Rolling in Bed with the Male Lead

Bilmar Chesika's life had not been an easy one.

The bastard son of a duke.

His origins held him back at every turn.

Don't even think about coveting the position of successor.

Tsk, filthy bastard.

Bilmar had been forced to live in constant anxiety simply to survive.

While others breathed easy, he had to evade his brothers' poison and blades. While others enjoyed leisurely teatimes, he had to sharpen his sword and never lower his guard.

Ten years.

That was exactly how long it took.

Ten years to kill every brother who had tried to kill him and claim the position of successor.

He gained power through blood.

His own blood and his brothers' blood.

However.

Just when he had overcome every hardship and barely managed to become head of the family—

His Imperial Majesty's little sun, His Highness the Crown Prince, is entering!

There was a man who had claimed the highest authority without shedding a single drop of blood.

The Crown Prince, Raios le Regnantia.

"The slave system is necessary. A stable supply of labor is essential to fill the national treasury. There are clear limits to relying solely on imperial citizens, and no system is as cost-effective as slavery. It is a cold but inevitable choice."

Whenever Bilmar pursued practical measures, Raios, who had been raised like a flower in a greenhouse, would say:

"No. Ignoring the suffering of slaves for immediate profit is no different from selling one's own soul. The slave system brings neither stability nor prosperity to anyone. It must be abolished."

He spouted such nonsensical ideals, and—

"Ha, let us assume we abolish it as Your Highness suggests. Do you truly believe slavery will disappear entirely? The Empire cannot function without slaves. Even if the slave system is abolished, slaves will still be traded openly in the shadows."

"The very premise that the Empire cannot function without slaves is wrong. No matter how arduous the process may be, if a system is unjust, should it not be uprooted?"

He clashed with Bilmar, whose opinions differed from his, on every issue.

Bilmar disliked Raios le Regnantia.

As expected of His Highness the Crown Prince!

How can he be so merciful!

The people who foolishly praised him.

"Let us break off our engagement. I will marry His Highness the Crown Prince."

And the former fiancée who had abandoned him—Bilmar disliked them all.

But above all...

"Are you all right, Your Grace?"

The sight of Raios reaching out to him with what seemed like genuine concern.

Damnably radiant.

Raios le Regnantia.

That name was loathsome enough to kill for.

Bilmar hated him.

His political rival.

His rival in love.

And his [N O V E L I G H T] mortal enemy.

He could not bear the light and mercy radiating from that man who knew nothing.

Raios le Regnantia.

He did not know how many times he had chewed over that cursed name.

He thought of him thousands of times a day.

Bilmar wanted to tear him apart...

"Let us become friends."

To strike Raios from behind once he lowered his guard, Bilmar decided to disguise himself as a friend.

"Would you care to join me for lunch, Your Highness?"

Hoping to poison his food one day, he shared meals with him daily.

"Would you care to go hunting with me?"

Hoping to put an arrow through his chest while pretending to aim at game, he often went hunting with him.

In other words...

Everything was for the sake of Raios's ruin.

Then, one day.

"I've decided to marry Elica. I'm sorry, Bilmar."

Raios cautiously broached the subject.

He told Bilmar that he intended to marry Bilmar's former fiancée.

Ah.

Bilmar could not conceal the way his expression hardened.

His pounding heart, the burning in his chest, his dizzying, distorted vision...

Clearly...

"Clearly... the last time we met, you did not seem pleased to see me."

Bilmar walked leisurely toward the drawing room.

Creeeak—

As the drawing-room door opened, two silver-trimmed velvet sofas facing each other came into view beneath the dim candlelight. Firewood burned vigorously in the fireplace, and a small marble table stood atop the soft violet carpet.

"It is quite impressive that you have deigned to seek me out again."

Bilmar smiled faintly and gestured toward the sofa with his gaze.

"I am exceedingly pleased."

A fine teacup and teapot had been arranged neatly on the table before him.

"..."

Raios silently took his seat on the sofa in the place of honor. His lips slowly parted.

"To think that I have deigned to come here... Is that what you said?"

"..."

"Do you..."

Raios bared his teeth coldly, his red eyes gleaming.

"See me as a foolish ruler swayed by petty emotions?"

"Hmm."

Bilmar did not answer.

He merely stared intently at Raios, as though trying to gauge his thoughts.

Soon, Bilmar sat on the sofa opposite him and spoke.

"Were you not?"

"What?"

"Since Your Majesty lost Her Majesty the Empress... I have not seen you rule with a sound mind..."

Bilmar slowly raised his teacup. After taking a sip of the warm tea, he lowered his eyelids.

"Ah."

"..."

"That was impudent of me. I beg your forgiveness."

"..."

Raios clenched his molars.

"However..."

Tap.

Bilmar elegantly set down his teacup and continued.

"Given how deeply you despise me, may I ask why you have come to see me personally?"

"..."

Raios glared at Bilmar with bloodshot eyes.

"I obtained information that you had made contact with Richard Friedrich."

"Oh."

"What sort of scheme are you concocting?"

"..."

After a brief silence, Bilmar smiled faintly and folded his hands over his knees.

"Is there any need for me to explain my plans in detail, Your Majesty?"

Raios narrowed his eyes and glared at Bilmar.

"There is."

"Why?"

"How am I to know what sinister things you might be plotting?"

"Hmm."

Bilmar raised his cup as though savoring another sip of tea.

"Sinister things..."

His violet eyes gleamed coldly.

"Like what happened 'that time,' you mean?"

Raios's tightly clenched fist twitched. Grinding his teeth, he spoke as though spitting out every word.

"Yes."

His suppressed voice seemed to hold back the murderous urge to seize Bilmar and kill him then and there.

"Why did you do it?"

"..."

"Are you asking why?"

The end of his sentence trembled with anger.

"Why on earth... did you steal Elica's body that day?"

Raios bit his lower lip as though suppressing his rage.

"Well."

"I..."

Raios—or rather, Richard, wearing Raios's face—continued the charade.

"Cannot... understand you."

He glared at Bilmar with murderous eyes, exactly as the real Raios would.

Meanwhile, on the staircase leading down to the basement of the ducal residence, a servant carrying a lamp cautiously descended.

Is it here?

The servant stopped before a thick door.

He definitely said to retrieve a body from here.

The servant—or rather, Enoch disguised as one—slowly drew a deep breath. He stared intently at the heavy padlock hanging from the door.

"This potion can change my appearance freely. I'll transform into the Emperor and interrogate the Duke."

"Then, while I do that..."

"While I keep him occupied, you only need to sneak one body out of the residence's basement."

Enoch recalled Richard's instructions.

He tightened his grip on the Book of Nullification.

"The body is under Binding Magic. Don't try to force it out. Use this book, and the magic will be undone."

Richard's request had been simple.

Infiltrate the ducal residence disguised as a servant and sneak out one body.

"Hoo..."

He drew a deep breath and stepped forward.

Just as he reached for the padlock—

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