Rolling in Bed with the Male Lead

Ah-ha. Because I lost my balance...

Do you think that's plausible? Anyone can see that's just an excuse, Young Lady!

The nobles buzzed.

What nonsense...

Most of their reactions were ones of disbelief.

Amid it all, Richard calmly wiped the pudding from his face with his sleeve and spoke.

"I apologize. Since there is no other choice, I shall eat this cherry pudding myself."

"Richard?"

"Daphne, I cannot let you eat pudding I've already smeared all over my face."

"Richard, that's not—"

Before Daphne could even finish her sentence, Richard pulled her cherry pudding toward himself and picked up a spoon.

Then he began shoveling the cherry pudding into his mouth.

"Richard!.."

Daphne shot up from her seat.

"You don't like this—"

"Huh? It's delicious, though!"

Richard's watery blue eyes flashed with madness.

"Huh?"

"My favorite thing in the world is cherry pudding!"

"Eh, eh?.."

"The sweet and sour taste of cherry pudding and its fantastic texture! I love it! A taste of fantasy! The kind where if two people eat it, both die... no, a taste so good you wouldn't notice if one died!"

"Ri, Richard?.."

Like hell I like it. I truly hate it.

Cherries were the fruit Richard hated most, and pudding was the type of dessert he hated most.

Naturally, the combination of the two, cherry pudding, was absolutely disgusting to Richard.

Daphne knew this as well, which was why she was flustered.

But did I really have to go this far?

Yes, I had to go this far.

I can't stand to watch.

Seeing Cailus try to pull something on Daphne made my stomach churn.

He should consider himself lucky that I didn't immediately tear his head off while saying, "What a delicious-looking dessert!"

"..."

Cailus's gaze, fixed on Richard, grew colder and colder.

At the same time, the nobles' murmuring intensified.

That lunatic...

To take something His Highness the Crown Prince prepared solely for Lady Beatus...

Oh my, could it be jealousy?

Unpleasant whispers echoed around him, but not a single one reached Richard's ears.

The reactions of people like them were not important.

"Um, umm... Eat, Richard."

Daphne still wore a bewildered expression, but when Richard insisted firmly, she eventually sat back down.

Richard picked up his spoon again with a bright expression.

And stabbed the pudding.

As though crushing Cailus's filthy intentions toward Daphne underfoot.

Then Richard swallowed the remaining cherry pudding in one mouthful.

Crunch.

He chewed the pudding.

As though chewing Cailus's filthy head.

Haha.

He felt someone's gaze boring into him, but paid it no mind.

Get angry all you want. What are you going to do about it?

Richard winked and stuck out his tongue at Cailus.

"Ha."

Cailus's cold expression melted into one of disbelief.

"I did not know Young Lord Friedrich was so fond of cherry pudding."

His words were laced with cold thorns. Interpreted plainly, they meant, Why are you eating that?

"Haha, I've always liked it."

What are you going to do about it, you bastard?

Richard retorted with a beaming smile.

"..."

Cailus glared at Richard with murderous eyes.

But only for a moment.

"Is that so?"

The man, who seemed to be contemplating something, lifted the corner of his mouth.

A cold glint flickered in his red eyes.

"Then eat to your heart's content."

"Huh?"

Before Richard could even comprehend his meaning, Cailus gestured toward a maid.

"Bring all the cherry pudding we have."

"Yes, Your Highness."

The maids disappeared for a moment and soon returned carrying silver trays piled mountain-high with cherry pudding.

Wow.

Richard's expression hardened.

It's red.

All red. So red it made him dizzy. So all of that is cherry pudding...

Richard stood frozen like an ice statue for quite some time.

"Is it because you like it so much?"

Cailus smiled, malice brimming in his eyes.

You crazy bastard?!

Snap.

Richard came to his senses.

The maids placed the mountain of trash—no, cherry pudding—in front of him.

"I, um... I am fine, Your Highness."

Having belatedly regained his wits, Richard spoke while desperately trying to steady his trembling lips.

The other man was clearly doing this on purpose.

He must have noticed that Richard absolutely hated cherry pudding.

He was probably trying to get back at him for the incident in the banquet hall.

"Your affection for me... I understand it all too well... but if you give it all to me, the other honored guests will not be able to have any cherry pudding, will they?"

You lunatic. Get rid of this right now.

Richard clenched his fist. If he did not, he felt as though he might overturn the mountain of cherry pudding right then and there.

"Hmm..."

At the excuse that the others would not be able to eat the pudding, Cailus cocked his head and rested his chin on his hand.

"Is there anyone here who must eat cherry pudding?"

