The Stand-In Empress’S Wedding Night [EN]: Chapter 207

207. Today’s the Day

Martins, after meeting Zelda, returned directly to the annex where the VIPs were staying and sought out Prince Tesler’s room.

As he entered the room, Princess Resilia was also present.

“What’s going on?”

Prince Tesler, who had departed from the Kingdom of Shattonil in the early morning and arrived at the Rafion Empire late in the afternoon, looked weary.

“Your Highness, I have something urgent to tell you.”

“Why the serious face?”

“It concerns Empress Roxana.”

“Don’t tell me it’s some nonsense about raising tariffs on our kingdom again?”

Prince Tesler frowned deeply.

“No, it’s about the Avatar Sword.”

“What?!”

Prince Tesler, who had been leaning back on the sofa, sat up in surprise at Martins’ words.

“I heard from one of the officials of the Principality of Akrato [a small, often overlooked territory], with whom I’ve become acquainted while staying here…”

Martins began, cautiously broaching the subject.

“The Avatar Sword is currently in the possession of Empress Roxana. And she’s also been keeping an unhatched wyvern egg for a long time.”

“Oh my, that backwater hick has all those precious things?”

Princess Resilia asked, looking displeased.

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“I’ve also heard that the Principality of Akrato has an unhatched wyvern egg that’s about 300 years old. But why does Roxana have the Avatar Sword of the Master of the Magic Tower?”

Surely, Hector had the Avatar Sword at the monastery a month ago?

Prince Tesler’s expression turned serious.

“It seems Hector gave the Avatar Sword to Roxana.”

“That idiot. To hand over that treasured sword to a mere woman! So, both the wyvern egg and the Avatar Sword are now in the Empress’s Palace?”

Prince Tesler asked with a sly look.

“They are said to be kept inside the Empress’s bedroom, but no one seems to know the exact location.”

Martins relayed the message to Prince Tesler as Zelda had instructed.

“Brother, the Empress invited me to her room. Should I try to probe her?”

“You? No, you might cause unnecessary misunderstandings, so keep your mouth shut. Instead, go a little earlier than the appointed time.”

“Why?”

“If the Empress happens to be away, you might have a chance to go in and look around beforehand.”

If Roxana remained in her bedroom, there was nothing he could do, but it was worth a shot.

“Ah, Princess. If Empress Roxana isn’t in her bedroom, take a look at the cosmetics on her dressing table.”

Martins subtly directed his words to Princess Resilia this time.

“Why the dressing table?”

“All the women in the Rafion Imperial Family envy Roxana’s smooth skin, and it’s said that cosmetics made only in the Principality of Akrato are the reason. Everyone is eager to find out what those cosmetics are.”

“Indeed, her skin is exceptionally good. I thought there must be some secret…”

As Zelda had predicted, Princess Resilia immediately showed interest and eagerly took the bait Martins had thrown.

“Yes, if we find out what products they are, our kingdom can import them and resell them to the noblewomen of the Rafion Empire at a high price.”

“Hahaha, you can’t hide your merchant blood.”

Prince Tesler chuckled, patting Martins on the shoulder.

“Not a bad idea. We need some profitable items when they’re charging us so much in tariffs.”

“Then it’s better to go to the Empress’s Palace now.”

Princess Resilia glanced at the wall clock and rose from the sofa.

There was still an hour left until her appointment with Roxana.

“Resil, don’t ask Roxana anything unnecessary. You’ll only give her an excuse to pick a fight.”

“Do you think I’m stupid?”

Princess Resilia retorted to Prince Tesler’s nagging and left the room.

***

“Is Her Majesty the Empress inside?”

Princess Resilia arrived at the Empress’s Palace bedroom 40 minutes earlier than her scheduled time with Roxana.

Nancy looked at Princess Resilia with a puzzled expression and replied.

“I apologize, but Her Majesty the Empress is currently in the drawing-room with the costume designer. You may have to wait a moment.”

“Is that so? Then I’ll go in and wait. After all, she invited me here for tea.”

Princess Resilia opened the door to the Empress’s bedroom.

“Princess! You should enter when Her Majesty the Empress arrives…!”

Nancy was horrified to see Princess Resilia opening the door to the Empress’s bedroom without permission.

“I don’t know what the etiquette is like in the island country of Akrato, but the etiquette of the continent doesn’t leave foreign guests standing like this.”

