“Ah-choo!”
Yes, in the end, Arundel caught a cold.
She had been rained on all the way from the library to the Empress’s Palace. So she regretted having dismissed the maids and wandered around yesterday.
‘It’s too late to regret now.’
With a fever rising in her head and a chilly body, her condition was at its worst.
But today, there was a welcome party for the Crown Prince of the Shalbon Kingdom.
‘He’s no help at all, that Hills kid.’
Arundel, who was unconsciously cursing Hills, paused.
[Leave it to Arundel’s conscience. Arundel is an angel, right?]
[She wouldn’t lie to a devil, would she?]
Damn, she really had to try, even if it was out of guilt.
While Arundel was muttering to herself, there was a knock on the door from outside.
“Your Majesty-! May I come in?”
It was Belle.
At Arundel’s invitation to come in, Belle revealed herself.
“Oh my, you seem to have caught a cold! Why did you dismiss me too!”
Yesterday, she had no choice because she had to test Bianca’s magical talent…
Arundel thought to herself, unable to utter the words.
“You can’t even rest because today is the day of the welcome party.”
“Yeah… I’m screwed.”
Arundel said with a gloomy expression.
“First, I’ll get the bath water, so take a bath first.”
Not long after, Arundel was led to a place with warm bath water.
The steam from the warm bath water filled the bathroom.
Arundel slowly immersed her body in the bathtub, starting with her feet. The sound of overflowing water echoed in the quiet bathroom.
“By the way, where did the other maids go?”
Usually, on such important event days, all the maids would stick around to help Arundel prepare.
But today, for some reason, there was only Belle.
“Oh, they went to fetch the dress and shoes that were prepared in advance.”
“They prepared it in advance?”
“Yes! Especially the shoes, they are a trend in the neighboring country of Fertini, they said it’s really pretty. Because of that, the head maid has been frequenting the shoe store since a month ago.”
Ah… another ordeal is about to begin.
Of course, she was very grateful to the maids who had worked hard to procure clothes and shoes for her, but thinking about being tormented all day today, she felt like crying.
“The Emperor has been treating the Empress well lately, so the head maid seems to be more excited.”
Speaking of Zion, Arundel remembered that she hadn’t seen him for a while.
‘I don’t think he’s avoiding me on purpose…Should I ask Belle?’
Since Belle was really quick with news within the palace, she might know this time as well.
“Belle, do you know anything about the Emperor’s recent situation?”
“Well…? I think I heard that he’s been very busy lately.”
Belle scratched her head as she answered.
‘Hmm… I see, since I asked, should I ask something else?’
“Belle, do you know any other information about the Emperor?”
“Well? You asked last time too.”
“You’re the only one I can ask, Belle.”
Arundel asked, pretending to be gloomy.
Belle seemed to be considering what to say. But she couldn’t hold back her loose lips.
“I’m telling you because you’re the Empress! You absolutely can’t say that I told you!”
“Of course!”
At Arundel’s strong answer, Belle, who had been hesitating, slowly opened her mouth.
“The Emperor is…”
“Yes!”
“He has a phobia.”
Huh? Arundel blinked at the unexpected content.
“To be precise, he has a phobia of people.”
“A phobia of people…?”
“Yes! I don’t know if I should tell you this…”
“…Yes”
Arundel, who was secretly tense at Belle’s secretive manner, swallowed her saliva.
“The Emperor…has never spent a night with anyone.”
“…Cough.”
“It may sound rude, but it’s really true. He’s never even slept with the Empress, have he!”
Why do I have to hear that Zion is a virgin…?
Arundel was confused by Belle’s off-target revelation.
“He’s so reluctant to touch people…If it’s that severe, he doesn’t even take a bath.”
I see… But I didn’t want to know this kind of information…
“That’s enough, thank you Belle.”
Arundel, who didn’t want to hear any more useless information about Zion, hastily spoke to Belle.
After finishing her bath, the head maid and other maids had returned.
A pure white dress and very high heels caught Arundel’s eye on the clothes rack.
“Can I wear that…?”
Arundel was horrified. But the head maid’s eyes were captivated by madness.
“Your Majesty, you don’t know how many times I visited the shoe store to procure these shoes.”
“…Huh?”
“Just like the stories passed down from the eastern continent, I was rejected twice and only managed to borrow it on my third visit after begging.”
“…Really? It’s pretty though…”
The shoes were indeed an elegant and beautiful design that matched the dress. Except for the murderous heel height.
The head maid quickly brought the shoes under Arundel’s feet. Arundel, who couldn’t ignore her sincerity, stepped on the shoes.
The shoes were even higher when she actually wore them. It seemed harder to balance because her body’s condition was worse…
‘…Can I get through today safely?’
Arundel wanted to cry.
****
“Then let’s look into the eastern forest.”
“Yes.”
“If necessary, request support from the Papal State.”
“Understood.”
Zion, who had personally visited the Royal Knights, gave instructions. Royden bowed his head in response.
These days, Zion was busy every day.
Demons began to appear around the capital. Moreover, with the emergence of heretics who worshiped them, the capital was in chaos.
People were anxious, and livestock began to die. Thanks to that, Zion was so busy he could use ten bodies.
“Hello, Your Majesty.”
As soon as he entered the main palace, the person who caught Zion was Duke Hellen.
Zion, who found Duke Hellen, did not hide his discomfort and scrunched up his face.
“What is it?”
