11. when you pull the string, it ignites instantly

“Mmm……”

Her body, vulnerable in the morning, was troublesome again. Looking at the time with bleary eyes, it was already approaching 11 o’clock.

When she rubbed her eyes and sat up, the spot beside her was empty, and she was covered with a thin, soft blanket. Strange, since she didn’t remember going to sleep with a blanket. The maids couldn’t have come in either.

The thought ‘Could it have been Verheigen?’ crossed her mind, but Lysith snorted and dismissed it. She’d sooner believe Ashites suddenly developed manners than believe that.

She pulled the bell cord, and the maids carefully entered to help with her morning washing.

After finishing what could have been either a late breakfast or lunch, she was guided to another room, saying this would be her actual room now. When asked, they said the sudden flood in her room was someone’s ‘genuine mistake.’

So it wasn’t deliberately planned, just a ‘Oh right, good opportunity!’ moment. While Lysith gracefully asked if everything was alright on the outside, she inwardly chuckled.

‘Is it because this is a reverse harem game? Why does everyone love romance so much?’

Or maybe the aide acting this way was also part of the system. She often forgot this was a game world since it felt so real except for the system window.

Well, maybe there really was a true route or something. She had never played this game she was thrown into, and knew nothing about its content. How could she know if it was trash or godly.

While thinking about this and sipping tea, someone visited her room. She thought no one would come. With that thought, she flicked her hand to signal a permission to enter.

Seeing her gesture, the maid opened the door to reveal a familiar face — Serul, the Emperor’s aide.

“I greet Lady Gronevelt.”

“Sir Serul.”

Though the atmosphere was similar to usual, Lysith quickly realized his current business wasn’t their usual banter. She dismissed everyone else before sitting across from him.

“Do you have something to tell me?”

“First… I would like to apologize, my lady.”

It was exactly what Lysith had expected. Still, not showing much reaction, she hid her expression, moistened her lips with another sip of tea, then answered.

“Well, I wasn’t planning to be angry about that anyway.”

It was true. Sure, it was definitely improper, but…… Since the prankster was the aide who had been his close friend since childhood, Verheigen showed no signs of anger.

Above all, Lysith had benefited from having more time with him like that.

Still, even being so close to the Emperor for so long, she thought his nerve was quite impressive.

“I came prepared to be slapped if you wished……”

Despite Lysith’s calm response, Serul still looked apologetic.

“What? No……”

She didn’t feel like slapping anyone’s face.

‘Thanks to you, Verheigen clung to me like that, shouldn’t I be thanking you instead?’

……But saying thanks would make her seem like a strange woman.

As if she had approached with such intentions.

‘Well, that’s true but……’

Looking off into the distance with a wry expression, Lysith decided to ask something she’d been curious about and carefully opened her mouth.

“If you insist, may I ask one question?”

“Yes? Yes. I will answer anything sincerely.”

This was something she’d been curious about, setting aside politics like the Imperial and Noble factions.

After choosing her words for a moment, Lysith fiddled with her fingertips.

“As you know, I am the former Grand Duchess… I wonder why you did such a thing.”

“……”

His face instantly hardened, it seemed it was a question he didn’t unexpected. After briefly observing his expression, Lysith continued.

“I don’t mean just that……”

“……Are you referring to the relationship between His Majesty the Emperor and His Highness the Grand Duke?”

“Yes.”

Serul made an ‘ugh’ sound as if he had a headache. Well, it was understandable to be curious. The ex-wife of someone he hated. Normally, Verheigen wouldn’t have given her a second glance.

But with Lysith Gronevelt, well, he showed strangely great interest.

So finally…….

“Hehe.”

“……Excuse me?”

Why are you suddenly laughing so deviously? He had been thinking with his hand on his forehead, then suddenly broke into such laughter — he seemed crazy.

At Lysith’s bewildered call, Serul finally cleared his throat to suppress his laughter and answered with a sigh.

“Well… when His Majesty and His Highness fight, I’m on His Majesty’s side.”

“The two of them fought?”

“No, that’s not what I meant. Um……”

After briefly stroking his chin in thought, Serul continued.

“I mean I know why their relationship is like that. More precisely, I know why His Majesty hates His Highness.”

“That’s—”

“It’s not something I can discuss. It’s a matter of the past.”

“……”

“Ah, of course, I also did this because you’re suitable as an Empress candidate.”

