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Is a housewarming party… like this? (7) – unedited
The Emperor’s footsteps finally stopped when I got feverish from the unexpected exercise. Sweat formed on my body and trickled down.
“We’re here.”
A huge wooden door appeared among the thick stone wall. As he thumped the mismatched golden ring, a loud noise was heard from inside the door, and the door began to open.
“Wow!”
The green grass reminded me of the countryside of Zermatt, Switzerland, which I had only seen in movies. It was the perfect place to peacefully shear sheep, milk cows, and live a self-sufficient life with a happy family.
However, the owner of this lawn was a horse, not a human. It was truly a spectacle to see it roaming freely in nature with its golden saddle on its body.
“What do you think, seeing the stable for the first time?”
When I was in middle school, I had an experience of giving carrots to horses at a stable I stopped by for a field trip. I remember the horse chewing on a carrot with its dark eyes raised among the dirt field, but it didn’t look as free in this beautiful scenery.
“It looks a hundred times bigger than my house.”
What a lucky life. I said it out of sincere admiration. However, the Emperor asked another question that sounded incomprehensible.
“Are you not disappointed?”
“Eh, why?”
The Emperor stretched out his hand toward the distant barn.
“If you go further, the smell is very strong.”
Oh well, I know that. When I went on a field trip, the smell of horse manure made my nose go numb. I nodded at his words.
“Would you like to come in?”
It sounded like a question, and no matter how I answered, this great man would forcefully drag me in.
I moved my foot through the door without a single nod. However, it was the Emperor who stopped in his tracks.
“You’re not going?”
“Hmm, this is where the tour ends.”
“What?”
The Emperor spoke briefly and walked away as if he was in a speed walking competition.
The next place we arrived at was the kitchen, where white and ivory colors were properly harmonized, giving off a neat impression.
No matter how hygienic it was, the kitchen in the imperial palace was so flashy that it was dazzling. From the floor to cupboards, tablewares, and various cooking utensils… None of them were scratched or stained. It was obvious that there was a lot of effort into managing it every day.
“This is the kitchen.”
“I know even if you don’t say anything. The people of the imperial palace are really amazing. These people really need to make a lot of money.”
“Are you done?”
“… Need more rhetoric to create an appreciation? I don’t have that kind of talent.”
The Emperor’s expression subtly changed. I don’t think he was angry… It’s a very ambiguous look that seems to be having fun somewhere, but it doesn’t look like that either.
Even when we barely arrived at the kitchen and had a proper tour, the Emperor quickly headed elsewhere. We looked around the maids’ room, the cleaning area, the document storage, and even the sweaty training grounds of the Imperial Palace Knights.
It was, of course, me who got tired first. I flopped down in the middle of the cold hallway.
“I can’t go any further!”
“Your stamina is weaker than I thought.”
Why would you say that?! Rather, when are you going to send me home!
While I was massaging my legs after having suffered in vain in the imperial palace, a hand reached out.
“Are you torturing me now?”
“Pfft.”
Excuse me? Look at this Emperor. He’s not denying it?
As I was still looking up at the Emperor, the Emperor pondered for a moment before making a ‘hmm’ sound before opening his mouth.
“Let’s go to the last place.”
“Last? Is it really the last?”
“Yes.”
From what I’ve seen so far, I’m not sure if I can easily believe him because he’s such a stubborn person.
“Let’s go to the last place that you want.”
He came up with one more suggestion. Where do I want to go?
“I’m dying of exhaustion from wandering around, so there’s no place I want to go… ah!”
“There is.”
Yes, there is. A small lake that often appeared in the novel as a place of rendezvous between the Emperor and the saint. It is a place I really want to visit at least once.
The kissing scene of the Saint and the Emperor depicted on the quiet lakeside shot the hearts of the readers and made the number of comments pages exceed a long way. The books’ virtue, which had been dulled by reality, began to burn again.
I stood up holding the Emperor’s hand. I can feel the texture of my rough palms contrasting with his fair skin.
“Can I go anywhere?”
“Of course.”
“Really, really?”
“Why are you taking so much time? The owner of this place is fine, so just say anywhere.”
You punk, don’t you dare comment on anything else later! I spoke without hesitation.
“It’s where His Majesty feels most comfortable.”
It was an ambiguous statement, but from the Emperor’s point of view, nothing could be more accurate. There was only one place in the gorgeous but desolate imperial palace that he thought was his only resting place.
The Emperor’s expression, which had always been relaxed, hardened. Ugh, I was scared for a while. When the murderous energy was erased from his face, it was as if he had become a different person.
“You said I could go anywhere.”
“Yes, it was.”
The Emperor has not spoken since. Was he pondering about it?
Well, he, who didn’t like anyone stepping into that place, except for the Saint, wouldn’t willingly want to lead me to the lakeside. Having just met me.
The Emperor turns his back on me and takes a few steps away. It might be very sad to think that I didn’t see the lakeside when I return to my original world later.