Chapter 213
Chapter 213
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: crow
Chapter Title: The Queen's Circumstances (1)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
With the Emperor's permission, I left his bedchamber.
Afterward, I strolled alone down the peaceful corridors of the Heavenly Palace.
"Feels so much lighter already—."
Under the cracked sky, everyone was in a festive mood.
The Black Knights, who had a poor reputation, were finally under investigation, and a new guardian of the Empire had been born.
With the threats to the nation diminished, the expressions of those close to the Imperial Palace had brightened.
But not everyone was simply happy.
Lyn, the Black Knight Captain guarding the entrance to Rozanna's detached palace.
Her face looked incredibly dark, perhaps due to the shadows.
'Did she get chewed out by the Crown Prince for losing to me...?'
Not only had I broken through her secret technique, but I'd even split the sky.
Her pride must have taken a huge hit.
"Ahem."
I cleared my throat loudly, as if making my presence known.
Sensing me, she slowly approached.
"Sir Veil."
Her expression brightened as she emerged from the shadows.
But up close, it went beyond bright—she seemed a bit anxious.
"About that medicine you gave me.... Where on earth did you get it?"
"It must have worked well, right—?"
I placed my hands on my hips and spoke proudly.
'A werewolf remedy, no less—from a full century-old chieftain. Of course it works.'
I leisurely awaited her praise.
However, the captain's expression unexpectedly looked troubled.
"Yes.... It definitely worked. It cured a rare disease that even Princess Rozanna's spells couldn't heal."
"But there was some problem?"
She looked both joyful and distraught.
She fidgeted with one of her military boots, as if anxious.
"Hey, my little brother's face after taking the medicine...."
Back at the sparring grounds, she had the dignified air of a captain.
But now, she just seemed like a flustered, pretty woman at a loss.
"What on earth happened?"
I asked the black-haired knight with a nasally tone.
Lyn squeezed her eyes shut and shouted.
"A mustache! A mustache grew!"
Mustache.
At the word, my eyebrows furrowed involuntarily.
"A mustache...?"
"Yeah!! My brother's only just ten, and he grew a sleazy mustache like some old uncle!"
Lyn pressed her finger to her soft lips as she pleaded.
The sight was so cute that my mouth twitched.
"Aw, come on. Sounds like puberty hit a little early—."
I waved it off with a nonchalant voice.
Then, Lyn pinched a lock of her long hair, twisting it into animal ear shapes.
"And even animal ears like this...?"
Her face looked the most wronged in the world.
Her single visible eye, covered by bandages on one side, widened roundly.
'I didn't know about that?'
Does it awaken some beastly side effect?
"Animal ears grew...?"
"Yeah. His eyes even turned wolf-like with strange pupils, so I hurriedly knocked him out!"
I swallowed hard at the bizarre effect, more extreme than I'd imagined.
"So, what did you do...?"
"Fortunately, he returned to normal after thirty minutes.... His vigorous energy settled down too."
At least that was a relief.
It only lasted for a specific time.
"Since the illness vanished completely afterward, it seems the medicinal effect is permanent."
"I took it without thinking, so I had no idea about those side effects. Sorry...."
I scratched the back of my head and apologized politely.
Lyn clenched her fists and asked.
"So you.... Gave me medicine without knowing its effects?"
"I just heard it was incredibly good for the body...."
The captain looked up at me with an aggrieved expression.
Then, she lightly tapped my shoulder with her clenched fists, thump thump thump.
"Ow—! That hurts!"
Fortunately, she controlled her strength.
It wasn't as painful as the blow that sent me flying in our spar.
"But it did cure him completely—. I heard it was a panacea, so it should be fine."
As I pleaded urgently, the captain stopped her punches.
She let out a deep sigh and nodded in agreement.
"Yeah.... It's medicine, so I'll trust that for now."
Her expression softened as she calmed down.
Only then did she ask the purpose of my visit.
"So, what brings you to Princess Rozanna's palace?"
Behind her loomed the grand doors to the bedroom.
"I figured you wouldn't set foot in our camp."
"Nothing to dislike about it. The Black Knights are full members of our Empire, aren't they?"
I waved friendly, telling her not to be on guard.
Lyn smirked, thinking I had that much grace.
"Right. Now that I'm back in the capital, there won't be any incidents with black mana being misused recklessly."
I stared straight into her trustworthy black pupils.
Determined to repay her steadfast knightly honor with honesty.
"I've come to see Princess Rozanna for a moment."
"The First Imperial Consort...?"
"Yes, I have urgent business to discuss."
I spoke with my hands behind my back, an utterly harmless expression.
"Hmm.... She's currently taking a 'nap'...."
"Can't you wake her for a moment?"
When I asked, Lyn—who had served her for quite some time—nodded matter-of-factly.
"Yes, she strictly ordered that no one enter while she's sleeping."
