The Stand-In Empress’S Wedding Night [EN]: Chapter 99

99. His Wish

2021.12.15.

“Oh, my, are you having tea time? I came out for a walk because the weather is so nice.”

Princess Resilia’s face seemed brighter than the sunny weather. She was dressed as if she were heading to a party rather than a stroll. She gave the Kalbain Imperial Prince and Princess of the Patsha Empire a sweet smile and greeted them with utmost sincerity. Seriously, she barely nodded at me.

“I was sorry that we only exchanged greetings briefly at the banquet, but I’m so glad to see you here by chance.”

Chance, my foot. I almost snorted loudly, as if clearing my nose.

“It’s a pleasure to see you too, Princess Resilia. Please, join us. May we?”

Princess Jasper gave me a gentle smile, and I was so captivated by her kindness that I automatically nodded.

“Of course, please sit down, Princess.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty.”

Princess Resilia replied primly to me, then sat right next to Princess Jasper, flashing the kindest expression she could muster.

“The rumors that the Kingdom of Shattonil has many beauties were indeed true. Seeing the radiance of not only Her Majesty the Empress but also Princess Resilia’s beauty…….”

Prince Kalbain praised Princess Resilia’s appearance, then belatedly glanced at his wife.

“Ah, of course, you are the most beautiful to me.”

Princess Jasper also praised the princess with a sincere voice.

“It’s alright, Princess Resilia is truly radiant.”

“Hahaha, it’s no exaggeration to say that the princess’s beauty is dazzling even to women, so how much more so to men? Of course, their eyes will be drawn to her. Isn’t that right, Your Majesty?”

Prince Kalbain subtly sought Rinel’s agreement. He simply smiled lightly and didn’t answer. If he agreed, I would kill him, and if he disagreed, it would hurt Princess Resilia, so he must be saving his words? Princess Resilia seemed to have taken his smile positively. Her cheeks were turning peach-colored.

“If you’re tempted, you should keep her by your side.”

At that moment, Princess Jasper looked at her brother-in-law—no, her husband—and said in a firm tone. I almost dropped the teacup I was holding. What was she thinking saying such a thing? Prince Kalbain quietly smiled at his wife’s words and asked Princess Resilia.

“This may be a rude question, but isn’t it about time for the princess to marry?”

“Ah, yes…… that’s right.”

Princess Resilia smiled awkwardly and glanced at Rinel. *Hey, eyes down.* I secretly balled my hands into fists under the table, ready to poke her eyes out.

“My brother, Prince Norton, is also of marriageable age… Seeing the princess naturally reminds me of my brother.”

At the mention of Prince Norton, Princess Resilia’s delicate shoulders flinched.

“Oh, why don’t you have a meal with Prince Norton sometime?”

Rinel, who had been silent, suddenly encouraged the two to meet. Princess Jasper also smiled brightly and actively joined in.

“That would be nice. Since we’re staying together in the annex anyway, it wouldn’t be too much trouble, right? Before having a meal with Prince Norton, we could enjoy some tea together first. Is that alright?”

“Y-yes, of course.”

Princess Resilia seemed to have inadvertently answered yes to Princess Jasper’s sudden proposal.

“It was my wish that the honored guests would get along well with each other, so it’s a pleasure to see.”

Rinel said with a satisfied expression, sipping her vanilla coffee.

“May it be a good connection.”

***
Grand Duke Martins squinted at the sunlight falling on his face and slowly opened his eyes.

“Haa, did I end up falling asleep here?”

It was Prince Norton’s room. To be exact, on the bed. The owner of the room was nowhere to be seen. The Grand Duke sat up on the bed. He recalled meeting Prince Norton dramatically just before losing consciousness last night. When he called out Prince Norton’s name in the hallway, pretending to be drunk, Prince Norton fortunately heard him and came out of his room to support him.

*‘I don’t smell any alcohol? Why can’t you keep your balance? Grand Duke, what’s wrong?’*

Grand Duke Martins didn’t have time to answer Prince Norton’s question.

*‘You must… evacuate your son to a safe place quickly!’*

*‘What are you talking about all of a sudden?’*

*‘Tessler, that crazy bastard… haa, hurry, there’s no time! He hired an assassination guild, so they’ll soon find where your son is….’*

With those words, Grand Duke Martins’ memory cut off. The Grand Duke took out his pocket watch and checked the time. It was already well past lunchtime. Prince Norton must have safely evacuated Rams to a safe place last night, right? He wanted to believe so.

“I slept too long in a room without its owner.”

Grand Duke Martins straightened himself up and opened the bedroom door. The Patsha Empire’s servants glanced at the Grand Duke coming out of Prince Norton’s room with strange eyes. The servants’ whispers reached Grand Duke Martins’ ears as he descended the stairs.

“Did he really sleep with Prince Norton?”

“That’s what I heard. He was drunk last night and loudly called for our prince.”

“But the prince ordered his attendants not to enter the room until further notice.”

“Oh my, why?”

“Why do you think?”

Grand Duke Martins wanted to go back up the stairs and explain, but he hurried down. He had to visit the ‘Dignified Night’ clinic again. Grand Duke Martins was hurrying not because of the appointment time, but because of an unsettling conversation that took place while discussing Prince Tessler and the Empress last night.

*‘Surely you’re not thinking of cutting off the supply of magic potions… are you?’*

*‘Thinking? I’m a guy who acts faster than he thinks.’*

Prince Tessler was rambling while drunk, but it felt ominous. Moreover, he called a knight in the middle of the conversation and ordered him to hire an assassination guild to eliminate Rams, so it was no longer possible to ask about the magic potion.

