Chapter 100

"Then, it's really fine for us to sleep together? You won't wake me up forcefully if I'm having a nightmare?"

"Yes, it's fine."

"I see..."

During the lunch with Jesarld, as soon as they were alone, he asked about Lili's safety, as expected. Lili felt warm inside but nodded clearly. Then, Jesarld let out a sigh of relief. After that, Lili was asked many questions: about those who knew her secret, how she had dealt with the aftermath of her dreams, and whether it was alright to inform the Emperor and Director Allegio about this secret. Lili answered each question carefully and, of course, agreed to the last one. It was decided that a meeting with Lili and Frederick would be arranged soon.

"---So, it's not a rumor about Saul, but you actually saw it in a dream. I'm sorry for not conveying it properly, which led to this serious situation."

"No, there's no need to apologize. If I had known about the dream beforehand, we could have taken more precautions, but it couldn't be helped. After all, I didn't act in a way that deserved Lili's trust. Lili is safe, and that's what matters."

When Lili revealed that she had seen the plot of Saul, the political officer of the Fontae Kingdom, and Baron Court in her dream, Jesarld's voice carried a hint of regret. But he quickly became serious.

"From now on, if Lili feels in danger, please let me know, even if it's a small matter."

"---Yes."

This time, Lili nodded with a slight hesitation. In the end, neither of them mentioned Empress Corina.

(If I tell him I saw it in a dream, will he tell me?...)

Lili thought for a moment, then looked down at the dessert in front of her and gave up. It was too late to talk about it now. Perhaps it was an escape, but she really wanted to talk about Empress Corina properly. She wanted to hear about it.

After finishing the dessert, Jesarld stood up to leave for his next task.

"Then, I'll inform you about the date and time for the meeting with His Majesty and Allegio."

"Yes, I understand. I'm available anytime, so I'll wait for your call."

"..."

"Your Highness?"

"No, I'm sure His Majesty will insist on meeting Lili immediately, regardless of his schedule. I'll check with His Majesty's aides and then inform Lili. After that, I'll tell His Majesty that the date and time were set according to Lili's schedule. Please be prepared for that."

"Yes...?"

As Lili stood up to see him off, Jesarld mentioned the meeting with His Majesty. When Lili agreed, Jesarld fell silent for some reason and then gave more detailed plans, which were a bit confusing. In short, it seemed that the Emperor would adjust his schedule to Lili's.

"Ever since the marriage, His Majesty has been insistent on meeting Lili privately, and recently he's been even more insistent. But I don't want him to meet her."

"…Why?"

"He gets carried away."

"Excuse me?"

"If I let him once, he'll definitely get carried away, skip work, and meet Lili. When that happens, I'll get more work, and my time with Lili will decrease. So, Lili is very busy. Understand?"

"Y-Yes."

Lili was a bit hurt to hear that the Emperor, Jesarld's father, didn't want to meet her privately, but she was taken aback by the words that followed. She had often heard rumors about the Emperor of the Eyras Empire, who was called the Red Reaper, just like Jesarld. He was always described as calm, composed, and calculating, and as an excellent military commander who had built the empire on the bodies of many. But if Jesarld, who had even more bloodthirsty rumors, was actually kinder than a normal person, then rumors really couldn't be trusted. Still, it was unexpected that he would skip work.

(Well... is it okay to say there's no mother-in-law and daughter-in-law problem...?)

For now, Lili decided to think positively and started preparing to meet Frederick. After all, there was no need to be so formal with Frederick, so she felt at ease.

"---I see. So, you were able to convey it successfully. That's good. ...A bit boring, though."

"Mr. Hu... Didn't you say a bit too much just now?"

"Ah, what are you talking about...? I'm getting old and my mind isn't as sharp as it used to be."

"Still, your mouth is as sharp as ever."

As the two of them exchanged barbs, Jesarld's messenger arrived with several dates and times for the meeting with the Emperor. Since neither of them had anything more pressing to do, they decided on the earliest date, which was the day after tomorrow in the afternoon. They then discussed how to inform the Emperor.

Lili had confided in Jesarld as a personal secret, but she needed to play a strategic game as a princess from the Froit Kingdom when meeting the Emperor and Director Allegio. When Lili mentioned her plan regarding the Tuisen pottery—Maris—Frederick laughed heartily.

"Indeed, it's a good plan, but will His Majesty and His Highness agree?"

"Oh, Mr. Hu, don't you know? The assets of the royal family of the Eyras Empire are hundreds of times greater than the annual income of the entire Froit Kingdom. They will increase even more due to the confiscation of Baron Court's territory. ...Of course, they will have to return some to the people who have been in a harsh environment for a while, so it will be a debt. But still, what more money do they need? From the empire's policy so far, I don't think there will be any opposition."

"Hmm. Then, I'll just sit back and watch how you handle it, Lili."

"Hey! I confided in you because I need your support. It might not be the right time for this meeting, but I need to propose it soon. Mr. Hu, you need to use your brain, or it will get even weaker."

"Oh, Lili, how cruel. Are you telling this old body to work harder...?"

"If necessary, I'll use candy too."

"I won't fall for that strategy."

"Fine. Then, I won't tell you about the ship I saw in my dream, which can navigate underwater for days."

"That's unfair!"

In the end, Taina and Rese watched the two of them with a wry smile. They continued their discussion, exchanging barbs occasionally, until just before dinner, preparing for the meeting the day after tomorrow.