Yu Lian turned his head and saw Queen Brunhild of Sulaca sitting upright in the other luxurious chaise beside him, as naturally as if they were an old married couple.
Well, counting the virtual timeline, they really were an old married couple.
She had changed out of her ornate marshal's uniform and now wore only a simple silver-gray outfit. The soft fabric hugged her tall, slender figure, and her golden hair was no longer elaborately styled. It fell casually over her shoulders, gleaming like molten gold in the sunlight.
Brunhild tilted her head at Yu Lian. "Since you're awake, you can listen in on the regency council's debate. They think our honorable duel doesn't count."
There was unmistakable amusement in her smile.
"So? You woke me up just for that?"
"No, actually, it's this." As if by magic, she produced a porcelain plate bearing a slice of cake that looked rather... well, rustic.
The cake itself seemed fluffy enough, but the layer of cream was uneven, and the berries were piled on far too thickly.
Still, all things considered, at least it looked like a cake.
"A dessert for after your nap. Eat it before it gets cold. I baked it myself: battlefield honey cake, specially made for the Imperial Armored Grenadiers. According to the palace steward, the ingredients and baking time follow the most orthodox ancient recipe to the letter. It's the kind of thing you could send to the Empire's frontline heroes as combat rations." She gave a subtle pause over "orthodox ancient recipe," clearly still a little proud of herself.
Yu Lian's gaze shifted from the cake to her face, and he studied her for a moment.
The electress had, of course, already recovered her strength. Her eyes were bright, and her fair face glowed with healthy