CHAPTER 053
This time, it was the Emperor who was at a loss for words.
Throughout his life, he had never lost an argument, nor had he ever been bested in any other aspect—of course. Yet, this young girl consistently rendered him speechless.
What was even more astonishing was that she had no idea of the influence she wielded over the Emperor.
"Your Majesty cannot understand the speech of animals?"
With wide, curious eyes, Arabelle asked, and the Emperor, after a moment of thought, responded.
"Do you... understand the speech of all animals? Birds in the sky, fish in the water?"
Arabelle laughed, her eyes forming crescent moons, as she answered.
"Oh, Your Majesty, I am neither a sorcerer nor a superhuman."
"Is that so? Ha, ha..."
"Unless a bird flies close to me or a fish comes out of the water to talk, I cannot hear them."
Once again, no words escaped the Emperor's trembling lips.
Right. Just as humans can't hear through walls, she wouldn't be able to hear animals from a distance.
He fed her a few honey-roasted almonds and asked,
"Then, does that mean you can understand the sounds of animals that are close by? Livestock and wild animals alike?"
Arabelle, chewing the sweet almond on her cheek, answered as if he was stating the obvious.
"Yes. Like everyone else."
"Everyone else? Who do you mean?"
"...The people of the world...?"
Arabelle responded with a worried look as if the Emperor had asked if she could understand the common language of the Empire.
The Emperor's Adam's apple bobbed noticeably, though his expression remained composed. As he wiped a trace of honey from the corner of his mouth with his thumb and brought it to his lips, he gazed into her clear eyes.
"Who among the people you know told you that they could understand the language of animals?"
Arabelle thought for a moment and then shook her head slightly.
"No one ever did..."
Her wide eyes looked at the Emperor.
"Just like people don’t explicitly state that they speak the Empire's language. It's simply known to everyone."
That was indeed true.
After taking a deep breath, the Emperor spoke slowly, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear with his long fingers.
"Lady Arabelle, I cannot understand the speech of animals."
Arabelle's already large eyes widened further.
Then, filled with pity, she gently placed her hands over his.
"That must be very inconvenient. I didn't know... Did something happen to you in your childhood? Or is it due to the curse?"
She seemed to think he had lost his hearing due to some unfortunate accident.
The Emperor placed his other hand over hers, patting it gently. His ruby eyes reflected her innocent gaze as he spoke softly.
"As far as I know, no one else in this world can understand or use the language of animals except for you."
"W-what do you mean by that...?"
Arabelle’s wide eyes began to lose focus, looking as if they had lost their way.
It was as if someone suddenly told her that no one else in the world understood the language she had spoken all her life.
Seeing her stiffen with shock, the Emperor drew her closer, resting her head against his chest. As her breathing evened out, her anxiety seemed to subside.
Gently stroking her flushed cheek with the back of his hand, he asked,
"When did you first start understanding the speech of animals?"
Arabelle thought for a moment before shaking her head.
"I don't know. I think I've always understood it, ever since I started speaking."
"Then, you can speak to animals as well?"
In his embrace, Arabelle nodded silently.
The puzzle pieces were starting to fit together. When she helped Baron Kender's racehorse during its difficult birth when she waved at the animals crying out from the fields as they left the village when she saved a fawn wounded by a hunter’s arrow and returned it to its mother, when she led numerous wild animals out of the forest fire... She had been communicating with them all along.
He had dismissed her kind words to animals as nothing more than the common practice of people talking to their pets. But who would truly believe that she could converse with them?
He had simply thought she had a remarkable ability to empathize with animals. With his lips resting on the top of her round head, a sharp gleam crossed the Emperor’s crimson eyes.
Arabelle’s ability was not merely useful for caring for pets and livestock. It had vast implications for warfare, trade, livestock farming, and even fisheries.
In a situation where the trade routes of the southwestern continent were disrupted by herds of wild buffalo, her ability would be invaluable. Furthermore, her ability could easily resolve the repeated vulture attacks whenever they attempted to expand into the northern continent.
If animals could be trained to disrupt and attack enemies during war... Arabelle could become the Empire’s greatest weapon, significantly advancing his ambition to conquer the continent.
The ambitious Emperor Maxwell's heart began to race.
At that moment, Arabelle raised her head from his chest, her wide eyes looking up at him.
"Your Majesty, are you feeling unwell?"
Arabelle asked with a concerned look in her eyes. The Emperor narrowed his eyes and asked in return.
"Why do you think so?"
"Your heart suddenly started beating very fast. I was worried that it might be because I've been sitting on your lap for too long..."
Arabelle asked because she felt the rapid pounding of his heart against her cheek.
His previously cool, darkened red eyes began to waver when they met her sincere, innocent gaze. Realizing that he had considered using her for his ambitions, the Emperor felt a chill run down his spine.
