The Stand-In Empress’S Wedding Night [EN]: Chapter 280

280. Gifts Should Be Opened

September 9, 2023

Hettore’s tense fingertips brushed against Roxana’s neck.

Roxana, with a conceited smirk, raised her hand and pressed Hettore’s hand firmly against her neck, as if encouraging him to wrap his hands around it.

Her action was unexpected.

Hettore flinched, trying to pull his hand away.

“It’s been a while since you’ve touched me, hasn’t it?”

Roxana said, caressing Hettore’s large hand that was encircling her neck.

Come to think of it, Hettore hadn’t had any contact with Roxana since the day he accidentally kissed Melanie in the carriage.

It wasn’t that he didn’t have the opportunity.

He just didn’t feel like it.

This was another fact he had just realized.

Indeed, the antidote seemed to be working as soon as he faced Roxana.

The memories of the past felt new.

Hettore tried to recall when and where he might have ingested the obedience potion.

The most likely time was the morning he departed from the Duchy of Aclato to the Lapion Empire.

The day Roxana, unusually, gave him a fruit juice with a kind smile.

‘Yes, it was then.’

Hettore remembered what he had heard from Velos about the obedience potion.

He had said that the obedience potion used between lovers only worked between those who had a relationship.

The point at which obedience began was after taking the potion, when the person saw the object of their obedience again.

Now that he thought about it, he had started blindly following her orders when he met her again at the monastery where dignitaries from various countries were staying during the Continental Hunting Competition.

In fact, after taking over the Duchy of Aclato, he had been fond of Roxana from the first time he saw her in the castle.

She was like a rose with sharp thorns.

Roxana’s aloof yet somewhat sad demeanor was a stark contrast to the women of Tanya Island, and it appealed to him.

He had even vowed that once he married her, he would become a kind husband.

If Roxana had secretly given him the obedience potion because she craved his love, he might have forgiven her.

But if the reason was to use his power to become another man’s wife, then things were different.

She had used him to corner her prey.

A loyal hunting dog.

And a plaything to satisfy her lust from time to time.

His usefulness was nothing more or less than that.

Roxana had kept him by her side, giving him affection little by little, and using him.

Now that his sealed emotions and reason were released, everything from start to finish was full of absurdities.

The faces of some of his subordinates who had rebelled against him for obeying Roxana’s orders at the monastery flashed through Hettore’s mind.

‘I beheaded them in one stroke.’

He had warned them not to question his decisions, saying that Roxana’s will was his own.

Even his right-hand man, Falto, had almost lost his head that day.

Since then, Falto had always complained whenever Hettore carried out Roxana’s orders while living in the Lapion Imperial Palace.

It was only natural.

It was incomprehensible that his lord, who had even made a marriage vow with Roxana before leaving the Duchy of Aclato, was suddenly taking the lead in making her the empress of another country.

Despite his dissatisfaction, Falto eventually followed his orders, saying, ‘The Great King must have his reasons.’

Perhaps because they were from a remote island and made a living as pirates, they never suspected that their lord had taken something like an obedience potion.

“You’ve picked the wrong day, Hettore.”

Roxana said with a sly smile as she looked up at him.

“What?”

“Emperor Adrian will be here soon.”

Only then did Hettore regain his senses in a different way from Roxana.

“Haven’t you heard the specific plan yet?”

“Yes. Originally, we were supposed to meet yesterday, but it rained, and the departure was postponed by a day, so we’re meeting today.”

“I see…”

“So, take your hand away. If this plan succeeds, I’ll let you have me as much as you want.”

Roxana took Hettore’s hand off her neck and kissed the back of his hand.

The sensation was more unpleasant than being touched by a snake’s tongue.

Hettore wiped the hand that had touched Roxana’s neck on his thigh.

And Roxana’s behavior was a little different from usual.

She had become somehow kinder.

Somehow more generous.

It was an attitude that he no longer welcomed. But Hettore felt a sense of foreboding about Roxana’s change.

