The Princess’ Bedroom Doll

Shed cut a piece of fruit and brought it to Raha’s mouth.
Raha glanced sideways at Shed and said,

 

 “I can do it.”

 

If she didn’t eat it, he would continue feeding her.
Lifting her fork, Raha selected some of the fruit and ate it, then drank some tea.

 

Is he satisfied?

 

She tapped the back of Shed’s hand with that meaning.
Before Raha removed her hand, Shed’s fingers laced hers and held it tight.
Raha was inwardly bewildered.

 

Holding hands….

 

Hands may be held between engaged couples.
It was not against the rules of society to do so.
There were few glances and giggles.
That much was fine among the great nobility.

 

In fact, if not because of Karzen, Raha always just behaved gracefully in public.
She never did anything that would draw people’s attention, except when Karzen was about to do something to her.

 

Since the rumor of having slaves was true, she could not shake it off, so she only stood there and was so elegant that you could not believe your eyes.
Because she knew that otherwise she would not be free from all kinds of insinuations.

Raha was hyperawared of their clasped hands, even though her eyes were fixed on the orchestra.

 

“Shed.”

 

A soft melody echoed in her ears.

 

“What do you like?”

 

This was almost the first time Raha had asked, genuinely wanting to know if others liked something.
Wasn’t it time to know the preferences of her fiancé and prepare a personal gift? She could remember hundreds of such information, but now was different from then.

 

This man….
She really wondered about this man, whose hands were so hard and hot every time he made her feel crazy.

 

Shed averted his gaze a moment later when he heard Raha’s question.
It was a leisurely action, like a musician playing a large, elegant instrument.
He was also so self-assured that he belonged to one of the wealthiest and richest kingdoms of the monarchy….

 

“You know the answer, Raha.”

 

Raha didn’t immediately understand what Shed meant, but after a few moments, she understood.

 

 “I’ll tell you all day long if you want to hear it.
But Raha…”

 

A short answer slowly melted into Raha’s heart.

 

“You don’t like hearing things like that.”

 

“…….”

 

If only Raha would not try to avoid him.
It wasn’t even difficult to talk about the feelings he had held so long that he was tired of it.
He could whisper them to her as much as she wanted.
He didn’t have to dare speak of the sacred power that High Priest Amar had covered his face with until he vomited blood.

 

Raha feared Shed’s feelings.
She could not accept them correctly and kept avoiding them.
She sometimes looked like a child trying to avoid them in the face of irrevocable choices.
This was to avoid breaking the floor that Raha had stepped onto.
No, at least for the sake of the only small peace she held, Shed willingly kept quiet.

 

Just sometimes.

 

It was not the impulse that swelled in this smiling face, in this innocent voice that stabbed at his heart, but something that had always afflicted Shed.

 

Each time he faced the innocent face, Shed suffered from the eagerness to grab hold of all of Raha and speak firmly.
Perhaps it had been circling down his throat ever since that day when he first met the Princess again.

 

“I have never loved anything but you, Raha.”

 

Because that one heart was all he had, without any qualifiers.

 

* * *

 

“Did you see it that day? The king’s brother and the princess were very close.”

 

“I saw it.
I thought I was mistaken.”

 

“Um…… hmm.”

 

“……?”

 

“I was just in the back seat and I saw it….
….
The King’s brother held the Princess’s hand……He didn’t let go until the end.”

 

The ears of the nobles perked up at the whisper of a certain marquis.
Political marriage was common everywhere.
But every once in a while, there was a couple who was particularly close and appeared to be in love, was the talk of the town.

 

The nobles of the empire were very deeply interested in the fact that its protagonist was Raha del Harsa.
They hoped the Princess would make her appearance once more in society before leaving for the distant kingdom, and they would be glad to have a national wedding in Delo. 

 

However the emperor’s national wedding was just a month away.
Would the Princess’s wedding take place at the same time?

 

Such words took root in social circles as a form of greeting.
Periodic meetings of the national government were held at the main palace, and the nobles cast interesting glances upward. 

 

The Duke of Esther had left the place vacant for some time while he went to greet the wise men, and a Count, the Duke’s representative, sat in his place.

 

“Count Alonster.
Why did you take the seat today?”

 

The meeting had just begun.

