It was the moment when the lips parted.
“Beep… Beep!”
Pipi flew in from somewhere.
“Beep!”
Lescal paused and frowned, and Lasilia pushed him away.
“Is it happening now? Did you all sleep?”
“Beep!”
Pipi looked very angry and clung to Lasilia’s shoulder. And he flapped his wings wildly towards Lescal.
“I didn’t grow up…”
Lescal gritted his teeth. They were used to fighting, so Lasilia quickly picked up her body and hugged Pipi.
“Then please feel free to use the next room. I’m done.”
“No, wait.”
Lescal grabbed Lasilia’s hand.
“Does ‘use it comfortably’ mean I can come at any time?”
Lasilia turned her gaze to her side, looking embarrassed. Lescal moved his head and followed her gaze persistently.
“Answer me. Is that what you mean?”
“That is… There are moments when Your Majesty needs a companion. Because I don’t know when… uh.”
Lescal pulled Lasilia into a hug.
“Beep! Beep!”
Pipi screamed hard, pecked his hair and the back of his hand, and made a fuss, but Lescal paid no attention.
“Your majesty. Pipi is getting angry…”
“It doesn’t hurt because it grows less.”
“It’s not the pain that’s the problem…”
“Beep!”
Pipi, perhaps angry at being told that he had grown less, opened his mouth and spewed out flames. The hem of her clothes, which had been touched by the flame, burned round. Then Jarreskal turned her head and brushed away the flames with her hand. The movement was so light that it seemed like he was shaking off dust rather than fire.
“Isn’t it hot?”
Lasilia asked, her eyes wide. Lescal smiled slightly and cupped Lasilia’s face in her hands.
“That look. You look surprised.”
“Yes. Because you touched the fire with your bare hands.”
“Are you worried?”
“Anyone would be worried.”
“This level of fire is okay. It was so small that it couldn’t even be called a fire.”
“Beep!”
As expected, Pipi got angry, and Lescal didn’t even snort. In the end, Lasilia had to appease Pipi.
“Please let go, Your Majesty. I don’t like it when Pipi gets angry.”
“…It’s because he doesn’t like me.”
“Because intentionally making someone angry is not a good thing.”
Lescal wrinkled his face in displeasure and then let go of Lasilia.
“Then take a look at this.”
Cho-ok, his lips quickly passed over hers. While Lasilia opened her eyes wide in surprise, Lescal quickly widened the distance.
“I will go… As quickly as possible.”
“Beep!”
He was fast and his cries to sleep and not to come without anything were ignored.
“Then just wait a moment.”
Lescal barely left, leaving behind a long regret.
“Whoa…”
After Lescal left, Lasilia let out a long sigh. She couldn’t quite remember if she was breathing properly while he was there.
“Beep?”
Pipi quickly came up onto her palm.
“Hmm? No, it doesn’t hurt. I’m okay.”
“Beep.”
“I look like I have a fever? No.”
“Beep.”
“I said no.”
Lasilia stroked her skin to hide her expression. She started giving a list of reasons why Pipi didn’t like Lescal.
“Hmm… But it’s not that bad, is it?”
“Beep!”
“You’ve never done anything bad.”
“Beep!”
“You can tell without having to do it? Hey, where are those words?”
“Beep!”
“Don’t take my side… I’m just telling the truth.”
“Beep!”
“No, really not.”
Just then, Yvette came in. Serven followed behind, and instead of Yvette, Serven was holding an armful of dozens of books.
“I’m back, Your Majesty. Where should I put the books?”
Lasilia pointed to the table, her face slightly red.
“Up there. There are quite a few books.”
“Oh, is that a lot? We’ve selected only the things you must see. There are so many records of the first pet, and there are so many different things mixed together, uh? But why is the table over there?”
Lasilia’s face turned a little redder. She couldn’t help but think of Lescal’s actions and expression when he pushed that table. Lasilia lazily raised her fingers and fanned her face.
“Just… That’s it. I had a hard time bringing the book. Lord Sigres.”
“Your Majesty the Empress. By the way, Your Majesty doesn’t know that I brought books.”
Serven put down the book and added a word.
“So it seems like I’m asking you to keep not knowing. What is the reason?”
“That is… She was ordered not to approach within ten steps of Her Majesty the Empress. She’s counting ten steps, but she’s feeling a little close right now.”
“Ten steps? Can you tell me so I can understand?”
“I want to understand too…”
Serven’s face became gloomy.
“I think I did something wrong, but you didn’t tell me why and just gave me an order.”
That was because Serven had been holding Lasilia’s hand for too long as she got out of her carriage. But for that reason, counting steps seemed like a trivial thing to others, so Lescal never planned to tell the reason. For the time being, only Serven was going to suffer greatly.
“I will keep it a secret from Your Majesty. You can just leave.”
“Thank you, Her Majesty. Then, have a nice time.”