"Is there a reason?"
Lyn hesitated for a moment.
As if even she found the reason odd.
"According to her, a curse like thing afflicts her while she sleeps. So she said anyone who enters carelessly might die."
Curse.
I couldn't help but chuckle at the word.
"What kind of fairy tale is that?"
"I don't know the details either. I just follow my lord's orders."
The Black Knight Captain shook her head helplessly.
She indeed had stronger loyalty than curiosity.
"I have no choice. I came on His Majesty's orders. I must carry out my superior's command."
I cited the Emperor's permission.
The Black Knight Captain accepted it calmly.
"I understand. But be careful when you enter."
Lyn stepped aside, hands still behind her back.
Before letting me in, she left a meaningful warning.
"The First Imperial Consort isn't one to joke around idly."
I pushed the door open with all my might.
Then, I nodded to Lyn, assuring her I'd keep it in mind.
――――――.
As I entered, Lyn closed the great doors.
Thanks to that, I was left alone in the subtly dim lighting.
'It's pretty dark in the bedroom since she's sleeping.'
The First Imperial Consort's bedroom was as vast as the Emperor's.
I could see her bed ahead, but it would take at least fifty steps to reach it.
Moreover, platinum lace curtains draped everywhere I advanced.
Passing through them felt like entering another world each time.
'A strange floral scent too....'
My nose twitched like a small animal's.
Fortunately, the fragrance seemed non-poisonous.
I pushed through the humid atmosphere toward the center of the bedroom.
Soon....
I finally arrived before Rozanna's vast bed.
"...."
The Empire's First Imperial Consort slept defenselessly atop the snowy-white bed.
Not covered by blankets, she wore silk pajamas like Lea.
'Mother and daughter do resemble each other.... Even their nightwear.'
Despite the loose design, the curves of her beautiful figure stood out.
Like a symbol of abundance from mythology.
She seemed just an ordinary woman like this.
Yet in reality, she was the great witch even her homeland feared. An odd feeling washed over me.
"Your Highness...."
Before waking her, I took a deep breath.
Then, as I slowly approached and reached out—
"...?"
A chilling killing intent prickled from both my sides.
"Hng...!!"
Instinctively, I jerked my neck back.
Two black longswords shot out from left and right, clashing against each other.
Kaaang―――!!
「More competition, huh.」
「Yeah, troublesome.」
Awkward Imperial tongue accents.
Men in unusual armor that screamed foreigner appeared before me.
'Epina's knights...? Rozanna's secret guards, perhaps?'
I eyed their sleek helmets.
But soon, something felt off.
No clanking of iron boots as they approached.
Like ghosts.
「Which prince's knight are you? Haven't seen your face in the palace.」
One pointed his longsword at me.
'Royalty...?'
「We decided to kill the princess first. So the latecomer should back off.」
「Then I'm ahead of you. I got here first.」
Knights aiming to kill the sleeping Rozanna first, with me right there.
I swallowed hard at their sight.
'What the hell is this...? Is this the curse she mentioned—these ghosts?'
While they bickered, I drew Irina's treasured sword.
And assessed the situation.
「Ha, ridiculous. Planning to monopolize Lordri His Majesty's grace?」
Lordri.
He was Epina's deceased king.
That meant the king intended to kill his own daughter.
Indeed, these before me were ghosts of the dead.
「Fine. No choice but to settle it with skill.」
「Before Prince Robin's guards arrive.」
The two spread out in a triangle formation, facing off.
They saw me as an Epina royal assassin too.
――――――!!
Quick and decisive.
As skilled assassins, they struck first.
Their longswords targeted me simultaneously.
Chaeaeang!!
I gripped the sword hilt firmly with both hands.
And steadfastly withstood the two blades pressing down on mine.
「So that's why you didn't even wear a mask.」
「Let's end it quick.」
They hadn't worn helmets either, wary of me, the infiltrator.
They wielded flashy Epina-style swordsmanship, aiming for neck and side.
But.
Their attacks were laughable compared to Liam and Gilbert.
'Much slower.'
I twisted my body, lightly dodging the sword at my neck.
'Pathetically light.'
As I evaded, I slashed down, deflecting the side attack too.
「Urgh...!!」
As my sword struck down, even the heavy-armored one tilted downward.
Seizing the gap, I smashed my elbow into his helmet.
Kaaang!!
「Kuhak...!!」
The one with his head shaken madly staggered.
Leaving the last foe, sword raised high in the air.
「I'll split you in half!!」
Strength his specialty, he swung his longsword with full force.
Then, I grabbed the neck of the helmet-struck one.
Soon.
I hurled him into the descending trajectory instead.
Kwaang―――!!
「Kuh....」
One heavy helmet split cleanly.
Allowing me to see what was inside.
――――.
Black dust filled it.
