"It's so soft, Moiya~?"
"If I wore this every day, I wouldn't have to do the shoulder dance with Norton!"
Moiya and Moni amicably shared the torn silk pajamas, wrapping them tightly around their necks and rubbing them against their faces.
"Even if you don't need pajamas on the first night, there's a big difference between wearing them and then taking them off and not wearing them at all in the first place,"
Catherine pointed out sharply.
"That's true."
I nodded quietly at Catherine, turning to the bathroom door that was about to open.
"What should we do?"
Melanie followed me, turning to the bathroom door and asking anxiously.
“I know. It’s because I accepted Prince Calvain’s feelings. That’s why you left this place and joined the mercenary knights, right? And then you ended up in the Kingdom of Shattonil.”
“At the time, I thought you felt the same way, Sister-in-law. But you said earlier that wasn’t the case. Then, was the reason you stayed by his side perhaps...”
Emperor Norton couldn’t bring himself to say “revenge.”
If revenge was right, he couldn’t help but question Prince Calvain’s death.
But Princess Jasper continued speaking in a voice that laid everything aside.
“Don’t be so resentful of your brother’s death. He paid the price. Of course, I will pay the price.”
She calmly confessed her guilt.
Emperor Norton was dazed for a moment.
But her meaningful words—that she too would pay the price—brought him back to his senses.
“Sister-in-law, what do you mean?”
“I killed Prince Calvain...”
Emperor Norton raised a hand to interrupt Crown Princess Jasper.
“No. I mean, you will pay for your sins. What do you mean?”
“Because I am also slowly dying from the same poison.”
Crown Princess Jasper confessed to poisoning Prince Calvain using dried poison strawberry powder.
She was dying, but she said she would gladly accept the punishment for poisoning Prince Calvain.
But Norton didn't want to do that.
Learning the truth, he felt pity for Princess Jasper.
He knew full well how many people his brother Calvain had killed and how he had taken her.
"Stop. Please! There must be an antidote. Oh, and the Magic Tower Master is also staying here, so you should seek medical attention!"
Her pupils slightly wavered at Emperor Norton's words.
"No. It's too late. I died the day I sent His Highness the First Prince off. Revenge is the driving force behind my life."
But now that his revenge was complete, there was no reason to continue living.
"Sister-in-law!"
"I thought it was my final duty to help your marriage go smoothly. Now I feel truly free to leave."
Princess Jasper's heart was firm.
"Which city are you planning to go to?"
"Don't ask where."
It was a life that would soon end anyway.
Princess Jasper wanted to end her life quietly.
“Sister-in-law, let’s talk again tomorrow.”
Emperor Norton also needed to gather his thoughts.
“Yes. We have plenty of time before I leave.”
Princess Jasper concluded the conversation and stood up from her chair.
Her vision blurred, and an optical illusion occurred, as if the ground were rising before her eyes.
It was the same symptom Prince Calvain had told her about shortly before his death.
“I don’t have much time left either...”
But she didn’t show it and slowly walked out of the office.
It was the guys who tore the pajamas, but Rosie grabbed Aoshi.
We, who had been standing in front, all turned to look behind the bed.
The silk pajamas were tucked between Aoshi’s four claws, and Moiya and Moni lay on their pillows, their eyes wide and harmless.
“When did you get dragged up there?”
Melanie tilted her head as she looked at Aoshi, who had been in her arms, on the bed.
“Meow!”
Aoshi simply cried for a long time, as if he felt wronged.
“Your Majesty, actually, the pajamas... It wasn’t him, it was me who did it.”
Melanie confessed with an apologetic face.
Rosie, who had been glaring at Aoshi with a fist sticking out of her mouth, then shifted her gaze to Melanie.
“Your Highness Melanie split the pajamas in half like that?”
“Aoshi was lying down on the pajamas, so I was trying to stop him...”
At Melanie’s words, Aoshi closed her eyes and pretended to be asleep.
“I’m so sorry, what should I do?”
Melanie apologized in a crawling voice.
Rosie looked like she wanted to do something about Melanie, who was asking, “What should I do?”
In the meantime, the two boys flew out the window, taking Aoshi with them.
