And on top of that, how did that concubine, out of the blue, know about the meeting between Prince Norton and Zelda in the temple sponsorship, and suddenly appear, declaring her love to the prince?

Everything was full of questions.

As they approached the Star Palace, the prince, who was a few steps ahead of Norton, initiated a conversation.

“Your Highness, please go in first. I’ll enjoy a bit more of a stroll and then go inside.”

It was a trivial matter, but as the first plan to put Zelda in a difficult situation failed, he needed a place to relieve his frustration.

So, Prince Tesler thought of enjoying a walk and then going to Fesilini’s residence to relax both his body and mind.

“If you’re going for a walk, the west promenade, where the consorts’ residences are gathered, is a good choice.”
Prince Norton pointed towards the Western Palace and turned to Prince Tesler.

“Hmm? Oh, really? Have you been there, Your Highness?”

When Prince Norton mentioned the Western Palace, Prince Tesler, feeling a tingling sensation in his feet, lowered his voice and asked, “No, but I heard it from the servants in the Star Palace.”

“Ah, I see. I’ll keep that in mind.”

‘Well, then. Why would that Prince mention the Western Palace where the consorts reside?’

Another sly smile appeared on Prince Tesler’s face as he let out a relieved sigh.

“Your Highness has keen eyes.”

Prince Tesler advised Norton, hitting the back of his head as he headed back to the Star Palace.

‘What’s that beggar saying now?’

Prince Norton looked at the prince with a cold gaze.

“Be careful with your actions, Your Highness.”

“What did you say, Your Highness?”

“Scandal with a consort from another country…?”

Prince Tesler muttered sarcastically.

Prince Norton stared at him, bewildered, then lowered his head as if in disbelief.

The topic of having an affair with Fesilini’s consort, being caught by a servant, and ordering the servant to kill the witness—the person advising him to be careful in his actions, who could it be?

“Thank you for the advice. Even if such a situation arises again next time, I think I’ll have to eliminate the witnesses entirely. That way, there won’t be any unnecessary misunderstandings.”

“What, what?”

“Earlier, because Emperor was present, I couldn’t proceed with the execution.”

Anyway, it was a trap set by Prince Tesler.

So there was no need for excuses about the chance encounter with Zelda in the temple sponsorship.

Seeing Prince Tesler surprised, the prince laughed and extended a light salute before heading back to the Star Palace.

Everything happened in a fleeting moment.

As expected, the guess was correct.

As I slipped on the floor and fell backward, the assassin decided it was the right time to kill me.

Just before the hard back of my head met the even harder marble floor with a loud impact, something intervened.

My body flipped in an instant, and my posture changed.

Wait, did the assassin’s hand just touch the back of my head?

If I collapsed with a concussion, he could have easily finished me off. Why did he protect me?

My body was now on top of the assassin.

I opened my eyes and glared at him.

Did he change his position to stab a knife into my back?

Before the assassin could draw his sword from behind, I quickly struck his neck with more than five punches in a second, shouting, “Who are you! What the hell are you saying?”

“Ugh, stop hitting me. I’m not your enemy!”

“What is this common bastard saying?”
“I’m a handsome guy! Ugh…”

Pause.

“…What did you say?”

I stopped the determined punching aimed at the assassin’s vital points.

It seemed like I should stop.

Otherwise, I had a ominous feeling that my breath would soon stop too.

Yeah, I’ve heard this voice somewhere before.

Ignoring this voice and continuing to throw punches felt uneasy.

‘No, Zelda! I should at least half-kill him now. If not now, it would be challenging to capture the assassin, right?’

The deity inside me chuckled, inciting me.

Oh, right. But why are you laughing at such a desperate moment?

I inwardly vented my frustration to the deity and looked again at the assassin beneath me.

Yeah, this guy infiltrated the Emperor’s bedroom.

Absolutely can’t let him off.

I’ll make sure he can never act as a man again!

I bent my knee, preparing to strike a fatal blow to the assassin’s lower body.

Then, the assassin urgently shouted, “Wait!” and removed his own mask.

“…Re, Rinel?!”

“Phew, as expected, my guess was correct.”

He slapped my knee, which was about to hit the vital part of his lower body, with his hand, raising himself.

Then, with an undecided expression on his face, he scratched his lower back with his hand, unsure whether to get angry or laugh.

He needed to apologize, but no words came out.

He couldn’t even blink.

My fist, which was about to smash his vital point, was still clenched.

Rinel pushed me aside near his ankles and lifted me, seating me back on his thigh.

Only then did I find my voice.

“W-what on earth is happening…?”

“Let’s calmly unravel the story. But first, release this fist.”

He lightly tapped my clenched fist with his hand and opened each finger one by one.

“Your Majesty, what is this attire?”

I picked up the mask he had worn from the floor and asked.

“What are you talking about?”

Rinel asked seriously.

For a moment, my breath stopped.

“…How much did you see?”

“Starting from forcibly removing the decorative sword hanging on the wall.”

“Did it look very different?”

“Of course. I haven’t seen you exerting strength like that before.”

“No. I perform swordsmanship with the Empresses…”

“Zelda, people can’t be good at everything.”

“…Yes.”

Even though Rinel didn’t say it, I couldn’t understand what he meant by those words.

From the comforting touch of his hand, I could tell how he evaluated my swordsmanship.

“I really thought you were an assassin.”

“I wanted to test it. If what I feel is correct.”

“When did you know that I… know how to use a sword?”

I asked in a crawling voice, unable to meet his gaze.

Since the moment he held my hand when I grabbed the knife at the banquet?

“When does it matter when I found out? What matters is that you got caught.”

“…Right. Your Majesty has sharp eyes.”

“Why, did you think I was just a handsome face?”

While he continued to rub his lower back area, he said.
What should I do? It seems the pain hasn’t subsided yet…

“No, I think your body is impressive.”

“I noticed you even think that way. Oh, but your punch is really spicy.”

Even though he chuckled briefly, he frowned again as if he could feel pain around his ribs.

I discreetly hid both of my hands behind my back.

Upon doing so, he reached behind me, as if examining an object, and spoke while inspecting my hands.

Actually, the internal injury is healing, but there was no external evidence. I was convinced when I saw you throwing a knife at the banquet today. Still, I tried to mimic an assassin, just in case I was wrong.”

Ah, he knew since then.

“You could have been in big trouble.”

“It’s faster to experience it directly with your body.”

“Even so…”

If he had taken off the mask even a little late, the conflict with the Laphion Empire could have… been severed.

Just thinking about it is dizzying.

“I never imagined I would attack you enough to prevent you from fulfilling your male role.”

Rinel, covering his precious area that almost lost its function tonight, glanced at me with his eyes.