The Stand-In Empress’S Wedding Night [EN]: Chapter 176

176. Kill Me

2022.09.10.

I laughed without realizing it at the end of my words.

I was startled by how similar it was to the laughter of a Fallen Demon.

“If I make what just happened public, you’ll be in a difficult position!”

Princess Resilia staggered to her feet, raising one corner of her mouth slyly as she spoke.

“Go ahead and make it public.”

“?”

“Because the Princess, without any loyalty, ran out of the wine cellar alone to save herself, I, the Empress, was trapped there alone…”

“Th-that’s!”

“Could you please shut your mouth for a moment? I’m not finished speaking yet.”

“Ugh?!

I shut Princess Resilia’s mouth by tapping her chin with the back of my hand and continued speaking.

“Because of that, I even had to block a goblin fire with my hand, and I became infected with the energy of evil. As a result, my hand went up to the Princess without my knowing. When you make this public, please make sure to list everything in chronological order.”

“……Ha.”

“Ah, it’s okay if you forget. If the Princess leaves out any details, I’ll correct them right away. Besides me, there are several witnesses here.”

I looked at the faces of my comrades who had been with me in the wine cellar, one by one, and spoke to the Princess.

Princess Resilia’s lips, which had been parted to say something in response, were tightly shut again.

Although her mouth was closed, Princess Resilia’s eyes became even more ferocious.

“Your face is swelling up nicely. If you want to keep that fist-sized face, go get treatment from the magician Big quickly.”

I advised, circling my finger around the swelling area of Princess Resilia’s face.

Anger filled the Princess’s eyes.

I looked down at her clenched fist, full of spite and weakness.

She was trembling even more than I was, as if she wanted to swing her fist at me right away.

“Someone on her side, please take her to the doctor?”

I turned my gaze to Catherine, gesturing towards the Princess.

Then, Catherine and the Prince Consort Jasper, after exchanging greetings with me, hurriedly grabbed Princess Resilia’s arms from both sides.

“Let’s go, Princess.”

Catherine spoke to Princess Resilia, but for some reason, the Princess didn’t move and stood in place, glaring at me.

It seemed to be her own way of rebelling against my command.

I looked back and forth between Catherine and Prince Consort Jasper with eyes pleading, ‘Please, get her out of my sight!’

Fortunately, the two seemed to understand the meaning of my gaze and almost dragged the Princess out.

“I think I’m going to fall in love with Your Majesty the Empress!”

Suddenly, Melanie confessed.

Melanie put her hands together, placed them on her chin, and came in front of me, blinking her eyes.

It was quite a burdensome expression.

I looked at Melanie’s pretty face, which was being pushed towards me, and gently pushed her protruding forehead with my index finger, replying.

“Love is too much.”

“No, I want to love you! I don’t have anyone to love anyway…”

Since the person Melanie should love is my husband, I didn’t have anything to say to her words.

“……Then, do as you please.”

I reluctantly gave permission in a nonchalant tone, and Melanie’s expression brightened as if it was a big deal, and she giggled shyly.

“Um… Your Majesty the Empress. Is it because your violence has worsened due to the energy of evil?”

Rosie, who was next to me, asked me carefully with a worried face.

“I think so for sure. What if it gets worse and worse…?”

I muttered softly, looking down at my hands.

“Won’t the Master of the Magic Tower treat you before the symptoms get worse?”

“I thought so too… but it seems his skills are worse than I thought. I thought he could easily treat this much evil energy.”

In that moment, the face of the clumsy Fallen Demon, who looked like an angel, flashed through my mind.

“But there will definitely be a way, so don’t worry too much.”

“Yeah, I believe so.”

I nodded at Rosie’s warm voice, uttering words that were not in my heart.

In any case, the Master of the Magic Tower broke the barrier set up by the demon, even sacrificing his own lifespan, and came into the wine cellar, so I was able to save my life.

Ah, now that I think about it, I realized that I hadn’t thanked the Master of the Magic Tower separately yet.

I should say thank you.

Where would the Master of the Magic Tower be at this hour?

***

“Did you call me, Your Majesty.”

Bellos entered the prayer room inside the monastery at Linelle’s call.

Already inside the prayer room, Raphael, Commander Macrome, Stian, and other close aides of Linelle were seated at the table.

“Come and sit down.”

He offered Bellos the seat across from him.

Bellos sensed an unusual atmosphere.

He sent Raphael a look asking what was going on when their eyes met.