“Your Majesty, no... His Majesty might actually like it even more.”
I quickly intervened and tried to mediate between them.
“Why?”
Rosie’s eyes, which had been blank, flashed.
Why would that be?
“Because it can shorten the time.”
“...Yes?”
I asked again, but Rosie already knew what I meant, and her face was flushed.
“Should I just wear the pajamas I wore before?”
Rosie asked, fanning herself.
“Absolutely not!”
“Are you crazy?”
The concubines and I shouted in unison.
We all knew Rosie’s pajama style, so we strongly advised her against it.
“It’s not even the second night, it’s the first night. It’s worse than not wearing anything at all.”
Rosie muttered regretfully.
“His Majesty?”
“Yes. He said it suited you well.”
Rosie, do you believe that?
“...He really loves you. But don’t even think about wearing those pajamas.”
I spoke more firmly, deliberately.
Otherwise, I thought I’d take out those pajamas that looked like they had spilled ribbons.
"But I can't just take everything off."
"Who wants you to take everything off? Just keep that robe on."
"I think it'd be better to wear my pajamas instead of this."
Rosie started to be strangely stubborn.
“Do we really have to wear that ribbon-trimmed nightgown?”
“Of course. It’s prettier than this gown...”
Rosie answered, holding her breath.
Knock knock.
The anticipation of the knocking suggested it was Emperor Norton.
“Oh, he's her already!”
Melanie whispered, watching the bedroom door open cautiously.
Rosie reached for the chair where she had thrown her gown.
Why are you wearing that gown again?
This won’t do.
“Get Rosie to bed, quickly.”
At my command, the concubines quickly tucked Rosie into bed.
Rosie's strength wasn't ordinary, but it wasn't enough to handle four people at once.
Rosie, who had collapsed on the bed in a daze, lay still like a corpse.
"Did I come too soon?"
Emperor Norton looked at me and the concubines, embarrassed.
"No, we've been here too long."
I said to Emperor Norton, carefully covering Rosie's neck with the blanket.
He glanced at Rosie, who was already lying on the bed, and narrowed his eyes.
"Are you sick?"
"Oh, the Empress isn't sick. She had a gift hidden under the blanket, so she had no choice but to lie down early. A surprise gift, you might say? Hohoho."
I shouted, blocking Emperor Norton's advance as he hurried forward.
It was an excuse I'd made up in a hurry, but upon reflection, it sounded plausible.
I signaled the concubines to add their own words.
Then, starting with Catherine, the three concubines smiled as if they had been waiting for it and said to Emperor Norton,
"That's right. You'll like the gift."
“Open it quickly. There are quite a few ribbons, Your Majesty.”
“Good night, you two.”
With my words, we left the bedroom.
Before closing the bedroom door, our eyes met with the human present lying on the bed. She blinked silently, as if her body was tightly bound, and gazed up at Emperor Norton, who was drawing ever closer.
“Why are you putting me through such an ordeal!”
For the first time, Rosie felt resentful toward Zelda.
“But what’s the present under the blanket?”
Norton asked with an expectant expression.
Rosie felt a voice softer than silk envelop her body.
“There’s no present. Everyone was just joking...”
Rosie swallowed, tense.
“Then what’s really wrong?”
Norton looked down at her, his eyes tense with concern.
“T-that’s not it.”
“But why are you still lying there? Get up. We have so much to do tonight?”
“Your Majesty! First, take a bath.”
Rosie raised her voice as Norton approached.
It would have been less embarrassing if she had at least put on a robe.
"I already did. I'm in a bit of a hurry..."
Norton replied shyly, removing the robe from his shoulders and placing it on top of Rosie's robe.
Then, he stared at Rosie and began to take off his shirt.
Even after Norton took off his top, Rosie couldn't move.
The only things moving were her eyes.
Norton, who found this strange, quietly looked down at Rosie until the blanket suddenly lifted.
"Ah?!"
Rosie, not knowing what to do, covered her face with both hands.
"Oh, I should have covered my body, not my face!"
But it was too late to put her hands down now.
"So many ribbons... This is a gift, Ma'am..."
At Norton's moved face, at his words calling her his wife, Rosie's heart raced.
