The Stand-In Empress’S Wedding Night [EN]: Chapter 125

125. What’s the Point of Being Loved Day and Night? (125/347)

March 16, 2022

Bellos Brodean. The Master of the Magic Tower on Akrato Island. The Magic Tower doesn’t belong to any country; it’s treated as a separate entity from the Duchy of Akrato. Rumors suggest a strained relationship with the Duchy, though this remains unconfirmed. Two hundred and fifty years ago, after the Incarnation [a powerful magical entity] emerged from the Magic Tower Master’s body, he, who was 20 or 21 years old at the time, remains in that form. The Magic Tower Master’s time is frozen. He possesses the Incarnation Sword, which can only prove its worth with the power of fire. He was also the teacher of Rosie’s mother, a healing mage, and entrusted her with the 300-year-old Wyvern egg. As Linelle and I headed to the audience chamber, I recalled the information about the Magic Tower Master that I had gleaned from Incarnation and Moiya.

‘Why did the Magic Tower Master suddenly come to the Rafion Empire? And just two days before we leave for the Continental Hunting Competition?’

I spoke to Incarnation telepathically.

‘He probably arrived much earlier than that, you know?’

Incarnation chuckled in my mind.

‘Could it be that he came to pick you up?’

‘Bellos is taking me? How? Entering and leaving someone’s body is something even I can’t control.’

Incarnation’s words eased my tension. If that were true, the Magic Tower Master wouldn’t harm me to extract Incarnation from my body.

‘Anyway, like Moiya, I’m seeing Bellos after 250 years? That’s… something.’

‘Was I happy to see Moiya yesterday?’

Incarnation retorted nonchalantly. Well, too much time had passed to feel any particular joy about seeing the Magic Tower Master.

“Zelda, what are you thinking so hard about? What kind of person requested an audience so early? Are you cursing them in your mind?”

Linelle asked, kissing the back of my hand as we walked.

“He’s too old to curse.”

“I heard his appearance stopped aging in his early 20s.”

“That’s why I think something’s a little strange.”

Actually, I wanted to say he seemed creepy, but I opted for a more diplomatic expression.

“His face? Or his personality?”

Linelle lowered his voice as we neared the audience chamber.

“…Both. Especially his face.”

‘Puhahaha.’

As I answered Linelle, Incarnation laughed wildly inside me. *** As the audience chamber doors opened, Stian announced Magic Tower Master Bellos.

“His Majesty the Emperor and Her Majesty the Empress enter!”

The Magic Tower Master, who had been sitting with his back to the door, slowly rose and turned to face us.

“Bellos Brodean, the Master of the Magic Tower of Akrato Island, greets the two suns of the Rafion Empire.”

I was taken aback by the Magic Tower Master’s face, which was said to have been 20 years old for 250 years.

‘His face… how can he look so youthful?’

Even considering he’d been in his early 20s for centuries, this was excessive. The Magic Tower Master looked at me with a fresh smile, possessing a youthful beauty that suggested his coming-of-age ceremony [a traditional rite of passage into adulthood] hadn’t been long ago. Setting aside the mysterious aura, wasn’t that smile too innocent for someone who had lived so long? I was regretting my earlier thought that the Magic Tower Master seemed strange when Linelle whispered to me.

“The Empress was right.”

“About what?”

“That he would seem strange.”

Linelle found his youthful face strange, and I looked at him even more strangely for saying that. The Magic Tower Master watched our whispered exchange, cleared his throat slightly, and spoke.

“I hope you will forgive my inability to fully pay my respects due to an injured leg.”

The Magic Tower Master had a bandage on one leg. And he had a sword hanging on his back; could that sword be the ‘Incarnation Sword?’ But Incarnation inside me showed no reaction. Was it because it wasn’t the Incarnation Sword?

“Is this your first visit to the Rafion Empire?”

Linelle asked, glancing at the Magic Tower Master’s injured leg.

“It’s my first time since His Majesty ascended the throne, though I visited several times when the previous Emperors were alive.”

