The Greatest Estate Designer - Chapter 404
Episode 405: Side Story: A Workaholic is Difficult (2)
“Your Majesty, have you ever heard of the term, ‘Role-Playing’?”
Lloyd’s blunt voice rang through the bedroom.
Queen Alicia frowned slightly.
“Role-playing?”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“Hmm. It’s the first time I’ve heard of it.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes. Role-playing. What is it? You’re saying that it will get rid of your drowsiness?”
“It’s a type of play-acting.”
“Play-acting?”
“Yes, Your Majesty. To put it more specifically, it’s a type of play-acting where we switch each other’s social statuses and have a conversation.”
“Wait a minute, then….”
“Yes, it’s just as you’ve guessed.”
“Are you daring to say that I will become you, and you will become me?”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Lloyd answered with his eyes tightly shut.
If it were any other relationship, this proposal would be no different from sentencing himself to death.
Daring to switch statuses with the Queen and play-act.
He could be accused of treason right away.
Or even conspiracy.
He wouldn’t even be able to make excuses.
But he had confidence in himself.
‘Because I have a blessing. The one who bears Magenta Gold.’
Lloyd recalled the power of the blessing he had.
‘I’m the savior of Her Majesty the Queen’s life. Thanks to that, I’ve received absolute trust. My opinions and advice to Her Majesty the Queen generally receive very positive responses. Furthermore, I don’t receive any suspicions of conspiracy or treason from Her Majesty the Queen. That’s why this proposal is possible.’
At the very least, he wouldn’t be accused of conspiracy.
Perhaps he might get hit once or twice.
But he wouldn’t receive any more serious reactions than that.
Lloyd had that much confidence in himself.
Was it thanks to that?
Soon, a welcome message appeared before his eyes.
Ding-dong!
[Your wish has awakened a certain blessing that you possess.]
[The blessing, , begins to exert a strong influence on Queen Alicia.]
The moment that message appeared.
“….Whew, really.”
A dumbfounded smile appeared on Her Majesty the Queen’s face.
At the same time, her non-accusatory accusations pricked at his eardrums.
“Lloyd Frontera. What should I even say? This is the first time I’ve seen someone like you.”
“I, is that so?”
“Of course.”
As if to say, should I hit this guy once?
Or maybe just bite him?
….Her Majesty the Queen looked at him with that kind of gaze and smile and said.
“You want to play a game of switching statuses with me. Who in the world would dare to make such an absurd proposal to me? You are the most courageous man I’ve ever met.”
“I, I am extremely honored.”
“That’s not a compliment.”
“I am truly sorry!”
“That’s not an accusation either.”
“T, then what is it?”
“I’ve also become interested, so I will accept the bet you proposed.”
“Is that true?”
“Would I ever lie?”
“Of course not.”
Lloyd quickly replied.
The Queen’s mind shouldn’t change.
That’s why he had to take advantage of this momentum and press on.
“Then what do you demand as the result of the bet, Your Majesty?”
“A night training session with you.”
“….”
“A training session that is more breathless, fierce, and intense than ever before, where we’re entangled together.”
“….”
“I want a training session that lasts until the morning, where we’re both drenched in sweat and can’t even stand up straight, like a real battle.”
“….”
I have to win this bet, no matter what.
Lloyd already felt like his legs were giving out.
Her Majesty the Queen asked.
“So, you’re betting on role-playing, and I’m betting on training…. What kind of bet should we make?”
“I have something in mind.”
“What is it?”
“Rock, paper, scissors.”
“Hmm, that’s simple and good.”
“I am extremely honored.”
Lloyd bowed deeply.
Fortunately(?), rock, paper, scissors was common in this world as well.
“Then how about a single match?”
“Very well. I agree.”
Her Majesty the Queen rolled up the sleeves of her pajamas.
Lloyd also prepared himself by taking a deep breath.
“Are you ready?”
“Of course.”
“Then…. Rock….”
“Paper….”
Their eyes met.