"Besides, it's the gift I wanted."
"...Huh?"
"The ribbons, can I untie them? Or should I tear them?"
Norton asked, pushing the blanket further away.
"Oh, well, why did it turn out like this..."
"Shh. Thank you, it's a gift. I'll take it."
Norton bent down and pulled off the ribbons one by one, kissing her lips.
"If I wore this every day, I wouldn't have to do the shoulder dance with Norton!"
Moiya and Moni amicably shared the torn silk pajamas, wrapping them tightly around their necks and rubbing them against their faces.
"Even if you don't need pajamas on the first night, there's a big difference between wearing them and then taking them off and not wearing them at all in the first place,"
Catherine pointed out sharply.
"That's true."
I nodded quietly at Catherine, turning to the bathroom door that was about to open.
"What should we do?"
Melanie followed me, turning to the bathroom door and asking anxiously.
"Well? Should I brainwash Rosie to be bold tonight?"
Everyone else was just twitching their lips in confusion when the bathroom door opened.
Rosie, sensing the strange atmosphere between us, opened her mouth with an anxious expression.
"What's wrong?"
“Come and see for yourself...”
I said, nodding to the bed.
Rosie slowly walked over to us, who were standing in front of the bed, her wet hair pressed firmly against a towel.
“Is there a problem with the bed...?”
Rosie’s words tore the concubines and me in half like the pajamas that had just been torn.
Moiya and Moni were sitting in the middle of the bed, as if the curtain had been lifted on a stage and the main characters had appeared.
“Have you been drinking?!”
Rosie fumed, watching the two guys strutting around drunk.
And then Rosie’s trembling voice continued.
“W-what are you doing? Pajamas... well, what am I going to do if you tear the pajamas I'm supposed to wear on my wedding night like this!”
It was bound to happen.
Even if Rosie hangs Moiya and Moni out the window tonight, I’ll pretend I didn’t see it.
But thanks to them, I was able to get rid of Princess Resilia easily, so I’m thinking of appealing for leniency this time.
“Why is this? You normally don’t cause trouble, Miss!”
What, who? Miss?
Rosie had pointed to a completely unexpected person as the culprit.
Princess Jasper requested a brief audience with Norton immediately after the reception.
They sat across from each other at the conference table in the main palace office.
Princess Jasper, noticing Norton constantly glancing at his pocket watch, spoke first.
“I won’t take up too much of your time. And isn’t there still a lot of time left before you go to the Empress?”
“Not a long time... No, hahaha.”
Emperor Norton scratched his head and gave an awkward laugh.
“I’m also perceptive, so I’ll keep it brief.”
Princess Jasper smiled faintly and replied.
“Oh, no, Sister-in-law. Feel free to speak.”
“I plan to leave the palace by next weekend at the latest.”
“I understand the Empress gave you a month’s notice?”
“Yes, Empress Rosie has been very considerate, but I want to leave this place quickly.”
“I see.”
Norton obediently accepted her wishes.
A moment of silence fell.
Princess Jasper cautiously spoke.
“Your Majesty, you haven’t been pleased with me all this time, have you?”
“Sister-in-law, that’s..."
Everyone else was just twitching their lips in confusion when the bathroom door opened.
Rosie, sensing the strange atmosphere between us, opened her mouth with an anxious expression.
"What's wrong?"
“Come and see for yourself...”
I said, nodding to the bed.
Rosie slowly walked over to us, who were standing in front of the bed, her wet hair pressed firmly against a towel.
“Is there a problem with the bed...?”
Rosie’s words tore the concubines and me in half like the pajamas that had just been torn.
Moiya and Moni were sitting in the middle of the bed, as if the curtain had been lifted on a stage and the main characters had appeared.
“Have you been drinking?!”
Rosie fumed, watching the two guys strutting around drunk.
And then Rosie’s trembling voice continued.
“W-what are you doing? Pajamas... well, what am I going to do if you tear the pajamas I'm supposed to wear on my wedding night like this!”
It was bound to happen.
Even if Rosie hangs Moiya and Moni out the window tonight, I’ll pretend I didn’t see it.
