The Stand-In Empress’S Wedding Night [EN]: Chapter 2

2. No Divorce

2021.01.09.

“C-consummation… you mean?”

“Yes.”

Emperor Linelle’s voice wasn’t exactly irritated, but it wasn’t particularly affectionate either. It was a deep, low tone that made it hard to gauge his mood. I clutched the hem of my slip dress tightly in both hands and straightened up again.

“Is consummation even possible…?”

Damn it, the thought I was having inside popped out.

“I know you don’t like me.”

Emperor Linelle frowned slightly before saying something unexpected. His statement felt so absurd that I couldn’t help but tilt my head and look up at his face. How could anyone not like that face? He was being too harsh in his assessment of his own appearance.

“I’m not exactly thrilled with you either…”

“?”

Thrilled, what? Why did he stop talking? The Emperor stopped mid-sentence, perhaps because of my gaze. Our eyes met awkwardly. The longer I looked at his face, the more at ease I felt. It was strange. Does seeing a face that’s too unrealistically handsome actually bring peace of mind? He was the one who told me to look up, but now that I was actually looking, he was the one who quickly turned his head away. Then, he said defensively.

“So, what I mean is… You’re not exactly, very, extremely, well… not the kind of wife who makes my heart burst. Not yet.”

…Did I say something? I didn’t say anything, did I? That’s unfair. I was just concluding to myself, ‘So what if you’re handsome? Oh, right, that’s everything,’ and listening to him intently without so much as a frown. He cleared his throat awkwardly before speaking again.

“Even if we don’t like each other, we’re already married.”

Oh, I shouldn’t be doing this right now. After nodding seriously at Emperor Linelle’s words, I suddenly yawned.

‘Haaam-.’

I didn’t want to show him such a disrespectful sight, so I politely turned my head and yawned discreetly.

“Are you listening to me?”

Emperor Linelle seemed to think that my behavior was dismissive, and he snapped his fingers to refocus my attention on him.

“Yes, of course. I’m deeply engraving every word you say in my mind.”

“…Can’t you say that without looking like you’re about to cry?”

I was tearing up because I had secretly yawned.

“I apologize.”

I just let him misunderstand. I thought I might yawn again if I tried to explain.

“I don’t know what God was thinking, tying you and me together, but we’ve already sworn an oath to Him.”

He grumbled with dissatisfaction and sat down on a chair about three steps away from the bed.

“Damn it. I don’t know if I’m serving God or those priests. Traditionally, the Emperor’s consummation is that monstrous…”

I widened my eyes at his words. I reacted because a somewhat sensitive word came out. The word ‘monster’ was something I had heard a lot since I was young in the Shatoanill Kingdom. More precisely, since the burn scar appeared on my right cheek. But since last night, the burn scar had disappeared completely. Of course, it had only disappeared temporarily by taking a magic potion. Even though the burn scar was gone, my hand still habitually touched that area.

“I wasn’t calling you a monster. That was just something I said to the priests, just a soliloquy [speaking one’s thoughts aloud regardless of any hearers].”

He seemed to think I had misunderstood what he said, and he glanced at me slightly as he spoke.

“Then you should have said it to yourself.”

“What?”

“I already heard it all.”

“…”

I said jokingly. He made a face as if he was savoring my words, then chuckled.

“You’re finally talking at length.”

He said with a subtle smile.

“I can’t stand women who just clam up and frustrate people, so I’m glad you’re not like that.”

“That’s… because you haven’t met someone who frustrates people just by opening their mouth.”

I thought of Prince Tesler and clenched my teeth as I said that to him.

“I guess so. I think I met someone like that last night too…”

Emperor Linelle ruffled his neatly styled hair and muttered to himself, then stared at me intently.

“!”

Last night? Could he be talking about remembering that we met? My breath almost stopped. But since he didn’t say anything more, I was relieved that he probably wasn’t talking about me. Whew… what a surprise. Another awkward silence flowed between us, like usual. This time, he spoke first.

“I know I’m not a very affectionate man.”

I glanced at Emperor Linelle, who was suddenly engaging in self-reflection. He put the wine glass he was holding on the mahogany table and stood up from the chair. Why is he suddenly getting up again?

“You look very displeased.”

He frowned as he spoke.

“N-no, not at all.”

I quickly stretched the corners of my mouth wide and forced a smile.

“Anyway, I intend to fulfill my duties as a husband.”

I almost glared at him for saying that as if he was making a firm resolution. Not fulfilling your duties would be helping me, you know?

“Tonight will be the night I begin my first duty.”

