“Episode 17”
In the end, I walked through the palace gardens with Duke Martens. We remained silent for a while. Neither of us had much to say, and the Duke seemed to be holding back his words. We both stayed silent, even though there were things he wanted to say and things I needed to hear. We walked, enjoying the fresh scent of grass.
“By now, the approval must have been granted,” Duke Martens said, breaking the silence as we emerged into the garden.
“Are you referring to the harem issue?” I asked.
“Yes, how do you feel about it?”
“I’m not sure why you’re asking such a question, as you know me better than anyone.”
If I were truly the empress, that old fool walking beside me would have been already executed by my hand.
“That’s why I’m curious to hear your answer. Have you developed any feelings for Her Majesty during this time?”
Duke Martens’ words made my heart flutter.
“Well, people’s emotions can change suddenly.”
“Sounds like you’re speaking from experience, Duke.”
“It’s amusing to be asked such a question by the person involved.”
“What do you mean? What’s the significance?”
“Nothing, forget it.”
Duke Martens’ expression seemed to hide something despite his answer. I didn’t press further, as I wasn’t particularly curious. When we turned towards the field where sunflowers stretched endlessly, Duke Martens began speaking again.
“It may be impertinent of me, but Her Majesty the Empress is only staying here temporarily. She’s not here to find a real husband.”
“Is my empress act so convincing? Are you advising me because you think I’ve forgotten my position?”
I asked, somewhat defensively.
“I apologize if you were offended. If both the empress’s gaze and expressions were part of an act, then you’re truly remarkable.”
“…I’m relieved.”
I wanted to leave this place as soon as possible.
“Duke, is there something you need to tell me at this point?”
I asked, urging him on. Duke Martens nodded with a meaningful smile.
“The Royal Knights have found Princess Lyselia.”
My heart sank at his words.
If I had heard this news before the engagement, I would have undoubtedly felt relieved and happy. But now that I had already spent time with him, I didn’t feel any joy at all. This is serious. These emotions are dangerous.
“So, when will the princess… come to the Raphion Royal Palace?”
“There seems to be a bit of an issue.”
“An issue? What’s going on?”
“Well, Princess Lyselia doesn’t seem to be in good health.”
“Is she ill?”
“Not exactly, but it seems the princess needs some time to recuperate. After all, she has suffered both physically and mentally, living a life of escape with mercenaries of unknown origin.”
“I see.”
I replied absentmindedly, staring into space. With the addition of the princess’s issue to the harem problem, my mind was throbbing mercilessly. Which of these two issues was bothering me more? …I really couldn’t tell. Right now, I just wanted to return to my chambers and go to bed early.
“As soon as we receive any other news from the kingdom, I will inform Her Majesty the Empress.”
“Please do.”
I replied to Duke Martens and gestured to Sharon, who was standing at a distance.
“Sharon, let’s return to the Empress’s Palace now.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
As the Duke and I noticed Sharon approaching, he whispered to me hastily.
“It might be a good idea to assert your authority over the concubines before Princess Lyselia arrives at the palace.”
“Who?”
Duke Martens’ sudden remark made me tilt my head quizzically.
“Her Majesty the Empress.”
He nodded towards me with his chin.
“Why do I have to do that?”
I asked, raising my shoulders in protest.
“Well… for the future Empress Lyselia, and for the Empress’s peace of mind, perhaps?”
Duke Martens’ tone seemed as if he were testing me. He waited for my reaction with a half-smile on his face. I resisted the urge to kick his shin with my heel like chopping wood. Just as I was about to put pressure on my foot, a movement was heard from the opposite side of the sunflower field where we stood.
“Your Majesty, in the future, will we be able to dine together and take walks as we used to?”
“Katherine, surely you haven’t forgotten what happened before the engagement?”
“I thought it was just a rumor! H-how could such…?”
“Don’t speak so carelessly about my wife.”
“Even though Her Majesty the Empress is not…?”
“I’ve said it before. The Empress is not just any woman; she’s my wife.”
“But even if Her Majesty the Empress is not as…”
Katherine didn’t finish her sentence. I felt like I knew what she wanted to say. Perhaps she wanted to say that I’m not as good-looking as her. Well, that’s not entirely wrong. Linal, too, must have guessed what Katherine was trying to say. There was a moment of silence. I met Duke Martens’ eyes. We had to decide whether to reveal our presence or pretend to be sunflowers and go into the sunflower field with our hands under our chins.