But thanks to them, I was able to get rid of Princess Resilia easily, so I’m thinking of appealing for leniency this time.
“Why is this? You normally don’t cause trouble, Miss!”
What, who? Miss?
Rosie had pointed to a completely unexpected person as the culprit.
***
Princess Jasper requested a brief audience with Norton immediately after the reception.
They sat across from each other at the conference table in the main palace office.
Princess Jasper, noticing Norton constantly glancing at his pocket watch, spoke first.
“I won’t take up too much of your time. And isn’t there still a lot of time left before you go to the Empress?”
“Not a long time... No, hahaha.”
Emperor Norton scratched his head and gave an awkward laugh.
“I’m also perceptive, so I’ll keep it brief.”
Princess Jasper smiled faintly and replied.
“Oh, no, Sister-in-law. Feel free to speak.”
“I plan to leave the palace by next weekend at the latest.”
“I understand the Empress gave you a month’s notice?”
“Yes, Empress Rosie has been very considerate, but I want to leave this place quickly.”
“I see.”
Norton obediently accepted her wishes.
A moment of silence fell.
Princess Jasper cautiously spoke.
“Your Majesty, you haven’t been pleased with me all this time, have you?”
“Sister-in-law, that’s..."
“I know. It’s because I accepted Prince Calvain’s feelings. That’s why you left this place and joined the mercenary knights, right? And then you ended up in the Kingdom of Shattonil.”
“At the time, I thought you felt the same way, Sister-in-law. But you said earlier that wasn’t the case. Then, was the reason you stayed by his side perhaps...”
Emperor Norton couldn’t bring himself to say “revenge.”
If revenge was right, he couldn’t help but question Prince Calvain’s death.
But Princess Jasper continued speaking in a voice that laid everything aside.
“Don’t be so resentful of your brother’s death. He paid the price. Of course, I will pay the price.”
She calmly confessed her guilt.
Emperor Norton was dazed for a moment.
But her meaningful words—that she too would pay the price—brought him back to his senses.
“Sister-in-law, what do you mean?”
“I killed Prince Calvain...”
Emperor Norton raised a hand to interrupt Crown Princess Jasper.
“No. I mean, you will pay for your sins. What do you mean?”
“Because I am also slowly dying from the same poison.”
Crown Princess Jasper confessed to poisoning Prince Calvain using dried poison strawberry powder.
She was dying, but she said she would gladly accept the punishment for poisoning Prince Calvain.
But Norton didn't want to do that.
Learning the truth, he felt pity for Princess Jasper.
He knew full well how many people his brother Calvain had killed and how he had taken her.
"Stop. Please! There must be an antidote. Oh, and the Magic Tower Master is also staying here, so you should seek medical attention!"
Her pupils slightly wavered at Emperor Norton's words.
"No. It's too late. I died the day I sent His Highness the First Prince off. Revenge is the driving force behind my life."
But now that his revenge was complete, there was no reason to continue living.
"Sister-in-law!"
"I thought it was my final duty to help your marriage go smoothly. Now I feel truly free to leave."
Princess Jasper's heart was firm.
"Which city are you planning to go to?"
"Don't ask where."
It was a life that would soon end anyway.
Princess Jasper wanted to end her life quietly.
“Sister-in-law, let’s talk again tomorrow.”
Emperor Norton also needed to gather his thoughts.
“Yes. We have plenty of time before I leave.”
Princess Jasper concluded the conversation and stood up from her chair.
Her vision blurred, and an optical illusion occurred, as if the ground were rising before her eyes.
It was the same symptom Prince Calvain had told her about shortly before his death.
“I don’t have much time left either...”
But she didn’t show it and slowly walked out of the office.
***
It was the guys who tore the pajamas, but Rosie grabbed Aoshi.
We, who had been standing in front, all turned to look behind the bed.
The silk pajamas were tucked between Aoshi’s four claws, and Moiya and Moni lay on their pillows, their eyes wide and harmless.
“When did you get dragged up there?”
Melanie tilted her head as she looked at Aoshi, who had been in her arms, on the bed.
“Meow!”
Aoshi simply cried for a long time, as if he felt wronged.
