LFLH 16

Chapter 16

“These are the documents sent by our informant in the Kingdom of Rubtam.”

“That name’s coming up a lot lately.”

“Oh, the newspapers are going wild.”

Articles praising the crown prince for resolving the conflict with the Kingdom of Rubtam and achieving diplomatic success were being published nonstop.

“I had to hear people praising the crown prince at the royal family’s monthly gathering too. My ears were ringing. I almost died from all the itching compliments.”

“You pretended to be drunk and made a scene to get out of listening, didn’t you?”

Pretending not to hear Aegis, Leraije broke the wax seal on the letter.

“People are being too dramatic. There’ve always been small disputes along the border, and it was only a matter of time before they got resolved.”

As the magical seal emitted a blue light recognizing the recipient, Aegis continued speaking.

“Well, Her Majesty the Empress was the former princess of Rubtam.”

Rubtam must have been under political pressure to keep resisting. They’ve saved their pride, so they got enough out of it—Aegis chattered away with commentary.

It wasn’t until he’d been talking for a while that he noticed Leraije hadn’t said a word.

“Your Highness? Is something wrong?”

“Nothing.”

Leraije folded the letter back up and placed it in the envelope. Immediately, a magical flame flared and devoured it.

Aegis tilted his head in curiosity but moved on, used to Leraije’s unbothered demeanor.

“What’s with the box, by the way? It’s got a pretty ribbon on it.”

Noticing the box in Leraije’s hand, Aegis asked curiously.

“Oh, this?”

Setting the box away from the documents, Leraije leaned against the edge of the desk and said,

“Strawberry cake.”

Aegis’s face lit up instantly.

“Don’t tell me—you bought it for me?”

“You want some?”

“Of course I do!”

Leraije untied the ribbon with a flourish, revealing the cake inside.

Aegis gasped in admiration.

“Just look at it! That sheen—clearly made with premium cream. And the strawberries! Only the biggest and ripest ones made it in!”

He was already a little hungry, and the sight of such a luxurious dessert made him instinctively swallow.

“Who said I was giving you any?”

“Sorry?”

By now, Leraije had cut a generous slice and popped it into his mouth, chewing slowly.

“Didn’t you buy it for me?”

“As if. It was a gift.”

“Then at least share some! I’m starving over here!”

“Then go upstairs and eat something. You love the owner’s special dish, don’t you?”

“Ugh… You’re too cruel!”

Crushed by the false hope, Aegis shuddered dramatically as he opened his bag, enchanted with a subspace spell, to pack up his things.

While the documents on the desk were neatly tucked into the bag, Leraije polished off the entire cake in no time.

With a click, Aegis shut the case and looked at Leraije with sincere admiration.

“How do you eat like that and still have a perfect body? Life is so unfair.”

“Wanna run some drills in the training ground? I could teach you my secret.”

“Oh no, thank you! I’ll pass!”

That’s not a human-level workout, Aegis thought as he shook his head.

“Well then, I’ll head up for dinner and call it a day. You’re going to train, right? Want me to take out the trash?”

“Sure.”

After Aegis left, Leraije was alone.

“Alright then, time to stretch out a bit.”

Just as he was about to draw his sword, he noticed the ribbon that had wrapped the cake lying on the floor.

“Aegis forgot this. Acts all meticulous but he’s sloppy.”

Bending down, Leraije picked up the ribbon. The silky fabric clung smoothly to his hand.

Perhaps it was the sensation—

He suddenly recalled the first time he had escorted Calliope Verdi.

The soft touch of her hand, the warmth that had seeped into his skin.

Something so trivial, and yet it had made him feel strangely affected. In that moment, he realized:

Just how long it had been since he had felt the warmth of another person.

His fingers instinctively clenched around the memory, tightening as if trying to recapture it.

Just as his hand curled tightly—

‘Even if it’s a joke, you should be careful! What if someone really misunderstands you?’

Leraije froze.

That bright, clear voice—it was Calliope Verdi’s. He could even picture the worried look in her eyes.

‘You know better than anyone what happens to royals who threaten the imperial power.’

Get a grip.

Leraije shook his head roughly.

This was a contract formed for each other’s benefit. Getting emotional about it was foolish.

With a swift motion, he snatched up the ribbon and flung it onto the training dummy in the center.

As the sword, coated in a blue aura, sliced through the air a few times, the solid log dummy shattered into dust in an instant.

“……”

Leraije stood silently, staring at the ground.

The ribbon, completely unharmed, glowed smoothly and brightly amidst the debris.

“Damn it.”

With a conflicted expression, he ran a hand through his hair.

The training wasn’t short.

Leraije took the stairs on the opposite side from where he had entered earlier.

This led to a space lined with rows of oak barrels, giving off a heady scent—it was the wine cellar.

He opened the door to the source of loud noises, which led directly into the kitchen.

The kitchen was in chaos with heat and shouting. White smoke billowed from here and there, and the cooks’ voices echoed all over.

Leraije slipped through the frenzy with ease.

The innkeeper, watching over the kitchen counter, glanced at him and handed over a glass filled with alcohol with a grin.

“Just opened a new barrel today. This one’s top-tier.”

“I vouch for your drinks.”

Taking a sip, Leraije spoke.

“The storage needs cleaning. Got a few things coming in too.”

“I’ve been hearing about it non-stop, don’t worry.”

Seemed Aegis had complained the moment he got the chance.

Leraije chuckled and poured the drink over his chest. The smell of alcohol clung strongly to his body.

Exchanging a final glance with the owner, he stepped out.

One, two… four of them today.

He could feel pursuers behind him, but it didn’t matter.

They’d just assume, as always, that he had gotten blind drunk again.

He even deliberately made noise to help them follow. His swaying gait looked exactly like that of a drunken man.

A thin red ribbon peeked out from the pocket of his trousers as he walked toward the palace.

Meanwhile, after sending Leraije off, Calliope gathered her people and explained the plan.

“The actors, the stage, and the audience are all ready. That means everything’s perfect.”

Before she could finish speaking, three completely different reactions burst out.

“This is too dangerous a plan. Lady Calliope, your safety—”

Butler Harold couldn’t hide his worry.

“Oh my gosh, it’s so romantic!”

Sylvia clapped her hands in delight.

“…This feels way too cliché for you, my lady.”

Agnes, on the other hand, had a dubious expression.

“No need to worry about safety. Did you forget I’m a mage?”

Calliope winked, easing Harold’s concerns. Then Agnes pointed out an important point.

“Will people really believe it?”

“Oh, Agnes, you just don’t get it. Classic is best. The more obvious, the more satisfying!”

Sylvia chimed in enthusiastically, and Agnes massaged her forehead.

“It’s certainly more attention-grabbing than simply publishing an article… But does the prince even agree to this plan?”

“Of course.”

Calliope remembered Leraije’s amused expression, which lingered in her mind, but she brushed it off.

She had even given him a strawberry cake, following the trend. He’d better pull his weight if he accepted the bribe.

“If we pull this off, we’ll be able to push through the engagement smoothly.”

With a determined look, Calliope addressed the three.

“That’s why this plan must succeed.”