They shouted at the same time.
“Scissors!”
Bam!
Both of their hands moved without hesitation.
During that time, their eyes flashed several times.
‘You’re…. scissors?’
A strange light appeared in Queen Alicia’s eyes.
She was a super-strong sword master.
The moment she extended her hand.
She swiftly caught Lloyd’s extended hand.
The shape of her gripped hand spreading out.
The changes in her joints, muscles, and tendons.
She caught all of that process.
Thanks to that, she was able to change the shape of her extended hand in a split second.
‘If you do, the burden will be a rock.’
She quickly gripped the hand that was about to throw a fist.
But at that moment, she saw Lloyd’s hand movements change.
Lloyd’s hand, which had only spread two fingers, suddenly tried to spread the rest of his fingers wide open.
‘…As expected.’
Although his realm was lower than hers.
Lloyd Frontera was indeed a Sword Master.
He grasped the movement of her hand as befitting his realm.
Queen Alicia, who sensed that, changed again.
Papapat!
She spread her index finger and middle finger from her clenched fist.
But at that moment.
Lloyd, who had been grasping her movements, shouted inwardly.
‘Instantaneous Prediction!’
Simultaneously with that shout.
Ding-dong!
[Skill-exclusive Option ⑦: Instantaneous Prediction is activated.]
[Under the influence of the power of the Divine Water Summer’s Eye, your body temperature rises by 1℃.]
Hoo-ooh!
In an instant, the Mana Heart was rapidly activated.
The Divine Water Summer’s Eye exerted its power.
She caught a glimpse of the future for 5 seconds.
Lloyd quickly changed the shape of his hand to match that future.
From fist to rock.
From rock to scissors.
Ts-pa-pat!
He mixed in fakes and extended them dazzlingly.
On the other hand, the hand of the queen sister extended towards him……
“……Ugh.”
A moan leaked out from between the queen sister’s pursed lips, who had extended a fist.
Lloyd looked at the queen sister with a triumphant look in his eyes.
“Your Majesty extended a fist, and I extended scissors.”
“T, that’s right.”
“Therefore, I won the bet.”
“……I acknowledge it.”
Was she regretting not being able to do the night sparring?
The queen sister clicked her tongue reluctantly.
Lloyd shrugged his shoulders smugly.
‘Whew, thank goodness. I won.’
It was the first time he had used the Divine Water of Summer.
He had heard that he could see the future for 5 seconds.
He wondered how effective it would be.
‘It’s pretty good when I actually use it.’
It was indeed very effective.
Thanks to that, he was able to anticipate all the shapes of the queen sister’s extended hand as she changed them.
He mixed in fakes to match that and extended scissors, and he won.
‘I could have used the Attack Design Option to win more decisively, but that would have been a giveaway.’
He could have forced the queen sister to extend the shape of her hand with the Attack Design Option.
However, the queen sister was a very strong Sword Master.
Even if it was for a very short moment when she extended her hand.
She would have felt a sense of discomfort at her movements being forced for a moment.
So he used Instantaneous Prediction instead of Attack Design.
“Then, I will now begin the night game I proposed.”
“If so…… Until when?”
“Look, can you see the star outside the window?”
Lloyd pointed outside the bedroom window.
The queen sister focused on the horizon that was submerged in darkness.
“By any chance, the constellation of the juggler?”
“That’s right, Your Majesty.”
Lloyd continued speaking.
“I understand that the constellation of the juggler during this season only rises near the horizon for about 15 minutes around midnight and then quickly disappears. However, since that constellation just rose…… .”
“You want to play the night game for 15 minutes until that constellation disappears. Is that right?”
“That’s right. Then…… Let’s begin.”
“Hmm?”
The moment Queen Alicia blinked her eyes in surprise.
Lloyd’s attitude and atmosphere changed drastically and shamelessly.
“You, Alicia Termina Majentano.”
“……What?”
“What is what. Don’t you understand the situation right now?”
“…….”
