The Princess' Bedroom Doll

“It was fun……”

Shed’s blunt words made Karzen feel murderous.

“If you enjoyed it so much, why don’t you spend the rest of your life as my twin’s slave?”

“I’d rather be the Princess’s husband, Your Majesty, so I decline.”

Shed’s eyes temperature were very similar to Karzen’s.

“What man in the world would refuse a seat next to her, unless he was a fool. I am not so stupid to pass up the good fortune that has come my way.”

“…….”

Karzen’s hand, which was holding the teacup, tightened. A moment of silence passed. Karzen cut to the chase.

“Yesterday, the dukes told me. They said that it is not right for the royal lord to continue to live in the Princess’s palace since you’re now engaged. A delegation should be coming from Hildes soon, and they would faint if they knew that the King’s brother had forgotten his manners and remained in the detached palace of the slaves as a bed warmer.”

“I am honored that you care so much about my reputation, Your Majesty.”

Shed continued.

“I have never cared much for my reputation, even in Hildes.”

“You make it sound like I’m doing something stupid.”

“I apologize if it sounded that way.”

Contrary to Shed’s words, neither his voice nor his expression contained the slightest hint of sorry. In contrast to Karzen’s narrow eyes, Shed was overly relaxed and even strangely unconcerned.

Silence fell for a while. Karzen took a sip of his tea, then asked in a slow tone.

“Is there any other palace you want? My lord.”

“There is nothing in particular that I want…..”

Shed replied, tilting his chin at an angle.

“But I’m fine with a place close to the Palace of the Princess.”

“It’s close enough.”

“Because it’s hard to breathe when I’m far away from the Princess.”

Karzen raised a corner of his mouth. How dare Shed dare to show his affection for Raha without reserve in front of him? This royal lord was intolerably insolent.

“Every time I feel it, the royal lord seems to really care about my twin. But it’s a pity that no matter how close the palace is, it won’t be as close as the separate palace of the Princess’s palace.”

“If it is true, Your Majesty, it doesn’t matter if I stay in the princess’s palace like now.”

“How is that possible? By the way, my lord, I have something on my mind when I look at you.”

“Please tell me.”

“My lord, is there ever a time when you want to kill Raha’s slaves?”

There was silence for a moment. The hand of the  courtier, who had been quietly listening to the conversation between the two men, became cold.

“If I wanted to kill them…”

“…….”

“Could I?”

Shed’s words sounded strange. Because at first glance, it sounded as if Karzen was his target who he wanted to kill. Shed did not avoid Karzen’s cold eyes. 

How much time had passed? Karzen answered slowly.

“The slaves are all gifts I gave to Raha. Since Raha holds the right of life and death, it would be right to let my twin have her way, but isn’t she kind-hearted?”

“Well then.”

Shed spoke so pleasantly that his listeners noticed.

“Let’s ask the Princess.”

Karzen didn’t even scoff anymore. Perhaps it was the color of Shed’s eyes, which were strangely similar to Raha’s, but Karzen suffered from the urge to pluck out this royal lord’s goddamn eyes. Even just one glance was amazingly cold.

His face was charming. But wasn’t that all there was to it? It was something that Karzen could not understand how such a man could smile so well just because he liked something so much.

He really didn’t understand, and he wanted to kill this royal lord right away.

Would his twin, Raha, understand that he wanted to kill him and hang him on the castle wall? Of all people, such a man was a war hero admired by all nobles…And yet all he wanted was Raha del Harsa.

Once again, the whole situation seemed ludicrous to Karzen. He was a war-forged monarch, and he could not treat a war hero lightly.

It would be no different than putting mud on his own chest. Moreover, here was Count Paltz. An old nobleman who had many uses, was rich in utility, and had never been involved in Karzen’s killing spree.

An uncomfortable silence enveloped the audience chamber.

“Royal lord.”

Karzen drew a long breath and opened his mouth.

“Raha was shocked by what happened the other day. The palace doctor told me that she had to stay in bed because she was not feeling well. My heart aches for her, and as an apology, I’m going to give her another slave.”

Winston’s top-secret financial investigation, which had begun the day before yesterday, had just been completed. Karzen spoke slowly, feeling like a benevolent and rational monarch.

“Ah, of course, this time it will be a noble from Delo. Foreign slaves now have to take into account the position of Hildes, so it’s getting harder to get them as gifts.”

“…….”

Instead of Shed, who was not particularly unresponsive, Count Paltz almost asked back what he was talking about.

