Killian, who finally stood in front of Veronia after squeezing through the crowd, put on a seemingly relaxed expression and extended his hand.
“I greet Your Highness the Princess. I was worried when I heard you were resting due to illness.”
“It’s nice to see you, Lord Killian. It wasn’t something to worry about. I’m fine now.”
Veronia looked up at Killian and smiled brightly.
At that moment, many, including Killian, thought that their surroundings seemed to become dazzlingly bright.
Veronia looked at the hands of the two men before her, smiled sweetly, and then took Killian’s hand. There was no hesitation.
She didn’t forget to make an apologetic expression, winking at the other man.
“What should I do? I’m sorry. Lord Killian is always my first dance partner. Please ask me next time.”
Receiving envious glances from many people, the two headed to the dance hall.
“Are you really alright?”
“I’m sorry for worrying you. I’m really fine now.”
Veronia answered nonchalantly, shrugging her shoulders.
A gentle smile spread across her lips, but to Killian, she looked rather drained.
Soon the music started, and Veronia slowly followed Killian’s lead.
Their joined hands, the arm on her waist, their met gazes, every part of Killian was nothing but affectionate.
But Veronia was only troubled.
It was because of the scene she had witnessed as soon as she entered the banquet hall earlier.
‘Killian and Evangelina… What were they talking about so amusingly?’
The sight of the two talking quietly and laughing had looked very intimate.
‘Of course… They are the male and female leads of this novel… They are destined to end up together… It’s natural for them to be attracted to each other, but…’
She couldn’t help but feel bitter.
Still, he was her fiancé for now, still, she had spent more time with him for now, still… she wished he would only look at her… Such desires arose.
‘…I must be going crazy.’
It was the wrong feeling. It was a feeling that needed to be cut off.
The desire to hold onto someone who should be given up without letting go needed to be uprooted.
‘If you don’t want to die like the real Veronia, that is. So pull yourself together!’
Veronia bit her lower lip hard, trying to compose her wavering heart.
Seeing this, Killian spoke up.
“Are you still unwell, Your Highness? Your complexion is pale.”
“…I’m fine. Really.”
Despite Veronia’s answer, Killian couldn’t take his worried gaze off her.
Her red lips, contrasting with her pale complexion, caught his attention.
Whether they were red from her biting them or if they were originally this red, whether they were plump and swollen from her biting or if they were originally this full, such idle thoughts swirled in Killian’s mind.
‘Damn it! Why do I keep noticing these useless things?!’
He was starting to get irritated with himself.
Just as his mind was in turmoil with such thoughts, the dance music ended.
“I enjoyed it, Lord Killian.”
Veronia gracefully greeted and was about to withdraw her hand.
But Killian seemed to have no intention of letting go of her hand, not releasing his grip.
Unexpectedly held back, Veronia looked up at Killian with wide eyes.
“…Lord Killian?”
“If you don’t mind, would you like to go out to the garden for a walk? The fresh air might make you feel better.”
“Ah…”
Is my complexion that bad? Veronia hesitated for a moment at the sudden suggestion.
At that moment, she noticed Evangelina watching them from behind.
In that instant, the image of the two talking intimately earlier overlapped in Veronia’s mind.
The deliberation didn’t last long.
Veronia immediately nodded.
“Yes. Alright then.”
Veronia followed as Killian led the way.
For now, at least for today, she wanted Killian all to herself.
It had been a day of being tormented by the Empress. She had to see blood and shed tears.
‘So please forgive me for today, Evangelina.’
Meanwhile, Killian’s mind became complicated once again.
‘I thought I had gotten used to it to some extent, but it’s still difficult.’
Veronia’s hesitation and pause before accepting the walk invitation felt very unfamiliar.
That was because in the past, it was always Veronia who suggested walks first, and Killian who reluctantly agreed.
‘It’s become a story of the distant past now.’
Realizing their positions had completely reversed, Killian unknowingly let out a small chuckle.
