The Abandoned Empress

“What happened? If you were hurt, you should have told me in advance.”

“Because of the urgent situation…”

“As the wounds seemed severe, let’s go back first. Let me hear the details later.”

“But Sir Monique, if you go back now, they might gossip about you, saying you gave up hunting. Please think twice about it.”

“Well…”

I was agonized. He had a point, but I could not leave the wounded servant untreated.

What should I do? The best way is to send them back and join other groups while other servants come to my place, or reunite with the dispersed knights.

I wonder if anybody is passing by this place.

At that moment, I heard the sound of the horn at a close distance. I felt it sounded like Marquis Enesil’s horn, so I looked around at the two servants..

“Okay, can you go back and receive treatment? Also, you go and bring me another servant who is taking a break at the moment. All you have to do is go in the direction where you just heard the horn.”

“But Sir Monique.”

“Hurry up! Don’t you know that it’s more dangerous to hesitate now? I’m going to join them over there, so come back as soon as you find another servant.”

“Oh, I see.”

“Okay. Then go now!”

After sending back the hesitant servants, I quickly rode the horse in the direction where the horn was fading away. It was safe for me to catch up and join them before missing them.

However, it was not long before I pulled the reins to slow down because I felt something strange about the horse.

What the heck is this? It looked like the horse was limping.

When I got off the saddle and looked closely, I noticed a wound on its ankle. It seems to have been injured while avoiding the bear. I thought it was okay, but obviously even the horse didn’t know it was injured because it was also surprised by the bear.

‘What should I do?’

If I had known it in advance, I would have gotten out of the woods with the servants. It was too late now.

I listened for the distant horn for a while, then sighed. As they were too far away from me, I felt it would be better to get out of the woods rather than join them.

When I walked for a long time, looking around carefully, I saw a group of people running from a distance. I unwittingly moaned while looking at them with both joy and anxiety.

‘Dang it! Why are they coming this way…’

Just in case, I stepped to the side, but they came right up to me before stopping. It was my wishful thinking that they would just pass by me.

“… I’m honored to see the Sun of the Emperor!”

“Why are you here alone?”

“Oh, something happened. By the way, why are you only with the royal knights?”

“Well, I wanted to be free and easy, so I told my entourage to leave me and have free time.

By the way, it looks like your horse was wounded. Are you okay?”

“Yes, I am fine.”

“That’s good.” He nodded, then reached out to me.

‘What does this mean?’

When I blinked, at a loss about what to do, he said with a sigh, “Get on my horse.”

“Your Majesty.”

“It’s very far from here to the main building, so I can’t leave you alone here. I can’t have you ride the wounded horse, either.”

“If you insist, can I use a spare horse?”

“Hurry up. I don’t want to order you.”

“… Okay, Your Majesty. ”

Swallowing a sigh, I grabbed his hand and climbed onto the horse. After he ordered a royal knight to bring Silvia back, he spurred his horse. The horse, blowing from the mouth, began to run at full gallop, fluttering its white mane.

I flinched at his warmth as he was right behind me on the horse. The refreshing scent that tickled the tip of my nose made my heart beat fast. Every time the horse hit the ground, the hem of his outfit touched the ground, making a rustling sound.

At that moment, I stiffened at someone’s sudden voice.

“What happened? I saw you going into the woods with competent knights.”

“Oh, there was an accident.”

“I see. I’m glad you’re okay. ”

“I’m sorry for worrying you, Your Majesty.”

I felt goosebumps when I felt his breathing near my ears, and I shrunk into myself.

“Given the sound of the horn, it looks like you hunted a lot of game today. Do you have a hobby in hunting?”

“No, Your Majesty, but I often went hunting with my friends.”

“… With your friends. I see.”

He remained silent after that, and I also looked ahead silently.

The fresh scent of the forest touched the tip of my nose and the cool breeze touched my face. The sound of the cheerful horses’ hooves was heard everywhere, and the golden sun was shining amid the musicians’ joyful playing.

Suddenly, my hair tied in a band got loose and blown by the wind. And my hair that had been loosely tied was fluttering like snow.

When I was carried away with the beautiful melodies of the music, the horse suddenly went heehaw roughly and raised its front legs high.

My staggering body quickly leaned back, but he wrapped my waist with one hand, swallowing a moan. I felt he strained his body to keep his balance.

“Your Majesty!”

The royal knights who followed him shouted urgently, and the excited horse moved back with heehaw. A rabbit, surprised by the sudden noise, jumped into the bush.

I sighed, watching the rabbit hopping away in the front. Although I felt empty, I thought it’s fortunate it was a rabbit, not a bear. If it had been the wounded bear, there would have been a big fuss again.

“Are you alright, Your Majesty?”

“I’m okay.”

“Your Majesty, I don’t know when this will happen again, so please allow us to return to the escort formation, so we can protect you.”

“Sure, but keep some distance from me.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Only then did I realize the source of my discomfort that I began to feel for some time.

It was none other than the formation of the royal knights escorting him.

In order to escort the emperor in the open air, the royal knights were supposed to be positioned at the front and rear, as well as on the left and right respectively. But they were following him from behind for some reason. Obviously, there was no chance that they caused trouble to the emperor, so it was the emperor who issued such an order. I wondered why he wanted this kind of strange security formation.

“Maybe the horses as well as you knights must have been surprised. Try to find a place to take a break nearby. ”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

When the royal knight left the place, he asked me in a calm voice as if nothing had happened, “Are you okay? Aren’t you surprised? ”

“I’m fine. Are you really okay, Your Majesty?”

“Oh, I’m fine. Thanks for your consideration.”

“You’re welcome.”

While watching the knights moving around here and there, I suddenly paid attention to his arm around my waist. When I fanned with my hand after breathing in, he said after pausing for a moment, “Are you hot?”

“Oh, not really, Your Majesty.”

“Well, it’s already midsummer. I’m glad it’s not as hot as last year. ”

“I agree. I think it’s all thanks to you.”

Now I thought that the only relationship between him and me was that of the king and his vassal, but his conversation with me, starting from yesterday, kept bringing back memories of the past.

Was it because of that? The more I talked with him, the more uncomfortable I felt.

Maybe it was because of the music box Orgel in question. When I discovered the tiara in the doll’s hair, I was confused.

I thought I might want to ask him the reason even now, but I couldn’t for some reason. I vowed several times to pluck up the courage to ask him, but I couldn’t. Only

When I was only biting my lip, upset about myself, I heard him whispering, “I think it’s my first time seeing you in a hunting outfit. It looks good on you.”

“… Thank you, Your Majesty. ”

I flinched when his breathing touched my temple. I kept stroking the horse’s mane as I felt awkward, with my head down. I was very tired.

I wish I could go back, but he wouldn’t allow it. He said he would go back after taking a brief break.

“Well… ”

“… ”

“Come to think of it, you remember that silver flower, right?”

‘Huh? Silver flower? ‘