The Next Day. Evening.

"Hiro-sama, I’m back! The mission was a success! Praise me……"

Mirai’s joyful voice gradually got softer.

"Oh, good work, Mirai. ……Myla, here open up."

"Aahn."

"What’s going on here?"

I poked a few leaves of salad with a fork and guided it into Myla’s mouth as she rested on my lap.

"What do you want next?"

"I want meat, but my jaw isn’t strong enough to chew yet……"

"What’s going on!?"

I put the meat in my mouth and break it down lightly before transferring it to Myla’s mouth.

"Your mouth got dirty."

"Aau, could you wipe it for me?"

I use my tongue to lick it clean.

"Hey, what’s happening right now!!?"

Mirai roared, while Lucy sighed.

"Myla injured herself protecting me. I’m going to stay with her until she gets better. From helping her eat and take baths to going to the bathroom."

"Don’t say something so embarrassing……"

After taking her to the doctors, they said the medicine helped and that Myla’s life was not in serious danger, however her body would still be numb for a few days and it would interfere with her normal tasks.

It would be fine just assigning Lucy who just arrived from Hyuutia several days ago to take care of her, but that wouldn’t help me get over what happened.

She stepped in to take a hit for me, exposing herself to possibly life-threatening poison.

I’d been beside Myla ever since last night.

I helped her take a bath, washing her entire body, and also lifted her up when she needed to use the bathroom.

Of course, I would continue doing so until she recovered.

"I should have gotten hurt too……"

"Don’t be stupid."

I couldn’t imagine what I would do if Myla was killed.

I’d probably ignore Leonheardt’s warning and have Etienne de Chevin killed.

No, I’d probably march to where he is and do it myself.

"Um, your majesty……sorry, I-"

"Hm? Oh toilet, I’ll take you."

I picked up Myla from her chair and carried her.

"……♪"

"Grrr!"

When Myla’s eyes meet Mirai’s, it caused Mirai to stamp her feet out of frustration.

Did Myla do something? No, she couldn’t have since her body was still numb.

"It turns you on when I watch you do something immoral like urinate. If you want, I can suck it out like I did yesterday."

"It’s embarrassing when you say it! That was a temporary trick of the mind!"

When Myla attempted to struggle with her immovable body, I kissed her, and then heard a manly voice called out behind me.

"Your majesty, come to the office when you’re done."

Oh it’s Leonhardt Strauch, I guessed he came up with a plan.

As I comforted Myla, who turned red when she found out our conversation was heard by another man, I felt my heart fill up with anger.

After helping Myla finish up in the bathroom, I carried her back to her room and laid her down on the bed. I could see the frustration in Mirai's eyes as she watched me tend to Myla's needs.

"Don't worry, Mirai." I said, trying to reassure her. "I'm not going to forget about you. I just need to take care of Myla for a little while."

Mirai nodded, but I could tell she was still upset. Lucy walked over and put her arm around Mirai's shoulder.

"Why don't we all have dinner together?" Lucy who had arrived from Hyuutia several days ago, suggested. "I'll prepare something special for Myla since she couldn't eat solid food yet."

I agreed, and we all sat down at the table together. Myla was still a little embarrassed about the conversation we had earlier, but she seemed to be feeling better.

As we ate, Leonhardt Strauch walked into the room. "I've come up with a plan," he said. 

"But it's not going to be easy."

I leaned forward, eager to hear what he had to say. "What is it?"

"We need to find a way to get close to Etienne de Chevin." he explained. 

"But he's surrounded by his guards at all times. We need to come up with a way to distract them and get past them."

I thought for a moment. "What about a diversion? We could start a fire or something."

Leonhardt Strauch shook his head. "That would be too risky. It could end up hurting innocent people."

I sighed. "Then what do you suggest?"

"We need to find someone who can get us past the guards," he said. "Someone who knows the layout of the castle and can lead us to Etienne de Chevin."

"Who do you have in mind?" I asked.

Leonhardt Strauch hesitated for a moment. 

"There's someone I know who might be able to help us. But it's a dangerous plan."

"Tell me who it is," I insisted.

"It's a spy," Leonhardt Strauch said. "She's been working for us for years, but she's deep undercover. If she's caught, she'll be killed."

I nodded. "I understand the risks. But we don't have any other options. Who is she?"

Leonhardt hesitated again. "Her name is Elen. She's been working as a servant in Chevin's castle for years. She knows everything about the layout of the castle and where Etienne de Chevin is at all times."

"Okay," I said. "We'll need to meet with her and come up with a plan. Can you set up a meeting?"

Leonhard nodded. "I'll take care of it. But we need to be careful. If anyone finds out what we're planning, it could mean the end of everything."

I nodded, feeling the weight of the situation. 

"I understand. We'll be careful."

The next day, Leonhardt Strauch arranged for us to meet with Elen in a secluded area outside the city. She was nervous at first, but once she realized that we were there to help her, she opened up.

"I've been waiting for years for someone to come and help me!" 

She said. "I can't do this on my own anymore."

"We'll do everything we can to get you out of there," I promised. 

"But we need your help. Can you lead us to Etienne de Chevin?"

Elen nodded. "I can. But it won't be easy. His guards are everywhere. We'll need to come up with a way to distract them."

I thought for a moment. "What if we create a diversion on the other side of the castle? That way, the guards won't find out."