Chapter 208
Translator: Prime Works
Chapter: 208
Chapter Title: The Secret to Thwarting Labor Exploitation (3)
First love.
A feeling like the measles that comes to everyone at least once.
Also, a bittersweet memory that most people clumsily let slip away.
Lloyd had one of those first loves, too.
Back in the day, when there was a book rental shop in the neighborhood.
Whenever he saw the older sister working part-time there, his heart would pound like crazy.
It flustered him.
He didn't know why he was like that.
He couldn't figure out why his face kept turning red.
It was so baffling that it even distressed him.
Yet, strangely, he kept going back to that rental shop of his own accord.
Every time he went, his heart raced, his face flushed, and he felt flustered and distressed—but some inexplicable pull drew him there almost every day.
He'd borrow a ton of books he had no intention of reading.
He didn't realize the reason back then.
It only dawned on him later.
After that sister quit her part-time job.
'Tsk.'
He didn't even have her contact info, let alone her name.
They'd never really talked properly.
And so, his fourteen-year-old first love ended in utter emptiness.
Lloyd neatly folded away those memories and lifted his head.
He looked straight at Julian and said,
"You're gonna lose Serazad if you keep fumbling around like that."
"...What?"
Julian's eyes widened like a rabbit's.
Lloyd continued,
"I'm not kidding. You know why Serazad came all the way here across the desert, right?"
"Uh, yeah. She said she needed something from you. To record a lullaby..."
"But what if I record it for her right now?"
"...Huh?"
"Then Serazad would head back to the Sultanate, wouldn't she?"
"Uh, yeah... I guess?"
"So what are you gonna do?"
"..."
Julian's eyes wavered.
"Uh, bro? You're really gonna do that?"
His gaze pleaded as if begging him not to.
Lloyd's voice turned sly.
"Dunno. Actually, that's not for me to decide."
"Then?"
"It's up to Serazad."
As if he had nothing to do with it, as if it was no big deal, Lloyd's tone grew even more nonchalant.
"A few days before you got here, I gave Serazad a choice. Join the Engineering Corps for five years and stay here in exchange for the lullaby, or just go home."
"So..."
"If she accepts my offer, she'll stick around for about five years. If not, oh well."
"Uh, that's..."
"You don't like that, do you?"
Nod.
Julian nodded vigorously.
Perfect.
He'd succeeded in nudging the kid along.
A meaningful smile tugged at Lloyd's lips, one only he understood.
"Right? You'd hate it. You'd miss her. You'd want to stay together. But you don't know what to do about it. Right?"
"Uh, yeah."
Julian looked up at him with increasingly desperate eyes.
"Bro, what should I do?"
"You?"
"Yeah."
"How about checking Serazad's feelings first?"
"Serazad's?"
"Yeah. It's not like it ends just because you like her."
That's true.
It doesn't work just because you like someone.
The other person's feelings matter just as much.
So you have to consider them and get to know each other's hearts.
'...That's what I heard. From who? A coworker.'
Truth is, he's a lifelong singleton.
He's never actually been through the real thing(?).
It's a bit sad.
But that's not important right now.
'Doesn't matter if I haven't experienced it. What matters is getting Julian to realize his feelings and take action.'
Just inflate the spark.
The rest?
It'll roll on its own.
'Serazad's probably in a similar state.'
With that thought, Lloyd patted Julian's shoulder.
"It's not that hard. You've figured out your own feelings, right? So act on them honestly. Treat Serazad better, and when the moment comes, muster some courage. How about that?"
"Muster courage?"
"Yeah."
"You mean... confess?"
"Of course."
Gulp.
Julian's small Adam's apple bobbed.
Was he tensing up just imagining it?
But in that moment, Lloyd saw it.
A faint spark of resolve in Julian's eyes.
'Attaboy.'
Lloyd swallowed a pleased chuckle.
This was good enough for Julian's side.
Now?
Time to nudge Serazad a bit.
♣
"Heh heh heh."
"..."
"Heh heh heh heh."
"..."
The next day dawned.
And Haviel, knight of the Frontera Count Family, began seriously doubting his young master's mental state.
'What the hell.'
Haviel eyed Lloyd's round skull with suspicion.
It was time for a walk after breakfast.
But the guy walking ahead had been letting out creepy chuckles nonstop.
"Heh heh heh heh heh."
"..."
Finally, Haviel couldn't hold back and asked,
"What's got you so amused?"
From experience, Lloyd only laughed like that for a reason.
He was definitely plotting something shady.
Half-convinced of that, he asked.
Sure enough, Lloyd stopped walking.
A meaningful smile on his lips, he countered,
"You think so too?"
"Yes."
"I look happy?"
"Yes."
"Good eye. I am happy."
Lloyd continued,
"Something I've been thinking about is going really well."
"What thing?"
"Two people from different births, lives, and goals are finally about to become one."
"You don't mean Sir Julian and Lady Serazad?"
"Huh? How'd you know?"
"I had to notice."
Haviel stated matter-of-factly,
"Lately, the way those two look at each other has been anything but normal. I've seen that look a lot."
"You? A lot? That look?"
"Yes."
"How?"
"It was just like the gaze women give right before handing me a love letter confession."
"..."
"If I count the exact times I've received that gaze..."
"Don't count."
"Eight hundred sixty..."
"I said don't."
"..."
Every time he saw those handsome bastards, envy bubbled up fiercely.
Jealousy toward all the perks they took for granted.
Lloyd sadly swallowed the dark emotions sprouting within him.
"Tsk. Anyway, you nailed it. Those two are about to confirm their feelings soon."
"How?"
"How what? I nudged them."
"You, Lord Lloyd?"
"Yeah."
Lloyd nodded.
He recalled what he'd done last night.
