The Stand-In Empress’S Wedding Night [EN]: Chapter 50

50. Secretly Excited

“What conditions?”

Princess Resilia asked back with a bright smile.

“Absolutely do not cause trouble. And don’t try to curry favor with Emperor Linelle on purpose.”

“What nonsense is that? I’m going there to get on his good side!”

She put her hands on her hips and shouted, striking a pose as if showing off her beauty.

“You just keep your mouth shut and stay quiet.”

Prince Tesler said sternly.

“Why? It would be better to say a few words and have a chance to get closer to the Emperor.”

“No, just showing your face is enough.”

“What?”

“That alone is half the success. If you’re not confident, stay in the royal palace.”

Prince Tesler put down the teacup he was holding and got up from his chair.

“What are you going to do?”

She couldn’t understand her brother’s words, but she knew she had to follow his opinion in order to go to the Lapion Empire.

“I’ll keep my mouth shut. Everything works out for me anyway because of my face.”

Princess Resilia smiled contentedly, imagining the Lapion Empire’s royal family admiring her beauty.

“Even if I just smile slightly, people will be panting to befriend me, right? Let’s go.”

She hooked her arm around Prince Tesler’s and smiled confidently.

“Just need to catch Emperor Linelle’s eye properly. And observe how Zelda treats the Emperor.”

“Oh my? Are you telling me to imitate Zelda? That wooden doll with no charm?”

“How do you know whether Zelda is a wooden doll or not?”

“Have I only known her for a year or two? I can tell at a glance. She’s not the type men like. If anyone likes Zelda’s type, they’re crazy.”

Princess Resilia said confidently.

“……You need to catch the eye of that crazy person.”

Prince Tesler chuckled at her words and muttered quietly.

“Huh? What did you say? I didn’t hear you.”

“Nothing. Anyway, Resilia, be careful what you say as soon as you set foot in the Lapion Imperial Palace. Got it?”

“Seriously, how many times do I have to say it! But, brother, I don’t have to be careful around Zelda, do I?”

“Haa, I don’t know. Do as you please. Have you ever been careful around her?”

The two left the office side by side.

“We can leave right away. I told them to load my luggage onto the luggage cart earlier!”

Princess Resilia said as she went down the stairs.

“You’re really fast with that. Resilia, you go down first.”

Prince Tesler took off her hand that was holding his arm.

“Why?”

“I have a place to stop by.”

“Okay. Then I’ll go to the carriage first, so come quickly.”

“Okay.”

Princess Resilia chatted excitedly with her maid as she went down the stairs. He watched his sister’s back, smiled at his guard, Sir Ken, and said.

“I should let Bonnis know I’m going to see Zelda, right?”

***

I arrived in front of the main palace office with my servants. This morning, I received a message from Linelle through the head courtier to come to the main palace by 3 p.m. I vaguely heard from the head courtier, who came to deliver the news to the Empress Palace, that there were matters to discuss with me and the concubines regarding the ‘Continental Hunting Competition.’ I would have to hear the details directly from Linelle.

“The Empress is entering!”

The head courtier, Stian, personally opened the office door and announced my arrival. There were already four concubines inside the office. And I saw him sitting among them. Linelle looked at me and raised the corners of his mouth, then mouthed ‘Ah’ and immediately changed to a blank expression. He was immediately putting my request from last night into action without forgetting it. As soon as he greeted me with an icy expression, I felt strangely bitter. It was clearly just acting, but I didn’t feel good. I looked at the faces of the concubines who were greeting me. I was nervous at the thought that there might be a spy from Prince Tesler among them.

“Everyone was here early. I’m not late.”

I said as I walked towards him.

“Everyone must have come early because they wanted to see me. The Empress doesn’t care much for that, so she came on time.”

He replied with a very dry expression.

“!”

What is with this man? I told him not to show excessive affection in front of others, but when did I tell him to be curt with me? While I was slightly flustered, he wiggled his lips and gave me a look that said, ‘Am I acting well?’ I think you’re overdoing the acting? I twitched my eyebrows and sat next to him. Only the concubines and Linelle’s aide, Secretary Raphael, were in the office. I thought there might be a few key ministers with us, but it seemed there was no need.

“Has it been decided to participate in the Continental Hunting Competition?”

I asked Linelle, and he nodded lightly.

“Let’s all listen to the explanation first and then talk. Raphael.”

Linelle gestured to the secretary standing with the documents.

“Yes, Your Majesty. I will briefly explain the hosting of the Continental Hunting Competition.”

Raphael cleared his throat and continued.

“The Continental Hunting Competition, which was traditionally held every year, was suspended due to the war caused by the wyvern problem. However, the South Continent side suggested holding the competition again starting this year, and we were left with only the decision of our Lapion Empire.”

“But, can’t we just keep the hunting competition suspended? Ugh, killing animals is too cruel.”

Melanie interrupted Raphael and chimed in, seemingly out of nowhere. She wrapped her arms around herself and shuddered.

“Where do you think the fur you wear in winter, the fox fur you wrap around your neck, and the animal skin and fur you lay on the floor and trample on all come from?”

Linelle elegantly crossed his legs and asked Melanie.

“That, that is…….”

“I don’t think the beasts give their fur and skin to the imperial family before they die, do they?”

“Well, there probably aren’t any such kind beasts…….”

She rolled her eyes and muttered with an awkward expression.

