Chapter 51

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"――!"

Jesualdo groaned involuntarily from the sudden pain, and as he woke up, he immediately gripped his sword and hurriedly sat up.

He thought an assassin had appeared, but he was momentarily confused by the presence lying next to him, and then he remembered what had happened last night.

The person lying next to him was his wife, Lirith.

However, he had never slept with anyone since he was old enough to remember, and he was surprised that he had slept so soundly until now.

It was still before dawn, and the servants had not yet risen.

Lirith, who was sleeping next to him, remained deeply asleep despite Jesualdo's noisy awakening.

However, her brows were furrowed, as if she was not having a pleasant dream.

It seemed that the pain he had just felt was due to Lirith's knee pressing into his stomach, and her foot was sticking out of her nightgown.

As she had mentioned, her sleeping habits were not good.

Jesualdo adjusted her position, straightened her nightgown and blanket, but even after all this, Lirith did not wake up.

Moreover, her lips were moving slightly, as if she was talking in her sleep.

Curious about what kind of dream she was having, Jesualdo lay down again and leaned in to listen.

"......for......"

Of course, he couldn't understand what she was saying, and Jesualdo sighed in exasperation at his own actions.

Deciding to lie down and try to sleep a bit more, he closed his eyes, but just then—

"――Jesualdo, pervert"

"Wha!?"

He was startled by the words that reached his ears and reacted without thinking.

He panicked, thinking he might be being scolded for his actions, but Lirith remained with her eyes closed.

Moreover, she smiled slyly.

(What kind of dream is she having...?)

From then on, Jesualdo was troubled until the usual time to wake up.

What did Lirith think of him?

He had ended up in this relationship because she had asked for his cooperation in having a child.

Everyone said that his red eyes, which everyone feared, were beautiful.

It seemed that she was proud of him as her husband.

However, he had never asked her how she truly felt about him.

(Come to think of it, did Father know about Lirith's personality and push for this marriage?)

Thinking this far, Jesualdo was startled.

When he had sought an alliance through marriage with the Kingdom of Froit, he had not specified which of the two princesses he wanted, but his father must have predicted that Lirith would come.

After all, the spies his father had sent to various countries, of whom Jesualdo was aware, were all incredibly skilled.

(However, even Father couldn't have predicted that Lirith would want to go to Toisen, let alone that she knew how to make Shyana...)

Looking at Lirith, who was sleeping soundly, Jesualdo furrowed his brow.

It was already quite bright outside.

Whenever Lirith and his father met, Jesualdo was always present, and it was hard to imagine that they were communicating in secret.

Regarding Toisen—more accurately, the Baron of Coeur and those around him—he had long suspected something was amiss.

Therefore, in addition to the official inspectors he had sent, he had also dispatched several spies, but they had not been able to gather decisive evidence.

However, this time, the "honeymoon" Lirith had suggested had panicked the Baron of Coeur, and in their attempt to destroy the evidence, they had inadvertently exposed it.

If things continued this way, the barony would be confiscated by the royal family, and the Stone Ware factory would come under royal jurisdiction.

If Lirith could also make Shyana, the royal family of Aelus would gain considerable wealth.

(Just how far did Father go...?)

He was aware that he did not have the same talent as his father.

That was why he had always tried to emulate his father, striving to become a capable ruler.

However, he felt a sense of resistance at being completely manipulated.

Moreover, if even his relationship with his wife and the matter of having a child were being manipulated—

Jesualdo frowned as he looked at his still-sleeping wife, Lirith.

It seemed that everything had proceeded according to his father's plan.

Was Lirith also being manipulated by his father?

He thought he might be overthinking it, but he couldn't shake the feeling of unease, and Jesualdo quietly got out of bed.

Lirith continued to sleep.

This time, she was smiling happily and snoring softly.

Seeing her like this, Jesualdo couldn't help but smile.

Then he quietly left the bedroom and began preparing for the morning, instructing his valet, Dennis, not to enter the bedroom.

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When Lirith finally woke up, the sun was already high in the sky.

She was momentarily confused but then remembered the situation and, as expected, Jesualdo was not next to her.

However, from the indentation in the pillow, she could tell that he had indeed slept next to her, and she smiled slyly.

She buried her face in Jesualdo's pillow, sniffing the lingering scent and writhing in ecstasy.

She was a pervert.

Realizing her own actions, Lirith was taken aback and got out of bed.

"I got a bit too excited. After all, it was the first time I've slept with someone since I was old enough to remember."

She made an excuse to no one in particular and returned to the room assigned to her.

There, Taina and Ress were waiting with worried expressions.

"Lirith-sama! We were worried about where you had gone!"

"Um, did you... sleep with... the prince?"

"Yes! I slept with him!"

Taina let out a sigh of relief, while Ress asked in disbelief.

Lirith answered them proudly.

Taina's expression changed.

"Lirith-sama, to do such a thing... You never wandered in your sleep, even when you were having nightmares..."

"It's not like that! I was fully awake! I went to the prince's room of my own accord!"

"Did you sneak into his room again?"

"That's rude! It was a discussion!"

"Did you resolve it, then?"

"Yes. I declared that I wouldn't leave the prince's side today and got into bed."

"That's not really a discussion, is it?"

"――Hey!"

Ress, who had been watching Lirith and Taina's exchange with a flustered expression, finally managed to interject.

Her face was very red.

"What's wrong, Ress?"

"Well, did... did you tell the prince about your condition?"

"Oh, you mean the lucid dreaming? No, I haven't. But I did ask him not to wake me up and told him that I can't be held responsible for what happens while I'm asleep."

"Lirith-sama, you have such bad sleeping habits. I hope the prince didn't get hurt..."

Ress's question was followed by Taina's muttered comment.

Lirith, of course, did not miss it and began to speak with delight.

"But it seems to be fine! When I woke up, my nightgown and bedding weren't in disarray! My feet were even properly covered. Maybe, even though it was the first time I slept with someone, I was somehow aware of my manners? I think I had a dream, but I don't remember it, so it probably wasn't a lucid dream... But I felt happy."

"That's good to hear, Lirith-sama."

"It's only been once, so it's hard to judge... But perhaps we were just lucky this time. Anyway, we can't linger. We need to start getting ready."

Ress smiled in relief, but Taina was skeptical.

However, she switched to work mode.

Thus, the three of them began their slightly late morning preparations.