Chapter 86

Chapter 86

[Translator – Angel Dust]

[Proofreader – Prototype]

Chapter 86

Lately, a smile keeps creeping onto my lips.

‘Hold it together. You must maintain composure. You are the Crown Prince of the Empire, the future Emperor. You can’t just laugh without dignity...’

Hehehe! Hahaha! ... No! Ruprecht. Get a grip! Focus on your work!

But how can I not? Next spring, I will have a Crown Princess. My partner will stand by my side. And that person is Rika, the one who made me pine for years!

Focus. Work, work. Today, too, it is right to dedicate myself to the Empire... but.

“Haaaah—”

I just can’t hold the pen. I decided to lean back in my chair and take a break.

‘Next spring.’

Yes. Next spring. Then, I’ll be a groom, and Rika will be my bride. And the Empire will officially welcome the Crown Princess, and my father will finally see the daughter-in-law he’s been waiting for.

It took a while. No, it took quite a while. The Crown Prince of a nation wasn’t focused on producing an heir but was busy with a one-sided love. The whole imperial family must have been worried sick.

I’m grateful that they all waited patiently without showing it. I need to love and cherish her even more. If I fail to do so, I’ll have no excuse even if the heavens punish me.

‘Count Friedrich. My father-in-law’s expression was priceless.’

After the New Year’s Eve ceremony, I had a secret meeting with my parents-in-law.

My mother-in-law just smiled, and my father-in-law seemed overwhelmed, still unable to believe it. That made me even happier.

“She’s not perfect, but please take good care of her, Your Highness.”

My mother-in-law said with a smile, and I felt a chill run down my spine.

I pretend not to know, but there are secrets you inevitably learn when you’re in this position. And my mother-in-law’s past is one of those secrets.

If I mistreat her daughter, her mother might come to assassinate me. Ah, of course, I’m just kidding.

Knock knock—

“Your Highness.”

“Come in.”

It seems there’s more work. It’s not the most welcome news, but this too is for the Empire. As the Crown Prince of the Empire, it’s right to smile and fulfill my duties.

And with the joy of becoming a groom, I’ll put even more effort into...

“...Isn’t this a document from the Church of Light?”

“Yes, it is.”

The attendant handed me a document from the Church of Light, not the work I was originally assigned.

Why would a matter from the Church suddenly come to me at this time? I wondered, but I checked the contents anyway.

“Hmm.”

After reading everything, my first thought was, of course, Rika.

‘The smile won’t leave her face.’

Imagining that scene makes my lips twitch. She might not know, but she was most beautiful when she smiled. I wanted to see it a hundred, a thousand times more.

In that sense, the news that just arrived was the perfect brush to paint that smile.

– Lost relic of the Church, ‘Sword of Saint Louis,’ found and recovered –

– Karl Adelheit, the heir of Count Friedrich, recovered the relic, as declared by Cardinal Beolant, the 4th Archbishop –

“...”

...? Wait a moment. This voice, could it be?

“...Eloise?”

“Who else would it be?”

I quickly turned my head, and there was Eloise.

She has her arm around my neck, but she’s not trying to suffocate me or aim for my carotid artery.

She’s just hugging me, with no intention whatsoever.

“What... are you doing?”

“Didn’t you come to enjoy the hot springs?”

“What does that have to do with you secretly following me? If I had something in my hand, you—”

“Could have been killed? Oh come on. No way. No matter how skilled you are with a greatsword, Karl, I’m not that easy of a target. I didn’t lead the Extermination Squad for nothing. Ah, but I might be an easy target in bed. Hehehe!”

“...”

Let’s pretend I didn’t hear the last part.

“Sigh.”

The tension that had been stretched taut throughout my body suddenly snapped, releasing me.

As I sank back into the hot spring, the muscles that had been ready to explode settled back into place.

The blood that had been rushing through me as if it would burst out calmed down as if nothing had happened.

“Don’t do that again. It could have been a big problem, no matter what.”

“Mmhmm. I’ll be careful. But this time, it couldn’t be helped.”

What does that mean? It couldn’t be helped? Wait a minute—

“This is the men’s hot spring.”

“Yeah.”

“The women’s is on the other side.”

“Yeah.”

“...”

This crazy woman. No, this crazy elf!

“What do you mean, ‘Yeah’? Hey! Why did you come in here?! Get out!”

“I’m not leaving. Absolutely not.”

“Leave!”

“If you want me out, you’ll have to look at me for a second.”

My reason screamed not to look, not to turn my head.

But my body was a bit faster than my reason. Perhaps from rolling around on the battlefield so much, my body responding first was the decisive factor.

“Ta-da!”

And I, embarrassingly enough, was speechless.

“How’s this? It’s my secret weapon, prepared with the utmost care.”

Eloise’s alluring gestures and captivatingly fair skin unfolded before my eyes. And, of course, the swimsuit that barely concealed the most crucial areas.

Th-this... You despicable temptress... Using such ruthless tactics...!

[Translator – Angel Dust]

[Proofreader – Prototype]