Long Live the Emperor, Minus Me (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 35

The Empress Dowager, who had been calm until now, seemed slightly taken aback—her golden eyes flickered as if she hadn’t expected me to make such a request.

“Sword practice?”

“Yes. I’ve heard Her Majesty the Empress is called the finest swordsman under heaven, yet I’ve never had the chance to witness her skill myself.”

With an expression that was impossible to read—whether smiling or frowning—the Empress Dowager slowly opened her mouth.

“The princess always chooses her words so remarkably.”

Oops. Was it too obvious? I reconsidered my choice of words once again.

Upon reflection, the common language of the Palathos continent, where the Letail Empire and Ramore Kingdom were located, was Yumian, while the common tongue of the Atan continent, where the Jin Empire once stood, was Jangian. Naturally, I had to learn Yumian entirely anew in this life.

Yet despite having only recently acquired this language, my use of words unsuited to my age could only be attributed to habit—meaning that even while learning vocabulary, I’d deliberately chosen only those refined, elevated terms that matched my former linguistic lifestyle.

To suit such a habit, I ought to be at least thirty years old. Perhaps I should quickly relearn a more childlike manner of speech? With Lady Martina beside me as a fine example, it shouldn’t be too difficult….

While I was lost in these thoughts, the Empress Dowager spoke again, her tone slightly softened.

“I’m used to it because of Melchizedek, so it’s fine with me.”

She must have interpreted my earlier remark as self-reproach and assumed I felt chastened. In truth, I hadn’t meant anything of the sort—I’d simply realized anew how unchildlike I sounded—but since there was no need to clarify, I kept silent.

“I don’t know why you wish to see Liana’s skill, but I’ll give you a pretext.”

The Empress Dowager reached out and picked up the container filled with tea leaves—the very leaves I’d used just moments ago to brew tea.

“Take this to Liana. Tell her I enjoyed it and that the princess herself will prepare another cup for her.”

Read full content of this chapter on r e d c a t t y . c o m