The Stand-In Empress’S Wedding Night [EN]: Chapter 106

106. Not a Petty Emperor

January 8, 2022

With a troubled expression, Hedon watched Melanie’s retreating figure, blaming herself.

‘My mouth is the problem. I shouldn’t have told Lady Melanie about Count Ethan…’

“Catherine!”

Melanie shouted, raising her hand. When Catherine turned her head, Melanie finally addressed her with respect.

“…Your Ladyship. You seem to be out for a walk?”

“As you can see.”

Catherine replied curtly and continued on her way.

“Have you heard any news about Count Ethan lately?”

Melanie asked casually, glaring at Catherine’s back as she tried to ignore her.

“What… what did you just say?”

Catherine reacted sharply when Melanie mentioned the name of her former affair partner from when she was engaged to Linell.

‘I was already in a bad mood today, and you just walked right into it.’

She strode towards Melanie, ready to slap her across the face. Melanie, consciously raising her head higher, looked up at Catherine’s raised hand.

“Are you going to hit me? If you do, I might have to forget the news about the Count I was going to tell you.”

“What, what?”

“My head is very delicate. Even a little shock can make me forget everything I had in mind.”

Melanie replied, deliberately sounding dejected.

“Not delicate, just bad.”

Catherine scoffed and forced herself to lower the hand she had raised to slap Melanie.

“Oh my, I’ve been told I’m innocent, but never that I’m stupid.”

Melanie pouted, looking displeased.

“Stop talking nonsense. So, what were you going to tell me with that innocent head of yours?”

Knowing that dealing with her for too long would be a headache, Catherine suppressed her anger and asked calmly.

“Do you know that Count Ethan is staying in the Imperial Palace…?”

Catherine’s eyes widened at Melanie’s whispered words.

“I guess you didn’t know. The Imperial Palace is vast, but since you two shared a deep relationship, it must be uncomfortable to be in the same space? Or perhaps, exciting?”

“How do you know that…?”

Catherine looked around, lowering her voice. Clearly, Melanie knew about her relationship with Count Ethan and was saying it on purpose. But where did she hear that from? Linell quietly covered it up, and it wasn’t well known outside, so how did Melanie find out?

“Are you curious about how I know Count Ethan?”

“Yes.”

“You’re also curious about how I know he’s staying in the Imperial Palace, right?”

“Both… I’m curious about both.”

“I’m sorry, Your Ladyship. I can’t tell you either. I have to consider the position of the person who told me.”

“What? Are you making fun of me?”

“Of course not, I would have said it with a smile if I were.”

Melanie continued, deliberately frowning.

“Rest assured. I’m very good at keeping secrets.”

Hedon, standing behind Melanie, was on pins and needles. She was the one who had told Melanie those two facts. Hedon’s cousin is an old servant of Count Ethan, serving him most closely. The fact that Count Ethan was staying in the Imperial Palace was something Hedon’s cousin had told her directly. Before entering the Imperial Palace, Hedon had met her cousin by chance in the bustling Foreign Quarter [a district often inhabited by foreigners] and told him that the Lady Melanie she served had become a concubine. Naturally, the conversation turned to other concubines, and Catherine’s name was mentioned. Then, Hedon’s cousin told her an interesting fact, saying, ‘This is a secret.’ He said that the reason Linell and Catherine’s engagement was broken was because Catherine and Count Ethan had been having a secret affair and were caught. He boasted that he was also living in the Imperial Palace, following the Count, as Ethan had been summoned by Emperor Linell a year ago to take charge of the Imperial Blacksmiths. Hedon had hinted at the relationship between Catherine and Count Ethan before Melanie became a concubine, but it was only a few days ago that she told her that the Count was living in the Imperial Palace. She clearly remembered asking Melanie to keep it a secret when she told her, but now it seemed she had forgotten that part.

“Melanie, if you go around spreading useless rumors about me, I’ll burn your wagging mouth with a red-hot iron.”

Catherine warned Melanie, pretending to embrace her.

“Yes, I understand, Your Ladyship. But be careful, you might drop the red-hot iron on your foot.”

Melanie replied with a bright smile and turned away. Catherine was speechless. She was confused whether the idiot was saying it without thinking, or if she was threatening her. Catherine could only watch Melanie’s retreating figure, speechless. As Melanie disappeared from sight, Ethan’s face came to mind. What is he doing here? She was angry, and at the same time, her heart was racing for the first time in a long time.

“Jena, where is the blacksmith shop in the Imperial Palace?”

