Chapter 17_Embrace the Lady

“What should I do to make it less boring for you?”

The Emperor’s eyes widened even more.

Instead of leaving, she made such a suggestion.

Is there really a need to go this far? What good relationship do we have?

While it seemed like she was trying to do something for him, it also looked like she was no longer afraid and was standing up to him. The Emperor, leaning towards the latter interpretation, narrowed his eyes.

I need to wipe that smile off her face. I don’t know why she’s doing this, but she’s lasting longer than I thought. 

In fact, such a smile and behavior didn’t suit Bellita at all.

“Sing a song.”

At his request, which she heard for the first time in her life, she made a dumbfounded expression. She blinked her eyes for a moment to make sure she heard correctly.

“A song…”

Had I ever sung in front of anyone? 

She lacked confidence. Proving herself as Empress required doing all sorts of things.

“Then dance.”

“I’ll sing.”

Singing seemed less embarrassing than dancing, so she quickly answered.

It seemed like making her nervous was the Emperor’s specialty. She hadn’t even started, and already Bellita’s face was turning red with embarrassment.

I’m really bad at singing. And I don’t even know many songs.

Her face grew redder and redder.

The Emperor expected her to do neither and run away, but once again, Bellita surprised him. He couldn’t help but be curious about what song she would sing.

The anticipation of being the first to hear the Empress sing. Among all the rumors, he had never heard that the Empress sang. She might have made men sing for her, but he had never heard her sing. Still, he admired one thing: she had managed to pique his interest despite his current state.

Bellita, though she had answered, was at a loss about what song to sing.

Since he’s unwell, fine. Since I’ve come to visit, I’ll just close my eyes and do something.

With a flushed face, Bellita finally opened her mouth and began to sing. To survive, she had to do even this.

“My face like an apple~ So pretty~~”

The first song that came to mind was a children’s song she had sung when she was young.

“Your face like a pumpkin~ So round~~”

She couldn’t bring herself to sing “so funny” to the Emperor, so she slightly changed the lyrics. Anyway, she sang it to the end. It was longer than she thought. She regretted not singing a shorter song like “Mountain Rabbit.” She regretted not thinking of it first. It was the first time in her life that she felt this embarrassed. She wanted to hide in a mouse hole if there was one.

Bellita fanned her face with her hand to cool down. The Emperor, whether he disliked it or found it unsatisfactory, just stared at her without moving.

She shouldn’t have done it. She should have just left.

Contrary to Bellita’s thoughts, the Emperor couldn’t think of anything. It wasn’t just that the song was unfamiliar; it was the fact that Bellita had actually sung.

He wanted to understand her intentions a bit more.

Is she still after the budget?

That must be it.

It was the first time he heard the song, but she sang something that suited her. Saying she was pretty.

“Sing another one.”

Did she actually listen to me again?

He was sure she would leave by now. He was asking her to do something he wouldn’t even ask a maid to do. Bellita knew this too.

Bellita, knowing the Emperor was set on tormenting her, stood in front of him with a troubled expression. But she quickly made up her mind. Since she was already embarrassed, doing one more wouldn’t change anything. Bellita closed her eyes tightly and steeled herself.

 Here goes. One, two, three!

“Yay~ Bellita. Playing is the best~ Friends gather round~”

She changed the lyrics to include her name. This time, she didn’t just stand stiffly but placed her hands neatly on her chest and swayed her head side to side. It was an awkward dance move anyone could see.

“~~What will happen today~~~Belloong belloong belloong belloong Bellorong.”

She felt like dying from embarrassment the whole time. 

Why did I think of such a song?

Phew… It’s finally over.

Sorry, Pororo, for changing your song.

Like a runner finishing a 100-meter dash, Bellita panted after finishing the song. How embarrassed she must be to be this out of breath. But the Emperor’s expression was unreadable. Disbelief? Astonishment? Blankness? She couldn’t tell.

She wondered how badly she sang to make him look like that. Bellita quickly turned to leave.

Puhahaha.

At the sudden burst of laughter from the Emperor, Bellita jumped in surprise. She felt her mood plummet, thinking it was mockery.

She should have stopped at one, or better yet, not done any at all. It was too late for regrets. Bellita’s lips pouted slightly as she watched the Emperor laugh loudly enough to make the room echo. She had shown sincerity, but all she got in return was his mockery. 

