Chapter 80
Chapter 80
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 80
Chapter Title: Erotic Tale
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Long time no see, Grand Palace.
Upon arrival, I shared the details of the new feudal contract with the emperor at the council meeting.
Finance Minister Goethe wore an extremely excited expression.
"Ooh! So now we can fulfill the contracts with the heteroraces?"
"That's right. Taxes might change in a few years, but the obligation to develop the North is effectively gone."
No one in this room could miss the implications.
"Heh heh, if we can just sort out these bonds, a strong and prosperous nation isn't a pipe dream."
Military Minister Joseph nodded with a bright smile.
"I've got a plan for the bonds too. We'll sell the heteroraces' goods on the market and pocket the difference."
Luxury items from folks like the dwarves, or yin-yang liquor, would be solid revenue streams.
And dragon hearts on top of that.
They're pricey per unit, sure, but apparently they have effects even when used for something like yin-yang liquor.
Heh heh, I couldn't wait to show Luna the power of the unicorn horn and dragon heart.
They say the fully doped-up bro made the empress faint?
I wanted to show her that power as soon as possible.
Luna fainting...
"And..."
As I drifted into my own thoughts for a moment, Luna spoke up.
"His Imperial Highness the Crown Prince is staying at the Grand Palace, so everyone, show proper respect..."
She said it reluctantly.
There was a subtle hint of displeasure in her demeanor.
"His Imperial Highness is here?"
"Come to think of it, he visits pretty often."
It had been over two years since New Year's—Ferdinand, who had dumped Luna and left two years ago.
Even so, wasn't two years a long time?
Everyone here looked less than thrilled.
What was going on?
I was puzzled by the atmosphere, but Luna continued.
"Also, Sir Aiden has sworn brotherhood with His Imperial Majesty the Emperor and received his knighthood directly. Treat him with the same respect as before—no more familiarity."
Her brief words sent the room into stunned silence.
"Sw... sworn brothers with His Imperial Majesty?"
"A knighthood?"
The ministers stared at me as if asking if it was true, and I could only give an awkward smile.
"That's how it turned out. Haha..."
Sir Charles, in particular, looked shocked as he spoke.
"Congratulations, Sir Aiden."
"I'm still too green to be called 'sir.'"
Honestly, knights were meant to fight on the front lines.
I didn't even know how to fight... Was I really a knight?
"That concludes the meeting. Aiden, stay behind a moment."
At Luna's words, they rose one by one and left the council chamber...
"Where are you sleeping tonight?"
I replied as if it were obvious.
"In the Grand Palace, obviously?"
Luna frowned, clearly displeased.
"No. Go home and sleep there tonight."
"Huh? Why?"
"When I say sleep at home, sleep at home."
This wasn't the gentle Luna I knew from our private moments.
How should I put it? She seemed a bit angry.
Inviting the Crown Prince to the Grand Duchy was already done and dusted, right? Had I done something else wrong since then?
"Alright, sure."
I nodded, looking bewildered.
"Okay."
As she stared at me, I felt puzzled.
What, was that it?
"Is that all you had to say?"
"Yeah, you can go now."
Talk about anticlimactic.
As I headed to my office to finish up some work...
-Knock knock.
Someone at the door.
"Who is it?"
-It's me, Uncle.
"Oh? Come in."
The Crown Prince entered my office with a bright smile.
"Your office is... a bit cramped, isn't it?"
It was about 5 pyeong—not exactly tiny, was it?
"You think so?"
He glanced around my room and spoke cautiously.
"I heard you're an important figure in the Grand Duchy... Hmm..."
To the pondering prince, I said,
"If you've got nothing to do, help me with my work."
"Am I... not a guest?"
I shot back at Ferdinand, who seemed eager to slack off.
"You're a guest, but isn't helping your one and only uncle that bad?"
"Not really. Fine, what do I do?"
"Just plot these numbers on a graph here. Easy, right?"
As I handed him the documents, Ferdinand clicked his tongue.
"Jeez... Uncle, making the Crown Prince do menial tasks like this?"
"Oh? And why not? Should I write to your brother saying my status is too lowly for my nephew to listen?"
At my words, the prince immediately put on a fawning expression.
He forced a smile.
