronation, right?”
“So let’s borrow your friend who’s always moving around,”
Linel said with a wink.
“...Bellos?”
***
Meanwhile, at the Lapion Empire’s imperial palace.
“The congratulatory delegation should have already arrived in the Pasha Empire a few days ago, and today is Prince Calvain’s coronation as Emperor.”
Princess Resilia drew an X across the date written on the wall with a small stone.
“Why mark something like that?”
Prince Tesla looked at them pitifully and said.
The siblings had bribed a guard with money sent from the Shattonil royal family, allowing them to visit each other's rooms for exactly ten minutes every other day.
"It's over. Even our father abandoned us, so what do you expect?"
"Of course, Brother. But I have Rams. Now Emperor Calvain and his wife will soon adopt our Rams."
"Do you think Rams will remember you?"
Prince Tesla snorted.
"As long as my son lives, I have hope."
"Wake up. If Prince Norton and his concubine marry, it's game over. After rotting away in this spire for a few years, by the time we return to the kingdom, Rams will be a toddler, following his concubine and calling her 'mother.'"
"Even so, they're not blood. Brother, do you know what I dreamed about last night?"
Princess Resilia seemed excited, unlike other days.
“I don’t care.”
Despite Prince Tesla’s dismissive remark, Princess Resilia began to tell of her dream.
“I was walking around the royal palace of the Pasha Empire in a wedding dress. The people there even greeted me politely.”
“What a dream,”
Prince Tesla sneered.
“At the end, I held Rams in my arms. It was truly an extraordinary dream, wasn’t it?”
“Yes. It must have been a dream of great longing.”
Prince Tesla patted Princess Resilia on the back, feeling a pang of pity, and stood up.
It was now time to return to her cell.
“No, it was definitely a good dream. Thanks to Rams, I might be going to the Pasha Empire soon too...?”
Princess Resilia couldn’t shake the vivid feeling she felt in her dream.
“It wasn’t a dream, it felt so real.”
She said, hugging herself with both arms.
“Resilia, the furthest you can go from here is my cell next door, and that’s less than ten minutes. This is our reality right now.”
Prince Tesla brought the excited Princess Resilia back to reality.
But she ignored him, continuing to smile and hum.
Prince Tesla was finally starting to worry that something was wrong with his sister.
After dinner, Catherine, Pecilini, and I gathered in Rosie’s room at the main palace for tea.
I had told the concubines in advance on the carriage ride to the main palace that the ministers here were planning to make Princess Resilia the Empress instead of Rosie.
Everyone was furious.
I don't know if it was because they hated Princess Resilia that much or because they were attached to Rosie, but they were all genuinely excited.
Melanie had gone to the most famous costume shop in the Pasha Empire's castle on behalf of the concubines and joined them late.
As soon as Melanie arrived, she scolded Rosie.
"Your Highness Rosie, are you dreaming of a wyvern?"
"Huh?"
"If not, why do you keep eating sausages? I thought it was Moiya and Moni."
"..."
"Now is not the time! Do you know what I heard in the costume shop earlier?"
Melanie stood up, not even sitting down, and raised her voice, tapping her clothes.
"What did you hear that made you look so angry? You're already upset."
Catherine looked through the dress book Melanie had brought from the costume shop and began choosing a dress to wear for the party before the coronation.
"What is it, Your Highness Melanie?"
Rosie asked, as if it were nothing special.
“I overheard the ladies’ conversation. The ministers are planning to bring in the concubines! That stupid Princess isn’t the problem!”
The sausage that had just entered Rosie’s mouth came right out again.
Moiya, who had been eating sausages below, caught the dropped sausage and did a shoulder dance.
Rosie, who had only smiled bitterly when she heard that Princess Resilia would be arriving soon, looked quite shocked at the mention of the concubines.
Princess Resilia and the concubines.
Rosie’s future looked bleak.
“What?!”
Rosie began to bite her nails with anxiety.
Melanie continued.
“So they said the party before this coronation was incredibly important?”
“So all the concubine candidates will be attending the party?”
Catherine asked with a determined look.
“Of course they will. That’s probably why the wardrobe was so bustling. I bet they’re all dressed up to impress Prince Norton.”
Melanie looked Rosie up and down, her expression desperate.
“Yes. We’re going to crush the spirit of the ladies of the Pasha Empire at this party!”
I shouted, clenching my fists in a fighting tone.
“Your Majesty, no, Your Highness. The way to crush spirit at a party is with beauty, not a swordsmanship match.”
Melanie jumped up.
“First of all, the cards we have... they’re not in great shape, but let’s put our heads together and figure out a way.”
Catherine’s gaze lingered on Rosie for a moment, then she forced a hopeful voice.
What’s with Catherine?
“That’s right! We have two figures who dominated the social scene. And they’re former and current concubines. Oh, ho, ho!”
Melanie pointed back and forth between Catherine and her, her confidence evident.
Positivity is contagious.
“And there’s even a former Empress.”
I raised my hand and joined in.