"I went to Julian. Prodded him a bit, just in case. Sure enough, the kid had no clue about his own feelings."
"So you told him."
"Yeah. Did the same to Serazad."
It was true.
After nudging Julian,
He'd gone straight to Serazad.
At first, she was wary of talking to him.
Makes sense.
She'd been toyed with endlessly by him since the Sultanate.
Even after crossing the desert to come here, she'd been forced into an unexpected employment contract.
"She was all like, no matter what I say, she won't believe a word."
"But how did you..."
"Nudge her?"
"Yes."
Lloyd grinned.
"Nothing much. I just told her Julian's heading off to the capital soon."
True.
Not a big deal.
Just give the person a trigger for anxiety.
If it's based on solid facts, the effect doubles.
That's exactly what he did to Serazad.
"Told her the straight truth. Julian's an academy vice-valedictorian, about to get a position from the Magentano royal family. He's just back home temporarily waiting for his assignment."
All solid facts.
Julian really would head to the capital soon.
Become a royal courtier and capital resident.
No reason to stay here anymore.
Then with Serazad?
They'd naturally drift apart.
"That gave Serazad a reason to look at Julian again. People are like that. They don't think much until a time limit hits—then they get anxious and obsessive."
Really true.
Something you didn't value before.
Put a time limit on it, and it changes.
Like a daily limited sale item.
A bundle of instant noodles you didn't really need.
See it half off for one day?
You toss it in the cart unconsciously.
Even if you had no plans to buy it.
Suddenly, you think you'll regret not getting it today.
You might not need it now, but you'll eat it eventually.
Better to stock up now for the long term.
You convince yourself.
'Cars are like that too. Especially imports. End of year, they start clearance sales and spread rumors through dealers that the model's getting discontinued next year. People who were holding back flock in. Afraid to miss it before discontinuation. But come next year? No discontinuation. They sell just fine.'
A classic 'now or never' psychological trigger.
What Lloyd used on Serazad was similar.
"Put a time limit on her: Julian's leaving soon. She'll think she doesn't want to miss him. Then she'll reflect on why."
"So in that process, she'll realize her feelings?"
"Yeah. You're quick on the uptake."
"I hate that about you, Lord Lloyd."
Haviel said with a stern face.
"I have to ask. Why are you trying to bring those two together? Not out of pure goodwill, I assume?"
"Of course not."
A smile crept onto Lloyd's lips.
Not a pure one.
"To live without being jerked around by the Queen. That's why."
"Pardon?"
Haviel tilted his head.
What did that mean?
How does Julian and Serazad getting together relate to the Queen?
The silver-haired knight felt a profound confusion deeper than the abyss.
Lloyd's smile turned wry.
"If those two marry, the Queen can't mess with me casually. Or at least, it'll create that atmosphere."
"May I ask why?"
"Sure. Simply put, Julian marrying Serazad lets our family build bridges to both the Magentano royal family and the Sultanate."
"Isn't that treason?"
"Not at all. Julian's not the eldest."
Lloyd continued,
"He's the second son. Won't inherit the family. So marrying the Sultanate's princess is hardly an issue. In fact, right now, it'd be welcomed."
"Why?"
"Because the Magentano royal family and Sultanate just signed a peace accord."
Lloyd spoke with conviction.
"The Sultanate unusually took full blame for the monster domino effect. Paid massive reparations and signed a non-recurrence pact. Meaning the two longtime arch-enemies' royal families are entering a rare peace mood."
"And in that ripening peaceful atmosphere, if the second son of the Frontera Count Family—hub of reconstruction after monster domino damages—marries the princess who acknowledged her side's fault..."
"It becomes a marriage symbolizing and promising peace for everyone. Both royal families, publicly, all around."
In other words, this marriage becomes the icon of peace.
Further, the Frontera family becomes the symbol of peace and reconstruction.
Not suspected of treason, but blessed and welcomed, naturally bridging to the Sultanate.
'Plus, I've got that useful praise.'
Lloyd recalled his very first praise.
Champion of Magentano.
Its option: immune to treason suspicions during Queen Alicia's reign.
As long as he doesn't blatantly go rogue, no treason label.
"So the Magentano royal family might inwardly grumble about the marriage but won't show it. Hell, they'll worry we'll get too cozy with the Sultanate and offer more perks to keep us close."
"...So that's how the Queen can't mess with you casually?"
"Yeah. If she does, I'll act like I'm running to the Sultan."
"..."
"The Sultan would welcome it with open arms. Truth is, he wanted me as son-in-law, not Julian."
"..."
"Our family ends up holding leverage between both royals. Neither can treat us lightly. My comfy retirement's guaranteed, right?"
"Whew. Lord Lloyd, you really are..."
"Really?"
"Devious. Dirty. I've never seen a pettier con artist than you."
"Thanks for the praise."
Lloyd grinned after revealing his true intentions.
That was the essence of his grand scheme.
Julian and Serazad's marriage.
Through it, both Magentano and Sultanate catering to him.
Set up that situation.
Then he could suck honey leisurely, no favors owed, no summons from the Queen.
'Of course, maintaining that leverage takes more effort.'
Ultimately, secure autonomy from Queen Alicia, exempt from labor drafts.
That was Lloyd's endgame.
'I can do it.'
Reviewing the plan, Lloyd looked up at the mansion.
Julian's bedroom window, firmly shut.
Serazad's quarters window, curtains drawn.
He glanced between them and smirked faintly.
'Yeah, agonize. Brood. And react to the arrow of enlightenment this body shot.'
The arrows had already left the bow.
Hit both targets dead center.
Lloyd was certain.
Julian and Serazad would react as he wanted.
And indeed, his expectations weren't off.
That night, deep into the hours.
It really happened(?).