The Eternal Debauchery's

bet

After Louise fell asleep, I stepped across space and took her to her room.

Louise's room was rather childish, a little unexpected from a strong girl like her, but also cute. I smiled gently as I carried her to bed.

After a kiss on her forehead and seeing a smile on her face, I left her room. I want to stay a little longer, but the people in the mansion will probably suspect something if Louise and I go longer than this.

After I left the room, I wandered around the mansion aimlessly. At the same time, I checked some of the documents I saw in the Earl's office and copied them with magic.

But as expected, I was unable to find anything useful in it. Well, the earl looks like a cautious man. He would definitely not allow anything that could be used against him in his office.

As I walked around the mansion, I met Mia again.

“Prince Klaus? I was looking for you. Where is Louise?”

“Oh, mother-in-law. Louise says she's tired, so she goes to rest.”

"Tired? How strange. Louise doesn't usually sleep this fast.”

Almost instantly, Mia froze.

Then, an expression of consciousness appeared on his face.

A second later, he looked at me with a strange expression.

"I wonder what kind of alien physical activity she went through to fall asleep this fast."

I coughed to hide my awkwardness and changed the subject.

“By the way, why are you looking for me?”

“Oh, that's right. Come on, I'll show you your room.”

I nodded and followed behind Mia.

During the trip, Mia was silent. Only when we got to the room did he open his mouth.

“Claus, I'm sorry for my husband's behavior today. Don't worry, even though she's like that, Louise is her daughter. He won't make things difficult for you two.”

I paused for a moment and looked at Mia closely.

Thinking about it, this is a good opportunity to bring Mia to my side.

From what I see from her personality, Mia is not someone who is evil or devious. Instead, he is a good man. To put it well, he was something with great morality and value among the nobles. Frankly, he was a bit naive for the noble position.

So, if I play my cards right, I might be able to get him to take the initiative to come to my side, and my bed, in the near future.

After organizing my thoughts, I opened my mouth.

"Mother-in-law. No, Mia, do you know what the origin of the conflict between your husband and me is?”

Mia opened her mouth to say something, but in the end, she did not say anything.

“Sounds you know.”

Miya smiled bitterly. "It's your throne, right?"

I shook my head. "No, it's my mother."

Mia was surprised, but I continued without caring about it. “There are two main causes behind my mother's death. The first is the emperor. His mistrust, unfounded jealousy, and possessive tendencies led to his mother's death. The second person is the Queen. He used his words to fan the emperor's suspicions and used his power in the palace to suppress my mother as much as he could. Such an act made my mother's life extremely miserable, draining her will to live and eventually killing her."

“But even though the two of them are the main culprits, they are not the only people behind it. Mia, Earl Carson is also related to this, right?”

Mia came in in in a panic. "No! Although my husband is rather ambitious, he has no reason to make your mother in–”

"But he has a reason." I interrupted Mia with an indifferent voice. “Earl Carson is an ambitious man whose goal is to take the Riea family to a higher level. Thus, when the emperor married Lilia, the current empress, he found his chance.

“Utilizing Lilia, and then Alan as crown prince, Earl Carson plans to make the Riea family the strongest family in the empire. After Alan was crowned emperor, Earl Carson would become one of the people closest to the emperor and empress dowager.

“Unfortunately, an obstacle appeared in his plan. That's my mom."

“It is no secret that the emperor loved my mother more than the empress. He's obsessed with her. So, the earl was afraid that once the mother gave birth to a son, the emperor would ignore everything to make him crown prince. So, the earl supported the empress behind the scenes as she began her plan to get rid of my mother. ”

“... This is just your guess. You have no proof that your words are true.” Mia immediately denied it.

I just smiled calmly. "You're right. They are just conjectures. But, why would the earl want to kill me?”

Mia froze before the question.

"W-What are you saying?"

I looked straight into his eyes with a calm look. "I'm asking you, why would the earl want to kill me?"

"Let's be honest." I continued. “There is no reason for the Earl to oppose Louise marrying me. In the end, I am also a prince. My status is more than enough to match her.

