The Stand-In Empress’S Wedding Night [EN]: Chapter 281

281. The Sound of a Thorn Being Removed

2023.09.13.

The morning of our departure for the Partsha Empire dawned.

“How are you feeling today?”

Linelle asked, embracing me as soon as I opened my eyes.

“Good enough to ride a horse for half a day straight?”

“Are you rebelling again?”

His lips brushed my forehead as he spoke.

Last night, he had instructed me to travel by carriage to Polt, the port city where we would board the ship.

I insisted that I was more comfortable on horseback.

However, his cold gaze sent a shiver down my spine, and I reluctantly agreed to his wishes.

My earlier words were not meant as an act of rebellion.

I am in top condition, capable of riding a horse and wielding a sword.

As I had been informed, the congratulatory delegation gathered in the main palace dining hall for breakfast.

After the meal, we emerged in front of the main palace, where the escort knights and attendants who would be accompanying us were already assembled.

Although the group was smaller compared to the continental hunting competition, it consisted mostly of important figures from the congratulatory delegation.

The foreign dignitaries departing from the Lapion Empire were Grand Duke Martins of the Shattonil Kingdom, Emperor Adrian of the Tebello Empire, and Empress Elan.

The congratulatory delegations from other countries had either departed around the same time as us due to the heavy rain or had already left before.

“As the departure date has been delayed by one day, we will reduce the time spent resting on our way to Polt Harbor. You will have about two and a half days to rest comfortably after boarding the ship, so please do not stray from the formation until we reach the dock, and follow the instructions of the commanders assigned to each group!”

As soon as Linelle’s brief departure speech ended, the congratulatory delegation hurriedly set off for Polt.

I rode in a carriage with Rosie, Rams, and Melanie.

The journey from the Lapion Imperial City to the port city of Polt would take a day and a half.

In truth, I wanted to appeal to him once more, saying that I would prefer to travel on horseback, but I didn’t want to worry him unnecessarily, so I quietly boarded the carriage.

The fastest route to Polt was through the Kashas Forest.

The Kashas Forest was also the place where Princess Resilia had recently kidnapped Rams, confronted the knights, and accidentally dropped Rams under the valley bridge.

It was when the carriage approached that valley bridge.

“Isn’t this where that crazy princess dropped Rams? Oh my gosh, it’s dizzying just looking at it!”

Melanie leaned out of the carriage window and shuddered.

“Melanie, please close the window…”

Rosie hugged Rams tighter and closed her eyes tightly until we had crossed the bridge.

Her face reflected the nightmare of that day.

Melanie, looking chagrined, quietly closed the window and her mouth.

“Rosie, you can open your eyes now. We’ve crossed it.”

I patted Rosie’s knee after crossing the valley bridge.

Rosie slowly opened her eyes and let out a breath she had been holding in.

In contrast to her, Rams, the one who had fallen into the valley, was all smiles.

“Thank you. It’s a bit warm, so I’ll open the window again. By the way, who is Lady Pesilini riding with?”

Rosie asked, glancing at another carriage as she opened the window.

“Wouldn’t she be riding alone? She’s quite pregnant, so she’d probably want to be comfortable by herself.”

I replied, also looking out the window.

Then Melanie stroked Rams’s head and said,

“Lady Pesilini is riding with Yulina.”

“Really? Not Catherine… just the two of them?”

“Yes. I casually asked about it during breakfast at the main palace earlier. She said she had decided to travel with Yulina.”

Melanie, who was usually not on good terms with Yulina, pouted.

“Oh, now that I think about it, Lady Pesilini and Yulina seem to have become much closer since Yulina caught Pesilini when she almost fell at the hot springs. They’ve been taking walks together in the West Palace garden often since that day, too,”

Rosie said.

“Is that so?”

Yulina was close to Roxana, so it was a little strange that Pesilini had opened her heart to Yulina.

Then it must be one of two things…

Either Yulina had always been dissatisfied with Roxana, or she was deliberately approaching Pesilini and pretending to be friendly.

If it was the second reason, why?

That question lingered in my mind for a while.

The carriage traveled through the Kashas Forest for several hours without stopping.

The road was generally bumpy because it was a forest path, so even though we were sitting on thick cushions, our bodies were jostled around, making me feel unwell.

However, Melanie, who had a stronger stomach than anyone else, kept asking about lunch.

“When can we eat lunch? It’s almost mealtime.”

“We won’t be able to eat exactly on time like we do at the Imperial Palace. It might be a little, or even a lot, late. His Majesty told us that before we left.”

“Yes, but he also said we might be able to eat a little early, too.”

“…That’s true, but even if we start eating now, I don’t think it’s early anymore, is it?”

I took out my pocket watch, checked the time, and held it up in front of Melanie’s eyes.

“Wow, my stomach clock is always accurate, isn’t it?”

Melanie patted her stomach and laughed after confirming that it was exactly 12 o’clock.

The moment Rosie and I burst into laughter, the carriage slowly came to a stop.