Split in half, he scattered like sand into the air.
「You bastard...!」
The ironclad knight, pride wounded, swung repeatedly.
But alone, he was nothing.
I matched the diagonal swing's path with my sword.
Then, skillfully pressed, rendering him unable to swing further.
Kikigik―――!!
「Wh-what power...!」
His pride in strength failed as our locked swords twisted his hilt backward.
Then, I lightly twisted my wrist, flinging the pressed sword.
「Kuhak!!」
Irina's treasured sword pierced precisely between the iron plates.
Black sand spurted like blood from the gaps.
「....」
Soon, he too crumbled to a handful of ashes and vanished.
"So this is the true nature of the curse."
At first, I thought it was just Rozanna's security magic trap.
But assassin ghosts trying to kill her every night....
The curse the Imperial Consort mentioned wasn't one she cast—it was one afflicting her.
"Could other relatives be...?"
"Correct."
As I muttered alone.
An elegant, ethereal voice came from the bed.
"You managed to cut them down well, Mikhail."
Turning, I saw Rozanna in her pajamas.
Her golden locks somewhat disheveled.
Dull blue eyes gleamed within.
"Yes, now you won't be assassinated by ghosts while sleeping."
I dusted off my palms casually.
As if I'd just finished light cleaning.
"Cute. Think slaying ghosts banishes them?"
"Then... they're not truly dead...?"
When I asked back, Rozanna pulled her silk pajamas to cover her ample thighs.
"Right, they come every night. Probably until I die."
The Empire's First Imperial Consort gazed leisurely at my stunned expression.
"Those sly eyes can go wide too, huh?"
Rozanna tugged at her long, slanted eyes with her fingers.
Like a playful girl.
"Not in the mood for jokes."
I replied to her with serious eyes.
She covered her lips with the back of her hand and chuckled.
"Hehe.... Worry not, I have safety measures too."
The First Imperial Consort snapped her fingers lightly.
A blue barrier around her body shimmered.
"I've suffered under family curses since childhood. So I developed such defensive magic."
She demonstrated by flicking mana at the barrier.
It bounced to the opposite side.
Likely, the assassin ghosts swinging at her were auto-repelled nightly.
"Well.... When sleeping with Leonhardt, he personally banishes them every time, so no issue."
The Imperial Consort fetched a formal jacket from the hanger, as if to hide her curves showing through the pajamas.
And draped it softly over herself.
"Anyway, what brings you here?"
Rozanna crossed her legs with graceful poise.
Then, observed my form with leisurely eyes.
"Not here for the bed out of sleepiness, I assume."
She tossed the joke casually.
I smirked and replied.
"The time has come to fulfill your promise."
"Talking with Leonhardt?"
With hands behind my back, I leisurely surveyed the bedchamber.
Unlike her fame as a great witch, no bizarre stuffed animals or lab tables.
"Yes. His Majesty agreed too, so meet at the party today."
"...."
Rozanna pursed her soft lips, unenthused.
Her lip mole scrunched in a sulky expression.
"I'll wait outside while you change."
The Imperial Consort fiddled with the jacket.
She looked like a girl poking at unwanted broccoli.
"No, wait there."
'Huh...?'
I'd frozen while turned, admiring her bedroom.
'Is she going to change right in front of me...?'
Sounds of her rising from the bed came from behind.
Followed by soft silk pajamas dropping to the floor.
"Clothes won't take long to change into."
Rozanna's deep sigh reached my ears.
So Lea's boldness was inherited from her....
Scolding me for daring to enter her bedchamber, she changed with me right there.
"You're stiff as a board. Finally acting like a guard knight—."
Teasing my rigid form, the Imperial Consort changed noisily.
But I wasn't just taking it.
Couldn't turn, but my mouth could still tease.
"The First Imperial Consort is consistent as ever."
"Consistent how?"
Sounds of her ample chest straining against the dress.
She let out a shallow groan, tightening the hooks.
"You're under such a curse yourself, yet you cast curses on your daughter every night. Truly vicious."
No sound came from behind at my flat condemnation.
Lost for words, huh.
"Hmm—. You mean the 'curses' planted around Lea's bedchamber?"
"Yes, I destroyed them all personally, so no excuses."
I held my head high, countering.
Then....
"Those weren't curses."
Her hot breath tickled my ear suddenly.
"...!"
I whipped around.
Before my eyes filled a soft, bountiful expanse of flesh.
A beautiful necklace nestled in that valley.
Down to the single black mole.
"The things planted in Lea's bedchamber weren't curses—they were a kind of ritual."
The Empire's First Imperial Consort placed her finger on my left chest like a knock.
And rubbed lightly.
"To awaken the dormant power...."
Now in a black dress, Rozanna faced me.
As if by magic, she'd changed into party attire in an instant.
"A ritual, you say?"