episode_0062

A few days later, in the dining room of the Hwangdo Perbache mansion.

“Congratulations!”

Francia smiled brightly and raised her glass.

window!

The sound of glasses clinking echoed clearly in the cold air. The golden bubbles of champagne rippled and sparkled across the glass.

Francia threw a small party for Johan shortly after things were settled.

It was a little lonely not having anyone to invite, but I didn’t really care. I cherished the time I spent alone with Yohan.

I could have invited people from the civil service, but I didn’t really suggest it because I wasn’t that close with them and my relationship with them was only official.

“Haha, thank you.”

However, John was rather satisfied with this comfortable atmosphere. The somewhat awkward atmosphere had long since disappeared.

“This is a weak drink, so feel free to drink it!”

“Oh, is that so?”

John slowly tilted his glass.

“Oh…?”

The soft sweetness of champagne enveloped my mouth, bubbles burst on the tip of my tongue, and at the end, a refreshingly tangy note seeped into my throat.

“How does it taste? It’s a popular drink in social circles these days.”

“I think it’s the best drink I’ve ever had.”

John smiled slightly and shook his glass. Although he was weak to alcohol, this champagne did not bother him at all. It was also easy to drink.

“By the way, now it’s not Johan Harsen, it’s Johan Rahard.”

Francia said, shaking her glass. By receiving Lahart’s territory, Johan naturally received his surname.

“That’s right. He became Count Lahart.”

“Hehe, isn’t it awkward?”

“To be honest, it’s awkward.”

John smiled awkwardly and rubbed the back of his neck.

I’ve been called Harsen my whole life, and now it’s Lahart…

I liked the name, but there was no other way to get over the unfamiliar feeling.

“There’s nothing you can do. But you have to adapt. You’re a count now.”

Francia smiled happily. Now, even Perbache could not ignore the power that Johan possessed.

If the two end up getting married here, Lahart will be temporarily absorbed into the Duke’s family. Francia is also Perbace’s successor.

Francia smiled softly, looking into Johan’s eyes. Her hands slowly clenched into fists under the table.

‘The most powerful family in this empire will soon be born.’

If things continue as they are, Johan’s Lahart and Perbache will merge, and even the imperial family, which boasts absolute authority, will not be able to easily touch them.

Because they have the exclusive ability to close the cave, and even the power of the Four Great Houses, Perbache.

Moreover, since he has obtained the land of Lahart, which is a good location, Perbache’s power will grow beyond control.

Of course, this result was also according to Francia’s plan.

“…What are you thinking so deeply about?”

Johan, who was munching on some appetizers, asked. There was something resolute about Francia’s expression… He couldn’t help but ask.

“Huh, it’s nothing.”

Francia bowed her head slightly and smiled faintly.

Although he occasionally showed such behavior, he felt quite suspicious, but Yohan swallowed his doubts. It couldn’t be important.

“It’s salty once more!”

As the mood calmed down a bit, Francia lifted her glass. Johan smiled lightly and clinked his glass with hers.

“Oh, by the way, I heard that your father will be coming to the imperial palace soon.”

Francia said, while we were sipping our champagne lightly.

“Your Highness?”

“Yes. He said to hurry up and hold the engagement ceremony.”

“Really? You can take your time.”

John could easily guess why the Duke was in such a hurry. It was probably to eliminate variables before the imperial court could act.

Of course, it is a situation where the royal family cannot force a marriage. No matter how absolute their authority is, it is meaningless in front of John.

So John wasn’t worried at all. He just had to refuse and show a stubborn attitude.

“If things continue like this, I’ll have to wait until next year, so I think you’re trying to finish it quickly when you have time.”

Francia smiled slightly.

“Then, well…”

Johan also knew that Duke Pervace was busy every winter.

‘Because it was the hometown of the heroine, Francia, there was a lot of information.’

The dukedom was vast, incomparable to that of other noble families, but most of the land was barren and the large territory meant there were many dens.

However, since there were many demons, it was easy to obtain magic stones, and due to the characteristics of the north, there were also rare minerals and mana stones with special properties.

Also, if you could just deal with the demons, there was a lot of loot coming from them. Leather, horns, teeth, blood, etc. were used to make weapons, alchemy materials, and clothing.

These factors helped to further increase the wealth and influence of the Duke of Perbace.

However, because of the flooding that occurred every winter, the Duke and the Knights of Pervace could not easily vacate their territory.

A structure that inevitably requires a lot of work.

This is also the reason why Francia, who would later take care of the duchy, built her career in the civil service. The fact that she came from a civil service background gave the people of the duchy deep trust.

“The dukedom has stabilized considerably, so it won’t be a big deal. And if there are problems in the territory because your father is not here, that’s serious in its own right.”

Francia smiled lightly and tilted her head. Her gaze was warm.

“I see.”

“Yes.”

When she saw that the glass was empty, she picked up the champagne bottle and filled John’s glass.

“So! Have another drink!”

“Hmm…”

John smiled slightly as he watched her silently tilt the bottle and fill her glass.

