episode_0033

The signs of change came with a splendid aura.

It had been a month since the commotion caused by Lua Te’s rebellion had been settled. At this point, a special guest visited the Empire, which had stabilized its wavering center.

It was the envoy from the Kingdom of Karna.

Karna Kingdom was a country that bordered the western part of the Empire, and had established the most friendly relations among the neighboring countries. Moreover, the benefits gained through trade were substantial, so welcoming their envoy in a grand manner was a customary affair.

Interestingly, a noble of the kingdom, the Duke, accompanied the envoy. The Duke anticipated a celebration to commemorate the envoy’s visit. His mission was of great importance, and he could not afford to waste this opportunity.

“Your Majesty, I dare to make one request.”

“Speak freely.”

“I would like to personally deliver a private letter from the 2nd Prince to Princess Seriniel.”

“What?”

The Emperor’s expression, which had been confidently permitting, suddenly stiffened. No matter how he tried to interpret the intention behind delivering the letter, it seemed to be flowing in a negative direction.

There had been no previous interaction between Seriniel and the 2nd Prince of Karna Kingdom. To have a private letter in such a formal relationship was suspicious. The Emperor’s features were gradually becoming distorted with the suspicion that perhaps there was an attempt to seduce his daughter.

“While I understand Your Majesty’s concerns, there is another person who wishes to deliver a letter with the same content.”

“Ah! I see. If it is a matter that I should know, then I would like to hear it.”

“There is no reason for Your Majesty to be unaware of the affairs within the Empire.”

He was someone who knew how to express the same words in a diplomatic and gentle manner. The Emperor seemed to appreciate the Duke’s way of speaking, as he showed signs of feeling a sense of guilt for his hasty suspicions.

Finally, the Duke opened his mouth and revealed the owner of another letter.

“It is none other than Your Majesty.”

◇

Since the incident of the Lua Te rebellion, I had spent nearly a month in the capital. This was because I followed the suggestion to help Eleneoth adjust to life in the capital after becoming the Viscount.

Whenever things were quiet in the court, Serin would sometimes come unexpectedly. Eleneoth would wag his tail like an excited puppy, but I found myself wanting to avoid Serin occasionally.

When I was with her, my chest would feel ticklish and strange. It felt like something was relentlessly pounding on the large and sturdy wall surrounding my heart.

Somehow, it was awkward yet not unpleasant. It was a paradoxical phenomenon that was difficult to describe in words.

Amidst the mundane routine, one day, a summons from the palace arrived.

It was a document that did not even mention the purpose. Roderick chose to accompany me out of curiosity. Reluctantly agreeing to accompany me, Eleneoth decided to play with the maids instead.

And so, without knowing the reason, we arrived at the palace audience chamber.

“It’s been a while, Captain Rihard. No, I should call you Commander Rihard now, shouldn’t I?”

“I am grateful for Your Majesty’s grace.”

“There is no need to attribute your achievements to me. You have rightfully earned that title, haven’t you?”

“… I appreciate your consideration.”

The formalities ended here. In a warmly heated atmosphere, the Emperor brought up the matter at hand.

“I appreciate your efforts in coming to the palace. I have sent this summons to seek the assistance of Commander Rihard.”

“Assistance, Your Majesty?”

“Seriniel is soon to depart for the Empire as the ambassador of Karna Kingdom. I would like Commander Rihard to accompany her as her escort.”

It was surprising news.

The envoy of the royal family to a foreign country holds a deeper meaning than meets the eye. With the current emperor wearing the crown through revolution and the majority of emperors in history having served as envoys to foreign countries, the appointment of Serin as an envoy was no different. Especially since she was appointed as the envoy to the Kingdom of Karna, the closest ally of the empire.

“It must be difficult for my younger sister, Tesser, as she is still young.”

Serin would not treat her younger sister harshly, as she was known for her kindness. In that sense, it was believed that Serin becoming the empress would be the best outcome.

At that moment, the emperor asked again.

“Will you accept? I called you here trusting your abilities that surpass even the commander of the imperial knights… Hm.”

“I will gladly accept the imperial decree.”

It was a mission that must be carried out. Serving as the escort for the princess acting as an envoy would bring considerable rewards. Furthermore, as the commander, my direct involvement would enhance the reputation of the Windmill Knights.

In reality, even Roderick did not oppose.

