People who were like water and oil always existed in the world.

Those people who’d go ‘I’d never get along with this person’ the moment they met each other and it went on ever since.

And there was a very high chance that Iliya and Eleanor felt that way when they looked at each other.

“...”

“...”

Sickening, as expected.

Inside the shaky carriage, both Iliya and Eleanor thought so almost at the exact same time.

Technically, they could get along well with each other if they wanted to. After all, they had quite a lot in common.

Both of them grew up wielding swords from an early age, so they were both really interested in swordsmanship and physical training in general. They also had difficulties making many friends because they were in positions where their peers would look up to them.

The problem was in one of the things they had in common.

The fact that these two liked ‘the same man’, a definite deal breaker for sure.

…I’m fine with Riru, but this person is kind of…

Unlike Riru, who she came to know as they had grown so close, Iliya’s dislike towards the Tristan Duchy had not subsided.

It was the kind of dislike that was deep enough to get two close friends on bad terms, so considering that they had never been on good terms with each other in the first place, there was no way that she could look at Eleanor favorably at all.

“...So.”

Unable to withstand the silence that had gone on for a while, Iliya finally broke it.

“Why are we going to the Imperial Palace so suddenly?”

She had no problem with this arrangement.

As the adopted daughter of Margrave Kendride, one of the very few Major Nobles in the Empire, visiting the Imperial Palace was like an annual event for her.

Eleanor, the Lady Tristan herself, would feel the same way as her in this case.

The problem was, even with that thing considered, the Imperial Palace was obviously not a place she could go visit thoughtlessly as if going on a picnic.

Even Margrave Kendride, who normally acted like a wild beast, would act all obedient and courteous in the Imperial palace, to her surprise.

- This place is an arena of competition for starving demons, Iliya.

That warning he indoctrinated her with, decorated by the edge to his voice, was still fresh in her memory.

- Don’t ever do anything that can be held against you. Never. Hell, don’t even think to stand out.

“...”

Even one of the most prestigious Major Nobles in the Empire said so.

So, there was no need to elaborate further about the scope of the danger that was lurking inside.

“Well, you have probably guessed the reason already.”

As Iliya was lost in thoughts, Eleanor answered in a calm voice.

“Because I heard Dowd entered that place.”

“...”

Yes, Iliya guessed that.

Because nine out of ten times, whenever Eleanor was unusually driven, that man was involved in it somehow.

“...No wonder he suddenly disappeared.”

After the Second Ordeal was over, Iliya had gone to his room in the evening, bringing a bottle of alcohol to hold a celebration party together with him. She remembered how taken aback she was because she didn’t find him there.

But then, the inside story of how he was suddenly summoned to the Imperial Palace was-

“No, wait.”

Eleanor cut her off, her eyes narrowed.

“...You went to his room alone with a bottle of alcohol in the middle of the night?”

“...”

“Did you really go there under the intention of throwing a celebration party with him?”

“...”

Iliya avoided Eleanor’s eyes while scratching her blushing cheek.

While forcing out a friendly smile, she spitted out a response.

“...Aren’t you the one having weird thoughts, President? I really just wanted to throw a celebration party, nothing more.”

“...”

Sadly for her, that excuse didn’t seem to work.

Eleanor was still sending her a very cold gaze.

So, she opted to change the subject, then again that was her only option in this situation.

“S-So, Student Council President! D-Do you know why Teach was summoned to the Imperial Palace?”

“...”

Fortunately for her, Eleanor seemed to have decided to let it slide this time.

It must be the case since she actually turned her glaring gaze away while sighing.

“...I do not know. All I have heard is that Her Imperial Majesty has personally named that man.”

“...”

Iliya let out a frown.

The Empress personally named him?

Why the hell?

“...I do not know the reason either. Her Imperial Majesty must have her own reasons, therefore, I am not so worried about that.”

“...”

“The problem is those accursed Upper Nobles.”

Iliya chuckled, quietly agreeing.

It was the first time she had ever seen Eleanor openly curse on something like that, but those people deserved it.

Both the Duke and Margrave, who were Major Nobles, boasted great authority—they shared 30% to 40% stake in the politics. However, the ones who occupied the political scene of the Empire were the old noble households who were represented by the ‘Upper Nobles’.

They were the five prestigious families who were right below the Major Nobles.

The group of people who only thought of increasing their source of profit by clinging to both the Empress’ and the Chancellor’s sides.

To quote Margrave Kendride, they had the heart of a snake.

“So, there might be a situation where you and I have to work together.”

Eleanor continued in a low, subdued voice.

“...Since Dowd would need to block possible attacks inside. But, it won’t be hard on him if the Margrave Household and the Duchal Household join forces.”

