CHAPTER 49…………..
Are You Kidding Me?
The salon party hosted by the Malau Kingdom delegation was proceeding smoothly.
Once Princess Shine guided us and the chancellor’s couple to our seats at the round table, two young Malau envoys swiftly began serving wine and food. Even in their usual uniforms I had noticed it—but truly, every single one of their people was distractingly handsome in a sensual way.
Their long platinum hair was neatly tied back, their black suits perfectly fitted to emphasize tall, lean, muscular frames. Even serving food in those suits, there was nothing awkward about them.
At the sudden entrance of such young, handsome, alluring men, Mick and Duke Xenon turned sharp, hawk-like eyes on us wives. In other words—it was now our turn to keep our faces under control.
The duchess very naturally focused her gaze on the food before her. I, too, calmly looked toward her, wearing a serene expression.
But soon, danger struck. One of the envoys, with unusually red lips and a sweet scent about him, leaned close to refill my champagne glass. And just slightly—so slightly I didn’t even realize it—my lips curved upward in the faintest smile.
Of course, Mick caught it. His brows shot up ferociously. His lips shaped the words:
“Are you kidding me?”
Embarrassed, I quickly grabbed his hand under the table and laced our fingers together. His face showed nothing but deep dissatisfaction, but at least he didn’t pull away.
“For the friendship between the Kingdoms of Fritan and Malau—shall we toast?”
At Princess Shine’s suggestion, we all raised our glasses. The champagne’s bubbles sparkled pleasantly on my tongue.
I picked up one of the fruits from the platter on the table. It looked like a blueberry but was the size of a strawberry.
When I tasted it, it was astonishingly both strawberry and blueberry at once.
“Mick, try this. It’s really delicious.”
Without thinking, I naturally offered one to him. Though his brows were still furrowed, Mick bent down obediently and bit into the fruit I held out.
The flesh burst against his teeth, and juice trickled onto my fingers. Then Mick drew my hand toward him and—licked it clean.
What?! In front of everyone?!
“Prince Mickroc, stop that!!”
“It’s precious fruit. Can’t waste a drop.”
I whispered urgently, trying to pull my hand away, but he ignored me, carefully licking every bit.
The duchess, laughing, slid the entire fruit dish over to her husband.
“I don’t have Her Majesty’s courage. So, Mark—you’ll have to feed yourself.”
“You took the whole platter—clearly you’re bolder than I am, my dear.”
We all burst into laughter.
“There’s plenty more fruit. Please, eat as much as you like.”
At Princess Shine’s signal, fresh plates were promptly set before us. Contrary to my initial worries, the party was turning out to be genuinely pleasant.
After sending the Crown Prince off, Hailey returned to the reception room of the empress’s palace, where Robbie sat stiffly, desperate to leave this thorny place.
He had come because Hailey had requested his discreet presence, only to witness her in the act of adultery with the Crown Prince himself!
Was it mere coincidence, or her intention all along? He couldn’t tell.
“Shall I take care of him?”
The Crown Prince’s words earlier—clearly, they had been about him. Robbie realized this was the moment he had to tread most carefully. One wrong step and he’d be blown to pieces like stepping on a landmine.
Just then, the inner door opened, and Hailey walked in.
“Sorry for keeping you waiting so long after inviting you here.”
This time, at least, her robe was properly tied. She carried a bottle of champagne and two glasses.
“Your Majesty, why did you ask me here?”
“Robbie, why so stiff? Have a drink.”
She addressed him with the same casual familiarity she had used back before her marriage, when they met at the Marquis of Uzkal’s estate.
Robbie drained the glass she handed him in one go. Doing nothing only made his nerves eat him alive.
“Surprised earlier, weren’t you? I didn’t know he would show up either. But graciously enough, he offered to buy the Huroth Mine.”
“The Huroth Mine… Isn’t that the one Marquis Uzkal has been investing heavily into?”
“Oh? You knew?”
“He even proposed investment to my father.”
Hailey laughed loudly.
“Then you must stop him! Now that the Crown Prince has decided to buy, your father will end up like a dog chasing after chickens.”
Robbie stared at her in puzzlement.
“Marquis Uzkal will be in trouble—yet you look pleased?”
“Of course I’m pleased. Because I’m the one who pushed the Crown Prince to buy it.”
“But… why?”
“Because Father doesn’t deserve it.”
For a moment her eyes glittered with icy malice. Then, smiling playfully again, she refilled his glass.
“So—you went to Fritan? How’s Lea?”
“She’s… doing fine, I suppose.”
“And her husband? Is he really the blood-soaked barbarian the rumors say?”
“He’s away at war. I haven’t met him.”
“Imagine that—leaving his new bride just to soak himself in blood.”
She sighed theatrically, then her expression grew serious.
“So, why did the Emperor summon you today?”
