The Stand-In Empress’S Wedding Night [EN]: Chapter 306

306. If You’re Curious, Sausage

2023.12.09.

The teleportation led to an empty room within the Empress Palace.

Linelle looked out the window, confirming they were on the second floor.

“Master Magician, please stay here with the Princess for a moment. I will personally meet with Princess Consort Jasper, explain the situation, and bring her here.”

“…Yes, Your Majesty.”

Linelle hurried out, leaving Bellos, who was clearly displeased at being left alone with Princess Resilia.

The sudden appearance of the Emperor of the Rafion Empire in the Empress Palace corridors bewildered the palace staff.

Linelle asked a passing maid on the stairs where Princess Consort Jasper was.

The maid, recognizing him, was startled but quickly replied,

“The Princess Consort is in the drawing-room, chatting with Zelda and Rosie.”

“Is that so? Where is the drawing-room?”

“I will guide you, Your Majesty.”

“Thank you.”

Linelle followed the maid to the drawing-room.

He was pleased to hear that Zelda was at the Empress Palace, but his heart felt heavy at the thought of Rosie.

Arriving at the drawing-room, guided by the maid, he knocked and entered.

“…Your Majesty? What brings you here?”

Zelda, who had turned towards the door at the knock, was surprised to see him and rose from the sofa.

Princess Consort Jasper and Rosie were also startled by Linelle’s appearance and stood up.

Linelle smiled slightly, showing his pleasure, but immediately turned serious as he approached Princess Consort Jasper.

“I have brought Princess Resilia with the Master Magician.”

He kept it brief, omitting the lengthy explanation, but Princess Consort Jasper understood immediately.

“So, it’s today…”

Princess Consort Jasper replied, glancing at Rosie.

Rosie looked visibly nervous.

The thought of Princess Resilia being nearby made her heart beat anxiously.

Zelda held Rosie’s hand, trying to soothe her anxiety, but what Rosie needed now was Prince Norton’s embrace.

“I apologize. At the Princess’s request, we moved here instead of the Imperial Palace.”

Linelle asked for understanding, saying he had no choice.

“It’s understandable. The Princess has always valued her dignity, so she wouldn’t want to appear before people in her prison attire.”

Princess Consort Jasper replied with an understanding expression.

“Princess Resilia seems to think you’re on her side.”

Rosie smiled bitterly.

“She must be thinking back to the Continental Hunting Competition.”

Princess Consort Jasper nodded at Zelda’s words.

“For now, I will have Princess Resilia stay with me at the Empress Palace. If the Princess were to move to the Imperial Palace, you two would inevitably clash often, so this is better.”

“Thank you, Your Highness.”

Rosie sincerely thanked her for her consideration.

“I will return to the Imperial Palace immediately and send Prince Norton. In the meantime, please look after Princess Resilia.”

“Yes, Your Majesty. I will.”

“We should leave with you now, Your Majesty.”

Zelda quickly put her arm around Rosie’s shoulders and left the drawing-room with Linelle.

The three hurried out of the Empress Palace and got into the waiting carriage.

As soon as Linelle got into the carriage, he ordered the coachman to depart.

Zelda, sitting next to him, was slightly taken aback and asked,

“Isn’t Bellos still with Princess Resilia? Shouldn’t we wait for him to come with us?”

“There’s no time to waste. He’ll be waiting, so we need to quickly inform him that Princess Resilia is at the Empress Palace. Your friend can use teleportation to get here, so what’s the worry?”

“Ah, I suppose so.”

Realizing he was right, Zelda nodded.

‘If I hadn’t met you at the Empress Palace, I would have taken the Master Magician with me.’

Linelle didn’t want his wife and Bellos facing each other in the carriage. But having him sit next to her was even more out of the question.

So, he hid his true feelings and maintained a solemn expression.

***

Prince Norton, after hearing the explanation from Linelle, immediately went to the Empress Palace.

He had been worried because the two who had gone to the prison cell where Princess Resilia was held hadn’t returned after some time.

Prince Norton chuckled at Linelle’s words.

‘To think she asked to be taken to Princess Consort Jasper to fix herself up in the meantime.’

It was just like Princess Resilia.

Even in this situation, her appearance was important.

He felt uneasy hearing that Rosie was also at the Empress Palace at the same time Princess Resilia arrived via teleportation.

He remembered her expression when he told Rosie the night before that he would bring Princess Resilia to the Imperial Palace, her eyes drooping as she accepted the decision.

When the ministers conveyed the news of bringing in concubines, he found it hard to even meet her eyes, feeling even more apologetic.

Prince Norton vowed to himself that even if he brought in ten concubines, he would make sure Rosie never felt threatened.

He was confident in that.

His love for her was based on trust.

The Prince genuinely cherished Rosie’s pure and kind heart.

