We talked about mundane things as we laid together in my bed. We talked about what we ate, what happened during teatimes, and so on.
Finally, we returned to the subject of Lisbeth.
Lucretius asked, “I didn’t get to see too closely, but she seemed like she wanted to kill you. Is she going to be dangerous?”
I answered easily, “That’s what I want, so it’s okay. She needs to genuinely hate me so that the dowager empress becomes interested in her.”
“What if she does something stupid even before the dowager empress approaches her?”
“I will get rid of her if that happens. I have other plans too, so even if Lisbeth doesn’t work out, I am not worried.”
Lucretius reminded me.
“I know you are already aware of this, but it is always dangerous to keep someone who hates you close. It could get out of hand if the dowager empress really gets to Lisbeth. It could get very dangerous for you.”
I knew what he was trying to say, so I answered in the same serious tone.
“I know, but if I continue to play defensively, I will never be able to get someone like the dowager empress. You know this already. Even if I have proofs and witnesses that Lisbeth was ordered by the dowager empress to kill me, we still wouldn’t be able to dethrone her.”
“… I know.”
Attempting to assassinate me wouldn’t be enough. This was only a small part of the plan. We needed something bigger, like proofs the dowager empress was planning the murder of the emperor or a rebellion against him.
I explained, “So when it looks like the dowager empress is about to use Lisbeth, we will have to be ready for it.”
“Yes. When the times comes… We will have to make it look like the dowager empress was trying to kill me through Lisbeth.”
After a brief silence, I sighed and replied, “… I feel like I am giving up on my morals.”
He laughed quietly.
“I will take care of the details, so let me be the one who feels any guilt. You are only doing what I am asking you to do. Besides, I am the bad guy, remember? I am the one who killed my own father.”
I shook my head in response.
“No, we are accomplices.”
“…”
“So I will not let you take on everything. I can’t blame you for it and pretend I didn’t do anything wrong. I chose to do this. It was me who made my own decisions, whatever I feel is my own burden to carry. Don’t try to take that away from me.”
“…”
***
Lucretius was impressed again. She was willing to accept her guilt as her own. He never imagined her to say something like that.
Lucretius was so used to taking on everything and be alone. No one had offered to be by his side. He started to think that perhaps it really was true that Bina was from a different world.
She was so strong and decent.
Lucretius answered, “… alright.”
“You promise?”
“Alright. Oh, by the way, that girl will have to be monitored closely so we know exactly when and how the dowager empress contacts her.”
Bina nodded.
“I already told Agnes to keep an eye on her.”
Lucretius nodded as well.
“Good. She can be trusted.”
Lucretius hugged Bina tighter and sighed. He continued, “… From now on, let’s not talk about things like this in the bedroom, especially in the bed.”
“Pardon? Why? This is the most private place for us and the best spot to talk about things like this.”
“I just want to feel you close to me. I don’t want to talk about businesses like we are still at work. It’s not romantic at all.”
“…”
Lucretius was serious.
***
He was always serious. He could feel her small body trembling in his tight embrace. He loved it.
The girl he wanted was quick and smart. She always analyzed his words and actions. She calculated his moves and knew his motives before he told her.
Her intelligence made him happy, but the thing he liked the most about her was something else.
“What stupid romance?!”
It was her frank attitude.
No one had ever treated him this casually and coolly. Even the dowager empress never showed her displeasure in front of him this obviously.
He noticed Bina secretly looking at him. When he looked at her, she became startled and turned away quickly. Her beautiful black eyes looked surprised.
She was so adorable.
He knew she was probably trying to escape this situation. She was also trying to figure out what he was thinking about. His wife was always suspicious of him.
It was no wonder she didn’t trust him. Ever since they first met, he made sure he acted callously.
She saw him kill his own father. After they made a deal, he continuously used her. He even poisoned her, which he regretted with all his heart.
In his defense, he was certain she wouldn’t be in any real danger. When she didn’t wake up right away, he felt true fear.
Considering all that happened, it made sense she didn’t trust him. If she did, he would have thought she was an idiot.
By the time he realized his feelings for her, it was too late. She had already formed her opinion of him, and it wasn’t very flattering. She was wary of him and he accepted it.
In a way, this was necessary. To survive in this hellish castle as royalty, she needed to be suspicious of everything and everyone.
If he only thought of Bina as a good empress material and accomplice, he wouldn’t have been concerned at all. Just like he didn’t truly care about Isabella, other than having her as his ally. When she died, he was disappointed, but not sad. In fact, he was thankful for her death as he was able to gain an important ally.
However, it was different with Bina. He wanted different things from her.
He didn’t want her to be just his partner. He wanted to get rid of the wall that stood between them. He wanted HER.
He was so obsessed with this feeling that he even felt less focused on the fight against the dowager empress.
At this moment, the black-haired girl, his wife, was in his arms. She felt warm and real. He felt the urge to take her and make her his, but he stopped himself.
Frankly, he could have her if he wanted. She was in his arms, and tonight could be the night if he wished.
‘No. Not yet.’
This wasn’t a woman who would submit to become his woman by force. She was strong and proud.
If someone like her came to truly love him, he knew it would feel like he won the sun itself. He couldn’t even imagine the joy he would feel.
It had to be her choice. She had to give herself to him, body and soul. Only then would he know she was truly his.
He was a greedy man and he wanted her everything.
He was ready for this hunt. He knew in order to win a cautious prey, a predator had to be patient.
‘I will do everything I can to make you fall for me.’
He knew he first had to make her feel safe around him. That was why he hid his claws and acted childishly in front of her. It was a calculated move.
He insisted again.
“Now, say it.”
She answered awkwardly, “S, say what?”
He laughed quietly. He even made an effort to make his laugh sound innocent and gentle.
“My wife must be developing a hearing problem.”
“Pardon?!”
She sounded truly offended. She was so cute. He grinned and smelled her hair again. A lovely violet scent tickled his nose.
“I told you to call me Luc when we are alone!”
“Uh…”
She knew what he was doing and that was why she hesitated.
She knew he was doing his best to disarm her.
Bina wanted to return to her world, and she knew he could stop her. That was probably the biggest reason why she was always distrustful of him.
What he needed to do was to ask for small things. In return, he would offer her a big reward.
After a few times of gaining big returns for small favors, she would soon feel like she owes him. This was what he wanted. It was a good start.
He needed to make himself familiar to her. Already, she was getting used to his touches and hugs.
Calling by nickname would make them even closer. Lucretius would make himself a part of her and by the time she realized what was happening, it would be too late.
‘It won’t be long.’ He continued to tell himself, ‘Just a little bit longer… Soon, she will be mine.”
He convinced himself.
‘I need to be patient and wait a while longer.’
After his insistence, she finally said it.
“Luc…”
He smiled in satisfaction.
