The Stand-In Empress’S Wedding Night [EN]: Chapter 284

284. Shaky Night

“She even left a gift.”

I picked up the small vial Roxana had left on the table.

Opening the vial, I poured a bit of the contents onto the wooden table.

The emergency medicine sizzled for a few seconds where it landed, turning the area black.

율리나 [Yulina] watched in shock.

“If you drink this, you’d die in seconds, not a minute!”

I closed the vial again and handed it to her.

“Don’t throw it away; keep it safe, just like Roxana said.”

“No, I want to throw it away right now!”

“You can’t. It’ll be used as evidence later. I’d like to keep it, but Roxana might come looking for it again, so it’s better if you hold onto it for now.”

율리나 [Yulina] agreed with my words.

“Y-yes…”

However, 율리나 [Yulina] seemed to get goosebumps just from touching the vial, so she took out a handkerchief, picked up the vial, and placed it back on the table.

“There’s not much time.”

I took out my pocket watch to check how much time was left until my appointment with 리넬 [Rinel].

I had to hurry.

I was certain Roxana would come to see 율리나 [Yulina] again tonight.

That’s why I asked 벨로스 [Bellos] for 이동술 [Teleportation magic] and came to 율리나’s [Yulina’s] room.

Fortunately, I was able to talk to 율리나 [Yulina] before Roxana arrived.

However, it took some effort to persuade 리넬 [Rinel] before coming here.

I even showed him 불꽃 [Flames] on my fingertips, assuring him that no one on this ship could beat me in a one-on-one fight.

Showing off my fire ability like that wasn’t really my thing, but I had no choice.

He brought his hands close to the 불꽃 [Flames] I had created, warming himself as if melting the ice on his hands. Feeling better as his body temperature rose, he reluctantly gave his permission.

Since I didn’t 이동술 [Teleport] with 벨로스 [Bellos] this time, I had to lure the knight guarding 율리나’s [Yulina’s] room before leaving.

I entrusted 마크롬 단장 [Commander Macrome] with the role of distracting the guard.

By now, 마크롬 단장 [Commander Macrome] would be loitering around 율리나’s [Yulina’s] room, timing everything.

“I can’t believe the 황후 [Empress] would do this to me… No, what 황후 [Empress]? Forget about her!”

율리나 [Yulina] clenched her teeth, venting her anger.

“Either way, you’re the one who pushed 페실리니 [Pesillini].”

“That’s because Roxana told me to…”

“Yes. There must have been a deal or a threat. But in the end, you made the choice. So you have to take responsibility for it, right?”

“Yes, I will accept the punishment for my crime!”

율리나 [Yulina] glared at the emergency medicine Roxana had left behind, then wiped away her tears and said.

“Good. As early as tomorrow morning, or by the afternoon at the latest, 폐하 [His Majesty] will personally question you about what happened tonight.”

율리나 [Yulina] listened to my words with an anxious expression.

“Tell him everything about Roxana’s instructions and tonight’s plan. Unless you want to die at Roxana’s hands without anyone knowing.”

“W-will you guarantee my life?”

“Of course.”

Though I’m not sure if your position will be maintained.

Those words rose in my throat, but I swallowed them for her smooth cooperation.

“폐하 [His Majesty] will think badly of me, won’t he?”

Her expression was so gloomy that I thought it was because of her guilt towards 페실리니 [Pesillini], but I was wrong.

“I don’t think he’s ever thought well of you.”

Oops. Did the truth just slip out?

“How… cruel.”

율리나 [Yulina] looked at me as if she had been hit.

Isn’t Roxana the cruel one?

“I’m just being honest.”

“젤다 마마 [Zelda, my lady], do you really need to be so honest right now?”

She revealed her disappointment while still watching my reaction.

“Yes.”

Because of your current state.

Seeing 율리나 [Yulina] still yearning for 리넬’s [Rinel’s] favor even in this situation made me sigh.

“Get some rest today. Keep the emergency medicine safe.”

“Are you leaving? I’m a little scared…”

율리나 [Yulina] grabbed my arm as I was about to leave the room.

“I have to go. 페실리니 [Pesillini] would have stayed with you in this situation, but I’m different.”

“페실리니 마마 [Pesillini, my lady]… is she really okay?”

I deliberately mentioned 페실리니 [Pesillini], and 율리나 [Yulina] asked with a guilty expression.

“Asked that quickly, huh? 페실리니 [Pesillini] and the baby are fine.”

“That’s a relief…”

“You’ll be trapped in here until we arrive in 파트샤 제국 [Partsha Empire], so apologize properly to 페실리니 [Pesillini] when you see her later. Though she might not accept your apology.”

“Yes, of course, I should.”

“And let me tell you in advance, even if 페실리니 [Pesillini] forgives you, your punishment will be…”

“I will accept it!”

율리나 [Yulina] quickly blurted out, raising one hand, then continued in a subdued voice.

