Chapter 50
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 50
Chapter Title: You Seduced Me First?
-----------------------------------------------------------------
The mornings in the imperial palace start early.
As the supreme ruler of the empire, the emperor must set an example for all, rising before the rooster and retiring later than the ox—a position that demands grinding his body to dust.
When does an emperor, who must excel in both politics and scholarship, handle his official duties?
He carves out time for study by skimping on sleep, and even then, he must train his body during those precious hours.
What about the crown prince and crown princess?
Of course, they must follow the emperor's lead—rising early and retiring late.
Why am I explaining all this now…?
"We've only said 'I love you' 326 times so far?"
-Muah!
"It's a shame, but Lily will be here soon, so shall we call it for now?"
-Drip… drip…
"You like that so much? I love you too!"
-Flinch!
Last night, Jenia had begged and sobbed for declarations of love, but now her face was a mess, tears streaming endlessly from her vacant eyes.
"Skip training today and get some real rest."
No sooner had I spoken than Jenia's eyes slowly drifted shut.
Her cheek, pressed into the pillow as she lay face-down, was streaked with tear stains, and her body was covered in red marks.
Evidence of our love had dried across her skin, and the bed was a disaster zone.
I dressed while using magic to clean the room, drying the sticky sheets until they were fluffy again.
Jenia looked so cute, limp and spent, that I planted a little kiss on her waist.
-Muah!
-Tremble…!
-Trickle… trickle…
"Whoa there, Jenia! I just cleaned up… but it's fine!"
I cleaned the sheets and bed again, then tucked her in.
Gazing at her content expression, I saw her breathing evenly in sleep, so I decided against more teasing and headed out.
'Is there a way to give her more sleep…?'
It was 5:10 a.m. now.
Rise time was 6:00, and I'd already extended that.
'When I become emperor, I'll definitely make it longer.'
Jenia might faint if she heard that, but it wasn't an empty promise.
After all the payback I'd endured, I planned to milk it for life…
Back in my room, as I slowly plotted the "romance-novel mindset enlightenment plan" for Jenia, the door creaked open cautiously, and Veronica slipped in.
Her face beamed without a trace of last night's hangover.
Seeing me awake, Veronica's pretty eyes crinkled in greeting.
"Oh! Your Holiness! You're up early… Eek!"
-Flinch!
Suddenly, Veronica shuddered and clutched her lower abdomen.
"Veronica?"
Worried, I stood and approached her.
"Wait just a moment! Give me a second!"
She waved off my outstretched hand.
"Hauu… Just a bit longer…"
Veronica steadied her breathing, then holy power erupted from her body.
Lumie, who had been sleeping peacefully, woke and fluttered to Veronica's shoulder.
[Yummy…]
Lumie basked in the light atop Veronica's shoulder, dozing with little nods.
The glow from Veronica's body gradually faded, and her expression returned to normal.
Still concerned, I asked,
"Veronica, are you okay? Is it the alcohol from last night?"
"Hehe… The wine from yesterday is hitting me a little… Just a moment, Your Holiness… My head hurts a bit…"
Veronica shuffled over slowly, took my hand, and sat on the bed.
"Your Holiness… Just a moment…"
She tugged weakly at my hand, so I sat beside her to check her condition.
Using mana, I sensed her invisible toes wiggling and her temperature spiking.
"Veronica… You feel feverish. No good—you should rest today. I'll take you back."
As I reached to stroke her head, she trembled finely and scooted her hips right up against mine.
"Veronica?"
Her face flushed, Veronica looked up at me.
Her dry lips parted as her tongue licked them, gleaming seductively.
"Your Holiness… Mind if I borrow your shoulder for a bit…?"
Her head leaned against my shoulder, and her unique scent wafted strongly—warm, sweet milk, thicker than usual today.
'Oh no, this isn't good.'
I circulated my circles discreetly to fend off the insistent urge rising in my mind.
But my lower brain was slipping from control anyway.
Her size was impossible to hide, making me anxious, but I couldn't just abandon ailing Veronica.
'Did she notice? Probably fine?'
I gave up controlling my mind and quickly cast an illusion spell on my pants.
Too flustered to check her face—only her crown was visible, no reaction, so she must not have seen.
A sticky voice slipped from Veronica's lips.
"Sorry, Your Holiness… I shouldn't be like this…"
Even her immense holy power couldn't cover it—she must have poor compatibility with alcohol.
To reassure her, I stroked her head and said,
"It's okay, Veronica. It happens… Rest today. I'll escort you."
As I petted her, her breathing grew ragged.
-Huff… haa… huu…
"Veronica?"
Calling her questioningly, her grip intertwined our fingers, her thumb gently stroking the back of my hand.
Flustered by the suggestive motion, her lips parted.
"I'm fine, Your Holiness… Hoo… Looks like… I need to visit the church soon."
"Y-Yeah, let's do that, Veronica. We'll set a day and go together."
"When."
"Huh?"
"Today?"
"T… Today won't work—I've got a schedule…"
"Tomorrow?"
"S-Sorry, Veronica, this week's busy wrapping up the New Year's festival…"
"…"
Silence from Veronica sent a chill down my spine.
As my petting hand paused in panic…
"Your Holiness… Your hand stopped…"
"Oh? R-Right… Sorry."
I resumed stroking vigorously, feeling I had to.
"It feels a bit better when Your Holiness touches me like this?"
"Yeah?"
"Hehe… Of course…"
Veronica chuckled lowly, bringing our intertwined hands to rub her cheek.
"Uh…"
Her eyes dreamy as she savored my touch for a while, then she stared straight at me.
