Yasashī Shinjitsu to Seiryaku Kekkon Volume 2 Chapter 21

Pintrest.com

When she returned to her room, eight ladies-In-waiting were waiting. (Zuben: Haha! Google translated it as ‘eight cocks were waiting’. I wondered if I had stepped into the wrong novel. ROFL)

They were there to get her dressed for the meeting (Zuben: Didn’t Leandroth go to the meeting earlier or did I do something wrong? No I didn't. I went back to check. I've decided the two meetings are different ¬.¬)

She really only needed six people to get dressed. The others were to keep them company, make tea and conversation. (Zuben: Six people is still a lot but hey...)

Their aim was to transform her into a gleaming princess.

They put on a corset that made her look slimmer and pushed her breasts up so they looked fuller.  They brushed her hair till it gleamed and pulled it into a bun at the side of her head with decorative ties.

Her dress was pink; it was fitted round the bodice displaying her chest and from her waist fell down to the floor in a gentle flare with a little train, a cape of lace was fitted over her shoulders. Jewellery was managed by the ladies in waiting, and she was given a necklace with row after row of gleaming pearls to put on, with matching earrings and bracelet.

In the mirror, she thought she was looking at a different person; she looked slimmer than usual and her breasts were bigger.

They turned her face into an artist canvas as they applied make-up. They applied eye-shadow, blush and lipstick. Then her face was dusted with a translucent powder.

‘Have you performed surgery without me knowing?’ she turned to ask Agatha, the lead of her maid team. (Zuben: Have you transmigrated without me knowing?) Agatha was a beautiful blonde, blue-eyed woman. She felt like a fraud, looking at herself in the mirror.

‘This is the true face of the Empress; I have just improved upon it.’ She said.

Won’t people be disappointed when they saw her real face after this?

There was a discreet knock on the door and permission to enter was requested.

‘The emperor’s here,’ the ladies cried in unison.

‘He can come in,’ she answered vaguely staring at herself in the mirror. Leandroth came into view, his eyes widening at the sight of her.

‘…Exquisite,’ he said

‘It’s almost like magic; magic and genjutsu than make-up.’ She replied mockingly. If she stood next to him like this, she wondered if they would look nice together. She still couldn’t be self confident.

‘Because you are usually hiding. You look very seductive. I can’t stop wanting to touch you,’ he said as he prodded the skin on display,

‘Oh! My finger sinks.’

She batted his hand away,

‘Ow,’

‘You are expectedly quick.’ He said blowing on his hand.

‘Ah~ Sorry,’

He laughed, ‘No need to apologise, I was being naughty.’

She smiled back at him, relaxing. He returned the smile as he walked around her, his gaze licking her from top to toe. He looked like he wanted to eat her.

‘You do look beautiful, but I think that I refer the usual cute Matilda,’ he said as he put his arm around her waist and drew her closer.

‘Your Majesty, please refrain. I don’t want to ruin the lipstick till after the meeting is over.’

‘Very well,’ he replied mildly petulant.

‘Reply once more with conviction!’

‘Yes!’

Agatha giggled at their interaction; it was like a teacher and student.

Leandroth turned to her, ‘Can I take Matilda now?’

‘Yes, sorry to have kept you waiting.’

The ladies-in-waiting and the maids bowed.

‘Empress, may I take your hand?’ he asked holding his arm out to her.

‘I am still only your fiancée.’ She replied sharply, carelessly.

‘For now, but there is no going back. You will not escape so just give up.’ He replied with laughter.

The people watching them were smiling warmly.

‘…Yes.’ She replied shyly

‘You’re embarrassed, it’s cute.’

He held her hand up to his lips and kissed her fingers. Her face got warm.

‘Well, let’s go fighting without swords.’

Leandroth tucked her arm in his and pulled her along.

‘Is it your first campaign? You’ve lost in the first salvo.’ He said

‘I’m…sorry.’

He laughed, ‘I’m only teasing. You don’t have to apologise so seriously.’

As they walked one, she noticed they were surrounded by more knights, guards and maids than usual. They seemed to be on the way to the hall were the morning assembly was usually held.

‘It’s the first time we are working together. Well, maybe not really the first time.’

‘Don’t talk about such things when other people are around.’ She said, her face was warm, she wanted to run back to her room.

Leandroth looked at Matilda, ‘I’m sorry, you’re so pretty when you blush I can’t help myself.’

‘Isn’t it contradictory to want to bully someone because they are cute?’

‘It is childish, but I don’t think it is contradictory. Like when I think your crying face is cute; it may be unpleasant to you but it is both to me. It’s a boy thing after all.’

‘It is contradictory after all. Aren’t boys being too impudent?’

He sighed dramatically, ‘How terrible, you’re already scolding your future child.’ (Zuben sighs dramatically; I want to finish this book quickly. I’m losing faith in my brain the more I do it.)

Matilda laughed, it was obvious he was joking. (Zuben: I worry for your past Mattie!)

‘Would you prefer I be gentle or I make you laugh?’

‘I think…’ She came to a realisation, as she blushed.

‘You realise it now, don’t you?’

‘You’re terrible...’

