Chapter 75: Dramatic Resolution
by rosalie“A tour of the Empire?”
Arthur jumped up, startled.
“As you’ve heard. It’s already been decided, and today we just need to finalize the treatment of refugees and prisoners, then sign and receive the compensation.”
“I never approved this.”
“Did you not receive the report?”
“Hmm…”
It was a report he had seen in the past. That’s why he hadn’t bothered to review it.
In fact, Crown Prince Arthur had overlooked one more thing. His past self before the regression had never attended any war meetings, he only received reports.
‘Did things change because the saintess changed? In the past, Lucas never came to tour the Empire. Another variable?’
A few days ago, the plan to have Xavier die in his beast form had unexpectedly gone awry. According to Rosetta, Saintess Yuria had obtained the Valian herb.
‘The Saintess should be working for the Empire and me!’
It was certainly the perfect plan to expose Xavier’s true identity and kill him in public, but who knew the Saintess would even find a rare herb to save Xavier.
But then,
‘Something I haven’t experienced is happening again.’
The startled Crown Prince Arthur kept his mouth shut. Seeing his confident expression darken, Xavier asked.
“So your claim about seeing the future was definitely a joke?”
“……”
Arthur couldn’t find words to reply and avoided Xavier’s gaze.
Xavier coldly stared at Arthur and pulled out a gold-rimmed parchment from his briefcase. Since everyone knew that Imperial letters only used parchment, all eyes in the room widened.
“This is His Majesty the Emperor’s personal decree acknowledging the terms of the agreement. Please stop interfering.”
“His-His Majesty?”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
During his previous private audience with the Emperor, Xavier had secured this safeguard. No matter what verbal promises the Emperor made, he would ultimately side with the Crown Prince. The decree he had obtained just in case was now proving useful.
Xavier said with a cold curl of his lips,
“Now, shall both of you sign?”
The power of the decree Xavier brought was remarkable. After Lucas signed first, Arthur signed too with a stiff face.
“I confirm that Moirai will pay the compensation in a lump sum.”
Moirai paid the enormous amount immediately. Thanks to Xavier Auguste bringing the Emperor’s decree, the agreement was reached at the initially proposed amount, so there was no problem with the payment.
After the meeting adjourned, Imperial knights busily loaded bags of gold coins into the Empire’s carriages. Looking at the bags of gold coins that only filled two-thirds of the target amount, Arthur frowned.
“Your Highness, we’ve loaded everything.”
“Head back to the Empire first.”
“By your command.”
After assigning about ten guards to the treasury carriage, he roughly turned his steps toward the west wing.
‘I thought this agreement would go as planned!’
“Your Highness.”
“……”
Arthur didn’t answer. Though his expression was bland, he was internally boiling and about to explode.
Count Willem, knowing well that the more expressionless he became, the angrier he was, became very tense.
Though he didn’t know what kind of sight the Crown Prince wanted to see of Duke Xavier, one thing was certain. The Duke being alive and well had turned the Crown Prince’s plans to bubbles.
‘Margaret, you were so confident! But you ruined everything!’
He was so upset he hadn’t even contacted her. Willem habitually grabbed and pulled his white mustache. As he was about to grab the curling mustache again, Arthur spoke.
“What about that girl Margaret?”
“I-I’m sorry. She was originally excellent…”
“What does ‘originally’ matter? Isn’t she completely useless now?”
“I apologize. But she seems to have spread the seeds of unrest as Your Highness ordered.”
“Oh?”
Seeds of unrest. It was Arthur who ordered to drive a wedge between Rosetta and the Duchess. He had taken action because their excessive closeness displeased him.
“Deal with her.”
“Pardon?”
It meant to eliminate the loose end that could cause future trouble. His golden eyes were chilling as he implied there was no need to give the Duke any unnecessary excuses.
“Yes, understood.”
To Count Willem who bowed respectfully, Arthur spoke one last time.
“Count Willem, I’m going for a walk, don’t follow me.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
*
After the negotiations reached a dramatic conclusion, Xavier called me to the central garden of the west wing. He must have felt sorry for me being confined indoors practicing holy power control.
“Shall we take breaks in between?”
When he looked at my face with concern, there was no reason to refuse. Actually, after shouting eureka earlier, I had just been lazing around.
Summer roses were blooming abundantly in the central garden. Cool water spray shot up from the marble fountain decorated with elaborate carvings.
Berg had separate gardens for each palace and residence, which was related to Berg’s structure.
‘Probably because many beastmen live in the city too.’