Even her ridiculous shoulder dance, which looked like her bones were dislocated, when she tried to seduce him once, felt adorable.

He wouldn’t be swayed by the glamorous appearances of other women.

He hoped Rosie would understand his feelings, but her anxiety seemed to be increasing.

As Prince Norton entered the lobby of the Empress Palace, Princess Consort Jasper’s maid was already there, waiting for him.

He stopped on the landing where the drawing-room was located and ordered the maid.

“Tell the Princess Consort that I request to see her in the drawing-room.”

In fact, he hadn’t come to see Princess Resilia, but to ask Princess Consort Jasper for a favor.

Prince Norton arrived at the drawing-room first, and ten minutes later, Princess Consort Jasper opened the door and entered.

“You’ve arrived earlier than expected.”

“Thank you for your help, Sister-in-law.”

Prince Norton thanked Princess Consort Jasper first.

“It’s nothing. Would you like to see Princess Resilia right away? She just finished her bath and is getting ready. She seems to be waiting for you.”

Princess Consort Jasper carefully observed Prince Norton’s expression.

“I see.”

Just by looking at Prince Norton’s expression, she could tell what kind of feelings he had for Princess Resilia.

“Is Rosie alright?”

Princess Consort Jasper deliberately asked about Rosie this time.

“I came straight here without meeting her. I need to go back and comfort her. How did she seem at the Empress Palace?”

Prince Norton, who had been expressionless until now, moved every muscle in his face when he talked about Rosie.

It was clearly different from when he mentioned Princess Resilia.

‘He truly loves Rosie.’

Princess Consort Jasper was relieved.

“I want to avoid meeting Princess Resilia as much as possible unless it’s an official occasion. Until then, please keep an eye on her, Sister-in-law. I’m sorry for asking such a difficult favor.”

“It’s not difficult at all. But, how far should we go with the Princess’s requests?”

Princess Consort Jasper asked, as if pondering.

“Grant her almost anything, except for the request to see Rams.”

“I will.”

“Then, I’ll be on my way.”

Prince Norton said with a light bow.

“Are you really going to leave without seeing Princess Resilia?”

“Yes. I don’t want to.”

Prince Norton was about to leave the drawing-room when he turned back to Princess Consort Jasper, holding the doorknob.

“Um… Sister-in-law. Did you love my brother?”

“Which brother are you referring to?”

Princess Consort Jasper asked, and Prince Norton stammered, flustered.

She smiled faintly and continued,

“If you’re talking about Prince Calvin, no.”

Her voice was quite firm, despite her demure smile.

“Sister-in-law, then perhaps…”

“We’ll talk about Prince Calvin later. Let’s talk again after the Emperor’s Inauguration Ceremony is over.”

Princess Consort Jasper seemed to have something to say about Prince Calvin.

Prince Norton didn’t think it was urgent, so he ended the conversation according to Princess Consort Jasper’s wishes.

***

After parting ways with Prince Norton in the drawing-room, Princess Consort Jasper returned to the guest room where Princess Resilia was.

“Where is the Prince?”

Princess Resilia, who was smiling as she had her hair and makeup done by the maids, asked as she saw the Princess Consort return alone.

“He said he won’t have time until the party. But you’ll be able to see him before the party, I’m sure.”

Princess Consort Jasper said with a troubled smile.

‘He came all the way to the Empress Palace and left without seeing me?’

Princess Resilia frowned without realizing it.

“He asked me to take good care of you. So, please feel free to tell me if you need anything.”

“I want to see Rams.”

“I’m sorry, but that’s not possible.”

Princess Consort Jasper’s kind expression immediately hardened.

Princess Resilia wasn’t really expecting it, so she quickly changed the subject.

“Then, tomorrow afternoon, I’d like to have tea with the young ladies here… Would that be possible?”

“Tea with the young ladies?”

“Yes, I missed those little things the most while I was in prison.”

What’s her intention?

Princess Consort Jasper was somewhat suspicious of the Princess’s intentions.

But it wasn’t a request that was difficult enough to refuse.

Besides, Prince Norton had said to accommodate her as long as it wasn’t related to Rams, so she granted the Princess’s request.

“Alright. There are many young ladies visiting the Imperial Palace these days, so there won’t be any difficulty in inviting them. I’ll give the orders right away.”

“Thank you. Oh, and if possible, please invite the concubine candidates as well.”

Princess Resilia added with a smile.

“Yes, alright…”

Shortly after, Princess Consort Jasper returned to her room and ordered her maids to quickly send invitations to the three young ladies who were being considered as concubine candidates and the young ladies who frequently visited the Imperial Palace.

And she sent her personal maid to Zelda and Rosie to inform them of this news separately.

***

The next day afternoon.