“No matter how I look at it, it seems like you’re trying to get me drunk…”

Francia’s shoulders trembled as she poured the champagne.

“That’s suspicious.”

“…Huh? I don’t have any strange intentions at all.”

“Really?”

John raised his eyebrows and gave her a deep look. Francia rolled her eyes and coughed.

“Ahem…”

“That’s right on the mark.”

John, who understood Francia’s intentions exactly, asked softly.

“Why are you trying to get me drunk?”

John’s voice was low and soft, but his eyes were intense.

“…That’s it.”

She didn’t open her mouth. She couldn’t speak. And that’s understandable…

‘How can I tell John that I want to do it while he’s drunk…’

John’s drunken and rambunctious appearance was quite different from usual.

The eyes that were always firm and alert become blurred, and the gestures that were once full of caution become much looser.

I really liked the relaxed, relaxed look.

In fact, more than anything, it was his appearance of being unable to control his desires and becoming forceful… that shook Francia’s heart to its core.

“Hmm… It’s nothing. I just… wanted to have fun tonight?”

Francia broke the silence with a small cough, avoiding eye contact.

It was difficult to speak honestly about her desires. Francia was worried that she might be perceived as shady.

Of course, even if that were the case, John wouldn’t care at all, but this was Francia’s personal problem.

‘It’s embarrassing…’

Even though they are lovers who have done everything, how the person they like views them is a very sensitive issue.

“…hmm.”

Francia rolled her eyes and flinched for no reason as she saw Johan smiling slightly. Her fidgeting fingers continued to move without stopping.

“Okay, fine.”

John drank the champagne that was in his glass. His throat felt heavy.

Immediately afterwards, John got up from his seat and hugged Francia.

“What…!”

Francia was slightly surprised by his sudden behavior, but soon buried her face in his chest and blushed.

“Let’s have fun today, just like Francia wants.”

* * *

Sunlight streaming in through the window illuminated his face. John opened his eyes and slowly sat up.

‘Yesterday…was a little too much.’

John exhaled softly. The fatigue from the night before weighed heavily on his entire body.

I had no strength. My back was sore from Francia’s scratching all night, and even though I had a good night’s sleep, I still felt tired.

“Ugh…”

Next to her, naked Francia was sleeping, breathing deeply, her obsidian hair scattered across the pillow.

She also had used up a lot of energy and was unable to wake up until this time.

However, her skin strangely became shiny. Should I say her complexion improved?

‘I’m sure you’re sucking up my energy.’

Every time we have sex, I feel that Francia’s sexual desire grows stronger as the days go by. Should I say that she keeps biting and hanging on…

Of course, I never lost to her physically since I usually train hard, but sometimes it’s scary.

“Hoo…”

John carefully got out of bed so as not to wake her from her deep sleep.

I moistened my throat with the water on the table and looked into the mercury-lined mirror.

‘…You’ve done a lot.’

Her neck and chest were covered in red marks. They were bite marks left by Francia overnight, a sort of mark.

Johan burst into a small laugh, then went into the bathroom, washed himself lightly, and came out. He sat at the table wearing a pure white robe.

I planned to take my time and spend some quiet time until Francia woke up.

‘…Now that I think about it, it seems like it’s been a long time since I’ve had this much free time.’

John sank deeper into his chair, his body relaxed and relaxed. He had not had any time to rest recently.

The civil servant’s work is also considerable, including fighting a war with the Sanburgs, repairing the rift in the cave, and meeting with the Emperor…

I felt like a lot had happened in a short period of time.

At that time.

Knock knock. Someone is knocking on the door.

-Your Majesty, Count Lahart. There is something I need to confirm with you urgently.

It was the voice of the head butler who was in charge of the Hwangdo Perbache Mansion. Johan tilted his head. Normally, he would have sent another servant, but it was unusual for him to come in person.

“… … .”

I was about to unconsciously tell her to come in, but then I remembered Francia’s naked body lying on the bed and quickly changed my mind.

“I’m going out.”

When John opened the door, the butler was waiting there, his face muscles tense. Even though it was winter, there were tiny beads of sweat on his face.

The tension was palpable. Realizing that something was wrong, John narrowed his eyes and asked.

“…What’s going on?”

“This…”

The butler carefully handed me a newspaper.

“This is…”

As soon as I read the first paragraph of the newspaper, my fingers unconsciously tightened. The sound of the paper lightly crumpling echoed in the quiet room.

[The hero who closed the cave, Count Lahart and Princess Lariana’s marriage proposal?!]

[The marriage between Count Lahart and Princess Lariana was planned long ago!]

…

…

…

The newspaper articles were full of news that Count Lahart and Princess Lariana were negotiating a marriage, and that the engagement was just around the corner.

‘…indeed.’

It’s obvious that she’ll refuse, but you can’t force her, so are you going to resort to trickery like this?

‘This is a one-time thing, so I guess I should accept it.’

John quietly folded the newspaper to one side. His expression was calmer than ever, but his heart was cold and hard.

Imperial family.

The absolute authority of the Imperial Logino.

But they don’t know.

The fact that they are extremely arrogant.