Chapter – 56
As I blinked in a daze, he added playfully,
“You’re quite skilled at making people suffer, aren’t you?”
“Yeah… I do have professional experience in that area.”
After answering honestly, I rolled my eyes.
Cesare only smiled faintly and didn’t respond. Instead, he glanced at my right foot and changed the subject.
“Is your foot feeling any better?”
“Of course not. It feels like I’m dying. What if I can’t use my leg anymore?”
“…”
Only after instinctively complaining did I realize something was odd. Why was he asking about my foot?
“Uh… wait. Why my foot? Did I get hurt somewhere?”
“Didn’t that captain of the guard step on it earlier?”
“Oh!”
I’d completely forgotten about that.
“Weren’t you somewhere else at the time?”
“I saw it from a distance. It’s only proper etiquette not to take your eyes off your partner whenever possible.”
“Your eyesight is incredible.”
It was a shame, though, that he apparently wasn’t very good at using his body. It felt like looking at a graduate student who was great at calculations but couldn’t actually set up the equations.
“When I stopped by the infirmary earlier, it looked like the captain’s right foot was completely crushed. So, well, that healed me emotionally.”
At my answer, Cesare let out a soft laugh.
As he looked at me, his gaze seemed strangely distant, making me feel oddly uncomfortable again.
Tilting my head, I asked,
“What? Why are you looking at me like that?”
“Hm. It’s just…”
Keeping his eyes fixed on me, he murmured lazily,
“For some reason, it feels like I’m dreaming. Maybe it’s because I’m at the Imperial Palace. It almost feels like I’ve gone back to my childhood.”
It seemed that a commoner who had come to the Imperial Palace was overwhelmed by the experience. Nodding as if I understood, I replied,
“If it feels like a dream, then enjoy it while it lasts. Dreams always end eventually, don’t they?”
“Do they?”
Cesare smiled.
“Then perhaps I’ll indulge in the dream of being an innocent boy just for today. Though for some reason, this dream doesn’t seem eager to end.”
I was about to warn him to stop speaking in confusing metaphors when he suddenly asked,
“Have you never considered marrying into the imperial family, Lady?”
“Huh?”
“The Imperial Palace is quite magnificent. I wondered if perhaps you desired power.”
“Power is nice. I already love being the daughter of House Prelai. Everyone talks behind my back and says it’s all fake, but if you asked me, ‘Would you rather be a criticized noble lady or a praised beggar?’ I’d still choose the criticized noble lady.”
I answered honestly.
“But this is enough for me. Prince Hiten isn’t my type.”
“Prince Hiten isn’t the only royal, though. For all we know, His Highness the Crown Prince may still be alive.”
“Oh, the Crown Prince? Then I’d only end up becoming Empress.”
“Only… an Empress?”
Cesare frowned slightly.
I continued casually.
“I’m a jealous person. I don’t think I could stand my husband having imperial consorts. Unless we didn’t have any feelings for each other and I was allowed to have several husbands too.”
Although things had been resolved now, diplomatic issues had been severe when the Emperor was of marriageable age.
His solution had been to take many consorts.
The Empress herself had been a princess of the Kingdom of Sola, while the Third Consort, Dolores, was the Archduke’s daughter from the Grand Duchy of Lucia.
The Emperor was the only man in the Empire legally allowed multiple wives.
Which meant there was absolutely no reason for me to marry that one man.
“Yes, I understand perfectly.”
Cesare nodded with a serious expression.
“Are there any other issues with the position of Empress that should be corrected?”
“…If I tell you, will the position actually change?”
At my incredulous question, Cesare replied smoothly,
“I’ll do my best to pass along your concerns.”
“…”
“So the position of Empress has failed to meet your standards. How unfortunate.”
What was he even talking about?
I waved my hand dismissively.
“Anyway, I’ve never seriously considered becoming Empress. Like I said before, the Crown Prince isn’t my type. Not his appearance, not his personality—none of it.”
“What about me?”
“Huh?”
“Am I your type?”
Cesare looked directly into my eyes as he asked.
For a moment, my body stiffened.
“The Crown Prince and I… are complete opposites. In appearance and personality alike.”
That was true.