“...”

In a way, Eleanor seemed admirable in Iliya’s eyes, at least in this situation.

She must have not been so happy to work with Iliya, but as soon as Dowd was involved, she immediately threw away such personal feelings and even offered a cooperation like this.

“...Normally I would have just refused.”

That was why…

Iliya had to at least display sincerity that matched Eleanor’s enthusiasm.

“...I will help you just this time. Only because Teach is involved in this, though.”

“Thank you.”

“But…”

Iliya continued while grinning.

“Why don’t we ‘give up’ one thing to whichever one of us who is more helpful?”

“...”

She remembered this.

Before, during the vacation.

This was the bet both of them made when they turned a certain Count’s territory upside-down.

“...That does not sound bad.”

Eleanor answered with a grin.

“Are you saying we should see the conclusion of the bet we made then?”

“Well, I have no plan to lose.”

Eleanor and Iliya exchanged fierce smiles as they said so.

Like that, they strengthened their determination and will as they arrived at the Imperial Palace.

“...He went into Her Imperial Majesty's bedroom? Dowd? At this time?”

“That’s what I heard.”

“...”

As soon as they heard that from the Tristan Duchy's informant inside the Imperial Palace,

Shock filled their expressions at the same time.

To put it short…

Right now, I was standing right in front of the Empress’ bedroom.

“...”

Before I got here, the Sword Saint literally broke out in a cold sweat while he was trying to calm the Chancellor down, who seemed as if she was about to spit out fire from her mouth.

“Is this her way of declaring war? I must see Her Imperial Majesty in person no—”

“...Please don’t use such words recklessly, Chancellor Sullivan. If you’re the one saying it, not many people could dismiss it as anything but empty words.”

To some extent, I could relate to those words.

Like, hearing the word war coming out of THE Chancellor’s mouth, yeah, I couldn’t see it as an empty word.

...Fuck, that was scary.

It was even more so because she really seemed about to throw hands with the Empress.

Given that she had always kept her calm in the game, I wonder how much of her reason that had lost for her to go that far with her words.

Anyway, she only calmed down, albeit barely, after the Sword Saint himself asserted dozens of times that ‘the thing that would make her angry would never happen’.

Even then, she still gave me a Mana Stone for emergency contact, in which she insisted that I had to press if something were to happen.

- You have to press it if something happens, Dowd.

Until the very last moment, she still looked very reluctant, but given that this was an Empress’ Edict, there was nothing any of us could do. Like, if I didn’t obey it, a whole civil war could happen.

That was why I obediently let myself be dragged here.

“Her Imperial Majesty is waiting inside.”

The Sword Saint, who escorted me here. bowed his head politely before continuing.

“Considering this is your first time visiting her, Her Imperial Majesty wouldn’t care about your manners, so please make yourself comfortable.”

“Thank you.”

I knew those were just empty words, but I thanked him anyway.

Chances were he was trying to say that I shouldn’t disregard manners completely.

“I mean it.”

“...Sorry?”

The Sword Saint continued, still smiling gently.

“This is what Her Imperial Majesty had said herself; By the honor of the Imperial Household, she would not punish you when it comes to manners. And she said that you should treat her comfortably.”

What?

Why?

“...T-Thank you…?”

I barely managed to squeeze out that answer.

That didn’t mean I understood why she made such an exception for me.

So, she was telling me, a member of a Viscount Household at best, to make myself ‘comfortable’ in front of herself, the Empress? She even emphasized that point by slipping in the honor of the Imperial Household there.

Even though I was someone whose neck she could cut off with a flick of a finger if she wanted to…

...Seriously, what the hell is going on?

Too much. Can’t understand.

While thinking as such, I entered the Empress’ bedroom.

As soon as I went inside,

“...Welcome, Dowd Campbell.”

The Empress greeted me. Buck naked.

“...”

What the fuck?

 

What is this?

“Thank you for accepting my invitation, considering how late it is right now.”

As she said so in a low, whispering voice, a window popped up before my eyes.

System Message

[ Devil’s Aura detected. ]

[ The ‘Fallen's Seal’ reacts! ]

“...”

For a second there, I felt nauseous.

I knew that there was one Devil left.

The Brown Devil. The Devil of Avarice.

But, I didn’t know that the Empress was its Vessel!

“...”

Fuck, I got stuck with a Devil’s Vessel inside a bedroom? With just the two of us?

Not to mention that she was in the position where I couldn’t even bring myself to say no to!

This fucking…!

“...I’m not in my formal appearance, but I ask for your understanding.”

While I was racking my brain desperately...

