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~Chapter 30~
Can’t Neglect a Contractor’s Duty
‘It’d be a problem if they ran into the Grand Empress’s people.’
Since the barrier blocked the way back to Permang, there was a chance the people left behind might have other plans. Conrad had heard there was no such person in the Madeline house yet, but he still couldn’t be sure.
He planned to keep doubting until another report came in.
Conrad thought, ‘You can’t easily cast out people who start plotting as soon as you give them a place to stay.’
At that moment, Limitan appeared, carrying a pile of books.
“Your Majesty, why are you…?”
Conrad held a finger to his lips, and Limitan stayed quiet. Conrad listened closely to the conversation coming from the sitting room. Then he motioned to the head attendant waiting down the hall.
The chief attendant shouted loudly, “His Majesty, the Emperor, is coming!”
Without hesitation, Conrad strode in and joked,
“The high moon of the empire…”
“That’s enough, Lena.”
Conrad walked right up to Regina and caught her wrist before she could even bow.
“There’s no need for formality between us.”
“But it’s imperial law,” Regina replied, still wanting to follow the rules.
He looked at her, amused.
“Is that so?”
“What if people say the new empress doesn’t know etiquette?” Regina said, worried about all the eyes and ears in the palace.
Conrad gently seated her at the head of the table and stood beside her, keeping his hand on her shoulder even while the startled attendants fetched a chair.
“…That’s why you should always be careful not to get caught up in anything,” Regina added.
Conrad smiled quietly.
‘This must be from experience,’ he thought.
He didn’t know exactly what Regina had gone through in Permang, but it was clear she’d had trouble before because of etiquette.
“Who would leak what happens here?”
“You never know what’s in people’s hearts,” Regina replied.
Conrad’s eyes narrowed—he realized she was hinting it could be one of her own people.
Suddenly, Conrad sent out a wave of sharp energy. Shiren and Theodore both staggered under the pressure. Only Regina was untouched.
“Surely the Madeline servants wouldn’t go out and talk nonsense,” Conrad said, clearly annoyed.
No one could withstand Conrad’s displeasure.
Shiren dropped to his knees. Theodore did the same.
“Your Majesty, everyone from the Madeline house is loyal.”
Regina covered Conrad’s hand on her shoulder with her own slender, white hand.
“So you can relax.”
Instantly, Conrad’s pressure vanished.
“If you say so, then I’ll believe it,” he replied, calmly stroking her shoulder.
“Is your conversation not finished yet?” Conrad asked the servants.
“No! Not at all!” Shiren replied, bowing quickly and rushing out, Theodore following.
After watching them go, Conrad turned to Regina, and she swallowed hard without meaning to.
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
Conrad gently touched her chin, tilting her head up.
His face drew closer, so close she could feel his warm breath.
“It’s like you’re hiding something.”
“Conrad, that’s…” Regina started, but before she could finish, Conrad’s lips crashed into hers.
He bit her lower lip and slipped his tongue into her mouth, kissing her fiercely.
Even after it ended, Regina stayed tense—she wondered if Conrad had figured something out.
When his tongue finally withdrew, she gasped for air.
Conrad traced her lips gently with his thumb, then licked the thumb, his eyes twinkling mischievously.
Regina’s heart pounded as she remembered last night.
“What did you talk about with your servants?”
“Nothing special. I just asked when Martan would be back.”
“That’s all?”
“…And I told them to bring the Madeline house ledger.”
“Ledger?”
Regina hesitated—she needed those magic tools to save magic power, but didn’t want to mention their full extent to Conrad. She reasoned he wouldn’t know the exact number anyway.
“We need to figure out what’s left in the Madeline house—there are useful things that could help our plans.”
Conrad didn’t take his eyes off her.
He leaned closer, his lips brushing her ear.
“Do you need money or weapons?”
“A lot,” Regina answered, her voice trembling.
“And magic?”
“Even more.”
Conrad smiled, “Then I can’t neglect a contractor’s duty, can I?”
“What?” Regina barely had time to react before he kissed her hard again.
He grabbed her by the waist and lifted her onto the sitting room table. Regina pushed at his shoulders in surprise, but Conrad wouldn’t budge.
Papers and pens scattered to the floor, but no one opened the door.
Conrad kissed her hungrily, his hands gripping her tightly. When he finally let go, Regina was left breathless.
“Why so sudden…?”
“Because you’re hiding something from me.”
At those words, Regina froze. Her reaction gave her away.
Conrad stroked her cheek, face so close she couldn’t look away.
She didn’t dare say a word until Conrad finally opened his mouth to speak.
