Chapter 96
Chapter 96
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 95
Chapter Title: Carriage Debate (1)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
After the glorious banquet came to an end.
It was finally time to head back to the prison.
I slipped out of the imperial palace's back gate with Camillia.
No one was in sight the entire way back.
It was as if they'd known we were coming and cleared out in advance.
"Warden, did your relatives give you any trouble?"
She seemed bothered that they'd met me first.
She was trying not to show it, but I caught on quick from the way she unconsciously fiddled with her dress shirt collar.
"Yes, they all treated me well."
As I replied with a gentle gaze, I spotted an imperial palace attendant approaching from a distance.
And then watched as he was discreetly snatched away by a member of the White Horse Unit and led off down another path.
Thanks to that, only the princess and I were left on these secluded back-gate stairs.
"If they gave you any grief, tell me anytime. I'll make sure they pay for it."
'If I told her the truth, it'd be a funeral that very day.'
"Absolutely, absolutely do not tell Camillia what happened today!!"
"Got it? If she finds out, the Black Tower will send their auditors as payback!!"
I recalled the twin brothers and the Black Tower Lord who'd earnestly begged me when the princess arrived.
Even they, at the pinnacle of their fields, seemed to fear the empire's shadow lioness.
"It was really nothing, Your Highness. No need to worry."
Then again, Camillia was the blunt type who kept no close aides, and with me being from the Minster family as her first subordinate, it was only natural they'd want to test me.
I decided to forgive them just this once and understand where they were coming from.
Besides, there was one good thing that came out of it.
I'd safely handed over the Walter Group's weakness—the root of potential continental ruin—to them.
They could investigate those scummy businessmen faster than I ever could.
Competent as they were, they'd handle the cleanup without me lifting a finger.
Thanks to that, my grand dream of lounging on a comfy bed felt one step closer.
No more fretting over the continent's doom.
Just a life of fluffy beds, delicious food, and hefty piles of gold and jewels.
'It's practically right around the corner now.'
I snuck a greedy smile as I descended the stairs.
But unbeknownst to me, someone else was grinning just as slyly.
Camillia, so subtle even my old shadow lord senses couldn't pick up on it.
"That's a relief, then."
Predators always play innocent so their prey doesn't catch on.
The empire's power broker, inheriting that instinct from her ancestors, murmured to herself.
"It's practically right around the corner now."
"What do you mean by that, Your Highness?"
I asked pleasantly, since she'd voiced the exact same thought as me.
Camillia brushed it off with a mature, elder-sister smile.
"Oh, nothing. Just thinking out loud."
She pictured herself soon claiming the man walking beside her.
Having met the relatives too, she was confident she was ahead of the other ladies nearby.
She hadn't gotten her father's official permission yet, but he'd watched Derek's performance at the hearing with keen interest.
And now he'd beaten Steelman too, proving his martial prowess.
There was no grounds for the emperor to object if she brought him home as a husband.
'Not that it matters if he does object.'
Beyond her simple lust, she'd found a compelling reason to keep him close.
He held the dirt on the Walter Group, who were wavering between Ivan the crown prince and her.
Whatever her father said, she needed him for the throne race.
Even if it meant collaring him and locking him in her chambers.
"And doting on him would just be a bonus."
"What's so cute about it?"
I gazed leisurely down at her—she was a head shorter—and asked.
The princess slipped back into her usual elder-sister expression.
"That cat perched on the stair railing."
She'd deftly turned it into an excuse for her musing.
"Ah, I see. Yeah, that golden fur does make it look like a baby lion. Adorable."
As we both stepped closer, the tawny cat on the railing bristled its back straight up.
Like it'd spotted a massive beast or deadly viper.
"Looks like even animals have a hard time with your intimidating face."
"Could be your commanding presence, Your Highness."
She let out a chuckle at my light banter.
"Hmm, getting comfortable with me now, are we?"
"If even a close aide can't joke around, that makes you a tyrant."
I raised my monocle and played it cool.
The princess swiftly grabbed the tawny cat by the scruff.
"It's the aide's job to keep the lord saintly or tyrannical."
She handed me the dangling cat.
Intimidated by Camillia's overwhelming speed, it curled up tight in my arms.
"Then I'll have to take good care of you to keep you from going off the rails."
"Who're you looking after, now?"
The princess stared coolly at the purring cat.
She'd always been the one in command, never one to nestle into someone's arms.
So even when talent lust struck, she preferred dominating him over relying on him.
To her, the warden's words were just cute.
"You like cats, huh?"
She made a mental note: when she eventually brought him to the palace, she'd let the cat in too.
"Not particularly. I just thought these sharp blue eyes reminded me of someone."
"Blue eyes? Oh, I think I know who."
Camillia smirked.
Her nickname was the empire's shadow lioness, and lions were cats.
The sharp blue eyes matched perfectly.
She found it endearing that her first close aide saw his lord in a cute cat.
But.
The empire's first princess soon went stone-cold serious.
"Though for a cat, it's got quite the hefty build..."
"It reminded me of my vice warden."
Vice warden?
That blue-haired beauty from before?
"Your vice warden... You mean that imperial secretary girl?"
"Yes, the one you met once. Her eyes have that same sharp glint as this cat."
The woman in his mind wasn't her.
"She happened to mention coming to pick me up anyway. You'll see her soon."
"......"
Camillia fell silent for a moment.
She'd long known the warden had women around him.
But men relied on useful women.
And mere prisoners were no match for her, she'd thought.
Yet today proved there was another useful one.
A woman stuck right to his side, no less.
―――, ―――.
The rumble of wheels approached from afar.
Having reached the street at the bottom of the stairs, we came upon a carriage.
"Perfect timing. She's really competent, as always."
Number one affair suspect with the boss.