Perhaps because it was late afternoon, only Xavier and I were in the west wing garden.
“Xavier, I figured out the method.”
“Method? Did you succeed in releasing holy power?”
Xavier asked while tilting the lace parasol handle toward me. Our walking pace slowed and we faced each other.
“No, I figured out the unique method of transferring a Saintess’s holy power.”
“Unique method? Wasn’t it through contact?”
Xavier looked at me with a puzzled expression.
“It’s not contact, but a medium that’s needed.”
Seeing Xavier’s eyes widen, I must be right about this amazing discovery. Hehehe.
“For example?”
“Parts of the Saintess’s body. Like my skin? My body is the essential condition.”
“You’re saying this now?”
His beautiful face contorted.
He probably thinks where did such nonsense come from. I’m not keen on giving away body parts either.
“Just touching hair or hands doesn’t seem to work.”
“That’s true.”
Xavier nodded.
“Better than hair at least. I almost went bald.”
His teal eyes lingered on my golden hair before furrowing his brow.
“So I thought about it. Why is kissing most effective? What do you think, Xavier?”
“Well…”
Xavier stroked his chin while intently staring at my lips. After realizing that releasing holy power was useless, I quickly abandoned the training. I was so drained that it seemed better this way.
Leaning against a large back cushion on the bed headboard, eating chocolate cookies, I kept thinking…
Why is kissing most effective for supplying holy power?
When I healed Maya’s hand that was pricked by a rose.
When kissing Xavier.
When healing Rosetta’s wounds.
Though embarrassing, there was one common medium in all these.
“It’s saliva.”
“!”
Shocked by my words, Xavier’s eye movement froze.
Ahem. I’m embarrassed too.
As expected of an R-rated novel, it couldn’t be a more embarrassing medium.
I quickly shared the method I had thought of beforehand.
“Since sharing saliva would be strange, I thought about tears instead.”
Don’t they say mermaids’ tears turn into pearls? In some novels, they even get rich by collecting and selling them.
“Tears…”
“What do you think? Isn’t it great? If we make portable patches containing tears, beastmen can receive holy power without contact with the Saintess.”
Though it won’t be a fundamental solution, it could help ease the pain of beastmen who suffer every night.
But Xavier’s response was lukewarm.
“I don’t like it.”
“Why?”
This genius idea? You don’t like it?
“I prefer my wife’s lips.”
“Ugh, you beast! How can you say that in this situation?”
“Isn’t it the same as you going on about meat at any time?”
“Hey. What did meat do wrong?”
That delicious meat! How dare you!
When I protested with wide eyes, Xavier lowered his gaze with a playful smile.
“Anyway, I prefer doing things as we have been.”
“Do as you please.”
Though I glared at him with sulky eyes, my heart was pounding with excitement.
Supporting himself on the fountain with the hand not holding the parasol, Xavier muttered while watching the falling water.
“I should ask Melvin to introduce us to his acquaintance living in Borgio.”
“Yes. I’m glad we might meet them sooner than expected.”
Now that I knew the method, I just needed to meet that genius who made the holy power absorber.
“Now we just need to return to the Duke’s residence.”
Swoosh. A rainbow formed as water sprayed up.
Xavier, taking in that sight, turned sideways and said softly.
“Thank you.”
“No, well… I was worried about you and felt sorry for Prince Richard.”
“Still.”
Xavier took my hand and slowly interlocked our fingers. The sensation of our fingers fitting together was electrifying. Looking up at his handsome smile, it seeped into my heart. My heart started pounding heavily as our eyes met, his curving like crescents. His smiling lips parted.
“You know what?”
“What?”
“These days, you’re really beautiful.”
“……!”
My heart plummeted to the ground before starting to pound wildly again.
Our gazes intertwined and our clasped hands became moist with sweat. Swoosh, the cold sound of water seemed to grow louder, as if cooling the heat.
Just then–
“Oh, here you are?”
“Ah, you startled me!”
A platinum-haired man emerged through the well-trimmed bushes surrounding the fountain. It was Lucas Lacuni of Moirai.
Ah, why are you coming out from there?
Startled, I let go of Xavier’s hand and flailed my arms.
“Lulu, no, Your Highness Lucas?”
“You.”
Xavier’s voice calling Lucas was cold enough to make flesh tremble.
Meanwhile, Lucas casually brushed off twigs and leaves from his clothes while smiling brightly. At me, of course.
His fair face with dimples smiled broadly.
“Hi! I’m here, goddess!”