Resignation Letter (1)
The morning sun poured its gentle light into the imperial palace. Outside the Emperor’s bedchamber, two maids stood facing each other.
“You remember the rules of conduct, don’t you?” Betty asked, her expression tense.
Serilda nodded. “Yes, Miss Betty.”
“No matter what happens, you must not smile. You must not find anything cute. Remember, we are perfect subordinates.”
“Yes.”
This was, in a sense, their wedding night—though Sena wasn’t exactly a consort with his own palace. Still, as the one responsible for waking the pair after their union, Serilda had every right to enter.
“Then let’s go in.”
“Yes!”
The two maids opened the doors together. When the grand bedchamber swung wide, Betty and Serilda found themselves unsure where to look.
Clothes lay scattered across the floor. The bedsheets were in disarray. And on the bed itself were two figures locked in an embrace—gold and silver hair tangled together in an oddly harmonious way.
The problem was how indecent the scene appeared. They were both naked. Though covered by a blanket, that only made the imagination run wilder.
Yet Astria was awake. Betty noticed and approached carefully.
“Your Majesty. Did you sleep well?”
“Betty.”
“Yes.”
Astria gazed quietly at the sleeping Sena in her arms. “Remove this furball.”
“That seems difficult.”
Betty looked troubled. No matter the circumstances, she could not lay hands on the Emperor’s body. The same applied to her consort.
“Then the Empire will have to pause for a while.”
Astria could not move a single finger. Physically, peeling Sena off would be simple—he was weak and light. A mere breath might roll him aside. But she could not bring herself to do it. The warmth of his body felt too precious to lose. At the very least, she did not want to be the one to end it. Astria despised regret above all else.
“That… would also be problematic. While enjoying a blissful private life with Lord Sena is certainly a blessing, Your Majesty must still rebuild an empire ravaged by rebellion.”
“I said remove this furball.”
“……Serilda. At the very least, you do it.”
“Leave it to me!”
Serilda rolled up her sleeves and smiled brightly. She approached Sena, fingers twitching with anticipation.
“Come now, Lord Sena. Her Majesty is in quite the predicament……”
“Wake up, personal physician.”
But it was Astria herself who woke him. Possessiveness, plain and simple. Her hand moved gently over Sena’s silver hair. He stirred.
“……Just a little longer.”
How dare he ask for more sleep after the Emperor personally woke him?
He must be exhausted from making a baby yesterday.
Astria, who genuinely believed babies simply appeared after such activities, decided to be generous. She rose from the bed and let Betty help her dress.
Just then, Sena spoke in a voice thick with sleep. “The medicine is at the far right end of my carrier……”
“Even now, you’re telling me to take medicine?”
“Please take it……”
Astria let out a faint sigh and opened Sena’s carrier. Inside, packed as if ready for departure, she found the medicine bottle and downed it in one go.
Tastes awful.
For someone who only liked sweet things, it was utterly repulsive.
“I took the medicine.”
“Well done……”
Sena remained half-asleep, but gave a thumbs-up.
“This much is nothing.”
Praised, Astria’s lips twitched upward in satisfaction—only for her expression to flatten instantly as she turned to Serilda.
“Maid.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“When the personal physician wakes, send him to my office.”
She had been about to add her usual threat—“or I’ll kill you”—but Sena’s constant reminder of “bad words are not allowed” echoed in her mind, so she swallowed the rest.
“Go.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Astria left with Betty.
“What is today’s schedule?”
“The most urgent matter is the knight order. Current loss rate stands at 98 percent. As you commanded, we have issued official notices to fill the ranks, but……”
Once Astria’s voice faded, Sena cracked his eyes open to check.
Is she gone?
As a morning person, Sena was not the type to oversleep. He had actually been awake for quite some time. The reason for this little performance was the incident at dawn. Unable to hold it back, he had coughed up blood. The evidence was still beneath him on the sheets.
This absolutely cannot be discovered.
Sena sat up, blanket wrapped around himself. Serilda was staring at him with sparkling eyes.
“Lord Sena! Congratulations on your consummation!!”
Serilda was positively thrilled. Her master’s joy was her joy as well.
“How was it?! As expected, Her Majesty is different in bed, isn’t she?”
Sena forced an awkward smile. “Could you bring me some clothes?”
“Of course!”
While fastening his buttons neatly, Sena glanced at Serilda. He was terrible at lying, but Serilda was a fool—so it should be fine.
“Serilda, I have a favor to ask.”
He subtly revealed the bloodstain hidden beneath the blanket.
“Could you dispose of this without anyone knowing? If word spreads, it might become dangerous.”
“Th-this is……”
Serilda’s eyes widened at the sight of the blood.
“Just how intense were you yesterday……”
It had to be virgin blood. If it wouldn’t go in, they should have taken it slow.
