The Stand-In Empress’S Wedding Night [EN]: Chapter 115

115. Who Took Him?

2022.02.09.

“When did you see me looking at the lounge?”

“Why bother saying it.”

I readily admitted it. My honesty seemed to surprise him; the corner of his lips lifted in an amused smile before parting slightly. I raised my hand, caressing his lower lip, then,

“Location.”

I flicked my finger in front of my face, ordering the Emperor. Rinell looked at me as if I were amusing, yet obediently repeated my words, delving between my lips. The softness of our lips intertwined gently. I was momentarily conflicted by the intoxicating sensation, but I slowly rose from the sofa where I had been lying. I couldn’t waste any more time. Rinell couldn’t stop me and eventually got up as well, but he didn’t break the kiss. We struggled to walk to the office door without separating our lips or bodies. As we reached the door, as if sensing that we had to part, the kiss deepened, and our bodies became even more entwined. It was a passion that needed no nourishment. His body was as solid and healthy as an iron wall, enough to last for years without needing deer steak. His head bumped against the office door once, then mine, as we took turns amicably. It was like a final, desperate struggle, regretting that we had to end it here. It didn’t hurt at all to bump my head. Rather, laughter burst out, causing my lips, which had been consumed by Rinell, to part. Annoyed by this, he grabbed the back of my neck and kissed me again, leaning against the office door, causing us to bump our heads against the door once more. At that moment, the office door burst open, and Raphael’s voice was heard.

“Why do you keep knocking from inside… Huh!”

As soon as the office door opened, Rinell’s body, which had been leaning all his weight against it, fell backward. Consequently, I, who had been embraced by him, fell with him. Thanks to him wrapping his arms tightly around my waist, I safely lifted my head from on top of him. I made eye contact with Raphael. Raphael, unsure of how to handle the situation, stared down at us, who were neatly piled on the marble floor, with wide eyes.

“The doorknob was broken, so it wouldn’t open…”

It was an excuse that came out without my knowing. Then, Rinell, who was lying beneath me, started laughing like crazy. Did he hurt his head from the fall? I was mortified, but why was he laughing so much? Raphael tried the doorknob himself, glanced at me, and said,

“I will instruct them to fix… it.”

His expression clearly didn’t believe me, but it seemed like he was trying to let it go. Rinell, finding something so amusing, laughed even louder at Raphael’s reply.

“Yes, Your Majesty. Laugh while you can. The atmosphere at the banquet might become heavy.”

Raphael said to him with a worried tone. Why would the atmosphere at the banquet be heavy?

“Either way, I am heavy now.”

Rinell looked up at me and replied to Raphael.

“Ah, I’m sorry…”

Only then did I realize that I was still sitting on top of him. So, I deliberately got up more slowly.

***

As I went up to the bedroom to change my dress, Bonis was anxiously waiting for me in front of the bedroom waiting room.

“Your Majesty!”

“What’s wrong?”

I took Bonis into the bedroom with Sharon and asked.

“Grand Duke Martins gave me a note. He said it’s important, what could it be?”

Bonis handed me the note she was clutching in her hand.

‘Something went wrong with the clinic visit.’

I felt it instinctively. As soon as I unfolded the note, the word “sorry” written on the first line caught my eye. I took a breath, unfolded the note, and quickly read through it.

“Haa…”

As I crumpled the note and sighed, Bonis and Sharon exchanged worried glances and cautiously asked me.

“What’s wrong, Your Majesty?”

“You’ve turned pale.”

“Wizard Big… has disappeared.”

Fear washed over me.

“It says it seems like Prince Tesler did it.”

If Prince Tesler kidnapped Wizard Big as Grand Duke Martins wrote in the note, he might already be dead. Then I, what will happen to me now? Even if I take the last remaining magic potion, it wouldn’t be enough to last throughout the hunting competition.

“If Wizard Big has disappeared, then the magic potion…!”

Bonis raised her voice, then covered her mouth with both hands.

“If we ask Lady Rosie, wouldn’t she know his whereabouts?”

Sharon said calmly.

“She said she hasn’t met Wizard Big since becoming a concubine, so Rosie won’t know either.”

My shoulders slumped. I felt like my whole body was sinking into a deep abyss.

“Since Lady Rosie made that magic potion, can’t we just get the herbs that go into the potion?”

At Bonis’s words, Sharon quietly pointed out the key point with a gloomy expression.

“But the most important herb that goes into the potion is…”

“Yes, it’s in the Tevelo Empire.”

I took over Sharon’s words and murmured weakly. I just wanted to disappear somewhere. *** I don’t know what state of mind I was in when I changed my dress. I steeled myself and headed to the reception room where the guests were waiting. As I came down to the floor where the reception room was and passed the first door after turning the hallway,

“Your Majesty…”

“?”

Someone called me from behind in a whisper. Not only me but also Sharon and Bonis, who were walking with me, turned around at the same time.

“…Why are you coming out from there?”

Grand Duke Martins was visible through the half-open door.

“I’ve been waiting. Come this way for a moment.”

“I can’t stay long.”

I glanced at the reception room door in the distance and lowered my voice.

“Yes, I know. It will only be a moment.”

Grand Duke Martins opened the door a little more and said. I nodded and went into the room with the Grand Duke, along with Sharon and Bonis. Sharon and Bonis stood in front of the door as if keeping watch to make sure no one came into the room, and Sharon even put her ear to the door and started listening to the sounds outside. I walked to where Grand Duke Martins was standing and roughly scanned the room. There were several paintings on the walls, and only a table and sofa in the room. It seemed like a space used as a lounge by the nobles who visited the main palace.

