“Yes?”
“What, Your Majesty?”
Neither of them understood the question properly. Ryan pulled her ears to the sides, wondering if she had heard something wrong.
“Change people?”
“Something that changes your body.”
“Yes?”
“What?”
Decan hesitated in embarrassment and shook his head.
“That is an area that humans cannot enter, Your Majesty. I don’t think any magic would be able to do this.”
“Is it.”
That was Rascal’s reaction, but Ryan did not miss what he said.
“Your Majesty… So, are you thinking that Her Majesty may not have lost her memory, but may have changed into a completely different person?”
“I think that would make the most sense.”
Lescal’s golden eyes moved slowly.
“The Empress has changed. The way she speaks, the way she gestures, and the way she does things is different.”
“Yeah… That’s true, though.”
It was Ryan who first said that the Empress seemed to have become a completely different person. It was Ryan who said that it would be nice if she could become a completely different person. Still, it was something her mind couldn’t readily accept.
“They say this is impossible with Deccan magic… No, how on earth could that happen…”
“Lets think. After the Empress changed, the Phoenix awakened. The Empress controls my mutations.”
“Yes, but that is proof that Her Majesty is a companion, not proof that one day she suddenly became a different person.”
“It was something that had never happened before.”
“Well, um… Just as Her Majesty belatedly realized that she was a companion, Her Majesty the Empress also belatedly…”
“Or maybe I only recognized her because the real one became Empress.”
“Umm…”
“It is said that demon blood and a companion are born as a pair. Nowhere did it say that it takes time to become aware of each other.”
“No, it’s a spell that was created seven hundred years ago, but if that much time has passed, wouldn’t it be a bit slower or weaker?”
“Do you think that makes more sense? Rather than saying that her body has changed?”
“No, that… Ha, I’m not sure.”
Ryan, who had been thinking hard while rolling her eyes, eventually gave up. Nothing could be concluded about her empress. Everything was beyond common sense.
“If I am correct that the Empress is a different person now, she may be from Dell’Arta.”
“Hmm? Yes?”
An unfamiliar word suddenly came out and changed the atmosphere.
“The Empress once mentioned the temple of Dell’Arta. Although she said it was to cure amnesia.”
“I know that. “She said the information was given to her by the Duke of Piellion.”
“But there are many temples in the empire. Even though it is said to be a temple dedicated to the god of healing, it is not too far away. Isn’t the god of Dell’Artta the god of healing?”
“Yes. He is the god of health and prosperity.”
Decan stepped forward quickly.
“In that case, I guess you can check with Duke Piellion. Is it true that the Little Duke really knew about the healing power of the Temple of Dell’Arta?”
“Okay.”
“I’ll check it now.”
He left the place wondering when Decan was there.
…dump.
When he disappeared, Lescal leaned his back against the couch. He covered his eyes as if he were tired, but Ryan thought that he seemed to have a different expression than before.
“Your majesty. Unless my eyes are wrong… I think you’re thinking of something good right now, am I right?”
“…Do you see it that way in your eyes?”
“Yes, a little. No, quite a lot.”
A breathy sound that was more like a smile than a sigh slipped from Lescal’s lips.
“What if the Empress has been replaced with someone else?”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“She doesn’t like the small Dukes.”
“Oh, like that?”
“She is not in love with another human being.”
“Is that what you like that much?”
Lescal did not answer. However, the changed expression was enough to tell. How relieved he was that the Empress has no one she likes. But that wasn’t all. Even though the Empress had changed into a completely different person and had become a real companion, the problem still remained. Maybe it was even more serious. His real companion was rejecting Lescal.
“It may have something to do with why the Empress said she would go to trial.”
Lescal’s golden eyes, which had seemed like he was having a sweet and gentle dream just a moment ago, became sharp again.
“I need to know that.”
“Of course.”
“As soon as Decan has confirmed with the Duke, move immediately. Attach someone to House Piellion and, if possible, secure a shaman from Trinidad. And on the day of trial, put up a barrier at the temple.”
“If it’s a barrier… Are you talking about the defense line?”
“Including the magic circle.”
“All right. It’s been a while since I’ve been playing wizards. I thought I would just eat and sleep without doing anything every day.”
Ryan’s reply sounded light, but her content was not. Setting up a magic circle at the temple and setting up defenses with guards meant preparing for something serious. The trial might never end smoothly. Decan returned exactly three hours later. Duke Piellion knew nothing about the small kingdom called Dell’Arta.
* * *
Tuk. Tuk.
A knock on the window woke her up.
Tuk. Tuk.
“Who… Pipi?”
The difficult sleep she had had was gone in a flash. Lasilia opened the window, happy to see that Pipi, who had disappeared without saying a word for several days, had reappeared.
“Where have you been all this time?”
“Beep.”
“It’s okay if you don’t say anything. Are you all angry now? Then come on in. Let’s sleep together.”
“Beep!”
He said he couldn’t do that.
“Beep, pee. Beep!”
He said he didn’t like anyone else and he told her to go ahead and say it.
“…I can’t do that.”
Since the Emperor and Pipi could communicate well, she had no choice but to lie to Pipi as well.
