Chapter 64

Normally, whenever I had to absorb essence, I encountered no problems because I was in control of the body. And at around the time I lost the ring, my human side’s memories of essence absorption became muddled because my rationality got overtaken by my instincts as a succubus. Of course, whenever I as a succubus would forcibly wrench control for myself, like this time, the other side would remember nothing.

At first, I attuned all focus on absorbing essence, and recently, because the time between absorption was getting longer, I took the liberty of taking control over the body to visit the commanders while my other side was asleep.

Once drunk with pleasure, my other side would wake up in the middle of it and remember our time with the commanders only sparsely. But judging from the current situation, that didn’t seem to be the case.

I tucked my hair from the cheeks behind my ears and put my elbows on the table, resting my chin on my palms. Everyone sat down in their chairs, perhaps they had no intention of doing anything else.

I asked without hiding my displeasure.

“So when exactly is the pope coming?”

“Early next month. A delegation is scheduled to visit in time for the National Foundation Day.”

“It’s not long. Hey, how far apart are Ciel and Terra? Is it far away?”

“When not in a hurry, travel time will be about ten days.”

“Ah, since we have to think about the departure time from here, Reg and I should hurry up a bit,” Ares said.

“You and Regulus have something to do?”

“You see, we’ll be in charge of the knight division who’ll escort the delegation and the imperial guard.”

Listening to Ares’ hesitant answer, I suddenly remembered what I was thinking in the morning looking in the mirror. Crumpling my face, Ares was startled.

Even if I didn’t do anything, he would react like that.

National Foundation Day. Ten days.

Resting my chin on my left hand and patting the table with my right hand, I weighed a little, then spoke up.

“You know what. Can’t someone come with me first? I don’t have much time left, but I want to get it back as soon as possible.”

“Together?”

“If we go fast, we will arrive in three or four days, but I need to absorb some essence in the meantime.”

I decided to change the topic. I decided to go to the night market with Maria anyway, so until then, I wouldn’t be able to leave the palace without the ring. So, I decided to trust it—what my other side said this morning.

“I made a promise to my friend. So until the next night market, I will be in the castle… Just in case, don’t delay the night market schedule or anything.”

I’m looking forward to going out with Maria. Feeling anxious for some reason, I warned them first and then continued.

“Odil, I mean it when I said I don’t want to leave the palace. Even if Lily finds the ring now, she’s contemplating whether or not to wear it. But in the current situation, will Lily be able to spend the night with you guys? Lily will probably act as late as possible, and then I’ll be having a hard time. Well, I can’t accept it if you refuse to sleep together after finding the ring.”

Of course, I said this knowing that there’s no way they’d refuse. When I spoke with a tempting smile, sure enough, no one said anything back.

“It’s better to just negotiate than to waste time worrying about useless things. And since I’ve heard that you guys understand anyway, you can either do well or not.”

“So you mean that we should somehow try to convince Miss Lily to stay here while she’s at the palace?”

“She said it herself that she wants to leave, but really, she doesn’t have it in her to get rid of me just because she doesn’t understand. Of course, this is cheating now… I don’t like it, so I’ll tell her everything I just said. What do you want? Will you come with me?”

“Ares and Regulus have to lead the knights, so the schedule won’t match, and Damian…”

“No, really, haa. I’m more worried now than when I came with His Majesty.”

“I can’t leave the castle….”

“Then I must go.”

Endymion replied leisurely. I frowned. When our eyes met, he smiled softly as if he had never been so ferocious, but his teeth trembled.

“You hate me.”

“Oh dear, it’s so sad that you say it so firmly.”

“Oh. You don’t look sad at all?”

“I’m sad at heart, but it makes me smile when I think it’s for Miss Lily. And thinking of His Majesty, Miss Lily might do better to leave the palace, even for a while.”

“His Majesty?”

“Oh that’s right. There was a job there, too. It’s, well. It’s impossible to fool him.”

His Majesty, what do you mean? When I tilted my head at the words that came out of the blue, Odil answered.

“His Majesty found out that you’re a succubus. Since His Majesty doesn’t want the delegation to find any faults with the Empire, he’s trying to provoke you in some way to get a reaction. Even if the paladins notice your presence and attack, there will be no diplomatic problems.”

“Oh my god. You mean you were plotting something like that?”

“No, Endymion and I were against it. But if he gives the order, we have no choice but to obey…”

“That’s why I’m going. I told you earlier that the pope and Lady’s grandmother might know each other. While escorting the delegation, try to give hints. Then His Majesty won’t bother Lady Lily,” Ares said.

“But even so, I couldn’t be completely relieved, so I was thinking of doing as little harm to Miss Lily as possible,” Endymion answered.

If that’s the reason, it would certainly be better to leave for a while, but what the hell was the emperor thinking? I ended the talk by swearing at the man I never even met before.

Damian, who had been thinking about it for a while, gave up saying ‘As expected, I can’t do that’.

I turned to Endymion with a confused face.

“You. You keep saying strange things again whenever I absorb your essence.”

“Well, at that time, you tied me up without hesitation.”

The long conversation is over. First of all, I decided to make it clear about this part with the other me.

——