The Stand-In Empress’S Wedding Night [EN]: Chapter 264

264. Why is the Door Locked?

2023.07.15.

“I haven’t met any wyverns besides Moiya and Moni, have I?”

I said as calmly as possible.

“So…?”

“If I am the Wyvern Lord, the other wyverns should obey me too.”

“Even so, we can’t say there are no risks involved. Moiya and Moni are special wyverns. That’s why they served Zelda from the beginning.”

The Archmage’s voice was cautious.

“Are you saying that other wyverns might not obey me?”

“Not necessarily. It just might take time. I don’t know the world of wyverns inside and out, so it’s best to be careful if there’s even a slight risk.”

“I have the Avatar Sword and the imprint. And if the wyverns show any hostility, I’ll come back immediately.”

The Archmage, who had been pondering something for a moment at my words, asked me.

“Shouldn’t you tell His Majesty?”

“It’s better not to, in many ways. It’s not too late to tell him when I get back.”

If I told Linell that I was going to the Valley of Death, he would object without hesitation.

It was an unavoidable choice.

Before heading to the Partsha Empire, I needed to meet the wyverns in advance, even in this way, to prepare for the next step.

If the Southern Continent is targeting me, I need to use the wyverns to protect the Rafion Empire and the people I love.

“Alright. But you must let me accompany you!”

The Archmage said to me with a determined look.

“Together…?”

“Yes, we are friends, after all.”

“Thank you, Bellos.”

I felt much relieved at the Archmage’s offer to accompany me.

“Take my hand. You might feel a little nauseous. Don’t open your eyes during the teleportation. It won’t take long, so don’t be too nervous.”

“Okay.”

I took the Archmage’s hands in mine.

“Ah, and Sharon, it would be best if you locked the door and returned to your chambers, then come back in an hour.”

The Archmage said, looking at Sharon and me.

“Can’t I wait here?”

Sharon asked.

“Sometimes people come looking for me in this room, which could lead to misunderstandings. I always lock the door when I go out, so if someone comes while I’m gone, they’ll just think I’m out and leave.”

The Archmage added that there was a room key in the bedside table drawer for Sharon to take.

In fact, he almost always locked the door when he went out because he had various key ingredients for potions in the room.

“Then I’ll stay here with the door locked.”

“Why bother making it so stuffy?”

I said, smiling at Sharon, who looked worried.

“Today is the day you have a meeting in the Grand Conference Hall after lunch, so you won’t run into him. If you do happen to meet him, just say you’re in the middle of treatment. And that you’ll visit him after the treatment.”

I told Sharon to take the carriage back to her chambers, rest, and then come back in an hour.

“Yes… I will.”

“Should we go with her, Moiya~?”

“We’d be sad if you left us out, Moni~?”

As I was about to stand facing the Archmage again, holding his hand, the two sparrows, who had been plucking feathers from the Archmage’s raven in front of the window, suddenly flew into the room.

Moiya and Moni returned to their true forms and sat on my shoulder and the Archmage’s shoulder, respectively.

“We might need them, so let’s take them with us.”

The Archmage said with a chuckle.

I nodded and told them.

“Don’t fight again, okay?”

“Oong? Moiya loves peace, Moiya~?”

“Moni too.”

“Don’t worry, Master. We’ll persuade them nicely without fighting. Like adu~lts.”

Who are you trying to persuade?

Were you in an egg for 300 years, so you think you’re older than a fully grown wyvern?

I was worried, but Moiya made me laugh, which relieved some of the tension.

“Are you ready? My friend.”

The Archmage asked.

“Yes, let’s go.”

I said, closing my eyes.

“Let’s goooo~!”

With Moiya’s voice, the surroundings turned to darkness.

***

“Your Majesty, Empress, Emperor Adrian requests an audience in the audience chamber.”

Nancy, who had been waiting outside the dining hall, came into the dining hall and reported to Roxana.

“When?”

Roxana showed curiosity at the unexpected name from Nancy’s mouth.

“He is already… in the audience chamber.”

Why would the Emperor of the Tevelo Empire suddenly visit me without prior notice?

Roxana couldn’t resist her curiosity and headed to the audience chamber in the middle of her meal.

As she entered the audience chamber, Emperor Adrian greeted her first, showing courtesy.

Roxana also greeted him, observing Emperor Adrian’s face.

“It’s an honor to have Emperor Adrian visit the Empress’ Palace. It’s also unexpected.”

“Hahaha, it’s been a while. I’ve wanted to visit you for some time, but as you know, I had an accident in the Imperial Palace, so I didn’t have the opportunity.”

“Ah, as the mistress of the Rafion Imperial Family, I was very saddened by that incident. I’m so glad you’ve recovered safely.”

Roxana gracefully gestured for Emperor Adrian to take a seat.

“Yes. I sometimes have lingering pain in the back of my head, but thanks to the excellent medical skills of the Rafion Imperial Palace physicians, I’ve gotten much better.”

Emperor Adrian touched the back of his head, recalling the day of the accident.

It was a night when he needed blood.

While wandering around the Imperial Palace looking for an easy target, he found a servant walking alone in a secluded place and immediately subdued him from behind.

However, he was instead thrown over the servant’s shoulder and hit the back of his head on a sharp rock protruding from the ground.

Before he could even see the servant’s face, he passed out, bleeding profusely, and fell into a coma for a while after that day.

Emperor Adrian still had no idea that the person who attacked him that day was Zelda, who had secretly entered the Imperial Palace through a hole in the wall.

“I will personally instruct the physicians to pay special attention to Emperor Adrian’s health in the future.”

Roxana said kindly, looking straight at Emperor Adrian.

