“Episode 33”
He glanced at me slyly before adding, “I’ll keep that in mind.”
I clenched my teeth and replied, “But if you really want to aggressively rush into my mouth like you did with my foot, I might just accept it.”
“…?”
So, he’s waiting for my lips? Rinel, who had been lying on his back for a while, seemed even more desolate, turning over to lie on the other side and hunching his body.
“Rinel… I didn’t come here today for this.”
Crawling on all fours towards him, who was lying on his back, I apologized with a remorseful tone.
“I didn’t mean to kiss your foot like that.”
“That, um, was because you suddenly put your mouth on my foot…”
“Did I mistake you for a candy cane?”
Rinel muttered to himself softly, half audible and half not.
“I’m fine. I’m even sorrier for startling you, Your Majesty.”
He apologized insincerely, emphasizing the word “Your Majesty” with false remorse.
“Your Highness…”
He fell silent again.
“Rinel?”
“Why?”
He reluctantly responded after a few seconds when I called his name again.
“So, are you not coming to the Empress’s quarters anymore?”
Closing his eyes, he looked at me sharply upon my words.
“Do you wish I wouldn’t?”
“No, that’s not what I meant.”
“Then what do you mean?”
“Because I’ve made such a big mistake, so now…”
I wished tears would flow here. Tears would have been much more effective than a hundred apologies. Tears are said to be a woman’s weapon, aren’t they? But unfortunately, my tears only came out when my swordsmanship failed or when I met a strong opponent and won. Luckily, a trembling voice was enough, so instead of tears, I pleaded for forgiveness with a quivering voice.
“I’m really, sniff, sorry…”
“Zelda, your eyes don’t seem to be crying at all, but why is your voice like that? It sounds like you’re acting.”
Ugh, even this trembling voice didn’t work! Still, it was a good attempt.
“Well, let’s just leave it at that. If it’s not because you don’t want to come to the Empress’s quarters, don’t even think about it.”
“Then, from now on, to my abode…”
“I’ll visit more often.”
Rinel, who had been pitifully hunched over, straightened up and sat down again. He was back to his majestic demeanor.
“Until my lips touch every inch of your body.”
Rinel said solemnly, displaying his conqueror-like demeanor.
“As long as it’s not about stripping my skin off, I’ll humbly accept Your Majesty’s command.”
“Stripping skin isn’t my taste. Among other things.”
Though relieved, I spoke a bit harshly to him, but he seemed very satisfied with my answer. Phew, I’m alive. I thought he would be furious.
“Now, shall we discuss the real reason for your visit to my bedroom?”
His low voice felt like it was building walls around me. Walls I couldn’t escape from.
“But Zelda, why have you been kneeling since earlier?”
Rinel forcibly straightened my two bent legs and asked.
“Huuh!”
An odd sound escaped from me again, without my knowledge.
“Why are you acting like this for just touching legs? It’s already awkward if you react like this.”
“Your, Your Majesty!”
This time, I cried out with a voice full of frustration.
“Why are you like this just from touching legs? It seems more satisfying than finding a magic ore mine.”
With a soft smile, Rinel touched his lips, his hand gripping my leg. I felt like I was going to die.
“Don’t touch!”
“Just because you say it with that expression, it makes me want to touch even more.”
“Don’t use too much force! My, my leg!”
“Oh…”
“Just leave me alone for a moment, okay? It’ll be fine soon. It’ll recover soon!”
I pleaded with him, clasping my hands together with a pleading expression.
“Seems like your legs are having a busy day today?”
Rinel laughed while touching his lips.
“Oh no! How dare you!”
He deliberately tapped my numb leg with his hand, as if seeking revenge. Once again, my foot almost flew towards his face. One minute later, the numbness in my leg disappeared completely. The laughter and chatter between us also vanished.
“Now, try to seduce me.”
Rinel’s gaze seemed to urge me forward.
“So… why did you come to my bedroom?”
Our conversation returned to square one. Every feature of Rinel’s face was focused on my lips. His gaze was so expectant that I couldn’t possibly lie.
“I just wanted to see you.”
Among the numerous excuses I had prepared on my way to the main palace, the most bland answer popped out.
“Is that all?”
Rinel’s face showed a hint of disappointment.
“Of course not.”
I retorted weakly, and his eyes softened again. He seemed to be enjoying this situation quite a bit. He didn’t seem like someone who had just been kicked in the face by his wife’s foot. As I looked at his lovely lips curling upwards, I felt remorse once again. What had I done to those beautiful lips? I felt even more sorry.
“Since last night, I’ve been feeling uneasy after you left my bedroom.”
“So, is that all?”
He asked with a disappointed tone, as if my answer wasn’t enough, but his mood seemed much better than before.
