“Episode 2”
“Ch-Choya…?”
“Yes.”
Emperor Linel’s voice wasn’t annoyed, but it wasn’t particularly affectionate either. It was a deep and low tone that made it hard to gauge his mood. Clutching the edge of the bedsheet tightly in both hands, I sat up again.
“Choya… possible…?”
Damn, that thought just blurted out of my mind.
“I know it’s not to your liking.”
Emperor Linel grimaced momentarily before unexpectedly making that remark. It felt absurdly out of place, and I found myself unconsciously tilting my head to look at his face. How could anyone dislike that face? Even if his self-assessment of his appearance was harsh, it was too harsh.
“I also… think that you’re… not…”
Not what? Why did he stop mid-sentence? Perhaps it was because of my reaction. As our gazes awkwardly intertwined, the longer we looked at each other, the more at ease I felt strangely. It was odd. Could it be that when a face seems too unrealistically perfect, it brings a sense of peace to the heart? When he asked me to look up, he always turned away first when I actually met his gaze. Then, almost as if making an excuse, he said:
“So what I meant was… You’re not exactly, terribly, extremely, well… what I mean is, a wife who I’m absolutely, heart-poundingly, head-over-heels in love with. Not yet.”
…What did I say? I didn’t say anything, but I felt unfairly accused. I had just been silently forming conclusions like, ‘If he’s handsome, that’s all that matters, right? Ah, I knew it.’ I solemnly listened to his words without even furrowing my brow. After an awkward throat-clearing, he continued.
“Even if neither of us is particularly fond of each other, we’re already married.”
Oh no, I shouldn’t react like this. I nodded earnestly in response to Emperor Linel’s statement, then suddenly found myself yawning.
“Yawn—”
I shouldn’t display such an impolite behavior in front of him. Politely turning my head away, I stifled the yawn discreetly.
“My words. Are you listening?”
Emperor Linel seemed to interpret my behavior as if I were ignoring him, so he snapped his fingers to catch my attention again.
“Yes, of course. I’m listening carefully to every word.”
“…Could you relax your expression a bit? It looks like you’re about to cry.”
It was actually because of stifling the yawn that tears welled up in my eyes.
“I’m sorry.”
I simply left it as it was, letting him misunderstand. I didn’t want to explain further and risk yawning again.
“I don’t know what God was thinking when He brought you and me together, but in any case, we swore to God.”
He muttered with a touch of annoyance before sitting on a chair about three steps away from the bed.
“Darn it. I don’t know if I’m serving God or serving those priests. Traditionally, the emperor’s concubine is like a monster…”
I widened my eyes at his words. My reaction was prompted by the somewhat piercing word ‘monster.’ It’s a word I’ve heard a lot since childhood in the Shattoneel Kingdom. Specifically, since the burn scar appeared on my right cheek. However, since last night, the burn scar had disappeared completely. Of course, it had vanished temporarily due to the magic potion I took. Although the scar was gone, I still found myself habitually touching that area of my face.
“I didn’t mean ‘monster’ to refer to you. It was just… a muttered thought directed at those priests.”
He glanced at me, perhaps thinking I had misunderstood what he said.
“Then you should have kept it to yourself.”
“El?”
“Already taken it all in,” I joked sarcastically. He paused to savor my words before chuckling.
“Now you’re starting to talk at length,” he said with a subtle smile.
“It’s not every day I meet someone who can’t keep their mouth shut and makes people’s clothes explode. I’m glad that’s not the case with you,” he added.
“That’s… Your Majesty must be referring to someone who makes people’s clothes explode when they speak,” I replied, thinking of Prince Tesler and gritting my teeth.
“Well, I did meet someone like that last night…”
Emperor Lionel messed up his well-groomed hair while muttering to himself before giving me a meaningful look.
“Last night? Could it be that you remember our encounter?” My breath caught in my throat for a moment. But seeing that he didn’t continue, thankfully, it seemed like he wasn’t referring to our meeting. Phew… That was close. Another awkward silence settled between us, just like before. This time, he spoke up first.
“I know I’m not a affectionate man,” he stated abruptly. I glanced at Emperor Lionel, who was suddenly engaging in self-reflection. He placed the wine glass he was holding on the mahogany table and rose from his seat. Why is he standing up again?
“You look quite displeased,” he remarked, furrowing his brow.
“N-no, not at all,” I quickly forced a smile, stretching my lips to the side.
“Anyway, I intend to fulfill my duties as a husband,” he continued, almost as if making a firm commitment. I almost rolled my eyes at his talk of duties. How about fulfilling the duty of helping me?
