The Stand-In Empress’S Wedding Night [EN]: Chapter 87

87. Do Not Desire Me Anymore

“Speak comfortably.”

Norton was willing to grant her request, whatever it might be.

“When we met by the lake last time, you picked up the book I dropped, right?”

“A book?”

“Yes! The one written in ancient Southern Continent language…”

“Ah, did I?”

Norton trailed off, as if he didn’t quite remember.

“I was wondering if you could translate it for me.”

*I even confessed I loved you, so you’d do this much to look good to me, right?* That was Rosie’s calculation. She also thought it was a win-win proposal. She would get to know the contents of the ancient book, and Norton would get to see her face often before returning to his country.

“I won’t take up too much of your time. Please? I’ve been organizing the things I want to ask you about!”

“About me?”

*I felt it yesterday too, but she’s so bold.* Norton pointed to himself with a slightly burdened expression. Still, he found her adorable for trying to find excuses to meet him using the book.

“Yes? No, not about you, Your Highness… about the contents written in the ancient book.”

*Oh my, is the Prince only thinking about me?* Rosie felt a pang in her heart looking at Norton. *Should I really hold his hand before going into the office?*

“Lady Rosie…”

It was Norton who reached out first.

“What is it?”

Rosie asked with a bewildered look. The reason Norton reached out to her was simple.

“It could be difficult for both of us. I don’t want to become uncomfortable with you, Lady.”

*So, don’t hold my hand and desire me…* That was the meaning behind the handshake.

“Of course, it will be difficult.”

Rosie shook the hand he offered, feeling flustered. The ancient language of the Partsha Empire [a fictional empire] might be difficult and challenging, but she really wanted to know the contents of that ancient book.

“But if I give up without even trying, I feel like my life will be even harder in the future.”

Even while speaking resolutely, Rosie felt like she had become a bad woman. Like a woman who only uses a man without accepting his feelings. *But wouldn’t it be okay if I treat him well every time we meet? So that it can be a good memory for Norton.* Rosie decided to act a little selfishly.

“Please, I beg you!”

She clasped Norton’s hand with both of hers and spoke earnestly.

“Hmm, let’s put it on hold for now. I think I can decide after hearing His Majesty’s words.”

Norton replied with a worried look.

*Lady Rosie doesn’t seem to be in a position to leisurely ask me to translate a book, does she?*

Coincidentally, she looked up at Norton with the same expression.

*If the Prince is imprisoned, I’m even prepared to bring the book and visit you myself!*

They pitied each other. Thus, their misunderstandings grew deeper and deeper.

“Lady, shall we go in now?”

“Yes, don’t worry too much. What could possibly happen?”

Rosie patted Norton’s back as if to comfort him, and

“…I hope nothing does.”

Norton felt sorry for her, pretending to be calm.

***

I wanted to talk to Rosie before gathering in the office, but there was no time to meet separately.

*Looking at them like this, they seem to get along quite well?*

But seeing Rosie and Norton sitting side by side at the office table, there seemed to be a strange atmosphere between them. *If Rosie’s love confession yesterday was really acting? Then she’s either a acting genius or not in her right mind, possessed by something.*

“Everyone looks like they haven’t slept.”

Rinel broke the awkward silence first.

“Your Majesty also looks very tired.”

Norton also said, examining his complexion.

“It’s my daily life. And I didn’t sleep for a different reason than the Prince, so don’t lump us together.”

He drew a line with a serious expression.

“If it’s a different reason from me…?”

Norton asked back, pressing for the reason, and Rinel explained in unnecessary detail again.

“The Prince couldn’t sleep because he was troubled, but I couldn’t sleep because I was in love, so the reasons are clearly different.”

I poked Rinel’s thigh under the table and gave him a look. Then he grabbed my hand and subtly placed it on his thigh. When I squeezed his hand, he let out a groan. Fortunately, the sound was only audible to me.

“Your Majesty, are you feeling unwell somewhere?”

Still, unable to hide his expression, Norton asked him cautiously.

“Ah, don’t mind me and continue speaking.”

He cleared his throat and said, and the Prince continued to speak.

“What could I be worried about? I was just a little concerned.”

Norton glanced at Rosie as he answered. I don’t know why Rosie’s face is turning red at this point, but her usually pale face was full of life.

“Since when, you two…”

Rinel crossed his arms over his chest and looked at them as if observing them.

“Okay, let’s each speak. What was the most impressive moment for the other person?”

“?”

At Rinel’s question, Norton and Rosie looked at each other simultaneously. Who will speak first? I’m getting nervous for no reason. But, doesn’t the question sound a bit strange? Why are you asking such a thing? When I turned my head to look at him, he winked at me and raised one corner of his mouth. I couldn’t figure out what he was thinking at all.

“Your Majesty, I think the question is a bit strange.”

As expected. Norton also said quietly with a troubled expression.

“Even if one side likes the other unilaterally, there must have been impressive moments for each other, right? That’s what I’m asking. That way, we can know each other’s thoughts more accurately.”

At his words, I tilted my head like Norton. I can’t exactly pinpoint where it went wrong, but the question was definitely flowing in a strange direction.

“Let’s have Norton speak first, as a man.”

Rinel ordered in an solemn tone like a judge.

“Impressive, well… Ah, there was one.”

Norton’s eyes wandered for a moment, then suddenly seemed to remember something. Everyone’s attention was focused on the Prince.

“At the banquet yesterday…”

“At the banquet?”

Rinel and I asked simultaneously and glanced at Rosie.

“I saw Lady Rosie’s dance… It was very impressive.”

At Norton’s words, Rosie blinked her eyes with a shy expression.

