When I slowly opened my eyes, I saw the familiar ceiling as always. What happened?
Hereis had been precariously on the verge of collapse, and had entered my dream to consume life energy. And I think the background had just changed, but I couldn’t remember well. Seeing how hazy it was, did I just have a regular dream?
As I swept my disheveled hair behind my ear, soft petals touched my hand. The Prolain flower was still pinned there. I definitely remembered seeing the flower that had fallen on the bed, but was that a dream too?
I turned my head. Hereis was gazing at me with calm eyes.
If I’d had an erotic dream, he would have wiped my sweat and handed me a glass of water as soon as I woke up, checking my condition. Thinking it must have been just a regular dream after all, I looked at Hereis, and a smile naturally formed on my lips.
“It wasn’t a dream. Well, it was a dream, but.”
“…Do you remember?”
“No. But your dark circles have disappeared. Your handsome facial lines have come back to life too.”
“……”
The dark circles had disappeared and vitality circulated in his haggard face. He’d gained a little weight, and his facial lines had returned. It was like he’d returned to when we first met. I was so happy that I unconsciously reached toward his face, then hastily pulled back.
“Did you eat well?”
“…Yes.”
“I’m glad. Hehe.”
I grinned bashfully, but Hereis’s face stiffened instead.
“Harry, did something happen in the dream?”
“…No. Nothing happened.”
Really? Since he had a history of lying that receiving life energy once a week was enough for my sake, I couldn’t trust him.
“But why can’t I remember? Erotic dreams are vivid, right? Is it because it’s a lucid dream?”
“…It’s because my control is still immature.”
The more he spoke, the darker Hereis’s expression became. Was he blaming himself because the dream disappeared? I thought memories remained because of the special nature of erotic dreams, but Hereis had deliberately taken care of it.
“It’s okay. It doesn’t matter if I can’t remember. No, please make it so I can’t remember. Honestly, I feel a bit embarrassed after having erotic dreams.”
“…I.”
Hereis’s voice burst out abruptly.
“Yes?”
“Are you erasing the dream thinking I might secretly do something?”
“Harry would never do anything bad to me. I trust Harry.”
I held his hand. But Hereis coldly pushed my hand away.
“Harry…?”
“I won’t make you have lucid dreams anymore.”
“It’s okay. You can consume however is comfortable for you.”
I don’t know what happened in the dream. I only guess that he consumed enough life energy, seeing that Hereis’s face has returned.
But probably nothing serious happened. Either I asked him to do it myself, or he performed oral. Since Incubi need to consume semen or love fluids. He must have asked my permission. He’s not the type to be forceful and has no reason to be.
As I imagined what might have happened in the dream, Hereis continued.
“I’ll leave everything to the Young Master like before and make you remember everything. I’ll embarrass you and tease you about it forever.”
It was a cute threat for a demon. He seemed quite sulky about something, but I wasn’t scared at all. And I felt relieved. While trusting Hereis, there had been lingering anxiety at the base about what he might have done, but seeing a threat at the level Forti would make, I was certain nothing had happened.
“Wow, you’re really scary. You’re getting revenge because I starved you, aren’t you?”
“Yes. I will get revenge.”
Hereis extended the hand holding a handkerchief and belatedly wiped my forehead. His words and actions were completely different. How could this be scary?
Then Raki carefully knocked on the door and said in a low voice.
“Sir Harry, someone has come from the Crown Prince’s Palace. Please wake the young master.”
“Understood.”
I looked at the clock. It was already 4 PM. But it was early for consummating.
Moreover, this was an important time to bring down Grand Duke Curtis. It was an opportunity barely regained after being complacent about dealing a blow to Grand Duke Curtis and the Third Prince’s faction, then suffering a counterattack and grinding their teeth in regret. Eldon must be incredibly busy right now. He wouldn’t call during prime working hours.
Since it’s the imperial family’s official consummation night, it must take preparation time. Or maybe he heard I scolded Seha and is furiously summoning me.
Either way, I have to go.
“Huuk…”
As I tried to get off the bed, hot energy rose and fluid flowed from behind. Moreover, my pants were damply soaked with semen and love fluid. It was an undeniable signal of a heat cycle.
Should I shower and change clothes? But it seemed useless. Even if I put on new clothes, they’d just get wet again on the way to the Crown Prince’s Palace.
Wait, now wasn’t the time to worry about clothing.
Rosenthal and Eldon succeed in pregnancy from a single encounter. I’m a dominant omega and he’s a dominant alpha. On top of that, it’s during my heat cycle, so I might really get pregnant.
“I have something to tell the Young Master….”
“Harry, can I speak first before that? It’s urgent.”
