"Whew. I managed to escape from Imperial Sister’s trap unscathed."
Since the coronation ceremony was about to begin, I hurriedly took the others to the venue.
I had been tense ever since I found something suspiciously similar to an aphrodisiac by the bedside. I wasn’t sure if I could escape safely. But surprisingly, I was released without much trouble.
Had I been viewing Imperial Sister as too much of a succubus?
The only woman who would be in heat enough to constantly look for an opportunity to pounce on me was Sylvia. Comparing Imperial Sister to Sylvia was... perhaps a bit unfair. I felt a little guilty.
The coronation ceremony concluded successfully.
Since the former emperor’s crown was too large to fit Imperial Sister’s head, a new crown had been crafted for her. Nobles from all across the empire gathered, kneeling on one knee in a display of reverence.
The final step of the coronation was the Lords’ Conference.
Since all the lords governing different regions of the empire had gathered in one place, it was an opportunity to discuss important matters.
"Your Majesty, do you have any plans regarding succession?"
"Are you considering passing the throne to your half-sibling without ★ 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 ★ having children of your own?"
"···."
For some reason, the nobles’ questions were all focused on a single topic.
As if they had coordinated in advance, they persistently pressed Imperial Sister about her succession plans.
Considering that she was otherwise flawless—no, downright perfect—perhaps this was the only issue they could pick on.
Their intentions were clear.
They wanted to push her into marriage.
Everyone was desperate to seize the chance to form a connection with the imperial family.
But despite the series of aggressive questions, Imperial Sister remained completely composed.
She showed neither unease nor impatience.
"Your questions do not stray even a step from what I expected. However, there is no need to worry about my marriage. I have already decided on my partner, so I will make a joyful announcement soon."
"Y-Your Majesty!? You already have someone in mind?!"
"Who in the world is it?!"
The venue instantly erupted into chaos.
A flood of questions followed, but Imperial Sister merely smiled.
Then, her gaze turned toward me.
Cold sweat trickled down my back.
"So, you finally came."
"...What exactly are you thinking, Your Majesty?"
"Are you referring to the declaration I just made? But if I hadn't done that, you would have fled the moment the coronation ended."
"···."
After the ceremony concluded, I hurried to catch up with Imperial Sister.
I hadn’t expected her to drop such a bombshell and abruptly end the discussion.
Thankfully, there hadn’t been a full-blown public confession.
But because of her pointed gaze toward me, quite a few people had caught on.
At the very least, I needed to know what exactly this "joyful announcement" entailed.
I had no choice but to seek her out.
"I have something to tell you, so listen carefully. In truth, I had meant to say this before the coronation... but I got distracted by your incessant chatter and forgot. My original plan was to say it earlier and enjoy watching your troubled expression throughout the ceremony. But it was all ruined."
"···."
Imperial Sister glared at me with a look of frustration.
I could already guess what she was about to say.
With a smirk, I opened my mouth.
"My apologies. I didn’t mean to disrupt Your Majesty’s plan."
"As long as you understand. Even though I brought a man into my bedchamber, nothing happened—clearly, due to your superhuman self-restraint."
"···?"
"As of today, I am officially an adult. Technically, I became one at midnight, but the coronation serves as a symbolic coming-of-age ceremony. Until the coronation, you exercised extraordinary willpower to suppress the impure thoughts clouding your mind. That must be why you held yourself back in my bedchamber as well."
"···!?"
I couldn’t stop my pupils from shaking.
Wait.
She thought I was waiting until she became an adult?
Superhuman self-restraint?
What the hell was she talking about?
I only realized a few days ago that she had even been a minor until now!
No—more importantly...
Had she seen through all of my thoughts whenever I looked at her?
So to her, I had been suppressing lustful urges with sheer determination?
But in reality, I had just been indulging in idle fantasies in my mind.
"Ah. Yes. Well... uh... that’s right. Exactly."
[The Evil God 'Kali' eyes you with suspicion.]
There was no way I could admit the truth.
I had no choice but to play along with her assumption.
I had now become the man who endured the advances of a minor empress with unwavering discipline, like a saintly figure.
If you are reading this translation anywhere other than Novelight.net or SilkRoadTL, it has been stolen.
I kept repeating that to myself, brainwashing myself into believing it.
If I wanted to hide my true thoughts from the Spirit King, this was the only way.
I could not let them find out my true feelings were just,
"Damn, I just really wanted to fck her."*
"I wanted to say this sooner, but I feared it might push your patience to the limit. Count Aslan Vermonte, will you marry me and become my Imperial Consort?"
"Your Majesty..."
"If the title of Imperial Consort feels too burdensome, then being my lover would suffice. Even if we do not marry, I do not mind. As long as I can love you and bear your children, that alone is enough for me."
"···."
Lover?
That’s even more burdensome.
I already had three young wives, my knight bodyguard, and even my own sister as fiancées.
And now, I was supposed to take the reigning empress as my lover too?
Wouldn’t that make me the kind of degenerate scoundrel who deserves to be beaten to death?
Up until now, the only reason I had been dodging Imperial Sister’s advances was my reluctance to be bound by the role of Imperial Consort.
I had feared that she merely desired my abilities, seeking to bind me to the palace for her own gain.
I had never been able to shake that doubt.
But now, I knew her love was sincere.
There was no need to hesitate any longer.
"I will accept the title of Imperial Consort, Your Majesty."
"Was that not the one thing you dreaded more than death?"
"Only because I feared being exploited in a loveless political marriage. But if I am to serve a wife who loves me, then I welcome it."
"You... you rogue. Your silver tongue knows no bounds..."
Imperial Sister blushed furiously, turning her head away in embarrassment.
She had just confessed with an absurdly direct and shameless line about bearing my heirs—yet she was embarrassed when I countered her?
"W-Wait! My makeup will smudge!"
"It doesn’t matter now, does it? The ceremony is over. Even if it gets messy—"
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"···!?"
[The Evil God 'Kali' cheers loudly!]
I cupped Imperial Sister’s cheek, tilting my head as I stole her lips.
The heavy taste of makeup lingered in my mouth.
After five or six more kisses, the unpleasant flavor began to fade, replaced by the sweetness of her saliva.
"I suppose we really will have some 'joyful news' to announce soon."
With the nobles pressing her about succession, there was no reason to delay the announcement.
It wouldn’t be surprising if we announced our marriage tomorrow.
Many noble families had been preparing proposals to secure the title of Imperial Consort.
But their hopes had just been utterly crushed.
Not that I felt guilty.
If they were so upset, they should’ve traveled back in time and staked their claim on her when she was a child, like I did.