Chapter 42
Chapter 42
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 42
Chapter Title: Yuno X Eliza (1)
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Heinrich, the Second Prince, was holding a meeting with his close aides in his detached palace, discussing the agenda items from today's council meeting.
"Your Highness, what do you plan to do? If the Empress Dowager retires like that, won't we lose more forces to check the First Prince's ascension?"
"No. Even if she stays, given her temperament, she won't push Yuno for the throne. It would only strengthen Franz if she sided with Yuno, so letting her retire with him is the best option."
"But the Windrage Duke's faction is still strong, isn't it? With that fool Kent having almost zero chance of inheriting the dukedom, that stubborn old man will support the First Prince on principle."
Heinrich's group had been planning to block the Windrage House's troop movements through Kent, so they had come to consult with him now that the plan had gone awry.
"We'll see about that. Think about who the princess I'm marrying in two weeks is. Haha."
"What! You don't mean...?"
"Exactly. Why else would a marriage proposal come my way? It's the result of talks with the King of Leon Kingdom. In case of any contingencies, Leon Kingdom has agreed to mobilize troops to check the Windrage Duke. That old man's forces won't budge an inch, so don't worry. Haha."
"Then there must be a price for that too, right? What if it's too steep...?"
"When I ascend the throne, I'll return the imperial territory on Pollygal Island."
"Th-that can't happen, Your Highness! That would completely close off the empire's eastern sea route! You must renegotiate the terms now..."
"Ah, Count Dietrich. I know your trading company operates many maritime fleets there and makes a tidy profit. But don't worry. Haha. What do a bunch of promises with those Leon rags amount to? We didn't even exchange official documents. Hahaha!"
Only then did Count Dietrich's furrowed brow relax, and the other subordinates let out exclamations of admiration at the Second Prince's decisiveness.
"H-however, Your Highness, once you ascend, Princess Rachel will become Empress... She won't sit idly by if you ignore the treaty. The current Empress Dowager doesn't meddle much, but an imperial empress wields considerable authority, doesn't she?"
"Hmph! You think I'd put that wench on the throne? You're out of line. Looking at the portrait of Princess Rachel sent from Leon Kingdom, her chest had way too much unnecessary flesh! And they expect me to take a woman over 24? Ridiculous!"
"Hehehe, then...?"
"I'll keep that wench a virgin until I ascend. After the coronation, do whatever you want with her—you lot can have your fun! A vulgar cow with breasts like that doesn't deserve the empress's seat!"
'Once I take the throne, all the petite girls in Father's harem will be mine!!'
Heinrich licked his lips thinking of Charles III's concubines.
"Kukukuku, thank you, Your Highness!! We will serve you with utmost loyalty until the day you become emperor."
"Huhu, good! That's it for today! I can't hold back anymore thinking of the girl I brought this time!"
As Heinrich straightened his trousers and dismissed them, his subordinates bowed and withdrew.
"Understood. We've made some progress investigating the First Prince's scandals, but we'll gather more evidence to make it airtight!"
"Yes, handle it well."
Once Count Dietrich, the last to leave, closed the door, Heinrich opened a bookshelf and headed into a secret passage.
There lay his secret harem, where he began spending a pleasurable time.
Meanwhile, Yuno was wandering back and forth between his palace and the Empress Dowager's palace, searching everywhere for Eliza.
Even as Yuno extended his senses, Eliza—nearly at master level thanks to Richtenaur's lessons and with a faintly detectable presence—was evading his sharp detection. So Yuno had no choice but to keep calling her name as he roamed about.
"Eliza!! Where are you~?"
"Ugh~! So noisy~ Let me sleep!! I pulled an all-nighter training with Master yesterday and ran with you this morning... I'm dying of sleepiness...."
Finally, Eliza emerged from her room with messy hair and in pajamas. Yuno rushed to her and hugged her tightly.
"Y-Yuno? What's wrong all of a sudden? This... so abrupt..."
As Yuno embraced her, Eliza's heart began pounding wildly.
'Wh-what's with this guy? D-does he want to confess? Kyaaah! I look a total mess right now!!'
Bam!
Eliza finally channeled mana into her arms to shove Yuno away and dashed back into her room.
"Hey! Eliza! What's that for?"
Clack clack.
As Yuno tried the door, it was locked, and Eliza's shout came from inside.
"Don't open it! If you do, we're both dead! I'll be out in 30 minutes, so wait in the back garden!"
Cowed by Eliza's temper, Yuno headed to the garden.
Pacing the garden, deep in thought about how to explain the situation to her, Yuno heard footsteps behind him and turned.
"Eli...za...?"
There stood Eliza, not in her usual training clothes or uniform, but in a splendid white dress.
