In Lilia's Palace (1)

“Chloe, it seems you're right—the palace wine isn't bad at all.”

Chloe stepped a little closer to me in the meantime, clinking the glass in her hand against mine.

“You were amazing today, my lord. You really gave that Grious Cardinal a piece of your mind.”

She shared her impressions of the earlier incident, sounding genuinely impressed.

“And the result of our two heads working together—that ice crystal statue we poured so much care into, just like making a child. Not only His Majesty, but everyone here seemed moved by its beauty and craftsmanship. Don't you think? Hehe.”

With that, she subtly brought up the ice crystal statue. Her tone emphasized that we two had created it together.

In truth, it was a collaborative effort with Eirin and Professor Elmaier as well.

The word “child” slipped into her words seemed laden with intent. There was a reason she was stressing her own contributions.

Those eyes brimming with lust. Anyone could see she was seducing me. But for the moment, she held back from pressing right up against me.

This was the imperial palace. And the home of my fiancée, Princess Lilia. Chloe glanced discreetly toward where Lilia was.

A short distance away, Lilia was bustling about busily.

It was the emperor's birthday banquet. As his sister and a member of the imperial family, she had plenty of people to converse with.

“Ahem. It looks like Your Highness Lilia is quite occupied. But to leave such a fine fiancé all alone... Could it be she doesn't think much of you, Lord Yulian?”

With those words, she boldly brought her face even closer to mine.

“Take this ice crystal statue collaboration, for example. If the Reinhardt and Aiterne houses team up, I have a feeling great things will keep happening in the future. Don't you agree?”

Nearby sat the delegations from both our houses, and lively conversations were buzzing between them.

Viscount Mason's expression suggested it was quite beneficial for Essemont.

“Can't argue with that. I'm well aware the Aiterne Merchant Group's finances are unmatched.”

“Exactly right. As expected of our astute count. Hehe.”

A brief, ordinary exchange followed.

It felt like she was testing the waters. True to form, Chloe never rushed straight to the point, even when she wanted something.

Then, the topic circled back to the earlier matter.

“But, my lord, about the reward you requested from His Majesty—is that really all you want? Time and a quiet space to study with Lilia? That's unexpected. For the effort you put into that tribute, it seems a bit... underwhelming, don't you think?”

As Chloe said, the only reward I'd asked the emperor for was that.

“Lilia is always so busy. A quiet time and place to study together isn't a bad thing.”

“Ahem. You're ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠surprisingly devoted to your fiancée. Though from over there, it doesn't look like Lilia has any interest in you at all. Leaving you here like this.”

Chloe spoke with a bored expression, sipping her wine before her eyes sparkled again.

“I know your thirst for knowledge is admirable, my lord. Alchemy, training—you have the drive that's ideal for a high noble. But if you don't rest when you should, the body breaks down surprisingly fast.”

Suspicious. Just to be sure, I checked the system. Sure enough, my glass now contained an aphrodisiac.

Hmm...

The aphrodisiac seemed stronger than last time. Since it hadn't worked well on me before, she'd apparently brewed a new one.

I casually sipped the wine laced with it. The taste gave nothing away. Impressive skill.

“And honestly, this banquet is dull. Too many old nobles—boring for young folks like us, right? So I've spoken to a few Pantheon noble cadets here. We're planning an afterparty somewhere less stuffy.”

Chloe mentioned a high-end restaurant run by the Aiterne Merchant Group, not far from the palace in the affluent district.

As she spoke, her breath tickled my ear.

“So you'll join us, won't you, my lord? Even if you're tired, it's fine. It's a place that caters to provincial nobles visiting the capital, complete with lodging. Resting there for a bit... wouldn't be bad at all.”

“I see.”

In other words, like a modern hotel. She seemed to hold me in even higher regard after today's events.

The greed in her eyes was unmistakably burning with sexual desire—a sultry gaze.

“You've been working so hard on alchemy in the atelier these past few days. It'd be fun to reminisce about it together, just the two of us. Hehe. Even for me, handling that many high-difficulty formulas in bulk was a first. You know that, right, my lord?”

“True enough, but...”

She emphasized her contributions once more.

It wasn't wrong.

Thanks to the statue we made together, I'd gotten the reward I wanted. And we'd stalled the southern nobles' defection to some extent.

Well, for today, maybe I'll play along with what Chloe wants.

Pretending the aphrodisiac was taking effect—and keeping Immunity to All Poisons hidden—seemed useful. A day of flirtation with her ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠wouldn't hurt.

Noticing my positive expression, Chloe's face lit up with ecstasy.

Just as I was about to agree, a voice called out.

“Lord Yulian!!”

A familiar voice. It was Lilia.

***

Lilia, clad in a pure white dress, hurried over to us.

“Lord Yulian! Sorry I took so long to find you. Oh, Lady Chloe of Aiterne is here too. Thank you for attending His Majesty's birthday banquet.”

“Think nothing of it. Chloe of Aiterne greets Your Highness Lilia.”

Chloe curtsied gracefully, lifting the hem of her dress. I caught a glimpse of her souring expression, quickly masked.

Two beauties in a pristine white dress and a crimson one—the table seemed to shine brightly for a moment.

Even from ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠afar, guests' gazes lingered, but none dared approach the table's owners.

