The Stand-In Empress’S Wedding Night [EN]: Chapter 103

103. I Won’t Approach with My Looks

December 29, 2021

“Master, when are you planning to leave?”

“I should go and come back as soon as possible. Logan, just call me Bellos.”

“I can’t do that.”

Logan spoke to Bellos with even more politeness.

“Well, if I had aged normally, I’d probably be… around 250 years old now.”

Bellos hadn’t calculated his age in quite a while. Perhaps he was older than 250 years, or maybe a little younger. He laughed, saying a few years of error in his age didn’t matter.

“Come to think of it, when I first met you, Butler, you didn’t have any wrinkles, but now you even have white hair.”

“A lot of time has passed, I apologize.”

“I meant I’m envious.”

Bellos said, gazing at his reflection in the mirror.

“More than possessing the world, I simply want to age normally. But will my partner come to me willingly?”

“Well, it’s been 15 years since I last saw Zelda, or rather, your partner, Master, so I have no idea how she might have changed.”

“It has been a tedious wait. But my partner should be awakening her powers soon.”

Bellos smiled, adjusting his attire.

“She will surely fall in love with you at first sight, Master.”

Logan said, admiring Bellos’s perfect face, but he shook his head.

“No, I don’t intend to win her over with my face from the start.”

“Then what are you planning to do?”

Logan asked with a somewhat worried look.

“I will approach her heart first.”

Bellos replied confidently. Logan was a bit skeptical of his opinion. He suggested that using his looks would be the safest and quickest way, but Bellos didn’t listen.

“How will you do that with your heart?”

“Well? Besides my appearance, what kind of image would be good to capture my partner’s attention?”

Bellos fell into happy 고민 [a Korean word meaning ‘worry’ or ‘deliberation’].

“Ah, a small fairy would be nice. About… this big?”

He raised his index finger and smiled innocently.

“Still too young. It’s pitiful.”

I looked at Rams with pity and then recalled Princess Resilia’s shameless face.

“What on earth is the Princess thinking? Abandoning such a beautiful child!”

Bonis said in a very excited voice.

“It’s not certain yet that Princess Resilia gave birth to Rams.”

I calmed Bonis down, being mindful of Rosie.

“It’s certain, I know.”

“What? How?”

“While the court physician was treating my finger, I overheard him grumbling about Princess Resilia. Around that time, the Princess had also returned to the royal palace and was receiving treatment from the court physician.”

Bonis said, holding up her left hand with the bandage, as if to help Rosie understand.

“What did the court physician say?”

“He was complaining about how he was being asked to create a medicine that would make someone who had given birth look like a virgin again.”

“Is that true?”

“Yes, it’s certain because the court physician was talking to himself in the treatment room, thinking I was under anesthesia.”

“Haa…”

So, the reason why Princess Resilia, who had returned to the royal palace, couldn’t be immediately pushed into the Rafion Imperial Family was that? She coveted the position of Empress of the Rafion Empire even after giving birth to another man’s child? I was disgusted by the Шатонейл [Shatoneil] siblings’ ugly greed.

“Aren’t they really crazy people?”

Rosie clenched both fists and got excited.

“But what kind of threat was there? And why did they entrust him to Rosie, of all people?”

Bonis stared at Rosie with curious eyes. Rosie mumbled in a very small voice.

“Could it be a proposal?”

“Rosie, I don’t think so.”

I said firmly, and she looked disappointed.

“Ahahaha, you never know? If they’re entrusting her with a child, they must trust Rosie Mama a lot.”

Bonis said, slightly comforting Rosie, and Rosie’s lips moved slightly to the side. But Rosie looked worriedly at Rams, who had already fallen asleep in Sharon’s arms.

“Could it be that the Шатонейл royal family is trying to get rid of this child?”

“They are capable of doing that, Mama. Especially Prince Теслер [Tesler].”

Bonis held up her left hand with the bandage again and answered Rosie instead of me.