 

When asked by Karzen, who sat on the highest throne, the Count rose to speak politely.

 

“Your Majesty.
Last night, I received a call from Duke Esther, saying he had found the wise men.”

 

* * *

 

“Oliver.”

 

Raha looked down at Oliver, who had come to examine her seriously today.

 

“Your Master will arrive soon.”

 

“Your Highness.”

 

Oliver said in a puzzled voice.

 

“With all due respect, I am no longer the Master’s apprentice.
I have chosen the path of medicine, and the relationship between master and disciple that I have formed with him will end as beautifully as the last encyclopedia in late autumn ….”

 

“Don’t you need to prepare a present? I can have my attendants to help you.
I have the means..”

 

“Your Imperial Highness! I appreciate it, but I really don’t need it….!”

 

Oliver refused, looking lost.
Raha chuckled.
Oliver’s chestnut-brown eyes glittered, saying the relationship with his master had ended.
He was adorable nonetheless, whether he chose a criminal career or medicine.

 

“It doesn’t suit Oliver.”

 

Knock.
Knock.

 

It was then, a light tap sounded.
The maid, who had cautiously opened the door and entered, bowed her head and said.

 

“Your Imperial Highness, I have news from the main palace.”

 

“Someone has come? Oh, tell them to wait for a moment.”

 

Raha patted Oliver on the head.

 

“You go now, too.”

 

“Yes, Princess.
If you don’t mind, may I go and see the slaves?”

 

“My slaves? Yes.”

 

“And …….”

 

Oliver fidgeted.

 

“May I also examine the royal lord?”

 

“He looks so fine, he doesn’t want to see a doctor.”

 

Oliver coughed like he was choking.
Raha chuckled.
It was the day Shed had returned and spent a week with Raha.
Oliver examined Raha’s body and became contemplative.
From that moment on, Oliver showed that he didn’t like Shed very much.

 

He must have noticed that the royal lord of Hildes was the beautiful doll of the past.

 

Raha accepted it with a light tone of voice to the palace doctor, who was extremely agile.

 

”He is my slave too anyway, so do as you please.”

 

“Yes, Your Highness.”

 

Oliver always agreed with the words that the other nobles might have been puzzled if they had heard them.
Raha patted Oliver’s head once more and left the bedroom.

 

“My Princess!”

 

Severo was waiting outside.
He was smiling, as usual, though he had not shown his face for a few years.
It should not be possible for anyone to smile politely with a hint of lust like that.

 

“What’s wrong?”

 

“The wise men are coming back at last.
His Majesty summons you.”

 

* * *

 

“Your Majesty, the Princess is here.”

 

Karzen, who was sitting on the throne and supporting his chin with his curled hand, moved his gaze.
There was no need to give permission to bring her in. 

 

 It was the principle of this main palace that when the emperor called for the Princess, the servants should bring her immediately.

 

The door opened and his twin, whom Karzen loved so much, entered with her beautiful face of courtesy.

 

“You two, leave.”

 

Severo’s brow narrowed discreetly as he followed Raha.
The imperial princess was always natural with her words.
With a gentle and elegant tone, she sent the servants away.

 

 The servants retreated hastily without a sound.
It did not seem to happen once or twice.
It seemed that Karzen allowed Raha to give them permission.
So every time the servants retreated quietly so they would not displease the emperor.

 

It was Karzen who treated the Princess like an Empress, so no one dared to say anything.

 

His Majesty treated the imperial princess as a mistress if you think about it.
Then whose effort was it to rise above it?

 

‘Raha del Harsa.’

 

Severo Crassus thought calmly about Raha, who did not always hesitate to disregard his love for her.
It was not just because of his own departure to the desert.
He should have begged Karzen to make him the Princess’s bedroom slave.

 

“You should leave, too.
Severo.”

 

“Oh, I will be at your service.”

 

Raha replied without giving Severo a glance.

 

“Sure.”

 

A short word was all it took.
Raha walked to Karzen casually.
Karzen pulled on Raha’s wrist as she approached.
He seemed quite used to the series of steps that was enough to pull her to his embrace.

 

Both of them knew it.

 

Perhaps that was why they kicked the servants out.

 

Once again, Severo thought it was fortunate that Raha was afraid of Karzen.
It was Karzen who made her so, so his ruthlessness was  it wrong.