“Ah, I keep forgetting your age. Sorry.”

“It’s nothing. Even I forget about it sometimes.”

The Magic Tower Master, who had been 21 years old for 250 years, replied with a gentle smile.

“But how did you hurt your leg?”

“I had a bit of an accident on the way to the Rafion Empire.”

Linelle posed the question, but the Magic Tower Master looked at me as he answered. I momentarily forgot I was listening to the story of his injury and smiled at the Magic Tower Master without realizing it. As expected, if a handsome man looks at you for more than five seconds, a smile comes naturally. I lowered my gaze to the Magic Tower Master’s leg, which was wrapped in a somewhat clumsy bandage.

“Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty the Empress.”

Huh? I hadn’t said anything; what was he talking about? Was he just assuming and speaking based on my gaze?

“You’ll recover quickly if you receive treatment from the palace physician.”

I hid my embarrassment and said kindly.

“Thank you for your consideration as well.”

I almost blurted out to the Magic Tower Master, who kept thanking me, that I should thank him for being born that way.

“Why don’t we sit down and talk since your leg is uncomfortable?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

The Magic Tower Master replied briefly and dryly, with a face that didn’t seem particularly grateful for Linelle’s consideration.

“What brings you to our Rafion Empire?”

“Just traveling.”

“Traveling…”

Linelle muttered, looking at the Magic Tower Master with a suspicious expression.

“As you know, I’ve been living with this youthful face for a long time.”

The Magic Tower Master unabashedly used the word ‘youthful’ to describe himself. I glanced at Linelle, and he already seemed to think the Magic Tower Master was abnormal. The Magic Tower Master continued.

“But I’ve spent most of my life on Akrato Island. When I suddenly feel suffocated, I leave the island and travel like this once in a while.”

“But you hurt your leg on a trip you took with such effort. Is it a serious injury? What kind of accident was it?”

“While walking in the forest, I was hit by an arrow… shot by a hunter.”

The Magic Tower Master said to Linelle, looking at me and smiling slightly.

“A hunter who can’t distinguish between animals and people? That’s really inconsiderate. You must have been very surprised.”

I said with a look of pity as a matter of courtesy, and the Magic Tower Master put his hand on his heart and opened his mouth slightly. Was he doing that because he was reminded of the moment he was hit by the arrow and felt dizzy?

“…No. It was my fault for being seen, and he was a very kind hunter.”

The Magic Tower Master shook his head slowly and spoke as if defending the hunter who shot the arrow at him. Why was the flow of the conversation so strange? Linelle shook his head with an absurd expression, chuckled, and then looked at the Magic Tower Master again and asked.

“So, you hurt your leg while traveling in the Rafion Empire and came to the Imperial Palace to recuperate?”

“Rather, I heard that the Continental Hunting Competition is about to begin.”

“We’re leaving in two days. And?”

“I would like to join as well.”

What? Linelle and I exchanged glances at the Magic Tower Master’s suggestion.

“Magic Tower Master, you’re going to accompany us on this hunting competition?”

Linelle confirmed again.

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“The reason.”

“Well, as you know, my time is frozen, so I have plenty of time on my hands…”

The Magic Tower Master seemed to be deciding and speaking on the spur of the moment.

“Are you saying you’re participating in the hunting competition for that reason alone?”

Linelle asked, tilting his head with a displeased expression.

“The nature of the Rafion Empire is the most beautiful in all the countries of the continent.”

The Magic Tower Master replied with a smile.

“It’s also the most rugged.”

Linelle retorted with a serious face. The Magic Tower Master was silent for a moment, then said ‘Ah’ and continued.

“As it happens, I know those rough terrains well, so it will be helpful. I’m especially knowledgeable about the terrains of the Southern Continent.”

“Is that so?”

Linelle showed favor to the Magic Tower Master’s last words.

“If you allow me to participate as a guide for the Rafion Empire, it will be helpful in many ways.”