“What kind of dance was it that it was so impressive?”

Rinel stared intently at Rosie with curious eyes. I bit my lower lip, thinking that Norton’s taste was very unique. I also happened to see Rosie dancing in a corner of the banquet hall yesterday. The moment I saw her dance, I was so surprised that I almost told Commander Marcrom [a high-ranking military officer] that an eagle had flown into the banquet hall. Because Rosie was staring intently at somewhere while dancing, I followed her gaze, and at the end of it was Norton. Ah, now that I think about it, was Rosie preparing for her confession since then? If so, the probability that Rosie’s confession last night was not acting is almost certain. Look, Rosie is nodding quietly with an ‘I knew it’ look at Norton’s words.

“Then Rosie? When did you see the Prince as impressive?”

This time, I asked her.

“I… not really?”

Rosie looked at Norton with a haughty expression and said firmly. The Prince seemed puzzled by her attitude, staring intently at her profile. Knock knock-. At that moment, there was a knock outside the office and the door opened.

“Excuse me for interrupting, but Prince Tesler of the Shatoanil Kingdom requests an audience.”

Anxiety crept in at Secretary Raphael’s report. What’s he doing here again today? Rinel clearly only called Norton and Rosie to the office last night. No, maybe it’s a good thing. I was planning to meet Prince Tesler separately sometime today to check on Bonis’s safety.

“Prince Tesler?”

Rinel frowned with an annoyed expression, rubbing one of his eyebrows.

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

He gestured to Raphael to let Prince Tesler in with a look of annoyance.

***

“I don’t think I can take it anymore. I’m going.”

Moiya, who had been sitting gloomily looking at the broken eggshells, jumped up.

“Miyaong? (Where to?)”

“To the main palace office. I have to go eavesdrop, I can’t stand it. That’s how I’ll decide whether to keep living here or not.”

“Miyaong. (I think it’s better to just stay still.)”

“I can’t just sit still and die listening to Rosie being insulted!”

“Miyaaong! (Then take me with you! But don’t turn me into a doppelganger.)”

Aoshi pleaded, grabbing Moiya’s wing with his front paw.

“What if we get caught? Well, even if you get caught, people will pet you. Okay, Aoshi. But you have to be careful, very careful?”

Aoshi nodded repeatedly at Moiya’s threat.

“Rosie always said, ‘A leaky bucket leaks inside and outside.’ You know that was meant for you, right?”

“Mi, Miyaong? (Was that, was that meant for me? Not you?)”

“Tsk tsk, that’s why cats don’t have wings, because you’re so clueless.”

Moiya clicked her tongue and proudly flapped her wings.

“By the way, what should I transform into to go?”

Weeee-. A mosquito flew around Moiya’s head as she pondered.

“Okay, today it’s you.”

As soon as Moiya finished speaking, black smoke surrounded the mosquito.

“Aoshi, I’ll have to stick to your fur to get to the main palace. I’m too lazy to fly.”

Moiya, who had instantly transformed into a mosquito, landed on Aoshi’s head.

“Miyayaong! (Okay. Just don’t suck my blood!)”

Moiya, who was about to stick her mosquito needle into Aoshi’s neck, was startled and retorted.

“Don’t worry about nothing. I’m a great wyvern, you know! I don’t suck cat blood! But you, you can jump off the terrace, right?”

“…Miyaong? (…Do I really have to jump off?)”

Aoshi asked, terrified, sticking his head out over the terrace and looking down.

“Ugh, that’s why you shouldn’t play with wingless things. Well… then find a way to get down. Let’s go!”

***

Prince Tesler, who entered the office, walked leisurely to the table. His expression was pretending to be benevolent, but the Prince’s eyes were like those of a sly snake.

“I greet the sun of the Lapion Empire, His Majesty the Emperor and Her Majesty the Empress.”

After Prince Tesler finished his greetings, he turned his gaze to Norton and Rosie.

“The protagonists of last night’s scandal are all here too.”

Norton only nodded without even looking properly at Prince Tesler.

“What brings the Prince here? Let’s have a seat together.”

Rinel showed an uncomfortable expression, but he reluctantly offered a seat, feeling uneasy about sending Prince Tesler back just like that.

“Thank you. Your Majesty, how have you decided to handle yesterday’s matter?”

As soon as Prince Tesler sat down, he asked quite seriously. It was as if Rosie and Norton had been caught plotting a rebellion.

“Handle?”

Rinel raised his lips crookedly and asked back.

“Your Majesty ordered me to pretend not to have seen or heard anything about what happened in the temple’s back garden last night, so I am keeping silent to others, but I came to see you because I am worried about how you will handle this matter.”

“You worried unnecessarily. If you came to the office for that reason alone, you may return.”

Rinel also smiled like Prince Tesler, but his tone was laced with annoyance.

“Hahaha, yesterday’s matter is one thing, but in fact, I came to see Her Majesty the Empress.”

Prince Tesler noticed that Rinel was not welcoming him and immediately changed his words.

“Do you have something to say to me?”

I hid my nervousness and asked Prince Tesler. It was because of my concern for Bonis. *Surely that crazy man didn’t do anything to Bonis overnight?* Yes, I can’t move rashly yet. Let’s stay calm. Even while thinking that, I felt like my mouth was burning with anxiety.

“Everyone knows about the pink diamonds, which are a specialty of our Shatoanil Kingdom, right?”

Prince Tesler took out a small jewelry box from his uniform pocket. *Damn it.* My heart sank when I saw the jewelry box. The jewelry box that Prince Tesler took out was the same shape as the cold and warm magic stone he had sent me before.

*Maybe inside that…*

Cold sweat started to flow down my spine.