“Your Majesty, actually, the pajamas... It wasn’t him, it was me who did it.”
Melanie confessed with an apologetic face.
Rosie, who had been glaring at Aoshi with a fist sticking out of her mouth, then shifted her gaze to Melanie.
“Your Highness Melanie split the pajamas in half like that?”
“Aoshi was lying down on the pajamas, so I was trying to stop him...”
At Melanie’s words, Aoshi closed her eyes and pretended to be asleep.
“I’m so sorry, what should I do?”
Melanie apologized in a crawling voice.
Rosie looked like she wanted to do something about Melanie, who was asking, “What should I do?”
In the meantime, the two boys flew out the window, taking Aoshi with them.
“Your Majesty, no... His Majesty might actually like it even more.”
I quickly intervened and tried to mediate between them.
“Why?”
Rosie’s eyes, which had been blank, flashed.
Why would that be?
“Because it can shorten the time.”
“...Yes?”
I asked again, but Rosie already knew what I meant, and her face was flushed.
“Should I just wear the pajamas I wore before?”
Rosie asked, fanning herself.
“Absolutely not!”
“Are you crazy?”
The concubines and I shouted in unison.
We all knew Rosie’s pajama style, so we strongly advised her against it.
“It’s not even the second night, it’s the first night. It’s worse than not wearing anything at all.”
I remembered the ribbons, large and small, sewn all over Rosie’s pajamas.
The large ribbon attached to her buttocks like a tail was especially impressive.
If I were going to wear something that a five-year-old girl would like on her first night, I should rip it apart this time.
“I said it was cute...”
The large ribbon attached to her buttocks like a tail was especially impressive.
If I were going to wear something that a five-year-old girl would like on her first night, I should rip it apart this time.
“I said it was cute...”
Rosie muttered regretfully.
“His Majesty?”
“Yes. He said it suited you well.”
Rosie, do you believe that?
“...He really loves you. But don’t even think about wearing those pajamas.”
I spoke more firmly, deliberately.
Otherwise, I thought I’d take out those pajamas that looked like they had spilled ribbons.
"But I can't just take everything off."
"Who wants you to take everything off? Just keep that robe on."
"I think it'd be better to wear my pajamas instead of this."
Rosie started to be strangely stubborn.
“Do we really have to wear that ribbon-trimmed nightgown?”
“Of course. It’s prettier than this gown...”
She really had strong tastes.
Everyone shook their heads.
“Oh, I have an idea!”
I suddenly had an idea.
“Bring that ribbon-trimmed nightgown. And a needle and thread.”
I ordered, turning to Rosie’s maid and Sharon.
The other concubines stomped their feet, saying they’d rather spend their first night in a dress than wear that ribbon-trimmed nightgown, but I said,
“I’m just going to take off this ribbon. Sharon, Misha, put that silk nightgown together.”
“Your Highness, are you planning on just piecing this ribbon together on the silk nightgown?”
Only our quick-witted Sharon saw through my thoughts.
“No. It doesn’t have to be tightly sewn, just... five ribbons on the front and back.”
“It’s my favorite nightgown. Absolutely not!”
Rosie backed away, hugging the ribbon-trimmed nightgown.
“It’ll be much more tempting if you sew it back together with ribbon.”
Melanie said, snatching the ribboned nightgown from Rosie.
“Yeah, I told you it would be nice, like a human gift?”
I assured her, and Rosie looked slightly intrigued.
Taking advantage of her hesitation, I quickly snatched the nightgown and began working.
My servants and I quickly sewed the torn silk nightgown back together with ribbon, then hurriedly put Rosie in it.
“Rosie, don’t breathe too hard. It’s not sewn tightly, so it’ll tear easily.”
“Yes...”
Everyone shook their heads.
“Oh, I have an idea!”
I suddenly had an idea.
“Bring that ribbon-trimmed nightgown. And a needle and thread.”
I ordered, turning to Rosie’s maid and Sharon.
The other concubines stomped their feet, saying they’d rather spend their first night in a dress than wear that ribbon-trimmed nightgown, but I said,
“I’m just going to take off this ribbon. Sharon, Misha, put that silk nightgown together.”
