Chapter 3: ② Politics Move at Night, It Seems, But the Palace’s Heartbeat Was “Love”

Celine nodded quietly, her smile never faltering.

“That’s right… My husband is truly the ‘key’ that opens both heart and body. He might just become the one who enriches this country in the truest sense.”

(Wait, what kind of… all-encompassing statement is that!? “The key that opens both heart and body”—isn’t that opening way too much!?)

The mental retort raged through his head, but Celine’s voice remained endlessly calm and gentle. She meant every word. That made it all the more embarrassing.

Come to think of it, he’d heard somewhere that in body language, “crossing your arms means closing off your heart.” So then, if you open your body—maybe that means opening your heart too?

“…Mother, are you truly serious about giving that man this ‘key’ role…?”

Lieselotte asked in a small voice. Without breaking her smile, Celine gave a gentle nod.

“I believe it with all my heart. …The fact that you were drawn to him is proof of that.”

“I-I have not been drawn to him in the slightest!”

Lieselotte’s hands trembled faintly as she gripped the edge of her skirt tightly.

(“Not yet,” she says… That’s totally the kind of thing people say when they’re going to fall for someone eventually…)

“Even if you cannot believe it, you can still face it. What matters is—your resolve.”

“—Her Majesty the Queen Consort makes a valid point.”

(Huh, she does!? Wait, who’s that? You were here this whole time!?)

The voice belonged to one of the Ten Sages. An elderly sage with silver hair tied back in a single bundle, clad in heavy ceremonial robes.

“The fact that the Star Spirit ‘guided’ him—that itself serves as proof of this man’s legitimacy. Regardless of his class or gift, it should no longer be called into question.”

Following the old sage’s words, the Ten Sages emerged one after another. The quiet silence shattered, and waves of debate began to rise.

“Proficiency in nighttime arts is vulgar. Fitting for those of base origin.”

“But if it settles the factional disputes—that’s another story.”

“To entrust the dignity of the harem to a foreign man… utterly preposterous.”

(Whoa, that’s a three-hit combo of treating me like a complete outsider…)

“That said, if it produces results, it doesn’t matter what key unlocks the door.”

“If he has the power to harmonize the harem, whether it’s through ‘night’ or ‘passion’… right?”

(Wait… did that guy just smirk way too much!?)

“Dignity is unnecessary. What matters to us eunuchs is solely the capability to govern the harem. Proper utilization of ‘nighttime arts’ is merely one aid to that end.”

“…No, your explanation’s already made the nighttime stuff the main event.”

“The essence of the harem is ‘one who moves hearts.’ Love and passion are perfectly legitimate political tools, you know?”

(What is this vibe!? Are they seriously telling me to somehow handle inner palace politics through romance and passion!?)

“P-preposterous! That is the height of frivolity! This is a place of politics and propriety—”

“…By the way, if he grows through repetition, we should devise a training regimen.”

“No, that’s still only a hypothesis.”

“Then we should record and observe. In the form of documented reports.”

“A ‘sacred individual,’ is it… Good heavens, the gods have peculiar tastes.”

(Whaaaaat!? Observation!? Reports!? …Hold on, am I in guinea pig territory here!?)

The sages debated over his “nighttime skills,” and the room buzzed with commotion. Whether meant as support or further assault, the words kept flying.

(…This is bad. If I let this flow continue, we’re going to start having “nighttime performance reports”!? Who’s the recorder!? Where do the reports go!? I’m definitely getting submitted in some perverted research document!!)

A chill ran down his spine. Yuuri’s forehead began to bead with sweat, and then—

—Step.

A shadow took a quiet step forward, as if to command the room. Golden hair swaying gracefully. An aura cloaked in stillness. At its center stood Queen Consort Celine.

Endlessly gentle, yet utterly unwavering. With a dignified smile, she spoke.

“…Fufu. With the proper handling of ‘nighttime arts,’ the balance of the harem can be toppled all too easily.”

In that instant—the room froze.

The sages inhaled sharply and fell silent, the air growing taut. No one could respond to the “depth” of those words.

(…She just told me to “master the night,” didn’t she?)

Yet Celine herself wore her smile as if nothing had happened. As though saying, “I’ve merely stated the obvious.”

(Wait, could it be… my favorite character is pushing for me right now!?)

The sages remained silent, and Lieselotte stood frozen, her face flushed to her ears. The earlier commotion felt like a lie as a “strange stillness” filled the space.

Amid it all, Yuuri noticed Lieselotte’s lonely profile. Her gaze rested on Celine, who stood commanding the room with dignity.

(Lieselotte… I want to hold her, but I can’t yet…)

In that atmosphere, someone quietly spoke up.

“As expected of Her Majesty the Queen Consort. You understand this well. Is that why you were so eager to take on the role of ‘instructor’?”

“Not at all. I did so purely out of concern for Lieselotte.”

(Wait, Celia-san was? …No, no, but the Queen being an ‘instructor’ must be metaphorical, right? Probably…)

Lieselotte’s eyes widened in surprise.

“Instructor…? Mother…!? S-so that means… you’d teach nighttime etiquette and such…?”

“Yes, first times are difficult after all. It’s also a mother’s duty to guide properly.”

(“First times are difficult”… which means…)

…A moment of silence settled over the room.

(No, no, no, surely not, right?)

He hadn’t said that out loud. Probably. If he had, it’d be over.

(But wait… so does that actually mean what I think it means!?)

Joy nearly escaped as sound, and Yuuri hurriedly covered his mouth. But that happiness evaporated in an instant.

“In that case, we could provide the education ourselves.”

Smoothly… no, with neither sound nor presence, a voice arrived that pierced the air. One of the Ten Sages—a eunuch wearing round glasses, a man whose voice alone was strangely smooth—spoke quietly.

For a moment, a censorship beep rang through Yuuri’s mind.

(W-wait, wait, wait, wait!? Who!? To whom!? Teaching what!?)

“Hmm, it would be faster if we instilled harem knowledge ourselves, wouldn’t it?”

“Starting with flexibility exercises might be best.”

(Hey, wait, does ‘provide’ mean hands-on instruction!?)

Reflexively, Yuuri covered both his mouth and his rear.

(No way, no no no… right!?)

One of the eunuchs stroked his smooth chin with a not-entirely-displeased smile.

(…Why am I about to get incorporated into the nation’s sex education policy?)

Just imagining it hurt his stomach. Or rather, his soul wanted to flee. But if it was absolutely unavoidable—

(At least… I want my “first time” to be… with Celia-san…!)