If You Take the Enemy Prince as Your Knight

The well-defined lips of the handsome man barely managed to suppress a sigh. He tried reasoning with her one last time.

“Her Highness intends to heal my mana core.”

“One can never predict what will happen in life.”

Of course, that didn’t work.

“Especially given how much care Her Highness has shown toward Sir Regen. I hate to admit it, but it’s not entirely impossible. As her loyal servant, I am simply ensuring that you are fully prepared. It’s always best to be ready for any situation.”

“…I can’t tell if you’re just thorough or if you completely misunderstand your mistress.”

Regen felt like laughing in disbelief. Wasn’t this the same princess who had chosen him as her knight because he resembled her deceased older brother? The line between them was crystal clear.

A maid so devoted and steadfast in her loyalty would be difficult to reason with. He figured it might be better to talk to Hamel instead.

“Where is Lady Hamel? Why is Lady Demia handling this?”

“Lady Hamel has only ever assisted our lovely, graceful, and elegant princess. She’s not suited for such rough tasks. Since I grew up with three unruly older brothers and have seen all sorts of filth, this job is better suited to me.”

“…”

If even Hamel had been in on this, then there would have been no escape. He quietly made his way to the bathroom, blocking Demia from following him inside.

“I can manage alone.”

“Really? You’re more capable than my half-witted brothers. Not a single one of the three is useful—”

“Didn’t you receive a vow of silence? If I recall, it was supposed to last until tomorrow evening.”

“I was pardoned!”

For a brief moment, Regen almost resented Sasha. Because of Demia, he had to soak in the bath far longer than he would have liked until she deemed it sufficient.

With the bathwater full of flower petals, he felt oddly like a favored concubine. It was uncomfortable, but the warm soak relieved his fatigue, so it wasn’t all bad.

By the time his skin carried the full scent of the bath oils, Regen finally stepped out. After drying off, he donned a men’s nightgown and exited the bathroom—only for Demia to immediately start nagging again.

“If you are to receive Her Highness’s favor, consider it an honor for your family. And if not, do not be too disappointed.”

“…”

“Most importantly, conduct yourself properly so as not to bring disgrace upon Her Highness…”

This palace was truly insane.

Before entering the princess’s chambers, Regen briefly glanced at his reflection in a nearby mirror. His hair, once as black as a raven’s feathers, was now completely white, even his eyebrows. He wasn’t sure whether it was due to the trauma he had endured or the aftereffects of his shattered mana core. The silver-haired man staring back at him felt like a stranger. Perhaps that unfamiliarity was why he had survived.

Regen knocked lightly on the bedroom door. “Your Highness, it is Regen.”

“Come in.”

Sasha was seated on a couch by the large bay window. She was focused on paperwork, seemingly absorbed in official duties.

“Wait for me on the bed for a moment.”

“…The bed, you say?”

Even without Demia’s persistent words, that was an oddly suggestive instruction. Regen, honestly, felt a bit tense.

“Is something wrong…? Also, what are you wearing?” Now, finally looking up properly, Sasha was so startled that she dropped her papers.

“Lady Demia insisted on being prepared for all situations.”

“…Haa.”

A deep sigh from Sasha said it all. Regen realized he had tensed up for no reason.

“Demia, really.”

Though the troublesome young maid seemed to be a source of many headaches, Sasha’s voice carried undeniable affection.

While she rubbed her face in mild embarrassment, Regen fastened the front of his nightgown more securely.

“My apologies. I apologize on her behalf.”

“I know it wasn’t Your Highness’s intention.”

“…”

For some reason, Sasha simply sighed again instead of responding.

✦

It wasn’t Demia’s fault. If anyone was to blame, it was the mad emperor.

As they say, the water at the top must be clean for the water below to be clean. And who sat at the top? A man who locked away a thousand concubines in the harem and plucked them like flowers whenever he pleased. To suit the emperor’s decadent tastes, even high society in the palace had become excessively lewd. The palace’s moral discipline had deteriorated long ago.

I lowered the hand that had been covering my face. Normally, Regen’s body was concealed under layers of stiff, disciplined uniforms. But now, he wore only a silky, flowing nightgown that glistened under the light. Through the wide opening of the robe, his chest was fully exposed. The muscles, the sharp bone structure—every visible part of him was undeniably masculine, yet strangely sensual.

At that moment, the mad emperor’s words echoed in my mind.

“You may keep them as playthings to warm your bed.”

“Sasha?”

I needed to act quickly.

“Go sit on the bed.”

My voice came out lower than usual, which startled me, but Regen didn’t seem puzzled and followed the instructions. As soon as he sat on the bed, I pulled the curtain shut, blocking him from view. Now, only his silhouette remained visible.

“This is better.”

Better for me. If I kept looking, I would end up tracing his body with my eyes. And if that were all, it would be fine. But if my hidden desires slipped out and I unconsciously used my power to captivate him, things would spiral out of control. I had never done anything so vulgar before, but I carried the mad emperor’s blood. That’s why I had to be cautious.

I pulled a stool over and sat down, offering an explanation. “Let me be clear. I called you to my chamber, but there is no other meaning to it. Healing requires both of us to be completely defenseless, so I chose the safest time and place.”

“I trust you, Sasha.”

That trust was too much for someone like me. I should lower his expectations and disappoint him a little.

“I have a confession, Sir Regen.”

“Go ahead.”

“I have never healed a mana core before.”

After all, he was my first direct knight. The fifth level of dominion—mana core restoration—was only possible with an imprinted knight.

“Then why did you claim you could heal me?”

“You can gauge an opponent’s skill before fighting them, can’t you? I figured that since I’m as strong as the emperor, I should be able to do what he can do.”

“Are you saying you saw the mad emperor performing the restoration and thought, ‘I should be able to do that too’?”

“Yes.”

“…I feel like I just heard something extraordinary.”

As he turned his head, the parted curtain left a gap, and our eyes met. I promptly pinched the fabric shut.

“Forget about it. It’s not important.”

“Understood.”

His calm and straightforward response was so like him.

“Do you know how the restoration works?”

“I’ve seen the mad emperor do it. He also explained it to me.”

I had gathered information when he was in a good mood.

“He said when you enter a knight’s mental realm, there will be a single tree. That tree represents the knight’s mana core. The stronger the knight, the larger and healthier the three. You just need to check its condition and treat it.”

“That’s fascinating. How do you enter someone’s mental realm?”

“Through physical contact. The mad emperor would grab the other person’s head with his hand. People around called it a sacred blessing, but to me, it looked violent.”

“I see. Understood.”

Suddenly, a large hand parted the curtain, exposing my view of him. My visual shield was gone, and my heartbeat quickened. Before I could even prepare myself, he knelt before me, one knee to the ground.

“What are you doing?”

“So you can place your hand on my head more easily—”

“I don’t use my hand or your head as the medium.”

“Ah.”

I understood his impatience. It was natural for him to want his mana core healed as soon as possible. So, I made him stand and sit back on the bed while I remained on the stool.

“Then, where do we need to make contact?”

And there it was, the inevitable question.

“Lips.”

“…”

I could see his golden eyes waver in shock and confusion.

“Lips… as in…?”

He needed a more specific answer.

“Whose lips? Your Highness’s? Or mine?”

“…”

“Don’t tell me both…?”

His golden eyes trembled even more violently.