Princess Resilia glared at Nancy.

“…I apologize. Please wait in the waiting room here, and I will immediately inform Her Majesty the Empress.”

“Is that so? Then I’ll be back.”

“Yes, Princess.”

Nancy hurried to the drawing-room.

Meanwhile, Princess Resilia stubbornly opened the bedroom door and entered.

The other maids dared not speak to the princess and only looked at each other.

Princess Resilia, who had entered the bedroom, went straight to the dressing table.

‘I don’t care about the wyvern egg or the Avatar Sword.’

Princess Resilia examined Roxana’s cosmetics, which were displayed all over the dressing table, and became excited.

“Coming from an island country, why does she have so many things to put on her face? More than me?”

There seemed to be twice as many cosmetics as she used.

The princess muttered the names of the products several times, memorizing them.

Just as she was about to turn away from the dressing table, the bedroom door opened, and Roxana entered.

“What are you doing there?”

Roxana frowned deeply, revealing her displeasure.

The dressing table was where the wyvern egg was kept, making it a sensitive place for Roxana.

“I greet the new sun of the Rafion Empire, Her Majesty the Empress! I thought my appearance was not neat, so I was looking in the mirror for a moment. Your Majesty.”

Princess Resilia hurriedly bent her knees and greeted Roxana politely.

“Oh, it’s been a month since I saw you at the monastery.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Roxana relaxed her frown and greeted Princess Resilia.

Besides, she didn’t mind the princess calling her “Your Majesty” so frequently.

“Come and sit down. They will bring refreshments soon.”

“Yes, thank you.”

While drinking tea and chatting, Princess Resilia mentioned the Consort Ceremony first.

“I can’t understand why His Majesty is taking back former Empress Zelda, who defrauded both countries, as a consort [a companion to the Emperor]!”

“Can we help it since it’s His Majesty’s will? But the way she’s trying to become a consort and win His Majesty’s favor as soon as possible is not a pretty sight.”

“Oh my, it’s so vulgar!”

Princess Resilia chimed in, trying to please Roxana.

“I would have asked for time to prepare a wedding dress, but seeing her trying to rush the Consort Ceremony date so desperately… it’s pathetic.”

Roxana intentionally brought up the wedding dress.

“Really? She wouldn’t have had time to get a wedding dress, so what is she going to wear?”

“I heard she’s going to wear a ready-made wedding dress that commoners wear.”

“Huh? She has no shame! I would never wear something like that.”

“I agree.”

Roxana spoke in a much softer tone than before.

“She’s desperately trying to catch the Emperor’s eye again? You must be upset, Your Majesty. You’re still newlyweds, and you have to see the Consort Ceremony right away.”

Princess Resilia subtly threw words to provoke Roxana.

In response, Roxana smiled gently and asked.

“I’m not the only one, but Princess Resilia also has a debt to repay to former Empress Zelda, right?”

“Yes?”

“If she had stepped down from the Empress’s position in time, you, not me, would be in this position now. Isn’t that so?”

“Ah… that’s true…”

Princess Resilia clenched her dress hem with both hands and gritted her teeth.

“Former Empress Zelda is so lucky, she gets to have ceremonies with His Majesty twice…”

“Yes, it makes me so angry every time I think about it.”

“What can we do? Unless she doesn’t have a wedding dress…”

Roxana trailed off, and Princess Resilia showed interest.

“Unless what?”

“Tomorrow is the Consort Ceremony, and we can’t let the other prospective consorts suffer because of her. Shouldn’t we proceed with the ceremony without former Empress Zelda?”

“…Really?”

Roxana nodded and continued.

“Oh, right. I heard that you and Prince Tesler are scheduled to meet His Majesty in the main audience hall before the Consort Ceremony tomorrow?”

“Yes, I wanted to greet him today, but he’s so busy that he only has time for a moment before the Consort Ceremony tomorrow.”

“Princess Resilia, so… how about taking this opportunity to repay the debt you owe to former Empress Zelda?”

Roxana put down her teacup and asked secretly.

***

“Are you sure about this?”

Sharon asked in a trembling voice, handing me a mask.

“Tonight is the chance. It might be harder to retrieve the Avatar Sword if it’s not today.”

“I know, but I’m even more worried because it’s the night before the Consort Ceremony.”

“That’s why Roxana might be more relieved.”