*‘What if Tessler has already made a move on the magician Big? Should I inform the Empress of this first?’*

Grand Duke Martins shook his head. There was no need to give Zelda anxiety in advance.

*‘Let’s go to the clinic first.’*

The Grand Duke’s pace quickened.
***
Moiyawa and Ao’s were sitting around Rosie, admiring Rams, who was sleeping peacefully in her arms.

“Can this insignificant thing not even talk?”

Moiya asked, poking Rams’ chubby cheek.

“He needs to grow more.”

Rosie couldn’t take her eyes off Rams’ face since last night. *Who is the mother? Seeing how pretty the baby is, she must be a beauty.* Her curiosity about Rams’ mother was growing.

After a while, Rams, who had been sleeping peacefully, opened his eyes and began to whine.

“Why did you wake up? Did you wake up because it was noisy? Why are you crying all of a sudden?”

Rosie soothed the baby and fidgeted, while Moiya looked down at Rams and rattled off questions in a nonchalant tone.

“Did you have a dream? Or did you relieve yourself in your diaper again? Or is it because you’re hungry again?”

“Ah, it seems like he’s crying because he’s hungry. Can you guys watch him for a bit? I need to ask Misha to warm up some milk.”

Rosie carefully placed Rams on the bed and said.

“But, is it okay for Misha to know about this non-speaking human cub?”

Moiya asked Rosie, who was heading towards the bedroom door.

“Misha has been with me at the main house since I was little, so it’s okay. And she knows about you too.”

Rosie said with an expression that she was worrying about nothing. Misha was a servant directly hired by Rosie’s mother before she died. She was the only servant who could enter the underground laboratory of Rosie’s mother, who was a magician at the Adelheid estate. Moreover, she knew that Rosie had received a 300-year-old wyvern egg from her mother. Of course, she was also there when Moiya hatched from the egg.

“Still, with humans, you should never reveal all your secrets….”

Moiya muttered to herself with her hands behind her back, then raised one hand to Rosie and shouted.

“Bring sausage when you come back!”

“Giggle.”

Rams, who had been whining, smiled at Moiya.

“Miyaong. (He must like sausage too. Look at him smiling, he’s like an angel.)”

“What angel, he doesn’t even have wings.”

At Ao’s words, Moiya put her hand into Rams’ back and groped around, then scoffed. Rams seemed annoyed by Moiya and started to whine again. Then, Moiya put her hands on her hips and warned Rams.

“Hey, you’re the lowest in the hierarchy here. Me, Ao’s, Rosie, and you’re last. Got it?”

“Owaang.”

Rams clapped his hands and smiled again.

“This isn’t some kind of shelter, and soon all the insignificant things will gather in Rosie’s bedroom.”

Moiya muttered, looking back and forth between Rams and Ao’s.

“Miyaong. (Let’s protect him too now.)”

“Oh my, what a fate. A child trapped in ice and a baby who can’t even understand me. It’s going to be a lot of trouble, Moiya~.”

“Miyaaaong? (But, could it be that his dad believed Rosie’s confession and entrusted the child to her?)”

Ah, that could be the case. Judging from the atmosphere of Rosie and Prince Norton’s conversation last night, Rosie didn’t seem to know the truth yet. *How can she read so many books and still be so clueless?* Moiya shook Rams’ little hand, feeling guilty for her misdeeds.

“We have to help each other. Let’s get along, newbie.”

***
After having lunch with Rinel and returning from the annex, I headed to Rosie’s residence with Bonis. I was worried about sending Rosie back alone yesterday because Prince Tessler barged into the office. I turned to Commander Markrom, who was quietly following behind, and asked.

“You’ve already greeted Bonis, right?”

Commander Markrom nodded and replied.

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Thank you so much for yesterday.”

When Bonis spoke to Commander Markrom,

“It was nothing.”

The commander replied to Bonis in a much softer tone than when he spoke to me.

“I’d like you to pay more attention to Bonis’s safety than mine from now on.”

I earnestly asked Commander Markrom. Prince Tessler was likely to hold a grudge about the matter and harm me or Bonis. I could protect myself, but she was different.

“Don’t worry, I will serve her as I would serve Her Majesty the Empress.”

At Commander Markrom’s steadfast voice, I smiled at Bonis.

“I feel reassured.”

Throughout the journey to the West Palace with Bonis, we compared it to the gardens of the Shattonil Royal Palace and talked about the outstanding landscaping skills of the Lapion Imperial Family. Just as Rosie’s palace came into view, an unpleasant voice was heard.

*‘Your Majesty, the weather is lovely today as well.’*

It was Emperor Adrian’s voice. Turning my head to the right would lead to the path to the annex. I could sense that the silverfish [a derogatory term for Emperor Adrian] was wriggling not far away. I felt it instinctively. Today, he was openly conveying his inner thoughts to me from the start. Why do I keep hearing Emperor Adrian’s inner thoughts? Emperor Adrian himself clearly didn’t know that I could hear his inner thoughts at first. That’s why he tested me by spouting nonsense about poisoning the cocoa tea.

*‘Are you going somewhere nice?’*

Emperor Adrian lowered his voice as if he were whispering directly into my ear. *Oh my, what a pervert.* He’s conveying his thoughts to me while still whispering? He’s really playing around.

*‘Her Majesty the Empress probably already knows, right?’*

Knows what? I was curious about the silverfish’s question, but I pretended not to hear anything. I should just avoid him altogether. I continued to walk, chatting about trivial things with Bonis. However, I couldn’t help but stop in my tracks at the words Emperor Adrian added.

*‘About the fact that there is a wyvern in the Lapion Imperial Family.’*

*‘What?!’*