Robbie thought of the High Priest in the palace dungeon, of what he had said about Lea. But he didn’t want to tell Hailey.
Still, silence might arouse suspicion, so he decided to reveal just one small fact.
“I heard a strange rumor in Fritan. That Lea healed someone whose tongue had been cut out.”
“Ridiculous. How could she possibly?”
“I didn’t see it myself, so I don’t know the details.”
“Probably nonsense. But if it’s true, all the better.”
“…You mean that?”
“Of course. Robbie, let’s meet often. Talk about things, hm?”
Her sudden friendliness gave him the chance to ask what had weighed on him.
“Isn’t it too dangerous… bringing the Crown Prince to your chambers? What if His Majesty finds out?”
“Then I’ll make sure he doesn’t. If you keep quiet, how would he ever know? What, are you planning to tell him?”
“Of course not!”
Robbie blurted in alarm. Hailey laughed, patting his cheek.
“Life is a gamble. If you don’t take risks, you gain nothing.”
“And what are you trying to gain from the Crown Prince?”
“When the Emperor dies, he promised to make me Empress.”
“…Surely you don’t believe that?”
The claim was so absurd Robbie couldn’t help his disbelief. But Hailey was dead serious.
“Why not? The Crown Prince is already head over heels for me. And how many years does the Emperor have left anyway?”
Her arrogance was staggering. Suddenly, she leaned in close.
Robbie instinctively stepped back—only to feel the sharp edge of a jeweled dagger at his throat.
“The Crown Prince told me to dispose of you with this blade. But I…”
She pressed the tip lightly, leaving a thin red line of blood. Robbie swallowed hard.
“…I want you on my side.”
Her lips brushed his ear as she whispered:
“Someone who can share my dirtiest secrets. What do you say? Will you be my ally?”
He glanced at the dagger, then at her. It sounded like a question, but he knew he had no choice. Even if he escaped tonight, the Crown Prince would never leave him be.
“What exactly are you planning?”
“I’ll bury the Uzkal family in debt. And I’ll put Lea back where she belongs.”
Her triumphant smile revealed a twisted hatred toward Lea that made Robbie’s eyes widen.
“But Lea’s already married to the King of Fritan.”
“Not easy, but not impossible. I’ve been laying the groundwork. So? Do you still like her?”
Hailey studied his startled face, then whispered:
“If you side with me… I might even give you first claim.”
Her treating Lea like an object was infuriating—but Robbie thought, if he stayed close, maybe he’d find a chance to help Lea someday.
“How can I become your ally?”
Seeing the change in his eyes, Hailey smiled victoriously and slowly withdrew the dagger.
After a pause, Robbie asked bitterly:
“To be on your side… do I have to sleep with you too?”
“What? Good heavens, Robbie—what are you thinking?”
Hailey burst into laughter—genuine, tears-in-her-eyes laughter.
Was I wrong?
Robbie flushed crimson in embarrassment.
“Of course, you’re a fine young man. But I have no intention of that with you.”
She patted his cheek, almost maternally.
“To me, you’re still just a kid.”
The childish part of him bristled at that, but in truth, he was relieved. It was one thing for Lea to see him as only a childhood friend—that hurt. But for Hailey to see him as a child—that was a blessing.
“Though… if you insist, I might consider it once.”
“N-no, that’s… not necessary.”
Flustered by her teasing look, his face burned again.
While Robbie cursed his own rashness, Hailey smiled slyly.
“Soon, I’ll have a task for you. Just make sure you carry it out perfectly.”
The salon party, hosted by Malau’s envoys, was far more enjoyable than expected. The foreign music and food were refreshing, and Sir Zulmon steered conversation with charm.
Even Princess Shine, usually so unpredictable and unsettling, sat quietly with a composed smile.
Thanks to that, our original plan—to sit for only an hour before leaving—stretched into nearly two hours of eating, drinking, and laughter.
As the atmosphere ripened, Princess Shine tapped her spoon against a glass. The clear sound drew everyone’s attention.
She began to speak slowly.
“Tomorrow morning, we return to our homeland. As you know, our first purpose here was to deliver the promised one thousand tons of heating magic stones. Our second purpose was…”
She lifted her hair back and looked at Mick.
“…for me to become Prince Mickroc’s concubine. But His Highness refused Malau’s proposal.”
Now her gaze shifted to me. There was a provocation in her eyes I couldn’t quite decipher.
“So now, I make a new proposal. These heating magic stones—Malau holds the processing technique to permanently enhance their performance.”
Our eyes—mine, Mick’s, and the Duke and Duchess’s—widened in shock.
The reason I had always been so sparing with the stones, even with the royal treasury stocked full, was because their lifespan was no more than five years. With such a technique, Fritan’s future would be boundless.
Princess Shine smiled triumphantly and locked eyes with my husband.
“Does that interest you, this time? If so, think carefully about what Fritan is willing to offer in exchange.”
