The Stand-In Empress’S Wedding Night [EN]: Chapter 338

338. Side Story 10: Melanie’s Jealousy (3)

“……You Wyvern [a race of winged humanoids] bastards. What do you think? Whose head looks weirder?”

Ash, her nerves on edge, asked in an irritated tone.

“Hmm, I vote Melanie wins!”

“Me too. Don’t you think the Queen’s head is weirder, Moiya~?”

Both of them spoke with conviction, their faces serious.

“……Ha.”

With her headache worsening, Ash pressed hard on both temples.

“I can’t mention names for privacy, but the orange-headed Empress of the Partsha Empire always felt like two places were about to explode whenever she talked to the Queen here.”

Moni covered her mouth and whispered.

Even though she didn’t mention the name, anyone could tell she was talking about Rosie.

“……What explodes?”

Ash didn’t want to talk anymore, but she asked without realizing it.

“Here, boom-! And here, boom-! Her head explodes, and her temper explodes too, Moiya~?”

Moiya pointed to Ash’s head and chest in turn, shouting.

“So, you half-baked sausage. Don’t mess with the iron skewer [Melanie’s nickname, referring to her slender figure], and be careful, Moiya~?”

Moiya gave her heartfelt advice.

“That’s why our mistress often gives up talking to this Queen, Moni~?”

Yeah, the Queen is good at shutting people up.

Ash thought to herself, checking the time.

It was time to kick these noisy little Wyverns out of the kitchen to ensure smooth dinner preparations.

Ash quickly handed Moiya and Moni each a basket filled with sausages, opening the kitchen window in front of them.

“Can you leave now?”

“But, why only half the sausages? You always filled the basket to the brim?”

Moiya asked, looking bewildered.

The sausages that always filled the basket when they came to this kitchen were less than half full today.

“We even gave you advice, and this is how you treat us?”

Moni tried to stay calm, but her voice trembled slightly.

Ash replied, sounding annoyed.

“It’s because I haven’t figured out all the ingredients yet.”

“Why don’t you figure out your place!”

Moiya finally exploded in anger.

“Ugh, I’ll figure out if those sausages are all for you, or if they include snacks for the princes and princess, and then I’ll give them to you. Is that okay?”

“What is this rolling stone saying? Mao, Theo, and Leo all hate sausages. How do we know? We’re their nannies!”

Moni shook the basket in front of Ash’s eyes, protesting vehemently.

“Why are you guys being so unreasonable? I said I’d give them to you after I figure it out. The Queen spoiled you badly.”

Was it because of their cute appearance? Or was it because she was directly involved in raising the Galacos on Tanya Island? Ash wasn’t afraid of the baby Wyverns at all, and just scolded them like naughty puppies.

“Our manners have been bad since we were in the egg, Moiya~?”

“That’s right. It’s a 300-year-old, deeply rooted bad habit, and you dare try to fix it on our first meeting? No way, Moni~?”

Moiya and Moni were angry that someone was trying to fix their bad habits, which even their mistress and the cold-blooded one had given up on.

Ash couldn’t waste any more time, so she added three more sausages to each basket and apologized.

“I’m sorry. Here, is that okay? I’m really busy, so come back later.”

Not completely satisfied, Moiya and Moni got a promise to get more sausages again tonight and left the kitchen.

Having finally sent the baby Wyverns away, Ash began to take charge of the kitchen again.

The dinner menu consisted of Hector’s favorite thick grilled cod and various seafood dishes.

“That sauce is too thin. It needs to be thicker so the seasoning soaks into the fish properly. Simmer it for about 5 minutes. The abalone and squid look a bit tough. There’s not enough butter! Add more butter and stir-fry quickly over high heat. Wait, the salad…….”

Ash bustled around the kitchen, giving instructions for every dish, keeping herself very busy.

Because the dinner menu had suddenly changed, the kitchen servants were even more frantic, having to quickly find the ingredients and cook them in a short amount of time.

The only person with a bright expression amidst the busyness was Ash. She looked as happy as a wife preparing dinner for her husband.

“Oong? She’s making a big fuss, Moiya~?”

