Rolling in Bed with the Male Lead

"Indeed. If you know that I am aware of her location yet unable to take action, then I suppose you also understand just how exceedingly difficult this matter is."

After letting out a hollow, derisive laugh, the Emperor asked,

"Do you think you are capable of accomplishing what I have failed to do for over a decade...?"

"I can do it."

If it means obtaining the Crown Prince.

A glint of madness flashed in Richard's eyes.

"Provided you pay the price. Properly."

"The price..."

The Emperor let out another hollow laugh.

From his perspective, it was a transaction with no real price to pay.

As Richard had said, he utterly despised the Crown Prince, Cailus.

No, he hated him.

"How truly intriguing."

A twisted smile brushed the Emperor's lips.

He still did not believe Richard would succeed.

However, it was a transaction in which he had nothing to lose.

"I accept the deal."

At last, he nodded.

Safely done.

Having concluded his conversation with the Emperor, Richard left the central palace.

The Imperial Palace garden was bathed in fragmented sunlight. Golden roses lined both sides, their petals scattering in the rustling breeze, while lotus flowers bloomed proudly, one after another, upon the lilac-hued pond.

What needs to be done next...

Recovering the Empress's body, as he had confidently declared before the Emperor.

It should not be too difficult.

I'll need to approach the Chesika Dukedom soon.

Perhaps because he had concluded the deal with the Emperor exactly as planned, without a hitch, his steps felt unusually light.

Then now...

Humming to himself, Richard walked step by step across the bridge stretching over the pond.

I should return to the mansion.

He had been unconscious for two days after drinking poison at the tea party. He had left the Marquise's residence unattended for two full days. If he wanted to avoid a harsh reception, it would be better to return as early as possible.

But as they said, did enemies not meet on a narrow bridge?

"!.."

At the far end of the bridge, he saw Cailus standing motionless, his face frigid.

His navy-blue robe fluttered in the wind.

"I pay my respects to Your Highness the Crown Prince."

Richard promptly gave a formal bow.

"..."

Crimson eyes looked down at Richard for a long while.

"..."

"..."

"?.."

For a long moment, Cailus neither moved aside nor initiated a conversation.

"Did you have something to say?.."

"What did you talk about?"

The blunt question came in a flat, toneless voice.

"Talk about..."

"Yes. I asked what sort of conversation you had with His Majesty the Emperor."

"Hmm."

Richard hesitated briefly, his eyes shifting thoughtfully.

Recalling the Emperor's voice from his recent memory, Richard turned a bright smile toward Cailus.

"I requested that His Majesty give Your Highness the Crown Prince to me."

"Ha."

A hollow laugh escaped Cailus.

"And did he agree to such an absurd request?"

Cailus asked, twisting his lips.

His expression clearly showed that he thought there was absolutely no chance it had been accepted.

"Who knows?"

Richard looked at him and smiled meaningfully.

Then he merely shrugged ambiguously, avoiding a clear answer.

"..."

For a moment, Cailus's face seemed to stiffen, but Richard paid it no mind.

"More importantly..."

Richard took a step closer and raised one corner of his mouth seductively.

"Were you waiting for me?"

"..."

Cailus's face suddenly contorted.

"What nonsense is that?"

As if unwilling to be touched, he took two steps back.

But as if to render that action meaningless, Richard took three steps forward, leaned in, and said,

"I was asking whether Your Highness wanted to see me as well."

Standing on tiptoe, Richard stared intently up at Cailus.

"Is that not so?"

Then he giggled incessantly, like a fox wagging its tail.

"..."

He could see Cailus's brow furrowing fiercely, but he pretended not to notice.

"I missed Your Highness terribly..."

Richard felt a flush rise to his cheeks and smiled bashfully.

A blatant lie. Words he did not mean at all flowed smoothly from his lips.

Missed him, my foot. If I never had to see him again for the rest of my life, I would have nothing else to wish for.

"You..."

Cailus furrowed his brow.

"What on earth are you thinking?"

"Pardon?"

"I remember the day we first met."

His gaze grew cold and still, as if recalling his first meeting with Richard.

"That day, you were clearly... shedding tears for Daphne."

"..."

Ah.

The smile on Richard's lips stiffened slightly for a moment.

That's right.

It had been so long ago that he had nearly forgotten.

Once upon a time, long, long ago.

During the first regression, when he knew nothing.

After Cailus broke off their engagement, Lady Daphne began to waste away, and one day, she lost consciousness and remained collapsed for several days.

Richard's heart had plummeted.

Back then, he had truly thought she was going to die...

Lady Daphne, Lady Daphne... Please wake up...

At her bedside, he prayed to God.

Please, by any means necessary, save her.

And that day, perhaps having heard the news, Cailus also came to Daphne's mansion.

Daphne!..

Entering Daphne's bedroom in a disheveled state, drenched in cold sweat, he turned pale upon seeing her collapsed.

Just what in the world happened...

"Your Highness, do you know where you are?"

That day, facing Cailus properly for the first time, Richard sharply rebuked him.

"Do you know why Lady Daphne has ended up like this?"

He did not know how Cailus truly felt, but to Richard, it seemed as though he was merely pretending to be concerned after callously abandoning her.

"It is all because of Your Highness."

That day, Richard glared at Cailus with icy eyes and spat out each word as if chewing it before hurling it at him. His anger poured forth, heedless of who stood before him.

"Your Highness has no right to be here. Please leave."

That was their first meeting.

"..."

Richard stood frozen for a moment.

"That day, you said those words to me."

Cailus looked at Richard with a chilly gaze.

"You... clearly loved Daphne, did you not?"

His tone suggested suspicion, but not certainty.

"I cannot understand why you have suddenly begun acting this way toward me."

Ah-ha.

The other man was confused.

Fortunately, I haven't been found out.

It seemed he had not yet realized that Richard was merely pretending to love Cailus for Lady Daphne's sake.

Seeing an opening, Richard smiled again, as if questioning why he had frozen.

"That is correct. I did like Lady Daphne."

He spoke affably, as if recounting an old, worn-out story.

"However—"

"..."

"That is no longer the case."

Richard extended an arm.

"The one who holds my heart now—"

His arm wrapped around Cailus's neck.

"Is Your Highness the Crown Prince."

A lie.

Bringing his face closer, Richard continued smoothly, like a snake flicking its tongue.

"The one I love now, the only one to whom I can give my body, is Your Highness."

A blatant lie.

"..."

Thud!

Cailus grabbed Richard by the shoulders and shoved him away with fierce force.

"Young Master Friedrich."

He spoke through gritted teeth, as though chewing each word.

"I do not wish to become entangled with you in this manner."

A chilly breeze brushed Richard's cheek. His rebuke was as cold as the wind.

"I do not like men."

Richard let out a derisive snort.

Well, the feeling is mutual, but...

"You will come to like it."

I'll make sure you do.

Visit and read more novel to help us update chapter quickly. Thank you so much!