“Welcome, everyone. I’m honored to meet the young ladies like this. I am Princess Resilia Hale of the Shattonil Kingdom. Rams’s mother.”

Princess Resilia deliberately arrived at the drawing-room early to greet the young ladies.

As if she were already the mistress of the Empress Palace.

Princess Resilia, who had lived in the royal court her whole life, was far superior to Rosie, who had only lived with books, in dealing with noble young ladies.

Norton becoming Emperor and taking concubines was annoying news, but it wasn’t a bad move to isolate Rosie.

Once she became Empress, she could get rid of them one by one.

‘Yes, I’ll soon be the Empress, so I don’t need to pay much attention to those things.’

She received unexpected good news from the maid who had attended to her during her bath yesterday.

The ministers of the Partsha Empire were opposing Norton’s marriage to Rosie, saying that she, Rams’s mother, should be the Empress.

But for some reason, Princess Consort Jasper hadn’t told her such important news.

Norton might have told her to keep it a secret, or she might be taking Rosie’s side and being wary of her, so she didn’t ask on purpose.

The important thing was that those young ladies all knew that fact.

‘That’s why they accepted my invitation, and that’s why they’re all bending over and being so nice.’

After a few seconds, the concubine candidates Esther, Glenn, and Savannah deliberately entered the drawing-room last and greeted Princess Resilia separately.

The Princess also smiled more brightly when dealing with the three of them.

The young ladies who attended the tea party looked at Princess Resilia with curious eyes, scrutinizing her one by one.

She was a beauty, as rumored.

She had a face that would captivate even women.

“We greet Princess Resilia.”

The young ladies greeted the Princess with a slight delay.

“I’m glad to see you all. You’re all beautiful.”

The young ladies were secretly pleased to hear such praise from a real beauty.

“The three of you will especially be serving His Majesty in the future, so I hope you all get along like sisters.”

Princess Resilia extended her hand to the concubine candidates first.

Everyone was startled by her statement.

Were those her true feelings? Suspicious glances were directed at her.

“Please treat Rams like your own son. I will also treat the princes and princesses you give birth to like my own children.”

“!”

Princess Resilia subtly imprinted Rams’s existence on them.

And before the young ladies’ bewildered expressions could fade, she quickly changed the subject.

“Oh, have you all met Rosie?”

“No, I only saw her from afar at Prince Calvin’s funeral, and I haven’t met her up close yet. Does the Princess know Rosie well?”

Young Lady Esther asked the question that everyone was curious about.

Princess Resilia wanted to laugh at Rosie’s appearance, but that was something they would soon find out without her having to say it.

If she seemed to be putting her down, it would only make her image worse, so she just shrugged as if she didn’t know.

“Well, she must have some charm. That’s why she caught Prince Norton’s eye…”

Princess Resilia vaguely trailed off and offered the tea and refreshments that the maids had set up in advance.

Meanwhile, Rosie’s name was occasionally heard in Moiya’s ears as she flew around the Empress Palace.

She went to the window where the voice was coming from and looked inside, and was surprised to see Princess Resilia.

‘Oong? How did that crazy head get here?’

Moiya transformed into a fly and entered the drawing-room.

“I heard that Princess Consort Jasper is calling a designer to the palace today for the convenience of the congratulatory delegation. I was thinking of visiting and meeting Rosie, and getting to know each other beforehand.”

“That’s right. It would be awkward to meet for the first time at the party anyway. If we get to know each other beforehand, the party will be more enjoyable, right? Hehehe.”

“Well, that’s not bad.”

Princess Resilia agreed with the young ladies’ words.

‘They like getting to know each other.’

The Princess recognized the young ladies’ shallow intentions and sneered inwardly.

“Anyway, Prince Norton chose Rosie, right? She must have some great charm, I’m really curious about it.”

Young Lady Savannah subtly provoked Princess Resilia, and Young Lady Glenn, who was sitting across from her, added a word.

“There must be a secret to capturing Prince Norton’s heart. That’s why he’s going to welcome Rosie as Empress, leaving the Princess, who is Rams’s mother, behind, right? That’s what we’re thinking.”

Princess Resilia’s brow furrowed at the young ladies’ words, and she felt a surge of anger.

‘Oong? Everyone’s curious about how Rosie appealed to Norton! Then I should tell them, Moiya~?’

Moiya had a good idea after listening to the young ladies’ conversation and entered Princess Resilia’s body.

The Princess suddenly shuddered and opened her mouth.

“Orange head dances well.”

“…Who?!”

The young ladies simultaneously widened their eyes and looked at Princess Resilia.

“That’s the secret, Moiya~?”

Princess Resilia shrugged and continued seriously.

“Are you curious, everyone?”

“Yesss!”

The young ladies said as if they were singing in unison.

Then Princess Resilia stretched out her palm forward and shouted.

“If you’re curious, sausage!”