“What are we doing now? Are we not having a sacred and solemn night game?”
“…….”
“But why do you dare not show me the proper etiquette, not knowing the situation and your place?”
“……T, that.”
“That?”
“Indeed…… I apologize.”
Queen Alicia’s face turned bright red.
She never thought she would experience something like this.
No, the night game she had been talking about playfully.
She never dreamed that it would actually be this serious!
‘What is this?’
She was bowing her head to Lloyd Frontera and showing him respect.
‘It was a good thing that I had the guards stand far away from the bedroom, just in case.’
She inwardly sighed with relief.
She and Lloyd were both Swordmasters.
She didn’t think there was any need for an escort in this place where there were two Swordmasters.
More than anything, she was uncomfortable with the thought of someone listening to their conversation all night.
So she had the guards stand far away.
It was a godsend.
What if the guards had heard this conversation?
Just imagining it made her dizzy.
However, separate from the dizziness that she was swallowing down,
Lloyd was using even more dizzying rhetoric indiscriminately.
“Hmm. Are you sorry? For what?”
“That’s…”
“That’s?”
“I don’t know.”
She really didn’t know.
Why was she giving such an answer to Lloyd Frontera?
How had this situation come about?
She really didn’t have a clue.
It was ridiculous.
And absurd.
But Lloyd Frontera was beaming with a happy, mischievous smile as if he were enjoying this situation.
“Tsk. You don’t know and your royal life is over?”
“……”
“And besides. Alicia Termina Magenta.”
“Yes, Your Ma… no, please speak.”
“Are you that good at your job?”
“Yes?”
“I asked if you’re that good at your job.”
“……Ah, yes.”
Queen Alicia answered, suppressing the urge to hit Lloyd.
“I am good at it.”
“Good? How good?”
“Very good.”
“Even more than yourself?”
“……Yes?”
What did this question mean?
She raised her head in surprise.
She looked at Lloyd.
But Lloyd’s eyes were…
‘Serious?’
This was a strange situation.
He said he wanted to do something during the night,
He dared to act so subservient to her.
Now he was asking her meaningful questions with a serious look in his eyes.
“……”
What is this guy, really?
She felt a strange feeling and answered honestly.
“Of course, even more than myself, my work…”
“It would be difficult if you were good.”
“Yes?”
“Not me.”
“……”
“I prefer you to my work.”
“……Yes?”
“No matter how important or urgent the affairs of state are, you are much better and more precious. Ah, just in case, I’m saying this, I mean your position, your existence, and your role are good and precious.”
“……”
“Aren’t you the queen? Of course, I know that the work and responsibilities of the queen are important. But shouldn’t that be said when the queen herself is healthy?”
“That’s…”
“What if you lose one arm by pushing yourself so hard? What if you lose your health? What if you become unable to work as hard as you do now?”
“……”
“If you think about it, isn’t that irresponsible behavior as a queen?”
“……”
“Right? Please don’t do that. Let’s reduce your schedule a bit and focus on training. You’re ignoring my opinion. If you think about it, you’re neglecting your responsibility to take care of your own health. Isn’t that right?”
“That…”
“Your Majesty.”
“Is this why you suggested the night?”
“Of course.”
Lloyd replied calmly.
Queen Alicia felt as if she had been hit by a hammer.
Lloyd continued.
“Then why would I have made such a useless and dangerous suggestion to you? Think about it. If I didn’t do this, would you have listened to me properly? Huh?”
“But…”
“Even though I begged you so much this morning, you didn’t listen to me. It’s okay. You told me to figure out a way. You said that work comes first. Didn’t you answer like that?”
“……”
“That’s why. This is the only way you’ll listen to me, even if it’s night. You’re more important than work, more important than the affairs of state. Your existence is the most precious and urgent thing right now. Won’t you understand my feelings a little bit?”
“……”
“That’s what I’m saying. Please, please listen to me. Why don’t you leave the affairs of state to your subordinates for just two months and take care of your health first?”
