WTSP - 54

“That was really dangerous, Your Highness. I’m so glad you weren’t hurt... I was so worried that something might happen to you, really...”

“It’s alright, Lena. We returned safely like this.”

“But still...! I don’t understand why such an incident had to happen on the very day I accompanied Your Highness. Am I the one who brings bad luck?”

Even after returning safely to the Imperial Palace an hour later, Lena couldn’t hide her unease.

I gently stroked her lightly freckled cheek and shrugged.

“You’re talking nonsense, Lena. If that’s the case, then I’m the one who brings bad luck. Stop saying such strange things, you must have been surprised, so go and rest. I wonder if Sir Cloden is resting too.”

“He said he would report directly to His Majesty. I’m worried that he might get blamed for something... Ah, but I know His Majesty isn’t the kind of person to do that.”

Lena was blaming herself unnecessarily.

To divert her attention, I asked in a playful voice, “Lena, by the way... are you interested in Sir Cloden?”

“Pom?”

Pompo, who had been playing with a feather on my lap, perked up with an interested expression and sprang into the air with a ‘pong!’ Then, it went onto Lena’s blonde hair and rubbed its body against her.

Lena, as if asking what I meant, waved her hands hastily with a reddened face.

They say strong denial is affirmation. Lena was exactly that case.

“Oh my, oh my. That’s ridiculous. Me, interested in the knight?”

“Yeah. You couldn’t take your eyes off him, could you?”

“Oh no, that’s not it. I... I really didn’t look at the knight like that! I just hoped that the atmosphere between Your Highness and the knight wouldn’t be awkward... Well, actually... I did happen to see him briefly a few times before when passing by. But Sir Knight probably didn’t even know I existed. I was just looking at him on my own.”

Lena rambled on with excuses as if her thoughts weren’t organized. She even talked about things I hadn’t asked about, and eventually hung her head low.

She’s so obvious. I pulled Pompo, who had climbed onto the top of Lena’s head, down and sat on the edge of the bed.

“Sir Cloden seemed to have a secret crush on you too, though?”

“Yes? Sir Knight, really? Ah, no. I mean, he... did he?”

“I didn’t ask him directly, it’s just my guess. I have a good intuition for these things.”

Lena denied my guess but had a subtly expectant expression. Seeing her face more animated than a few minutes ago, I felt a faint sense of satisfaction.

‘It’s much better to see her like this than fidgeting and being anxious.’

Looking at such Lena, I felt more at ease and held Pompo, who was purring in my arms, with both hands. Its white face was reflected in its black, bean-like eyes.

“You worked hard today too, Pompo. But where did you suddenly appear from? You just popped out of thin air.”

“Pom... poo, pyo!”

“This? Are you talking about the necklace?”

Pompo pointed to the necklace I was wearing with the tip of its tail. I fiddled with the white pebble with my fingertips. Could this pebble be some kind of summoning medium?

‘If so, who was that old woman?’

No matter how much I thought about it, I couldn’t figure out her identity. However, I couldn’t deny that she possessed some kind of powerful force. She might be an unknown being beyond a simple human.

‘......And she’s definitely someone related to Pompo.’

I faced Pompo and asked again, “Pompo, do you know about the owner of this necklace?”

“Pom!”

“You mean you know? Tell me who that person is.”

“Poo, pyong, poooo, pff.”

Pompo chattered excitedly as if it was having fun, bouncing around in the air.

But there was no way I could understand all of its words. Communication at the level of affirmation and negation was possible, but interpreting anything beyond that was too much.

Pompo, who had been chattering for a long time, looked at me cutely as if asking if I understood. I shook my head with an apologetic face.

“Sorry. I don’t know who you’re talking about... I wonder if there are any books related to spirit language in the library?”

“Piyu...”

Pompo, shaking its fur listlessly, plopped onto the bed. It looked quite deflated.

Just then, someone knocked on the bedroom door. Lena, who had been petting Pompo, quickly got up to check who it was. I stroked my chin, deep in thought.

‘Should I try to find information? I have no idea where to even start digging.’

What broke my deep contemplation was Lena’s cautious touch. Lightly tapping my arm, she whispered in a small voice with wide, rabbit-like eyes, “Um, Your Highness. His Majesty the Emperor is outside right now... It seems Sir Cloden must have told him.”

“Already? It hasn’t even been thirty minutes since we parted.”

“That’s what I thought. Shall we escort him in?”

I had planned to change clothes and visit him later, but I didn’t expect him to come here first like this.

Soon, the door opened, and Serdel hurriedly entered the bedroom. In the hallway stood the knights who attended him and a few nobles.

I greeted him with a questioning look.

