Chapter 405: Special Episode - Workaholics Are Trouble (2)

“Your Majesty, have you ever heard of something called ‘Yaja Time’?”

Lloyd’s voice echoed clearly through the bedroom.

Queen Alicia frowned.

“Yaja Time?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Hmm, it’s the first I’ve heard of it.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes. So, what is this Yaja Time, and how exactly does it wake you up?”

“It’s a kind of role-playing game.”

“A role-playing game?”

“Yes, Your Majesty. To explain in more detail, it’s a game where we switch our roles and talk as if we were in each other’s position.”

“Wait, so…”

“Yes, it’s exactly as you suspect, Your Majesty.”

“You mean, you’ll be the monarch, and I’ll be you?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Lloyd answered with his eyes tightly shut.

Under normal circumstances, this kind of suggestion was practically a death sentence.

Switching roles with the monarch, especially during something like Yaja Time, could easily be interpreted as treason or disrespect to the royal family. Such a proposal could get one charged with treason, and no explanation would save them.

But Lloyd was confident.

‘Thanks to my *Title*—the “Bearer of Magentano.”’

Lloyd recalled the power of the title bestowed upon him.

‘I’m the Queen’s savior. She trusts me completely. My suggestions and advice are generally met with positive reactions. On top of that, she has never suspected me of treachery or rebellion. This proposal should work.’

At the very least, he wouldn’t be accused of treason.

Perhaps he might take a punch to the gut, but nothing worse than that.

Lloyd had faith in this.

And as if to affirm his confidence, a message appeared before him.

*Ding-dong!*

[*Your request activates the power of your title.*]

[*The title “Bearer of Magentano” begins to exert a powerful influence over Queen Alicia.*]

As the message appeared…

“…Hmph, this is…”

The Queen’s face lit up with a smile of disbelief, as though she couldn’t quite believe what she was hearing.

Her words, though not entirely biting, were sharp as she addressed him.

“Lloyd Frontera. What am I to make of this? I’ve never met anyone quite like you.”

“Is that so?”

“Absolutely.”

Her expression seemed to waver between whether to punch him or bite him… as she added with a playful smirk.

“Switching roles with the Queen, hm? Who else in this world could make such a ridiculous suggestion? You must be the boldest man I’ve ever met.”

“I am deeply honored by Your Majesty’s words.”

“That wasn’t a compliment.”

“I deeply apologize!”

“And it wasn’t exactly an insult either.”

“Th-Then…?”

“I’ll agree to the bet you proposed. I find it quite intriguing.”

“Really?”

“Do you think I speak falsehoods?”

“Of course not.”

Lloyd quickly responded.

He couldn’t risk her changing her mind now. This was the time to press his advantage.

“Then, Your Majesty, what shall be your request if you win this bet?”

“A nighttime duel.”

“….”

“A fast-paced, intense duel, where we’ll be entangled and fighting until dawn, leaving us both covered in sweat and utterly exhausted.”

“….”

I have to win this bet.

Lloyd’s legs already felt weak just imagining the duel.

The Queen asked with interest, “So, you wager Yaja Time, and I wager a duel. But what should the bet be?”

“I’ve thought of something for us to compete in.”

“What is it?”

“Rock-paper-scissors.”

“Hmm, simple. I like it.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty.”

Lloyd bowed deeply.

Fortunately, rock-paper-scissors was common in this world as well.

“How about we settle it in one round?”

“Agreed.”

The Queen rolled up the sleeves of her nightgown.

Lloyd took a deep breath, preparing himself.

“Are you ready, Your Majesty?”

“Of course.”

“Then… Rock…”

“Paper…”

Their eyes met.

And in unison, they shouted.

“Scissors!”

Snap!

Both of their hands moved simultaneously.

Their eyes flashed at each other several times as their hands prepared to play.

‘She’s going to pick scissors, isn’t she?’

A gleam flickered in Queen Alicia’s eyes.

As the most powerful Swordmaster, she could easily track the movement of Lloyd’s hand.

In the split second that he was preparing his hand, she had already detected it.

She saw the way his hand moved, the subtle shifts in his joints, muscles, and tendons.

Thanks to this, she quickly changed her hand mid-move.

‘I’ll go with rock.’

She clenched her fist, switching from scissors to rock.

But then, she saw Lloyd’s hand start to change.

The two fingers Lloyd had originally extended were about to be joined by the rest of his fingers.

‘Of course.’

While Lloyd wasn’t on her level, he was still a Swordmaster.

He had read her hand movement just as she had read his.

Realizing this, Alicia quickly shifted her hand again.

Snap!

She switched from a clenched fist to extending her fingers in a V-shape.

But at that moment, Lloyd cried out in his mind.

‘Momentary foresight!’

*Ding-dong!*

[*Skill-specific option ⑦: Momentary Foresight activates.*]

[*The power of the artifact, “Eye of Summer,” raises your body temperature by 1°C.*]

Whoosh!