He simply muttered about the need for the escort of that monster-like woman.

“Oh, right.”

The emperor turned his sharp gaze towards me. It was truly a fierce look befitting an absolute ruler. Although it was for the sake of dignity, his threatening gaze was almost excessive.

He solemnly advised in a low voice.

“My daughter is truly innocent.”

“…Yes?”

“Do not forget that and behave accordingly.”

“Um… understood.”

Although I did not understand the content of his words, I simply agreed for the time being.

It was difficult to agree to the false proposition that Serin was innocent, and the words that seemed to cherish her being mistreated in the palace were also incomprehensible.

Perhaps the truly innocent one was not the emperor. I harbored a disrespectful thought.

The audience with the emperor ended in that manner.

There shouldn’t be any problems. The time when I was being courted was very recent in my memory.

However, there was a problem. And it was a problem much larger than imagined.

In the mansion purchased through the system – now named the residence of Viscount Eleanor, the cries of a young girl echoed.

“No! I don’t want to, I hate it, I hate it, I don’t want to go! I want to go too!”

It was Esutiel’s tantrum.

Esutiel, the tyrant who freely exercised the privileges of a young child. Roderick tried to calm her down.

“Little one, it’s not a trip, it’s a diplomatic mission. Just stop…”

“Roderick, death!”

“Ugh.”

“Why can’t I go? I want to go too! I’ll go in a cool way!”

“This is madness.”

Roderick grabbed the back of his neck in response to the questionable language he had learned somewhere. I, too, was perplexed by Esutiel’s outrageous language and closed my eyes tightly.

“Esutiel.”

“Uh.”

“If you go with me, you have to study by my side every day.”

“Ugh.”

“But I can’t watch over you when I’m not around, so I have no choice.”

“…”

“I’m just saying. I won’t be able to pay attention to what Esutiel does when I’m not there.”

Esutiel’s tantrum stopped abruptly. It seemed like a complex calculation was going on in her small head. It was worrying whether Esutiel’s wisdom would break through the threshold.

After the calculation was done, Esutiel extended her duck lips and firmly bit them.

“Have you made a decision?”

Nod.

“Madam Eleanor, our Esutiel.”

Swish!

Esutiel turned her back and walked away, muttering to herself. She would probably calm down after being stuck in the room for a few hours. Nevertheless, by the time of departure, she would come to bid me farewell with a cute smile.

On the other hand, Roderick seemed to be racking his brain.

“Anyway, who am I resembling with this bad temper?”

“Well…”

It would be reasonable to see him as Roderick since it’s not me.

“It will be solved soon.”

“I know, but he’s just a kid anyway.”

He was truly an optimistic bystander.

We might end up paying the price for our carelessness.

Esutiel’s insight was beyond what an adult would expect.

The event that made me realize this hit me like a bolt from the blue.

◇

The day we had been looking forward to had arrived.

The day I, as the ambassador of the Velonin Empire, would visit the Karnan Kingdom. And the rare day when I could enjoy a private date with Rahilt!

As soon as we left the palace, I called Rahilt into the carriage. There was no one who could object under the pretext of needing close protection.

The rumor that the defeated Ruslett Knight Commander had gone into seclusion quickly spread. And it was a rumor that he had been decisively defeated.

Since Ruslett did not bother to correct it, the rumor became a fact and took root in society.

“Why don’t you get in the carriage? Isn’t it inefficient to walk? What a joke! If you don’t like it, you should be stronger than Rahilt.”

That’s how the current situation was established. A happy situation where we could face each other alone in a spacious or narrow carriage!

I asked him, who seemed somewhat absent-minded.

“You know, Lian. What are you thinking?”

“I was thinking about Esutiel.”

“About Tiel?”

“Yes. I’m worried because we still don’t know where he is. Roderick will probably find him, but I can’t help but feel anxious.”

“Oh…”

Our kind Cupid seemed quite upset. She seemed like she would follow anything related to Rahilt…

I had fallen for Tiel’s cuteness, so I was worried about her well-being.

But I didn’t want to see Rahilt looking dejected. I hoped he would cheer up and smile a little.

I quietly shifted my seat next to Rahilt, and as his shoulder twitched, I gently nudged my hip against his. Like a prey cornered by a predator.

It was somehow cute, and I couldn’t help but savor it. I thought to myself, what if I really become a gold digger.