“Yes, please speak.”
“Um, could you possibly get me contraceptives right now?”
“…What?”
Hereis’s pupils dilated greatly. Of course he’d be surprised when someone about to have their wedding night suddenly asks for contraceptives.
“Please. I want to enjoy my honeymoon. So I’m planning to have children several years later.”
Is that too modern an excuse? While inwardly pounding the ground, lamenting my disastrous imagination, it was too late to regret now.
“…Understood.”
But Hereis didn’t send a suspicious look or press for reasons, and immediately disappeared. And in less than 5 minutes he reappeared and handed me a small bottle. Inside the bottle were small, round brown pills.
“If you take one pill, pregnancy will be impossible for one month.”
He didn’t seem to have gotten it newly for me, but had it originally. Truly befitting the ruler of darkness.
“Thank you.”
I took out one small brown pill and put it in my mouth. Hereis immediately brought water. The small pill went down my esophagus with the water.
Since they called me early, there must be a long preparation time too. They’ll bathe me again and change my clothes. The original Rosenthal also waited for Eldon on the wedding night wearing nightclothes embroidered with the imperial crest. Or maybe I’ll just come back.
I did only minimal grooming and walked toward the door.
“Ah, what did you want to say?”
“…Don’t overdo it.”
Hereis gave a caring smile and adjusted my collar once more.
“Thank you.”
I don’t know what will unfold tonight. I gambled by provoking Seha, and what remains is Eldon’s choice.
“Harry, I’ll be back.”
“Please return safely.”
He bowed his head politely and saw me off.
***
I headed to the Crown Prince’s Palace. The head steward guided me to the exclusive reception room for the Crown Princess on the second floor. It was a place used when the Crown Princess invited guests or held tea parties, but I had never used it even once.
As I sat on the sofa decorated with splendid silk, Head Steward Bill explained the Crown Princess’s wedding night ceremony in a businesslike tone.
“You must go to the White Robe Hall in the Inner Palace.”
“The White Robe Hall?”
“Yes.”
The head steward continued his explanation.
The White Robe Hall was a sacred place permitted only to the Empress and Crown Princess.
The one to become the official consort goes there, undresses, and is checked for whether they possess weapons, poison, or other tools to assassinate the Crown Prince. Then they purify their body through bathing and undergo a full examination.
“Examination?”
“To confirm whether you have a pure body befitting the Crown Princess.”
I flinched. Mentally I’m a virgin, but Rosenthal’s body is as far from the word pure as heaven from earth.
The head steward saw my reaction, frowned slightly at the corners of his eyes, and added.
“To confirm you haven’t conceived another’s seed.”
Ah, that’s what it is. Well, if they were checking for virginity, there wouldn’t have been marriage talks with Rosenthal in the first place.
The head steward looked at me relaxing and wrinkled his brow even more openly, then managed his expression again and continued explaining.
If the examination passes, you return to the Crown Prince’s Palace. Then you spend the wedding night in the Crown Princess’s bedroom.
It was a simpler procedure than expected.
After hearing the explanation and going outside, a pure white carriage with Leon and Silang were waiting. I got into the carriage with the two men.
As awkward air settled inside the carriage, Leon spoke first.
“Did you receive an explanation about the wedding night?”
“Yes. I heard.”
“If it’s discovered you’ve conceived another’s seed, not only the Young Master but your family could face annihilation.”
Leon spoke in a courteous yet chilling tone.
It openly revealed his inner thoughts: ‘I don’t know what tricks you used to seduce our Highness, but things will absolutely not go the way you want.’
In the original work, even when Seha showed small considerations, Leon would praise him endlessly and was a reliable supporter who cherished and supported Seha second only to Eldon, but from Rosenthal’s perspective, he’s utterly detestable.
“I see.”
Silence.
I spoke indifferently and looked at the window. But I couldn’t see anything. Because they’d thoroughly blocked where the window should have been. Probably to hide the appearance of the bride preparing for her wedding night. A strangely conservative world.
“But why have Lord Leon and Lord Silang come along?”
“To supervise whether the wedding night ceremony is properly conducted.”
“Supervise?”
“Yes.”
“…So you’re saying you’ll watch?”
“Yes.”
“You’ll watch me bathe and undergo examination?”
“Yes.”
I asked repeatedly in bewilderment, but Leon answered without wavering. Seeing that Silang also remained silent, it must really be true.
Whether my shocked feelings were transmitted to the other party, Leon’s face contorted.
“To confirm the examination is properly conducted, and whether you’re using tricks or bribing the physician to insult the imperial family. Please refrain from unnecessary misunderstandings.”
