Chapter 24
Chapter 24
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter Title: Hold Me, So I Can Have Your Baby (1)
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"Hehe, follow me?"
The territory conferment ceremony had concluded, followed by the banquet. Then came the princess's request for a private audience.
The place we arrived at, following Her Highness the Princess, was the imperial palace's aerial garden—completely separated from the boisterous banquet hall, enveloped in quiet, cool night air.
Below my feet, the capital's nightscape sparkled like scattered jewels, while white roses bathed in moonlight released a faint fragrance.
Standing at the center of this otherworldly space, she leaned against the garden's railing, facing me.
"This place..."
"Hehe, the same spot where we first met. Remember?"
"Ahaha... I was pretty shocked back then."
"Oh? Were you excited? Still losing sleep over that night, my dear Jonathan?"
Along with her words, memories of our first encounter flooded back.
.
.
.
*Rewinding time, to the imperial tournament grounds.*
"Stop! I surrender! Mercy!"
"The winner of this tournament is Jonathan of Valentia! Give him a big round of applause!!"
- Waaaaah!!
The tournament held in the imperial capital—a stage where not only nobles but also rising stars showcased their prowess.
After the victory, the banquet followed, and then an imperial servant appeared.
"-This is for me? Who sent it?"
"She asked that I not reveal it, if I may be so bold."
"Hm..."
Following that, the mysterious invitation delivered by the servant.
Guided by the words on the invitation, I arrived at a reception room.
I searched around the reception room, but there wasn't a soul in sight.
Pushing aside my bewilderment, something caught my eye.
"A chessboard...?"
A chessboard in a bizarre state, as if a game had nearly finished.
But the peculiar part was that White had only its king and queen left, while Black had all its pieces alive except for one knight.
"...?"
No, something was even stranger.
Up close, I could see it—the orientation of the chessboard made it clear.
"The top and bottom are switched...?"
No matter how many times I looked, the board was right-side up. Yet Black's king, rooks, bishops, and queen were positioned on the very bottom row.
Literally, Black's pieces were trapped by their own pawns, which could only move forward.
It was as if their most powerful army was imprisoned by their own weakest soldiers.
And I had seen this before.
'The Grotesque Chess Puzzle...'
A variant chess puzzle I'd encountered in a past life via puzzle YouTube videos.
Black had an overwhelming material advantage, but all its pieces started trapped behind the pawns—an impossible game in standard rules.
White had to break through that solid wall with only king and queen to capture Black's king.
I took a moment to steady my breath before the board.
Black's pawns could only move down and had no way to retreat, trapping their powerful pieces behind themselves.
White had just the queen and king. Plus, the tricky conditions of preventing pawn promotions while avoiding stalemate.
'Give them breathing room, but block the path.'
I slowly reached out and picked up White's queen. Then made the first move.
1. Queen a8!
Then, something astonishing happened.
"!"
One of Black's pawns opposite me moved forward a single square, as if pulled by an invisible hand.
Remote chess. I decided to accept this bizarre game's invitation.
'Now, time to advance the king.'
2. King a7!
The king blocked in front of the queen, allowing Black's king breathing space—it had no choice but to move to a1.
... King a1
I advanced the king next.
3. King b6, check!
Black's king retreated to a1 again.
After several more moves like this, White's king finally reached its target at g1.
All Black could do in the meantime was advance pawns and shuttle the king back and forth.
And so, the ninth move.
'The final move... this is it!'
9. Queen h2, checkmate!
The moment my final move landed, it perfectly sealed Black's king's escape and cut off its air.
'Puzzle solved.'
Even pre-update Stockfish couldn't solve this one, they said.
In truth, most people seeing it firsthand wouldn't even notice the orientation, let alone solve it.
Even knowing the solution, the process was so tricky I got confused multiple times.
Once checkmate was declared, the reception room's wall slid open like an illusion.
And from within, a figure emerged, clapping toward me.
Noble and beautiful long red hair, ruby-like crimson eyes.
The only daughter of Emperor Siegmund and heir to the Ruberius imperial bloodline—Princess Lorensia Ruberius stood there.
"Congratulations, Young Lord Jonathan. No one has ever solved that puzzle before."
"Princess?! What brings you here?"
"Oh, come on. Isn't it common for a lady to secretly invite a tournament-winning knight? More importantly, congrats on the win?"
The princess drew gradually closer. She seemed awfully intimate.
"P-Princess, you're a bit too close..."
"Hehe, you looked decent from afar, but up close, you're even more handsome? Tall, broad shoulders too."
"Saying that so suddenly is kind of troubling..."
After eyeing me up and down for a good while, she slyly took my hand and began leading me.
"P-Princess? Why the hand?"
"Pfft, shy?"
"Uh, well."
"Nothing much. It's the reward for solving my puzzle?"
She led me by the hand to the imperial aerial garden.
"This place..."
"A spot I visit alone when troubled or stifled. Like it?"
"It's like stepping into another world that doesn't exist in this one."
"Hehe, thanks for the praise?"
Soon, she posed a question.
"Hey, Jonathan."
"Ah, yes. Something to say?"
"A man smart enough to solve that puzzle should pierce right through its meaning."
"-What did you feel from that game just now?"
I took a breath at her question.
I instinctively knew the bizarre chessboard itself was her grand riddle—a metaphor revealing herself.
Meeting Lorensia's eyes directly, I calmly but tactfully voiced what I'd read from the board.
"The most powerful sovereign was instead isolated, surrounded by the weakest soldiers."
At my first words, her crimson eyes narrowed with interest.
"The one seated on the throne is master of the board, yet freer than no other piece."
"The soldiers who only advance became not shields protecting their lord, but a prison blocking his path. The greatest power was strangling itself with the pettiest constraints."
