The Stand-In Empress’S Wedding Night [EN]: Chapter 69

69. Rumored Figure

2021.09.01.

Even though he probably couldn’t see the burn scar on the right side of my face, my shoulders tensed. Glancing at him, I saw him lower the hand that had been caressing my cheek. Princess Resilia followed up with effusive praise about my skin.

“I’m so envious of Her Majesty’s flawless skin, you know?”

She said to him, stroking her own right cheek. At Princess Resilia’s words, Prince Tesler glanced at me, quietly saying her name as if to warn her, “Resil.” The princess pretended not to hear her brother and continued chattering to Linelle.

“Look, Your Majesty. Her Majesty’s skin is more radiant and lustrous than pearls!”

“Fine skin… it certainly enhances the Empress’s beauty.”

He nodded, agreeing with her. Looking at his smiling face, I wondered, what expression would Linelle make if he saw my burn scar? Would he smile kindly like he does now?

“I think the Princess is right. I, too, was captivated by the Empress’s beautiful face.”

Ah… He replied to Princess Resilia, his eyes fixed on my face. My heart sank at his words. Yes, if he had seen my burn scar, he would not have loved me. All the nobles had been like that; even my own family had turned away from me. In a way, it was only natural. With only one magic potion left, his words amplified my anxiety, causing it to grow and torment me even more.

“Oh my, so Your Majesty thought so too? Your Majesty, you must continue to maintain that beautiful skin. Ohoho!”

Princess Resilia giggled sweetly, diligently cutting her steak and stuffing it into her mouth. It seemed that using my insecurity to converse with Linelle was suddenly stimulating her appetite. ‘I need to go to the clinic as soon as possible and get a new magic potion.’ My mind was filled with nothing but that thought.

“News has spread that Norton, the Prince of the Partsha Empire, is staying here, and other countries are arriving earlier than planned. Some have already departed. I’m sure the Prince heard the news this morning as well?”

Linelle asked, pouring a glass of wine directly for Prince Tesler.

“Yes, Your Majesty. I received a report through Grand Duke Martins this morning.”

“What are you planning to do about the Shattonil Royal Family? It seems to have become a bit of a hassle.”

As he said, Prince Tesler and Princess Resilia were planning to return to the Shattonil Kingdom tomorrow or the day after, and then visit again next week when the Continental Hunting Competition would be held.

“Since there has been a change in the schedule, I think it would be better for us to stay at the detached palace and be with the other foreign dignitaries from the beginning.”

“That would be better. It would be quite troublesome to go back and forth.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“If you need anything, feel free to tell the servants at the detached palace at any time.”

“Thank you, but I already sent someone to the kingdom before coming to the Empress’s Palace. The necessary items will arrive within a few days.”

“Hunting competition supplies and everything else needed for daily life are all prepared. You could have just used the Rafion Imperial Family’s things?”

“Thank you for the offer, but I left an important item from the Shattonil Royal Family behind, so I had to send someone anyway.”

As Prince Tesler replied to Linelle, he glanced at my face. It was clearly a meaningful look, but I didn’t want to bother figuring out the Prince’s intentions.

“Well, if that’s the case.”

He replied to Prince Tesler, taking my hand under the table.

“Empress, do you not have an appetite today? Are you not feeling well?”

“No, Your Majesty. I am eating.”

I stopped fiddling with my fork and replied.

“You should eat even better than before. The dignitaries are arriving earlier than expected, so the Empress will be busy as well. If you don’t have an appetite, at least eat some fruit.”

Linelle pushed the fruit plates in front of me. Princess Resilia, who was eating fruit, looked as if she had bitten into a very astringent persimmon.

***

After the luncheon, Prince Tesler and Princess Resilia took a carriage back to the detached palace first. Princess Resilia had spoken as if she would tour the Empress’s Palace right after the meal, but she suddenly became indifferent and got into the carriage with the Prince.

“There’s time for a cup of tea.”

After seeing the two siblings off, Linelle suggested tea time to me. However, his secretary, Raphael, who was standing behind him, frowned and said.

“Your Majesty, if you have tea time now, you will have to rush back to the main palace again today.”

“Is that so?”