Catherine turned to her maid and asked discreetly.

***

Grand Duke Martins, who had been out of the Imperial Palace, returned to the detached palace with a tired look.

“Where have you been?”

Prince Tesler was waiting for him in the room where the Grand Duke was staying.

“I was taking a walk and happened to meet a minister I became friends with here, and I was chatting with him.”

Grand Duke Martins made an excuse he had thought of in advance and sat in the chair opposite Prince Tesler.

“I was about to visit you anyway. What happened to the assassination guild you hired yesterday…?”

“What did you do yesterday?”

“Yes?”

“You should have stopped me when I made such a decision while drunk!”

Prince Tesler suddenly got angry at Grand Duke Martins, who was cautiously bringing up the subject.

“….”

‘What is this guy talking about again?’ Prince Tesler pretended not to remember how crazy he looked last night when he gave such an order. ‘Did he mess up his head by taking so many sleeping pills yesterday?’ Grand Duke Martins looked at the Prince, hiding his annoyed expression, and thought.

“They should have made such an important proposal earlier… Why did they have to do it the day after I gave such an order… No, no. It’s a relief that I found out even today.”

Prince Tesler messed up his hair, muttering to himself.

“What’s wrong?”

“It’s about Lesilia.”

“Did the Princess cause another accident?”

“Hey! Do you think my sister only causes accidents?”

‘What a joke. Who was the one who always complained about his sister’s thoughtless actions?’ Grand Duke Martins barely suppressed his desire to laugh at him. Prince Tesler leaned forward towards the Grand Duke. The Prince told Grand Duke Martins about the conversation he had with Prince Norton and his wife of the Partsha Empire in the reception room.

“Then… did you immediately withdraw the order you gave to the assassination guild?”

Grand Duke Martins had gone to see Prince Norton last night and told him that Rams was in danger, but he had not yet confirmed Rams’ safety.

“Of course. I immediately sent a knight to tell the assassination guild leader to stop harming the child and just find out where he is. I almost ruined everything!”

‘It wouldn’t have happened if you hadn’t given such an order in the first place.’ Grand Duke Martins sighed in relief and cursed the Prince inwardly.

“Then we need to change the plan now?”

“Only one thing changes. Lesilia will become the Empress of the Partsha Empire, not the Rafion Empire.”

“The Empress of the Partsha Empire…?”

‘What is this guy up to again?’ Prince Tesler kept grinning and replied.

“If Prince Norton is a little greedy, it’s possible. The Third Prince, who already has a son, is more suitable for the throne of the Partsha Empire than the Second Prince, who killed his brother and took his brother’s wife, and the Empress who can’t have children, right?”

“Your Highness, that’s too dangerous of an idea.”

“You’re always so timid.”

Prince Tesler tapped the Grand Duke on the shoulder as if teasing him.

“Then what about the Empress…?”

Grand Duke Martins asked, thinking of the disappeared magician Big and Sir Ken coming out of his house.

“Now there’s no need to forcibly drag Zelda down from the Empress position, but we still need to take measures in case things don’t go as planned.”

“You mean…?”

“It would be fun to see if she can keep her head held high like that without the magic potion. It would be more enjoyable if there were things to see throughout the hunting competition, right?”

Prince Tesler burst into laughter.

“Let’s see if Emperor Linell can look at our Zelda’s burn scars with loving eyes.”

“But wouldn’t the Empress just go to the clinic and order a magic potion?”

Grand Duke Martins asked, pretending not to know about the disappearance of the magician Big.

“What can she do when there’s no one to make it for her?”

“What do you mean? Did you perhaps…!”

“Why are you so surprised? I haven’t killed him yet. Sir Ken might have done something to him. By the way, what is Sir Ken doing in the Imperial City that he hasn’t returned yet?”

Prince Tesler grumbled and got up from his chair, saying he needed to rest early because he had drunk too much yesterday, and left the room.

‘Am I really one step behind? How should I tell the Empress about this?’

Grand Duke Martins despaired.

***

I reached out to stop his hand from pulling down the doorknob, but Linell’s hand opening the door was much faster.

“What on earth are you doing here!”

As soon as he entered the warehouse, his and my eyes turned to the floor of the warehouse.

“Oh, Your Majesty? Your Majesty the Empress!”

Prince Norton was startled and jumped up from the floor.

“Do you come in without knocking?”

Commander Markrom also seemed quite embarrassed by our sudden appearance.

“Did you knock when you came in then?”

