The Stand-In Empress’S Wedding Night [EN]: Chapter 56

56. Because He Touches Me with His Eyes

I tried to force a smile to match Linelle’s, but it felt unnatural, like I had metal weights pulling down the corners of my mouth. Just as I was about to step forward with him, Raphael appeared in the doorway of the audience chamber and gave a slight bow.

“Your Majesty, before you head down to the lobby, there’s a document from the High Priest that requires your immediate attention.”

“Oh? Since I’m on my way out, I’ll take a look at it at your desk.”

“Yes, Your Majesty. I’ve already placed it on the desk.”

Raphael opened a door on the left side of the audience chamber’s waiting room, a direct passage to the Emperor’s office. A desk stood in the hallway, used by secretaries for occasional tasks. Raphael had placed the documents there.

“Empress, please wait here. It’s just a signature, so it won’t take long.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

He smiled warmly at my brief reply, then turned to Prince Norton, who was standing silently.

“Now that I think of it, Prince Norton doesn’t necessarily need to meet the Shato Neil dignitaries today. There will be a formal opportunity during the hunting competition.”

“If Your Majesty permits, I would like to greet them as well.”

Linelle shrugged.

“Well, there’s no harm in it. It’s good to build familiarity beforehand.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty.”

*Could it be that he wants to see Princess Resilia?*

I glanced at Prince Norton, considering this. During his time with the Shato Neil royal family, Prince Norton was just a mercenary and likely had no direct contact with the siblings. I wanted to warn him about their true nature, but I hesitated.

“I’ll sign the documents and return shortly. You two can follow at your leisure.”

Linelle left me and Prince Norton and exited the audience chamber.

“Ah, it seems the ventilation isn’t working well today. Leave the door open,” he called out to the attendant, who was about to close it. *Ventilation isn’t working?* I hadn’t noticed anything. I tilted my head, puzzled.

“It seems His Majesty is concerned about leaving me alone with Her Majesty the Empress,” Prince Norton said quietly.

“So he ordered the door to be left open?”

The Prince nodded, chuckling softly. I smiled wryly, thinking, *No way,* but my mood darkened at the thought of facing Prince Tesler. I was trying to remain calm, but my anger was simmering, ready to boil over.

“Oh, I’m sorry.”

“Ah, I’m sorry.”

Lost in thought, I bumped into Prince Norton’s shoulder as I left the audience chamber. We apologized simultaneously. I was distracted by the unwelcome guests, but Prince Norton seemed unusually flustered.

“I was so eager to meet the Shato Neil dignitaries that I wasn’t paying attention. I apologize, Your Majesty the Empress.”

He apologized again. I studied his face. Why was he lying? His expression didn’t match his words; he looked distinctly uncomfortable.

“It’s alright. I was so pleased that dignitaries from my homeland were visiting that I wasn’t watching where I was going. But Your Highness, you seem unwell.”

“Your Majesty the Empress, you suddenly look pale as well.”

I lowered my voice.

“Is it that obvious? To be honest, I’m not very happy about this visit.”

I blurted out my feelings, leaving Prince Norton to interpret them as he wished.

“Actually, neither am I, Your Majesty the Empress.”

Prince Norton’s response surprised me. This time, his words and expression seemed genuine. Of course, I could be misinterpreting him. But I felt a strange connection with him, an unspoken understanding. The suppressed anger within me mirrored the anger in his eyes, visible in his clenched fist and tight jaw. What could be the cause of Prince Norton’s anger?

“Empress, let’s go now,” Linelle said, returning after signing the documents.

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

I took his hand, trying to regain my composure.

***

We descended the central staircase and walked along the long lobby towards the main palace entrance. The sound of our shoes echoed grandly on the marble floor.

“Your hands are sweaty,” Linelle observed, looking down at our joined hands.

“The weather feels a bit warm today.”

“Warm?”

*Whoosh-*.

“…….”

A strong wind swept through the lobby from the main palace entrance, making my hair flutter like a flag.

“Ah, it’s because I’m seeing Prince Tesler after so long. I’m nervous. Haha.”

“Well, that could be,” Linelle replied, sounding slightly unconvinced. Prince Norton glanced at me, then continued walking beside us.

***

Despite the wind, the sunlight was dazzling. As we exited the main palace, the Shato Neil royal carriage came into view.

“They’re here,” Linelle announced, gesturing towards the carriage. It circled the lake in the center of the main palace, the sound of hooves and wheels growing louder. Finally, it stopped at the foot of the main palace stairs.

*What is that?*

Suddenly, the carriage window opened, and a small hand popped out, waving innocently. Then, another hand appeared, slapped the small hand down, and closed the window. The first hand must have been Princess Resilia’s, and the one who slapped it down seemed to be Prince Tesler. *Haa, who is she so happy to see that she’s waving like that? Me? Or Linelle?* I snorted silently and glanced at Prince Norton. He was squinting at the Shato Neil carriage. It was hard to tell if he was squinting from the sun or frowning at the carriage.

“What do you think that was that popped out of the carriage window?” Linelle asked, pointing.

“It looked like a tree branch?”

I stared intently at the carriage window.

“What do you think?” he asked Prince Norton.

“I think it was a hook used by commoners.”

*Is he serious?* I was making fun of Princess Resilia, but Prince Norton’s answer was equally cutting.