The Empress said that while chuckling as she lay in bed and wiped herself with a towel.

Uh.

Wait.

It doesn’t seem like she’s going to ‘eat’ me immediately.

 

“...”

The dim candle was the only source of light in this spacious bedroom. Thanks to that, her naked body was only visible under the pale moonlight, making it seem more dreamy.

Honestly, it was the first time I’ve ever seen a woman’s body that was close to being nude.

Fuck, she looked so pretty.

They had often described Cecilia the 11th as someone who possessed an ‘inhuman’ beauty, even among Sera main characters who were already extremely good-looking on average.

The beautiful curves that made up her entire body. Skin fair enough that it resembled cut glass.

Her body resembled a sculpture which seemed to have been made with one's heart and soul.

However, inside such a beautiful body…

It was also noticeable how the blood vessels in her whole body were turning black with necrosis because of the ‘Dragonblood’ flowing in her veins.

It looked as if black blood was flowing in her body.

“...”

The Curse of Dragonblood.

Seeing it in person, it actually looked horrible.

Even the Curse of Severance that was eating Yuria’s body was not this bad.

“Would you come closer? My eyesight isn’t very good.”

“...Yes, Your Imperial Majesty.”

As I approached the bed, Cecilia the 11th reached out for my face…

Slowly, as if she was trying to appreciate it.

There was a dark look in her eyes as she groped my face all over.

“...So, this is—”

With a chuckle, she continued.

“—The face of the best heartthrob in Elfante. You look interesting.”

“...”

Words that could stop my brain from working entered my ears.

“...Hm? What’s with your reaction? Are you trying to deny it? From the brief period of time when I was keeping an eye on you, I lost count on how many women clung to you.”

“No, I am not.”

This was the equivalent of me admitting with my own mouth that I was an unhinged playboy, but I had no choice, since the Empress said so.

If she told me to speak frankly, I guess I had to.

“You don’t need to be so polite. Although, I understand your anxiety due to the vast difference in our status.”

She said so while smiling playfully.

“I need to know your ‘usual self’, I’d rather not see you acting all polite like this.”

“...My usual self?”

“Mhm. So that it would be easier for me to convince the others.”

“...”

Convince?

About what?

As I thought so, the Empress continued with a sigh.

“I heard that you’re pretty knowledgeable about international affairs, Dowd Campbell.”

She continued again.

“What do you think about the Empire’s situation right now?”

“...”

Feigning ignorance would be meaningless since she had asked me to show her my usual self.

But, that question wasn’t one that I could answer straight away.

Why was that?

Because, if I have to be frank, the Empire is a fucking mess.

Even though the Chancellor and the Empress were trying their best not to clash against each other, the nobles under them were busy choosing sides and starting gang fights.

It was a strange situation when those who had higher social status were actually clean and possessed good common sense, while those with lower status were filthy rotten.

“...I can already tell what you’re thinking about just by looking at your expression.”

She said, letting out a bitter smile.

“Indeed, the Empire is in chaos right now. Sullivan and I are still working hard to prevent it from deteriorating and to keep maintaining the status quo, but nobody knows how long this fake peace would last.”

The Empress looked down at her body with a bitter smile.

“Now, can you imagine…”

Her body, which was being eaten every hour, every minute by the Curse of Dragonblood.

The weak body that seemed so close to death.

“How big of a chaos would erupt if the throne was empty?”

“...”

“...Truth to be told, I don’t know how much longer will I be able to hold on with this body.”

“...”

The Empress said to me, who kept my silence.

“That’s why I need you.”

“M-Me?”

“Mhm. Seeing you gave me a little idea. There’s a way for you to become a big help in solving this situation.”

The Empress continued in a voice with dignity.

“Under normal circumstances, I should be summoning Iliya Krisanax, the Hero Candidate… However, there’s a good reason why she isn’t qualified to handle this matter.”

“...She isn’t qualified?”

“Isn’t she a woman?”

“...”

I had an ominous feeling. I could feel it through my spine.

So, this person was a ‘Devil’s Vessel,’ she stated that a ‘woman’ wasn’t qualified to help her and the matter had something to do with me, a ‘man’...

From my experience, I couldn’t sense that anything good would come out of this.

“Dowd Campbell.”

The Empress continued with a grin.

“Are you willing to be my consort for just a month?”

“...”

Wait.

 

Hold up.

“Your Imperial Majesty.”

I had to squeeze out my vocal cords just to say those words.

“...Can you elaborate?”

“To put it simply, be my husband for a month.”

“...”

“Is that still hard to understand? So, you will live together as my partner for a month—”

Miss.

Explain the reason why you’re doing this.

Please.