Recently, Alicia's focus had narrowed down to a single, singular goal.
"I am the Princess of the Empire. I will not lose!"
That goal was to completely capture the heart of one man. As someone born with the most noble bloodline on this earth, Alicia had never known the sting of wanting something she couldn't have, nor had she ever envied another's possessions. There was no need and no reason. By simply sitting in her palace and breathing, everything she desired usually fell into her lap.
But this one man. Wolfgang von Schwarz was simply too large to be contained within her small palms. Even now, he remained just out of reach.
"Wolfgang von Schwarz."
As she whispered his name, her pale face flushed crimson. Perhaps she had been falling for him since the very first moment. Despite knowing exactly who she was, he had acted according to his own whims, and every seemingly indifferent, trivial action of his had shaken her heart.
After that night—a night that felt like destiny—confusing emotions she couldn't identify began to sprout. It was during their second meeting that she realized their true nature.
'How dare he call the Imperial Princess a bitch. Hmph! If that's the case, then who exactly is my Master?'
By that second meeting, she clearly viewed him as a man. She wanted him to conquer her, body and soul. She loved his scar-covered, menacing face, his massive frame, his broad shoulders, and his unexpectedly gentle personality. Her strange first love had begun.
As they started exchanging letters, her feelings only grew more intense.
"At this point... isn't it safe to say we're practically dating?"
She had sent letters filled with deliberate, scandalous desires, and beamed with joy at his clumsy replies written in rough handwriting. He still seemed to find her presence difficult, which was a bit disappointing, but at least he wasn't pushing her away.
But then, she could no longer just sit and wait.
"I won't let that alley cat swallow my Master whole!"
She had witnessed a disgraceful scene through Snow's eyes: the blue-haired Vice-Commander, abusing her proximity, leaning her "vulgar" body into him. Alicia vividly remembered the expression on that woman's face—a mix of a lady in love and a beast starving for lust.
Alicia felt a visceral sense of crisis. If the competitor had been unremarkable, she might have relaxed, but even Alicia had to admit the Vice-Commander was a very attractive woman.
"The first must be me! That is the law of the Empire and the logic of the world!"
While the Empire permitted polygamy, the position of the First Wife was special. She would not yield it. The woman who received the most love from the Master had to be her.
"Yes! This is it! If I ask for help from that person..."
After brooding in her room, she finally came up with a brilliant plan. Her eyes landed on a book that looked ordinary at first glance: [Madame Noir's Handbook of Romance]. It was a masterpiece of erotic literature that had been circulating among noblewomen for years. The author's identity was a mystery, but she was known to correspond with readers under the veil of anonymity.
Alicia had sent a long letter summarizing her situation, along with a few diamonds as a "token of appreciation." A few days later, a reply arrived.
[To my dear reader, 'Lisha']
The reply contained detailed, kind advice on what to prepare and how to bewitch a man. With the drive of a true Imperial Princess, Alicia moved the plan into action.
And finally, now.
"Hmph! But why did you come home so late? Well, the night is still young, so I suppose it doesn't matter."
She was finally facing him in his own home.
'Wh-what do I do? My mind is going blank!'
A problem had arisen. As Wolfgang's piercing red eyes gazed at her, all the "scandalous" plans she had memorized began to evaporate. But life never goes according to plan. From here on, it was cold, hard reality.
The situation felt surreal.
"Wh-what is it? No answer? Is that how you treat someone you haven't seen in a while?"
"Haaa..."
I didn't have words for the Princess, so I just stared. More accurately, I had too much to say, but I was afraid that if I spoke now, my words would be too harsh. I had to filter them. Her expression and actions were clumsy and awkward, but her radiant beauty turned even that imperfection into a charm. She looked like... a rabbit right before being devoured.
Ignoring the complex emotions for a moment, the biggest question was why the hell she was in my house in the middle of the night.
"Why are you here?"
"T-tonight... I came... to b-become yours..."
Instead of a proper answer, she gave me a nonsensical one. She stammered so much I could barely understand, but the interpretation was...
'Seduction?'
Was the Princess of the Empire actually trying to seduce me right now?
—Boing!
She glanced at me and moved her upper body with an incredibly awkward shiver. It seemed she wasn't wearing underwear; the movement of her ample breasts was visible without any filter. Instead of arousal, I felt a wave of pity. This wasn't a playground. What was she doing?
"W-why are you staring so intently? Is it because I'm just too charming?"
Seeing her continue to spout nonsense instead of answering, my irritation spiked. I wanted to give her a good smack on the backside. For the first time, I snapped at her.
"Princess. I am not in the mood for games. Can you please drop that ridiculous tone and answer my question properly?"
"U-uuuuh..."
Tears began to well up in her eyes. Seeing that, guilt immediately washed over me.
"Don't cry... I'm sorry. I've had a lot of frustrating things happen lately. Please forgive me with your benevolent heart."
"Ugh... I just came because I missed you! Are you happy now? You big jerk!"
I had to surrender as she lunged into my arms, sobbing. Truly, a woman's tears have magical power. I had only been slightly annoyed, and she was the one who broke into my house to do something insane, yet I was the one apologizing.
"Why... it was a perfect plan... hic..."
"Stop crying and speak slowly. I won't scold you."
Unlike usual, I was in a uniform shirt instead of armor. I could feel every soft curve of her body through the thin fabric. Looking closely at her evening dress... the fabric was impossibly thin. In fact, it was so sheer in certain "vital" areas that it failed to function as clothing at all. It was more a scrap of cloth than a dress.
—Throb!
Ironically, her crying in my arms was far more provocative than her clumsy seduction attempt. With my desires already suppressed and near the breaking point, facing a defenseless woman who clearly wouldn't resist if I attacked caused a physical reaction I couldn't hide.
"...A very thick scabbard has been hitting my thigh for a while now. Move it."
"That's not a scabbard."
"Wh-what? Then... don't tell me..."
She pulled away in shock. In the process, the gap in her dress revealed a hint of something pink. So, the stiff sensation I had felt against my chest earlier wasn't a decoration on the dress, but...
"My apologies. I've shown you something unsightly."
"Is that... because of me?"
As she asked with a bright red face, my "anger" down below surged even higher. This was madness. Should I just take her? Looking at that insane outfit, she clearly came here to give herself to me. The thought that the Princess of the Empire had such intentions sent a wave of uncontrollable excitement through me.
"Who else would it be because of?"
"Ah! Th-then it did work! Wait a second!"
She turned her back to me—revealing a sheer, backless view that made me want to trip her onto the rug immediately—and began rummaging through a basket.
"Here, look! Let's have a drink together!"
"Alcohol?"
"Mhm! It's practically medicine made from ingredients that are incredibly good for men. Troll's blood, Mandrake juice... and..."
I couldn't hear a word she was saying anymore. I couldn't take it.
"Ah! What are you doing?"
I snatched the bottle, broke the neck off, took a swig, and pressed my lips against hers.
—Slurp! Gulp, gulp...
"Mph, mmph?!!"
"Stay still."
I swallowed half the liquor and forced the other half into her mouth, making her swallow. Exploring her soft, fragrant lips and tongue, it happened naturally.
"Pha! Cough, cough! Wh-what are you doing?! A f-first kiss should be more romantic—"
"Shut up. Isn't this why you came?"
To me, she was no longer the Princess of the Empire. Look at her. Even though I was speaking to her without honorifics, she didn't seem to mind at all.
"Kyaaa!"
"Don't struggle."
I hoisted Alicia over my shoulder and headed for the bedroom.