I chuckled and looked up at him.

“What’s so special about rushing? It’s good exercise.”

He shrugged, and Raphael’s face fell.

“Instead of tea, I will walk with Your Majesty to the main palace for a stroll.”

I grabbed his arm as he entered the Empress’s Palace lobby and turned him back towards the entrance. Raphael then gave me a look of infinite gratitude.

“I would be grateful if the Empress would do that.”

We took each other’s hands and entered the garden path leading to the main palace.

“Have a cup of coffee when we arrive at the main palace before you go.”

“No. After safely escorting Your Majesty to the main palace, I plan to go to the greenhouse.”

Dealing with Prince Tesler and Princess Resilia all at once gave me a headache. I also needed time to clear my head by strolling through the greenhouse with its fresh air.

“Is that so? Have you ever been to the greenhouse before?”

“Yes, my servants told me there was a place that clears the head. It was really refreshing.”

“Is that so? I also take a slow stroll through the greenhouse when I have a headache sometimes. Let’s go together sometime.”

“Okay.”

Red roses were in full bloom on both sides of the garden path that Linelle and I were walking along. Seeing the roses, the image of Prince Tesler pouring the magic potion into the vase in the bedroom this morning flashed through my mind, and I grimaced. As a gentle breeze blew, the scent of roses became stronger.

“How far are you going to take me?”

He asked, firmly tucking our clasped hands into his side.

***

On the garden path, he had asked me to escort him to the conference hall inside the main palace, but as soon as we reached the entrance of the main palace, he said goodbye.

“I will let you go here.”

Linelle said as he released my hand, as if he had made a decision after much deliberation.

“Go when I tell you to.”

“Why? You were going to escort me to the conference hall.”

“If I accompany you there, I feel like I will want to take you inside the conference hall.”

“…Ah.”

“Why, are you interested? You can sit next to me.”

He asked, placing his hand on my shoulder.

“Sit next to Your Majesty like a doll and receive the piercing gazes of the ministers?”

“Should I tell them all to bow their heads? Or should I tell them all to turn and sit on the other side?”

“Your Majesty, please pay attention to the expression on the secretary’s face when you speak.”

I said to him, gesturing towards Raphael’s face, who was wiping away cold sweat every time he said something absurd.

“It’s his job to be embarrassed when I spout nonsense.”

Linelle replied nonchalantly.

“I am honored that you recognize that, Your Majesty…”

Raphael interjected timidly from behind him with a sullen expression. When he turned around, Raphael’s crumpled face quickly brightened. It was an incredibly fast change of expression.

“Have a good day. We will meet again next time.”

Linelle greeted me as if he were leaving on a long journey. It was fine up to that point, but when I saw him pinching the hem of my dress, I couldn’t take my feet off the ground.

“Please go in.”

“Should I not be clingy?”

Ah, this man looks so lovely that my heart aches.

“Alright, it’s the mood. I’ll escort you to the central staircase.”

I took his hand again and entered the main palace lobby.

“You must be pleased…?”

Raphael offered a congratulatory remark to Linelle, who was grinning, with a tone that was ambiguous whether it was sincere or sarcastic.

“Yes, it’s worth clinging to.”

He replied in a very proud voice. In the end, I walked with him to the front of the central staircase.

“I’ll stop here. Now, really go up.”

“Zelda, thank you for escorting me.”

Even ordinary, common words sound so fresh when they come from the mouth of His Majesty, the Emperor of the Rafion Empire. Looking at his expression, I had the illusion that I had done something great.

“I am sorry to impose, but I believe Your Majesty will ascend the stairs once Her Majesty turns around first.”

Raphael watched us standing motionless and shaking hands for a minute before speaking to me with a very patient face.

“No, I should go up first.”

Linelle said firmly, releasing my hand.

“Really?”

“Really?”

Raphael and I asked at the same time.

“Yes. I happened to overhear the young ladies talking at a party before? There’s a rumor that my back view is so amazing.”

“…Yes?”

I tilted my head, wondering what he was talking about.

“There’s a rumor that several jaws have dropped while looking at my back view, so the Empress must be happy since you can see it as much as you want.”

“I am honored.”