‘A slave?’

To suddenly wanting to give a slave to the Princess who was about to be married under the blessing of delegation from all other nations?

Karzen was glaring at Shed, but the Count was restless instead.

It was a natural reaction. If the Dukes heard this, they would probably react the same way.

Count Paltz now had a cold sweat running down his back.

Which Delo nobleman who would be the Princess’s new slave?

 In the early days of Karzen’s regime, but after the ruthless suppression, there were no nobles who dared to reach out to Karzen. Therefore, there were no nobles to become bedchamber slaves.

After that, all of the slaves who were dedicated to Raha were prisoners of war. Nobles and royalty from other countries. Anyway, slaves with handsome faces.

Which family of this own nation was destroyed? Did that ever happen?

“What do you think, royal lord?”

Karzen had just regained his usual composure.

“I don’t intend to coerce the royal lord if you really don’t feel like it.”

“Your Majesty.”

That was until he noticed that Shed was not the least bit perplexed.

“I don’t care how many slaves you give the Princess. Please take into consideration that the Princess will be leaving for Hildes soon.”

The languid smile on Karzen’s face quickly hardened.

“Isn’t the exodus of human resources the least of the monarchs’ concerns for generations? Or is the Delo Empire different from my kingdom?” (Shed)

“…….”

It was a very different response than Karzen had imagined.

“Either way, I thank you on the Princess’s behalf for your gift. I don’t know if she needs more men other than me.” (Shed)

“…….”

The infantile smile on Karzen’s lips disappeared without a trace. His jaw slowly began to tighten. The teacup was already on the table. He instinctively realized the fact that if he held the teacup a little longer, it would surely break.

Did Shed dare to play with him?

Of course, he could not ask that. There was nothing wrong with the words of this goddamn arrogant royal lord.

If asked if he was toying with him, this royal lord would probably ask what part of his words offended him. Karzen had no answer to it.

How could he say that he was angry at the audacity of daring to take Raha to another kingdom in front of him? How could he tell him that the question of whether Raha needed another man made him squirm?

Karzen was only Raha’s twin.

He could not act like a love interest. Was that not such a position to begin with?

Karzen did not answer and the atmosphere just became taut like a pulled bowstring. Count Paltz could no longer even swallow dry spit. 

The two men, despite not holding swords, were staring at each other coldly, as if they were going to kill each other at any moment.

Thump.

The voice of the chamberlain, who had just opened the door and entered, saved Count Paltz’s life just before he fainted.

“Your Majesty, the dukes have arrived.”

* * *

“Where is the royal lord?”

Shed was no where to be seen, so Raha looked puzzled as soon as she woke up. The maids hurriedly answered as they had just finished filling the tub with warm water.

“He went to the main palace about an hour ago. His Majesty has summoned him.”

“….. huh?”

Raha looked at her watch once. Now it was time for supper. Still, Shed hadn’t come back…

“Today is the day that Karzen is having dinner with the dukes…. It looks like the royal lord was invited as well.”

“Will the Princess also be going to the main palace?”

“Is it not too late for me to go? I don’t really feel like going in for dinner. I think I’ll just take a bath.”

Unlike her relaxed words, Raha’s steps toward the bathroom were accompanied by a faint impatience. She wasn’t worried about what Karzen would do with Shed. Despite his violent tendencies, her twin was the emperor of this empire. It was easy to guess that Karzen could not treat Shed, the king’s brother and war hero of a friendly nation, recklessly.

So the impatience that was now in Raha’s steps was…It was a sign of her emotional need to see Shed as soon as possible. She had slept all day and did not look see Shed much.

She soaked her body quickly like a child guaranteed sweet candy. Normally, she would have spent some time idly in the tub.

When Raha finished, the chief chamberlain came to visit.

“Princess.”

The newly elected chief chamberlain was someone Raha liked. Because he was always polite and respectful. Compared to the previous chief chamberlain, he was a very sensible man.

But now he seemed strangely perplexed.

“What’s wrong?”

“His Majesty is in the Princess’s detached palace…..”

The chief chamberlain blurted out his words with a puzzled face. Raha asked back.

“In my detached palace?”

“A slave…he gave the Princess a gift….”

 “A slave? Karzen didn’t go to war, so where did he get them?”

“…….”

“Who is it?”

“There’s no first and last name. There’s no name that I know…”

“……?”

Raha frowned. Wearing the thin shawl the attendants had just given her, Raha headed for her detached palace.

And she was speechless for the first time in a very long time.