“Huh? Why did the carriage suddenly stop?”

Melanie lifted her bottom to look out the carriage window, but I was faster.

“I wonder why.”

I pushed Melanie away with force and looked out the window.

“I think I need to go out and see what’s going on…”

It wasn’t just our carriage that had stopped.

The entire procession of the congratulatory delegation had come to a halt.

“Why?”

“What’s going on outside?”

Melanie and Rosie asked simultaneously, their faces filled with fear.

“I think we’ll only be able to eat lunch after we cross that.”

I sat back down and pointed out the window.

Melanie quickly leaned out the window and gasped in surprise.

“Gasp.”

“…What is that?!”

Following Melanie, Rosie also looked out the window and asked me with a stiff expression.

“Looks like a suspension bridge?”

“Oh, God! A, are we really going to cross that?”

“I’ll go out and find out what’s going on first.”

As I said that and got out of the carriage, my legs wobbled as much as that suspension bridge, probably because I had been sitting for so long.

“What’s going on, Your Majesty?”

I approached Linelle and asked.

“Everyone will get off their horses and carriages and cross that bridge.”

He said, pointing to the suspension bridge that was swaying like a swing in the wind.

“Is this… the only way?”

“It’s the fastest way. The other way would take too much time.”

He spoke in a firm tone, as if he would not accept any other opinions.

“It’s not a dangerous bridge. It just… shakes a bit too much.”

“…That’s not comforting at all.”

Some members of the congratulatory delegation protested, suggesting that we take a detour even if it meant arriving at the Partsha Empire a day or two late, but Linelle’s decision remained as unwavering as that suspension bridge.

The suspension bridge was wide enough for two carriages to pass side by side.

However, that was actually a factor that created more anxiety.

The first to cross the suspension bridge were the coachmen in the carriages.

They casually crossed the bridge, lining up two by two.

They said they had experience crossing this suspension bridge at least once while working as coachmen.

Following them were some of the escort knights.

They each held the reins of their horses and the horses of the congratulatory delegation, crossing the bridge at a walking pace on flat ground.

The congratulatory delegation, who had been watching these two groups cross the bridge safely, plucked up their courage and took steps onto the swaying bridge, their feet even more unsteady.

I looked around.

Rosie and Rams were being protected by Prince Norton, Melanie was almost being carried by Hector, Catherine was with the twin concubines from the Aclato Duchy, and Roxana was being supported by her maid Nancy and Hector’s adjutant Falto.

Linelle and I each held one of Duke Joseph’s hands, waiting for our turn to cross.

In the meantime, Pesilini, who seemed to be almost the last in line, caught my eye.

I looked around and made eye contact with Grand Duke Martins, who was standing alone with a stiff expression.

“Grand Duke Martins, would you mind helping Pesilini?”

I gestured towards where Pesilini was standing and asked.

Pesilini was holding Yulina’s weak hand and watching the people crossing the suspension bridge.

“…Me?”

Grand Duke Martins pointed at his chest with his finger and asked back.

“Yes, you, Grand Duke.”

“I also have a fear of heights.”

“That’s good. You can rely on each other as you cross.”

Whether my words were comforting or not, Grand Duke Martins approached Pesilini, took her hand, and escorted her.

After crossing the suspension bridge first, I saw that Pesilini was actually comforting and escorting Grand Duke Martins.

***

Before the sun completely set, the escort knights quickly set up camp for the night under the direction of Emperor Linelle.

The congratulatory delegation members went into their assigned tents early to rest, or some spent time in front of the bonfire, waiting for dinner.

Pesilini stopped by Yulina’s tent, then turned away from her own tent and sat alone in front of a bonfire nearby.

Grand Duke Martins, who was receiving an extra blanket from a servant, noticed her.

Remembering that he had received help from Pesilini on the suspension bridge during the day, he couldn’t just pass by and sat down next to her.

“Cover yourself. The wind is cold.”

Grand Duke Martins casually placed the blanket he had on her lap.

Pesilini’s eyes widened, then changed into a smile.

“Thank you.”

“Go inside. It’s warmer inside the tent. Why are you out here?”

“The air is nice. And I like the bonfire.”

An awkward silence flowed.

Grand Duke Martins spoke first.

“By the way, what was it you were going to say yesterday?”

“Oh, it wasn’t really anything important…”

“Let’s hear it.”

When Grand Duke Martins urged her, Pesilini hesitated for a moment before speaking.

“Yesterday, I suddenly remembered the day I first met Your Highness.”

“That was a long time ago. I remember it too. The way Your Ladyship walked down the royal corridor holding Marquis Astor’s hand. You were 14 years old then, right?”

“No. I was 16 years old. I was a bit shorter than my peers back then.”

“…Ah, yes.”

Grand Duke Martins nodded awkwardly.

Since she was young, Pesilini had often visited the Shattonil royal family, following her father, who led a trading company.