I bowed slightly, holding back a laugh. Linelle, as if he still had something to say, put one foot on the stairs and gestured for me to come closer. As I took a step closer, he whispered in my ear.

“Especially the butt is amazing. Judge whether it’s true and report it at night.”

“…I will take your order.”

He patted my shoulder and went up the stairs with Raphael. I kept my eyes on his back view to be faithful to the order and began to judge the truth of the words that the young ladies had whispered at the party. His back of the head, which aroused anticipation of when he would turn around. The combination of his firm, broad shoulders and wide back, his straight waistline, and the firmly raised hip line below it. Everyone has accurate eyes… The opinions of the young ladies were clearly a fact. Before I knew it, I closed my jaw, which had unknowingly dropped open, and left the main palace.

***

Surprisingly, just a few minutes after stepping into the greenhouse, my heavy head felt much lighter. However, the weight of anxiety caused by the one remaining magic potion did not lessen. I walked slowly through the greenhouse, repeatedly taking deep breaths in and out. I need to visit ‘Confident Night’ Clinic as soon as possible… The dignitaries were said to be arriving earlier than expected, so I had to hurry. Moreover, once the schedule in the Rafion Empire, the starting point of this competition, is over, the hunting journey to the Partsha Empire in the Southern Continent, the destination, will begin. Therefore, I need to have at least the minimum amount to take during the Continental Hunting Competition. I can’t have the servants buy the magic potion, so I have to go myself or…

“Your Majesty.”

A familiar voice suddenly rang out. I was even more surprised because the voice belonged to the person I had just thought of.

“How did the Grand Duke get here…?”

“I remembered hearing from the Rafion ministers some time ago that the Imperial Family had a lovely greenhouse, so I came on a whim.”

Grand Duke Martins said as he strode towards me.

“Ah, I see.”

I nodded, thinking to myself that it was a good thing.

“I actually had something to discuss with the Grand Duke.”

“Oh, it seems I am on the same wavelength as Your Majesty.”

“What do you mean?”

“I also have something to tell Your Majesty, so actually…”

The Grand Duke leaned slightly towards me and whispered.

“I was following you.”

“Me?”

I asked back with wide eyes.

“Yes. So please dismiss those around you for a moment.”

Grand Duke Martins glanced at the servants around him. I ordered all the servants, including Sharon, to wait in front of the greenhouse entrance. After the servants retreated, I began to walk slowly through the greenhouse with Grand Duke Martins. I spoke first.

“Prince Tesler secretly entered my bedroom this morning.”

“…Really?!”

Judging from his surprised expression, it seemed that Prince Tesler had not said anything to the Grand Duke.

“I understand that the Grand Duke met the Prince this morning to deliver the news that the countries of the Southern Continent were moving up their schedules.”

“Yes, I met him to report that matter.”

“Did the Prince say anything about me?”

“Not at all. Did something… happen?”

Grand Duke Martins asked, examining my complexion.

“I only have one magic potion left.”

I said bluntly.

“Perhaps… did the Prince take the potion bottle? Haa.”

He shook his head as if he knew enough without hearing more.

“He told me to show him trust. I was angry at the vile threat, but I had no choice but to give in. It was just my luck that His Majesty visited the Empress’s Palace at that time…”

The scene of Prince Tesler smiling weakly and taking the magic potion bottle from my hand flashed through my mind, and my neck stiffened.

“That’s right. It’s easy to be misunderstood to be caught in the bedroom, not the reception room or audience hall, unless Her Majesty and the Prince are close siblings.”

“Yes, the situation was even worse because I was only wearing a bathrobe.”

“Oh dear.”

Grand Duke Martins narrowed his eyes and quietly clicked his tongue.

“For a moment, I tried to endure with the feeling of ‘whatever happens, happens,’ but the Prince brought up Bonnie’s story and threatened me.”

I said, clenching my fist.

“Your… Majesty.”

Grand Duke Martins stopped me and stopped walking. He had an expression as if he had something to say to me.

“Today, on the list of items that Prince Tesler sent to the Shattonil Kingdom that were needed during the hunting competition… that young lady’s name was on it.”

“…What, what did you say?”