He wouldn’t have come to visit her suddenly without a reason.

“You didn’t visit the Empress’ Palace without any business… Is there anything uncomfortable about living in the Imperial Palace?”

Roxana asked with dignity, turning the question back to him.

“Shouldn’t Your Majesty, Empress, be the one who is uncomfortable with her life in the Imperial Palace these days?”

“What do you mean?”

Roxana immediately showed an unpleasant expression.

“After Prince Tesler’s trial, didn’t some of the Rafion officials who had been fully supporting you begin to distance themselves from you?”

Emperor Adrian smiled slyly, poking at her sore spots.

It was an undeniable fact.

She was furious, but the other party was the Emperor of the Tevelo Empire from the Southern Continent.

“I didn’t realize you were concerned about my position?”

Roxana forced a smile, suppressing her anger.

Emperor Adrian laughed out loud, then wiped the smile off his face and spoke seriously.

“I think Your Majesty, Empress, and I could be good friends.”

“What aspects of me made you think that way?”

What’s his game?

She didn’t want to face the cunning Emperor Adrian for long.

As Roxana asked with a slightly sarcastic tone, Emperor Adrian replied as if he had been waiting for it.

“We have something in common.”

“A commonality? What is it?”

“Perhaps we have the same person we want to eliminate?”

Emperor Adrian asked, raising one corner of his mouth.

***

Sharon, who came out of the Archmage’s room, locked the door and looked around before going down the stairs.

She came down to the lobby and deliberately avoided the main palace entrance, heading out through another entrance when someone called out to her.

“Sharon?”

Sharon frowned at the familiar voice and slowly turned around.

Fortunately, only Raphael was there; Emperor Linell was nowhere to be seen.

“Where is Zelda?”

Raphael asked, approaching her.

“Ah, Her Majesty is…”

As she was wondering what to say, Raphael thankfully jumped to conclusions.

“She must be receiving treatment in the Archmage’s room.”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“But where are you going? On an errand?”

“…The treatment is taking a long time, so she told me to get some fresh air. I was thinking of taking a walk in the garden.”

Sharon thought that the excuse she had just made wasn’t too bad.

She had just said that Zelda was receiving treatment in the Archmage’s room, so it wouldn’t make sense for her to take her carriage back to her chambers.

“That’s good. I’ll walk with you.”

“Why, why?!”

Sharon asked, startled.

“His Majesty is having a late lunch with the ministers right now.”

So, he meant that he also had some time to rest.

Before she could refuse, Raphael took the lead and stretched as he left the entrance.

“Sharon, you’re the first.”

It was when they were walking slowly in front of the fountain after coming down the main palace stairs.

Raphael looked up at the sky and suddenly said to Sharon.

“…What do you mean?”

“There were many women who set fire to that place… but you’re the first woman who put out the fire. Hahaha!”

“Are you really okay?”

“Of course. Thankfully, it was fine this morning too. Anyway, you’re a great benefactor to me, so I’ll repay you later.”

“No need for repayment. I was very worried, but I’m glad it’s functioning properly.”

After saying the words, she felt a bit uneasy.

Was the nuance a bit strange?

It was like she was worried about the secretary’s thing [his manhood].

It was true that she was worried, but expressing it made her feel like she had made a mistake.

“You made me worry about everything. Anyway, thank you.”

Raphael scratched the back of his head and glanced down at the area that was safe thanks to Sharon yesterday.

Sharon also unknowingly lowered her head following Raphael’s gaze, and then their eyes met.

Then, Raphael discreetly brought his hands together in front of him.

“Isn’t it about time His Majesty finishes his meal? You should go back.”

Sharon asked, wanting to get away from Raphael quickly. Then, Raphael took out a pocket watch from his uniform pocket, checked the time, and shook his head.

“There’s still 30 minutes left for the meal. And these days, he eats slowly because of morning sickness.”

“Ah, I see.”

“Raphael.”

As if to contradict the secretary’s words, the Emperor’s voice was heard from behind.

Sharon felt as if her hair was standing on end.

‘His Majesty will definitely ask where Zelda is!’

It would be fortunate if he only asked.

If he said he was going to meet her, the situation would become very difficult.

“Your Majesty! Have you already finished your meal? But how did you know I was here and come out?”

“A giant squid was floating by the dining room window, so I thought I was seeing things and came out to check.”

At his answer, Raphael’s face turned like dried squid being grilled.

“Is Zelda… in the Archmage’s room right now?”

Linell smiled and asked Sharon.

He naturally thought that Zelda had come to the Archmage for treatment after seeing Sharon at the main palace.

“Ah, y-yes…”

“I see. I’ll just take a quick look at her face and go to the conference hall.”

He turned around and headed towards the main palace stairs.

Sharon, who had turned pale, ran towards him.

“Y-Your Majesty! I’ll go and tell Her Majesty Zelda. If you go to the office, I’ll escort Her Majesty…”

“It’s okay since there’s still time left before lunch.”

He stepped up the stairs two at a time, increasing his speed.

‘What should I do! What should I do?!’

There were still about 30 minutes left before Zelda and the Archmage returned from the Valley of Death.

‘If I block him here again… he’ll get the wrong idea!’

Unlike Sharon’s anxious heart, Linell’s steps were lighter and more cheerful than usual.

In front of the Archmage’s door, he knocked directly without waiting for Raphael.

Of course, there was no sign of anyone inside the room.

Knock, knock, knock-!

The second time, his knock had more force in it.

Again, there was no response, so he pulled down on the doorknob repeatedly.

The sound of clanging echoed through the quiet hallway.

“The door is… locked? Why.”

Linell’s eyes gleamed fiercely.