Lloyd’s *mana heart* rapidly activated.

The artifact’s power allowed him to briefly glimpse five seconds into the future.

With that brief vision, Lloyd adjusted his hand accordingly.

From paper to rock.

From rock to scissors.

Snap! Snap!

He mixed in a few fakes as he swiftly changed his hand.

Meanwhile, the Queen’s hand…

“…Hm.”

Her lips tightened as she looked down at her own hand.

She had played paper, while Lloyd had chosen scissors.

Lloyd gave the Queen a triumphant look.

“Your Majesty, you chose paper, while I chose scissors.”

“Th-That’s true.”

“And so, I’ve won the bet.”

“…I admit it.”

Was she disappointed about missing the duel?

The Queen clicked her tongue, clearly dissatisfied.

Lloyd, in contrast, shrugged his shoulders smugly.

‘Phew, thank goodness I won.’

It was the first time he had used the artifact, “Eye of Summer,” which allowed him to see five seconds into the future.

He had been curious about how effective it would be.

‘Now that I’ve used it, it’s even more impressive.’

It was incredibly effective.

He had been able to anticipate every change in the Queen’s hand.

He mixed in some fakes and successfully threw scissors to win.

‘To be even safer, I could’ve used the Tactical Design option, but that would’ve been too obvious.’

He could’ve forced the Queen to play a specific hand using the Tactical Design skill.

However, as the greatest Swordmaster, Queen Alicia would’ve immediately sensed something was off. Even in the brief instant it took to play rock-paper-scissors, she would’ve noticed the manipulation.

Instead, Lloyd used Momentary Foresight, and it worked.

“Now, I’ll begin the Yaja Time I suggested.”

“And… how long will it last?”

“Do you see that star outside?”

Lloyd pointed out the window.

The Queen turned her attention to the dark horizon.

“Could that be… the Jester Constellation?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Lloyd explained further.

“The Jester Constellation only appears on the horizon for about 15 minutes around midnight this time of year before disappearing. And it’s just risen, so…”

“You’re saying Yaja Time will last until that constellation sets. About 15 minutes, correct?”

“That’s correct. Then… let’s begin.”

“Hm?”

As the Queen blinked in surprise, Lloyd’s attitude and demeanor transformed with shocking audacity.

“*You* there, Alicia Termina Magentano.”

“…What?”

“What do you mean, what? Are you not aware of the situation?”

“…”

“What are we doing right now? Aren’t we in the middle of a sacred and solemn Yaja Time?”

“…”

“Then why haven’t you shown me the respect that’s due? Do you not understand your place and situation?”

“Th-That…”

“That?”

“Sincerely… I apologize.”

Queen Alicia’s face turned bright red.

Never in her life had she imagined she’d experience this.

She had thought Yaja Time was just a silly game.

She never imagined it could be this serious!

‘What is this?’

She was bowing her head and apologizing to Lloyd Frontera.

‘At least I was smart enough to send the guards far from the bedroom.’

She breathed a sigh of relief.

She and Lloyd were both Swordmasters.

There was no need for guards in a room with two Swordmasters present.

Moreover, she hadn’t liked the idea of anyone overhearing their late-night conversations.

Sending the guards away had been a smart move.

If they had heard this exchange?

The thought alone made her shudder.

But while she was silently recovering from the embarrassment, Lloyd was unleashing his pompous act without restraint.

“Hmph. You apologize? For what?”

“Well…”

“Well?”

“I don’t know.”

She genuinely didn’t know.

Why was she saying such things to Lloyd Frontera?

How had this situation even come about?

She had no idea, and it was utterly ridiculous.

Meanwhile, Lloyd was grinning smugly, clearly enjoying himself.

“Hmm. Do you think ignorance will excuse you from your royal duties?”

“…”

“By the way, Alicia Termina Magentano

.”

“Yes, I… Please, speak.”

“Do you enjoy working that much?”

“Pardon?”

“I’m asking if you really enjoy your work that much.”

“…Yes.”

Queen Alicia clenched her fists, resisting the urge to smack him as she replied.

“I do enjoy it.”

“You enjoy it? How much?”

“A great deal.”

“More than you enjoy yourself?”

“…Pardon?”

What kind of question was this?

Caught off guard, she glanced at Lloyd.

And to her surprise, his expression was…

‘Serious?’

This was a strange situation.

He had insisted on playing Yaja Time, then had the audacity to speak to her so casually.

And now he was looking at her with sincere eyes, asking a meaningful question.

“…”

What kind of man was this?

She felt a sense of mystery as she replied honestly.

“Of course, I value work more than myself…”

“That’s a problem.”

“Pardon?”

“I don’t feel that way.”

“…”

“I think you’re far more important than work.”

“…Excuse me?”

“No matter how urgent or important national affairs are, you are more valuable to me. Just to clarify, I mean you, as a person, not your position or your role.”