“S, surely Prince Теслер didn’t cut off Bonis Young Lady’s little finger?!”

“Yes, that’s right.”

Rosie was shocked at Bonis’s words. After thinking about something for a few minutes, Rosie opened her mouth again.

“Shouldn’t we at least inform Princess Resilia? She might not know that Rams is being threatened…”

“Resilia Princess already abandoned Rams once.”

That was all I could answer Rosie. To tell her that they were trying to get rid of Rams to make Princess Resilia the Empress of the Rafion Empire, I had to reveal that I was the ‘Proxy Empress.’

“Norton Prince wouldn’t have entrusted Rams to you for no reason. He must have sensed some kind of threat.”

I told Rosie to take good care of the child for now. I felt like I needed to meet Norton Prince and hear the details. But how do I create an opportunity to meet Norton Prince alone?

As we approached the smithy, the sound of hammers striking swords rang out energetically. Linelle had come to see Ethan Bennett, the Earl, who was the head of the Rafion Imperial smithy and had a special talent for making swords. Ethan was the first nobleman-turned-blacksmith in the history of the Rafion Empire and the head of the Imperial smithy. Linelle leaned against one of the pillars of the smithy and watched Ethan hammer the sword heated in the fire.

“Still the same.”

“Your Majesty… What brings you here?”

Ethan, who was taking out a handkerchief tucked into his waist and wiping away the sweat flowing like rain, turned around in surprise. He was always uncomfortable when facing the Emperor, because when Linelle was the Crown Prince, Ethan Bennett was the one who secretly had an affair with his fiancée, Catherine. Knowing that she was the Crown Prince’s fiancée, he couldn’t resist Catherine’s temptation. Ethan Bennett and Catherine continued their illicit relationship for a year before the fact reached Linelle’s ears. But he quietly covered up this matter. Why did he do that? The answer was simple: he had no feelings for his fiancée, Catherine. However, even though she was a fiancée he had no affection for, Linelle could have punished the two for insulting the royal family, but he didn’t. Because of that, Ethan’s guilt grew even greater. Fortunately or unfortunately, his relationship with Catherine ended after that, and Ethan devoted himself to making swords in the smithy. A year ago, Linelle summoned Ethan to the Imperial Palace and provided him with all the conveniences to pour his passion into making swords, while also giving him a position that suited him. Ethan initially refused his offer several times, but,

‘If you really feel guilty to me, take charge of the Imperial smithy. Make swords for me, and make weapons to be held in the hands of my knights. That is how the Earl can apologize to me.’

Because of the words the Emperor gave him, he eventually accepted the position of head of the Rafion Imperial smithy.

“I came because I have a favor to ask.”

“What is it that Your Majesty would come all the way here… instead of summoning me?”

“It’s been a while since I’ve been to the smithy, and I wanted to take a walk, so, you know, 겸사겸사 [gyeomsa gyeomsa – while I was at it/killing two birds with one stone].”

“Yes, it’s the first time since the war, isn’t it? It’s been years since I’ve seen you, and I apologize that my attire is so shabby.”

Ethan said, looking down at his sweat-soaked and dirty work clothes.

“There’s no need to apologize; it’s an honor.”

“Yes?”

“The Emperor, who doesn’t even visit the concubines’ quarters, has come to the smithy in person. Isn’t that so?”

At Linelle’s joking words, Ethan lowered his gaze like a sinner. Because Catherine’s face came to mind among the Emperor’s concubines, the guilt that had been buried for years raised its head again. Noticing that, Linelle patted him on the shoulder and changed the subject.

“I need you to make a sword for my wife.”

“You mean… a sword to give to the Empress?”

Ethan doubted his ears as he asked him back.

“Yes. Like the swords that I or Commander Markrom carry, no, even more carefully.”

“Your Majesty, are you ordering a long sword, not a dagger?”

Ethan’s expression became even more puzzled. It was common for noblewomen to have a dagger as a 기념 [ginyeom – keepsake or memento], but it was rare for them to possess a long sword.