Serben bowed his head and left the room.
* * *
“I think it would be best for you to read this first, Your Majesty.”
Yvette chose one book out of over ten and held it out.
“He said it was a record of his activities as a shaman. I’m not sure if it’s all true, but in addition to the eyewitness accounts, there’s also a memoir written by the first pet. Isn’t that at least the truth?”
“Thank you.”
Yvette blushed as Lasilia took the book.
“Oh my. I am very sorry, Your Majesty.”
Yvette smiled shyly and bowed her head. It was something she felt sometimes, but Yvette seemed like a person who didn’t know lies. That’s how easy it was to read the expression.
“Beep.”
Pipi flew to the side and started interfering, asking what kind of book it was.
“They say it’s a record left by the first pet. Do you want to watch it together?”
“Beep?”
Pipi tilted his head. He knew who his first companion was, but he didn’t seem to be very interested.
“Hmm… That’s strange. Weren’t you born for that person?”
“Beep.”
“You don’t have to know about the past? Why?”
“Beep.”
“Ah… Because you were born for me now?”
“Beep.”
“…”
She didn’t know why, but her heart ached. Lasilia picked up Pipi and rested her cheek against his tiny head.
“I know… You said that from the beginning.”
“Beep!”
Although it was my first time here, it was not an unfamiliar place. There were beings waiting for her like Pipi. She was just trying to create an unfamiliar place for herself. Now, even if she tried, she couldn’t think about whether she was a real companion or not.
“Okay. Thank you for your welcome.”
“Beep…”
Pipi rubbed her forehead as if he understood what Lasilia was saying. It was then that she saw Yvette’s heart.
-Ah… Empress’ expression looks good. So, are you no longer thinking about leaving the palace?
Yvette, who seemed like a good-natured person, was quick-witted in some ways. She seemed to have a vague sense that Lasilia, who was preparing for her trial, was actually thinking of using that as an excuse to leave the palace.
-Okay. Since His Majesty refused the trial, he will no longer be able to do the same thing in the temple… Oh. They said the Temple of Harios was closed. So then the problem is Little Duke Piellion? But Duke Piellion ran away alone. No matter how much they were lovers, there was no way Her Majesty would continue to love such a miserable man.
Yvette still didn’t know Lasilia’s identity.
-No, but is it true that you loved him? I had no idea… You’ve never even asked me to send a letter or something. The Little Duke has never come to visit me. That’s really weird… This may seem like a very profane thought, but somehow, Duke Piellion feels like an excuse. For leaving Her Majesty.
Yvette’s thoughts were not wrong. Once he knew that far, he couldn’t hide it anymore. It’s just a guess now, but soon Yvette will find out the truth. It made no sense for the Emperor to know his identity and keep it a secret from Yvette.
‘Maybe now.’
Widely.
Lasilia closed the book she had just opened and stared at Yvette.
“…? Yes, Her Majesty. Is there something you would like me to do?”
Yvette, who was deep in thought, quickly noticed the way Lasilia was looking at her. Lasilia opened her mouth.
“I need to change the clothes.”
“Oh, already? All right. Would you like me to prepare some pajamas for you?”
“Yes. And I hope the princess will help me wear it.”
“Oh, I… yes? Me?”
Yvette gave her a rabbit look, knowing that she had always avoided being seen in her underwear.
“Well, I… Is that okay with you?”
“I hope so.”
It was time to see if she really had the markings of a companion.
“Ah yes… Well, then I will prepare. Your Majesty the Empress.”
Yvette suddenly stood up. Lasilia followed Yvette into the bedroom.
* * *
“…?”
Ryan turned her head. There was a small singing sound that she could not hear unless she had sharpened her hearing just a moment ago, but was clearly heard. At first she thought a bird had flown by. The birds around here were no different from the empress’ servants. But the more she listened, the better.
It was clearly coming from inside the office. Ryan focused more on the sound.
“Oh my god…”
As she listened, she could tell. It was clearly Lescal’s voice.
‘Your Majesty, is she humming?’
That was when Ryan was alone, waving her arms in the air to hide her surprise.
“…Are you not allowed to see Your Majesty now?”
Decan was standing there trembling and asking when she appeared. Ryan reflexively held out her finger to signal him to lower his voice.
“Shh.”
“…? What’s going on?”
Decan obediently asked with his voice quiet. Ryan nodded her head. And she whispered so softly that only Decan’s ears could hear.
“Your Majesty is in an incredibly good mood right now. Why don’t you interrupt him later? Oh, is it urgent?”
“I don’t know if it’s urgent. Peha called me.”
“Oh yeah? If that’s the case…”
At that time, Lescal spoke from inside the office door.
“If that’s the case, come in.”
“Oh.”
Ryan looked embarrassed as she realized that she had not been able to fool Lescal’s attention in the first place.
“Then I will go in, Your Majesty.”
—————————————————————
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 May, 5.
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