He’s laughing so hard he might cry.

The Emperor couldn’t help but burst into laughter at Bellita’s unpredictable actions. He couldn’t hold it in.

Was that a song from Pellon Kingdom? It was hilarious. 

He couldn’t take his eyes off Bellita, who awkwardly moved her head while singing. It wasn’t a well-sung song. It was just so-so. But she sang it with such enthusiasm, just like when she massaged his leg with sweat pouring down.

She had definitely changed since the mountain. She had transformed. Recently, she had been doing everything he asked. 

Was getting more budget that desperate? 

He was worried that if Bellita went back to her old self, life would be boring. Still, he admired her effort. So he decided to say something to the dejected Bellita.

“Playing is the best. For you, that is.”

She expected this. Ignoring all the important things and nitpicking on such trivial matters to torment her. Hearing it still drained her. She didn’t know what she had just done. Bellita wavered between regret and self-reproach.

Dein, who had been waiting outside the door, was experiencing the second biggest shock of his life. The first was when he heard His Majesty was gravely wounded and on the brink of death. But this was on a different level.

To hear His Majesty laugh. That loudly, making the room echo.

He had never heard it in the palace before. It was such a groundbreaking event that it should be recorded in history. Dein’s expression became endlessly serious as he pondered how to judge this situation.

Given His Majesty’s poor condition, it was even more unbelievable. He had been waiting outside in case His Majesty shouted. He had let in the Empress, whom His Majesty least wanted to see, so it wasn’t a reassuring situation.

But laughter? What had the Empress done? Whatever it was, the important thing was that she had decided to do something for His Majesty. Why had she changed? 

There was no answer to that. 

Why? What benefit did she get? Did she want to play the role of a loving couple with His Majesty? What could be fun about that?

His Majesty was not a fun person. He was rather heavy.

Dein knew the Empress had changed but couldn’t understand why, so he remained serious. But he acknowledged that, for now, it was a desirable situation.

When His Majesty welcomed the Empress, the scenario Dein had briefly hoped for, which seemed impossible and he had given up on, was now unfolding. Perhaps that was why Dein’s expression, though serious, was not dark.

***

“Didn’t you always drink hot tea?”

After the sullen-faced Empress left, Dein approached the Emperor with quiet steps. Seeing the Emperor drinking cold tea with his bandaged hand, he couldn’t help but ask.

It was true the Emperor only drank hot tea. It wasn’t just to torment Bellita.

“It’s drinkable. Have a cup.”

A smile still lingered on the Emperor’s lips. Whatever happened, the Empress had done a proper job of visiting the sick.

“Belloong belloong~…”

“Pardon?”

The Emperor, without realizing it, hummed that catchy part. Strangely, it echoed in his ears. He told Dein it was nothing, but that part still played in his mind.

“Did you enjoy it?”

The Emperor just smiled faintly in response to Dein’s question.

“That’s good.”

Well. Is it good?

The smile on the Emperor’s face slowly faded. Now he couldn’t predict what Bellita would do next. She wasn’t that kind of person. She used to be so simple that everything she did was predictable. But now, she was unpredictable.

One thing was certain: his mood, which had been dragging heavily, had improved.

Thanks to Bellita, the Adulterous Empress.

He had heard that people change when facing death. 

Was she still afraid of dying? Surely not.

It was fascinating. Whatever the reason, he admitted he had enjoyed it. The image of Bellita singing earnestly with a naive look remained like an illusion. He wondered what she would show him next.

Belloong belloong Bellorong

A smile began to bloom on the Emperor’s lips again as he muttered to himself. It had been a long time since he laughed out loud.

“Your Majesty, are you worried about the Divine Beast?”

Dein asked a question that instantly wiped the smile off the Emperor’s face. But only Dein could ask such things.

The Emperor said nothing and wore a heavy expression. That meant yes.

“Your predecessor’s giant wolf manifested at the age of 25.”

He knew that well enough to recite it by heart.

“But he married at the age of 23.”

The Emperor slowly turned his head to meet Dein’s eyes, wondering why he was bringing up marriage.

“They had a very good relationship.”

As his son, he knew that fact better than anyone.

“So, the union of a man and woman might be important. You’ve kept your distance too much.”

“And so?”

It was unlike Dein to beat around the bush. It wasn’t his usual concise way of speaking.

“Embrace the lady.”