Rolling in Bed with the Male Lead

The Imperial Palace bustled with nobles gathered to ✧ NоvеIight ✧ (Original source) celebrate the Emperor's birthday.

Mountains of chests filled with gold, silver, and jewels, along with exquisite handicrafts, were carried away by servants. A crystal bottle sparkled on a silver tray, and a crimson jewel box shone with a lustrous glow.

"The eldest son of Marquis Friedrich, Derek Friedrich, and his second son, Richard Friedrich, are entering!"

As they stepped into the banquet hall, dazzling decorations woven throughout the space glistened beneath the cascading light of golden chandeliers. Flowers and silk spread in every direction as if celebrating the Emperor's birthday.

Come to think of it...

Richard felt an unusually intense gaze directed at him as he entered the banquet hall.

Has it been a while?

It had been a long time since he had attended such a formal occasion.

He had been busy lately, traveling to the North and infiltrating the Slave Market.

"Long time no see, Young Master Friedrich."

Three or four noble ladies approached Richard.

"Yes, it has been a while, ladies."

Richard smiled brightly and gave them a slight nod.

The lady at the forefront furrowed her brow slightly, her expression worried.

"We haven't seen you for some time, so we were wondering whether something had happened."

"That's right. We were worried."

Another lady chimed in to support her.

"Perhaps... you've begun to feel belated shame over the things you've been doing..."

A clear note of mockery lurked beneath her words of concern.

"..."

Richard stared at them with an unchanged smile, not batting an eye.

"I—"

Just as he was about to speak—

"How utterly impolite."

Enoch, who had been standing one step behind him, stepped forward with a deeply displeased expression.

"Is this how the nobles of the Empire display their manners?"

"Who are you—"

The ladies frowned.

"Enoch de Eloise."

Enoch smiled scornfully and crossed his arms.

"You must have heard of me."

"..."

The ladies exchanged slightly flustered glances.

"Eloise?"

"Is he royalty?"

As the atmosphere grew uneasy, the other nobles also glanced their way and began whispering.

"Isn't Enoch de Eloise the fourth Prince of the Eloise Kingdom?"

"Why is someone like him here without an invitation, acting as Young Master Friedrich's servant?"

"No, I heard that prince had gone missing..."

Just as the banquet hall gradually grew noisy—

"Excuse me, Young Master Friedrich."

A servant who had quietly approached Richard's side cautiously delivered a message.

"His Majesty the Emperor summons you."

"..."

Richard slowly raised his gaze.

The carpeted stairs.

The seat prepared for the Emperor at the top.

The Emperor, leaning back against the Emperor's Seat, looked down at him with a peculiar smile hanging at the corner of his mouth.

"A pity, but I must go and pay my respects to His Majesty."

Richard smiled softly and stepped between Enoch and the ladies.

"We shall speak again next time."

He followed the servant's lead and walked away.

"Tch."

The sound of the ladies clicking their tongues came from behind him.

Richard followed the servant up the red-carpeted stairs. Standing before the Emperor, he paid his respects with proper decorum.

"The second son of Marquis Friedrich, Richard Friedrich, pays his respects to His Majesty the Emperor."

"Spare me the formalities."

The Emperor waved them away as if that were enough.

After immediately dismissing the servant, he got straight to the point.

"Have you prepared my gift?"

The Emperor's gaze sharpened.

The banquet hall was noisy with nobles gathered in small groups, chatting. Their conversation would be lost beneath the din.

Richard briefly closed his eyes. Then he slowly opened them and raised his head.

"I would not come empty-handed."

"Hah."

A faint smile tugged at the corner of the Emperor's lips.

"You truly brought it."

His voice trembled as if he could hardly believe it.

"That is correct."

"Come to my side."

The Emperor beckoned Richard over.

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Richard obeyed and approached the side of the Emperor's Seat.

"How did you find the corpse?"

the Emperor asked in a lowered voice.

"..."

Richard looked down at the bustling banquet hall filled with nobles and answered without any change in expression.

"Isn't that beside the point?"

His gaze settled on a figure in the distance.

"What matters..."