Her dazzling appearance made Yuno unable to look straight at her; he had to turn away again.
;Wh-what? Is that really Eliza? Why is she so pretty? She was always cute, but... today...
"Yuno? Why call me and then turn away?"
Eliza peeked under his chin at his reaction and saw his flushed face.
"Aww~ So you thought I looked that pretty~ Hehe, oh my~ How cute~"
"N-no, that's not it?"
"Giggle, what do you mean no? Hehe. Alright! I'm ready now, so spit it out. What were you going to say earlier?"
Eliza thrust out her ample bosom, bracing for Yuno's confession.
'Hehe, looks like appealing with these big breasts during training paid off... But confessing to a girl in pajamas? Yuno, you idiot! I've got so much to teach you later.'
"Eliza..."
"Yes, Yuno?"
'He's really dragging this out. This guy's usually such a man's man, but now...
"You're going back to Leon Kingdom... Your sister is coming to the empire in your place..."
"Yeah yeah. From now on, as your girlfriend, I'll... Huh? What did you say?"
Convinced Yuno had called her for a confession, Eliza's eyes widened.
"Hey! Yuno, what the hell? Sending me back home?"
"Yeah... The King of Leon proposed a state marriage between the Second Princess and Brother Heinrich, and the council approved it, so in two weeks... Ack!"
Eliza grabbed Yuno's collar, cutting him off mid-sentence as he coughed.
"What nonsense is that! Why would I go back? That damn father sold me off and now that he's cozy with your family, he wants me home? Because Rachel sis can replace me? What the hell!!"
"Eliza..."
Eliza released his collar, clutched her head, and plopped down on the ground.
"No... I don't wanna go... I can't... I like it here... Empress Dowager Yuria feels like my real mom now... Isabella sis is like a true sister... Marie is my adorable little sister... And you..."
Eliza stopped, pounding the ground in frustration. Her white dress was soon dirtied with soil, but she didn't care.
Tears welled in her sea-blue eyes, trickling down her flushed cheeks.
"Eliza....!!"
Unable to contain the heat rising in his chest, Yuno pulled her into an embrace.
"Sob... Let go! I have to go back anyway..."
As Eliza tried to push his arms away, Yuno finally voiced the feelings deep in his heart.
"I love you! Eliza!"
Eliza froze at his confession.
"I've been thinking about it for a while—my feelings for you... It might be too late... No, it probably is... But I want you to know my heart."
As Eliza stared blankly, Yuno continued.
"Before, I thought it was just childhood friend stuff. Liking you, thinking you were precious—it was all because we were close friends, taking the same classes, training together as comrades."
"So... it's different now?"
"Yeah. When I heard at the council that you had to go back, my heart sank. The first thought was I couldn't let you go. And as soon as that hit me, I came looking for you. Let me say it again. I love you. Please accept my love, Eliza!"
As Yuno finished, Eliza's paused tears fell once more.
"Wh-what...? Y-you... don't want to?"
"Waaah!! Why tell me now!! Why!! Why!!! I've been waiting since I was 12!! You idiot!!! Waaah!!!"
Eliza buried herself in Yuno's arms, sobbing out her pent-up sorrow.
After a long cry, she looked up at him, and Yuno smiled gently back.
"Tch~ Jerk..."
"Hehe, so you've liked me since you were 12?"
Her cheeks flushed again at his words, but she nodded shyly.
"Sorry... I made you wait so long."
"You jerk... Really..."
Their gazes met, and Yuno pulled her close again. Naturally, they shared a kiss.
It wasn't a deep adult kiss with tangled tongues, but a fresh, love-filled lovers' kiss that satisfied them both immensely.
"Tch... To think something this good took so long... If you'd done it sooner, I could've enjoyed it more!!"
"...Then you could've confessed first... Ack!"
Like Yuria, Eliza smacked Yuno hard on the back, and he writhed in pain.
"Does it make sense for a lady to confess first? Ridiculous..."
'Then does it make sense for a lady to hit like this?'
Knowing he'd get beaten more if he said it aloud, Yuno swallowed the retort.
"What now? I have to go back to Leon in two weeks..."
"I'll come get you soon! We're not of marriageable age yet, so it's tough now... But wait until 22... no, 21! No matter what—the state marriage or whatever—I'll mobilize everything and propose to you."
"Hmph... You better not be late! I won't let you off... I'm 19 and five months now... One year and seven months left! Got it?"
Yuno nodded, and Eliza approached, rising on tiptoe to kiss him again.
"This kiss seals the promise, got it?"
"Yeah..."
And so Yuno and Eliza became lovers, strolling hand in hand through the Empress Dowager's palace garden.
But lost in happiness, Yuno didn't notice someone in the palace watching him with jealous eyes.