“Tonight marks the beginning of those duties,” Emperor Lionel said as he adjusted his gown’s belt. It felt like the knot of my own composure was unraveling along with it. Oh my, heavens! His tantalizing chest muscles were revealed as he adjusted his gown, like a gate opening in the sky. I lost myself in admiration. Snap out of it! I reminded myself, gathering my scattered thoughts.
Once I arrive at the Lafrion Palace, my mission will be over. Then, I’ll return to the Shatoneel Kingdom and receive the treatment from Prince Tesler to completely erase my burn scars, as promised. Until then, simply enduring life at the Lafrion Palace like a mouse in a trap will ensure half of my success. Even though Emperor Linel appears as cold as ice and seems to harbor suspicions about me, it didn’t seem too difficult, but what’s with the talk about a wife’s duty?
“Do you believe in the gods, Empress?” he asked seriously. I wanted to shout, “I trust in your majesty’s chest muscles more than any god!” but I just grinned instead. After pondering how to respond to him, I unexpectedly blurted out a loyalist-like statement, as if urged by his impatient gaze. “In the future, I will trust and follow your majesty more than any god!” It wasn’t a prepared response by any means.
“Haha! Will you say the same when the officials arrive shortly? That you trust me more than any god?” Emperor Linel burst into laughter.
“To the officials, I will keep my mouth shut. I am a woman dreaming of living a long and healthy life…” I found myself retorting once again, chewing my lower lip and digging my nails into my thigh. Zelda Fontrova. Are you out of your mind? You promised to just keep quiet! Why, why, why do you keep answering the Emperor?
“Interesting,” he said, arching his exquisite eyebrows. But wait? Among the words he just said, there was something that caught my ear.
“Your Majesty, the officials arriving… What do you mean by that?”
Knock, knock. At that moment, as if in sync with my voice, a knocking sound came from outside the bedroom. A mysterious sense of foreboding began to coil around me like a snake.
“They seem to have arrived. Let’s continue our conversation after the officials have left,” he said, taking a deep breath and speaking decisively.
“Empress. Let’s leave the conversation at this for now, and focus on something else.”
The gown Emperor Linel was wearing fell to the floor.
“What, what are we discussing…?”
“I’ve heard that if Your Majesty lacks proficiency in that… aspect you intend to discuss!”
Unconsciously, I extended my hands forward to halt him as he approached. How dare I make such a gesture towards the Emperor! I quickly glanced around, as if searching for my lost common sense, and then realized my folly.
“It’s the time to prove our marriage in front of the officials,” Emperor Linel replied, looking down at my hand obstructing him.
“Witnesses, and what do you mean by proving it in front of them?”
“Surely you knew?”
“Was there something I was supposed to know?”
“It’s a tradition in the Raphion palace.”
“On the first day of the honeymoon, the officials come in and+”
“It means showing that we have truly become a married couple.”
“Excuse me, but I’m just a stand-in Empress!”
My exclamation seemed to shatter Emperor Linel’s composed demeanor, though he still managed to look remarkably handsome, which was a trap in itself.
“I was under the impression that the traditions and customs of the Raphion palace had been communicated to the Shatoanil Kingdom in advance?”
“Well, that… I…”
I didn’t have the luxury to hear such things! I bit down on my lower lip and swallowed my words. Emperor Linel observed me with a sharp gaze, as if scrutinizing every detail.
“Your Majesty! It’s time to begin,” came the voice of Chamberlain Stian from outside the bedroom door.
“Wait a moment!”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
As he called out towards the door, the noise outside, which had been buzzing, quieted down along with Chamberlain Stian’s response. His piercing gaze returned to fixate on me.
“Any last words?” It sounded like the final question asked to a prisoner on the gallows before execution, making my spine shiver with unease. My nerves, already on edge, were now tingling with dread. I instinctively reached for the scar on my right cheek, as if seeking comfort.
“Is something hurting?” Emperor Linel asked, taking hold of my hand.
“N-no, Your Majesty,” I replied, trying to reassure him.
Despite my words, he continued to gaze intently at the scar on my right cheek. His stare seemed to sear into the scar.
“That Prince Tesler, what a bastard! He should have warned me in advance about the attendants coming on the first night. Then at least I could have prepared myself mentally!”
Meanwhile, in the Shatoanil Kingdom:
“Why would Emperor Linel bother with a midnight visit and a nightcap?” Prince Tesler asked his bodyguard, Ken, as he poured himself a drink in his study.
“It’s an engagement, isn’t it?” Ken replied.
“I’ve practically assured Linel about Zelda. Ha, by now she’s probably cursing me out! Calling me a bastard behind my back.”