“That’s right. Your Highness was with Prince Tesler. Back then, if you had replied to my letter… I suddenly wondered if my future would have been different.”

A letter?

Grand Duke Martins raised both palms as if it was the first time he had heard of it.

“I have never received a letter from a noble young lady in my life.”

“The prince definitely said he delivered it to you back then, didn’t he? I heard that you tore up my letter as soon as you received it, and they even got into a fight because it was too much… ?”

“Ha, Prince Tesler must have lied.”

“Surely…”

“He must have liked Your Ladyship very much. In the end, you became bait for the prince’s ambition.”

Grand Duke Martins sighed and said.

Pesilini smiled helplessly.

“If I had met Your Highness in person and given you the letter back then, would this misfortune have not happened?”

To her words, which she muttered to herself,

“I’m sorry. You are not my type, either now or then.”

Grand Duke Martins said coldly.

However, Pesilini didn’t feel bad, but burst into a pleasant laugh.

“I know. Who Your Highness has in mind.”

“?”

Grand Duke Martins was startled by Pesilini’s words.

“You admire Lady Zelda, don’t you?”

“!”

It was an acknowledging silence.

“Your eyes, I’ve seen the way Your Highness looks at Lady Zelda. That’s when I knew.”

“You could be an eye appraiser. No, how could someone who knows so much about other people’s affairs…”

Feeling embarrassed, I interjected, and Pesilini readily admitted.

“Yes, humans are originally not objective about their own affairs.”

Grand Duke Martins also quietly closed his mouth at Pesilini’s self-deprecating tone.

“It will be a difficult journey until we board the ship. It’s not as difficult as the continental hunting competition, but it will still be harder than life in the Imperial Palace.”

“Of course, I’m already feeling it.”

Pesilini looked around the camp and smiled.

Grand Duke Martins smiled along with her, then changed his expression and warned coldly.

“Just because I heard that you liked me when you were young, don’t expect me to suddenly protect or take care of Your Ladyship. I’m saying this in that sense.”

However, Pesilini did not erase her smile.

“Why are you smiling?”

I’m serious.

Grand Duke Martins asked with an unpleasant expression.

“You’re as prickly as you were when you were young. I momentarily overlapped with Your Highness’s appearance back then and committed a discourtesy. Please forgive me.”

Pesilini, who had politely landed a blow, went inside the tent.

Grand Duke Martins stared at her tent for a while with a dazed expression.

It wasn’t like he had been slapped, but his face felt numb.

***

The congratulatory delegation spent the night in the camp and arrived at the port city of Polt before the evening sun set.

According to the plan, they were supposed to spend another night in Polt and board the ship early in the morning, but since the schedule was delayed by a day due to the heavy rain, they headed straight to the dock.

About 100 people, including the congratulatory delegation, escort knights, and attendants, all boarded the ship.

The sky was turning red before departure.

It was before darkness fell.

Before entering their cabins, the congratulatory delegation watched the romantic sunset and the sight of the ship moving away from the Lapion Empire.

As the sky began to darken, everyone moved to their cabins with the guidance of the attendants.

Hector also entered his cabin, took off his uniform jacket, and lay down on the bed to rest.

“I wonder if she’s adjusting well…”

He was worried about Melanie, who was on a ship for the first time, so he got up from the bed he had just laid down on.

While looking around her cabin after boarding, he kept worrying about the loose doorknob of the cabin door.

There were members of the Lapion Empire’s congratulatory delegation on board, so nothing would happen overnight, but…

“Haa, she’s a woman who requires a lot of attention.”

Hector, who had gotten up from the bed, picked up the uniform jacket he had taken off again.

At that moment, the cabin door opened without a knock.

Roxana entered wearing a robe with the hood up.

If the reason she visited his cabin late at night was perhaps,

“…Is tonight the night you need Galaco [a fictional aphrodisiac]?”

Hector lowered his voice and asked Roxana.

He knew that Emperor Adrian wouldn’t cause trouble from the first day he boarded the ship, but he didn’t have anything else to say, so he said that.

“No. I have other plans for tonight.”

Roxana replied in a solemn tone.

“What plans?”

Hector frowned at the unexpected words.

“It’s nothing much. I just stopped by before going out on deck.”

“The deck at this hour?”

Hector asked with a puzzled look.

The weather was quite windy.

Besides, the night on the ship was several times more dangerous than the day.

“Actually, there’s something I want to tell you… but we should talk about our story later.”

Roxana was about to say something, but she looked at the pocket watch in her hand and said,

“One, two, three, four, five-”

She started counting the seconds.

At that time. Somewhere, there was a short scream and a splash – and a loud noise.

“…What’s that sound?”

It was the sound of something falling into the sea.

“Who knows? I think it’s the sound of a thorn being removed?”

“What? What are you… what are you talking about?”

Hector asked urgently, as if demanding an explanation, feeling uneasy.

However, Roxana smiled and left the cabin leisurely.

A few seconds later, Hector also jumped onto the deck at the sound of people murmuring.