Swoosh.

The sound of a zipper being pulled. Rahilt had pulled away his hip, so I pushed mine in that direction.

I was relieved that I wasn’t wearing a dress. Being sent as an ambassador, I dressed up in conquest attire today. Thanks to that, the distance between us could be even closer.

“Lian.”

“… Yes, Serin.”

“Why are you avoiding me like that?”

“We’re close enough. Too close.”

“Ah, but aren’t we familiar with this kind of distance?”

“I… I don’t know what your standard for ‘familiar’ is…”

Oh, if you don’t know, then learn. I’ve been teaching you for so long.

Ignorance is not a sin, but if you know and don’t act, that’s a sin!

Well, if that’s the case, I should take the first step, right?

“I told you during the last attack, right? Lian is my person. But I’ve never had anyone I called my person until now.”

“Is that so…”

“So Lian is the only person for me. At this point, it seems like more than just a normal relationship, right?”

“It… it seems reasonable…”

“In other words, the distance doesn’t matter in a relationship like ours!”

“Oh, um, yeah…”

Look at this. I just pushed a little, but we’re already on the verge of crossing the line. It makes my stomach churn to think it’s this easy. Why are people so naive?

“I want to pinch you…”

“…Serin?”

“Oops, I let my guard down.”

“I didn’t hear anything…”

But since I’ve already brought it up, maybe I should ask for permission. Before Lian pretends not to hear, I took the initiative.

“Can I pinch you?”

“Uh, sure?”

“Just a little. Just a little.”

Lahilt hesitates. Although he’s holding back his answer, I can already guess what his conclusion will be. Lahilt, who once allowed me to touch his hair, would have a much lower threshold for approving slight contact.

Finally, Lahilt reluctantly nodded.

“If it’s gentle… I think it’s okay.”

Is it true that he asked for it to be gentle?

How can he pinpoint the point that triggers curiosity so well?

Is Lahilt a genius in male behavior?

‘Ah… So this is fate… Is this what marriage is.’

It drives people crazy, my husband.

So without hesitation, I gently pinched Lahilt’s back of the hand.

“Ouch.”

“Ha…”

Our groans mix together. It’s just a slight raising of the skin, but why does it feel so exciting? I’m afraid of crossing the line.

“Excuse me, Lian. How far can I pinch you?”

“What do you mean by how far…”

“Like the back of the hand. Or the forearm. Or the neck. Or the thigh.”

Or if it’s the thigh, how deep is the allowed range, I want to know everything.

While doing this, I gently pinched his forearm. Lahilt’s groans are too close to hear clearly. I might feel it with my ears.

“Uh…”

“Ha…”

“It’s difficult to say… If I can’t handle it, how about you stop me.”

“Ha ha…”

It seems Lahilt is not in his right mind. He must have lost his reasoning by being teased so much. If it were a rational Lahilt, he would have enjoyed it and refused.

Unfortunately, I was not a woman who would reject a prepared meal.

“Then it’s better for Lian to stop me.”

“Is there such a posture?”

“Why wouldn’t there be?”

I slowly got up and sat on Lahilt’s lap. My legs stretched out on the long chair, and my back leaned against the side of the carriage.

It was a posture like a princess being carried.

My shoulders comfortably rested against Lahilt’s chest. Literally, my nose was next to Lahilt’s side. The sensation of body heat mixing was thrilling.

The touch of his firm thigh was uncomfortable, but it actually aroused excitement.

“Ugh.”

“Serin… Huh.”

“Lian… You seem to want to pinch me harder because I’m making strange noises.”

“It’s… difficult for me to understand what Serin is trying to do.”

“It’s okay. Let’s take it slow and figure it out, together.”

We have plenty of time.

Let’s take our time and have our own moments while working on the lines.

“Lian, how do you feel about this?”

“…”

Lahilt, whose collarbone to ear was all blushing, buried his head in my chest as if in despair.

“Wow…”

I almost screamed at his unexpected action. It seemed impossible to control my desire without screaming. But I managed to hold back and embraced Lahilt.

‘This is… not maternal love…’

It was just sexual desire.

So, about the question of how I feel.

Lahilt whispered his answer.

“I don’t know…”

And so, Lahilt broke his promise with Roderick to seal his answer of not knowing.

For a while, a warm fever engulfed me.

It was an afternoon where it felt like my heart would stop.