The Stand-In Empress’S Wedding Night [EN]: Chapter 300

300. I’ll Be Waiting

Melanie stared intently at my lips, as if peering into a jewelry box.

Oh, that’s an uncomfortable gaze.

“Why the sudden interest in family planning?”

I asked, creating some distance between us, but she clung to me again like a magnet.

“The peace of the continent depends on Your Majesty, the Empress.”

Melanie replied, gazing steadily at my stomach.

“…As I’ve already stated, I have no intention of ruling the continent using wyverns.”

“It’s not about the wyverns, Your Majesty.”

Rosie said with a longing look, and the expressions of Catherine and Pesilini beside her weren’t much different.

What’s with them all?

The ladies-in-waiting all placed their hands on their stomachs, looking at me affectionately.

Ah, I think I get it.

It seemed they were talking about matches for children who weren’t even born yet.

“I hope my children will marry someone they love, rather than through a political match.”

“Ohoho, how naive.”

Catherine raised one eyebrow crookedly as she spoke.

Melanie followed Catherine’s lead, laughing and adding,

“If you don’t like political marriages, you can always arrange natural encounters first, right?”

“It feels a bit much to decide on partners for children who aren’t even born yet.”

I replied, carefully modulating my tone so as not to offend the ladies-in-waiting as I filled my plate with food.

“Then let’s talk again after the births. Everyone might only have sons or only have daughters. In any case, I hope Your Majesty will be very fertile.”

“Yes, Melanie, you too.”

“I have no problem. I have a body with a high probability of pregnancy relative to effort.”

Melanie boasted in a self-important tone. Everyone looked at her with displeasure, but no one could refute her words.

After filling our plates, the ladies-in-waiting all gathered around the round table.

I quietly spoke to Rosie, who was sitting next to me.

“I heard about what Moiya and Moni said last night.”

“Yes?”

“Moiya’s slip of the tongue. Even though they’re hatchlings, they’ve lived in eggs for nearly 300 years, but they’re so clueless. Why talk about belly fat when the Prince is here, why?”

Rosie, who was about to put a large piece of steak into her mouth, put it back down and cut it in half.

“Why, just eat it.”

“I think I need to lose some belly fat before the wedding. Moiya doesn’t usually make things up…….”

That’s true.

I couldn’t say it outright, so I replaced my answer with a silent smile.

“Then you shouldn’t eat bread. I’ll eat it for you. The baby wants it anyway.”

Melanie, mentioning a baby that doesn’t even have a form yet, took a roll slathered with butter and strawberry jam from Rosie’s plate.

“Yes, Melanie, please have it…….”

Rosie put the finely cut steak in her mouth and replied weakly.

On the opposite side of the table, Linell kept giving me signals.

He gestured with his chin towards Melanie, as if telling me to probe our romance novelist… I mean, Hector, about his writing activities.

I nodded to him and casually brought it up to Melanie.

“Did Hector happen to mention losing his notebook?”

“Cough, cough, how did you know?”

Melanie asked, startled, her eyes darting back and forth.

“His Majesty found it in the food storage room yesterday.”

“Could it be… His Majesty saw that notebook…?”

Yeah. I saw it too, you know?

“Well? I’m not sure.”

I pretended not to know, as there were many ears listening around us.

Seeing Melanie’s relieved expression, it seemed she also knew that Hector was writing a novel, a romance novel at that.

If it were just a simple novel, she wouldn’t have such a worried expression.

“Come to think of it, I don’t see Hector around?”

I looked around the dining room and asked Melanie.

“Ah, he was searching all over the ship for that notebook yesterday, so he’s tired. He said he’d rather catch some sleep than have breakfast. But actually, I think he lost his appetite because he lost his notebook.”

“Tell him not to worry. His Majesty was going to return it after the meal anyway.”

I said to Melanie, exchanging glances with Linell.

“That’s a relief. But really… His Majesty didn’t see that notebook, did he?”

“Why? Is there something important in that notebook?”

I shrugged and pretended not to know.

“Hmm… It’s important to Hector, I guess?”

Melanie answered vaguely and quickly tore off a piece of bread and put it in her mouth.

Does Melanie not know the details? Or is she pretending not to know to protect Hector’s image?

Or maybe she knows that a romance novel is written, but she doesn’t know what’s written in it.