Having left the kitchen with baskets of sausages, the two baby Wyverns secretly watched her from outside the kitchen window, sensing that Ash’s confidence was unusual.

“She’s only cooking what Hector likes; it’s love, Moni~?”

Moni, who was quicker on the uptake than Moiya, came to that conclusion.

She had a hunch just from hearing Ash add the phrase ‘because the Great King likes it, because he used to enjoy it’ to the end of every sentence.

“It’s better not to mess with what Melanie likes if possible.”

Moiya clicked her tongue.

“I know, right? They say you shouldn’t fight with a mean kid, but you really shouldn’t fight with a dumb one.”

“Moni, where did you hear such a smart thing?”

“I heard Rosie say it while stroking Ao when Melanie left, back when Rosie was a concubine, Moni~?”

“Our Rosie may not look like much, but her head is full.”

Moiya took a bite of a sausage and gave a thumbs up.

***

The loving couple reunited in the hallway leading to the dining room.

“Did you hear? The dignitaries from the Lapion Empire will arrive in two days.”

As soon as Melanie read the letter brought by Moiya and Moni, she had a servant inform Hector of Emperor Linell and Empress Zelda’s planned visit in two days.

“So that’s why you’re in such a good mood.”

“The Master of the Magic Tower is coming too. Is he accompanying them because of the Empress’s cure you mentioned before?”

“Probably.”

Hector replied, opening the dining room door himself.

“I’m going to chat with the Empress all night. You can sleep alone for one night, right?”

Melanie looked up at Hector as she entered the dining room.

“That’s going to be difficult. Sleep in the bedroom.”

“Oh my, Mao, Theo, and Leo sleep alone just fine, why can’t you sleep alone?”

“Yeah. I can’t. That’s just how I am.”

Hector said firmly, then chuckled.

“And I’m sure Emperor Linell feels the same way. Anyway, they’re important guests, so we need to pay special attention to them.”

Hector continued, noticing someone familiar in the dining room.

“……Ash?”

“It’s been a while, Great King. I should have greeted you as soon as I arrived, but I’m only greeting you now.”

“It’s okay. I thought I could see you tomorrow or in a few days?”

Ash smiled awkwardly at Hector’s indifferent words.

She was disappointed, but she hated Melanie even more, who was smiling brightly next to her.

“Anyway, it’s nice to see you in the new royal palace.”

“I’m honored. It’s my first day as your maid, so I’m a bit flustered, but I focused on tonight’s dinner menu first. These are the dishes you usually enjoy, Great King.”

Ash smiled proudly, turning her gaze to the dishes laid out on the table.

She seemed to be waiting for praise, like ‘Things are different now that you’re here.’

But Hector,

“Is that so?”

Indifferently scanned the table with his eyes.

“Wow, things are different now that Ash is here!”

The words Ash wanted to hear came from Melanie’s mouth.

Melanie swallowed repeatedly, as if her mouth was watering, and sat in the chair Hector pulled out for her.

Then, she offered a seat to Ash, who was standing blankly in front of her.

“Ash, sit down. Have dinner with us.”

“How could I dare? I’m fine, Queen.”

Ash looked at Hector, slightly flustered, as if she didn’t expect this kind of favor.

She was planning to reluctantly sit down if the Great King asked her to eat again.

However, no words came out of Hector’s mouth.

“Great King, pull out a chair for Ash. That’s the only way she’ll sit down.”

Melanie reached out and grabbed Hector’s arm.

Only then did Hector’s gaze turn to Ash.

“Do I have to pull out a chair for you to sit down?”

“Ah, no. Great King.”

Ash quickly pulled out the chair in front of her and sat down at Hector’s words.

Melanie and Ash ended up sitting with Hector in the seat of honor in the middle.

‘I wish I could be the Great King’s mistress and have dinner with him like this every few days…….’

Ash was thrilled at this moment.

Even when Melanie wasn’t by Hector’s side, she had never had a meal with him like this.

So, her heart was pounding with a blissful feeling accompanied by extreme tension.

“I’m even more excited because they’re the dishes the Great King used to like.”

“Melanie, tonight’s dinner menu was what you liked. Should I have that brought out too?”

