Once the audience with the emperor ended, I left the throne room and went towards Lilia's chambers.
In the way, I could not help but put on a pensive expression.
The request of the emperor passed through my mind once more.
I must admit that his plot was very well-thought. Forcing Dina to marry will not only cut off Dina's hopes for the throne, but it will also provoke me.
The emperor knows how good my relationship with Dina is. Although he doesn't know about our forbidden love, he knows we are very close.
Thus, in normal circumstances, once I learn about Dina's situation, I'll do everything in my power to stop it, no matter the consequences.
That is the emperor's aim.
After all, the current me has direct orders to go to the frontlines. If I return to the capital at this moment, it means going directly against the emperor.
Such a crime can be big or small according to the emperor's intentions, but knowing him, he most likely will use that as an excuse to kill me, or at very least, imprison me.
If I'm not wrong, the emperor will find a way to leak the news about Dina's marriage to me. He would be more than happy if I bite the bait and return to the capital to try to help Dina.
As for the reason he asked 'Clark' to apprehend Claus if he sees him, it's probably to prepare in the case I find a way to sneak to Dina's side without him noticing.
After all, it's common knowledge I have a fifteenth-layer powerhouse as a teacher. The emperor does not know what kind of tricks someone that powerful can have under her sleeve.
Is it the trap that the emperor prepared for me this time?
Pretty good. Unfortunately for him, I'm Clark, and Clark is me.
Since the start, the one marrying Dina is me. Why should I stop the marriage?
If it's everything the emperor prepared against me this time, then I can only say it's a disappointment.
When I arrived outside the empress's chambers, someone was waiting for me there. It was Hope.
Hope's eyes lit up when she saw me, however, she stopped herself from showing too much intimacy in fear of raising suspicions.
"Follow me, I'll take you with the empress." She said curtly and led me to the empress's room.
I smiled softly as I watched her beautiful brown hair falling on her back. For an instant, I had an urge to hug her.
"… You are very beautiful today, Hope."
Hope blushed slightly. She shot me an angry look and scolded me softly.
"Not here. Someone could hear us!"
"Okay okay. Don't worry, I'll find a way to meet you later."
Hope hummed softly, showing her affirmation. She then proceeded to ignore me and led me to the empress's room.
When I entered the room, Lilia was seated on her bed with a kimono-like dress covering her body.
Her second personal servant was standing behind her with a respectful expression. She stared at me fixedly since the moment I entered the room, as though wary of my presence.
I guess her name was Lotus, right?
The empress looked at me with a smile before speaking to her servants.
"Hope, Lotus, leave us alone."
The two personal servants were startled.
"Your Majesty, this is not appropriate, right?" Lotus said carefully. "Mr. Clark is a man after all."
Lilia snorted. "Lotus, are you insinuating we will do something wrong here!? Who do you think I am!?"
"N-No, no, Your Majesty. I-It's just that if word of it reaches the emperor's ear, it will be bad for you."
"And? Do you plan to tell him?"
"O-Of course not! J-Just…"
"Then, as long as you two don't say anything, he won't learn about it." The empress said coldly. "Don't worry, I'm not so idiot as to betray my husband, much less in the palace. The reason I want to be alone with Mr. Clark is that there some things nobody else can hear. Do you understand? Now, leave us."
"… Yes, your majesty." Lotus reluctantly nodded and left, but not without shooting me a sharp glare before.
As for Hope, she stared at me with a smile before bowing slightly.
"I will be outside in case you need something, Your Majesty."
"Mm. If someone asks for me, tell them I'm busy."
"Understood."
With another bow, Hope left the room and closed the door behind her.
As soon as she left, the empress smiled playfully and waved her hand, casting a silence spell around the room.
"Now nobody will be able to hear what happens here."
I put on an amused smile and shook my head.
"I never thought you would be so bold, Your Majesty."
"Hmph! Who do you think is at fault? To think you ended becoming that girl's fiancée!"
I could feel the jealously and dissatisfaction on the empress's voice. It was so thick that it seemed as though she wanted to strangle Dina right now.
However, she quickly took a deep breath to calm down and smiled at me.
"Let's not talk about that now. I helped you as you asked me. How are you going to compensate me?"
"What do you wish, your majesty?"
The empress smiled seductively and stood up from the bed. Then, she slowly slid down her kimono, revealing her naked body below.
"You know, I wonder how it feels to cheat on my husband inside his own home."
This woman, to think she was naked below her dress…
So daring. If her personal servants noticed it, she would have been in trouble.
However, she did not seem to care about that. As soon as her clothes fell on the ground, she jumped towards me.
She hugged me like an octopus, with her legs wrapped around my waist and her arms around my neck. Then, her mouth searched for mine as we shared a passionate kiss.
In this situation, I did what any man would do in my position.
Holding them empress's body tightly, I pressed her against the bed and started to caress her beautiful skin.
My hands roamed through her body, stroking her two towering mountains and caressing her nape. I then pinched her nipples softly, making the empress gasp.
After our kiss ended, I moved my mouth towards her neck and nape, kissing and licking her skin as the empress groaned and twisted her body below me.
Meanwhile, her hands moved through my clothes, helping me to remove them with a smile of anticipation.
In just an instant, the entire room was wrapped in a passionate atmosphere.