I opened the window at the back of the main building.

“Be careful, Your Majesty the Empress…!”

“Don’t worry. Just keep a good watch on those two.”

I said, pointing to Moiya and Moni, who were tied under the bedposts.

“Yes, I will guard them well.”

“Close the window in case bugs come in; they might transform.”

“Of course.”

“Master, please untie us; we won’t follow you. Really!”

Moiya pleaded, and Moni fidgeted along with her.

“I wouldn’t go there even if you told me to. This is really Moni~”

“If you stay quiet, Sharon will give you sausage. Sharon, if they say one more word from now on, take away one sausage each.”

“Yes, I understand.”

At my words, Moiya and Moni simultaneously shut their mouths and bowed deeply to me.

I chuckled and went out the window.

I was going to go straight down the wall, but the chances of being spotted by the palace people were high because it was located in the middle of the building.

I moved sideways and chose the path to the end of the building wall.

I carefully stepped on the sculptures and moved sideways.

I saw the lights on in the Emperor’s bedroom at the end of the building and peeked inside for a moment.

He was sitting with his back against the head of the bed, looking at documents.

I couldn’t take my eyes off him, as he looked handsome as ever while engrossed in his work.

He turned his head this way as he turned the documents.

‘Gasp!’

I quickly went down to the bottom of the building.

As soon as my feet touched the ground, I hid behind the corner of the building and looked up.

Linell was opening the window and looking outside.

‘He didn’t see me, did he?’

I muffled my footsteps, turned my back on the main building, and hurried towards the back garden.

***

Hiding in the darkness, I ran to the Empress’s Palace.

I hid behind a tree until the guards passed by the back of the Empress’s Palace building, then quickly entered through the back door leading to the laundry room.

‘What is this again?’

A large cabinet was placed in front of the staircase door connected to the dressing room.

It wasn’t there before.

I wondered if it had been brought in after Sharon had secretly entered the dressing room.

I easily pushed the cabinet aside and took out the key I had received from Sharon from my pocket, opening the door to the dressing room.

I climbed the narrow spiral staircase without stopping.

I took out the key again in front of the door to the dressing room.

I was worried that the key wouldn’t fit, but fortunately, the key that Sharon had copied in advance fit perfectly.

But when I opened the door, a cabinet was blocking the door, just like in the laundry room.

I bent down, lifted the bottom of the cabinet, and moved it little by little to the side.

It would be easier to just push it all at once, but that would definitely make a sound as the cabinet dragged on the floor, so it was safer to do it this way, even if it was difficult.

I made just enough space for my body to squeeze through and entered the dressing room.

I lifted the cabinet again and covered the entrance to the door.

The dressing room was dark without a single light, but I could easily find where the Avatar Sword was.

I spread my palms and slowly moved along the area where I felt the Avatar Sword.

The Avatar Sword was kept in the dress closet facing the door connected to the bedroom.

‘It’s here.’

I rummaged through the dozens of dresses hanging there and found the Avatar Sword.

The red jewel embedded in the handle of the Avatar Sword sparkled and shone in the darkness.

Suddenly, the blood in my body began to circulate rapidly.

‘I have to get out of here first.’

The moment I slung the Avatar Sword on my back,

The door to the dressing room connected to the bedroom slowly opened.

I inhaled and hid in the dress closet, pressing my back against the wall.

Roxana was seen holding an oil lamp between the dresses.

‘What should I do…!’

Roxana slowly began to look around the dressing room.

Did she sense something strange?

After Princess Resilia left, did she notice that the wyvern egg in the dressing table drawer was gone?

Ah, so she might have come into the dressing room to check if the Avatar Sword was safe.

Roxana put the oil lamp on the shelf and began to walk towards me.

The Avatar Sword is here, so she’s bound to check this closet where I’m hiding first.

What should I do? If I stay like this, I’ll be caught right away.

‘Zelda, the oil lamp!’

The Avatar inside me shouted.

I immediately knew what the Avatar meant.

It’s a dangerous method, but there’s no other choice now.

I stared intently at the oil lamp and focused my mind.

‘Please, please…!’

The moment Roxana was about to put her hand between the dresses in the closet where I was hiding,

Tuk-!

The oil lamp fell to the floor.

‘It’s done.’

“Kyaaak…!!”

The flames swept through the dressing room in an instant, enough to drown out Roxana’s scream.