His red eyes, tinged with chilly killing intent, swept sharply over the gathering.

As though daring anyone to step forward.

"..."

"..."

Naturally, no one raised a hand.

Cailus smiled, lifting only one corner of his mouth.

"Eat to your heart's content, Young Lord Friedrich."

"..."

What?

All of it?

The mere thought of having to eat all that made his stomach churn.

But at the same time, a strange sense of defiance began to rise within him.

All right. Let's see who wins.

Do you think I cannot even do this for Daphne?

Richard bit the inside of his cheek hard.

"Yes, Your Highness's affection. I shall devour it all by myself!"

He boldly picked up his spoon.

He scooped up a heaping spoonful of red cherry pudding and put it into his mouth.

"Ugh."

Richard's cheeks puffed out.

Damn it.

Richard forced himself to swallow the pudding, then began shoveling the red lumps before him into his mouth at an even faster pace.

As though trying to finish it quickly.

At that moment, gasps of admiration echoed around them.

Did you see the terrifying look His Highness gave us just now?

And what about the look he gave Young Lord Friedrich?

To prepare such a mountain of pudding just for Young Lord Friedrich...

The noble ladies began exchanging meaningful glances.

Could it be... it was not merely Young Lord Friedrich's one-sided infatuation?

The nobles, completely unaware of the undercurrent of conflict between Richard and Cailus, thought,

Perhaps... His Highness the Crown Prince does not... dislike Young Lord Friedrich?

The speculation that His Highness the Crown Prince might not dislike Young Lord Friedrich after all began to spread through their minds.

"..."

Meanwhile, Richard, undergoing pudding torture, forced the corner of his mouth upward.

I'm going to die.

It's disgusting... Horrible...

Was it because he was forcing himself to eat something he hated?

"Cough!"

The pudding caught in his throat.

Richard coughed repeatedly, hacking and choking.

"My."

Cailus, who had been watching Richard, spoke.

"Why so hasty? No one is going to steal it."

Cailus said it as though he were concerned.

"All this pudding is yours."

You are not leaving until you finish all this pudding.

Richard fully grasped the underlying meaning of those words.

"Tha...nk you..."

You son of a...

He chewed the pudding as though he were chewing Cailus's head.

Did you see that just now?

To think His Highness the Crown Prince was capable of something like "worry."

It is quite different from what I usually knew of him...

The young noblemen recalled Cailus's usual demeanor.

He was a cold-blooded man who, when his aide of several years collapsed from overwork, had not worried about him but had instead expressed concern over whether he could still work.

A fleeting question passed through the nobles' minds.

Could it be... that His Highness the Crown Prince also... Young Lord Friedrich?..

Meanwhile, Daphne, who had been watching Richard with a worried expression, spoke quietly.

"Richard, are you all right?"

After swallowing the mushy pudding, Richard shook his head slightly, just enough for her to see.

I'm not all right.

Cailus, you bastard. I'm definitely going to kill you...

This isn't the time...

Richard recalled his original purpose.

The poisoned tea.

His gaze shifted to the teacup in front of Daphne.

Stealing and drinking that poisoned tea was today's goal...

"Richard."

Daphne spoke worriedly.

"You might choke. Would you like some of my tea?"

"!.."

An opportunity!

Richard was just about to nod quickly.

"Daphne."

Cailus, who had been glaring at their affectionate exchange from a distance, opened his mouth.

"Won't you switch seats with me?"

Richard, who had been eagerly waiting for a chance to steal the tea, gritted his teeth.

It was the perfect chance!..

You useless bastard!

Richard could easily guess why Cailus was doing this.

He was undoubtedly trying to keep Richard and Daphne apart.

Cailus liked Daphne. Of course it would bother him to see her close to another man.

"Yes, Your Highness."

Daphne seemed reluctant, but it was, after all, the Crown Prince's command, so she obediently rose from her seat.

Thus, Daphne moved to the seat of honor, and Cailus sat to Richard's left.

"..."

Richard glanced at Daphne's... no, now Cailus's poisoned tea.

What should I do about that...

I have to steal it and drink it, but this bastard ruined the perfect chance...

Just as he grumbled inwardly and racked his brain,

"!.."

Cailus's hand reached for the teacup.

Ah, no.

He grasped the cup.

And raised it toward his lips.

My tea!

The moment the teacup touched Cailus's lips—

Before he could even think, Richard's body moved first.

Richard snatched the teacup from Cailus's hand!

"What are you doing, Young Lord Friedrich!"

That was the last thing he heard.

Gulp.

Richard drained the tea in one go.

Then lost consciousness.

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