Cailus frowned.
"Lunch? Right now?"
"Yes, Your Highness."
The knight answered with his head bowed, as if there were nothing to be done.
At those words, Cailus's face darkened. His gaze darted around, as if desperately searching for some pretext.
What he finally found was Richard, who had only just regained consciousness.
"Richard Friedrich has only just awakened. Can't we ask for a little time to prepare?"
"His Majesty is not known for his patience."
"I know. I'm only asking for an hour's grace..."
Just as he narrowed his eyes—
"I am not fond of waiting."
A voice laced with cruel amusement rang out from behind them.
"!.."
Cailus and Richard turned at the same time.
It was the Emperor.
The man who occupied the highest position looked down at the two of them, his red eyes gleaming with an inscrutable light. A majestic aura pressed down upon the space, and his mere presence carried immense weight.
"Cailus. Richard Friedrich. Both of you, come along."
Brilliant chandeliers illuminated long rows of rectangular tables and chairs. Curtains embroidered with the Imperial crest hung proudly, as if boasting of their grandeur.
The Emperor had brought them to the banquet hall in the central palace.
"Be seated."
The Emperor spoke as he took the central seat at the head of the table.
Languidly resting his chin on one hand, he turned his gaze toward Cailus and Richard, who were seated to his right.
"..."
Richard, who had been looking around the banquet hall nervously, noticed the person seated across from him and bowed politely.
"Prince Talinus, I greet you."
"Good to see you, Richard Friedrich."
Prince Talinus le Regnantia.
It seemed the Emperor's nephew would also be joining them for lunch.
He had arrived at the banquet hall before anyone else and had been waiting.
Once the Emperor, Cailus, Richard, and Talinus were all seated, the maids began busily serving the meal.
After taking a spoonful of the cream of mushroom soup served as an appetizer, the Emperor broke the silence.
"Richard Friedrich."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Richard respectfully placed both hands together on the table and answered.
The mad tyrant, Laios le Regnantia.
He was a man to whom the title of tyrant suited better than anyone else.
Capricious and volatile, he was known to behead the Imperial chef for the simple reason that he disliked the flowers in the garden, or dispatch troops to a neighboring country because the appetizer tasted bad.
Since losing the Empress and descending into madness, there had not been a single peaceful day in the Imperial Palace because of him.
"Is it true that you drank the poisoned tea meant for the Crown Prince?"
The Emperor swallowed his soup and continued.
"I summoned you here to commend you for saving the Crown Prince's life."
Like any other emperor, he began by saying that he had invited Richard simply to reward him for saving his son.
"Do you desire anything?"
His tone suggested that he would grant anything.
But Richard did not lower his guard.
"..."
Richard knew Emperor Laios le Regnantia well.
Right now—
He was not pleased in the slightest.
"Speak."
Though the Emperor's mouth curved into an indulgent smile, as if anything were permissible, his eyes held not a trace of mirth.
Well...
The Emperor dislikes Cailus.
No, could it truly be described as mere dislike?
The Emperor hated his own son, Cailus.
Therefore, Richard, who had saved Cailus's life, would not be looked upon favorably either.
But although Richard was tense, he was not afraid.
He, too, had business with the Emperor.
"Truly... may I ask for anything?"
Richard subtly curved the corners of his mouth upward.
"Of course."
The Emperor's eyes narrowed with a cold sneer.
"Well, then..."
Richard thought.
Now that the tea party episode had passed safely—
What was the most dangerous "event"?
The answer came easily.
The Main Event.
The Main Event was approaching.
The occasion on which the heroine and the male lead would become seriously entangled.
I'm sorry, Lady Daphne...
The smile on Richard's lips deepened.
I'll have to take it.
From her. The Main Event.
"There is just one thing I dare to ask."
Richard straightened his back and raised his chin.
"Hmm?"
A dangerous flicker of interest passed through the Emperor's red eyes.
Meeting that gaze head-on, Richard spoke clearly in a low voice.
"Please give the Crown Prince to me."