And a moment later, Emperor Adrian entered the room with a knock.

He smoothed back his silver hair and walked out onto the terrace where the two were.

“Welcome, Your Majesty.”

Roxana greeted Emperor Adrian from her chair, and Hettore also bowed his head in a show of welcome.

“I’m late, Empress Roxana.”

“Not at all. Hettore just arrived. Please, have a seat.”

“Yes, it was pouring rain yesterday, but today the weather is miraculously good. You sit too.”

Emperor Adrian sat down in his chair and offered Hettore a seat as well.

Hettore, who had been standing, also sat down.

“Galaco must be ready without any problems, right?”

Emperor Adrian asked, looking at Hettore.

“Yes, as soon as the ship carrying the congratulatory delegation sets sail, our ship will also set sail. And as soon as you give the order, I have taken steps to release Galaco at my signal.”

“Good. Very good.”

Emperor Adrian laughed heartily with a satisfied expression.

“They must be ravenous.”

“…Of course.”

Hettore did not mention that only one of the male Galacos’ heads remained due to the wyvern’s attack.

“How have the Galacos been handled after their work?”

“Before releasing them, we prepare small animals that have been poisoned to death. Then, we throw the poisoned animals towards the target to lure them.”

“Did you use that method during the Continental Hunting Competition as well?”

“Yes. After attacking the target in that way, the poison spreads through Galaco’s body over time, making them unable to use their strength. At that time, we either kill the Galacos on the spot, or we capture some of them, detoxify them, and lock them back in their cages.”

“Oh, that’s how you were able to succeed as a pirate with so few people. Hahaha!”

Emperor Adrian listened to Hettore’s words, clapped his hands, gradually erased his laughter, and continued to speak to Hettore.

“From now on, you won’t have to plunder merchant ships. If this goes well, you should take a seat in the Lapion Empire, shouldn’t you? Oh, it would be nice to be the owner of the Shato Neil Kingdom.”

Emperor Adrian seemed to be planning to eliminate even Grand Duke Martins, who would become the new owner of the Shato Neil Kingdom.

“…Thank you for your consideration, Your Majesty.”

Hettore bowed his head, feigning a grateful expression.

“It will be night.”

Emperor Adrian whispered, looking back and forth between Roxana and Hettore.

“Yes? Night?”

Roxana asked back.

“Our plan will be carried out at night.”

Emperor Adrian emphasized again with eyes full of joy.

Roxana also couldn’t hide her smile, which was filled with anticipation, and the corners of her mouth were widening.

“It’s a total of 3 days. It takes 3 days from the port city of Folte to the port of the Partsha Empire after departure. When are you planning to release Galaco?”

Hettore asked an important question.

But he already expected that Emperor Adrian would not give him an accurate answer to his question.

“I’ll tell you after you get on the ship. I’ll prepare a messenger bird, so there will be no problem communicating with your subordinates in the Duchy of Aclato.”

As expected, Emperor Adrian did not reveal the specific plan in advance.

“Yes, then I will tell you to prepare everything so that Galaco can be released as soon as the order is given.”

Emperor Adrian nodded with satisfaction at Hettore’s answer.

“Hettore, go now.”

Roxana smiled and gave him a dismissal order.

It seemed that she had something to say to Emperor Adrian alone.

“…Ah, yes.”

Hettore was slightly embarrassed, but he readily got up from his seat.

“I heard it’s Melanie’s birthday today?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“It might be strange if the dedicated bodyguard leaves his post for too long, so it’s best to return to Melanie’s palace.”

Roxana showed a rather benevolent smile.

“…I see. Then I’ll be on my way.”

Hettore said goodbye to the two with a somewhat uneasy feeling and left Roxana’s room.

“Empress, do you have anything else to say to me separately?”

Emperor Adrian, who was quick-witted, asked her cautiously immediately after Hettore left.

“I’m thinking of revising the plan a bit.”

“What do you mean?”

“I was wondering if we should get rid of Emperor Linell as well.”

“Are you serious?”

