Chapter 990: Chapter 432: A Midsummer Night’s Dream

"Stop joking. If I really laid a hand on you, Amelia, there’s no way you’d end up liking me. Am I right?" Laine looked at his little Maid sidelong. He reached out and affectionately pinched Amelia’s smooth cheek, grumbling, "I know you never planned to be a little Maid for the rest of your life. You want to be the mistress of the house."

"But the mistress’ seat has already been taken by Surya Sister!" Amelia seemed like a completely different person. She leaned against Laine’s shoulder, and her originally pure, sweet voice gradually became mature, carrying that particular cadence of the Great Noble courts: "That was supposed to be mine. Your wife was supposed to be me, Emmanuelle of Nuer!"

The little Maid had changed. The one before Laine now was a truly noblewoman, dignified and graceful. Light makeup dusted her face; her expression was calm and filled with bone-deep pride. Her lips curved slightly, chin tilted, wearing a noblewoman’s flawless court smile. Every movement of her body exuded aristocratic bearing. If not for the redness at the corners of her eyes and the deep affection in them, Laine would almost not have recognized his little Maid.

But this was the real Amelia—or rather, Emmanuelle.

As proud as a swan, as elegant as red wine.

Everything before had been her disguise. From the moment she fled as a refugee, this girl had disguised herself as a frugal, austere, taciturn female Mercenaries.

When she found Laine, this safe harbor, she then disguised herself as a delicate, soft‑spoken little Maid.

It was all to protect herself. She had always been carefully, cautiously guarding her secret, not wanting anyone to know.

Amelia reached up to wipe away her tears and sighed with a touch of regret. "Surya Sister is very good to me. She saw through my identity, and yet she was still that good to me. If not for all kinds of reasons, we definitely would’ve become best girlfriends. It’s a pity. Now we can only become good sisters."

Is there even a difference?! Laine thought to himself.

"So, all the Amelias I saw before were fake?" Laine asked softly.

The room was very quiet. The Dark Elf Ollica lay to one side, listening to the two of them talk. Several times she wanted to speak, but in the end chose only to listen. Laine sat on the bed, holding his little Maid in his arms, waiting for her answer.

"It wasn’t all an act, Laine. Being your Maid made me very happy. This has been the happiest time of my life." Amelia reached down and unfastened the laces of her silver princess shoes. She kicked them off, revealing a pair of crystalline jade feet, her calves wrapped in white stockings swinging lightly. "A woman naturally behaves differently in front of the man she likes. What’s so strange about that? This Dark Elf is basically a stinking rock in front of others, a fierce woman who doesn’t like saying a single word. But in front of you, Laine, isn’t she just a soft, fragrant cuddle‑pillow?"

"Hmph~!" Ollica subconsciously wanted to refute, but the Dark Elf immediately realized Amelia wasn’t wrong, and could only shut her mouth.

"Laine, your rise really exceeded all my expectations. I originally thought that by the time you were thirty, you might be a Baron at best... Forget it, there’s no point in talking about that now." Amelia clasped Laine’s big hands in both of hers, fingers interlaced. A sharp light flashed in the little Maid’s eyes. "But asking me to give up is absolutely impossible. Laine, you’re far too outstanding. With you as the standard, how am I supposed to look at any other man?"

"So it’s my fault~" Laine gave a wry smile. He didn’t know how to answer that, so he could only change the subject. "I understand your decision, Amelia. Even after you become a Prince-Elector and Duchess, it’s not like we can’t see each other. Nuer can set up a teleportation array linked to my place. Whenever you want to come, you just teleport over. Nuer already has a very high degree of autonomy. The City Council and the mayor, and the nobles of Weisen Territory can handle a lot of things..."

"If I can come over, why can’t you go there, Laine?" Amelia’s tone held displeasure. She lifted her head and directly pressed her lips to Laine’s. "An heir, Laine—I need an heir. An heir who can inherit my titles. And that heir can only be given to me by you." 𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖

Another one asking for a child, Laine complained inwardly.

His workload was getting a bit heavy.

"I’ve already talked with Carl Franz, Elspeth, and Theodore about the conditions for my return to Nuer. My demand is this: if they want me back, then in the future my illegitimate child with you must be the heir and legal claimant to all my titles!" Amelia, shy yet overbearing, clutched Laine’s collar. "Laine, you can’t just give everything to Surya Sister and those two Witches. I need my share too. And that brand they have on them—I want one as well!"

"I don’t recall agreeing to that?" Laine said in great vexation.

"You won’t refuse, because it’s all benefit and no harm to you. And if you do refuse, I’ll go marry some old, ugly Great Noble, and then I’ll use my authority as Prince-Elector to order and pressure the entire Empire, demanding that the Empire cut off all trade dealings and strategic support with the Knight kingdom." Amelia laid out a terrifying scenario, even smiling as she did so. "Nuer is the Southern Stronghold and industrial heart of the Empire. Think about it—when it comes to outsiders versus his own people, what choice do you think the Emperor will make?"

"That makes no sense! You can’t do that!" Laine was startled, and spoke in anger and frustration. "You can’t break hard‑won trade agreements over something like this. You’d be sabotaging the Order Alliance and giving Chaos and the forces of evil an opening!"

"Don’t talk to a woman about logic or reason, Laine." Amelia wore an expression that said she had Laine completely in the palm of her hand. On her delicate, pure face was a confident, sure‑of‑herself smile. "You’re humanity’s hero. To defend the interests of mankind, all you have to do is make one tiny little concession, and you can save the entire situation. Laine, take it as me begging you. I’ve been your Maid for so many years—just say yes to me~"

Then, Amelia whispered pleadingly in Laine’s ear, "Give me a child, Laine. In the future you’ll be the father of the Grand Duke of Nuer and the Brescia Prince-Elector. It’s not like I’m dying to be a Prince-Elector or Duchess. During the long years of fleeing and following you, I’ve long since grown sick of all that noble stuff. But I know you need my help, and I’m willing to help you."

"So you’ve chosen me then, Amelia." Laine understood Amelia just as well as Amelia understood him. Besides, the two of them had been together for many years; there was an emotional foundation and a convergence of interests. Amelia was certain that Laine would not be able to refuse. "So what’s your answer?"

Laine pondered for a long time before finally nodding heavily.

The stifling midsummer midnight gradually came to an end. The beautiful dream shattered like a soap bubble, leaving only reality and promises behind.

Autumn had arrived.