31 Man-Breaker! (1/2)
Afterward, Konrad was relieved of his kitchen duties, promoted to the rank of head eunuch and given new quarters. Verena also promulgated a decree allowing Iliana to return to her household on the very same day.
That decree spread within the inner court like wildfire and alarmed all its knowledgeable denizens.
But while they expected Else's immediate counterattack, they were disappointed to hear nothing of her side.
...
Meanwhile, at Else's palace.
”Your grace, now that the Empress ordered the release of Iliana, shouldn't we…take the opportunity to strike?
Tamara cautiously asked.
But Else who laid on her side within a grey velvet sofa remained unfazed.
”What is there to gain?”
”We could lure out and ambush Wolfgang Kracht to remove that trouble once and for all!”
Tamara exclaimed, but seeing the lack of reaction from Else, she quickly became confused.
”Since you can think of it, others also can. We are not the only ones wishing for Wolfgang Kracht's demise. Why dirty our hands, when many are already planning to use the opportunity to butcher him?
This is an excellent opportunity to see if we have a full measure of the man.”
Tamara believed Else overcautious but didn't dare comment any further.
”But why would the Empress suddenly override the Emperor to order such a thing?”
And although the answer was clear to her, Else didn't reply.
...
As the center of the news, Iliana was naturally the most astonished and incredulously stared at the complacent Konrad now standing in front of her.
”How did you pull that off?”
”I was born with divine charm and irresistible appeal. The Holy Empress was moved by my presence and conceded to my every demand!”
He shamelessly boasted while puffing out his chest.
”Utter nonsense!”
Iliana naturally didn't believe that the empress had fallen for his tricks. Could a Saint be so easily swindled?
”In any case, you now owe me a thousand kisses so go prepare your lipstick to cover me with red!”
”Shameless!”
But a deal was a deal so she would have to comply.
”I am shameless! Mightily shameless!”
”What, do you know any great, bashful man? No!”
”The first characteristic of a great man is shamelessness!”
”And I am beyond the boundaries of greatness!”
Iliana stared slack-jawed at that outrageous display of impudence. And seeing her waste time in pointless staring, Konrad decided to take the bull by the horns, hauled her on his shoulder, and pulled her back toward her quarters.
”What are you doing?”
”I know I'm a fantastic specimen, but I can't afford to have you waste time in bewildered stares when I have smooches to get.”
”Since you're so concerned about face, I will have to rearrange our deal to receive and give!”
”Wait, wait…”
But wait he would not. And so, Iliana was dragged back to her bed and pulled into a consuming session of smooches!
”Mhm…not there…!”
…
Time flew by in a flash, and Konrad's body was now covered with red lipstick marks while Iliana's was full of hickeys at unchaste spots.
”How can I face my dad like this…”
She complained with her flushed cheeks held within her palms.
”Just tell him that you've been marked by his future son in law.”
Defeated, Iliana could only rearrange herself and prepare for the imminent departure.
The Empress had granted them an escort of four royal ladies at the middle stages of the Arch-Knight rank. Naturally, that escort wasn't meant merely for her protection, but also as an additional show of goodwill toward Count Wolfgang, her father.
With the descent of night, the group departed from the imperial palace through a teleportation circle. At the gate, a luxurious red and gold carriage driven by a head eunuch awaited.
They embarked, with Konrad making sure to keep the flushed Iliana pressed against his chest.
”We…are not…alone.”