“So, 젤다 마마 [Zelda, my lady], I have a favor to ask.”

“What is it?”

“Could you please speak well of me to 폐하 [His Majesty]?”

“Hmm… Like, she did remove 페실리니’s [Pesillini’s] fingers from the railing, but she didn’t pinch them, something like that?”

“N-not like that! That I’m not a very cruel 후궁 [Imperial Concubine], that I’m more tender-hearted than you think… Okay?”

“폐하 [His Majesty] doesn’t like tender-hearted women.”

I whispered.

율리나’s [Yulina’s] eyes widened as she asked me again.

“…Then what does he like?”

“He thoroughly looks at faces.”

I replied firmly.

“I don’t think he cares that much about faces…”

율리나 [Yulina] mumbled, scrutinizing my face.

I pretended not to hear her and put my ear to the door.

At the appointed time, 마크롬 단장’s [Commander Macrome’s] voice was heard in the hallway.

“Hey, 폐하 [His Majesty] wants to see you for a moment.”

마크롬 단장 [Commander Macrome] spoke to the knight guarding the room.

“Yes? 폐하 [His Majesty]?”

“Yes. He seems to have something to tell you. Go to the ship’s lounge quickly. I’ll be here.”

“Ah, yes! Then, I’ll be back.”

As the footsteps of the knight on guard faded away, a knock and 마크롬 단장’s [Commander Macrome’s] low voice were heard.

Knock, knock, knock.

“You can come out now.”

I told 율리나 [Yulina] to see me tomorrow once again and left the room.

“Is 폐하 [His Majesty] really in the lounge?”

“Yes, 마마 [my lady]. The order is for you to return to your room immediately.”

“Okay, thank you.”

I left 마크롬 단장 [Commander Macrome] behind and returned to my room.

***

After returning to my room and finishing a shower in the bathroom, 리넬 [Rinel] came in.

“How did it go?”

“It went well, except 율리나 [Yulina] almost fainted because I suddenly appeared with 이동술 [Teleportation magic]. Roxana didn’t notice either.”

“Did you hide in the bathroom?”

리넬 [Rinel] asked, kissing my wet hair.

“No, I thought the sound wouldn’t be heard well in the bathroom, so I hid in a nearby place.”

“Where?”

“In the closet. It was stuffy, but I could hear the conversation well.”

“It’s also a good place to get caught.”

He said, looking displeased.

“Roxana even gave 율리나 [Yulina] emergency medicine.”

“What?”

I also slipped in that if I hadn’t gone to 율리나’s [Yulina’s] room with 이동술 [Teleportation magic], who knows what would have happened. His displeased gaze softened.

“She told her to end her life if you were to investigate or torture her. She even mentioned the destruction of her family.”

“Ha, is threatening people her hobby? Thanks to that, we have evidence, though.”

He smiled bitterly.

“And Roxana knew that 페실리니’s [Pesillini’s] baby was 테슬러 왕자’s [Prince Tesler’s] baby. It seems someone overheard our conversation outside 벨로스’s [Bellos’s] room and told Roxana.”

Roxana definitely didn’t know that fact until tonight.

If she had known, she wouldn’t have tried to get rid of 페실리니 [Pesillini].

“Anyway, if we tie together the fact that she participated in 아드리안 황제’s [Emperor Adrian’s] plan and ordered 율리나 [Yulina] to kill 페실리니 [Pesillini]… Roxana will be stripped of her 황후 [Empress] position.”

He said, looking at me with a soft gaze.

“율리나’s [Yulina’s] testimony will be important.”

“헤토르’s [Hector’s] testimony is also important.”

“When will 아드리안 황제 [Emperor Adrian] order the 갈라코 [Galaco] to be released?”

“It will be on the last night. 헤토르 [Hector] also predicted that.”

“The 갈라코 [Galaco] heads are all down to one, making it much easier to kill… but the attack will be in the middle of the night, and we have to face the monster in the middle of the sea. Even if we know the plan in advance, we must never let our guard down.”

He had a serious look in his eyes as he listened to me.

But after nodding a few times, the serious look disappeared, and his eyes were filled with desire.

“Then tonight will be the last night we can let our guard down.”

리넬 [Rinel] wrapped his arms around my waist and sat me on his lap.

“I think so too.”

I wrapped my arms around his neck and parted his lips, which always let their guard down with me.

A sound more splashing than the waves gently spread throughout the room.

“I was curious what it would feel like on a ship.”

“Me too. Hurry up and satisfy my curiosity.”

I got on the bed first and pulled back the blanket.

“So impatient. There’s an order to everything. Let’s untie this first.”

리넬 [Rinel] said as if he was being leisurely, but his hands were very busy untying the ribbon tied behind my back.

I reached out and turned off the lamp next to the bed.

As sight disappeared, other senses came alive.

