Chapter 44…………………….
What Kind of Wish Is That?
Thanks to the Empress of the Harlan Empire, who had worked hard for a long time, the imperial family was finally gathered for an intimate meal together.
But because the Emperor arbitrarily arranged the seating, the Empress—already displeased from the start—finally lost her temper during the meal.
It was because the Emperor kept leaning unusually close to Hailey, and because Hailey herself was letting out strange, suggestive sounds.
“I can’t endure this any longer.”
The Empress sprang to her feet.
She shoved the table forward roughly and lifted the tablecloth draping toward the Emperor and Hailey.
Dishes clattered and food spilled everywhere, but the Empress didn’t care.
“What outrageous act are you committing in the middle of a meal?!”
Under the lifted tablecloth, Hailey’s voluminous skirt was rucked up, and the Emperor’s hand was resting on her pale thigh.
Blushing furiously, Hailey hastily pulled her skirt back down.
“I’m too disgusted to dine here any longer. I will excuse myself first.”
“W-we shall also take our leave.”
As soon as the Empress withdrew from the table, the Crown Prince couple and the other consorts also rose one by one.
“Your Majesty, please, not here…”
At that moment, Hailey’s flustered voice echoed through the hall. The Empress, who had been leading the way out, turned back fiercely.
The Emperor had forgotten all decorum and was kneeling on the floor, pressing his lips to Hailey’s foot.
“You are the Emperor of the Empire! You must maintain your dignity!”
“You said you were leaving. Why are you still here?”
When the furious Empress shouted, her face red, the Emperor turned his head and snapped irritably.
At last, the Empress clutched her neck in fury and, supported by the Crown Prince couple, stormed out of that hellish place.
*
“This is truly unbelievable.”
Robbie muttered in a daze.
“If I hadn’t heard it directly from Her Highness the Crown Princess, who was present herself, I wouldn’t have believed it either.”
Baron Clamin’s daughter shook her head, then leaned in and lowered her voice.
“There’s something even more shocking.”
“Even more shocking than this?”
Clearly enjoying all the eyes now fixed on her, she looked around at each of them and spoke.
“Just before leaving the banquet hall, the Crown Princess turned back, curious about the seductress’s expression. For any woman who still knew shame, wouldn’t it have been natural to rush out and throw herself from the top of the palace?”
“Of course! Of course!”
“But instead, that woman looked straight at His Highness the Crown Prince—and laughed.”
“What?!”
The young ladies fanned themselves frantically, their faces flushing. Their words were full of indignation, but their eyes sparkled with the thrill of gossip more exciting than any romance novel.
“The Crown Princess confessed she felt the urge to gouge out the woman’s eyes on the spot.”
“Obviously! How dare she look at His Highness like that…”
The more Robbie listened, the more dizzy and nauseous he felt. The Hailey they described seemed nothing like the woman he thought he knew.
Just then, a knock came at the door, and the Emperor’s page entered.
“His Majesty requests the presence of Lord Robbie Stone.”
Relieved, Robbie quickly stood up.
*
“Raise the sword higher, Lea. Watch your waist! Left foot back! Relax your shoulders!”
Mick stood blindfolded at the center of the training ground, his feet bound together.
I swung my sword tirelessly, desperate to at least brush his clothes, but Mick blocked every strike with his wooden blade while never ceasing to scold me.
“Haah… haah… It’s not that I don’t know what to do. My body just won’t listen… haah…”
At last, I stabbed the sword into the ground and bent over, gasping for breath.
When I first asked Mick to spar, he had hesitated, worried I might get hurt.
“Don’t worry. I’ve been training in swordsmanship for ten years. I can protect myself.”
We finally agreed he would fight blindfolded with his feet bound, and only defend.
“The loser has to grant the winner a wish.”
Seeing him tied up and blindfolded gave me confidence, and I rashly suggested that wager.
“Fine. If you manage fifty strikes and your blade even grazes my clothes, I’ll count that as my loss.”
That’s how the bet began.
But after two hours of continuous attacks, I still hadn’t touched him once.
“Lea, I think that was your fiftieth strike.”
“Haah… Not yet. From the beginning again!”
“That’s already the fifth restart!”
“Thanks to me, you’ve already accumulated four wishes!”
“Fine, but this will be the last time.”
I steadied my breath and focused all my attention on my sword tip.
I couldn’t disgrace my teacher, one of the five greatest knights in the empire.
I slashed toward his right side.