But Raphael also shrugged slightly, as if he didn’t know what was going on.

Bellos examined Linelle’s complexion.

‘It seems that the memory of what was mentioned about me in the conversation I had with the Princess last night has disappeared.’

Otherwise, he would have immediately plunged a sword into his heart in this place.

‘Then, what did he call me for?’

Bellos asked him tentatively.

“Your Majesty, you don’t look well… What’s wrong?”

At Bellos’s words, Linelle slowly looked around at the faces of those sitting around the table with an expression that seemed to smile slightly.

“Are you worried about the Empress’s condition?”

Bellos asked again.

“I called you here not because of the Empress, but because of my condition.”

At Linelle’s answer, everyone asked him back, “Yes?”

“Your Majesty, where do you feel unwell? Is that why you even called the Master of the Magic Tower?”

Prince Norton was worried that Linelle might have been affected by Zelda’s evil energy.

“Not yet, but I’m scheduled to be unwell.”

“What do you mean by that…?”

Prince Norton tilted his head at Linelle’s incomprehensible reply.

He was usually an emperor who joked well, but today, he felt a suppressed emotion in what he was saying.

Linelle’s expression was almost non-existent, but his eyes were deep and dark.

He seemed to be agonizing, but a strange atmosphere arose.

It was definitely not a good feeling.

“From now on, even if I say something out of the blue, listen carefully.”

Linelle took a moment to catch his breath and then opened his mouth again.

“After today, if I… try to do anything that harms the Empress even in the slightest, anyone, kill me.”

It was not a request but a solemn order.

Everyone’s mouths dropped open at Linelle’s unexpected words.

But no one burst out laughing because his voice, carrying those words, was more serious and earnest than ever before.

“If you can’t kill me, protect the Empress. Don’t let anyone harm the Empress. By any means necessary. Do you understand?”

“Your Majesty!”

“What terrible words are those?”

“No, what kind of bizarre order is that all of a sudden!”

Raphael, Commander Macrome, and even Stian each said a word in turn.

The atmosphere was that they were thinking that Zelda’s condition, infected with the energy of evil, had become so serious that he was saying these things.

“Perhaps… Has Your Majesty also been infected with the energy of evil?! Didn’t the Master of the Magic Tower say it wasn’t contagious?”

Prince Norton glanced at Bellos and asked Linelle.

“That’s not it. I can’t explain it now… but you’ll know why I said these things as early as tomorrow morning or by the day after tomorrow, so I hope you all understand, even if it’s frustrating for now.”

“Has the Empress’s condition worsened?”

Linelle, who had taken a magic potion containing a secret-keeping function, could not answer that question, even though he wanted to tell Prince Norton everything.

‘I’m… going to have Zelda erased from my mind…’

Even if he tried to speak, no voice came out.

“I don’t understand what you’re saying at all, Your Majesty.”

Raphael said in a voice full of doubt.

“I know you can’t understand. In the first place, I’m not saying this to make you understand. This is an order as an emperor, no, a request as a longtime friend.”

Linelle said, looking at Raphael, Commander Macrome, and Stian in turn.

The three people who had been watching him for a long time could tell that the words he was saying now were not just jokes but were sincere.

So it was even more strange.

They couldn’t even guess what was making him say such things.

Linelle spoke as if there was a possibility that he would harm the Empress.

Only Bellos regained his usual expression and was silently listening to Linelle’s words.

“It sounds like… something is going to happen.”

Prince Norton narrowed his eyes and said in a cautious voice.

Then Linelle ignored Prince Norton’s words and changed the subject.

“Norton, do you have feelings for Rosie?”

“Yes?”

“If you have feelings for her, do you have any thoughts of taking Rosie as your wife?”

“Your Majesty, what are you suddenly… talking about?”

“I don’t have time, so I’m saying it while I think of it. I’ll ask again. Do you have feelings for Rosie?”

“……That’s.”

Instead of saying no, Prince Norton chose to drag out his words, leaving a slight opening.

Linelle, who noticed this, nodded and chuckled briefly.

“If it’s okay with you, I’ll allow the marriage with Rosie. I don’t know if the relationship between the two will lead to marriage.”

In the quiet silence, everyone else’s eyes moved from Linelle to Prince Norton.

“If I ever say anything different later, make the people gathered here witnesses. That I allowed the marriage with Rosie.”

At Linelle’s words, Prince Norton could neither affirm nor deny and exchanged glances with Raphael, Commander Macrome, and Stian.

“Everyone, do you understand what I’m saying?”