“You’re going to act as a guide?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

The Magic Tower Master continued, driving a wedge.

“Because I like to travel around here and there, I’ve traveled to all the countries for 250 years. In short, you can think of me as a walking map.”

“Didn’t you say earlier that you had been on Akrato Island for a long time and came on a trip because you felt suffocated?”

Linelle asked, narrowing his eyes as if he was questioning him.

“…Ah, did I say that? I’ve lived so long that my memory comes and goes. Hahaha.”

“Your memory is fading faster than your youthful appearance.”

I bit my tongue at Linelle’s words. It would be rude to laugh outright since it’s our first meeting, right? Bellos smiled at Linelle’s words, but his expression wasn’t pleasant.

“If the Magic Tower Master accompanies us on the hunting competition, it wouldn’t be bad for the Rafion Empire either. We were talking about the Duchy of Akrato at yesterday’s meeting anyway…”

Linelle brought up the Duchy of Akrato and then trailed off.

“What were you talking about?”

“Let’s talk about that later. Okay, I’ll allow you to accompany us.”

He seemed to be holding something back, but he accepted the Magic Tower Master’s proposal.

“Thank you, Your Majesty.”

“However, I’m worried about your injury…”

“Ah, don’t worry, it’s much better thanks to the person who treated my wound.”

The Magic Tower Master stroked his injured leg with his hand and replied.

“Are you talking about that hunter?”

“Yes… Your Majesty the Empress.”

The Magic Tower Master avoided my gaze with an embarrassed expression as soon as he made eye contact with me. I thought he would be a charismatic person, but he showed a lot of unexpected innocence.

“That’s a relief. The annexes are already full of guests, so you can stay on the guest room floor in this main palace until you leave for the hunting competition.”

“Thank you for your consideration.”

“I’ll instruct the chamberlain to guide you to the room where you’ll be staying.”

Linelle took my hand and got up from the sofa. The Magic Tower Master also got up from his seat and bowed lightly. As he opened the audience chamber door, Linelle turned to the Magic Tower Master and asked.

“Are you still on bad terms with the Duchy of Akrato?”

“Yes, the bad relationship is as unchanging as my face.”

Linelle showed him a smile for the first time at the Magic Tower Master’s answer.

“Welcome, Bellos.”

*** After lunch, I returned to the bedroom and had tea with Bonis.

“I hope Moiya made it back alright?”

Before going to the audience chamber with Linelle to meet the Magic Tower Master in the morning, I had ordered Moiya to return to Rosie’s residence. Moiya showed interest in the news that Bellos had requested an audience and wanted to meet him, but there was no way that was happening. Linelle and I watched Moiya, who had been Doppelganged [magically disguised] as a butterfly, enter through the terrace door and told her to return to Rosie’s palace more than ten times before heading to the audience chamber.

“I should go to Rosie’s residence. Moiya probably went on her own, but I’m still a little worried.”

I told Bonis about the commotion that happened last night and put down the teacup I was drinking. That’s what I said, but rather than being worried, I just wanted to see Moiya’s playful side.

“Even though she’s reckless, she listens well to Your Majesty the Empress, so she must have gone straight to Rosie’s residence.”

“Probably? But I also want to see the cute Rams and Ao.”

“I’ve been thinking about them too.”

“I have many excuses to visit Rosie’s palace.”

I laughed with Bonis and got up from the sofa together. Just then, Sharon entered the bedroom with a knock.

“Sharon, let’s go to Rosie’s residence.”

“Um… Your Majesty the Empress, Princess Resilia… has arrived.”

Bonis seemed frightened by Sharon’s words and shrank back.

“There’s no need to be nervous, Bonis.”

“I know, but without realizing it…”

“I’m here. Tell her to come in.”

I squeezed Bonis’s hand once and then let go, and then said to Sharon.

“Yes, Your Majesty the Empress.”

A few seconds later, Princess Resilia entered the bedroom with a smile. The princess seemed to frown when she saw Bonis next to me, but then changed her attitude and greeted her first.

