Chapter 41
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 41
Chapter Title: Deal
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On the worn wooden table sat two mugs, steam rising lazily from them.
The rims were chipped, and the surfaces bore stubborn brown stains that no amount of scrubbing could erase, but the brown liquid inside gave off a surprisingly pleasant aroma of wild mugwort.
A breeze from outside rattled the open window, shaking the rickety frame. Silence hung in the room, but it was far from peaceful—more like a bowstring pulled taut, ready to snap at any moment.
I sat across from Lilia, cupping my mug with both hands.
The warmth seeping into my palms thawed my chilled fingertips, but the cold sweat trickling down my back wouldn't stop. Here I was, legs crossed, dressed in filthy rags.
Far from imperial dignity—I probably looked worse than a street thug.
Lilia von Argent sat ramrod straight. She hadn't removed her gloves. The dark navy leather gripping the mug's handle looked almost like it clutched a sword.
Her gaze was fixed on the liquid in her cup, but those blue eyes churned with a whirlwind of thoughts.
Wow, she's really beautiful.
I pretended to wet my lips with a sip from the mug while stealing a glance at her.
Up close, her skin was flawless and smooth. A bit of dirt smudged her cheeks from trudging through the woods, but even that couldn't mar her noble beauty.
A few strands of golden hair trailed down, tickling her cheek, and her tightly pressed lips shone like vivid rose petals.
The leather armor peeking from beneath her cloak hugged her tightly, accentuating the curves of her chest—impressive volume despite her slender frame.
With every breath, the silver shield emblem on her breastplate rose and fell, drawing the eye.
I cleared my throat and straightened my posture.
"It's a humble place, but I'm honored to host a lady like you."
I pitched my voice low, trying to sound dignified.
Chin slightly raised, eyes narrowed—I aimed for that imperial gravitas.
The response was icy.
Adella, standing beside me, let out a sharp pfft like a deflating balloon before hastily covering her mouth.
"Ahem."
She turned her head with a cough, but her shoulders shook faintly.
It was disbelief. The guy who'd been cracking crude jokes about boobs by the stream moments ago was suddenly putting on airs. Hilarious, no doubt.
Lilia didn't even react. She neither lifted her cup nor glanced my way. She simply ignored my performance with cold silence.
Screw it.
I clicked my tongue inwardly. Playing the stern emperor wasn't my style anyway. With my title as the Lustful Emperor, any pretense would fall flat.
I set my mug down with a sharp clack. Lilia's eyebrow twitched slightly.
"So, why are you here?"
I propped my chin on my hand and stared her down. No acting this time—genuine curiosity.
"A fine lady from Argent doesn't fit in a monster den like this. Did you sneak out without telling big brother?"
Lilia slowly raised her head. Her blue eyes met mine. Chilling. Like a river flowing beneath ice—cold and crystal clear.
"To confirm something."
Her voice was low and precise.
"Confirm what?"
"Your real reason for coming here."
She tapped the table with her gloved hand.
"The Black Forest is too dangerous to be just for survival, too free for a place of exile. And it makes no sense that Roselia's army halted before the walls for three whole days."
Her eyes sharpened.
"What deal did you strike with Queen Helena?"
Right on the mark. As expected from Duke Karls's sister—quick on the uptake, with intuition that cut straight to the core.
I grinned.
"A deal? We just had a little chat. A deep, intimate one."
I twirled my finger around the mug's rim, recalling the feel of Helena's breasts.
Lilia's brow furrowed. She seemed to read something impure in my finger's motion.
"An intimate chat?"
She echoed, her tone laced with contempt.
"Yeah. Her Majesty's tastes are quite unique. Tough on the outside, but soft where it counts."
I laced it with deliberate innuendo, to stir her imagination.
She bit her lip hard. Memories from the palace reception must have surfaced.
In her mind, my leering gaze on her overlapped with whatever "intimate chat" Helena might have endured, amplifying her disgust.
But she didn't back down. If anything, she pressed harder.
"So she gave you the Black Forest? In exchange for pulling back her army?"
"Huh? How'd you know that?"
I widened my eyes. The details hadn't even been officially announced yet.
"Of course I heard. Who do you think my family is?"
She shot back coldly.
"But it struck me as odd. Queen Helena handing over a place like this and withdrawing her forces? Did you have dirt on her? Or..."
Her gaze flicked down to my prison garb, then snapped back up.
"Or are you giving her something besides the Black Land?"
Wow.
I was impressed. What a vivid imagination. She was half-right about "something else(?)."