“Your Majesty, I was planning to greet you shortly... What brings you here?”

“I heard you were caught in an accident. Are you alright, Empress?”

Serdel, breathing heavily as if he had rushed over, gently gripped my shoulder with a stern expression.

He, who was always unwavering, wore a worried look unlike his usual self. Moreover, he was breathing roughly as if he had run here in a hurry.

It was the first time I had seen him like this since the hunting festival.

“Ah... yes, I’m alright.”

I was slightly surprised, but I nodded calmly.

Then, he let out a deep sigh and ran his hand through his hair. The sight of him narrowing his brow and composing his emotions was unfamiliar, and at the same time, my heart beat gently.

“I’m relieved you’re alright. Are you hurt anywhere?”

“No, Sir Cloden protected me well. Lena is fine too... Oh, and don’t worry about the snow falling in the plaza, Pompo used its power.”

“I heard about that too. ...But that monster?”

“It’s not a monster, it’s a low-ranking spirit of snow, Your Majesty!”

I whispered so quietly that others couldn’t hear.

Pompo seemed displeased, having heard our conversation. It was tapping its tail vigorously on the pillow, expressing its dissatisfaction with Serdel.

When would these two ever get along? I had a feeling their relationship was like water and oil.

“Pompo, be good. Stay still.”

“Prrrr...”

“Considering the day you turned into an ice hedgehog before, I suppose it’s possible.”

Serdel turned his gaze away from Pompo, understanding. It seemed the memory of being attacked by snowflakes after angering Pompo was imprinted in his mind.

I tilted my head slightly to the side and looked at those waiting in the hallway.

They looked anxious and uneasy, as if they were in a hurry. It seemed they had stopped by the Empress’s palace while on their way to an important schedule.

“Your Majesty, shouldn’t you be going now? Everyone is waiting...”

“I was on my way to attend the regular meeting. Cloden informed me that you were alright, but I had to see it with my own eyes. Now that I’ve seen you’re safe, that’s enough. I’ll send a physician if you need one.”

“Oh, no need at all. Please go now, Your Majesty, before you make people wait any longer. They’re all prickly and impatient, you know.”

I chuckled lightly and shrugged.

Perhaps because he had been on a suffocatingly busy schedule lately, Serdel looked quite tired. It was understandable. I wondered if he had been getting proper sleep for a while.

He nodded, pressing his fingertips gently to the corners of his eyes.

“Alright. I’ll contact you again tomorrow. Get some rest, Empress.”

He bid me farewell with a reluctant expression.

“Your Majesty...”

However, Serdel didn’t leave immediately. He just kept looking at me for a long time, as if he had something to say.

In the end, I couldn’t help but gently push his back. For some reason, I didn’t want to let Serdel go, but there were too many people waiting for him.

“I’ll be back soon.”

“I’ll be waiting.”

I smiled brightly and waved my hand carefully.

As dozens of people bustled out, the hallway became much quieter.

Lena, who had been peeking at Serdel and me from outside the bedroom, raised the corners of her mouth. Her face was full of mischief.

“His Majesty is really kind. He seems to care about Your Highness a lot.”

“Serdel is a good person... I didn’t expect him to be this concerned.”

“I don’t think it’s time to be concerned about Sir Cloden and me, is it? I’m more curious about the relationship between Your Highness and His Majesty.”

“Oh, Lena, you too.”

I waved my hand lightly as if she was saying nonsense. Lena was grinning, looking very pleased about something.

“I’m so happy because His Majesty seems to cherish Your Highness so much. He’s usually so cold, but he becomes gentle in front of Your Highness.”

“...Do you think so?”

“Of course. Your Highness’s atmosphere also changes when you stand before His Majesty, doesn’t it? You become much more... spring-like, should I say.”

“No. It’s true that His Majesty is good, but it’s probably not that kind of feeling.”

I felt a strange sensation. It was because I couldn’t flatly deny Lena’s words.

I still found it difficult to define what kind of emotion I felt whenever I saw Serdel. But I was certain it was a kind close to affection.

‘Still, it feels good. ...I felt that he was worried about me.’

I sat on the edge of the bed and hugged Pompo. Pompo was still sulking, seemingly not liking Serdel’s visit.

It was cute. Rubbing my cheek against its fluffy fur made me feel like I could fly away. The accident from two hours ago felt like something from a long time ago.

“Lena, could you prepare a bath for me? With scented candles.”

“I’ll prepare lavender for you today. We got a new batch, and it smells really lovely.”

Just thinking about it made my whole body feel relaxed. It was peaceful. I was happy. I kept stroking Pompo and waited for the bathwater to be ready.

Completely unaware of what would befall me a few hours later.