The two exchanged radiant smiles, inquiring after each other. Their conversation continued briefly.

“Lady Chloe, you seem more beautiful every time I see you. Oh, right! I heard you placed second among combatants in the recent golden power evaluation. You beat that famous witch Rozette, didn't you? As expected of the Alchemy Order's cadet representative. Impressive!”

Lilia praised Chloe with an exceedingly benevolent expression.

At the mention, Chloe—who had been smiling mechanically—reacted.

“Your Highness knew about that too. It's nothing to make a fuss over—just beating one commoner witch. Though yes, I did take second. Of course, the first place goes to Lord Yulian here, so it's not that impressive.”

Even as she spoke, her face puffed with pride at Rozette's name.

Lilia brushed it off nonchalantly.

“Exactly! Lord Yulian took first. So amazing! As your fiancée, I'm so proud!”

Instead, she clasped both my hands tightly, her voice filled with emotion. Chloe's expression chilled for an instant.

“Your Highness is right.”

She quickly mustered another radiant smile.

Women of noble birth are something else.

For a moment, I nearly recalled the subtle rivalry between Lilia and Eirin. But there was a clear difference.

With Eirin, Lilia's smile went far beyond this benevolence—a sun-like warmth that could brighten the room, unwavering.

And Eirin never yielded to that smile.

But Lilia's current expression was her usual one, the kindly princess seen in the Medica Order or at Pantheon.

In other words, she didn't see Chloe as a rival at all.

Absolute confidence that some upstart couldn't steal her fiancé.

From overhearing their earlier talk, Lilia knew plenty about Chloe too. Smart as she was, she had her reasons for judgment.

If Chloe grasped the implication, she'd be consumed by humiliation.

Chloe doesn't seem to rate Lilia highly, though.

Public perception painted Lilia as the innocent princess oblivious to the world's filth.

Meaning Chloe was underestimating her.

“Well, three Pantheon figures together like this is meaningful. Let's toast!”

Lilia proposed a toast with me and Chloe.

We lightly clinked glasses and drank the wine.

“This is a wine I specially selected for the banquet. The Medica Order's tradition is to have excellent breweries in monasteries across regions. I picked this one with extra care.”

“My, Your Highness is knowledgeable about wine too. As expected of a princess.”

Chloe eyed Lilia with mild surprise. The wine was indeed delicious, so we shared quite a bit.

Especially Lilia. Joining late, she poured and drank even more. It was a wine with a subtle kick.

Drinking hastily in a short time flushed her cheeks bright red. Chloe's expression grew more bored.

“Your Highness is so busy. Shouldn't you mingle at other tables? We might be taking too much of your time...”

“No, Lady Chloe. I've already spoken with the others.”

Chloe clearly wanted Lilia gone, but Lilia pretended not to notice and stayed.

To make matters worse for Chloe, even the Aiterne delegation didn't back her up.

“Lady Chloe, our talks with the Essemont delegation are concluded. Shall we move elsewhere? Will you join us?”

It put Chloe in the position to leave. Still lingering, she seemed about to say more when—

Lilia suddenly swayed.

“Oh... What's this all of a sudden...”

“Are you alright?!”

I hurried to support her. Lilia placed a hand on her forehead, speaking in a weak voice.

“I'm fine. I drank unfamiliar wine too quickly... Just a dizzy spell.”

Her maids and palace guards rushed over upon seeing.

“Are you alright, Your Highness Lilia!”

Lilia raised a hand to calm them.

“No need to worry so much... I've been short on sleep lately. The alcohol hit faster...”

“Your Highness! Then let us escort you to the West Palace at once. Straining yourself could harm your health...”

The female knight and maids tried to take over from me. Lilia shook her head.

“This banquet is important for you all too. I can't take your time.”

“But in this state...”

“My fiancé will see me back instead. Right, Lord Yulian?”

Our eyes met. Her gaze was so pitiful, I nodded immediately.

“I'll escort you.”

Chloe, watching, hid her face with her fan. She looked irritated.

***

Leaving Chloe behind, I supported Lilia out of the banquet hall.

I'd unintentionally abandoned her.

Come to think of it, I never firmly committed to the afterparty. So I haven't broken any promise.

Chloe would be disappointed, but the flirtation could wait. Soon after, Lilia and I arrived at the West Palace.

The West Palace housed unmarried women of the imperial family. True to Lilia's character, it favored neat elegance over opulence.

I sat her on a bench in the West Palace garden. We sat side by side.

“Are you alright, Your Highness Lilia?”

After a moment of feigning weakness with her head down, Lilia met my eyes and grinned broadly.

“You know I'm fine, Lord Yulian.”

“True, but...”

As Lilia said, her face was still flushed, but no trace of intoxication lingered.

“If I didn't do something like this, I'd never get time with you. I couldn't stand it! You're right here, yet we can't have time alone!”

Earlier, Chloe had been puffed ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠up over second in the golden rankings. But Lilia had taken first among combat support cadets—a top healer.

So of course, she wouldn't get drunk on mere wine if she didn't want to.

Sure enough, pale green divine power enveloped Lilia's body.

“I didn't want you smelling alcohol on me... it'd be embarrassing.”

With that, she slipped into my arms. Her pair of benevolent breasts pressed softly against my torso.

Lilia brought her face close. Our lips met. Through the parting lips came her soft tongue.