“Beep! Beep!”
“Because… Because it’s true.”
“Beep? Beep… Beep!”
Good luck! Pipi, who was reeling from shock, let out a loud cry, and red flames erupted from his body.
“Pipi!”
Lasilia reached out her hand to Pipi without realizing it.
“Oh, it’s hot!”
It was a real fire. Her fingers that touched the fire were burned.
“…beep,”
Pipi flapped his wings as if he was also surprised. The flame disappeared, but Pipi moved far back.
“It’s fine. It didn’t burn me too much…”
“Beep!”
‘Liar.’
After saying those words, Pipi flew away across the black night sky.
“…It’s true.”
Lasilia looked down at her reddened index finger. When she reached the fire, she knew she should apply something cold to cool her body, but her body did not move.
“It’s mean. I’m the one who hurt you. If you heal the wounds you gave me, I will heal them on my own.”
She decided to leave her wounds alone. She felt like it had to hurt at least this much.
“If you find the real thing… This will be nothing.”
That was her excuse and comfort now. As she was going back to her bed, Lasilia put on a robe over her nightgown. She escaped her sleep anyway.
The trial wasn’t far away, so she had some work to do in advance. She intended to write a letter to Duke Schreiden. When she thought about it, she realized that she knew nothing about Eliadan’s trial. It was unknown whether the empress, who had admitted her guilt and was sentenced to be dethroned, would ever return to her palace. In the worst case scenario, she could have never been seen again without even saying hello. She had to leave a request to guarantee Yvette’s identity just in case.
‘If the Empress is dethroned, something might happen to the first maid.’
If she was a princess, she couldn’t be treated carelessly like a court lady, so she will be better off.
‘Maybe I won’t be able to continue working at the imperial palace.’
And she had to ask Pipi too. Even though she was a phoenix, Pipi was still too small in Lasilia’s eyes.
‘Oh, and those birds too. Because she might come back. At that time, I will ask Sir Sigress to tell me not to bother him too much.’
The letter seemed like it would be very long. Lasilia, adjusting her gown, opened the door leading from her bedroom to the living room.
“…”
And then her feet stopped. The Emperor, whom she had not seen for several days, was in the room next to her.
* * *
She wasn’t sleeping. The gaze in this direction was clear and distinct. It was as if she knew she would come here and had been waiting.
“How… Is it work?”
The small voice that came out did not sound like her own at all.
“I thought you wouldn’t sleep.”
“…Still, it’s too late to stay awake. Go back and sleep.”
“It’s unfair that I’m the only one who goes there to grow up. You don’t plan on sleeping.”
“…”
It’s not her place to be fair, but after hearing it, she deserved to be heard again. It seemed like she had become too accustomed to the way the Emperor spoke.
“Then, to be fair, I will also go back to bed and lie down.”
“…Not yet.”
While she was in a hurry, the Emperor suddenly came in front of her. He was too fast to avoid.
“Why not?”
“You didn’t get treatment.”
“…yes?”
There was no way he knew she had burned her finger. He had no way of knowing, but he lifted her injured hand and looked for the burn.
“It must hurt.”
“How…”
“I just knew.”
“Is this something you just know?”
“Since the immature bird knew, I guess I also know. Sometimes the senses connect. Maybe it’s time for something to happen to you. Like the hurt in your finger.”
“…”
Lasilia was at a loss for words. Every time he did this, she seemed to forget that she was a fake. A demon who took out his own heart to create a phoenix to protect his companion, and the companion that the bird protects. The demon and phoenix were able to simultaneously feel the wounds inflicted on their companion by connecting their senses. It was natural for the Emperor to feel the wounds caused by Pipi.
It wasn’t strange at all. Except she herself was fake.
“You need to cool your hands.”
“It’s all cooled down.”
Lasilia risked her pain and pulled her hand away from him. The still burning skin was rubbed by the imperial ring that Lescal was wearing. It was a small wound, but it hurt enough. So she didn’t forget what she was doing.
“Go back. It’s late.”
“It wouldn’t be too late.”
The Emperor said, holding his hand again. Lasilia tightened her grip, but she could not move, as if he had no intention of letting go.
“If it’s Dell’Arta. Isn’t it just about time for the sun to set?”
“What is that…”
She was glad it was dark. She was really glad that it was the middle of the night. Otherwise, they would have noticed the color draining from her face. Lasilia desperately tried to hide her embarrassment.
“Why suddenly… Are you talking about a distant country?”
“Thinking of you, I remembered that I wanted to go there a while ago.”
Lescal lifted his hand and ran his tongue over the red area.
“Tsk,”
The first touch was cold. Then it soon got hot again. Then her body began to tremble. She couldn’t tell if this was a reaction to his tongue touching her skin, or a fear of having her secret revealed.
“You can go if you want.” said Lescal to Lasilia, who was shaking her shoulders and could no longer tell to let go of her hand.
—————————————————————
Translator Note:
Hello there! This is RJR. I hope you liked it <3
If you like my work please support me with Ko-fi or Patreon. Next post will be released on Februeary, 11.
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