Emperor Linelle pulled down on the strings of his gown. It felt like the strings of my reason were also coming undone. Oh my, goodness! As if heaven was opening up, his breathtaking chest muscles were revealed through the gap in his gown. I was mesmerized, admiring paradise. Get a grip! I tried to gather my scattered reason again. Once Princess Resilia arrives at the Lapheon Imperial Palace, my mission will be over anyway. Then, I can return to the Shatoanill Kingdom and receive the cure from Prince Tesler to completely remove my burn scar, as promised. Until then, if I just stay as quiet as a mouse in the Lapheon Imperial Palace, it would be half the battle won. The ice-cold Emperor Linelle didn’t seem to like me either, so it didn’t seem like it would be difficult, but what’s with this husbandly duty!

“Does the Empress believe in God?”

He asked seriously. I wanted to shout to him, ‘Your Majesty’s chest muscles are much more trustworthy than God!’ but I just mouthed the words. I’m not a real Empress, and I don’t believe in God either. I pondered for a moment how to answer him. I saw the look in his eyes, urging me to answer quickly, and unintentionally, loyal words popped out.

“From now on, I will trust and follow Your Majesty more than God!”

It was definitely not the answer I had prepared.

“Ha, hahaha! When the priests arrive later, why don’t you say the same thing? Tell them you trust me more than God.”

Emperor Linelle burst into laughter.

“I will keep my mouth shut to the priests. I am a woman who dreams of eternal youth…”

I accidentally talked back again. I bit my lower lip and simultaneously pressed down on my thigh with my fingernails. Zelda von Troba, are you crazy? You were supposed to just shut your mouth and stay quiet! Why, why? Why do you keep talking back to the Emperor?

“Interesting.”

He raised his handsome eyebrows and said. But wait? There was something in what he just said that caught my ear.

“Your Majesty, the priests are arriving… what do you mean by that?”

Knock, knock-. At that moment, coinciding with my voice, a knock was heard from outside the bedroom. An ominous feeling began to wrap around my body like a snake.

“It seems they have arrived. Let’s continue our conversation after the priests leave.”

He took a deep breath and continued with a determined tone.

“Empress. Let’s stop talking and start sharing something else.”

Emperor Linelle’s gown fell to the floor.

“Sh-share what…?”

I heard that Your Majesty’s… that part you’re supposed to share is lacking! Without realizing it, I stretched out both hands forward to stop him from approaching. How dare I make such a gesture to the Emperor! I glanced at the marble floor, wondering where I had lost my nerve, which I didn’t even know I had lost.

“It’s time to prove to the priests that we are a married couple.”

Emperor Linelle looked down disdainfully at my hands that were stopping him and replied.

“What do you mean by witnesses, and what’s this about proving it in front of them?”

“Surely, you didn’t know?”

“Was there something I needed to know?”

“The Lapheon Imperial Family’s tradition.”

“?”

“The priests come in on the Emperor’s wedding night to witness and prove that they have become a true couple.”

Hey, I’m just a proxy Empress, you know?!

“Eeeek?”

Emperor Linelle’s sculpted features shattered at my scream-like exclamation. But it’s still a trap that he still looks handsome.

“I clearly remember that the traditions and major customs of the Lapheon Imperial Family were conveyed to the Shatoanill Kingdom in advance?”

“Th-that’s…”

I didn’t have time to listen to that kind of thing! I bit my lower lip and swallowed my words. Emperor Linelle stared at me intently, as if observing me.

-“Your Majesty! It’s time to begin.”

The voice of Chief Steward Stian was heard from outside the bedroom door.

“Wait a moment!”

-“Yes, Your Majesty.”

As he shouted towards the door, Chief Steward Stian’s reply and the murmuring noise also quieted down. His sharp gaze flew back to me and pierced me.

“Any last words?”

It sounded like the last question asked to a prisoner kneeling on the guillotine [a device used for beheading] right before their execution. My spine had been chilling since earlier, and now even my mind was starting to chill. I habitually raised my hand to my right burn scar again.

“Are you… in pain?”

Emperor Linelle grabbed my hand and asked.

“Ah, no, Your Majesty.”

Despite my words that I was okay, he stared intently at my right cheek. The area of the burn scar felt hot under his gaze.

‘Prince Tesler, you son of a b*tch!’

You should have told me in advance that the priests would be coming in on the wedding night. Then I would have at least prepared myself! *** At the same time, the Shatoanill Royal Palace.

“Will Emperor Linelle, who doesn’t even glance at most women, consummate with Zelda?”

Prince Tesler asked his escort knight, Sir Ken, as he drank a glass of strong liquor in his office.

“It’s a state marriage, so wouldn’t he?”

“I reassured Zelda that Emperor Linelle was practically impotent [unable to perform sexually]. Hehe, she must be cursing me right now, right? Calling me a son of a b*tch.”

Prince Tesler, wearing a bitter smile, emptied the remaining strong liquor in his glass in one gulp and said.

“I can picture it.”