“It’s okay. I can eat that tomorrow. These dishes look more delicious.”

Melanie quickly picked up her fork and knife.

Ash looked at her strangely for speaking informally to the Great King.

Melanie noticed her gaze and smiled, opening her mouth.

“Ash, I’ll tell you in advance. We drop the honorifics when it’s just the two of us. We met as a concubine and the Queen’s bodyguard in the first place, so I’ve been speaking informally from the beginning. I’m talking about the time when the Great King lived as Roxana’s loyal dog.”

“Melanie. You don’t have to say things like that…….”

Hector gave her a look, but it was no use.

“Ash knows too, right? That the Great King barked at Roxana because of the obedience potion. But now he’s barking even though he’s sober?”

“Y-yes?!”

“Because now he’s my loyal dog.”

Melanie winked and whispered to Ash.

Ash didn’t dare to reply and just stared at Hector with a stiff expression.

Hector was smiling.

If it were the Great King’s original nature, he wouldn’t have stayed still after hearing those words. He should have broken the other person’s neck without hesitation, but he was smiling.

Melanie’s remarks had crossed the line by far, but Hector was still smiling.

“Shut your pretty mouth before I bite you.”

Hector warned Melanie again.

The words themselves were threatening, but his eyes were endlessly affectionate.

“Ah, Ash. Did you happen to see Moiya and Moni in the kitchen? They definitely flew there earlier.”

Melanie smiled and changed the subject.

“Yes, I greeted them.”

“Why didn’t you give them some sausages yourself and get to know them?”

“I did, Queen. But they told me I looked like a half-baked sausage.”

“Ke, cough, cough……!”

Hector elegantly sipped his wine, then coughed, choking on it.

“Don’t be too upset. They might exaggerate a bit, but they don’t say anything that’s completely untrue.”

It seemed like words of comfort, but when Melanie’s words were replayed, they were close to an insult.

“……Yes. Please eat before it gets cold. It’s cod with plenty of meat. You’ve always said you like people and fish with meat on them, Great King. That’s why you never even touched hairtail [a type of long, thin fish].”

Ash also subtly pushed the plate of cod towards Hector, counterattacking in her own way.

“……Did I?”

Hector glanced at Melanie and asked Ash.

“Yes. I remember you saying not to even keep skinny women as servants. You said they would dry up the country’s energy.”

Those words were aimed at the human skewer [Melanie’s nickname] .

Ash’s tone was so polite and careful that it wouldn’t seem like she was being sarcastic.

Still, if Melanie got angry, she could just bow her head and politely ask for forgiveness.

In fact, those were Hector’s words.

However, the person who used to say those words was denying it.

“I don’t remember.”

Hector shrugged, eating his food.

“Those words are right.”

The response came unexpectedly from the skewer [Melanie] herself.

“What?”

“It’s not wrong. Skinny people are usually sensitive and picky.”

“……Is this self-deprecating humor?”

Hector stopped eating and asked Melanie.

“Not humor, it’s the truth. That’s exactly what I’m like.”

Melanie replied immediately.

Is she really crazy?

Ash stared blankly at Melanie with wide eyes.

Moiya and Moni said: Be extremely careful when dealing with the Queen, because if her head doesn’t explode, her temper will. That was genuine advice.

“Ash, you saw when you were helping me bathe, right? That I’m skinny.”

“……Y-yes? Ah, yes. Queen.”

It was hard to admit, and hard not to answer. Ash’s embarrassment was obvious.

“Ah, it was a self-bombing [a joke at one’s own expense].”

Hector burst out laughing, and the other servants in the dining room quietly chuckled, as if they were used to this atmosphere.

Ash was the only one who was dumbfounded by what was going on.

Ash regained her composure.

“Great King, I’ll debone the fish for you like I used to.”

Ash, with a flushed face, handed the boneless fillets to Hector on his plate.

“Thank you. It looks delicious.”

Ash’s face flushed as she wished Hector’s praise was directed at her.

Hector took the fish that Ash had carefully deboned with a spoon and said indifferently, looking at Melanie.

“Say ah.”

Ash couldn’t help but be shocked by Hector’s actions.

What was even more shocking was Melanie’s next action.