'?..'
The mouths of the watching knights fell open.
Good God!
Does he want to die?!
The knights were uniformly aghast.
Had the second son of House Friedrich truly lost his mind?!
To say such a thing to that Emperor!
And not even that he "wished to belong" to His Highness the Crown Prince... but that the Emperor should "give" His Highness the Crown Prince to him!
Unaware of the knights' thoughts, Richard stood straight and spoke.
"I fell in love with His Highness the Crown Prince at first sight. It is an impertinent request, but I wish to have His Highness."
His water-colored eyes shone brilliantly with a clear light.
"..."
The Emperor remained silent for a long time.
"..."
"..."
An ominous silence stretched on, like walking a tightrope.
The faces of the knights glancing at Richard hardened. Their hands naturally moved toward the swords at their waists.
They sent their lord a silent look.
Shall we remove him?
Shall we remove that lunatic right now?
Ssssh...
The blades hidden within their scabbards had just begun to emerge—
"Ahahahaha!"
A meaningful burst of laughter echoed up to the high ceiling.
"?!"
The knights, who had been preparing to draw their swords, all froze and widened their eyes.
"Hahaha, quite... amusing!"
The Emperor threw his head back and continued laughing. His eyes gleaming with an unreadable light, he leaned forward and looked down at Richard.
"All of you, withdraw."
He waved dismissively at the knights.
"We obey."
Their faces stiff, the knights filed out of the banquet hall one after another.
"The Crown Prince and Prince Talinus should also vacate their seats."
The Emperor spoke while looking at Cailus and Talinus in turn.
"I understand, Your Majesty."
"Your Imperial Majesty."
Unlike Talinus, who immediately obeyed the command, Cailus rose from his seat but did not move.
"Cailus. Do you not understand my words?"
One of the Emperor's eyebrows arched upward.
"That man..."
"Must I repeat myself?"
"No."
Cailus seemed to have something he wanted to say, but under the Emperor's pressure, he finally turned away.
Thus, only the Emperor and Richard remained in the spacious banquet hall.
"You are the first to make such a request since my ascension."
In the banquet hall where only the two of them remained, the Emperor broke the silence.
Crossing his arms, he slowly tilted his head.
"I heard you caused a scene at the last banquet as well. Are you truly interested in my eldest son?"
Instead of flying into a rage at the impertinent noble scion who had demanded his heir, he asked with a chuckle.
Amusing.
How could it not be amusing?
It was rare to see anyone behave so boldly before him.
This situation was incredibly amusing to Laios le Regnantia.
Was it not displeasing?
How could a lion watching a mouse scurry about feel displeasure? It was merely laughable.
"Yes, of course."
"And the reason?"
He twisted his mouth into a smile.
"It is..."
Richard deliberately trailed off.
It worked.
He smiled inwardly in triumph.
As expected.
Emperor Laios le Regnantia was a tyrant, but he was exceedingly lenient toward anything that piqued his interest.
Although Richard had made a statement that would have gotten him beheaded immediately by any normal monarch, the fact that his head was still safely attached proved it.
It's not a commonly known fact, but...
After dozens of regressions, Richard knew well that the Emperor loved interesting things.
He had some connection with the Emperor in a previous life... no, that wasn't important right now.
The answer.
The answer to the Emperor's question.
The reason he wished to marry the Crown Prince.
"The reason I wish to marry His Highness is..."
Richard drew out his words as if building anticipation.
And slowly, he pictured Lady Daphne's face in his mind.
"Because His Highness the Crown Prince..."
Then Richard's cheeks gradually flushed red, as if he were truly in love.
"Is far too handsome."
Ugh.
To think I have to spout such nonsense myself.
But he had to. Suppressing the nausea rising within him, Richard continued.
"The moment I saw his beauty, he was so dazzling that I could hardly bear it. Is this how it feels to stand a single step from the sun? My heart raced, my face grew hot... I couldn't help but fall in love with His Highness at first sight."
Die, Cailus!
Die!
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