Bilmar Chesika.

Richard's brow furrowed slightly.

"...is that I found it, one way or another."

"..."

A brief silence hung in the air.

"True enough."

The Emperor allowed Richard's evasion to pass.

"Your Majesty."

Richard's gaze remained fixed on Bilmar Chesika.

"When I present the gift a little later, after you retrieve the corpse..."

"..."

"What will you do with the Duke?"

"..."

The Emperor remained silent for a moment.

Richard glanced sideways at him.

"I'll kill him."

The Emperor's red eyes grew cold and subdued.

As if suppressing the murderous intent that had been building for so long.

As if restraining the urge to kill him right here, right now.

"..."

Right. I knew it would be like this.

Richard's brow tightened.

The moment the corpse is retrieved, the Emperor will kill the Duke.

The Duke must know this too...

What on earth was he thinking?

Once again, the question brushed the depths of Richard's mind.

No.

It has nothing to do with me.

Richard closed his eyes and forcibly shook off the stray thoughts.

"That man..."

The Emperor spoke, his voice devoid of inflection.

It was as though he were forcibly suppressing the tremor of murderous intent in his voice.

"He was once my friend."

"..."

Ah.

I know this story. I heard it from the Emperor himself during the last Regression.

The Emperor and the Duke had once been friends.

Although their political interests did not align, the two had been close, sharing meals every day and spending time together.

"But..."

The end of his sentence trembled slightly, as though he were forcibly suppressing his surging murderous intent.

"He betrayed me."

Bilmar Chesika.

The illegitimate son of the Chesika Dukedom.

Raios knew Bilmar hated him.

How could he not?

"Bilmar Chesika of the Chesika Dukedom pays his respects to Your Highness the Crown Prince."

There was the cold gaze he felt every time they passed each other, and the hatred hidden in its depths.

"The slave system is necessary."

"No. The slave system brings stability and prosperity to no one."

There were even their clashing opinions.

Raios could not help but notice Bilmar's dislike for him.

No.

If I were him, I would hate me too.

He could not help but understand.

Raios had heard about the man's background.

Born the illegitimate son of the Chesika Dukedom, he had struggled fiercely and barely managed to secure his position as heir.

In his eyes...

I must seem unpleasant.

I was born the legitimate son of the Imperial family and became Crown Prince without much hardship.

But.

Nevertheless.

I want to grow closer to him...

Whenever Raios watched Bilmar Chesika from afar, he thought the same thing.

He liked Bilmar.

The pragmatic, cool-headed leader of the aristocratic faction.

Unlike Raios, who pursued ideals, Bilmar spoke of practical benefits and saw reality for what it was.

I need someone like him by my side. For the future, so that we can lead the Empire splendidly.

Isn't there some way for us to become friends...?

Raios desperately wanted to grow closer to Bilmar.

However.

Contrary to his wishes, things only became more tangled.

"I like you, Your Highness."

One day, a woman approached him.

Elica Lowen.

Having fallen for Raios, she actively pursued him.

There was one problem.

She was Bilmar Chesika's former fiancée, who had recently broken off her engagement with him.

If things went well between them, Bilmar Chesika would...

"Your Highness will come to want me too."

With a bold smile, she slipped a flower-petal ring she had woven herself onto Raios's ring finger.

Golden hair gleaming brilliantly beneath the sunlight. Rosy cheeks.

Her clear, smiling face...

"..."

Raios could not help but fall for her.

But...

This won't do.

He sank into deep contemplation.

She was Bilmar's former fiancée.

Raios, who desperately wanted to grow closer to Bilmar, agonized over it again and again.

And finally.

What he chose was...

"Are you all right, Duke?"

On a day when the rain fell unusually hard, after the meeting had ended, he extended his hand to Bilmar, who looked troubled as he crouched in a corner of the Imperial Palace.

"I heard you recently broke off your engagement with Lady Lowen."

"..."

"If you wish it, I will not marry her. I want us to grow closer."

"Hah?"

"Let me be honest."

Soaked by the rain, Raios beamed brightly at Bilmar.

"I want to be your friend."

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