The Crown Prince was an exceptionally upright person—a naïve young man who seemed incapable of doing anything evil.
So I answered honestly.
“If you took the two of you, divided your traits into roughly ninety-two variables, and mixed them together in different proportions, you’d probably get the perfect result for my tastes.”
“Haha. I see.”
As if that answer alone was enough, he grinned broadly.
He looked like a predator leisurely watching a loosened leash.
There was something absurdly satisfying about that smile, yet strangely heart-fluttering at the same time.
To escape the feeling, I quickly changed the subject.
“Oh, by the way, Marquis.”
“Yes?”
“Would you like to make another deal?”
At my words, Cesare quietly studied me and replied in an amused tone,
“A deal with you is always welcome, Lady.”
“You know the Pebble Ore mine in Levin Territory? How about signing an exclusive contract with us? We’ll offer a very fair price.”
“You mean an exclusive agreement with House Prelai?”
Cesare smiled leisurely, as if it were no big deal.
“I’ll consider it.”
But he didn’t commit.
What the heck? He wasn’t easy to persuade.
For some reason, memories of my days as a professor resurfaced, and I felt like offering unsolicited life advice.
Looking at him with benevolent eyes, I said,
“It’ll be a much more stable source of income than getting involved in strange loan-sharking businesses.”
“Cough!”
For a moment, Cesare blinked in surprise.
“Th-that…”
“Instead of preying on struggling people in the slums, why don’t we wealthy people cooperate with each other?”
“Hm. In any case, Lady… I no longer engage in that sort of business.”
“Of course not. Didn’t you admit yourself that you’d be trash if you weren’t capable enough to pull it off?”
“…”
Looking thoroughly bewildered, Cesare rubbed his eyes.
It seemed he had no desire to revisit the conversation we’d had in that alley.
Neither did I.
After all, I remembered making a complete drunken fool of myself in front of him.
“Anyway, now that my urgent business is finished, I’ll head back to your estate and continue my research. I’ll make some magical tools I need, and while I’m at it, I’ll also work on the magical device you mentioned.”
At that, Cesare nodded with satisfaction.
“Excellent.”
In truth, I’d already developed it.
I just wanted to wait for the right timing.
First, I wanted to see how things went with the Crown Prince’s mailbox communication device…
And perhaps develop a few other magical tools along the way.
“Even if I finish it, I’ll think carefully about when to officially announce it.”
I spoke calmly.
“If His Highness the Crown Prince’s son happens to return someday, the device could potentially create complications.”
“Wait a moment.”
Cesare abruptly interrupted me.
“His Highness the Crown Prince has no son. Why would you think that?”
“How would you know?”
“Well… um… I’ve obtained certain information that most people don’t have access to. In any case, there’s absolutely no possibility that he has a son.”
“Oh.”
I nodded readily.
Rumors about someone having no children generally only meant one thing.
“So he’s impotent? That happens. Don’t worry, I’ll keep it secret.”
“Cough! Cough-cough!”
Cesare immediately choked and started coughing violently.
Then he waved his hands frantically.
“N-no, that’s not it. Definitely not. I can guarantee it. In that regard, he’s perfectly healthy.”
“Oh… and how exactly do you know he’s healthy in that regard?”
“Th-that too… is reliable information unavailable to most people.”
I looked at him suspiciously.
Then I nodded again.
“Well, if I put all that information together, I think I’ve got my answer. I’ll keep it secret for now.”
“…No, I’d really prefer it if you didn’t put it together. I have a bad feeling about this.”
Narrowing his eyes, Cesare let out a sigh.
As I watched him, I suddenly asked,
“If the Crown Prince really wants revenge, why hasn’t he shown himself? Couldn’t he just come back and have every member of that picnic group executed?”
“Hm.”
Cesare fell silent for a moment.
Then he spoke carefully.
“My lady, it seems you don’t have much talent for politics.”
“Obviously. If I were talented at politics, would I have become famous as a villainess in high society?”
At my confident response, Cesare chuckled softly.
Then he leaned slightly closer and spoke in a gentle voice.
“What if every single member of that picnic group stood together and said, ‘His Highness the Crown Prince has gone mad and is making absurd accusations’?”
“…What?”