“Hector was very upset, so it’s a relief that you found it.”

Melanie said, happy as if it were her own business, and Rosie burst into laughter, teasingly saying,

“He seems to have a delicate sensibility, unlike what he looks like? To be upset over a small notebook, not a weapon.”

“Yes, he’s not as feminine inside and out as Prince Norton.”

Melanie also burst into laughter and retorted.

“Oh my. The Prince may look feminine, but his inner self is so wild…….”

Wild…… what? Beast? Barbarian?

Why did she stop talking?

Rosie raised her voice in anger, but when attention focused on her, she lowered her head and frantically ate her soup.

“Was the Prince quite wild last night?”

I asked in a ventriloquial voice, and Rosie’s face was almost buried in the soup bowl.

“That’s something that only applies to Hector.”

Melanie said, subtly boasting.

Then Catherine, who had been eating with a haughty expression, moved her lips this way and that, as if her mouth was itchy, and slipped in.

“Count Ethan is the epitome of passion. There’s a reason he’s the head of the Imperial Palace’s smithy, right? The job itself is passionate.”

Catherine’s shoulders were gradually rising as she spoke.

I looked at the ladies-in-waiting with an amused expression.

They didn’t seem to know that the man who possessed all of that was Linell.

Well, how could they know if they hadn’t experienced it?

I quietly enjoyed my meal with a victor’s smile.

***

At the same time, in the Imperial Palace of the Partsha Empire.

Prince Calvin frowned as soon as he woke up in bed.

Recently, fatigue had been accumulating rapidly, and this morning he even experienced paralysis in his arms and legs while sleeping.

It was a short time, but since this had never happened before, he was planning to call the court physician today for a proper examination.

“Are you awake?”

Princess Consort Jasper, who had woken up earlier, brought black tea directly into the bedroom.

“What’s this?”

“Black tea. I cooled it down so you can drink it right away.”

“It’s good timing, my mouth felt dry anyway.”

Prince Calvin drank the black tea brought by his wife, unaware that poisonous nightshade powder was dissolved in it.

“Today is the day the congratulatory delegation from the Lapion Empire arrives.”

“The number of dignitaries will be different from when they departed.”

“What does that… Could Emperor Adrian really be plotting something during his journey here?”

“If it’s Emperor Adrian I know, he certainly would have. He’s the most obsessed with wyverns among the emperors of the continent. Such a person knows the Wyvern Road. If there’s a Wyvern Lord among the delegation, they wouldn’t have just passed through the Gorge of Death.”

“Then you should have warned Prince Norton in advance to be careful. It could be dangerous.”

Princess Consort Jasper said, slightly furrowing her brow.

“Emperor Adrian is aiming for the Wyvern Lord anyway. He can’t recklessly kill the younger brother of the person who will soon become the Emperor of the Partsha Empire.”

“That’s true…….”

“We first need to identify the dignitaries who have arrived and move according to the situation while…… Ugh.”

Prince Calvin raised his hand near his heart, groaning in pain as he continued to speak.

“What’s wrong?”

Princess Consort Jasper quickly supported Prince Calvin’s arm as he groaned.

“Recently, my heart feels strangely constricted sometimes. My head is also spinning.”

“It must be because you’re stressed about the coronation ceremony. Lie down a bit longer.”

“Hmm, yes. Jasper, you’ve also looked noticeably haggard lately. How about we rest together?”

“I’ll go wash up first. Then.”

Princess Consort Jasper pulled away his hand and forced a smile.

“Then I should get some sleep in the meantime.”

“Yes, that would be good. You don’t look well.”

It was clear that the poison of the dried nightshade berries had spread throughout Prince Calvin’s body.

Princess Consort Jasper hid a triumphant smile and leisurely headed to the bathroom.

After enjoying a leisurely morning bath for an hour, Princess Consort Jasper returned to the bedroom,

“……Your Highness!”

She shouted, dropping the towel she was holding on the floor.

Prince Calvin was collapsed on the floor next to the bed, clutching his chest.

***

After breakfast, Linell and I visited Empress Elan’s room to check on her condition.

We told her the news that Emperor Adrian and Roxana had lost their lives to the Galacodes last night.

Upon hearing that, Empress Elan suddenly felt her appetite return and got out of bed, saying she would go to the dining room for breakfast.

