Ordinarily, she might have chuckled, but her throbbing feet and the desire to lie down had Serena’s eyes sparkling.

“Do it. Whatever it is.”

“I didn’t say I’d do it for free.”

“Are you telling me you’ll be petty even at our wedding?”

Lucas shrugged his shoulders. He had the only effective card at the moment and, being a rare occasion, seemed to want to enjoy it.

“Am I petty?”

“…No.”

As humiliating as it was, Serena couldn’t control her body that was already craving the bed.

“I assure you, I’m not petty. So, would you kindly let me rest?”

“Come to think of it, I am petty.”

Why did this man have to be so difficult?

“So you won’t help, even though you prepared a way?”

“I can help. If you make one promise with me.”

Well, of course. He wasn’t going to be easy.

“…What is it?”

“I know well about the oath and promise that guarantee your freedom. And I’m sure you’ll use that to prevent me from entering your bedroom tonight.”

Lucas knew what kind of woman Serena was. But he also knew that without guaranteeing her freedom, he could never truly have her.

“That’s non-negotiable. You knew that already, didn’t you?”

Serena deliberately mentioned the wedding night. In reality, she couldn’t spend her first night with Lucas.

Any other woman of this era might have immediately felt submission and obedience after their marriage vows, but not her.

“I’m prepared for that. But if I don’t spend the night in your room tonight, it’ll cast doubt on our marriage.”

“What happens if it’s doubtful?”

Technically, the completion of the marriage ceremony was the consummation.

In fact, there had been instances where marriages were annulled if the groom went off to battle before consummating. Of course, this was something Serena absolutely didn’t want to mention.

“Being asked about our first night by various people every day… isn’t enjoyable.”

That was precisely what Serena wanted to avoid. Just talking with Anna made her lips dry and her head cloudy. If the Empress and others started asking about the wedding night daily, she would go insane.

“Let me spend the night in your room.”

“Be more specific.”

Lucas’s eyes were full of longing, making it impossible to gloss over.

“I promise to stay in the room, the rest will be up to you.”

If he hadn’t set this condition, Serena would never have let him into her room.

“Does this comply with the promise and oath you gave me?”

“Yes.”

Serena quickly brushed aside Lucas’s slightly forlorn tone.

“Fine. I’ll let you stay.”

It was a pity that even after having come this far in their marriage, he still had to get permission just to stay in her room.
However, since he had forced an unwilling woman to become not even his wife but the Crown Prince’s concubine, Lucas had to compromise in some way.

“Then, will you help me escape before I pass out here?”

Lucas nodded.

“But how?”

No matter the method, it was futile if the Emperor and Empress did not leave the banquet hall. However, Serena’s fatigue was nearing its peak.

“There’s a way.”

Lucas, standing in a corner of the banquet hall, sent a signal with his eyes to Cedric, who was watching him.

“Just wait a little. Soon, that method will come into play.”

Still not knowing what was going on, Serena looked at Lucas, who grinned. He had not even hoped for it until midnight, but already he was looking forward to the night he would spend in her bedroom.

“So, what is this method…”

Serena was still looking up at Lucas with a puzzled expression. However, before Lucas could answer, a small, cute thing came running out from behind the entrance of the banquet hall’s VIP seats.

“Ahbababa!”

With brown hair and a face that clearly belonged to the Empress’s daughter, there was no mistaking her identity.

And the moment the little one toddled in, the Emperor, concerned she might fall, stood up immediately, forgetting his dignity, and rushed to pick up the princess.

“See?”

Lucas wore a confident expression.

Indeed, the Emperor, holding Ruana in his arms and smiling a sloppy smile, left the banquet hall as soon as the child began to fuss in front of the large crowd. Naturally, the Empress, sighing in relief, followed behind him.

“Just now, that child was…”

“My sister. She’s the only little one who can currently tell Abamama what to do.”

Whether or not this method was right, the heat of the banquet cooled instantly when the Emperor and Empress left their seats. The atmosphere felt as if it wouldn’t be a problem even if the bride discreetly disappeared.