“Your Highness, are you planning on just piecing this ribbon together on the silk nightgown?”
Only our quick-witted Sharon saw through my thoughts.
“No. It doesn’t have to be tightly sewn, just... five ribbons on the front and back.”
“It’s my favorite nightgown. Absolutely not!”
Rosie backed away, hugging the ribbon-trimmed nightgown.
“It’ll be much more tempting if you sew it back together with ribbon.”
Melanie said, snatching the ribboned nightgown from Rosie.
“Yeah, I told you it would be nice, like a human gift?”
I assured her, and Rosie looked slightly intrigued.
Taking advantage of her hesitation, I quickly snatched the nightgown and began working.
My servants and I quickly sewed the torn silk nightgown back together with ribbon, then hurriedly put Rosie in it.
“Rosie, don’t breathe too hard. It’s not sewn tightly, so it’ll tear easily.”
“Yes...”
Rosie answered, holding her breath.
Knock knock.
The anticipation of the knocking suggested it was Emperor Norton.
“Oh, he's her already!”
Melanie whispered, watching the bedroom door open cautiously.
Rosie reached for the chair where she had thrown her gown.
Why are you wearing that gown again?
This won’t do.
“Get Rosie to bed, quickly.”
At my command, the concubines quickly tucked Rosie into bed.
Rosie's strength wasn't ordinary, but it wasn't enough to handle four people at once.
Rosie, who had collapsed on the bed in a daze, lay still like a corpse.
"Did I come too soon?"
Emperor Norton looked at me and the concubines, embarrassed.
"No, we've been here too long."
I said to Emperor Norton, carefully covering Rosie's neck with the blanket.
He glanced at Rosie, who was already lying on the bed, and narrowed his eyes.
"Are you sick?"
"Oh, the Empress isn't sick. She had a gift hidden under the blanket, so she had no choice but to lie down early. A surprise gift, you might say? Hohoho."
I shouted, blocking Emperor Norton's advance as he hurried forward.
It was an excuse I'd made up in a hurry, but upon reflection, it sounded plausible.
I signaled the concubines to add their own words.
Then, starting with Catherine, the three concubines smiled as if they had been waiting for it and said to Emperor Norton,
"That's right. You'll like the gift."
“Open it quickly. There are quite a few ribbons, Your Majesty.”
“Good night, you two.”
With my words, we left the bedroom.
Before closing the bedroom door, our eyes met with the human present lying on the bed. She blinked silently, as if her body was tightly bound, and gazed up at Emperor Norton, who was drawing ever closer.
***
“Why are you putting me through such an ordeal!”
For the first time, Rosie felt resentful toward Zelda.
“But what’s the present under the blanket?”
Norton asked with an expectant expression.
Rosie felt a voice softer than silk envelop her body.
“There’s no present. Everyone was just joking...”
Rosie swallowed, tense.
“Then what’s really wrong?”
Norton looked down at her, his eyes tense with concern.
“T-that’s not it.”
“But why are you still lying there? Get up. We have so much to do tonight?”
“Your Majesty! First, take a bath.”
Rosie raised her voice as Norton approached.
It would have been less embarrassing if she had at least put on a robe.
"I already did. I'm in a bit of a hurry..."
Norton replied shyly, removing the robe from his shoulders and placing it on top of Rosie's robe.
Then, he stared at Rosie and began to take off his shirt.
Even after Norton took off his top, Rosie couldn't move.
The only things moving were her eyes.
Norton, who found this strange, quietly looked down at Rosie until the blanket suddenly lifted.
"Ah?!"
Rosie, not knowing what to do, covered her face with both hands.
"Oh, I should have covered my body, not my face!"
But it was too late to put her hands down now.
"So many ribbons... This is a gift, Ma'am..."
At Norton's moved face, at his words calling her his wife, Rosie's heart raced.
"Besides, it's the gift I wanted."
"...Huh?"
"The ribbons, can I untie them? Or should I tear them?"
Norton asked, pushing the blanket further away.
"Oh, well, why did it turn out like this..."
"Shh. Thank you, it's a gift. I'll take it."
Norton bent down and pulled off the ribbons one by one, kissing her lips.
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