Rolling in Bed with the Male Lead

For a moment, the air around them froze.

"Lady Irene."

Another lady stammered in bewilderment.

"This is... based on real people... and you used His Highness the Crown Prince as a model..."

"Yes! In the first part, they come to understand each other's hearts, and in the second, they join hands to defeat the villain!"

Irene hugged the book to her chest, her eyes full of sincerity.

"I believe in their love. It truly seems like the kind of relationship where they save each other."

"..."

The other ladies exchanged horrified glances.

This was no simple novel. It was a blatant... truly forbidden creative work starring His Highness the Crown Prince and Young Lord Friedrich.

Is she serious?

There really is a book. It looks handmade.

Amid the spreading whispers, Lucia covered her mouth as though trying to suppress a laugh, then quietly remarked,

"Interesting."

"Would anyone else like to read it?"

Irene held the book out to each of the surrounding ladies.

"No, thank you!"

Serina took a step back, shaking her head vigorously.

"That... such a sacrilegious book..."

"What a shame."

Irene hugged the book to her chest again, muttering to herself.

"No one is interested..."

As if intrigued by those words, Lucia stepped forward.

"Let me have a look."

Smiling slyly, she gently took the book from Irene's arms.

"Oh... It doesn't have a title, but the cover is quite meticulously drawn, isn't it?"

The cover depicted the Crown Prince and Young Lord Friedrich holding hands.

Lucia flipped through the pages with an amused expression.

"Quite interesting."

She narrowed her eyes and quickly skimmed a few lines.

"The plot moves quickly from the very beginning... and the narrative is plausible. The writing style is unexpectedly polished, too."

As Lucia turned the pages admiringly, the other ladies nearby began to show interest one by one.

"Um... may I take a look too?"

The first to speak was Briette, the second daughter of Count Abellen. Usually quiet, she cautiously approached.

"I'm also... curious about the story."

"Oh my, so am I!"

One by one, even the ladies gathered in the corner of the banquet hall crowded around.

"Wait, I want to read the ballroom scene now!"

"No! The scene Lady Lucia just skipped past was really important!"

"Ah, don't close it so carelessly! You'll damage the book!"

About ten ladies crowded around the small book, stretching out their arms and craning their necks.

Their hands moved cautiously as they turned the pages from the beginning, as though handling a holy scripture.

"?"

The first thing Richard noticed upon entering the banquet hall was a cluster of ladies huddled together in one corner of the ballroom.

The hems of their colorful dresses tangled together, swaying like a heap of flower petals.

Whatever they were looking at seemed so amusing that giggles kept erupting from the group.

What are they doing in the middle of the banquet hall?

Richard frowned curiously.

Then he cautiously made his way toward them.

"?"

As he drew closer, a lady at the edge of the group cried out like a startled rabbit.

"Eek! Young Lord Friedrich, you mustn't!"

"You can't see this!"

"Th-this is nothing!"

The ladies all turned their backs at once, clutching something as though trying to conceal it.

Some hid it with their fans, others with the hems of their dresses, while still others hastily closed the book, their faces flushed.

Bewildered, Richard took a step back.

"I haven't seen anything yet."

What were they hiding so fiercely? Had they been talking about him behind his back?

At a glance, it looked as though they were reading a book.

As Richard stood there awkwardly rubbing his cheek, Lucia approached with a soft chuckle.

"It's all right, Young Lord Friedrich."

She held the book out to Richard.

"It's a creative work written by Lady Irene. The protagonist is none other than you, Young Lord Friedrich."

"Me?"

Richard smoothly raised an eyebrow as he accepted the book.

The paper was warm in his hand, and the ink, perhaps not yet fully dry, felt slightly damp.

A handmade copy?

He slowly turned the page.

"Cailus's breath brushed against the nape of his neck. 'Now I have no reason not to call you mine.' The moment their lips met, Richard's thin shirt slipped off—"

"..."

For a moment, tension ran through his fingertips.

The page had opened at precisely the right place.

He immediately closed the book.

Wow, right from the first page?

Outwardly, he nodded with a composed expression.

"A passionate story."

"!"

The ladies gasped.

"Ahhh, Young Lord Friedrich saw it...!"

"What do we do? He read the first page!"

"Quite novel."

Richard smiled and added euphemistically,

"The emotions were well captured, I must say."

"Lady Irene, congratulations! Young Lord Friedrich praised it!"

"This is what life is all about...!"

Irene's cheeks flushed bright red, and she covered them with both hands.

"S-sorry... I like stories that begin passionately..."

"It's fine. Art always... begins with passion."

Holding the book in his arms, Richard lowered his gaze once more.

The Crown Prince and Richard himself were depicted on the cover. Two silhouettes holding hands.

And an empty space where the title should have been.

Haaa...

Inwardly, he clicked his tongue.

How can I secretly burn this?

Clothes were already coming off on the very first page, and the dialogue was as cloying as a play script.

Moreover, this Crown Prince was excessively skilled, while Richard himself was far too submissive.

Why am I the one being done? Why on earth?

Richard swallowed a small breath as he closed the book.

It was nauseatingly unpleasant.

This ridiculous "setting," this ridiculous description.

I will never... let myself be the submissive one with Cailus. Not even if I die.

It was clearly a scene that should have made anger surge through him—

Yet strangely, another emotion surfaced alongside it.

However.

The scene itself was not bad.

Clear emotion, swift progression, a decisive move.

I can use this as a reference for the plan.

He briefly closed his eyes, then raised his gaze again.

Unexpectedly... it was quite usable.

"..."

Richard smiled and handed the book back to Irene.

"It was interesting."

"Really?"

Irene's eyes widened in disbelief.

"Yes. I could feel your sincerity."

Outwardly, he smiled with infinite gentleness.

But inwardly, he was already plotting his next move.

I do have the love potion, after all.

His eyes narrowed slightly, taking on a cold glint.

This... could be quite useful.

The corridors of the Crown Prince's Palace were even quieter at night.

In the silence, only faint candlelight flickered along the walls, and not even the sound of a single servant moving could be heard.

Cailus headed straight for his bedroom without a moment's hesitation.

He had heard that a welcome banquet was being held that day,

but he had not even considered stopping by the banquet hall.

There was no reason to.

Besides, today...

"..."

His steps grew heavier.

They said Richard Friedrich entered the palace.

That one name tangled chaotically in his mind.

He wanted to avoid him.

He simply wanted the day to pass quietly, as though nothing had happened.

With that thought, he pushed open his bedroom door.

Creak—

At that moment,

his body froze at the sight before him.

"You've returned, Your Highness."

Long red rose petals were strewn across the floor.

A silk sheet had been laid over them, and a person lounged languidly atop it.

Platinum hair spilled over his shoulders.

Pale skin peeked out between his exposed white collarbones and the softly loosened folds of his robe.

A single red rose rested between his lips.

Twirling the rose's stem between his fingertips, Richard smiled.

"I was waiting for you."

Cailus froze where he stood.

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