Cerydra intended to seize the moment while no one was around to investigate the secret behind Hysilens' "belly full of bad water," but right then, strange noises drifted from outside the door.
It was over.
Who else could possibly come looking for her at this time besides Esdeath? Cerydra didn't believe any other soldier could mask their presence so close to her. Aside from them, the only person capable of such a feat was Esdeath, who had studied martial arts under Hysilens for some time.
But… encountering such a situation, how was she supposed to open her mouth?
The two inside the room were incredibly tense, yet compared to Cerydra and Hysilens, Esdeath—standing outside the door—was the one truly on edge.
Hearing Hysilens' voice from within the room, Esdeath's mind instantly flashed back to a night a month ago, to the events involving her and Merraid in a certain hotel. At that time, Merraid had taken advantage of Esdeath's lapse in attention to snatch her first kiss. Although Merraid was later taught a harsh lesson, the sensation from that moment lingered in Esdeath's heart, refusing to fade.
It had been so long that Esdeath had finally managed to push it to the back of her mind, but now…
Listening to the comfortable sounds spilling from Hysilens' lips—sounds so strikingly similar to those she had made back then—Esdeath could no longer remain calm. She couldn't be certain what Cerydra and Hysilens were doing in that room, but thinking carefully, to make such sounds…
It must be a kiss, right?
Were Imperator and Lord Hysilens actually in that kind of relationship?
Esdeath had previously felt the bond between these two was a bit too intimate. Whether on the battlefield or in daily life, they were always close; they even bathed together. Initially, Esdeath thought Hysilens' status was something like a housekeeper, but looking at it now, they were definitely that, weren't they?
Lilies!
While all of this should have been unacceptable—since girls cannot produce offspring together—no revulsion rose within Esdeath's heart. Instead, she began to fantasize about being like Hysilens, bathing alongside the Imperator…
'Dux Alptraum, I leave my back to you. Make the massage comfortable!'
'By your command, Imperator!'
If she could be commanded like that by Cerydra, Esdeath felt she might experience unprecedented pleasure.
Wait, could it be?
In the moment of her fantasy, Esdeath suddenly realized a question—one she had never considered since childhood.
'If I were to seek a partner, what kind of person would I look for?'
First, they must possess great strength, or at least the potential to become a powerhouse. Esdeath disliked the weak; the weak were easily killed and could not accompany her for long.
Second, they must be someone with courage and backbone, someone who could smile indifferently even when facing ten thousand horsemen.
Third, preferably not a noble… having met many nobles recently, she found them to be generally scum, so Esdeath held no great affection for the nobility.
Fourth, someone slightly younger than her, someone she could control.
Fifth, someone who could show a pure smile.
Esdeath: "..."
Thinking of it this way, didn't Lord Cerydra fit perfectly?
Cerydra was a powerhouse.
She was brimming with confidence from head to toe.
She had become the one controlling the Prince of the North through her own strength.
She was smaller in stature than Esdeath; while she couldn't be fully "controlled," she could at least be held in one's arms and rubbed, satisfying a certain desire for dominance.
Add to that the brilliant smile she showed whenever she ate the food Hysilens cooked…
Except for their genders being identical, Cerydra basically met all of Esdeath's criteria for a partner!
Could it be that this was a fated encounter?
This moment seemed to stretch into eternity as Esdeath continuously imagined what it would be like to be with Cerydra.
'If I become someone like Lord Hysilens, I should be able to gain Imperator's recognition…'
In Esdeath's fantasy, her head and Cerydra's drew closer and closer.
'Dux Alptraum, in view of your military achievements in recent years, I have decided to grant you the right to kiss me! Come here quickly!'
'By your command, Imperator…'
If it truly reached that stage, Esdeath felt she might actually cry. That was, until…
As their heads drew near, Cerydra's appearance suddenly shifted, transforming directly into a black-haired girl.
How could Esdeath not recognize this person? It was Merraid, the one who had snatched her first kiss!
'Your first kiss wasn't Cerydra, it was me, Merraid da!'
The deafening voice slammed into Esdeath's brain at that moment, causing her previously excited expression to freeze completely.
Not Cerydra… but Merraid?
Crack—!
The sound of something shattering echoed in her ears, and the expression on Esdeath's face collapsed. She never imagined that her dead memories would launch a surprise attack on her at a time like this. Moreover, no matter how many times Esdeath tried to fantasize, the Merraid in her memory would always jump out suddenly, standing between her and the Imperator…
Merraid!
You deserve to die!
Not only did you steal my first kiss in reality, but you won't even let me have my fantasies?
Esdeath's expression turned extremely dark, and she made a firm resolution in her heart… if she ever met that death-seeking Merraid again, she would kill her at any cost!
'My body and soul will offer their loyalty to the Imperator. It is absolutely not for a gutter rat like you to take!'
Far away, Merraid: "Achoo! Strange, my constitution shouldn't catch a cold. Could it be that someone is thinking of me?"
However, the moment Esdeath lowered her head, she suddenly noticed a serious problem… had she just crushed the doorknob in her anger?
This was bad!
The Imperator and Hysilens inside must have discovered her. What should she do?
'Forget it, I'll just treat a dead horse as if it were alive!'
Esdeath gritted her teeth and pushed the door open with force. She then saw Cerydra sitting awkwardly on a chair, adjusting her posture, and Hysilens standing beside her with a strange expression.
It was just as she thought… but none of that mattered!
Esdeath's eyes sharpened, and she performed a knightly salute to the Imperator sitting on the throne.
"Imperator!"
"No matter what happens, my loyalty to you will never change!"
"Ah?" Cerydra's mouth fell open, but she quickly adjusted her composure. "I do not doubt your loyalty, Dux Alptraum."
"My future path of conquest will rely heavily on you and Dux Gladiorium. Are you prepared?"
Looking at the Imperator who trusted her so deeply, a glimmer of tears flickered in the corners of Esdeath's eyes.
"Always!"
Phew!
In a place where Esdeath couldn't see, Cerydra and Hysilens finally breathed a sigh of relief. Although they didn't know what had happened, judging by Esdeath's attitude just now…
It seemed she hadn't discovered their little secret?
Thank goodness!