The Stand-In Empress’S Wedding Night [EN]: Chapter 214

214. Conversation is Impossible

“Don’t close them. It’ll sting.”

His hand caressed my eyes.

Just the touch of his fingertips sent shivers down my spine.

All my bodily functions seemed to have lost their purpose, waiting only for his touch.

“Watch… how it’s done.”

“Haa… Your Majesty.”

“My name, say my name.”

“Rinel…!”

I don’t have the confidence to keep my eyes open….

The gentle touch started to curl my toes.

I couldn’t maintain a dignified expression, even with his careful movements.

My tightly closed lips kept parting.

He was so relaxed, which only made me more impatient.

“Even if I hold you this tight, there will still be gaps between us, right?”

Rinel asked quietly.

Every touch of his lips on my skin felt like a red rose blooming.

“My body might, but my heart is completely filled with you.”

Did his whispered words have feathers?

His voice tickled every corner of my body as it wandered around.

“I wanted to say this every time I held you….”

Rinel’s words ended, but his eyes were still telling me so much.

I just stared at his face without saying a word.

I wanted to cherish this lingering feeling for a long time.

The sound of his kisses filled the silence.

The light kisses were deepening.

He slowly began to pour out his passion.

I was just floundering in ecstasy.

How much time had passed, how long he would keep me on edge, what words had just tumbled out of my mouth—suddenly, I wondered about such things,

He lifted his head again, met my eyes, and looked down at me.

After gazing into my eyes for a moment, he whispered softly.

“I won’t rush.”

What?

His voice was sweet, but his words were harsh.

It’s okay to rush?

“I’ll take it… slow.”

Is that really necessary?

“But, I can’t stop.”

Ah, I like that.

My head, which had been tilting sideways, nodded in satisfaction at his last words.

He declared his grand ambition and quickly reverted to the face of a pure boy.

Was he waiting for my answer?

“Don’t stop.”

I spoke shyly, but my eyes sent a message that I wouldn’t let him get away with it if he did.

He slowly covered my lips, and I wrapped my arms around his waist.

The curves of his body, with his shirt off, were felt directly in my hands.

We were completely close, embracing each other.

My heart was beating fast, but his love flowed calmly into me.

His eyes, filled with love, sparkled and held only me.

Perhaps my gaze was too blatant; he gave a shy, smiling look.

The arms holding him tightened.

His expression remained calm, but his actions were gradually changing.

Eventually, he was busy for a long time, holding me as if he had to rush somewhere.

In his comfortable and peaceful embrace, I endlessly received his pouring love.

“I love you….”

I felt like I would cry if I stayed like this, so the words I blurted out happened to be love.

I held back my tears, but it seemed to have touched his tear ducts.

Rinel showed tears.

“You love me?”

He asked, without wiping away the flowing tears.

“Yes, I love you.”

It wasn’t the first time he’d heard those words, but he began to hungrily devour my lips like someone overwhelmed by the emotion the words gave.

This night, our love, everything was deepening.

“I love you, I love you, I really love… you!”

The same words returned several times over.

Rinel was like a broken doll.

But the broken doll was so handsome and lovely that I had no intention of fixing it.

“Stop now.”

I playfully covered his mouth.

“The words? Or what I’m doing?”

He sounded like he would be upset if either was stopped.

I tapped my lips with my finger, indicating what I wanted.

“You can just show me with a kiss how much you love me.”

“Then I guess conversation is impossible.”

His lips grazed mine as he spoke his last words.

I tried to reply, but my voice melted into the sensation of his soft touch.

Our breaths mingled erotically.

There was nothing between him and me but love.

***

Prince Tesler, arriving at the annex, immediately sought out Grand Duke Martins’ room without a moment to catch his breath.

“Are you coming from the Empress’s Palace? What about Princess Resilia?”

Grand Duke Martins had been waiting for Prince Tesler.

“She wasn’t taken away for ruining Zelda’s wedding dress.”