“…”

“You are the Queen, and I understand the importance of your duties. But isn’t all that contingent on your own health?”

“That’s…”

“If you keep overworking yourself and lose an arm, or your health deteriorates to the point where you can’t work anymore, isn’t that a failure in your duty as Queen?”

“…”

“Right? Please, you need to scale back your schedule and focus on your training. By ignoring my advice, you’re neglecting your own health. Isn’t that irresponsible?”

“That…”

“Speak.”

“Was this your intention when you proposed Yaja Time?”

“Of course.”

Lloyd replied nonchalantly.

Queen Alicia felt as if she had been struck by a hammer.

Lloyd continued speaking.

“Why else would I make such a risky bet? Think about it. If I hadn’t done this, would you have listened to me? Hmm?”

“But…”

“This morning, I pleaded with you, but you dismissed my concerns. You said you’d consider it, but the work came first, didn’t it?”

“…”

“So, I needed Yaja Time just to get you to listen. The point is that you’re more important than the kingdom. Your well-being is the top priority. If I don’t do this, you’ll never take me seriously.”

“…”

“Please, I’m asking you. Let’s cut down on your schedule for just two months and focus on your health first.”

“But if I neglect state affairs for two months…”

“Of course, things might get a bit shaky. I understand that. But a little instability is something we can fix. If your arm becomes paralyzed or worse, there’s no way to fix that. You can’t undo it. Is that what you want?”

“…”

“I really don’t want that to happen.”

“…”

Queen Alicia felt something strange.

The look in Lloyd Frontera’s eyes as he spoke to her.

It was sincere.

And that sincerity caught her off guard.

She responded, almost speechless.

“Hmph, I see. So, this is what you truly feel.”

“…What?”

“Lloyd Frontera, I understand your sincerity now. Perhaps we should look out the window?”

“Huh?”

Lloyd quickly turned his head.

The Queen was pointing to the window.

The Jester Constellation had already disappeared beyond the horizon.

The Queen’s satisfied voice rang out.

“Yaja Time is over.”

*Already?*

Fifteen minutes had passed in the blink of an eye.

There were still so many things he wanted to say.

So many messages he wanted to convey.

He hadn’t finished.

Anxiety began to build in his chest.

*Did I get through to her?*

He had taken advantage of Yaja Time to be brutally honest with her.

But he wasn’t sure if his feelings had come across clearly.

*Please.*

He silently hoped that the Queen had understood him.

That she would put off her schedule for two months and focus on their training.

Lloyd looked at the Queen with bated breath.

And her reaction…

“Very well, Lloyd Frontera.”

“Yes?”

“I’d like you to lie down on the floor for me.”

“…What?”

“Place your hands on the ground. Stretch out your legs. Get on your stomach. Didn’t you hear me?”

“…Excuse me?”

“…”

“Right away, Your Majesty!”

Without delay, Lloyd dropped to the floor.

The Queen’s presence, which had become slightly intimidating, moved closer to him.

And soon enough, she sat down on his back!

“…Urgh?”

“Is it difficult for you to bear my weight?”

“N-No, of course not.”

Of course, it wasn’t.

He was a Swordmaster, after all.

Supporting the Queen’s weight while doing push-ups wasn’t too hard.

But for some reason, the Queen’s voice sounded increasingly cheerful.

“Now, I appreciate your sincerity. I really do. I just wanted to say thank you.”

“I-I am deeply grateful.”

“Good. Then, how about you start doing some push-ups?”

“…Pardon?”

“I’m proposing a bet of my own.”

“A bet, Your Majesty?”

“Yes. You told me earlier that I’m more important than your work. You said that, didn’t you? Now, I’d like to see if your words were true.”

“…”

“I want to see if you can bear my precious weight while doing push-ups.”

“H-How many should I do?”

“Until morning.”

“…Pardon?”

“Until morning. Keep going.”

“….”

“Is that too difficult?”

“Well, I…”

“Speak.”

“If I succeed in doing push-ups until morning with Your Majesty on my back… will there be a reward?”

“Of course.”

“And what would that be?”

“For two months, I’ll follow your advice.”

“You mean the training?”

“Yes.”

“…”

“And yet, you’re still not starting those push-ups?”

“…One! Two!”

“Tch. From the beginning.”

“…One! Two!”

Lloyd threw himself into the push-ups with all his strength and urgency.

And inwardly, he had a suspicion.

*Is this really about confirming my sincerity, or…?*

It seemed more and more like it wasn’t.

This felt like payback for Yaja Time.

But no matter what he thought, there was no way to resist!

*…Damn it.*

Tears welled up in Lloyd’s eyes as he continued his push-ups.

He kept going through the entire night.

All the way until dawn.

Feeling his chest, shoulders, and arms burn.

All the while bearing the Queen’s weight on his back.

And as he continued, he couldn’t help but think to himself:

*Whoever ends up marrying the Queen one day… that poor soul!*

(TL Note: We know Lloyd, we know. lol)