“Don’t speak so casually about my wife.”
Linal’s low voice caught my ankle as I was about to turn away. I wanted to leave quietly, but I couldn’t move. With Linal’s words, Katherine’s voice disappeared. She must have been as shocked as I was by Linal’s words. I wanted to leave the spot, but I couldn’t move. I resisted the urge to kick his shin with my heel like chopping wood. Just as I was about to put pressure on my foot, a movement was heard from the opposite side of the sunflower field where we stood.
“As the empress, you must assert your authority over the concubines.”
I greeted him as if I had just spotted him. Wait, shouldn’t I have acted surprised before showing a big smile to him? Oh no… Well, whatever. As Linal approached me slowly, Katherine also stuck close to his side. The sight of the two of them walking together was like a painting. Even the surrounding vibrant flowers seemed dull compared to their beauty. Even under the bright sunlight, Katherine’s skin was as fair and smooth as a well-peeled egg. When Duke Martens greeted them and Katherine also greeted me, I wanted to smile confidently like her, but my lips didn’t listen.
“Greetings from Her Majesty the Empress. I am Katherine Calyos, who will soon become the Empress’s first concubine.”
She said with a very dignified and restrained gesture. I looked down at her legs. When I saw her during tea time, I thought her knees weren’t in good condition, but now they seemed perfectly bent. Her knees bent so well, but her head remained stiff. Would the day come when her stiff head bowed, or would the day come when I would be chased away from the empress’s seat? Suddenly, a whimsical thought came to mind.
“I’ve seen you during tea time and now here again.”
I threw out a ridiculously cliché remark because I had nothing else to say or share with her.
“We will probably see each other more often in the future.”
Katherine took my meaningless words, wrapped them meaningfully, and handed them back to me. One curiosity arose from Katherine’s arrogant appearance. What would happen if the modest Princess Lyselia, owner of a childlike cheerful mind, were to confront such a haughty concubine? Would it be worth watching if they clashed?
“The Empress and the Duke… were out for a walk together.”
Linal glanced back and forth between me and the Duke with an annoyed look. His tone was like interrogating people caught in rebellion.
“Yes, Duke Martens is my companion. Your Majesty, were you already out for a walk with the new concubine?”
Moreover, she’s an ex-fiancée, right? I repeated Linal’s words exactly.
“A companion? Well, as the only person from the Sha’tonil Kingdom here in the palace, there must be a lot of talk.”
Linal muttered as if to himself, but he looked at me with a frown. Strangely, he didn’t mention Katherine, who was standing beside him, flaunting her glamorous figure.
“Did the meeting go well?”
I asked casually, aware of Katherine standing next to Linal. Linal nodded without answering, but his gaze continued to stare at me insistently.
“Your Majesty, we interrupted your conversation with the new concubine.”
Duke Martens said to him with a falsely friendly smile.
“We?”
At the end of Linal’s questioning, a sharp gaze flew at me. Why am I being glared at like that? He seemed quite displeased.
“The meeting is already over between us, so what else do we need?”
I increased my walking speed, staring straight ahead.
“I was about to return to the empress’s palace alone, feeling concerned about Your Majesty’s back view. I was planning to escort you.”
Even when he’s being absurd, that man still maintains his courtesy.
“It’s okay. Sharon, who has lived in the palace for much longer than the Duke, would escort me much better than you, wouldn’t she?”
I said, trying to keep my distance from the Duke as much as possible. When I said this, Sharon seemed like she was about to burst into laughter, lowering her head deeply and stepping back behind me.
“Oh, I see. Then I will arrange for a knight to accompany you, Your Majesty.”
What knight?
“Oh, Your Majesty, isn’t it said that the Duke failed the knight test? Is there such a thing as a knight’s spirit?”
“What?”
“Did I hear wrong?”
Duke Martens looked shocked and covered his mouth with his hand, then whispered to me.
“To whom… did you hear that from?”
“From Prince Tesler!”
I replied with my hand covering my mouth, but I intentionally raised my voice.
“The prince? This traitor!”
Duke Martens gritted his teeth and ground them fiercely. In fact, the secret wasn’t heard from Prince Tesler. But, you know, who cares?