“Let’s first take a look at the candidates for the concubines, and then choose a dress.”
Melanie’s head is really spinning in this direction.
First, I stuck out the back of my hand to show that we should all unite.
Then, hands pledging unity began to pile up in an instant.
Even Moiya and Moni.
“Let’s just get rid of all the ones prettier than Orange Head, Moiya~?”
“Huh? Then we have to kill them all, Moni~?”
“Oh? Oh my, only Rosie will be left?”
...Ah, I have to start by uniting the mouths of these two guys, who I can’t tell if they’re enemies or allies.
Princess Resilia seemed excited, unlike other days.
“I don’t care.”
Despite Prince Tesla’s dismissive remark, Princess Resilia began to tell of her dream.
“I was walking around the royal palace of the Pasha Empire in a wedding dress. The people there even greeted me politely.”
“What a dream,”
Prince Tesla sneered.
“At the end, I held Rams in my arms. It was truly an extraordinary dream, wasn’t it?”
“Yes. It must have been a dream of great longing.”
Prince Tesla patted Princess Resilia on the back, feeling a pang of pity, and stood up.
It was now time to return to her cell.
“No, it was definitely a good dream. Thanks to Rams, I might be going to the Pasha Empire soon too...?”
Princess Resilia couldn’t shake the vivid feeling she felt in her dream.
“It wasn’t a dream, it felt so real.”
She said, hugging herself with both arms.
“Resilia, the furthest you can go from here is my cell next door, and that’s less than ten minutes. This is our reality right now.”
Prince Tesla brought the excited Princess Resilia back to reality.
But she ignored him, continuing to smile and hum.
Prince Tesla was finally starting to worry that something was wrong with his sister.
***
After dinner, Catherine, Pecilini, and I gathered in Rosie’s room at the main palace for tea.
I had told the concubines in advance on the carriage ride to the main palace that the ministers here were planning to make Princess Resilia the Empress instead of Rosie.
Everyone was furious.
I don't know if it was because they hated Princess Resilia that much or because they were attached to Rosie, but they were all genuinely excited.
Melanie had gone to the most famous costume shop in the Pasha Empire's castle on behalf of the concubines and joined them late.
As soon as Melanie arrived, she scolded Rosie.
"Your Highness Rosie, are you dreaming of a wyvern?"
"Huh?"
"If not, why do you keep eating sausages? I thought it was Moiya and Moni."
"..."
"Now is not the time! Do you know what I heard in the costume shop earlier?"
Melanie stood up, not even sitting down, and raised her voice, tapping her clothes.
"What did you hear that made you look so angry? You're already upset."
Catherine looked through the dress book Melanie had brought from the costume shop and began choosing a dress to wear for the party before the coronation.
"What is it, Your Highness Melanie?"
Rosie asked, as if it were nothing special.
“I overheard the ladies’ conversation. The ministers are planning to bring in the concubines! That stupid Princess isn’t the problem!”
The sausage that had just entered Rosie’s mouth came right out again.
Moiya, who had been eating sausages below, caught the dropped sausage and did a shoulder dance.
Rosie, who had only smiled bitterly when she heard that Princess Resilia would be arriving soon, looked quite shocked at the mention of the concubines.
Princess Resilia and the concubines.
Rosie’s future looked bleak.
“What?!”
Rosie began to bite her nails with anxiety.
Melanie continued.
“So they said the party before this coronation was incredibly important?”
“So all the concubine candidates will be attending the party?”
Catherine asked with a determined look.
“Of course they will. That’s probably why the wardrobe was so bustling. I bet they’re all dressed up to impress Prince Norton.”
Melanie looked Rosie up and down, her expression desperate.
“Yes. We’re going to crush the spirit of the ladies of the Pasha Empire at this party!”
I shouted, clenching my fists in a fighting tone.
“Your Majesty, no, Your Highness. The way to crush spirit at a party is with beauty, not a swordsmanship match.”
Melanie jumped up.
“First of all, the cards we have... they’re not in great shape, but let’s put our heads together and figure out a way.”
Catherine’s gaze lingered on Rosie for a moment, then she forced a hopeful voice.
What’s with Catherine?
“That’s right! We have two figures who dominated the social scene. And they’re former and current concubines. Oh, ho, ho!”
Melanie pointed back and forth between Catherine and her, her confidence evident.
Positivity is contagious.
“And there’s even a former Empress.”
I raised my hand and joined in.
“Let’s first take a look at the candidates for the concubines, and then choose a dress.”
Melanie’s head is really spinning in this direction.
First, I stuck out the back of my hand to show that we should all unite.
Then, hands pledging unity began to pile up in an instant.
Even Moiya and Moni.
“Let’s just get rid of all the ones prettier than Orange Head, Moiya~?”
“Huh? Then we have to kill them all, Moni~?”
“Oh? Oh my, only Rosie will be left?”
...Ah, I have to start by uniting the mouths of these two guys, who I can’t tell if they’re enemies or allies.
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