Night of Chaos (5)
Night of Chaos (5)
"Idelon. For the sake of your safety, I believe we should share a room from now on."
"... Pardon?"
What did I just hear?
Share a room?
Combining rooms?
She probably doesn't mean physically merging the rooms, so is she telling me to come into her quarters to sleep and wash up?
'Uh... yes?'
My brain finally short-circuited, and I froze, unable to give any answer.
However, Belletria continued speaking despite seeing me like that.
"As you said, if we investigate those bugs, we should be able to catch a tail regarding the attackers."
"I-is that so? But what does that have to do with sharing a room...?"
"Isn't it simple?"
For some reason, Belletria's red eyes seemed to sparkle more than usual.
"Right now, on the Ahtera Continent, Idelon Halden Rehentra is the biggest topic of interest for every kingdom."
"I-is that so?"
It's certainly a juicy piece of gossip that everyone would be interested in: the Emperor, currently waging a war for continental unification, suddenly getting a husband, and that husband being a prince from some minor kingdom.
But what does that have to do with sharing a room....
"Ah, don't tell me...?"
"Yes, that's right."
Only then could I understand what she wanted to say and why she suggested sharing a room.
Once the Archesium Empire achieves continental unification, it will inevitably bring all kingdoms under the Empire's feet or destroy them.
But what king or noble of any kingdom would want to obediently accept defeat and bow their heads?
That's why they must have been making countless preparations for the war.
Out of nowhere, a prince not only rose in status to the brink of becoming the Imperial Consort, but even seized the position of Commander-in-Chief.
From their perspective, it was obvious they would be quite wary of me, the new variable, which meant the probability of assassins coming for me in the future was quite high.
Of course, now that I've been attacked once, the Imperial Palace will deploy even stronger barriers.
Solid enough that no intruder will ever be able to enter again.
However, human affairs are complex enough that you can't even see an inch ahead, which is why Belletria wants to share a room so she can always protect me.
'But... if I go all the way into the Emperor's quarters and share a room... putting aside the rumors spreading across the entire continent, I wonder how shocked Ersil will be.'
The face of Ersil, who must be remaining in Ignesia, flashed through my mind.
I haven't even been able to send word... before properly ending our relationship.
I couldn't even imagine how hurt she would be if she heard the ominous rumor that I was sharing a bed with the Tyrant Emperor.
'However.......'
If I get my throat slit by an assassin's blade here, even the chance to meet Ersil again will vanish forever.
When my life is hanging in the balance right now, do rumors even matter?
I had to survive first to hope for a future.
After a short deliberation, I nodded slightly.
"If that is truly Your Majesty's will... I will comply."
As soon as my answer fell, a very slight smile spread across Belletria's face, which had been expressionless.
It was just a fleeting moment, but it was definitely a satisfied smile.
She finally gently wiped away the dried bloodstain near my collarbone with her thumb.
"A wise decision."
Having finished the treatment, she wrapped her hand around my wrist again.
Since I needed to pack at least the essentials from my trashed room, we walked side by side and headed back to my quarters.
My room was still a mess, with the night wind blowing in through the shattered window.
Amidst the arrowheads rolling on the carpet and the fragments of broken furniture, several knights were busy moving around, cleaning up the scene.
And in the middle of it all, I saw a familiar figure standing there, commanding the knights with an indifferent expression.
It was Ruamel.
I, who had been sweating buckets and hovering between life and death just a moment ago, felt a wave of relief burst out the moment I saw her, my lifesaver.
Forgetting who was by my side, I strode toward Ruamel in my delight.
"Ruamel! Are you hurt anywhere? Thank you so much for earlier. If it weren't for you, I would have truly been hacked to pieces by those guys' blades."
Ruamel widened her eyes at my sudden fuss, then, discovering something, quietly stepped back.
But my loose lips, once started, didn't know how to stop.
"As expected of the Empire's greatest talent. The position of Special Forces Battalion Commander isn't just for anyone. I think I should just keep you by my side as my personal bodyguard for life."
"Um...."
"If you're good at maid work and perfect as a bodyguard...."
It was the moment I was about to pour out more praise and perhaps pat Ruamel on the shoulder.
She, who would usually answer dryly, clearly avoided my gaze and cleared her throat.
"Ahem. Your Highness...."
Her gaze wasn't directed at me.
To be precise, it hovered in the air over my shoulder before she subtly raised a finger to point behind me.
'...?'
Only then did I feel a presence behind my back that was incomparable to before.
'... Ah, right. I didn't come alone.'
Realizing the situation belatedly, I stiffly turned my head.