“You’ve become the Rafion Empress’s maid, and your face has blossomed?”

“Your Highness, please pay your respects to Her Majesty the Empress first.”

Bonis said to Princess Resilia in a trembling voice. The princess glared at Bonis with a dumbfounded expression, but for some reason, she greeted me obediently.

“I greet Her Majesty the Empress. As expected, the face of a woman who is loved is different.”

“I’ll take that as a compliment.”

Why was she here today? I felt uneasy seeing Princess Resilia’s unusually bright expression.

“Of course, it’s a compliment. If it weren’t for the contraceptive in the magic potion, there would have been good news already… It’s a pity.”

Bonis looked at me with a surprised expression when Princess Resilia brought up the magic potion so casually. I smiled calmly and retorted.

“There will be good news soon. I’ll try harder so that the princess won’t be disappointed.”

“I have high expectations.”

Princess Resilia said with a mocking expression. That look was very unsettling. I was about to tell her to leave if she didn’t have any business, when she continued.

“I just came to see your face for a moment. Actually, I was on my way to see the greenhouse.”

“Really? The Rafion Imperial greenhouse is said to be very good for clearing a cloudy mind.”

But the greenhouse air would be much worse today. Princess Resilia didn’t understand what I meant and lingered with a face that seemed to have something to say to me. Then suddenly, the way she lowered her eyebrows was unusual.

“You seem to have something to say to me.”

I asked her because I had no choice, or she would keep acting that way.

“Your Majesty the Empress, if there have been any misunderstandings, let’s resolve them all.”

Princess Resilia said in a repentant voice. Did the Shato Neil Kingdom fall? What nonsense was she suddenly talking about? Bonis was also quite surprised by Princess Resilia’s words.

“Have you become a priest? What are you suddenly talking about?”

“We’ll be spending the hunting competition together, so I wanted to clear up any bad feelings before that.”

Princess Resilia lowered her voice and asked for reconciliation. Of course, I didn’t sense any sincerity at all.

“That’s going to be difficult. From my point of view, it’s not an emotion that can be easily resolved.”

Unlike the princess, I spoke with complete honesty.

“What, what? I’ve been so generous and reached out my hand first; do you have to be so thorny?”

“I haven’t seen the generosity that the princess claims to have shown me, and I have no intention of taking the hand you’ve offered.”

“Hah?”

Princess Resilia couldn’t have just stopped by. There’s no way she would suddenly say that she wanted to resolve bad feelings. Did she think I didn’t know her? The words that the princess really wanted to say were evident in her eyes.

I slowly approached Princess Resilia. I needed to set the stage first so she could reveal her true colors, right?

“Why did you really come?”

As I deliberately spoke informally, Princess Resilia revealed her cunning true self as if she had been waiting for it.

“As expected, it’s easier to talk when we drop the formalities. Right, Zelda?”

Yes, it’s also easier to hit you. I patiently nodded at her words.

“You’ve taken all the magic potions now, right?”

“…What?”

“My brother said there was only one bottle of magic potion left. Seeing that your face is still clear, you must have drunk that last potion? Oh right! You don’t know that story yet, do you? The magician Big has disappeared.”

“…”

“So you can’t get magic potions anymore. My brother told me to tell you he’s sorry.”

Princess Resilia put her hands together as if praying and looked at me pitifully.

“What should I do? Now that you’ve run out of magic potions, that disgusting burn scar will be revealed during the hunting competition?”

Ha, was that what she came to say?

“Mind your own business… and get out.”

I pointed to the bedroom door with my chin and said.

“Okay, I should go.”

Princess Resilia nodded and then came closer to me and said with conviction.

“Your Majesty the Empress, what’s the point of being loved day and night, what’s the point of trying… it won’t work.”

“What are you talking about?”

As I frowned and asked, a smile spread across Princess Resilia’s face, and she covered her mouth with her hand and said softly.

“You can’t have children.”