The Princess in the Chicken Coop - Chapter 2.7
The size of a country was no longer the important issue. Gender, curse status, or lived experience – none of it mattered in the face of this. In the face of emotions that could be translated into words like responsibility and guilt.
Lenok had experienced firsthand how persistently emotions could weigh on a person. More precisely, he had experienced it when rushing to the battlefield.
Unlike Lady Mabeline’s expectations, Lenok understood the former emperor’s intentions more clearly than anyone.
Until he went into battle, his eyes had been half-closed with excitement and elation, but they were forced open by the spurting blood. Even the smallest skirmish was still a battlefield. When he first set foot in that place where people died and blood sprayed, he realized painfully. That he was the crown prince, and his friends were merely shields protecting him, prettily packaged.
There was no way he could run away. Yet there were countless people who had been wounded in his place, taking blows meant for him.
Standing above others as a ruler meant not breaking down in such moments – this he realized then.
‘The heir to the Syenn Kingdom.’
The white chicken visible between his fingers, no matter how hard he tried, looked nothing like the woman in the portrait, but at least she seemed like some kind of ruler.
‘Chicken ruler…’
Lenok unconsciously rolled the words around in his mouth. He frowned when he realized he didn’t find it that bad.
Regardless, their goals were the same. The method was also clear. So what else could they do? They had to proceed.
“Lady Mabeline…”
He continued speaking while searching inside his garment.
“No. You don’t know anything about the social circles here. Hmm… right. Duchess Dalia.”
[You mean Diowell……]
“Ah. They married three years ago. Already have two children. Though it took my constant effort and help to bring them together, but let’s put that aside. Anyway, she controls the social circles.”
‘I’m sure I stuffed it somewhere in here.’
Lenok finally managed to grab the edge of the book while grumbling about why he had so many useless things in his possession. Of course, Soria was bewildered by the emperor who couldn’t help but boast even while talking about Mabeline.
She lowered her gaze to the book that Lenok half-threw.
Actually, it was a bit crude to call it a book. It was more like dozens of different-sized papers roughly bound together.
However, Soria didn’t rudely comment on the Crotia Empire’s publishing standards.
That was only possible because she didn’t know it was a compilation of pages written by various ladies in the social circle.
Unaware of Soria’s thoughts, Lenok was pondering something else.
He wanted to tear off the grandiose title “Love Guide” on the cover. But he decided against it, fearing the papers might come apart.
Instead, he opened the first page for Soria, who had no hands.
“They all claim to be knowledgeable about love, so I thought it wouldn’t hurt to hear their advice.”
It made sense.
Soria nodded in agreement. She raised her heavy body, maneuvered around the teacup, and waddled over to the book.
“As you’ll see on the first page, the most important thing in these matters is what you call each other.”
[……Terms of endearment?]
“Yes. Usually, lovers don’t formally use names but use pet names, right?”
Soria was shocked. She looked at Lenok with an expression of disbelief.
Although she was currently in a chicken’s body, she was once the sole heir and princess of the Syenn Kingdom, not only called a genius but also the very person whose beauty had inspired the creation of an enormous portrait.
[Terms of endearment……]
Moreover, the Syenn Kingdom was quite liberal regarding romance. Thanks to that, Soria had witnessed countless relationships form and end.
She knew more about such matters than Lenok. That’s why she thought he must be joking.
What couple uses terms like “fiancé” or “darling” before even becoming lovers? The very idea that such words alone could create love was absurd.
However, His Majesty the Emperor, who was deeply contemplating each term of endearment written by the ladies, didn’t seem to be joking at all.
“Yes. Terms of endearment. There are several options, but ‘darling’ seems suitable for a start. What do you think?”
[……Your Majesty.]
“What is it?”
[I’m asking this just in case, really just in case. Well, since you said you’ve never kissed anyone, naturally you wouldn’t have dated either, but.]
Lenok’s eyebrow twitched at the word ‘naturally’.
“What?”
She carefully chose her words upon seeing Lenok’s apparently displeased expression.
Such conversations were always sensitive. But how could she phrase this carefully? Soria decided to just close her eyes tight and blurt it out.
[No. Of course, you might have met someone. But, but Your Majesty, su-surely you haven’t never experienced first love?]
If Megan had been present, she would have turned pale. Not only that, she would have caused an uproar, threatening to cut off her own ears for hearing such irreverent words. But fortunately, she was outside. And that was extremely fortunate for Lenok as well.
“What in the!!!”
Lenok jumped up from his seat and slammed both hands on the table with a bang!
An emperor should never fully reveal their emotions at any time. This was something taught repeatedly from a very young age, and its importance was well understood.
And Lenok, the young emperor of the Crotia Empire, who had received quite a lot of praise for maintaining such composure…
“I finished with such juvenile matters back in my snot-nosed days!!”
Shouted with his ears burning bright red.
Soria listened to this outburst quietly and thought. This man truly believed that simply calling each other ‘darling’ would be enough.
‘Oh my goodness!’
If she could find the grave of the wizard who cursed her, she would want to grab even their skeletal remains by the collar.
***
Diowell pondered.
After working himself to the bone and returning, why had the imperial palace’s atmosphere turned murky instead of rosy?
He wasn’t expecting them to be passionately in love and playing hide-and-seek. But shouldn’t there at least be some blushing faces, conversations, and perhaps accidental touching of hands?
Wandering around looking for someone to explain the situation, Diowell finally heard the full story from an unusually enthusiastic Megan.
His Majesty’s voice had been so loud that everyone waiting outside the door had heard the outburst. As a result, the rumor spread instantly – that the Empire’s great Emperor had never actually experienced first love.
Meanwhile, the relationship between Soria and Lenok was growing increasingly distant from intimacy.
“I think the lady needs to step in.”
After hearing this much, Diowell immediately appealed to Mabeline. If it had been an enemy invasion, that would have been manageable. No, it would have been better since there would be a clear enemy to defeat. But when it came to the invisible push and pull between the Emperor and Princess, even the Grand Magician had no choice but to surrender.
It was only natural that Mabeline, standing at the pinnacle of social circles and handling countless love consultations, pressed her forehead in concern.
“I’ve heard the atmosphere isn’t good, but since His Majesty has kept such tight lips about it, even I haven’t heard the details. What exactly is the situation?”
“…You should probably hear it directly.”
“Well… you’re right. It’s not something to speak of lightly.”
Mabeline nodded and rang the bell to summon a maid. After instructing the maid to prepare for going out, she patted her husband’s shoulder.
“Don’t worry. I’ll handle this.”
She truly had no idea.
That Lenok had brought a so-called ‘romance’ guide to Soria, who hadn’t even grasped the basic concept of romance, lecturing her on how things should be done.
It was inevitable that in the near future, Mabeline would grab the back of her neck, saying that wasn’t what she had advised them to do.