There, the languid and soft atmosphere she had shown in the infirmary was nowhere to be found.
Belletria was standing there with a coldly frozen expression.
A dark shadow was cast over her face.
I even had the illusion that the air in the room had instantly dropped by several degrees.
Even the knights who had been moving diligently froze, holding their breath as they sensed the Emperor's mood.
And as our eyes met, Belletria slowly parted her lips.
"Why didn't you do a little more, my fiancé."
A voice with a tone not much different from usual.
However, the sharp thorns contained within it felt like they were piercing my skin.
"Th-that is... actually, this is...."
"I believe I clearly told you before."
She took a step toward me.
"That I am not a woman who is as immune to jealousy as you think."
'Ah... this damn mouth of mine.'
I tried to ignore the cold sweat running down my spine and put on the most good-natured smile I could.
I parted my lips to try and make an excuse, but my throat was choked up, and no voice came out.
Belletria didn't wait for my answer anymore.
Her white hand grabbed my wrist with a grip strength incomparable to before.
"Follow me."
"Th-that... Your Majesty? I, I need to pack my luggage...."
"Unnecessary. Everything is already provided in my quarters."
"A-alright."
Seriously, Idelon, you idiot, you moron.
Even if you're happy to have survived, really? Doing something this crazy, and right in front of the Emperor?
This time, I wouldn't have anything to say even if I got beaten up or had my head chopped off for being insolent.
Therefore, I didn't resist even a little and left the room, led by Belletria's hand.
Ruamel just waved at me with a pitiful expression.
The Emperor's bedchamber was so huge and luxurious that it couldn't even be compared to the room I had been staying in.
But a nice view is a nice view, and as I entered the middle of the room, I still couldn't lower my guard.
Because Belletria was still standing behind me, not saying a word, to the point of suffocation.
I had to break this heavy silence somehow.
"Wow... as expected, Your Majesty's bedchamber is on a different level."
I needlessly spread my arms exaggeratedly and let out an exclamation toward the large chandelier on the ceiling.
"Look at that intricate decoration. Just looking at it, the Emperor's dignity seems to drip from it. Plus, this carpet is so soft, the Empire's best craftsman must have stitched it one by one...."
However, no matter how much I rambled, no answer other than footsteps came from behind me.
Overcome with embarrassment, I glanced sideways and smacked my lips.
'Should I just bow my head and apologize?'
"Um, Your Majesty? So, about what happened earlier, I...."
Thinking I should beg for forgiveness before it was too late, I carefully turned around and froze like a stone on the spot.
"......."
Belletria, as if my rambling was of no concern to her from the start.
Was unbuttoning her uniform one by one with a very natural and calm face.
Her outer garment had already dropped to the floor, and her white shirt slipped down below her shoulders, revealing smooth curves and fair skin without reservation.
"Uh... Y-Your Majesty? Wh-what are you doing right now...."
I stammered, nearly biting my tongue in shock.
My eyes wandered here and there in the air, not knowing where to look.
At my chaotic reaction, Belletria tilted her head slightly with her shirt half-slipped off.
"Why are you making such a fuss? Aren't we going to be married soon anyway? This much shouldn't be anything."
She indifferently took off the remaining clothes and stared straight at me.
"More than that, unlike the bold appearance you usually show before me, you are unexpectedly a shy man."
"No... I mean...."
My mind went blank.
I had never once imagined such a blatant and direct situation in my life.
Besides, the person in front of me wasn't just an ordinary woman, but the Emperor of the Archesium Empire.
In the midst of that, her gaze, which had been watching me stiffly frozen in embarrassment.
Slowly slid down from my face, down my neck, and further down.
"......."
A strange smile spread across her lips as her gaze stopped at my lower body.
"Well, you seem quite faithful to your instincts, though...."
She muttered in a somewhat satisfied voice and turned her body abruptly.
"I don't think I'll have to worry much after the marriage."
With that, Belletria neatly threw off even her undergarments,
And walked into the bathroom, where the sound of water could be heard, showing her smooth back.
Click.
The sound of the bathroom door closing was heard.
I stood blankly, blinking at the air like someone who had just been hit on the head.
'What... did I just see?'
It was only for a moment that my thought circuits paused at the surreal sight.
I remembered the last words she uttered just a moment ago and where her gaze had been directed.
I slowly lowered my head and looked down at my lower half.
"Crazy...."
The blood of a healthy 20-year-old man was very honestly and instinctively showing off its presence.
"Ah... seriously."
My face turning red as if it would burst, I hurriedly covered the front with both hands and flopped down onto the soft carpet.
A terrible sense of shame was washing over me, enough to make me want to break the window and jump out right now.