Linell scoffed. Prince Norton and Commander Markrom were sitting on the warehouse floor, having a drinking party.

“What brings you two here again? Why do you keep coming to such a shabby place when you have such spacious bedrooms?”

Commander Markrom looked very displeased that his humble drinking party had been disturbed.

“Why are you two sitting in such a secret and shabby place, drinking?”

Linell asked, picking up a wine bottle from the floor, and Commander Markrom scratched his head and replied.

“Drinking is prohibited in the sacred training ground, so we came here.”

“Aren’t you going to have a sword fight?”

I asked with a disappointed tone, and the two nodded at the same time.

“It seems Prince Norton needs a drink today.”

At Commander Markrom’s reply, I turned my gaze to Prince Norton. The Prince’s face was full of worries. ‘It must be because he’s worried about Rams, whom he entrusted to Rosie, right?’ There was something I wanted to confirm with Prince Norton regarding Rams, but I couldn’t ask because of Linell and Commander Markrom. ‘Should I bring up Rosie’s name and subtly probe?’

“Your Highness, are you worried about Rosie’s confession?”

I asked casually, looking down at the glass in Prince Norton’s hand.

“Lady Rosie seems to be a… good person. Ah, I’m sorry. In front of Your Majesty.”

“No, it’s okay. But is that all?”

“Yes?”

“I’m talking about the Prince’s feelings for Rosie.”

“….”

Prince Norton flinched at his blatant question.

“Rosie has many pure sides, right? Like a child…”

I quickly asked Prince Norton. I deliberately used the word ‘child’ and paid attention to the Prince’s change in expression.

“Yes, Lady Rosie seems to have a… childlike side.”

The look in Prince Norton’s eyes as he looked at me was the look of someone who realized that I knew about Rams’ existence.

“Since it’s come to this, why don’t you treat us to a drink too?”

Linell said to Commander Markrom, and the Commander looked at me and said.

“Your Majesty has lived in barracks on the battlefield, so you may not mind such a shabby place, but Her Majesty the Empress will probably be very uncomfortable.”

“It’s okay. I lay down… no, sat on a pile of straw when I came last time, right? I don’t mind at all either. Let’s all sit down and talk.”

I took off the robe I was wearing and spread it on the floor, then sat down and looked up at Linell.

“Your Majesty, the floor is cold. Please sit on my robe with me.”

“Shall I? Well, the Emperor shouldn’t sit in a cold place.”

He sat down next to me, acting coy in a way that didn’t suit his deep voice at all. He and I simultaneously picked up the spare glasses on the floor and held them out to the two of them.

“Pour a drink, Markrom.”

“Give us a drink, Your Highness.”

The two poured drinks for Linell and me with bewildered expressions.

“But, what were you talking about?”

“We were having a ‘speak your mind’ time because we were drinking. Of course, it was Prince Norton who suggested it.”

“…What time?”

Linell’s eyes sparkled with curiosity. ‘Ah, so that’s why Commander Markrom was speaking informally to Prince Norton? Only then could I understand the conversation between the two that I had heard outside the warehouse door. But Linell didn’t seem to know what ‘speak your mind’ time was. Well, it’s no wonder he doesn’t know. How could this man have ever had a ‘speak your mind’ time with anyone in his life?’

“Would you like to do it too, Your Majesty?”

Commander Markrom joked, twitching his lips.

“What is it?”

Linell showed interest.

“It’s just a game we often play at drinking parties, especially among knights.”

“Really? If it’s a game that knights often play, I’ll try it.”

He nodded very readily.

“Your Majesty, it’s better not to do ‘speak your mind’ time…”

I whispered to him, telling him not to do ‘speak your mind’ time, but

“Why?”

Linell asked with a disappointed look.

“Your Majesty. I am sorry to say this, but when you play this game, there is always one person who gets petty and angry, so it’s hard to play unless you have a very cool personality.”

Prince Norton explained about ‘speak your mind’ time in a gentle voice. It sounded like he was deliberately provoking Linell.

“I am so cool that my whole body is cold.”

Linell said with a very relaxed and benevolent voice, smiling. He took the bait.

“Your Highness, our Emperor has a very broad mind. But Your Majesty? I’m saying this in advance out of concern, but a game is just a game, please don’t misunderstand.”

Commander Markrom already looked happy.

“Come on, I’m not a petty person, okay? Now, let’s start the game.”

He shouted, clasping his hands together with an excited expression.

‘Emperor! I clearly warned you.’

I started ‘speak your mind’ time in my head first.