However, it seemed too much for her to walk to the dining room yet, so she sent a servant to bring food.

Empress Elan, with all her worries gone, showed a hearty appetite.

Seeing that, I felt relieved.

Soon, the main ministers of the Tevelo Empire also needed to be informed about Emperor Adrian’s death.

Linell insisted that they should also reveal that Phillique had already killed Emperor Adrian’s soul with black magic three years ago and had been acting as emperor in his body.

Empress Elan fully agreed with his opinion.

The problem was that there were no imperial bloodlines to inherit the throne in the Tevelo Empire.

The Tevelo Empire was likely to be placed under the joint administration of several countries.

First, it was decided that this issue would be discussed again in the presence of dignitaries from various countries in the Partsha Empire after Empress Elan recovered.

As he and Empress Elan left the room and walked down the hallway, they happened to meet Hector heading towards the dining room.

“Did you sleep well?”

Hector greeted us.

“No. I couldn’t sleep because of you.”

Linell replied with sleepy eyes.

“Yes?”

“You also have a talent for wielding a pen, not just a sword.”

He asked abruptly.

Oh my.

“What are you talking about…….”

“Instead of ‘Secret Room,’ how about changing the title to ‘Hidden Room’ or ‘Hot Room’? It sticks to the tongue better.”

He said, meddling with the novel title written in the notebook.

“!”

Hector was so surprised that he covered his mouth with his fist.

“When can I see chapter 12?”

He said, urging.

This time, Hector leaned his back against the wall, on the verge of having a seizure.

“Wh, what are you talking about…… I have no idea.”

“First, can you just tell me what the Duke says at the end?”

I gently pushed aside the unreasonable him and politely asked Hector.

“!”

Perhaps shocked, Hector’s sturdy body, like a wooden pillar, tilted slightly to the side.

Linell grabbed Hector, took out the notebook from his uniform pocket, and handed it over.

“Here it is.”

“Your Majesty had my notebook?!”

Hector denied reality, even though he knew that Linell had already read the contents of his notebook.

His urging continued in Hector’s mumbling, who was in shock.

“When are you planning to start writing again?”

“Don’t stress the writer. He’ll write when he’s ready.”

I whispered, poking his side with my finger.

“I beg you both. Please…….”

Hector held the notebook tightly with both hands and clasped them together as if praying.

“I’ll keep it a secret from others. That you write ‘romance’ novels.”

“……Thank you. Th, then I’ll be going.”

“So, when can I see chapter 12?”

“Yes?”

“Just tell me what Paul replied to Susan’s sister and go.”

“!”

Linell asked what the male protagonist’s first line in the next chapter would be, on the condition that he keep Hector’s secret hobby.

It was clear blackmail.

“I, I don’t know yet…….”

Hector stammered and shook his head.

Seriously. Who would know if the writer doesn’t know?

I held back my words, fearing that he might declare his pen broken if I kept urging him.

Linell also stepped back and whispered.

“I’ll be waiting.”

“Me too.”

We sent supportive glances at the same time.

Hector scratched his head, bowed, and turned back the way he came.

“Weren’t you coming to eat?”

Linell asked me, looking at Hector’s retreating figure.

“Isn’t he going to write?”

“Ah, is that so?”

We moved our steps to the room, watching Hector’s back as he ran away.

“Let’s go, I need to sleep more.”

I felt sleepy because I hadn’t slept for a few hours reading Hector’s romance novel.

***

Melanie returned to her room after breakfast.

When she returned, Hector was sitting at the table with a troubled face.

She wondered what he was staring at so intently, and it turned out that a notebook was placed on the table.

“His Majesty already returned it?”

The notebook that Hector had been crying about losing last night had returned.

“How did you know?”

“Zelda told me at the dining room. She said His Majesty found it in the food storage room yesterday. But why the expression?”

“……He read it.”

Hector tore at his hair in agony.

He even heard that they were waiting for chapter 12.

At first, he thought they were teasing him, but they seemed genuinely curious about the next content.

His romance novel’s first readers were the imperial couple. It felt strange.

That didn’t mean the embarrassment disappeared.

Melanie patted Hector’s shoulder, offering comfort. But it wasn’t comforting at all.

“I would have looked too. Can’t blame the in-laws.”

“……In-laws?”