The Stand-In Empress’S Wedding Night [EN]: Chapter 254

254. Dating Spot

“Pesillini is carrying His Majesty’s child.”

“……Excuse me?! Are you saying she’s pregnant?”

Yulina’s shocked voice echoed through the reception room.

“I thought His Majesty always visited Zelda Mama’s chambers. When did he ever go to Pesillini Mama’s chambers?”

“She got pregnant a few months ago.”

“Huh? Then that was when Zelda Mama was the Empress?”

“That’s right.”

“It seems His Majesty didn’t only favor Zelda Mama from the start, did he?”

“It’s not that surprising. Men can spend the night even without affection.”

Roxana tried to sound nonchalant.

“Then was it a one-night mistake?”

“What does it matter? What’s important is that Pesillini is pregnant.”

Roxana, who had been trying to appear calm, snapped back irritably.

“Well, if she gives birth to a prince, even affection that didn’t exist might arise, right? No, even if she doesn’t receive affection, she’ll live a life of luxury and be treated well.”

“She’ll have nothing to fear. I mean, it’s absurd… not Zelda, but the imperial family’s first bloodline is coming from Pesillini’s body.”

Roxana muttered in annoyance.

“I know. She’s an unexpected dark horse.”

Yulina tried to appease Roxana, but a question mark popped into her head.

‘Why is she telling me to be close to the pregnant Pesillini?’

She couldn’t readily understand.

“Your Majesty, Empress, but why should I get close to Pesillini Mama?”

At Yulina’s question, Roxana twisted her lips.

“Right now, His Majesty is only focused on Zelda, but no one knows when that attention will shift to someone else’s skirt.”

“Yes, that’s what I always hope for.”

Yulina inadvertently revealed her true feelings. Feeling Roxana’s gaze turn cold, she quietly lowered her eyes.

“But you know, Yulina, favor is not eternal. But giving birth to an imperial bloodline is a different matter.”

“Y, yes!”

“If Pesillini gives birth to a prince—no, even if it’s a princess—if that child is the only bloodline of the imperial family… what do you think will happen?”

“Her power will become very great!”

“That’s right. Pesillini will have tremendous power.”

‘I don’t need to tell Yulina that he’s impotent, do I?’

Roxana recalled her futile first night with Linell.

The Emperor’s face, as he confessed that he could no longer perform as a man while rejecting her advances, was still vivid.

As the despair of that day resurfaced, her mood sank.

Since Roxana didn’t know that Linell’s function only worked for Zelda, she couldn’t help but think that Pesillini’s baby would be the only bloodline of the Rafion imperial family.

So, she had to act quickly.

That was more urgent than getting rid of Zelda.

‘After all, Zelda can’t bear his child since he’s impotent.’

Roxana organized the order of things in that way.

“Your Majesty, Empress… what are you planning to do?”

Yulina asked cautiously in a trembling voice.

She now vaguely understood why Roxana had come to her.

Yulina recalled Roxana’s words about helping her join the delegation to the Partsha Empire.

There was no reason for her to show such favor without a reason.

“Pesillini’s insistence on going as part of the delegation has become a good opportunity.”

“A good… opportunity?”

A sense of foreboding washed over her.

“Yes. There’s something I think you can do for me.”

Roxana smiled at Yulina, who looked nervous.

“What… do I have to do?”

“It won’t be difficult, so don’t make such a frightened face.”

“Yes, Your Majesty, Empress….”

“I’ll tell you slowly what you need to do.”

Yulina missed the timing to answer as she swallowed hard.

Roxana looked at Yulina’s face and slowly rose from her chair.

“First, what you need to do is lower Pesillini’s guard. It won’t be difficult, right?”

“I will do so.”

“If you help me this time, I will try to help you become the First Concubine like Catherine in the future.”

Roxana whispered, embracing Yulina as if to encourage her.

“Really?! But… is that possible?”

“What’s impossible? It’s not like Catherine is in the position of First Concubine because she’s receiving His Majesty’s favor.”

“Ah, I don’t know what to do with myself, Your Majesty, Empress, being so considerate to me!”

Yulina was already overwhelmed, as if she had already risen to the position of First Concubine.

***

A meeting with the ministers was scheduled to discuss matters related to Prince Kalvain’s attendance at the Emperor’s coronation.

