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Chapter : 04
This time, I’ll change the male lead.
Thump, thump, thump.
My heart was racing wildly, and its pounding sounded like the approaching footsteps of the crown prince, becoming clearer with each beat.
“Glory to the Sun of Ignis.”
The moment the air shifted, everyone bent their waists to the ground.
Even his mere presence was overwhelming, making my entire body stiff.
“Stop with the pretentious acts and get up already.”
The crown prince’s voice sounded, bursting into a laugh, as if he found their posture amusing.
Following everyone else, I finally raised my eyes—
Wow…
The moment I saw him, a harsh word almost escaped my lips, and I bit them.
His radiant golden hair, blood-red eyes, sharp yet elegant features, and the strong physique marked with traces of the battlefield…
“Handsome” didn’t even begin to cover it. He was unbelievably beautiful, far beyond the terrible nicknames that followed him.
The rumors that seeing him in person was like seeing the incarnation of the Sun God weren’t exaggerated. In fact, they probably still underestimated him.
“Ahem.”
At that moment, Marquis Bastan cleared his throat, seemingly uncomfortable.
“Your Highness, since this is a formal gathering, you should maintain proper posture and attire.”
Come to think of it, Leon looked rather delinquent despite wearing a neatly arranged uniform.
He leaned on his chair with his chin propped up, and the insignia that should have adorned his collar was missing, some buttons left undone…
The problem was that even that careless style suited him perfectly.
“You’d know, Marquis, if you’d spent time rolling on the battlefield. How much of a nuisance this stuff is.”
No one could argue with Leon as he lazily unfastened his epaulets.
Marquis Bastan had been his tutor since childhood, which was why he could even make such comments.
“Ahem. Cough!”
“If you weren’t feeling well, you should have rested, Marquis Bastan.”
Leon observed the coughing marquis with casual indifference.
“Your Highness… perhaps it’s because I’m getting old, but I keep coughing…”
“Then bear it. It’s annoying otherwise.”
I couldn’t help but admire him inwardly, watching how effortlessly he overpowered even the veteran nobles.
Truly, a lunatic is something else. My favorite is on another level! Choosing him over some windbag male lead made me feel justified.
“Haha, Your Highness. This is nectar prepared by the House of Lutas for today. We combined summer sun-fruits with flower honey to present to Your Highness, who has accomplished great feats. Please, try it.”
Duke Lutas spoke, breaking the tension.
“Oh my, isn’t the fruit drink from House Lutas so rare that its fame has reached even the coastal continent?”
“Indeed. I heard it’s impossible to obtain no matter how much you pay. I never thought I’d see it in person.”
The nobles gushed over the glass bottles in Lutas’ hands.
Ah, this must be the nectar said to be the drink of the gods. I gazed at the shimmering liquid.
“I’ve never experienced such a fragrant drink before. Incredible.”
“Only the finest fruits were used to present it to Your Highness.”
As the drink was poured into each glass, the sweet aroma filled the hall.
“Good heavens… it’s really delicious.”
Once Leon gave permission, the nobles tasted it and praised it.
“….”
Even Karl, who rarely indulged in sweet drinks, drained his glass in one gulp.
“Princess Veritas, why aren’t you drinking? Don’t you like fruit drinks?”
“Oh, not at all.”
The duke, noticing I hadn’t touched mine, asked curiously.
Knowing the original story helps at times like this.
Despite the gentle smile, the House of Lutas was shady.
They had secured the next heir through their skill with poisons. They eliminated rivals by giving tiny doses over time and masked the smell of poison by using strongly fragrant fruits. I wasn’t about to drink it.
“Unfortunately, I’m allergic to peaches.”
“Oh, is there peach in this? With so many fruits mixed in, I didn’t realize. How did you know so quickly, Your Highness?”
Even when the question came from Duchess Lorraine, I managed a smile.
I already knew this, so my answer came naturally.
“Allergies make me sensitive to scents.”
At that table, only Leon and I didn’t touch the nectar.
“I will accept it in spirit. Thank you, Duke Lutas.”
“Not at all. I should have been more careful, my apologies.”
As I tried to subtly look away,
“…!”
Hyperion’s gaze met mine across the room.
He hadn’t even glanced at me after the invitation—since when had he been watching?
Why is he smiling like that?
I quickly averted my eyes from that peculiar smile, one that made people let their guard down.
“Princess Veritas is so rarely seen, yet today she is accompanied by Marquis Karl.”
“So that’s why the House of Veritas protects their youngest daughter so fiercely. Truly beautiful.”
“Did you come to share good news, then?”
“Finally, are we going to hear of your marriage?”
Duchess Lorraine, sitting across from me, asked slyly.
“No… that’s—”
“Yes. We should be able to share good news soon.”
What? Good news? I struggled to maintain my expression at Karl’s sudden interjection.
Has this man really lost his memory or something?
“That’s not it, Karl.”
I murmured to him, gripping my skirt tightly.
“You were only supposed to hide the broken engagement this month. You didn’t mean to spread absurd rumors, did you?”
I forced the words out, my lips twitching from the effort.
“Ah, should I call you Sir Aaron Anteras for you to understand?”
I had hoped he’d at least respect the three years we spent together, but this was a mess.
“Your Highness, I understand you even invited the princess to bless us.”
But Karl seemed not to hear me, looking up at the crown prince.
“Please, accept thanks on behalf of the princess.”
“Well…”
Leon laughed softly, as if amused by the situation.
“Why would I bless them?”
The atmosphere froze instantly.
In the suffocating silence, only Hyperion seemed relaxed.
“What do you mean, Your Highness?”
Karl’s expression stiffened, and the air grew even colder.
“How have you been since that night, Princess?”
“…!”
The moment those predatory, leisurely red eyes fell on me, I understood.
So that’s what he really meant when he said, ‘If you’re going to cheat, do it properly.’
It became a line that would be remembered throughout the empire’s history.
A heartless monster, an angel-masked demon, a blood-crazed murderer…
All the terrifying rumors about Hyperion Lucius, yet he said he wanted to see me. He said he thought he would go mad from wanting to see me!
“Y-You’re sure that’s what the crown prince said?”
“I thought I imagined it.”
The nobles, knowing his character, murmured behind fans and gloves.
“Hmph. So the reason Your Highness rejected the engagement with Saint Phoebe was because of the princess.”
“To think he would clash with the temple for this… poor Marquis Karl.”
From Leon’s seat, it wouldn’t reach him, but I could hear it clearly.
“No, surely there must be another reason. Your Highness isn’t someone who could love anyone.”
“That’s true.”
Despite the confusion, Leon remained calm.
“….”
Especially the smile in those red eyes—it was insane.
He wants to see how I’ll react.
I had somewhat prepared for this.
Pushing someone to the brink was one of Leon’s twisted pleasures.
He even took delight in watching others suffer, writhing in pain.
Was I his target this time? Why? What did I do wrong?
“What on earth….”
A dazed voice whispered by my ear.
“What’s going on, Princess?”
Karl trembled, fists clenched. His pride had been wounded in front of everyone, but his shock at facing Hyperion Lucius was clear.
“Your Highness, may I ask… what happened with my fiancée?”
He stared directly at the crown prince as if seeing nothing else—a situation unimaginable under normal circumstances.
“What happened….”
Meanwhile, Leon leaned on his chair, calm and unbothered.
“Do you think you can handle it if I tell you?”
“…!”
Karl’s lifelong envy met that relaxed, teasing smile.