I flashed a mischievous smile and leaned forward.
"Curious? I can tell you. But nothing's free."
"What?"
"You gotta offer something too. Information, or..."
My eyes drifted down to her chest. The silver shield emblem over her breasts.
"Something else."
Lilia's face flushed crimson. Her hand instinctively went to her sword hilt.
"How rude. Still the same as ever."
"I'll take that as a compliment."
I chuckled. From the side, I heard Adella sigh heavily.
"Your Majesty, please rein it in."
Adella interjected. She bowed apologetically to Lilia.
"Forgive him, my lady. Forest life has him a bit... off-kilter."
"Off-kilter? I'm fine!"
I protested, but Adella ignored me and refilled Lilia's cup.
Lilia released the sword hilt and stared at her mug. She took a deep breath, as if to cool her flushed face.
Is this man truly mad, or just putting on an act?
Her mind was in turmoil. The guy before her seemed utterly depraved and perverted.
But something hidden in those eyes unnerved her. That pure gaze from their forest encounter earlier.
And the pointed barbs laced into his jokes now.
She was convinced he held clues to the "00 Army" she'd been seeking.
Maybe he'd promised Helena hidden imperial forces in the Black Forest. Join me to reclaim the Empire, and you'd get even better terms.
"Very well."
Lilia looked up.
"Let's make a deal."
"What kind?"
"Give me the information I want, and I'll provide whatever conveniences I can."
Her voice was calm, but her fingers trembled faintly around the mug.
The breeze slipping through the window swirled over the table, tousling Lilia's hair slightly.
A golden strand tickled her pale cheek, and she tilted her head absently.
Her expression was resolute, but her blue eyes held tension—and a deeper hunger to uncover the truth.
"As you know, the Black Forest borders Argent directly. I can bring you anything discreetly."
She leaned slightly forward, locking eyes.
"The army in the Black Forest... That's what you're after, isn't it? They're imperial assets—forces. A deposed emperor like you can't just command them at will!"
'Army?'
I rolled my eyes while pretending to sip. The bitter tang of the tea coated my tongue.
The Black Forest army. A vague memory flickered from the Atria strategy boards.
The reason Argent had held out against the Abyss invasion for a full month.
Something hidden behind that. But the details escaped me.
I fancied myself a veteran player, but I'd rushed through factions for the happy endings, never diving deep like some pervert(?).
No, my real goal is the dimension stone.
I grumbled inwardly. Armies and empires? Not my problem.
Just one rock to escape this damn world—that was enough. Her misunderstanding might actually work in my favor.
If she thought I was after the army, she might help me secure other means for the stone.
I glanced at Lilia. Pretty, sure.
But then, a hot surge boiled up from deep in my gut.
Shit, no.
The Lustful Emperor's instincts began gnawing at my mind.
Her white neckline, the faint blush on her tense earlobes, the imagined curve of her waist below that rigid posture.
All of it assaulted my brain as raw visual data. Just as reason tried to kick in, my tongue itched to move on its own.
Fine, you lecherous bastard. But no signature lewd stares or lines!
I thrashed inwardly and unwittingly drew on the power of Persuasion (Lv.2). If I couldn't suppress it, I'd redirect it. No point hiding desire—better to wield it as a weapon.
"An army, huh..."
I set the mug down casually. Clack. The sound shattered the silence.
"Is that really so important? There might be something even more crucial than what you think."
I propped my chin and stared at her. My gaze didn't shy from her eyes, but slowly drifted down to her chest.
The pronounced curves over the silver shield emblem. Her breathing stretched the leather taut—obvious and enticing.
I want to touch them.
"Like, the real reason you stepped into this forest."
"My reason is clear. For the Empire's safety..."
Lilia stiffened under my gaze. She tugged her cloak to cover her chest, but the motion only drew more attention.
"The Empire's safety? Is that all?"
I curled my lip.
"Or did you come back for that 'conversation' we didn't finish at the palace?"
"How rude!"
Lilia's face burned red. She gripped her mug tighter.
"I'm not here for your crude jokes. Will you accept my offer or not?"
Her voice was edged, but wavering. My brazen attitude and blatant stares were rattling her defenses.
Exhilarating. Jackpot!
"Alright, let's deal."
I tapped the table.
"I'll tell you everything I know about the army. But in return..."
I leaned forward. The distance between us shrank. Her scent hit me.
"How about you check it yourself? See if I'm telling the truth."
"Check how?"
Lilia shot back. Her eyes lingered on my lips.