“Yes? Then for what reason….”

Grand Duke Martins, already aware of everything through Zelda’s note, pretended to be surprised as if hearing it for the first time.

“The rumors you heard were true. The wyvern egg and the Avatar Sword were with Empress Roxana!”

“Did… Empress Roxana reveal that herself?”

“Yes.”

“That’s unexpected. To speak so easily about such a fact.”

Grand Duke Martins, pretending to know nothing, matched Prince Tesler’s tone in the conversation.

“She suspects us.”

“What does that mean?”

“It seems the wyvern egg and the Avatar Sword disappeared last night.”

“Y-yes?! Does Empress Roxana really think we stole them?”

“Yes, that stupid Resilia must have done something suspicious in front of the Empress’s dressing table yesterday. Damn it!”

“Oh dear….”

Grand Duke Martins sighed, turning his head slightly to the side and raising one corner of his mouth.

It was expected.

That’s why he had deliberately mentioned the cosmetics from the Aclato Duchy to Princess Resilia.

“We’re about to get unfairly blamed. Roxana is convinced we stole them and is threatening us using Resilia.”

Prince Tesler slammed the table and gnashed his teeth.

“So, ruining Zelda’s wedding dress and taking her to the Empress’s Palace was just an excuse, and they’re holding Princess Resilia hostage.”

“That’s about it.”

“This is really unfair. If I had known this would happen, we should have moved faster.”

“That’s what I’m saying! Who the hell stole them?”

At that moment, a knock was heard on Grand Duke Martins’ door, and his guard, Sir Rolf, entered.

“What is it?”

“I have urgent news to report, Grand Duke.”

“Excuse me for a moment, Prince.”

Grand Duke Martins approached Sir Rolf, who was standing at the door.

The two exchanged glances, and as promised, Sir Rolf began to report in a hushed voice.

Prince Tesler, wondering what was going on, glanced at them.

When he heard the name ‘Zelda’ during the conversation, Prince Tesler frowned.

“Prince.”

Grand Duke Martins, after dismissing Sir Rolf, approached with a serious expression.

“What is it?”

“It’s not certain, but… I think we’ve found the whereabouts of the Avatar Sword.”

“Is that true? Where, who has it now! Huh?!”

Prince Tesler asked, glaring.

“I suspect it might be Zelda.”

“……What? Who? Zelda stole the Avatar Sword?”

Prince Tesler asked with a hollow laugh.

“She wouldn’t have acted directly. Wouldn’t she have used the Master of the Magic Tower or Commander Macrome?”

“Well, there’s no way she could have infiltrated the Empress’s Palace herself. But how did you find out? Is there any basis for this?”

“Just in case, I planted someone in Zelda’s new residence. While cleaning the bedroom, they saw a sword in the dressing room. They said they saw a red jewel embedded in the sword’s hilt… I think that might be…?”

“The Avatar Sword. It’s the Avatar Sword!”

Prince Tesler recalled the hilt of the Avatar Sword he had seen when the Master of the Magic Tower possessed it during the hunting competition and became excited.

“It’s not certain.”

Grand Duke Martins deliberately emphasized once more.

“No. It must be the Avatar Sword. It’s true!”

Prince Tesler shouted as if he had seen it with his own eyes.

“If it really is the Avatar Sword, what will you do?”

“I have to take it back.”

Prince Tesler smiled bitterly.

“Hmm, that might be the only way to get Princess Resilia out.”

“Are you out of your mind?”

Prince Tesler looked at Grand Duke Martins with an absurd expression.

“Yes?”

“Who in their right mind would hand over the Avatar Sword to a concubine from an island nation after getting their hands on it!”

“But if that happens, Princess Resilia….”

“Martins, broaden your perspective.”

Prince Tesler cut off the Grand Duke’s words and spoke coldly.

Grand Duke Martins had somewhat anticipated how Prince Tesler would react, but he couldn’t help but sigh when he chose the Avatar Sword over the safety of his own sister without a moment’s hesitation.