“But you saw his reaction today. He obviously hated that possibility. It was because the Earl saw me as a hindrance. The barrier between him and his family's success. In fact, I was one hundred percent sure that the reason Louise approached me the first time was under the earl's orders. Does he want to use Louise to get information about me? Maybe about my master?”

Mia paled.

I smile. "Your reaction tells me I'm right."

“P-Prince, L-Louise loves you. D-Dia ben–”

"I know Louise loves me." I interrupted Mia again. “Don't worry, I'm clear about that. I won't blame Louise for that either. At that time, our position was different. What he did was normal. But-"

I smiled with a naughty look.

I stared at the room in front of me with a relaxed expression. “But back to the topic, the fact that the earl sent Louise back proves that she's been plotting against me for a long time. Actually, the plan to kill me is already underway. The plan even includes taking care of Louise.”

"That's not true!" Mia denied me loudly. "Even if he were like that, he would never do something that hurt his daughter!"

"Do you really believe that?" I asked with a mocking expression. "Mia, do you really think your husband wouldn't sacrifice his daughter if he deemed it necessary?"

“I-That..”

"Then, do you want to bet with me?"

Mia looked at me confused.

“Let's bet on the fact that the earl doesn't dare hurt his daughter. Tomorrow begins the expedition institute. That's when the plan to kill me will begin. So let's bet on the fact that he wouldn't dare risk Louise.”'s life

Mia became pale. The possibility that my words were right frightened him.

"Don't worry." I continued in a relaxed tone. “I know about the plan, so I'll make sure Louise doesn't get hurt whatever she tries. Then, will you bet with me?”

“... Why do you know all this?”

"Well, I have my source." I said with a simple smile.

“.... What will we bet?” After a few seconds of silence, Mia spoke.

I curled my lips upwards. “What do you think of help? If I win, you'll owe me. If you win, I'll owe you. ”

“A favor?” Miya's confused.

"Yes. Don't underestimate it, it can be very useful. For example, if one day your husband loses a power struggle, you can use that help to save his life.”.

“Pe-Battle? Whatchu mean?"

I breathed a desperate sigh. “Think of it, Mia. I even managed to get information about the earl's plan to kill me. How do you think I did it?”

"You ... You have a faction behind you!"

I shook my head. “More precisely, I have a faction under me. This is my preparation when I have to fight against the emperor and empress. ”

Mia became very pale.

The words I just said, are basically betrayal!

“You... K-Why did you tell me something like this? A-Are you not afraid I will tell my husband about it?”

I curled my lips a little.

“I know you won't do it. You are not that kind of person.” I said with full confidence.

Besides, I gave advice in your mind to prevent it, it's just that you didn't notice it.

Miya. A second later, he laughed bitterly.

"Prince Claus, you're so scary."

"Thank you." I bowed with a funny expression. “Unfortunately, some fools can't see it. Then, are you going to bet with me?”

Mia bit her lip. For some reason, he felt he was slowly falling into an extremely sticky net.

But unfortunately, he could not refuse.

After hearing my words, she began to think about the possibility of losing her husband.

Before this, he had never even imagined it. But now, he could not avoid but think, 'what if?'

Even more so when he faced a side of me he had never seen.

In addition, she believes that her husband will not hurt Louise.

“Alright, I agree.”

I smiled like a demon who managed to deceive humans. “Good, Mia. Don't worry, I'm the one who keeps my promise.”

Mia looked at me for a few seconds and sighed. “Please take care of my daughter. It's night, I'll go.”

"Good night." I said.

"… Good night."

After I was sure Mia was gone, I went into my room.

Miya, Mia. Even if your husband didn't plan to hurt Louise, he would definitely choose to hurt her.

I know people like him well. When he has to make his choice, he will choose his ambition over his family.

Lying on my bed, I went deep into thinking about the future.

But tonight is destined to be a busy night.

An hour after the mansion lights were turned off, someone opened my room door.

"… sister-in-law? Are you still awake."