“Yes.”

Roxana’s answer was too clear to be a joke.

“Surely, you’re not thinking of putting Hettore on the throne? The ministers will never allow that. There will be a rebellion.”

At Emperor Adrian’s words, Roxana waved her hand and retorted.

“Of course. Hettore is not suitable as a person to rule the empire. Maybe if he ruled a small island.”

Then who are you thinking of when you say this?

Emperor Adrian carefully opened his mouth and asked.

“Are you really okay with this?”

“Of course.”

Roxana said firmly.

“But if we remove Emperor Linell as well, the successor to the Lapion Empire will be…”

“Don’t worry, there is one.”

Roxana replied, gently placing both hands on her stomach.

Then, she stared at Hettore’s back as he was leaving the Empress Palace for a while.

***

After finishing lunch, Melanie heard that a gift had arrived from her family and hurriedly ran up to her bedroom.

Linell, I, Norton, and Rosie left Melanie’s palace and chatted while strolling through the West Palace.

“Have you had any other news from Prince Calvin since you sent the reply?”

Linell asked Emperor Norton as he walked, holding my hand.

“Yes, Your Majesty. As I said in the letter I sent, he will not act rashly until we arrive in the Partsha Empire.”

In response to the messenger bird [a type of carrier pigeon] sent by Prince Calvin, Emperor Norton had sent a letter telling him to refrain from reckless actions until the Lapion Empire’s congratulatory delegation arrived in the Partsha Empire.

He wrote that it would not be too late to hear the truth about the Wyvern Road directly from Emperor Linell, and this part was instructed by Linell himself to Emperor Norton.

“Then that’s a relief, but that’s not because he’s trying not to act rashly… Strictly speaking, isn’t it because he expects Emperor Adrian to do something before that? Like trying to get something for free.”

“I’m sorry, Your Majesty.”

Emperor Norton apologized with a sorry face.

Rosie’s expression also darkened.

“There’s nothing for you to be sorry about. Anyway, Emperor Katria of the Deloy Empire will be thinking the same thing as well as the Partsha Empire.”

Everyone nodded at his words.

Linell smiled bitterly and continued to speak.

“Emperor Adrian probably won’t tell Hettore or Roxana the detailed plan in advance.”

“Then when will he tell them?”

When I asked, Emperor Norton carefully answered instead of Linell.

“There will definitely be instructions at least immediately after boarding the ship.”

“Ah, I see.”

I replied quietly and looked down at my feet.

Perhaps because the ground was muddy from the rain, but the steps back to the residence felt heavy.

***

Hettore, who had returned to Melanie’s palace, stopped by the kitchen, picked up something, and headed to her bedroom.

Knock knock knock-.

After knocking, he went inside and saw that Melanie was busy opening dozens of gift boxes.

“Who is it?”

Melanie asked, opening a jewelry box with her back to the bedroom door.

“A gift.”

At Hettore’s voice, she threw the jewelry box onto the bed and turned around.

“What? What do you mean?”

Melanie stared intently at the carrot Hettore was holding in his hand.

“I saw you making horse noises earlier.”

“So-?”

“I thought you’d like this too.”

Hettore held out the carrot to Melanie.

Looking closely, there was even a ribbon tied to the carrot.

“Heeing-! I was secretly expecting it because you said you brought a gift… What is this!”

Melanie snatched the carrot and glared at him, taking a bite.

The way she ate the carrot with a crunching sound looked more like a rabbit than a horse.

Hettore took off the ribbon tied to the carrot and put it around his neck, saying.

“The real gift is me.”

“The gift is you?”

“Yeah.”

“Really?”

“Yeah… But, what are you doing now?”

Hettore asked in a flustered voice, looking down at Melanie, who was unbuttoning his uniform.

“What else? Opening the gift?”

“Uh, how far are you going to open it?”

At Hettore’s question, Melanie’s gaze slowly fell down and then came up.

“…Can’t I?”

“Of course, you can.”

The gift’s permission was granted.