At my tactful phrasing, Lorensia finally burst into delighted laughter.
"Pfft, perfect. Yes, that's me. Lorensia Ruberius, princess of the empire, potential next empress."
She no longer hid behind the veil of metaphor.
"I'm to become the empire's master, but bound by the most primal rule: continue the imperial blood. Marry a man from a powerful house, and the empire tilts that way; otherwise, both the imperial heirs and I are at risk."
"Take a manipulable fool as husband, and the empire becomes a playground for rats—any child born between would fail to uphold it. Take a viperish one, and the empire splits in two."
Her gaze pierced me, sharp and precise like a hunter eyeing a prey's vital spot.
"Then, you appeared."
She circled me slowly, appraising me like merchandise.
"You proved unbeatable strength in the tournament, pierced my riddle at once. Not some pushover noble, yet heir to a house off-center enough not to tilt any side. And..."
She stopped right in front of me, whispering with a bewitching smile.
"...up close, you're quite my type. Looks, height, voice, martial prowess. Especially that insight."
I swallowed dryly at her blatant gaze.
Seeming to enjoy my reaction, she delivered her final verdict.
"So, Jonathan Valerius. You're the perfect answer to my dilemma. That's why—"
She gently cupped my chin, whispering hot breath into my ear.
"Hold me, Jonathan. So I can have your baby."
"I'll even give you a duchy if you want. Even if it's just one night of fun."
"I'll give you my preserved purity. You become my knight for tonight."
"Then, the child I bear from your seed will be the empire's sun, heir to Ruberius blood."
"So, what do you say to my proposal? Jonathan."
I froze, my mind going blank.
A moment later, I regained my senses, gently pushed her hand away, and stepped back.
"I'm flattered, Princess, but I cannot accept that proposal."
.
.
.
Snapping back from the reverie, I awkwardly scratched the back of my neck.
"Hehe, why blush so? Clearly remembering that night, my Jonathan?"
"Can't deny it."
"Pfft. The first time in my life I was shot down, and the one who rejected me is the one squirming. I've been sleepless thinking of you since."
"Ahaha..."
Truly a terrifying princess when it comes to toying with hearts.
She stepped away from the railing, closing in on me.
Her scent, thicker and more intoxicating than the night roses, numbed my senses.
"Back then, any ordinary man would have kissed my feet in ecstasy. The fastest, surest path to grasp the entire empire with his seed."
Her ruby eyes, under moonlight, held me completely.
"But you cast it all aside."
Now just a handspan away, she looked up directly into my eyes and whispered.
"What were you thinking then? Because of the childhood fiancée by your side? Or..."
A playful yet all-seeing smile curved her lips.
"Was this Lorensia Ruberius lacking appeal to you, getting rejected?"
"Especially since an unmarried woman offered her purity. I might have been a little hurt?"
At her piercing question, I waved my hands frantically.
"N-No! How could that be? Your charms are too much for me, that's all."
"Heh, knew it? But no excuses—I want your true feelings. Hm?"
Damn, if she keeps the initiative like that night, I'll just get swept along again.
I need to seize control somehow. Let's see—
"B-By the way, is this audience about the upcoming imperial certification system's detailed legislation?"
"No, skip the stiff talk. We can do that anytime—most legislation's already done."
She cut me off mid-sentence with a wave.
Then eyed me up and down with curious, cat-like eyes.
"More interestingly, I saw quite the spectacle in the audience chamber today. My Jonathan?"
"Spectacle?"
"Really, playing coy?"
Her playful gaze fixed on my face.
"Chicken instead of warhorse. Everyone must think you're mad or small-minded. But I know how cunning a fox you are."
"Fox? I've never..."
She stepped closer. Her rose scent intensified on the night breeze.
'Cunning fox? Overestimation.'
Hearing her, I swallowed a wry internal smile.
To the emperor or princess, it looked like political maneuvering, but my real thoughts were far simpler.
'I just hate hassle.'
Even in my past life, I'd read articles on horse racing—billions per breeding.
Imperial stallions would be on another level, unimaginable value, and managing them would devour money and manpower. No thanks to the bother.
Valerius territory would be mine eventually—no need to chase trouble for profit. Not like good food falls from it.
Whether she knew my mind or not, she smiled satisfiedly and stepped closer.
Our distance now close enough for breaths to mingle.
"Yes, that's what I like."
"Huh?"
"That sharpness hiding your claws perfectly, fooling everyone."
Her pale, long fingers, through lace gloves, softly traced my formal attire's chest.
"Princess, this is..."
"Shh."
She pressed her index finger lightly to my lips.
Her playful crimson eyes had turned deep and predatory, like a lion before prey.
"My father thinks you feigned foolishness to avoid political strife, but I see it differently."
Her finger trailed from my lips along my jawline.
A chilling tingle down my spine. A strange heat coursing through my body.
"You didn't avoid it. You just weren't interested. Their petty power struggles weren't even on your radar. Right?"
"Th-That's not..."
"Hehe, cute. Other men put on idiot acts to impress me or snag power's edge, but you won't even step on that stage. Too trivial compared to what you're after."
"Uh, well."
This is bad. She's not listening to me.
Meanwhile, Lorensia drew steadily closer. Her warmth palpable.
"Princess, too close—"
"Shh."
Her oiled fingers in lace gloves, tracing my jaw, now rested lightly on my lips.
Soon, her hand cupped my cheek softly.
No room left to retreat or dodge.
"The reason you rejected my proposal that night? It doesn't matter now."
Her face drew slowly nearer.
Her crimson eyes, backlighted by moonlight, blazed brighter than any gem.
"What matters is, I have no intention of letting you go now."
At that moment, blue light shimmered around her, and small magic circles floated up.
"?!"
With that, the red dress embroidered with gold thread tore in an instant, sliding off her body.