Linell meticulously checked every detail, reviewing the list of the congratulatory delegation and the routes to the Partsha Empire.

It was for the sake of the pregnant Zelda.

“Tell her I won’t be able to have dinner with her tonight. And add that my dinner will be very lonely,”

He said to Raphael, checking the time as he skimmed through the documents before the meeting.

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

There was no need to ask who he was referring to.

“……But there’s something I’m really curious about.”

“What is it?”

“You spend every morning and evening with Zelda Mama, so do you really need to add such cheesy words?”

Raphael had to endure the pain of his hands and feet curling up every time words that didn’t suit the stern Emperor came out of his mouth.

“It’s the truth. And I’m fine, so why are you embarrassed?”

“I guess so. Your expression and tone are too stiff compared to what you’re saying, which makes it even more so.”

“Zelda isn’t here.”

Hearing that, Raphael nodded automatically.

“Oh my, I can already imagine how much more affectionate you’ll be when the prince or princess is born.”

Raphael said with a hearty laugh.

“Zelda is my priority. No matter how pretty the child is, they won’t be as pretty as her.”

“Do you know what, Your Majesty? Everyone says that. But when the child is born, they’re so pretty you wouldn’t even mind putting them in your eyes? On the other hand, just seeing your wife makes you hurt, haha.”

“Well, that might be the case if you don’t have a pretty wife like Zelda.”

“?”

He chuckled and continued as if talking to himself,

“I’m the opposite. And right now, you’re the only one walking back and forth in front of me, so it feels like my eyes are rotting.”

Linell looked up at Raphael and frowned excessively.

How could he say such harsh things…….

Wounded, Raphael wanted to say the same thing to him, but he couldn’t.

It wasn’t just because he couldn’t dare to say such things to the Emperor, but also because his face was more enchanting than looking at any beauty.

“I want to call her to the main palace and eat together, but I feel bad asking her to come since she’s pregnant.”

Raphael clicked his tongue at Linell’s mutterings.

It seemed that his consideration and affection were emotions made solely for one person.

“……You’re always like newlyweds.”

“Because Zelda is always pretty.”

No matter what you ask, the answer always comes back to one thing.

“Around me, I see wives getting pregnant and sometimes their eyes wander to other women, but it seems Your Majesty’s love is only getting deeper.”

Although it might be because it’s still early in the pregnancy.

At Raphael’s words, Linell became serious.

“I already feel terrible that she’s having a hard time because she’s carrying a child, so where would I have the mind to do that? Raphael, are the zippers of everyone around you open in the Imperial City even after they get married?”

Tsk tsk.

He clicked his tongue and scanned Raphael up and down as if he were pathetic.

“That’s just what I’m saying. And it’s just that their eyes wander for a moment, it doesn’t mean they’re completely taking off their pants?”

“Close your zipper. Why do you keep leaving that zipper open?”

“Huh? Why is it open again? I didn’t lower it, Your Majesty!”

Raphael turned around and zipped up, feeling wronged.

“Then would the thing inside be so stuffy that it opened it on its own?”

“Ah, that might really be the case. As Your Majesty knows well, hasn’t that guy been very active?”

Raphael grinned and said proudly, but Linell immediately dampened his spirits.

“But, would that little guy have the strength to open the zipper?”

“……!”

***

On the way to the training grounds, I plucked a yellow chrysanthemum and really stuck the flower next to Melanie’s ear.

The dark color of Melanie’s hair and the yellow chrysanthemum went quite well together.

“Oh my, are you still here?”

“……Why did you come here?”

Arriving at the training grounds and entering the entrance, Melanie’s target stood like a wooden pillar.

Confirming the target, Melanie gracefully lifted the hem of her dress and walked into the training grounds.

“She knew we were here, so why is she acting like that?”

Rosie asked me, covering her mouth with her hand.

“She must want to act like she ran into us by chance.”

I replied to Rosie, looking at the chrysanthemum neatly tucked next to Melanie’s ear.

“Melanie Mama has a hypocritical side.”

“Yeah, she also has a cute side.”

“Really, do men like that?”

Rosie’s expression became quite serious.

“Hmm, it depends on the person, but some men might think it’s cute? I think Prince Norton would like a woman with *aegyo* [acting cute in a flirtatious manner].”