“But if I neglect the affairs of state for two months…”
“Of course, the affairs of state will be more difficult than they are now. I know that too. But it will only be a little bit more difficult. We can fix that, can’t we? But what if your arm becomes paralyzed? What if you can’t use your arm? That’s the end. There’s no way to fix it. There’s no way to turn it back. Is that okay?”
“……”
“I really, really hate that.”
“……”
“If you become like that, I’m going to be really, really sad.”
“……”
Queen Alicia felt a strange feeling.
Lloyd Frontera’s gaze met hers.
It was filled with sincerity.
That’s why it was even more disconcerting.
She replied with a dumbfounded expression.
“Hmm, I see. So that was your true intention.”
“……What?”
“Lloyd Frontera, I understand your true intentions. So, how about we look out the window for a moment?”
“Huh?”
Lloyd turned his head quickly.
He looked out the window where his royal sister was pointing.
The constellation of the fool…… had already disappeared below the horizon.
He could hear his royal sister’s satisfied voice.
“Yatatime is over.”
‘Already?’
Why was the 15 minutes so short?
There were still so many things he wanted to say.
There were still stories he wanted to tell.
He hadn’t said everything he wanted to say.
That’s why he was getting anxious.
‘Did she understand my true feelings?’
He had used Yatatime as an excuse to be honest.
But he wasn’t sure if the feelings in those words had been properly conveyed.
‘Please.’
I hope my royal sister understands my feelings.
I hope she will postpone the schedule for two months and focus on the joint training.
He looked at his royal sister, hoping and hoping.
But his royal sister’s reaction was…
“Very well. Lloyd Frontera.”
“Yes?”
“I would like you to lie down on the floor for a moment.”
“Yes?”
“With your hands on the floor. Legs extended. Lie down. Didn’t you hear me?”
“Yes?”
“……”
“I will do as you command.”
He quickly prostrated himself.
He could feel his royal sister’s presence approaching, somehow sinister.
Soon, she was sitting on his back!
“……Heavy?”
“Is it difficult? Just bearing the weight of my body?”
“No, it is not.”
Of course not.
He was also a Swordmaster.
Lying down on the ground with his hands on the ground, he didn’t feel burdened by the weight of his royal sister on his back.
But why was his royal sister’s voice getting more and more cheerful?
“First of all, I understand your feelings. I would like to thank you.”
“Your kindness is… immense.”
“Is that so? Then shall we start with push-ups?”
“Yes?”
“I would like to propose a bet.”
“A bet, you say…?”
“Didn’t you say that I was more important than your work? That you felt the same way. So, I would like to confirm the truth of your words.”
“……”
“I would like to see if you can continue doing push-ups while carrying the weight of my precious body.”
“H, how many should I do?”
“Until morning.”
“……Yes?”
“Until morning. Keep going.”
“……”
“Is it difficult?”
“T, that is…”
“Speak.”
“Your Highness, if I do push-ups with you on my back until morning… is there something in it for me?”
“Of course there is.”
“What is it?”
“I will listen carefully to your advice for two months.”
“The joint training, you mean?”
“Yes.”
“……”
“But have you not started your push-ups yet?”
“……One million twenty-one! One million twenty-two!”
“Ugh. Start over.”
“……One! Two!”
Lloyd began doing push-ups with all his might, with all his heart, with all his desire.
And he wondered to himself.
‘Is this just an excuse to check my sincerity?’
It seemed that way.
No matter how he looked at it, it seemed like revenge for Yatatime.
But no matter how he thought about it, there was no way to resist!
‘……Ugh.’
Lloyd continued to do push-ups, his eyes reddening.
Literally all night long.
Until dawn.
He felt his chest, shoulders, and biceps getting cold.
And so, he spent the night carrying the weight of his royal sister on his back.
He muttered resentful complaints to himself.
‘Ugh, whew, whoa. Whoever ends up with her… the guy who marries my sister later is really going to be pitiful!’