“What brings you here? How did you know my route and wait for me?”

“Isn’t there a banquet shortly? All the guests are at the main palace.”

“Ah… that’s right.”

“I heard from Princess Resilia that only the women gather separately in the reception room before the banquet. The other guests are currently gathered in the lounge on the first floor, so don’t worry. I came up through the stairs used by the servants, so no one saw me coming here.”

“I don’t have time to worry about the Grand Duke right now because of the magic potion.”

I forced a smile with a bitter expression. For some reason, Grand Duke Martins looked as dark as I did.

“I saw the note the Grand Duke sent.”

I brought it up first. Grand Duke Martins nodded and immediately replied.

“Yes, that’s why I came. There’s new information.”

New information?

“Perhaps… has Wizard Big returned? Did you find him?”

Hoping for a glimmer of hope, I asked urgently.

“I’m sorry. That’s not it…”

Grand Duke Martins lowered his head. I felt disappointment beyond frustration.

“Then, why did you ask to see me?”

Without realizing it, a slightly irritable voice came out.

“It’s true that Wizard Big disappeared, but it doesn’t seem like Prince Tesler took him.”

“What?! Is that… true?”

I hoped it was true. It had to be true. Wizard Big’s whereabouts were still unknown, but at least if Prince Tesler didn’t take him, there was a high possibility that he was alive. So please, please….

“It’s true.”

“Haa…!”

At Grand Duke Martins’ words, the breath I had been holding in burst out.

“Just before getting on the carriage from the annex to the main palace, Lord Ken, who had been out of the imperial palace for a few days, returned. I overheard him reporting to Prince Tesler.”

“What did he say?”

The tension was about to explode, so I squeezed my dress tightly with both hands and asked.

“When Lord Ken went to the clinic, Wizard Big was already gone. So, he immediately broke into his house and waited all day, but he didn’t return.”

Grand Duke Martins quickly explained the situation. He added that he and Lord Ken happened to visit the clinic on the same day, and the next day, while going to Wizard Big’s house, he saw Lord Ken coming out of the house.

“So, I naturally thought that Lord Ken had taken Wizard Big. That’s why I wrote that in the note.”

Moreover, since the Grand Duke had directly witnessed Lord Ken coming out of Wizard Big’s house, he had no choice but to think so.

“But… that’s not the case?”

I felt like only my heart had fallen separately and entered a whirlpool.

“Yes, Prince Tesler also believed that Lord Ken had taken care of the matter, but he got very angry at Lord Ken’s report when he returned to the imperial palace. I’m sure of it.”

Along with a sense of relief, a huge question followed.

“Then… who took Wizard Big?”

“We need to find out. He may have disappeared due to a third party, or he may have disappeared on his own.”

“If a third party kidnapped Wizard Big, what could be the reason?”

Being kidnapped by someone is not a common occurrence unless you have enemies around you.

“I’m also wondering about that part. Anyway, fortunately, it’s not in Prince Tesler’s hands, so I’ll do my best to find him.”

“You were waiting to tell me that.”

I felt newly grateful to Grand Duke Martins.

“I know how the Empress would feel after receiving my note.”

“Thank you… Grand Duke.”

If I were a little closer to Grand Duke Martins, I would have hugged him tightly.

“No, I’m sorry that I couldn’t bring the magic potion.”

“It’s not the Grand Duke’s fault. It would be great if we could find Wizard Big before leaving for the hunting competition, but in my opinion…”

I shook my head to quickly erase the negative thoughts and held back my words.

“Your Majesty, I will hire informants to secretly investigate, so please don’t give up yet.”

“Yes, I won’t give up. Let me know if there’s anything I can do.”

“I will if necessary. Then, let’s go to the reception room now.”

Grand Duke Martins glanced at the clock in the room and said.

“Yes, I’ll go out first. Grand Duke, thank you so much for letting me know before the banquet.”

If I hadn’t heard this fact in advance, I might have done something to Prince Tesler during the banquet.

“You’re welcome, Your Majesty.”

“Go down carefully.”

After saying goodbye to Grand Duke Martins, I headed to the reception room with Sharon and Bonis. No matter how I thought about it, it was strange. If it wasn’t Prince Tesler, then who… where did Wizard Big go…? ***

As I entered the reception room, everyone stood up from their seats to greet me.

“Your Majesty, you don’t look well. Are you feeling unwell?”

Rosie asked with a worried look.

“I don’t think I’m in good condition today. I’ll get better if I rest early. Thank you for your concern.”

“I think I made a pointless suggestion.”

Emperor Katria scratched his neck and said to me.

“No, I should have arranged this kind of meeting first, but I was late. Rather, I thank Emperor Katria.”

As I replied with a slight smile, Emperor Katria waved his hand and opened his mouth.

“They are the people who will be spending the hunting competition together, and I was especially curious about what kind of conversations women would have when they gathered. But…”

Emperor Katria seemed dissatisfied with this gathering.

“Has your curiosity been satisfied?”

“Yes, arrows of glances were flying back and forth.”

Before my question was even finished, Emperor Katria replied with a hollow laugh. I looked around at the women gathered in the reception room and asked.

“Did something… happen before I came?”