“You came all the way to the main palace tonight because you felt uneasy? My bedroom must be even more uncomfortable.”
“I missed you the most.”
“Hmm…”
After exhaling deeply, Rinel glanced at me slyly and spoke up.
“Now I get it.”
With a relieved expression, he quietly continued.
“Now that I’ve seen your face.”
He raised my chin slightly, examining my face with a thoughtful expression.
“What should I do with you now that you’re in my bedroom? I…”
He trailed off, unsure of what to say next.
The question didn’t seem directed at me but rather to himself.
“What do you want to do?”
I whispered, tilting my head in confusion.
“You’d be surprised if I told you.”
*** Melanie finished bathing and stood up after completing her grooming at the dressing table.
“Oh, right.”
As if she had forgotten, Melanie turned back to the dressing table and hummed a tune while generously spraying perfume all over her body. It was almost like pouring the perfume. The courtier who was standing beside her, enduring the overly strong scent, discreetly wrinkled his nose to avoid smelling it.
“By now, shouldn’t Her Majesty be arriving at my quarters?”
Melanie looked at her provocative slip-clad reflection in the mirror with a satisfied expression.
“Has the child who went to check the situation at the main palace not returned yet?”
Melanie, who had been staring at the mirror for a while, asked the courtier standing behind her through the mirror.
“It’s about time, Mama.”
“Really? Ah, if I were the primary consort like Catherine, I would have sent a messenger to the court by now! If so, the world would have changed by now. Well, nothing can be done. As long as I give birth to the crown prince first.”
Melanie walked over to the bed with an air of confidence. At that moment, another courtier who had gone to check the situation at the main palace entered the room with a perplexed expression.
“Mama, I’ve returned…”
“Is Her Majesty… still here?”
Melanie asked with an excited voice, brushing her long hair to one side.
“Well, that’s…”
The complexion of the courtier who had gone to the main palace was very dark, indicating that something was wrong.
“What? Could it be, did you go to Catherine again today?”
Melanie knew that Emperor Rinel had spent the night with Catherine Consort last night. So, when her courtier hesitated to speak, she couldn’t help but wonder if he had gone to Catherine’s palace again today. They were former fiancées, so it was entirely possible.
“Why aren’t you saying anything? You’re not telling me that Catherine got in the way of Her Majesty, are you?”
Melanie yelled at the courtier with irritation.
“Her, Her Majesty did not… go to Consort Catherine’s…”
“Could it be, did she skip me and go to that bookworm, Rosie?”
Melanie asked with annoyance in her voice as she shook the courtier’s shoulders vigorously.
“No, Mama.”
“Then why… Why hasn’t she come to my quarters yet?”
“Her, Her Majesty is… currently in the main palace bedroom!”
“Who?!”
Melanie was bewildered by the fact that the person who disturbed her first night wasn’t Catherine but the Empress.
“It can’t be true, you must have misunderstood!”
Melanie yelled, and then, stepping on the long train of her slip that had been on the floor, she waved her arms frantically.
“Be careful, Mama!”
When the courtier standing beside her quickly grabbed Melanie’s arms and helped her up, she pushed him away with an annoyed look on her face.
“Get out of my way!”
Melanie paced around the room in confusion, clutching her long hair between her ten fingers.
“Is it certain that the Empress is in my quarters tonight?”
“Yes, Mama…”
“Ugh!”
Melanie’s scream of anger made the courtiers huddle together, bowing their heads in fear.
“Was the Empress a fox? A subject from the Shatoanil Kingdom?”
Just the existence of the detestable primary consort Catherine was enough to give her a headache, and now, even the Empress, whom she had thought was insignificant, was blocking her path.
“Did I underestimate her too much?”
Melanie began to roll her head between her ten fingers, gripping her hair tightly.
“If Her Majesty doesn’t come to my quarters tonight, how ridiculous will Catherine think I am?”
Already feeling humiliated by Catherine, who had ascended to the position of primary consort alone, without even knowing her place.
“In this situation, to be hindered by that arrogant Catherine using the Empress…”
Melanie almost accepted her speculation as fact. Yesterday, when the first consort, who was also the emperor’s fiancée, did not prevent her first night, it seemed unlikely that the Empress, who had no reason to interfere, would stop her first night as the second consort.
“Catherine’s scheme is obvious. She’s a crafty woman,” Melanie gritted her teeth. The courtiers, witnessing Melanie’s furious demeanor, all stood with their backs against the wall, fearing when her anger might turn toward them and held their breaths in apprehension.
“Do you think I’ll just let this go?” Melanie’s eyes flashed fiercely. She paced the room frantically, biting her nails in agitation, and pondered over what to do. She needed to quickly come up with a plan to ensure that the Emperor would come to her quarters tonight.