“Put more effort into it than the sword I use. It’s a sword she’ll carry throughout the hunting competition, so it must be as light and elaborate as possible.”

“Does the Empress happen to… know how to use a sword?”

“She’s more than capable; she’s excellent. So show off your skills.”

Linelle said, imagining Zelda wielding a sword.

“There’s not much time, so I should start making it today.”

“You should. And soon the Empress will be visiting the smithy. Keep that in mind.”

“Would the Empress really come all the way to the smithy?”

Ethan had an expression that he didn’t believe his words. Not to mention noblewomen, one of the places that all women in the world avoid is the smithy, so would the Empress of a country visit such a place?

“You’ll see.”

Linelle shrugged and smiled. After visiting Rosie’s residence, I had dinner with Linelle. When we finished eating and arrived at the bedroom floor, Commander Markrom politely spoke to me.

“May I be excused tonight, Empress?”

“Of course. There are two people in the bedroom who are skilled in swordsmanship.”

At my words, the two men burst into laughter at the same time.

“Yes, Markrom. The Empress will take responsibility for my safety, so go with peace of mind.”

He stuck close to my side and suddenly put his arm around mine.

“…Thank you. Your Majesty. Then, have a comfortable night, a quiet night, you two.”

Commander Markrom looked sullenly at Linelle’s arm around me, then bowed his head deeply and went down the stairs.

“You don’t know, but we have to spend a fiercely competitive night too. You know?”

Linelle raised his voice towards Commander Markrom, who was going down the stairs. I gave him a look, seeing the ears of some of the servants around us turning red. He looked at my embarrassed face and enjoyed it, then spoke to Commander Markrom, who was going down the stairs, again.

“Ah, Rafael told me that you’re scheduled to have a swordsmanship match with Norton Prince tonight? Are you going to the training ground now?”

What? With Norton Prince? I quickly turned around and looked down at Commander Markrom.

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Commander Markrom replied briefly.

“I see. Report the results tomorrow.”

Linelle said, putting his arm around my shoulder to Commander Markrom.

“Isn’t the result obvious? Of course, I’ll win.”

Commander Markrom affirmed, pounding his chest with his fist.

“Weren’t you going to the training ground now to practice in advance? I heard Norton Prince’s skills are not to be underestimated?”

Linelle said teasingly, and Commander Markrom immediately flared up.

“Haha, I’m not underestimating his skills, but he’s not someone I need to be nervous about. I’m going to do some warm-up exercises in advance because my muscles seem a bit stiff these days. Then I’ll be on my way.”

The sound of Commander Markrom sighing as he went down the stairs was loud. Then Linelle took my hand with a satisfied face and walked down the bedroom hallway. After entering the bedroom, I had a small argument with him. Your Majesty, please wash first, you wash first, or let’s wash together… We had this conversation in front of the bathroom door for a few minutes, pulling each other’s arms. In the end, he lost in rock-paper-scissors and went into the bathroom alone. I stood in the middle of the wide bedroom, turning my waist and imagining Norton Prince and Commander Markrom dueling in the training ground.

“I’m curious, how will the two fight? I wish I could go to the training ground and see it in person…”

It’s good for me to hold a sword myself, but watching the battle of those skilled in swordsmanship is also quite interesting. Besides, I have a conversation to have with Norton Prince. The name of the doll-like cute child that Norton Prince entrusted to Rosie was Rams, right? Is Prince Теслер really trying to get rid of Rams?

“It’s possible enough…”

“Possible.”

I was startled by Linelle’s voice while I was lost in thought.

“Did you realize that now?”

“Ah, you surprised me. When did you come out?”

He was leaning against the bathroom door, looking at me.

“From the moment you started regretting it.”

“What am I… regretting?”

“Weren’t you regretting realizing that it’s possible enough for a couple to take a bath together?”

Linelle asked, slowly approaching me.