Asking for Help

Just like last time, the empress and I went to a bedroom located on the second floor.

When the empress entered the bedroom, she was surprised to see a bottle of wine with cups plus several candles illuminating the room.

"… This is?"

"Well, I wanted to create a romantic atmosphere for you."

The empress frowned.

"… I told you, I'm not her… I'm just a servant."

I glanced at her with an amused expression and chuckled.

"That is a good disguise. Unfortunately, it failed to fool me. Stop feigning already."

The empress fell silent. A few seconds later, she sighed and deactivated the magic tool that created the disguise.

Instantly, the black-haired woman turned into a blonde, green-eyed beauty. The empress of the biggest human empire.

"… How did you know it was me?" The empress asked confused. At the same time, I could feel a bit of worry in his voice.

Aware of the reason behind her worry, I chuckled. "Don't worry, I don't think anyone else can see through your disguise. In fact, you would have fooled me as well if not for your scent."

"Scent?" The empress was startled.

I smiled playfully. "I remember your scent clearly from our crazy night together. When you approached me, I felt it immediately."

The empress was speechless did not know how to react.

She was a bit embarrassed after remembering the things she did with me, but at the same time, she was a bit worried after thinking someone else could recognize her in the same way.

But thinking about it, only her husband should be able to use that method to recognize her beside me, right? So the empress calmed down quickly.

I looked at her changing expressions and shook my head slightly.

Then, I walked towards her and hugged her waist from behind.

"You look very worried. Did something happen?"

"… What are you doing?" The empress asked while wrinkling her brows.

I chuckled softly and breathe on her ear. Then, I moved my hands slowly towards the place between her legs.

The empress shivered. She hurriedly separated herself from me and looked at me angrily.

"Stop! I didn't come here to do this!"

"Are you sure?" I asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Of course! Last time was a mistake! A mistake I will not repeat."

Really?

I'm quite confident in making you fall again, though.

"If you are going to be like that, I'll leave in this instant." The empress said with a firm expression.

In fact, I'm quite sure the only reason she has not left yet is that I'm her last hope to save her son.

I looked straight into her eyes before shrugging with a smile.

"As you wish, my empress."

It's not as though I'm in a hurry anyway.

The empress sighed in relief visibly.

"… Mr. Clark, last time you told me I could come to you if I needed help… That is the reason I'm here this time… I think you are the only person that can help me..."

I nodded. Walking towards a table nearby, I opened the bottle of wine on it and served two cups.

I then passed one of the cups to the empress and sat down at the edge of the bed with the other. At the same time, I used my gaze to indicate the empress to sit as well.

The empress hesitated slightly, but in the end, she received the cup and sat down beside me.

"Tell me about your problems. I'll see if I can help you."

The empress nodded.

"You should know about the death of my son..."

"Prince Bryan, right? Yes, I know. Is it related to him?"

"… My son is not dead."

"He is not dead?"I feigned an expression of surprise. "What do you mean?"

Inwardly, though, I was laughing crazily.

It's so funny.

The empress put on a complicated expression. Then, she started to tell me her story.

She started from the moment when she received the first message, until when she received the message where she saw her son lose an arm.

"… So that is the reason you came in a disguise, huh." I said feigning realization.

The empress nodded. "I don't know who to trust right now. I'm unable to trust even my two personal servants. This time, I told them I was tired and I wanted to rest alone. And when they were gone, I disguised myself and left through a teleportation spell… Nobody knows I'm here."

That was very careful of her part.

But thinking about it, Hope is actually one of my people, so her carefulness is not without reason.

Well, she ended asking for help from the person planning everything, so her caution looks like nothing more than a joke to me.

"… I understand. You want to ask me to help you to investigate this mysterious organization, right?"

Lilia nodded. "I can't trust anyone else. I'm afraid of talking about it even to my husband. Perhaps, one of the people close to him is an enemy and will notice something."

"That is possible. But, are you not afraid of me being part of that organization as well?" I asked with a smile.

The empress bit her lips and nodded.

"… I���m afraid, but you are my last hope. I can only take this risk… Plus, if you are not part of that organization, then they should not know about your ties to me. You will be able to investigate without raising suspicions."

… I wonder how you are going to react if I told you I'm the person behind all of this.

Sigh. I'm already anticipating your expression the day when everything is revelated.

"Then... Will you help me?" The empress asked calmly. However, I could see she was clenching her fist in nervousness.

To her, I was her last hope. If I don't agree to help her, she doesn't know what she is going to do.

I truly wanted to tease her and tell her I was not going to help her. But in the end, I suppressed that mischievous impulse.

Instead, I put on a serious expression and nodded.

"Anything for a woman as beautiful as you."

The empress sighed.

"… Thank you, really." She said before hesitating slightly. "… Try investigating Prince Claus… Although I don't have any proof, I have a feeling it's related to him."

I was inwardly surprised.

Woman, you are pretty sharp.

"Did Prince Claus do anything suspicious recently?"

"… I don't know… It's just a feeling. You can think of it as a mother's intuition.

I fell silent. "Prince Claus, huh. Investigating a prince will be difficult."

"… Sorry for the trouble. Don't worry, I'll reward you handsomely."

"It's nothing. You don't need to pay me. I do it because I like you," I said shamelessly and drank a sip of wine. "Although to be honest, when I received your message, I thought you were going to ask me for help with the situation of the crown prince. I'm surprised you did not talk about it, though."

"Huh? What you are talking about?" The empress was confused.

I feigned a surprised expression. "You don't know?"

"… Should I know?"

I put on a strange expression before telling her the news.

"… There is a rumor that Hidden History didn't agree to make Crown Prince Alan the next emperor. Apparently, they are planning to support Princess Dina instead."

*Clang!*

The cup the empress was holding fell on the ground and shattered into pieces.

"Impossible! That can't happen!" The empress shouted in rage and panic. "How can something like this happen!?"

Yes, that is the expression I want to see.

This is going to be fun.

...

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