It had been ages since I'd seen this face—the gentle, smiling eyes now sharp like a cat's, her usually pouty lips firmly set, resolute.
Yet her goddess-carved beauty remained alluringly sacred.
Overwhelmed by her direct gaze, a low voice emanated from her.
"First thing next week… right away… you have time, don't you?"
The crown prince is busy… Even without schedules, official duties await; next week means prepping for council meetings, and above all, academy entrance exams.
But sparing time for Veronica? No way I'd chicken out.
I swallowed and replied,
"…Next week works."
Veronica's eyes fluttered shut then open, a dangerous purple sheen emanating softly.
"You'll go with me for sure, Your Holiness? You promise?"
Her words were a cute plea, but her tone was chilling.
I could only nod.
As if granting mercy, Veronica nodded and stood.
"As expected, Your Holiness is the best! I have business to attend—I'll be off!"
To the suddenly cheerful Veronica, I said,
"H-Hey, Veronica, rest up today."
As she exited, waving with a smile, her low voice carried before the door shut.
"Next week."
-Click.
The door closed, hiding her expression.
Worry gnawed at me.
'Her holy power grew after the war… Is this a side effect?'
Seemed like issues controlling the increased power.
'Prayers get answered… She'll fix it.'
"Lumie!"
[Mm?]
"How did Veronica's holy power look? Unstable?"
Asking woke Lumie, who replied oddly.
[It got bigger…]
'What? Total amount increased?'
"Explain in detail…"
[Dunno about unstable… It was overflowing?]
"Meaning hard to control?"
[Looked tough…]
"What problem does that cause?"
[Dunno…]
I flicked the dozing Lumie's forehead irritably.
"Tch!"
[Ow!]
What to do with this lazy fairy…
I pondered taking Lumie or not.
"Lumie… Coming to the academy?"
Lumie pouted, thinking.
[Still… Felt bad being apart last time… How far's the academy?]
"Pretty far."
[Then I'll come…]
With that, Lumie dozed off again. I chuckled.
I stroked Lumie's head once, then headed out.
'Busy till academy starts.'
Thinking of the academy—epicenter of incidents—I went to my office.
'Wonder how the protagonist will turn out…'
Opening the door, I saw Lily cozied on the sofa, head on Sebastian's shoulder.
"Lily…?"
"Oh… Oh my! Y-Your Highness is here?"
"Ahem!"
Lily bolted up, Sebastian coughed awkwardly.
'I rooted for them… But still!'
"Look at me, spacing out! You haven't had breakfast—I'll fetch a snack!"
Lily dashed out, Sebastian scurried to his seat.
Betrayed, I glared at him.
I'd pushed them together, but pettiness surged.
I approached and slammed his chair.
-Bang!
"Sebastian, you scum!"
"Wh-What is it, Your Highness!"
"How dare you with Lily!!!"
"What are you saying! I followed your orders!"
"You scuuuum!"
Seems their progress advanced without me knowing.
That method actually worked…
'Lily cries? You'll end up like the heretic in my grasp then.'
Before I knew it, the promised day with Veronica arrived.
Teleportation banned inside the palace, we rode a carriage out of the capital.
Veronica, usually chattering excitedly, was unusually quiet today.
Her face smiled brightly… but somehow… dark?
Outside the capital, we teleported to the church front.
I looked at Veronica and said,
"Let's pray lots today, Veronica."
Hoping to cheer her, I smiled brightly, but her voice remained chilling.
"Lots… Yeees…"
With that, she grabbed my hand and dragged me to the prayer room.
"Heh heh, you two again…"
"Hello, High Priest! We'll use the prayer room quick—short on time!"
'Short on time?'
Her words puzzled me, but I helplessly followed.
"Veronica?"
"Your Holiness! Almost there!"
Her face brightened.
We reached the prayer room; she opened the door, swiftly laid out a blanket.
"Here! Your Holiness! Sit here!"
Wondering if this was okay… Following her quick guidance, as my knees hit the floor…
'Uh… Why am I…'
Eyes closed, but vision, senses, even consciousness intact.
Normally, I'd suspect heretic sorcery and bolt, but with Veronica before the goddess statue, I assessed fast.
'Some spell? No… Feels different.'
Too cozy and soothing for sorcery.
Veronica gently caught my falling body, laying my head on her lap.
She stroked my hair tenderly, but today she felt utterly different.
'Did Veronica do this? Body won't obey…'
Her pretty smile turned serious.
A cold voice issued from her lips.
"It's your fault, Your Holiness… All because of you."
'What?'
What nonsense was this?
I wanted to ask, but my body basked in warm energy, unresponsive.
"Always crinkling your eyes with that soft smile, caressing so carefully when I lean in, blushing faintly when holding hands, emanating a scent that drives women wild—then why pull away when it matters?"
'Pardon?'
What was she saying… But her mouth didn't stop.
"You indulge every whine, flash those neat teeth even when showing you like it, why are your hands so big? Arm so firm when I rest my head, yet you romp wildly with Jenia and come back reeking of pheromones… Ha! Know what your laundry basket smells like after workouts—shirts and panties mixed?"
Unlike her icy monologue, her body exuded a kind, rich milk scent.
Control lost not just limbs, but lower brain too.
Veronica noticed and chuckled once more.
"See… Just my scent does this, yet you ignore me? All your fault, Your Holiness… The goddess's punishment…"
She smiled fondly at the air.
Her reopened eyes glowed purple.
"Ha… Can't hold back…"
'Eh…?'
"I'll r*pe you."