"Come on, that's not what I meant. I'll do it right now."
And so, the only sound between us was the scratch of pen on paper.
"Oh, right—I forgot to mention. If you get caught trying to steal the Grand Duchess's underwear again... I'll really report it to your brother. Got it?"
"Haha, no way... I'd do that again?"
I scanned my awkward nephew up and down.
"I believe you won't. Even if it's the woman you love, that's basically a crime."
"I know."
As he quietly worked, I finished up my tasks.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ After wrapping up the day's work, I grabbed the backlog of novels and beer and headed home.
My familiar house after so long.
The rising house prices brought a smile to my face.
Luna had told me not to sell yet, so I hadn't...
But if things went south, I'd need to be ready to bolt anytime, so prep in advance.
I set the beer keg and books on the floor and opened the door.
A hollow chill greeted me.
Ugh... I wished winter would end already.
It was nearly over—this last cold snap felt the harshest.
I lit the firewood and put it in the hearth, and warmth slowly spread.
"Shall I check out the new one?"
After learning the 'reality' of that knight novel last time, I'd borrowed an erotic tale this time.
Heh heh... Good thing, after all the recent stress.
Ever since I'd tasted a woman.
Not doing it once during the trip to the capital had been real torture.
I'd figured tonight with Luna, but she glared and sent me home—what choice did I have? Sleep at home it was.
"This isn't so bad."
I cracked open the keg, poured into a clean glass, set it up by the sofa, and relaxed.
The journey to the capital?
Honestly, it hadn't been fun.
Nearly three weeks just going there and back, then dragged around the palace drinking with the emperor.
Well... It did keep me raring to go at odd hours, but no way to do it with Luna, so I endured.
So I started reading the erotic tale.
About an hour later?
-Knock knock.
Who? Ah... No way?
Did 'go home' mean she wanted to do it here tonight?
With a hopeful thought, I opened the door.
-Creak...
A black bobbed-haired woman smiled at me.
"Miss me?"
"We saw each other a few hours ago?"
Luna with a soft smile.
She stepped inside and flopped onto the sofa where I slept.
"Mmm~ Aiden's scent."
Her blunt words made my face heat up.
What about my scent?
"You like my smell that much?"
"Yeah, just sniffing it makes me happy."
Luna rubbed her face all over the sofa cushion.
She spotted the book nearby.
"Huh? What's this book?"
"Uh? Th-that's..."
I lunged to snatch the erotic tale from her hand, but she easily dodged.
My hand sliced through empty air.
"What? Is it the Kairen biography from last time?"
"No! Just give it back."
At my frantic voice, she eyed the cover suspiciously.
"Conwell the Lustful Mage? This is smut, isn't it?"
"W-well..."
Luna flipped through a few pages and read aloud.
"You like it? You like my meat rod that much?! Yes, harder. My meat rod blazed like fire into her meat hole..."
Her deadpan voice reading it made my face burn; I yelled desperately.
"Stop! Right there!"
I tried to grab it from embarrassment, but Luna pushed me back with her hand.
"Hee hee, poking her made the maid wet herself. Oh? Aiden reads this stuff?"
Her teasing tone made my ears burn.
Aah... This life's doomed.
"Pfft! Instead of this junk, just do it with me? You've been pent up lately too, right?"
Luna's excited face.
"I've been teased half to death too. Be ready tonight."
She grabbed my arm roughly...
And dragged me to the bedroom.
"You gonna strip nice? Or should I rip 'em off?"
"C-can't I just... undress?"
She nodded seriously at my reply.
"Yeah! I'm in a hurry right now."
"Then I'll undress."
As I slowly took my time...
-Swish!
The sound of Luna stripping brushed my ears, my heart pounding wildly.
Ugh... Why was this happening?
It felt more thrilling than usual.
Like the first time we were together.
I'd stripped down to my underwear when...
"Eek! Why so slow? Trying to tease me?"
Luna grabbed my wrist and threw me onto the bed.
"Ah... No?"
She exuded a fierce aura, like a lion spotting prey.
She slowly climbed over me and buried her nose in my neck.
"Mmm! Smells delicious."
"Pardon?"
Luna licked my neck.
"Tonight's gonna be different, you know?"
After eating the dragon heart and unicorn horn, that is.