“……Ah, yes. We will definitely testify about the Prince and Rosie. But Your Majesty, shouldn’t you explain the order to protect the Empress a little?”

At Raphael’s words, the other three also nodded.

“As I said before, you’ll find out gradually. As early as tomorrow, at the latest by the day after tomorrow… you’ll know why I said these things. What you have to keep in mind is to protect the Empress.”

“Of course, we will do so, Your Majesty.”

Commander Macrome felt Linelle’s unstable, fluctuating energy.

At Commander Macrome’s answer, he emphasized once more, as if driving a stake.

“From anyone. Also, in all situations. Can you do that?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

The four people, who had been looking at each other for a moment, answered in unison.

Clearly, something seemed to be wrong with the Emperor’s safety, but he was only making earnest requests disguised as orders without any explanation.

The sigh that Linelle let out was accompanied by pain and fatigue.

‘I have to say it like this…’

Since the memories of Zelda will disappear, it is unknown how much they will be able to protect her safety in a state without memories.

He will send her away in advance, but he needed to say it in advance just in case.

“I’m careful to say this, but perhaps due to the influence of the Empress…”

Raphael scratched the back of his head and started talking with a confused face.

“Do you think I’ve been infected with the demon’s energy from the Empress?”

“The Master of the Magic Tower said there was no contagiousness, but listening to the words Your Majesty mentioned, I feel like something is about to happen!”

Commander Macrome, who had been silent, raised his voice in frustration, but Linelle only gave a self-deprecating smile.

A moment of intentional silence flowed.

He wearily opened his mouth again with a tired look.

“Master of the Magic Tower, I called you because I have something important to ask of you too.”

He put his hands on the old wooden table and clasped them together.

“Tell me, Your Majesty.”

Bellos said, looking down at Linelle’s tightly clasped hands.

His resolute voice landed on his face, which was full of tension.

“Take the Empress and leave the monastery.”

***

I had dinner alone with Linelle.

It seemed that he was being considerate because my current physical condition was not good.

Before dinner, he personally bathed me and even carefully washed my hair.

Not only that, but after finishing the bath, he even combed my hair himself.

Receiving such excessive service, being infected with the energy of evil was not so bad.

“I feel good because Linelle is combing my hair.”

“Really? If I had known you liked it, I would have done it sooner.”

He muttered as if mumbling in a subdued voice.

I glanced back at him.

“Why?”

“You look like a sick chicken.”

Damn it.

I’ve developed a habit of blurting out these words first and then shutting my mouth, saying ‘Oops’.

“…….”

“Ah, no… cancel that. You look very tired. Like someone who hasn’t slept a wink.”

“Do I look like that? That’s strange… I slept well…”

Dark circles were blatantly under his eyes, but he lied.

But as I looked at him looking tired, I wondered, how many days would he have to not sleep to not look handsome?

I came to the conclusion that he certainly wouldn’t lose his radiance even if he didn’t sleep for a day or two, and I put my hand on his cheek.

My trembling hand seemed to tremble even more when it touched his handsome features.

Come to think of it, my heart is also beating twice as fast.

“Zelda, I have something to tell you.”

He said, holding my hand that was vibrating on his cheek.

I nodded and met his eyes.

“You will be leaving here early tomorrow morning with the Master of the Magic Tower.”

“……Yes?”

“It seems that we won’t be able to arrive in the Tevelo Empire within the scheduled period anyway. So go there first and get ‘Yakante’ [a herb used in magic potions]. Besides, according to the Master of the Magic Tower…”

Linelle stroked my right cheek with the burn scar, paused for a moment, sighed, and then continued.

“There is also a good herb in the Tevelo Empire to cure the state of being infected with the energy of evil.”

Besides ‘Yakante’, a herb used in magic potions, there is also a cure there that can stop this damn trembling?

“Really?!”

“Yes, really.”

I lifted my butt off the bed with a happy heart and bounced my body, causing his body to bounce as well.

The old bed made a grotesque creaking sound, and old dust rose like a fog from the old mattress.

“I was secretly worried, but I’m glad!”

I shouted, waving my hand at the dust that was flying around.

“Yes. So go to the Tevelo Empire with the Master of the Magic Tower.”

“Yes!”

But, it wasn’t ‘Let’s go together’.

“Then Linelle is…”

“I, I mean, just a moment…”

He stopped what he was about to say, hugged me tightly, and said.

“I’m sorry.”

His voice and body slumped in my arms.