‘As expected, Tesler, you are an irredeemable piece of trash.’

“If I were to kill Zelda, all suspicion would naturally fall on the Empress’s Palace. That way, Roxana wouldn’t be able to kill Resilia carelessly.”

Prince Tesler’s face was already filled with triumph, as if the Avatar Sword was already in his hands.

“It’s a very good opportunity for me. I can get rid of two eyesores and obtain the Avatar Sword.”

“Zelda is favored by Emperor Rinel. If the plan fails… what will you do about the aftermath?”

Grand Duke Martins asked with a seemingly serious expression.

“Me, this Tesler! Is my swordsmanship so weak that I can’t subdue one little woman?”

Prince Tesler flared up.

He shouted with a wounded pride and then began to mutter quietly as if making a vow.

“Zelda, I will kill you with my own hands. With the Avatar Sword….”

“When will you move?”

Grand Duke Martins asked in a hushed voice.

“The sooner, the better. Empress Roxana might smell something and move first. Tomorrow night would be good.”

“Wouldn’t it be dangerous for you to move personally? It might be better to have another knight do it, just in case….”

“Listen, what if someone else gets their hands on the Avatar Sword and runs away? It’s safest for me to move myself.”

Prince Tesler said firmly.

‘Your distrust will eventually be your downfall, Tesler. I clearly gave you a final chance.’

Grand Duke Martins nodded silently, looking at the Prince.

“Wouldn’t it be better to strike before Emperor Rinel visits her residence?”

“That’s what I think too. There will be too many eyes during the day, and that bastard will definitely visit her residence late at night.”

“It would be good to scout the area around the residence as soon as the sun goes down tomorrow.”

“Yes, I should get rid of her as early as possible in the evening.”

Confidence crept into Prince Tesler’s face.

“So that Emperor Rinel can see our Zelda torn to shreds.”

***

I woke up in the same bed as Rinel.

I felt a sense of camaraderie, like soldiers who had been through a fierce battle together.

We had a fierce night, so it was understandable.

After finishing breakfast, before he returned to the main palace, I hugged him for a long time.

He just thought I was being clingy because I didn’t want to part.

“We’ll see each other again today.”

Rinel patted my back as if soothing a child.

“Yes, I’ll see you… tonight.”

I smiled, taking his hand and placing it over my heart.

***

“Are you alright? Is anything uncomfortable?”

Rosie looked me up and down, expressing her concern.

In the afternoon, Rosie and Melanie visited my residence.

The two of them complained about the location of this place from the moment they entered my new bedroom.

“I heard this building was abandoned after the smithy was expanded. How could you pick a place like this?”

Melanie also grumbled, looking around the room, and shook her head at the smithy scenery that was clearly visible through the window.

“Did you bring what I asked for?”

I had told Rosie in advance to find a ruby gemstone similar to the one embedded in the hilt of the Avatar Sword.

“Of course!”

Melanie answered instead of Rosie, lifting her chin.

Having heard from Rosie, Melanie had also joined in and brought a ruby gemstone.

The two of them placed the ruby gemstones on the table side by side.

“The ruby that Melanie brought seems to be a better fit for what Her Majesty the Empress wants than the one I found.”

Rosie touched and evaluated the ruby that Melanie had brought.

“I made a special request to my father.”

Melanie continued, with a boastful expression.

“And it’s not a diamond, so finding a ruby gemstone smaller than a fist is no big deal. When it comes to jewels, the Catherine family can’t keep up with our family.”

At Melanie’s triumphant appearance, I laughed out loud and said she was cute, and her cheeks turned red.

“Everyone, thank you so much for doing this on short notice.”

I sincerely expressed my gratitude.

“But, why do you need this?”

“What are you going to do with the ruby gemstone?”

Rosie and Melanie asked with curious eyes.

“I’m going to make a sword similar to the Avatar Sword. I need this to do that.”

I said, picking up the ruby.