“The ship is shaking a lot. I feel like I’m getting seasick.”

“젤다 [Zelda], why are you suddenly being so weak?”

“Huh?”

“Think about it. We’re people who are usually trained. This much shaking is nothing, right?”

“Where did we train?”

“In bed.”

“Ah…”

It was an undeniable statement.

“Sorry for being weak.”

I chuckled and apologized.

As my eyes got used to the darkness, his determined eyes were clearly visible.

His sea-blue eyes were overflowing with love.

As if matching the rhythm of the swaying ship, everything about him began to move slowly.

***

The next morning.

The 축하 사절단 [Celebratory Delegation] headed to the dining room at the end of the hallway for breakfast.

After exchanging morning greetings, they brought up the events of last night and whispered among themselves.

The incident where 페실리니 [Pesillini] and 마틴스 대공 [Grand Duke Martins] fell off the ship last night was a big topic of conversation.

아드리안 황제 [Emperor Adrian] listened to the 축하 사절단’s [Celebratory Delegation’s] conversation, slowed his pace, and looked at their retreating figures.

More than half of them were lives that would disappear as food for the 갈라코 [Galaco] on the ship without even setting foot on 파트샤 제국’s [Partsha Empire’s] land.

Yet, it was ridiculous how they were rushing to the dining room from the morning to fill their stomachs.

“Did you have a comfortable night?”

A familiar voice was heard from behind 아드리안 황제 [Emperor Adrian], whose shoulders were shaking as he chuckled.

Turning around, 아드리안 황제 [Emperor Adrian] almost said, ‘스승님 [Teacher]?’

“…Ah, 마탑주 [Archmage].”

아드리안 황제 [Emperor Adrian] barely opened his mouth, hiding his embarrassment.

Whenever he saw the face of his old teacher, who always looked the same even after 20 years, he was often startled as it reminded him of his younger self.

‘Don’t be nervous. He won’t easily recognize my identity.’

아드리안 황제 [Emperor Adrian] was not using a general transformation spell but was in a state of entering another person’s body using 흑마법 [Black magic].

Even if the energy he felt was somewhat unnatural and unstable, it was not easy to read 흑마법 [Black magic] with the naked eye alone, no matter how 마탑주 [Archmage] was.

아드리안 황제 [Emperor Adrian] calmed his momentarily nervous heart and spoke to 벨로스 [Bellos], who was walking side by side with him.

“I heard you examined 페실리니 마마 [Pesillini, my lady] and 마틴스 대공 [Grand Duke Martins] yesterday. Are they both okay?”

“Yes, thanks to the quick rescue.”

“That’s a relief.”

아드리안 황제 [Emperor Adrian] wanted to turn back and head to his room.

Seeing an uncomfortable person from the morning made him lose his appetite.

“Tomorrow, we will pass through the 협곡 [Canyon] of Death. I heard that the 와이번 [Wyverns] have returned recently, have you heard?”

벨로스 [Bellos] deliberately threw out the 와이번 [Wyvern] story.

“I heard. It’s been three years since we’ve seen a 와이번 [Wyvern] herd again…”

아드리안 황제 [Emperor Adrian] muttered with a face full of anticipation, like someone looking forward to a reunion with a separated lover.

“폐하 [Your Majesty] seems to have a lot of interest in 와이번 [Wyverns].”

벨로스 [Bellos] asked lightly, passing by.

“If you can control the 와이번 [Wyverns], you can have the world in your hands. Well, even if you’re not the 황제 [Emperor], everyone would have thought about it at least once. Don’t you think so? Hahaha.”

아드리안 황제 [Emperor Adrian] laughed awkwardly, feeling like he had revealed too much of his true feelings.

“Yes, come to think of it, there was someone I knew who was in love with 와이번 [Wyverns].”

벨로스 [Bellos] said jokingly, staring intently at 아드리안 황제’s [Emperor Adrian’s] face.

“Were you close?”

아드리안 황제 [Emperor Adrian] asked, forcibly twitching his face.

“We were in a relationship where I wanted to get away. He was my student, but he was crazy about 와이번 [Wyverns]. A guy with no skills but too much greed. Tsk, tsk, tsk.”

벨로스 [Bellos] clicked his tongue and said.

The guy who was crazy about 와이번 [Wyverns] was himself.

아드리안 황제’s [Emperor Adrian’s] stomach churned as he saw 벨로스’s [Bellos’s] disgusted expression.

Besides that, his teacher’s evaluation of him was harsh.

“You had such a student…”

아드리안 황제 [Emperor Adrian] glared at 벨로스 [Bellos] and walked forward again.

He tried to show his old teacher a nonchalant smile, but he wasn’t sure if it looked that way.

“필리케 [Philike].”

아드리안 황제’s [Emperor Adrian’s] steps stopped abruptly as his name came out of 벨로스’s [Bellos’s] mouth.