He was ashamed of the word "human weapon" that had crossed his mind, and for the first time, he couldn't bear to look her in the eyes.
The Emperor wrapped his arms tightly around her small, slender body that fit easily within his embrace, closing his eyes. His sharp nose softly brushed against her earlobe and jawline, but the color drained from his face.
If people found out about her ability... just as he had moments ago, many would seek to exploit her. Kingdoms would devise all sorts of schemes and might even resort to kidnapping to control her.
The thought of "kidnapping" made the Emperor clench his jaw tightly, his teeth grinding.
The Emperor gently took Arabelle's chin with his fingers, guiding her face towards his, and asked quietly.
"Is there anyone who knows you can speak with animals?"
"No, I just assumed everyone could and never mentioned it."
A sigh of relief escaped the Emperor's lips involuntarily.
The Emperor softly took her chin, aligning her gaze with his, and spoke.
"Lady Arabelle, can you make me a promise?"
Seeing the seriousness in his expression, Arabelle nodded without hesitation.
While he appreciated her immediate willingness to agree without a trace of doubt, he realized it was dangerous to agree to promises without knowing what they were about. He made a mental note to caution her about this in the future.
"Promise me you will never tell anyone that you can talk to animals. Can you do that?"
Arabelle's wide eyes met his, filled with trust, and she slowly nodded. Without asking for a reason, she made the promise, her light brown eyes full of faith in him.
"I promise."
The Emperor leaned in close to her round face, almost touching.
When his warm breath flowed over her pink lips, her long eyelashes fluttered. Supporting her small head comfortably with one hand and wrapping the other around her back, he pulled her close, ensuring no space remained between them.
As she started to relax in his arms, her body softening into his embrace, he kissed her tender lips, parting them gently, releasing a sweet scent that tantalized his senses.
No matter what happens... he would protect her from harm. He would shield her from pain.
As he took in the breath of this lovely, trusting creature, the Emperor vowed to himself.
***
The gentle exchange of breath between their touching lips soon turned into a passionate struggle, each seeking the other more desperately.
Whenever her swollen lips, unable to keep up with his pace, gasped for air, he soothed her with his breath. But his large lips remained, relentlessly consuming everything.
There was no time for her to feel embarrassed about what was happening inside her mouth. Each time his head moved vigorously, and her spine tingled with heat, her toes curled with the sensation.
When her inexperienced body twisted and tried to pull away, the Emperor's hands quickly caught her waist, pulling her back into his embrace.
Each time the burning presence touched the depths of her mouth, a soft, strange sound escaped her lips. When she tried to close her mouth in shock, he bit her lower lip lightly with his sharp canine, displeased.
"Your Majesty, it's time for Lady Arabelle to return to the auxiliary palace."
The voice of Antonio, the Emperor's second chief secretary, came from outside the audience room. He was reminding them that the curfew for all empress candidates was approaching.
The two lovers, brought back to their senses by Antonio's words, looked at each other.
Arabelle's body, which had been lying between the Emperor and the table, had moved without her realizing it. Hearing Antonio's cough, the Emperor's hands clenched into fists, the knuckles turning white.
"Hoo..."
He exhaled hot breath onto her pale neck adorned with red marks, reluctantly lifting his upper body. Embracing her still trembling form, he gently patted her back.
Pressing his lips to her sweaty forehead, he tried to calm his own excitement.
"I need to shorten the competition period to one month."
The Emperor's heated gaze fell on her moist lips, and she smiled shyly, thinking he was joking, wriggling her fingers in his intertwined hands.
However, late that night, after Arabelle had returned to the auxiliary palace, Emperor Maxwell convened an emergency meeting with the selection committee for the Empress's contest.
With cold eyes and a haughty smile, he spoke to them.
"I failed to consider your concern for the Empire."
The committee members, who had gathered hastily before bed, looked blankly at the Emperor, not understanding his words.
"Being confined in the palace for over two months for the Empress's selection must have caused you considerable anxiety about the Empire. With talents like yours absent, it's only natural that things wouldn't run smoothly. You must have silently criticized the lengthy competition as a waste of taxes."
The Emperor frowned slightly and sighed deeply.
"I gathered you here to alleviate your worries about the Empire. I know what you plan to propose at tomorrow's meeting."
The committee members exchanged puzzled glances. There was nothing they planned to propose at the meeting the next day.
With a benevolent voice, the Emperor continued, his lips curling slightly.
"I know you intend to ask me to shorten the competition to one month at tomorrow's meeting. So, don't wait until tomorrow, request it now. How could I refuse your deep concern for the Empire?"
The committee members glanced at each other, then slowly began to voice their request, sounding very natural and sincere as if it were their idea.
***
The next day,
"We announce that the competition period for the Empress's selection has been changed from two months to one month."
The palace messenger delivered the unanimous decision of the selection committee to the eleven candidates.
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