The moment his wooden blade blocked me perfectly, I dropped my sword, drew a dagger from my belt, spun, and pressed into his left chest.
“Lea?”
Blindfolded, he instinctively embraced me as I pressed closer into him.
Smiling triumphantly, I placed the flat of my dagger against his throat.
“Prince Micklock, this time I win.”
I said sweetly. He pulled off his blindfold.
“To be defeated by a dagger… I grew careless.”
In an instant, he snatched the dagger from me and threw it far away, then pulled me tightly into his arms.
“All right, name your wish. What do you want?”
“You first. You’ve got four saved up.”
“You insisted on this wager, not me. I don’t really…”
“Then should I cancel them all?”
“As if I’d let that happen!”
He laughed mischievously, then pressed a loud kiss to my lips.
“That’s my first wish. Come to my chambers tonight.”
“W-what? What kind of wish is that?”
“Just imagining you walking into my room at night… the thought alone makes me crazy with excitement.”
He lowered his lips to my neck again. Come to think of it, he did seem strangely obsessed with my neck…
“Mick, wait! I’m sweaty and a mess right now!”
After two hours of fighting, I was drenched. Panicked, I pushed him away with all my strength. Of course, he didn’t budge.
“Even your sweat tastes sweet to me…”
Ugh! Even I thought that was too much.
“So will you grant my wish?”
Come to think of it, I’d never been the one to visit his chambers first. He always came to me before I had the chance.
“…If nothing else comes up.”
“The fewer clothes you wear, the better. None at all would be perfect.”
He whispered in my ear.
What?! In broad daylight, saying something so scandalous—I could only turn red and fall silent.
“Do you want to ruin your queen’s reputation?”
I tugged on his hair in protest, but he only laughed heartily and hugged me tighter.
At that moment, Millie entered cautiously.
“Forgive me, Your Highness. A message from Chief Attendant Collin: the Malau delegation’s leader requests an audience.”
“Hm…”
So, Princess Shine of Malau was finally making her move. Since she requested a formal audience, he couldn’t refuse.
“Should I just refuse? What a nuisance.”
“You’ll have to meet her eventually. You can’t keep her holed up in the western wing forever.”
“True. I’ll use this meeting to set their departure date.”
He sighed lightly, then turned to Millie.
“Tell them to come to the East Palace audience chamber in an hour.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
After Millie left, I picked up the discarded blindfold and muttered.
“I almost wish you’d wear this while meeting her.”
“Whether I wear it or not, I won’t see her.”
He gently brushed my sweat-soaked hair back, strand by strand.
But still—she was the Malau princess, whose every breath dripped with seduction. Sending my husband to her was unbearable.
“Tell her this: if she keeps eyeing my husband, I’ll rip out every strand of that luscious hair of hers.”
“Even your jealousy is adorable.”
“Don’t laugh. I’m dead serious.”
He lifted me in his arms, spinning me around.
“Ahh, Mick!!”
When he set me down, he kissed me deeply. No matter how many times, the sensation made my breath quicken.
After a long, heated kiss, he finally released me.
“I’ll finish quickly. Go rest in your chambers. If you’re bored, think of what wish you’ll demand from me. Whatever it is, I’ll grant it.”
“I have an appointment with Duke Xenon this afternoon. I’m very busy, you know.”
I pouted, pretending to sulk, and he laughed loudly. Holding my cheeks in both hands, he planted another kiss on me.
“See you later.”
He turned and left the training ground.
I remained behind, touching my lips, savoring the sweet aftertaste of his kiss.
*
After his shower, Micklock changed and went to his office, where Princess Shine awaited him as the representative of her delegation.
Her long uniform, buttoned to the throat like a priest’s robe, was covered with a blue cloak.
Relieved she wasn’t half-dressed and ready to throw herself at him again, Micklock greeted her calmly.
“You’re early.”
“There is something I must confirm without delay.”
Her expression was cold and serious—so different from the reckless woman who had once barged into his bedroom.
He gestured for her to sit.
“What is it?”
“I heard that on this campaign, you annihilated the Maon tribe.”
“And?”
“Were they annihilated because they were weak? Or because they were demons?”
At the unexpected question, Micklock’s brow furrowed.
“Why do you ask?”
“Because my decision depends on your answer.”
Micklock sighed lightly and looked straight at her.
“The last survivor of the Maon, Ludik Maon, asked me the very same question.”
Shine’s eyes widened in shock. Micklock leaned back slowly in his chair.
“And my answer then is the same as it is now.”
