Chapter 7.2
“Yes. He said she’s a very intelligent rabbit. Her name was… Runi, I believe?”
‘R-Runi would be… Ah! I remember! Lulu’s cousin! I know she’s smart. And her loyalty to me is no less than Ramie’s… But she’s as timid as my foolish brothers, so I wonder if she’ll be able to get along well while serving me here.’
Elena was worried about her arriving this evening. She wondered if someone who was afraid even of herbivorous therianthropes could endure in a place filled with carnivorous ones.
“Elena, you don’t look well. Are you uncomfortable somewhere?”
“N-No, Your Majesty. It’s just that I know the girl who’s coming to assist me. She’s extremely timid. I’m worried about that…”
“How kind you are, with a heart deeper and wider than the sea.”
Elena just smiled at the wolf emperor’s somewhat cheesy line.
“I’ll make preparations so that lady-in-waiting can comfortably serve Elena here. Don’t worry.”
“I’m… really grateful. Yet I have nothing to give Your Majesty in return…”
“Why not?”
“Pardon?”
Lucael gently wrapped his arm around the confused Elena’s waist and pulled her close, pressing their bodies together.
“Y-Your Majesty?!”
“Just as I love you, Elena can love me in return.”
“Ah, Your Majesty…”
“I love you, Elena. Please allow me to kiss those vibrant lips of yours.”
With that intense gaze and gentle touch, Elena tightly closed her eyes and nodded, and Lucael covered her lips with his.
“Mmm. Ah! Mmph. Haa. Y-Your Majesty. Cough!”
“Was that your first kiss?”
“Yes… even the kiss earlier was my first.”
“I heard you spent your childhood with that man who was marked as your consort.”
“That’s true. He was a very close childhood friend. To be honest, I didn’t like Azel romantically. I wondered if marrying him was really the right thing.”
Listening quietly to her story, Lucael wanted to hear something else.
“Then what do you think about marrying me? I’m curious how Elena sees me. I’d like you to tell me honestly.”
Elena faced the very serious wolf emperor. Just by looking at his face, she could feel that his feelings for her were genuine. She could also tell that he was somewhat expectantly awaiting her answer.
This wolf emperor suddenly seemed cute to her.
‘I can’t believe I’m finding a wolf cute.’
It’s a well-known fact that a rabbit isn’t even a mouthful for a wolf, and that a rabbit is so small that it wouldn’t even register if eaten. Elena was simply amazed that such a fearsome wolf could be so lovable in front of her.
“Elena?”
“Ah! W-Well. I…”
In front of the smiling wolf emperor, Elena tightly closed her eyes and spoke.
“When I first met Your Majesty, whom I had only heard about through rumors, I was surprised. You were completely… different from what I had heard. And now… I, I too. My heart pounds when I see Your Majesty. As if it might burst.”
“Elena.”
“Ah!”
As Elena was embraced in the wolf emperor’s broad chest, her face flushed and her heart pounded painfully.
‘It feels like my heart might burst.’
“Elena.”
“Your Majesty…”
Elena felt her mind becoming increasingly hazy at the voice whispering in her ear.
‘It’s warm. His Majesty’s embrace. This is the first time I’ve felt such a large and warm embrace.’
As Elena closed her eyes, a softer voice resonated in her ears.
“I love you. Elena, I truly love you.”
“Me too, Your Majesty. I really… like you.”
Lucael smiled as he gazed tenderly at the top of Elena’s head as she buried her face in his chest and wrapped her slender arms around his waist.
‘Soon, I’ll make you say you love me, Elena.’
***
As expected, Runi arrived at the empire filled with fear. Elena could see that although she pretended to be fine in front of her, her legs were visibly shaking, and Elena wanted to send her back to their homeland.
“Absolutely! Absolutely not! I cannot return! I cannot absolutely leave the Princess! Alone in such a place!!!”
Elena, who ended up keeping Runi by her side as she spoke until she nearly coughed up blood, found her both grateful and lovable for trying to protect her despite being so fearful. And then there was Prime Minister Rihan, who couldn’t take his eyes off Runi. Elena could say with 100% certainty that he had romantic feelings for her.
And today, on the morning of the fourth day in the Rodelius Empire, Rihan secretly came to see Elena. She tentatively agreed to his serious and desperate request to help him build a bridge with Runi.
“Really! Really! Thank you! Princess! Haha!”
‘I don’t know if it will work out, so don’t thank me, My Lord.’
Hiding words she couldn’t bring herself to say, Elena became busy preparing to become the Empress of this empire today.
She surrendered herself to those who applied makeup on both sides of her, adorned with decorations more splendid than when she was the one and only princess of the Harus Kingdom.
‘The makeup is too heavy. Ugh. And why is the perfume so strong?’
“Princess. Do you perhaps not like it?”
“Huh? No, it’s fine. Please continue.”
“Yes!”
“Oh my~ How can Princess’s skin be so smooth like silk!”
“I know, right? I’m so envious, Princess.”
All Elena could do was smile and express her gratitude to the wolf, leopard, and lion girls who were complimenting her as they applied her makeup.
“It’s done!”
“You look truly beautiful, Princess!”
“Wow…”
Elena could only exclaim in admiration as she looked at herself in the mirror. Although she disliked calling herself beautiful, right now she looked so beautiful that it was as if she had become a different person.
“Princess. They say the ceremony preparations are complete.”
“I see.”
“Ah! Princess! You are truly! So beautiful! Isn’t that right, Lady Runi!”
“Absolutely! I declare that our Princess will be the most beautiful!”
“Of course!”
Elena burst into laughter, seeing how well the timid Runi got along with Ramie, who was a wolf therianthrope.
As Elena slowly walked outside, she saw the broad back of Lucael, dressed in a snow-white tuxedo, standing in front of her.
“Your Majesty.”
At Ramie’s voice, the emperor turned around, and Elena nearly had a heart attack when their eyes met.
“You look… so handsome.”
“Haha. Do I? Then my efforts to dress up were worthwhile. The Princess looks truly beautiful. Shall we go?”
Elena smiled shyly as she placed her hand on his large one and slowly took a step.
The guest seats were already full with attendees, and Elena choked up when she saw her family crying as they looked at her.
‘I mustn’t cry!’
Biting her lip tightly, Elena stood before the priest officiating the ceremony and straightened her back.
“Do you, Emperor Lucael Rodelius, promise to cherish and love Princess Elena Harus as your Empress for the rest of your life?”
“I promise.”
The priest nodded at the emperor’s answer as he raised his left hand, then turned to Elena and asked.
“Do you, Princess Elena Harus, promise to support and love Emperor Lucael Rodelius as your husband for the rest of your life?”
“I promise.”
“I hereby declare Emperor Lucael Rodelius and Empress Elena Harus husband and wife.”
Applause erupted from everywhere, and when the priest raised both hands, the surroundings fell silent.
“Would the couple please face each other and seal their vow with a kiss before the Celestial God?”
As Elena turned to face him, she saw the emperor step very close to her.
“Elena. I love you.”
“Your Maj—mmph!”
The previously quiet venue erupted with endless cheers at the emperor’s powerful kiss.
Discussion
0 CommentsReactions
No comments yet.