“Ignore her and continue.”

Catherine glared at Melanie with a frustrated expression and said to Raphael. Melanie glared at Catherine as if to kill her, but Catherine completely ignored her and turned her gaze away.

“Yes, this morning our side made the final decision and sent His Majesty’s letters to each country. The starting point will be the Lapion Empire, and as you all know, hunting will take place for a set time each day during the period from the starting point to the destination country.”

Wow, that sounds really fun! I almost clapped my hands without realizing it while listening to Raphael’s explanation. I want to participate in the hunting competition too……. I heard that women often participated in the competition in the old days, but now it has almost become a men’s competition.

“Which country in the South Continent will be the destination of the hunting competition?”

Rosie, who had been quiet, suddenly raised her hand and asked with curious eyes. It was unexpected.

“The starting point of this hunting competition is our Lapion Empire, and the destination is the Partsha Empire in the South Continent.”

Raphael kindly answered Rosie.

“Gasp, the Partsha Empire!”

Rosie shouted as if delighted, clasping her hands together. When everyone’s attention turned to her, she put her hands back on her knees and closed her mouth again. Why is Rosie acting like that? Does she know someone in the Partsha Empire? Come to think of it, Grand Duke Martins seemed to be happy when he mentioned the Partsha Empire to me last time? I stared at Rosie for a moment and then shifted my gaze back to Raphael.

“For reference, unusually, not only the emperors of all countries but also the empresses have expressed their intention to visit our empire this time.”

“I remember that the empresses of each country didn’t usually attend hunting competitions in other countries?”

I asked Raphael, looking at Linelle next to me.

“That’s usually how it was in the past. But this time, everyone seems to have caught some kind of wind and is attending. I wonder if they’re coming because they’re curious about our empress?”

He stared intently at my face as he spoke. He deliberately spoke curtly to me, but his eyes were filled with affection. I tried not to show him a smile. Fortunately, he turned his gaze away from me first and instructed Raphael to continue explaining.

“Now, I will tell you the reason why Her Majesty the Empress and the concubines are gathered here.”

Raphael’s expression changed solemnly.

“Ohohoho, surely you’re not telling us to participate in the hunting competition?”

Melanie burst into laughter and looked around at me and the concubines. Raphael looked surprised and raised a finger to point at Melanie.

“Lady Melanie, correct! How did you know?”

“What, what?”

Her face, which had been beaming, hardened.

“Secretary! Surely, Melanie’s absurd words are not true?”

Catherine, who had been leaning loosely on the chair, widened her eyes and asked Raphael accusingly. I looked at Linelle sitting next to me.

“The empresses and concubines of the South Continent have also notified us that they will participate in the hunt.”

He said calmly. A moment of silence followed.

“That’s ridiculous! Doesn’t that mean the South Continent side is telling us to participate too?”

Catherine was the first to jump up.

“That’s right, they grew up wielding swords and bows from a young age, but we women of the North Continent grew up like flowers, how can we compete?”

Melanie took over Catherine’s complaints and raised her voice even higher. I laughed inwardly, imagining her pulling a bowstring with those hands that had only ever lifted teacups. As Catherine and Melanie said, it is known that most of the women of the South Continent countries know how to use swords. Of course, there are individual differences, but it was definitely different from the women of the North Continent, who spend all their energy dressing up and wearing dresses. Not only this, but there was also a big difference in dress styles between the two continents. The weather also had an influence, but basically, the dresses worn by the women of the South Continent were famous for being very simple and revealing designs. Anyway, traditionally, only men have participated in the Continental Hunting Competition…….

‘It’s different this time, huh?’

I was secretly looking forward to the hunting competition. But looking at the expressions of the concubines, it seemed like I was the only one having a festival.

“Knowing full well that the women of the North Continent are weak in swordsmanship, telling us to participate in the hunting competition is openly making fun of us, isn’t it?”

Melanie fidgeted and huffed.

“Please calm down, Lady Melanie. It is true that the South Continent countries have given us a unilateral notice, but it is not a compulsion to participate.”

Raphael replied calmly.

“Then…… are they really trying to discourage the women of the North Continent?”

Rosie, who had looked happy until a moment ago, frowned and spoke cautiously.

“I think so too.”

Pesilini, who had been silent all along, agreed with her words.

“Ha, what hunting competition when you can’t even ride a horse?”

Catherine snorted and muttered.

“Your Majesty, are the concubines of the South Continent really participating in the hunting journey that starts here and continues to the Partsha Empire?”

At my question, the concubines all looked at Linelle.

“Not everyone is participating, but most of them are, I hear.”

At his answer, the expressions of the concubines darkened rapidly. I organized the situation in my head. This is not a simple hunting competition for peace between continents. Alliances and betrayals will coexist throughout the competition, and there will be a good opportunity to spy on each other. Moreover, compared to the fact that the empresses of the South Continent countries have all expressed their intention to attend this hunt, what about the empresses of the North Continent? The Queen of the Shattonil Kingdom is already old, and the Empress of the Echia Empire is probably a hothouse flower, and I, the Empress of the Lapion Empire…….

“I will participate.”

“The Empress?”

Linelle stared at me with a surprised expression, then,

“What? Are you talking about a tea party?”

He smiled slightly and asked me jokingly. I smiled back at him and replied kindly.

“Yes! I’ll take the tea party, and the hunting competition too.”