She cared for Leandroth. He was so kind and forgiving, even when she did or said something annoying, he laughed and forgave her. But she still felt she should not be presumptuous based on this.

‘Oh. Honest.’ He said as he tightened his hold on her.

She felt his muscles contract; they were firm and sure underneath her fingers.

Did he realise how she felt? He’d probably want to know, but now was not the time. She would be too embarrassed and would run away.

‘We’re here.’ He announced as they came up to double doors.

Today, they would embark on something, hopefully, great together.

⚔

Inside the hall, most of the attendees had arrived and were seated.

Leandroth led Matilda into the room towards their seats, but he stopped as something ahead arrested his gaze. Matilda followed his eyes to see an older man entering the hall,

‘That is the Marquis Bellmud, the Prime Minister.’ He whispered to her.

So this is the person Leandroth revered and admired so much. Matilda caught his eyes, and she smiled at him. But the Marquis stood shock still and then collapsed onto the floor.

‘Grandfather!’ Leandroth called as they ran toward the fallen man,

There was a man behind the Marquis when he collapsed. The man bent low intending to touch Bellmud,

‘Don’t touch him!’ Matilda called out. She picked up her skirts and ran unencumbered to the Marquis.

Leandroth was pale from shock,

‘Call a doctor, the Prime Minister has collapsed. And get a stretcher; we will take the Marquis to the nearest quiet room.’

⚔

‘Let him rest here as he is. He does not appear to have hurt is head during the fall, but there is an ankle sprain. I have prepared a poultice for it.’ The doctor said as he washed his hands, ‘He might have a fever, as well. It seems he’s been weakening for a long time. When he is somewhat better, he should come and see me in hospital.’

He looked on his patient once more before turning to Matilda,

‘Is your highness the Princess looking after the patient?’

Matilda nodded.

The doctor who was an older man with hair that was either silver or grey, Matilda could not discern, looked at her in disdain. (Zuben: What is with all these rude people?)

‘Really poor quality. There is no excuse but, you need to change your hair style. You are causing the patient distress,’

‘Huh?’ (Zuben: Wait…what now?)

The doctor looked coldly at her.

‘My hairstyle?’

‘That hairstyle is one that the Marquis’ daughter, the former Empress Orlatta, favoured. Although her hair colour was closer to gold.’ The doctor said coldly (Zuben: And?)

Matilda frowned, ‘Hah?’

‘You’re not a good person.’ The doctor’s expression of contempt hurt her. (Zuben: Where is Leandroth in all this?)

‘The Prime Minister said looking at you makes him feel sick.’

Matilda undid her hair in a panic. She did not understand what was going on here.

‘Princess, if you would please leave the room. Please get rid of the gold dust. With that I will take my leave. I will visit the patient later.’

With that the doctor left. Matilda gazed at the departing man in a confused daze.

‘When did the former Empress die?’

‘About six months ago.’ A trembling voice replied, ‘He lost his wife, my grandmother, Lady Kagata, ten years ago. His is still grieving.’

A lady in waiting answered quietly.

‘How did the Empress die?’

‘She fell down the stairs. She had been looking forward to the Emperor Leandroth’s marriage.’

‘It was the Marquis and I who saw her last. Her final words were “Father, I am sorry”’

‘You’ve lost weight,’ a voice said quietly from behind them.

Leandroth looked down at the resting Marquis with what seemed like pity.

‘What of the meeting?’

‘The governors and parliament are fighting each other, it is rather tiresome. Like children in a slap fight. I have instructed them to back and think of their points and reconvene.’

‘I see.’

He turned to the ladies in waiting and maids, ‘I’m sorry, but can I get a comb from one of you. And if you would give us some privacy.’

One of the maids handed him a comb and they quietly left the room.

Leandroth pulled a chair near the bed that the Marquis rested and sat Matilda down on it.

He began to comb Matilda’s hair,

‘What do you think happened?’

‘This? It’s difficult to say.’ He smiled as he continued brushing Matilda’s hair.

‘Perhaps, it is poison?’

‘You think?’ Leandroth asked darkly.

‘Were you not informed that that ill –natured doctor has no consideration for women?’He said as he began to tie hair. She wanted to laugh,

That man with snake like eyes,

‘Who was that man who was close behind the Marquis when he fell?’

‘That strange suspicious looking man?’

‘Yes…’

‘The Earl Pikers; it is the first time you’ve met him and you know that he’s suspicious.’

‘He has eyes like a serpent. Although it seems rude to snakes,’ she said quietly. Leandroth barked out a laugh.

‘It is unusual for people to suspicious of Pikers. Most are deceived by his golden appearance?’

‘Golden apprearance…?’

‘Hair like the sun, eyes like the distant oceans, voice like a chocolate…’

‘People think that?’

To be honest she did not see this.

‘Was he that beautiful?’

‘People are only concerned about the beauty on the surface.’

She tilted her head trying to remember but realised she couldn’t Leandroth was still playing with her hair.  

‘I was rather worried when he was standing close to you,’ Leandroth said

‘Hmm…’ A groan came from the sleeping Marquis Bellmud. He moved his head, his eyes opened slightly and he noticed Leandroth was beside him.

 

 Zuben:  Drama for drama sake.

Index ⚔ Chapter 22