“……Like Princess Resilia, who shakes her whole body with terrible *aegyo*? Should I do that too?”

Rosie asked, looking disgusted.

“No. The Prince probably likes you just the way you are now.”

“But I want to be loved more…….”

Rosie said shyly and fanned herself for no reason.

“You’re very lovely now, too?”

“Do you think the Prince thinks so too?”

“Of course. That’s why he’s trying to welcome you as his Princess Consort.”

I gently pushed Rosie’s arm to the side and asked about what Moiya and Moni had told me.

“So, did you have good mating yesterday?”

“Excuse me?!”

“Moiya and Moni told me. They said they left the place for the two of you to mate last night.”

“Are those two crazy! How could they say such things to you……!”

Rosie muttered to herself, furious.

“Actually, I was so curious that I wanted to ask you earlier. Rosie, tell me only. Did you make a lot of progress?”

“We only kissed.”

Rosie sighed like a defeated soldier.

“Why……?”

You even read the book thoroughly.

I wanted to tell her that I had a hot night with Linell last night thanks to that book, but I couldn’t bring myself to do it at Rosie’s collapsing expression.

“Prince Norton doesn’t seem to see me as a woman.”

“Ehh, that’s not true?”

“If that’s not the case, why does he tell me to wear the dress again?”

“……Huh?”

“I was taking off my dress, but he put it back on me.”

I was too embarrassed to ask for details about the situation, so I offered some words of comfort.

“The Prince must want to cherish you.”

“But I want to be loved and worn out?”

“!”

“You know, books, the ones that are fun and you like, get tattered because you read them so much, right? I want to make Prince Norton tattered.”

“Rosie, I know what you mean. But… don’t use those expressions with the Prince. Okay?”

“Why? Is it because it’s too ticklish?”

……Where is that ticklish to you?

I was surprised by Rosie’s strange expressiveness and wrapped my arm around her shoulder, saying somewhat forcefully.

“Stop talking and do as I say. Please, never use those expressions.”

Please.

“Yes, I’ll keep that in mind…….”

After comforting the love idiot, another love idiot caught my eye over there.

Hetor, who was looking down at Melanie with a worried gaze, saw me and bowed.

I also nodded lightly and approached Melanie with Rosie.

“Melanie, why do you have that?”

“I told you, I’m going to learn swordsmanship.”

Melanie stuck the tip of the sword into the floor of the training grounds and held the handle with both hands.

Can she even lift the sword properly?

“Shouldn’t you first develop the arm strength to hold the sword properly?”

“Yes, but this sword seems particularly heavy.”

“It’s the lightest one.”

At Hetor’s words, Melanie staggered as she lifted the sword with both hands.

“Mama, don’t do useless things and just sit in that chair.”

Hetor looked down at Melanie pathetically.

“Don’t look down on me! Even though I’m like this, my father put everything that’s good for the body into my mouth since I was young.”

“Isn’t that why you at least have the strength to walk around?”

When I said jokingly, Rosie next to me burst out laughing.

Then, Melanie’s pride was hurt, and she raised her sword and glared.

It was clear that she was trying to maintain her balance and stand up straight.

“Come on, come on!”

Melanie approached Hetor precariously.

Hetor looked at her with the gaze of an eagle looking at a sparrow, and then struck the sword she was holding with his sword, *ting-*.

It wasn’t like he struck the sword hard, but Melanie staggered powerlessly.

‘Uh oh!’ She made a sound and spun around once before collapsing to the floor.

“Be careful.”

She was about to sit down, but Hetor quickly wrapped his arm around Melanie’s waist with one hand.

Hetor was quite agile, as if he had anticipated her movements.

And then, the exchange of glances between the two.

‘Ah…… I can’t do this. I should just shoot a few arrows.’

Feeling like I was eavesdropping on someone else’s romance, I hurriedly went to the weapon display and picked up a bow.

Rosie seemed to have the same thought, turning her body halfway and pretending to look elsewhere.

But after a while, shadows fell in a corner of the training grounds.

Looking closely, there were not one but two shadows.

The shadows, who had hesitated for a moment, slowly revealed themselves inside the training grounds.

The owners of the shadows were Count Ethan, the head of the Imperial Palace blacksmith, and,

“Catherine?!”

What is this training ground…….

Was this originally a dating spot?