Number one in office romance odds.
His direct secretary and vice warden, Clea Rockhart.
She stepped lightly from the carriage.
A perfect figure straight out of a play, with those sharp, lively eyes.
Yet her beautiful face held a hint of nagging affection reserved for her superior.
"Warden, you really had to drag me all the way out here."
"Sorry about that. It was an important meeting, and too many eyes would've been a problem."
"And what's with that cheese cat? The place is already a mess because of that bat you call Jinjo."
"Oh, wasn't planning to keep it. Just pet it on the way by."
The warden unceremoniously set down the cat she'd handed him.
Then strode boldly toward the carriage.
The princess's expression iced over in an instant.
The White Horse Unit members watching from afar paled and trembled in dread.
"Ah, Your Highness the Princess. It's been a while."
Clea bowed neatly in her uniform.
Just that slight dip revealed her elegant figure and ample curves.
"It's been a while, Vice Warden."
"Sorry for the attitude earlier. The warden didn't even properly explain who he was meeting, so there was a misunderstanding."
"No harm done. Streets like this are too narrow for carriages anyway."
"Thank you for understanding."
While they exchanged greetings, I opened the rear carriage door.
"Vice Warden, looks like it's packed with crates."
"Supplies for the prison. You'll have to squeeze in with me, even if it's inconvenient."
"Been a while since we did, huh?"
"......?"
Even for a boss-employee thing, a man and woman crammed together like that?
And apparently they'd done it multiple times before.
"Your Highness, then I'll take my leave. Thank you again for inviting me to the banquet."
Camillia stared fixedly at the cramped carriage.
My words barely seemed to register.
'Is she worried I'll take this tiny carriage? How sweet to her aide.'
I was just starting to melt at Camillia's subtle warmth.
When the princess said something entirely different.
"Mind if I join you?"
"Pardon...?"
I blinked in confusion.
"Your Highness, my humble carriage can't accommodate such a precious body."
"Flesh is flesh, highborn or low. No difference."
The princess crossed her arms alone.
And added in a regal, queenly tone.
"I was heading to the northern palace anyway."
"Then just wait a moment. I'll call some nearby unit members."
I tried to flag down the White Horse Unit guys I'd seen earlier for another carriage.
But something bizarre happened right then.
The ones who'd been guarding the princess and me vanished in a flash.
All that remained was the tawny cat I'd just set down, licking its paws.
'What the heck? Where'd everyone go?'
"Looks like even my unit's busy. Can't be helped, then."
The princess said to me innocently, as if clueless.
She turned a cold gaze on Clea and asked again.
"That alright with you, Vice Warden?"
The fox-like woman fell briefly silent at the apex predator's question.
Then answered flatly.
"Of course. It's tight, but three should fit."
"Appreciate it. Don't mind if I do."
The princess naturally planted her thick thigh on the carriage step.
And shot a sneaky 'shh' gesture at the secretly watching White Horse Unit.
They nodded solemnly and headed to their own carriages and horses.
To escort from a distance.
"Then, we're off."
With the coachman's call, the wheels began to roll vigorously.
I ended up sandwiched in the middle, Clea on my left, Camillia on my right.
'Tight...'
I squeezed my legs together as much as possible to give them space, but it was no use.
I hadn't noticed before, but both women had impressively voluptuous figures.
Thick thighs clamped my waist, and my elbows kept brushing soft breast curves.
Even I, oblivious to women, couldn't ignore it.
"Your Highness, Vice Warden. Maybe we should get more carriages even now..."
"I'm fine."
"Me too."
Both replied coldly, almost in unison.
Their cool demeanors doubled the awkwardness.
"Do you ride in cramped carriages like this often?"
"Yes, it's..."
"Yes, it's procedure to save on prison budget."
As I started to answer, Clea cut in sharply.
Her tone was firm, befitting someone who'd bested royalty.
"I see. From now on, I'll provide two carriages. So you can 'ride separately' comfortably."
Camillia offered Clea the mercy only imperial blood could muster.
But the vice warden countered with airtight professionalism.
"No need. We often use the shared ride for work briefings."
The blue-haired woman gave no room for rebuttal.
She pulled out prepared documents like a show of force.
"I have analysis materials ready for your match with the Tutton Grand Duchess."
Clea stared flatly at me, ignoring the princess entirely.
Pure office partner, prioritizing work over man-woman distance.
'That's why I love my vice warden. Showing off her competence like this will impress the princess too.'
I smiled warmly and checked the strategy brief she handed me.
Planning to praise her and pitch her to the princess while I was at it.
"Great. I hadn't thought of that angle—lucky to have you."
"See? Without me, you couldn't even prep something like this."
Clea smirked cynically and adjusted my monocle.
Like a wife fixing her husband's attire.
"Guess I'll have to keep training you from here on out."
In the process, her body naturally leaned closer to mine.
Her clean, soapy scent—pure Clea—tickled my nose.
"If a talent like you sticks by me, it's my honor."
I delivered the line with satisfaction and snuck a peek at the princess.
This should sell how well she and I worked together.
But the moment I looked...
"That analysis chart. Something off about it."
My expectations crashed hard.
"The Tutton Grand Duchess's axe work is stronger than you think, Vice Warden."
Her face was a chilling blank, utterly unlike when she'd eyed the cat.
My lips parted unwittingly.
But.
This was just the beginning.
"Oh? My analyses have never been wrong once."
Clea didn't yield an inch to the princess's piercing aura.
"Mind explaining what you don't like about it, Your Highness?"
Clea smirked back at the princess.
Like a fox who'd instantly read the guarded glare.
'Why's the vibe turning into a debate all of a sudden?'
The already cramped carriage felt even stuffier.
Sandwiched between the beasts, I just fanned my innocent shirtsleeves.