“Even so, wouldn’t it have been better to tell Lady Zelda about the Lapheon Imperial Family’s wedding night tradition in advance?”

Sir Ken cautiously expressed his opinion.

“If I had, would she have gone willingly? I had no choice.”

“That’s true.”

Prince Tesler’s insistence on the state marriage with the Lapheon Empire, even resorting to the extreme measure of using a proxy Empress, was largely due to political reasons. Three years ago, there was a war between the two continents to claim the baby wyverns [dragon-like creatures]. The North Continent and the South Continent each have three countries, for a total of six countries. The North Continent consists of the Shatoanill Kingdom, which is closest to the Valley of Death, the resource-rich Ekaya Empire, and the Lapheon Empire, which has the largest territory and the most powerful military force. The countries of the South Continent do not have their military power concentrated in one country like the North Continent, and all three countries have almost equal military power. The two continents were originally one continent, but 300 years ago, lightning struck from the sky for three days, splitting the continent. A waterway leading to the sea was created between the split valleys, and as it was eroded by the elements, it became so wide that it now had to be traveled by boat. People call that place the ‘Valley of Death.’ And the wyverns split in half between this ‘Valley of Death’ and began to settle. Since then, a fierce war between the two continents to claim the wyverns has also begun. Wyverns that have already matured are difficult to tame, but baby wyverns can be easily tamed by mages or high-ranking knights. For this reason, the countries of the two continents shed a lot of blood between the Valley of Death to claim the baby wyverns. Thanks to the wyverns’ habit of moving to different areas and returning every three years, the war is currently in a temporary truce.

“Prince. The time is approaching when the wyverns will soon return to the Valley of Death.”

When that time comes, the two continents will start the war again.

“The only way for our kingdom, which is closest to the Valley of Death, to minimize damage is to receive protection from the Lapheon Empire.”

“That’s right.”

“That’s why this state marriage is important. That sacrifice has some flaws, but we have to keep her in the Empress’s seat until we find Resilia.”

Prince Tesler recalled Zelda’s burn scar and tapped his right cheek with his finger.

“What are you planning to do next?”

“Well, what should I do… with our Zelda.”

Prince Tesler laughed and trailed off.

***

“Are you okay? You seem to have a fever on your face.”

Emperor Linelle’s hand reached towards my right cheek. I was internally cursing Prince Tesler when I was startled by his worried voice.

“Ah, no. I’m just nervous.”

Without realizing it, I turned my head to avoid his touch. He narrowed his eyes and looked at me as if trying to see through me, then obediently lowered his hand.

“You don’t have to worry about the priests.”

He said casually and turned around to pick up the wine glass he had placed on the table again. I glared at his carefree back. The composed Emperor Linelle didn’t look like someone who was about to consummate right away, no matter how I looked at him. Furthermore, he didn’t seem to have any feelings for me. That was the same for me. But, I don’t know why my heart has been acting up on its own since earlier. First of all, I thought we should have a conversation before sharing our bodies. We can’t just suddenly share each other’s lewd sounds like this, can we? Even if saying a few more words right now won’t help this awkward situation much, still.

“Your Majesty, I have a question!”

I rolled my eyes around and gently raised my hand.

“I’m looking forward to it. I wonder what the Empress is curious about in this situation…”

Emperor Linelle leaned his upper body towards me and tilted his head. His beautiful body filled my vision without warning.

“Go ahead.”

His low voice had a tendency to make my tension grow rapidly. I was already out of breath because of the tension rising from my core.

“Um… do the priests come in on the wedding night even when you take a concubine [a secondary wife or partner], or welcome a new Empress?”

“…”

The Emperor’s expression gradually distorted as he listened to my words. I was trying to have a proper conversation, but somehow, an atmosphere stranger than silence was created.

“Is that what the Empress is curious about right now?”

No.

“Whether the situation will be the same when I welcome a new Empress?”

I was just… trying to buy some time, but the words that came out happened to be those words.

“I-it was a slip of the tongue.”

“It was a slip of the tongue… why.”

“Yes?”

“Why did you make such a slip of the tongue? For the words ‘new Empress’ to come out of the mouth of the Empress who got married today so casually.”

I was at a loss as to what kind of expression to show as I looked at Emperor Linelle’s face full of suspicion.

“Listen carefully.”

He took a long breath and continued with a determined tone.

“No matter how unhelpful God has been in my life, I still swore an oath in front of Him at the marriage ceremony today. So, the possibility of me welcoming a new Empress-”

“…”

“-will not exist.”

Boom! I felt like lightning was striking my crown repeatedly. Your Majesty, please be flexible about divorce and remarriage!

“There are only two cases where I will remarry.”

He tapped my nose lightly with his index finger,

“When you die, or when you cheat on me.”

With a firm look,

“Only then.”

He said very firmly.