“I thought I would report on the support project for the eastern territory people.”
“Let’s go to the office.”
Just now.
Zion cursed inwardly.
Because he hadn’t seen Empress Irina for a few days, Zion planned to visit the Empress’s Palace as soon as today’s schedule ended and go to the evening party together.
But he was caught by Duke Hellen.
“Please speak.”
As soon as Zion sat down, he urged as if to hurry.
However, Duke Hellen slowly opened his mouth with a smiling face, as if he didn’t want to end this place in a hurry.
“First of all, to report on the support project for the eastern territory people, it was very well concluded.”
“I see.”
“We have completed the support of more than 1,000 tons of grain. In addition…”
Duke Hellen suddenly lowered his voice and said.
“I have additionally supported 200kg of grain, hahaha”
Zion’s eyebrows furrowed.
Hellen was a person who didn’t know how to give, he would have taken it if he could. He was full of ambition and would not hesitate for his own gain…
So he clashed with him more often. Even now.
Come to think of it, his attitude was strange from the moment he spoke. Duke Hellen had never chatted like this in front of him.
‘Well, I’ll find out what he intends soon.’
Zion wasn’t too worried. After all, he was one of the easiest people to understand because he acted so simply.
So he never thought of him as a threat.
“Excellent. It will be an inspiration to many nobles.”
Zion spoke soullessly. But Duke Hellen seemed to have more to say.
“Your Majesty, do you know my daughter Bianca?”
“…I know.”
“She is a very pretty and smart girl. She was originally the first candidate for empress.”
Zion, who understood Duke Hellen’s intention, felt that every second of the conversation was a waste.
‘People can be this stupid.’
Hellen was now selling his daughter.
Knowing that there is an empress, he must think that he can remarry because the empress is hated.
“I know about Miss Bianca. She is a patient and beautiful person like her father.”
“Do you think so? Next time, if it’s okay, I’ll formally introduce Bianca…”
“I don’t think I’ll have time.”
“…Yes?”
“I’ve been so into the Empress lately that I go to the Empress’s Palace whenever I have time.”
He’ll understand this much.
Zion spoke, suppressing his irritation.
Fortunately, it seemed that he understood the words, and Duke Hellen answered with a slightly stunned expression.
“…I understand.”
Zion, who thought there was no value in being here anymore, got up from his seat first.
“Then I’ll have to get up first.”
“Yes. I’ll see you at the evening party, Your Majesty.”
Zion responded with a smile and left the office first.
Even after Zion left, Duke Hellen did not get up from his seat, frowning as if he was thinking about something.
“There’s no way…”
Duke Hellen, who seemed to know of something, muttered quietly.
****
“We’re here, Your Majesty.”
At the news of arrival from the head maid, Arundel got up.
Wobble–
Arundel barely got up due to the high heels and the dizziness from the fever.
The banquet hall was crowded with people as it was last time.
But there was a stark difference from then.
“Oh my, isn’t it Her Majesty the Empress!”
“Your Majesty, you look so beautiful-!”
“Your outfit is dazzling today.”
People flocked to Arundel as she revealed herself.
‘What…What?’
Arundel was taken aback by the changed attitude of the people.
Perhaps, rumors had spread that Zion’s attitude towards her had changed.
Come to think of it, the ladies who had picked a fight with Bianca last time also seemed to say something like ‘they’re lining up for that’.
‘I… I’m not someone worth lining up for yet…’
Arundel felt awkward at the misunderstanding of the people, but she responded lightly as she didn’t feel bad.
Arundel barely made it into the banquet hall amidst the endless crowd.
“Her Majesty the Empress has arrived!”
Do you really have to say that…?
Arundel was embarrassed by the booming shout of the guard as before, but she straightened her shoulders and walked in as elegantly as possible without showing it on the outside.
“Your Majesty the Empress!”
As soon as he entered, Bianca was the first to approach her with a welcoming expression.
She was relieved that she wouldn’t have to be awkwardly alone as when she was at Zion’s birthday party.
“Let’s go over there! Captain Royden and His Highness the Crown Prince were together.”
Bianca led Arundel to the terrace. There were familiar faces gathered there.
“You look beautiful today, Your Majesty.”
Royden, in his formal attire that could only be seen at parties, greeted her with a smile.
Hills, who was next to him, looked at Arundel with a surprised expression.
“Oh ho, today’s outfit reminds me of the celestial realm… uh-uh.”
Arundel quickly covered Hills’ mouth.
Realizing that the surroundings had quieted down, Arundel made an embarrassed expression and quickly removed her hand.
And she opened her mouth as if to make an excuse.
“Ah… His Highness the Crown Prince had a mosquito on his mouth… Ah-choo!”
“Arund… no, Your Majesty, why are you doing this?”
“Are you okay, Your Majesty?!”
“You seem to have a fever.”
When Arundel sneezed once, everyone worried about Arundel to the point of being burdensome. Arundel, who felt awkward, reassured them. Fortunately, it naturally flowed into another conversation.
Arundel, who was able to mingle with people as befitting the place of the party, smiled contentedly.
‘A party…it’s fun.’
Ah, indeed, people… no, angels are social animals. Considering the nightmare she had at Zion’s birthday party, she was very happy now.
“It’s a bit noisy outside.”
Bianca looked at the banquet hall and said. And not long after, the booming shout of the guard echoed.
“His Majesty the Emperor has arrived!”