“That makes sense,” Linelle said, seriously accepting our absurd answers. A few seconds later, the door of the Shato Neil royal carriage opened. Prince Tesler and Princess Resilia emerged. I met their eyes as they ascended the stairs. It felt like a conspiratorial exchange, which made me uneasy.

“As long as the brilliant sun rises, the glory of the Rafion Empire will be infinite! Tesler Heil of the Shato Neil Kingdom greets His Majesty the Emperor and Her Majesty the Empress of Rafion!”

The siblings bowed. Strangely, the sun, which had been shining brightly, disappeared behind the clouds as soon as Prince Tesler finished speaking.

“Welcome.”

“It’s been a while,” Linelle and I replied.

It felt surreal to see the two people I had bowed to all my life bowing before me.

“Prince Tesler, the sky is darkening. Does that mean the glory of me and the Empress is over for today, according to your greeting?”

He said it as a joke, but Prince Tesler, unaccustomed to his humor, seemed to take it seriously.

“……Yes?”

Prince Tesler’s flustered expression was amusing. Princess Resilia looked equally bewildered. When his joke fell flat, Linelle waved his hand dismissively and changed the subject.

“It looks like it’s going to rain.”

Linelle looked up at the sky. Thunder rumbled, and lightning flashed.

*Come down on the crowns of the two people in front of me for a while and then go!* I prayed silently.

“Ah, right. The Third Prince of the Partsha Empire, who arrived from the Southern Continent last night, is here to greet you. Let’s introduce you.”

I looked at Prince Norton, whom I had momentarily forgotten. He was half-turned away.

“I am Prince Norton Asalman of the Partsha Empire,” he said, shaking hands with Prince Tesler with a regal gesture. He slowly raised his head.

“Nice to meet you. I am Prince Tesler Heil of the Shato Neil Kingdom.”

Prince Tesler moved from Linelle’s side to Prince Norton’s.

“Thank you for welcoming us like this……!”

Prince Tesler stopped mid-sentence, gasping as he was about to shake hands. Princess Resilia, who had been demurely looking at the floor, also looked up.

“Kyaaak!”

Oh, my goodness. She let out a short, incomprehensible scream, recoiling as if she had seen a ghost. She stumbled backward, forgetting the stairs behind her. I instinctively reached out to her, but Prince Norton was faster.

“Be careful, Princess Resilia!”

His expression and voice were indifferent, but his actions were courteous.

“You almost fell down the stairs.”

“Th, thank you, f, for helping me……,” Princess Resilia stammered. The Prince replied calmly.

“Yes, I couldn’t just stand by and watch, perhaps because I have experience falling somewhere.”

“……Yes?”

“No, nothing,” Prince Norton shrugged. The Princess stared at him, her expression complicated, her eyes filled with a mix of emotions.

*What is that reaction?*

“Why are you two so surprised?” Linelle asked.

“That is…… I mistook you for another prince of the Partsha Empire…… I’m sorry, Your Highness.”

“M, me too……,” Princess Resilia quickly added, echoing Prince Tesler’s words.

“Don’t mention it. I have many siblings,” Prince Norton said nonchalantly.

“Instead of standing here, let’s move to the drawing room,” Linelle suggested, looking at the three of them.

“Your Majesty, my sister has prepared coffee that she wanted to serve to you both,” Prince Tesler said, his face brightening.

“Is that so? I’m curious. Let’s go inside. Will the Prince join us too?”

“Yes, Your Majesty,” Prince Norton replied, but he couldn’t take his eyes off Princess Resilia. Even I had often stared at her face as a child, so Prince Norton’s dazed expression was understandable. However, I worried that Linelle might also be captivated by her. I glanced at him.

*Huh?*

I expected him to be looking at Princess Resilia, but he wasn’t. He was already looking at me.

“Shall we go?” he asked, escorting me back into the main palace.

***

Everyone sat around the round table in the drawing room. While waiting for Princess Resilia to bring the coffee, an uncomfortable silence filled the air. I was glaring at Prince Tesler, my eyes fixated on his Adam’s apple, then his little finger. *There will be a chance to speak with Prince Tesler alone. If not, I have to find a way to ask about Bonis no matter what.* When I met his eyes, he smiled, revealing his teeth. *You son of a bitch, are you smiling? I’m confident that if I just stretch out one arm, I can knock a few of those teeth down his throat….* My eyeballs were stiff from staring, so I blinked and caught Princess Resilia and Prince Norton exchanging glances. They seemed like they had met before. *Had they spoken in the Shato Neil royal family? But they didn’t talk separately.*

“Zelda, no, Your Majesty the Empress, I really…… can’t recognize you anymore,” Princess Resilia said, noticing my gaze. I offered a faint smile in response. An unpleasant expression flashed across her face. She turned to Linelle and smiled sweetly.

“Your Majesty? My hair color and Her Majesty the Empress’s eye color are similar, aren’t they?”

The Princess stroked her glossy pink hair.

“They are similar colors,” Linelle agreed, comparing her hair to my eyes.

“Umm, but I can touch and feel my hair like this…… but I can’t touch Zelda, no, Her Majesty the Empress’s eyes? Hohoho.”

*What am I supposed to do?* I stared at her, dumbfounded, as she fanned her hair. As her laughter subsided, Linelle’s low voice broke the silence.

“Instead, the Empress’s eyes are touching me every day, so it’s okay.”

“……Yes? What do you mean……,” Princess Resilia asked, bewildered. Linelle looked into my eyes before turning back to her.

“Princess…….”