She wanted to probe further, but it seemed like an issue that couldn’t be touched lightly. Though Lysith showed her lingering curiosity, Serul withdrew, saying he couldn’t say more than this.

Having gained more questions while trying to resolve her curiosity, Lysith furrowed her brow.

What is it, really? Would Verheigen answer if she asked him?

“……No way.”

Even if the situation was favorable, that seemed unlikely. From what she could guess, it seemed to be an extremely personal matter from the past, involving Dietrich. He wouldn’t answer such a sensitive topic just because she asked.

Come to think of it, she didn’t even know if the Emperor remembered last night. Since she hadn’t met him today, maybe she could see him at lunch tomorrow.

That’s what she thought.

“We’re sleeping together today.”

However, no sooner had she thought that than Verheigen barged into her room that very night.

“……Who is?”

Despite Lysith’s question trying to deny reality, Verheigen answered shamelessly while flopping down on her bed.

“You and I.”

“……”

Even under Lysith’s incredulous gaze, he lay on his side and patted the space next to him. As if telling her to hurry and lie down. What should I do, after briefly rolling her eyes in thought, she slowly backed away.

Seeing her behavior, Verheigen narrowed his eyes.

“……Where are you going.”

“I, um. Well. I was thinking of sleeping somewhere else.”

“Somewhere else, where? Let’s sleep together.”

Verheigen’s usually calm eyebrows shot up. Though his gaze asked why she wasn’t coming to his side yet, Lysith remained firmly resistant. She had reached the doorway and carefully reached behind her to pull the handle.

Click.

However, it only made a dull rattling sound.

“……?”

“Pfft.”

The door was locked.

After staring helplessly at the handle that wouldn’t open, she whirled her head toward the only person who would have done this to see the platinum-haired man trying to hold back his laughter on her bed.

“Your Majesty.”

“Ha…… You should have just come obediently.”

At his words, Lysith invisibly pouted her lips before finally sitting beside him.

Judging by his composed face, he didn’t seem to remember last night. Lysith’s mischievousness, which had been quiet for a while, emerged.

“Yesterday Your Majesty was so drunk and whiny……”

Lysith sighed and shook her head as she spoke.

However, unfortunately, Lysith’s lie fell flat.

“I remember everything though?”

“Huh?”

When Lysith jumped at his words about remembering everything, he naturally reached out to gently stroke her shoulder. Then he twirled her hair around his finger.

Lysith, all deflated, drooped her shoulders and snorted.

“You’re no fun.”

“Should I have pretended not to remember?”

‘……Huh? Wait.’

The skinship was too natural. He didn’t seem drunk. It was so natural that Lysith accepted it without any sense of discomfort.

But it felt awkward to directly ask why he was acting this way. While Lysith was conflicting internally, he let go of her hair and lay down again, patting behind her.

“Lie down.”

“……You really remember everything?”

“I told you I do.”

It was puzzling how he could be so composed while remembering everything. He had really acted like a child.

Quickly grasping Lysith’s inner thoughts, Verheigen spoke in a calm tone.

“I’m going to sleep like that today too.”

“Ah, you mean you’ll embrace me while sleeping?”

“Yes.”

The shocked Lysith reflexively tried to say she hated it.

“I ha……”

“You hate it?”

Where had he sold off his usual bloodthirstiness and coldness? His eyebrows drooped slightly and his face was filled with disappointment. Meanwhile, his gaze wouldn’t leave her…….

His eyes seemed to ask if it really wasn’t okay. The word ‘sparkling’ would be too inadequate to describe them. What should she say?

‘Damn, where did this man learn the pretty boy tactics.’

It was true that he was exceptionally handsome. Still, she shouldn’t fall for it. Though his platinum hair gleamed hazily in the dim light, and his dark red eyes wouldn’t leave her face as they shone with desperate light, she shouldn’t fall…….

“I… I don’t hate it……”

……She lost.

Lysith finally lay down on the bed as he intended. Why is he suddenly acting like this? She had such doubts somewhere in her mind. Verheigen, lying on his side next to her with his chin propped up, had returned to his composed face. As if his previous expression had all been an act.

“But why were you going to say you hate it.”

“Well… I had a dream last night about being tightly bound by a giant snake.”

It wasn’t an excuse but the truth. Last night, Lysith dreamed of being completely wrapped up by a giant snake, unable to move. When that crazy snake thrust its face at her and flicked its tongue, she truly wanted to bite her tongue and die right there.