“Don’t act violently!”
Nikolai’s shoulders, thickened with muscles, twitched.
The arm pressing down on Douglas loosened slightly.
Seizing the opportunity, I confronted him, “Is it okay for the Emperor to hit people like that?”
Emperor’s contempt crime? I wasn’t afraid at all. Right now, I had to protect Douglas, who had been sincere to me every moment. And I didn’t want to see Nikolai’s violent side, whatever the reason.
“Are you taking his side in front of me?”
Nikolai gritted his teeth.
He put his hand on his waist, chin raised arrogantly.
“You’re not a child; why bother with your side or my side?”
“…”
“Release Viscount Netherton quickly.”
Nikolai didn’t flinch.
But his eyes were subtly fluctuating.
It was time to drive the wedge.
“Your Majesty, he’s the man I dislike the most!”
“…What?”
“A man who resorts to violence first. A man who doesn’t listen to others. A man entangled with pride and obsession!”
“What’s so bad about that?”
“Among them, violence is the worst. Truly the worst.”
I emphasized each word with force.
Anxiety surged from the depths of my chest.
‘What if it doesn’t work? What if he says, “What does it matter whether I do this or that?”‘
A moment of silence squeezed my heart.
As if awakened from dark magic, Nikolai released the strength in his hand.
“Cough, cough.”
Douglas coughed dryly.
His face turned slightly red, but there seemed to be no serious issue.
What if I had been a little late? What would have happened?
Before I could catch my breath, Nikolai commanded, “Take Viscount Netherton with you.”
“Yes, Your Majesty!”
The knights waiting outside responded.
With each step of the heavily armored knights, the wooden floor echoed.
I spread my arms and blocked Douglas.
“Lord Douglas is innocent. Take me instead.”
“Step aside, Elizabeth.”
Nikolai’s gaze towards me, protecting Douglas, became fiercer.
Douglas, who was worried only about me, didn’t know what trouble he might face.
“It’s the Emperor’s command, Elizabeth.”
“Lord Douglas is innocent.”
“He has accepted everything and walked away.”
“If I had known this would happen, I wouldn’t have sought help.”
“Elizabeth…”
“Even for Susan’s sake, we can’t let it go like this.”
[Dash]Thud!Nikolai hit the wall with his fist.
It seemed he found it hard to endure our conversation.
I stared at Nikolai with unwavering, straight eyes.
“Your Majesty, please send Lord Douglas back to Netherton Manor.”
“Are you making a demand?”
“I’m pleading.”
“He aided a fugitive. It’s not a minor offense that can be overlooked.”
“If you’re talking about the law, the punishment should be imposed on me. The real culprit escaped!”
Nikolai, stabbed to the core, pressed his lips tightly.
The Emperor’s will had the same authority as the law.
If Nikolai intended to punish Douglas, the reasons didn’t matter.
Of course, no one could stop it.
“What should we do, Your Highness?”
The knights waited for the Emperor’s command like well-trained hunting dogs.
Nikolai, who had been eyeing Douglas with keen eyes, uttered a word.
“Immediately detain Viscount Netherton at his residence.”
“But…!”
Douglas stopped me, trying to interfere.
“It’s an imperial order. We must follow. Elizabeth, please do the same.”
“I’m sorry, Lord Douglas.”
“I left for someone other than Elizabeth.”
With an expression that held no falsehood, Douglas spoke.
He considered our escape as a journey and a memory. That’s why he showed such a bitter smile.
“I apologize for not being able to protect you more securely. Next time…”
Douglas swallowed the rest of his words.
Nikolai gestured like chasing away insects.
Together with the knights, Douglas disappeared.
Nikolai and I were left alone.
More tension than when he first appeared permeated the bathing chamber.
The water had cooled down.
I was the first to speak.
“How did you find us?”
“It doesn’t matter.”
“I thought you were misled.”
“I loosely directed the pursuers to the outskirts. Until you appeared without worry.”
“You’re meticulous.”
“If I had known that Douglas would stay in one place, I would have come sooner.”
Nikolai bowed his head.
He picked up the towel Douglas had dropped.
Even in the midst of it, his eyes were fixed on me.
My breath became increasingly short.
“It’s my first time staying in an inn. Douglas insisted on sleeping in the carriage.”
“If I didn’t know he was like that, I would have cut off his breath as soon as I saw him.”
“What?”
“He pretended to be noble for you. Didn’t you know that was his trick?”
“Are you saying he deliberately misunderstood even after realizing the situation?”
He noticed the situation and still hit me like that? How could there be such a wicked man?
With a deeply furrowed expression, Nikolai asked me, “Can’t I have you?”
A voice that wasn’t violent or arrogant.
Eyelashes trembled at the question, like a frightened boy.
Why are you questioning ownership and fearing it? It seemed like he knew exactly what I would say.
“I won’t belong to anyone.”
Male lead reborn without memories — but he still falls for her.
The person he finds displeasing in this life turns out to be his cherished wife-master in previous life…
Xie Zhi and Fang Xianxing who had known each other for less than three days through a blind date sat in the same car in front of the civil affairs bureau. They had a disagreement and failed to get married.
Xie Zhi immediately took out his phone, slid through his contacts, and randomly selected the next marriage candidate.
The woman snatched his phone and hung up. Looking at his phone wallpaper, she awkwardly changed the subject: “An ancient painting, eh? It looks pretty good, it’s just that the person in the painting looks a bit like me.”
When he heard this, he sarcastically mocked her for being so delusional, completely unaware that, the person in front of him was the reincarnation of Wen Ru, the famous prime minister of Yuan Shun whom he most admired…
The female CEO who doesn’t want to get married with a divorce agreement in hand × The male archaeological researcher who will only get married if he’s sure he can get divorced