“L-Lord Sena. Even so, Her Majesty is a woman. You must be gentle with her at night.”
“No matter what, this is going too far……!”
Sena had always known Serilda’s imagination was excessive.
Still, I’m glad it worked out.
A sudden sense of déjà vu struck him. Was it really “glad”? Today had passed, at least. But tomorrow? And the day after?
How long can I keep this up?
Sena’s long silver hair drooped.
……There’s no time to be picky about methods.
That was why he had to leave this place as soon as possible. If he was caught, he instinctively knew there would be no turning back. But having already expressed his intent to flee once, it wouldn’t be easy. In times like this, the direct approach might actually work.
There’s no choice but to speak to Astria seriously.
Sena decided to submit a formal resignation letter.
**
“Your Majesty.”
Sena peeked through the half-open office door, his voice quieter than a passing mosquito. Yet Astria somehow heard him and gestured with her hand. After a moment’s hesitation, Sena stepped inside.
“Your Majesty. Why did you summon me to your office?”
“There is something important I must ask.”
“What is it?”
Sena stood before her, puzzled. Astria tilted her head toward the side.
“Not there. Stand beside me.”
“If you say so……”
Sena shuffled over to stand at her side. Astria turned her chair and extended her arm.
“Now, check whether I am with child.”
He did not burst out laughing—at least not outwardly. But if he had relaxed even slightly, he would have.
“Y-yes.”
Don’t let it show.
Pretending to take her pulse, Sena spoke. “You are not pregnant.”
“Examine me properly.”
Astria glared at him fiercely. “I do not feel the usual warmth.”
“……There is no need to go that far just to confirm pregnancy.”
Holding hands did not result in pregnancy, Your Majesty.
“I said do it now.”
Astria spoke petulantly, her lips slightly pursed—or perhaps that was just his imagination.
And above her head, the number was visible.
She took her medicine this morning, so it increased a little. That means she hasn’t been taking it all this time. She only takes it when I make her? This golden child, honestly.
He needed to check her condition. Sena closed his eyes and focused.
“Haa……”
A sigh escaped the moment he saw her status. Severe diabetes, for one. Muscle stiffness had returned as well—proof she had not been consistent with physical therapy. At this rate, she would lose the ability to move her legs again.
“Your Majesty. What did I tell you?”
Sena spoke through gritted teeth.
“……What.”
“Medicine, rehabilitation, massage. I told you to do them consistently.”
He had said it countless times. Seeing her disregard everything made him feel hurt.
“I did the rehabilitation.”
“You only used magic, didn’t you?”
“……You can even tell that?”
“Your Majesty, I told you to do it for at least thirty minutes every day.”
Astria frowned at the nagging Sena.
“When did I ever tell you to check that? Just confirm whether I am pregnant.”
“You are not pregnant. You do not need to worry about that.”
“Is that so……”
She looked dejected, staring down at her own stomach.
……Why was someone who thought babies appeared just from holding hands looking at her stomach like that?
“Ah.”
Then he noticed something else. Astria was sitting cross-legged.
“I have told you several times not to sit like that!”
Astria hurriedly covered her legs.
“Be quiet. This is the Emperor’s dignity. I cannot yield on this.”
“You even had dessert sometimes.”
“Who told you? Was it Betty?”
Astria grew slightly agitated. Who had leaked a national-level secret? At the same time, Sena’s insides burned black.
How am I supposed to leave when I’m this worried?
Astria was not suffering from a terminal illness. The real problem was the various complications brought on by Parkinson’s disease. If she dealt with them one by one without neglecting them, she could live for several more decades. That future was possible—as long as she kept her promises. But if Astria continued like this, everything would be for nothing.
“……In the end, you haven’t kept a single promise with me.”
Sena trembled, then spoke sadly while looking at the floor. Astria flinched and made excuses.
“I was busy. It has not even been a week since I suppressed the rebellion.”
“Is there anything in this world more important than your own body?”
“For an Emperor, there is.”
Astria cut him off firmly. Truly, her way of speaking left no room for argument. She probably had no intention of listening anyway. That was just the kind of person she was.
“……Everything else is fine, but please keep at least this one. It is not a difficult request.”
“I understand, so do not be angry.”
“Really?”
“Instead.”
Astria grabbed Sena’s arm and pulled him in. In an instant, he found himself in her embrace, eyes wide with surprise.
“Say you will never run away again. I will overlook your recent insolence with that.”
“……”
Sena’s pupils dilated at those words. Soon his eyes grew sorrowful, and his mouth remained tightly shut. No matter how much time passed, there was no sign of it opening.
“Worthless fool.”
That stubborn refusal was more than enough to offend Astria. She opened a document and spoke.
“Kneel in that corner with your hands raised. For the entire day.”
Sena hated Astria.