The Prince Tesler, with a sardonic smile, downed the remaining drink in one gulp and remarked, “Refreshing.”
“But wouldn’t it have been better to inform Lady Zelda about the first night tradition of the Raphion Empire in advance?” Ken cautiously offered his opinion.
“If I had done that, would she have gone willingly? It couldn’t be helped,” the prince replied.
Prince Tesler’s obsession with the marriage alliance with the Raphion Empire, even to the extent of marrying a proxy empress, was driven by political reasons. Three years ago, there was a war between the two continents to seize wyverns. Each continent, North and South, consisted of six countries. On the North continent, bordered by the Valley of Death, were the Shatoanil Kingdom, the resource-rich Ekaya Empire, and the mighty military force of the Raphion Empire. These three countries shared borders side by side. The countries on the South continent, unlike those in the North, had relatively balanced military power, with each of the three countries possessing similar military strength. Originally, the two continents were one, but 300 years ago, lightning struck the sky for three days, splitting the continent. A waterway connecting the two halves was formed through the split, which, due to erosion, widened to the point where one had to travel by boat. People called this area the “Valley of Death.” The wyverns, already mature, were difficult to tame, but wyvern hatchlings could be easily trained by mages or elite knights. For this reason, the countries of the two continents shed much blood to seize the wyverns in the Valley of Death. Thanks to the nature of wyverns, which returned to different areas every three years, the war was currently in a temporary ceasefire.
“The time is approaching for their return.”
“When that happens, the war will start again on both continents.”
“Our kingdom, closest to the Valley of Death, has no choice but to seek protection from the Raphion Empire.”
“That’s right.”
“So, this marriage alliance is crucial. Though there may be some sacrifices involved, we need to keep someone on the empress’s throne until we find Lyselia.”
Prince Tesler recalled Zelda’s scar and tapped his own right cheek with his finger.
“What will you do next?”
“Well, let’s see… Our Zelda.”
The Prince chuckled, trailing off at the end.
“Are you okay? Your face seems flushed.”
The Emperor’s hand reached toward my right cheek. I was about to curse Prince Tesler inwardly when I was suddenly surprised by his concerned tone.
“Oh, no, I’m fine. Just nervous.”
Unconsciously, I tilted my head away from his touch. He narrowed his eyes, as if trying to penetrate me with his gaze, then simply withdrew his hand.
“You don’t need to worry about the attendants,” he said casually, turning back to pick up the wine glass on the table. I observed his calm demeanor. The serene Emperor didn’t seem like someone who would perform a midnight ritual. Moreover, he appeared devoid of any emotions, just like me. Yet, why had my heart been pounding since earlier? Before engaging in a physical conversation with him, it seemed prudent to exchange some meaningful dialogue. We couldn’t suddenly share odd remarks with each other, could we? Although adding a few more words right now might not help much in this awkward situation, still…
“Your Majesty, I have a question!”
I raised my hand tentatively, rolling my eyes around before gently raising it.
“This is intriguing. What could the empress be curious about in such a situation…”
The Emperor leaned towards me, tilting his head slightly. His beautiful figure unexpectedly filled my view.
“Go ahead.”
His low tone seemed to fuel my tension.
Due to the tension rising from head to toe, I was already short of breath.
“Uh, well… Perhaps later, you might see the concubines or choose a new empress.”
“Uh… When you meet with the concubines or welcome a new empress in the future, will the attendants also come in on the first night?”
As the Emperor listened to my words, his expression gradually twisted. It was meant to be a proper conversation starter, but somehow, it created a more awkward atmosphere than silence.
“Is the empress curious about such things now?”
“Just… Wondering if the situation would be the same when I welcome a new empress.”
It was just… a slip of the tongue, trying to buy some time, but of all things to say…
“Uh, that was a slip of the tongue.”
“Why would you make such a slip? You just got married today, Emperor.”
“Uh… to hear ‘new empress’ come out of your mouth so casually.”
I looked at Emperor Lionel’s face, filled with suspicion, unsure of what expression to put on.
“Remember it well.”
He continued with a determined tone, exhaling deeply.
“No matter how much the gods haven’t been helpful in my life, I still made vows before them today. So, my receiving a new empress-”
“It won’t happen.”
Boom! It felt like lightning striking my forehead repeatedly.
“Your Majesty, please show some flexibility regarding divorce and remarriage!”
“I only have two occasions for remarriage.”
He lightly tapped my nose with his index finger.
“When you die or when you commit adultery.”
With a piercing gaze,
“That’s it.”
He said it very firmly.