They had already entered the secluded rear garden.
The full moon shone brightly in the night sky, and a small fountain made a clear, gentle gurgling sound.
Thanks to the lights set up throughout the garden, it wasn’t inconvenient to walk despite it being night.
Hmm, hoo… Veronia took a slow, deep breath.
The night air carrying the scent of flowers cooled her lungs, calming her mind.
“Thank you, Lord Killian. Thanks to you, now that I’ve left the crowded banquet hall, I feel like I can finally breathe properly.”
“Didn’t Your Highness originally enjoy parties bustling with people, full of music and laughter?”
It was a question born of simple curiosity, but Veronia couldn’t help but feel stung.
She was afraid of being found out as not the real Veronia.
For a moment, her defense mechanism activated clumsily, resulting in a sharp tone.
“I told you. The me from two years ago and the me now are different people. I’ve changed. Have you forgotten?”
“I haven’t forgotten. But it’s inevitable to be surprised at times.”
“Well… I suppose so.”
Ah… Veronia regretted lashing out due to a sudden surge of emotion. Though it was already too late.
Taking a step back, she pretended to laugh casually, ho ho. She couldn’t let on that she was nervous, after all.
She needed to smooth over her sudden outburst.
“In some ways, it might be growth, and in others, it might be regression. Seeing as I now find parties noisy and uncomfortable.”
“…I see.”
Killian, who had been quietly listening to her story, nodded.
Was it because his low voice was too warm? Or was it because his blue eyes, shimmering in the soft moonlight, were so gentle?
A strong impulse arose to be truly comforted by this man, and no one else.
That seemed like it would be enough.
No, that was the only thing needed.
Veronia stopped walking, looked up at Killian, and spoke in a voice that sounded enlightened.
“One can change like that after dying from poison and coming back to life. Especially when you find out that your entire family conspired to poison you.”
“That, that’s…!”
Killian found it hard to believe what he had just heard.
The culprit of the assassination attempt at the Princess’s birthday celebration had been identified as the head servant and immediately executed.
‘Then does that mean the royal family was behind the culprit? But Her Highness is also a member of the royal family… How could such a thing happen!’
The story didn’t quite add up.
It was a tale that was hard to comprehend from a common-sense perspective.
But Veronia’s expression was more serious than ever before.
It was clear that she was telling the truth.
“…My parents and siblings are capable of doing even worse things in the future. Like during the last hunting festival. I had to change to survive in the palace. And I will have to continue to do so.”
Killian was at a loss for words as he watched Veronia calmly describe the terrible situation she was in.
He had vaguely suspected the royal family’s misdeeds, but hearing it directly from the victim’s mouth made it even more horrifying.
“Your Highness…”
Killian wanted to comfort Veronia, but he couldn’t find the right words.
He didn’t feel like he could fully understand her pain or completely console her wounds.
But there was one thing he definitely wanted to say.
“If there’s anything I can do to help, I’ll do my best.”
“…”
Silence fell between the two.
Veronia could tell. That Killian was genuinely worried about her. That he sympathized with her situation.
‘What a kind person…! How did he manage to execute the original Veronia and overthrow the royal family with such a gentle nature?’
The question disappeared after just a moment.
‘What made such a kind person angry was… Veronia’s evil deeds… That’s right…’
The sudden thought of the original story shattered all the emotion.
Still, she wanted to express her gratitude for Killian’s kindness.
“Thank you for your words. But it’s alright. I know you don’t like me, Lord Killian. No, rather you dislike me. I also know you have no intention of marrying me.”
“…”
Killian was at a loss for words.
Was he speechless because his true feelings were revealed, or because it wasn’t true? Killian himself was confused.
“I’ll break off our engagement. If we end our engagement, you won’t be entangled with the royal family in any way. I don’t want to hold you back with a needless contract.”
When we break off our engagement, you’ll be able to expose the royal family’s corruption and overthrow them without hesitation in the future. You’ll be able to ascend to the throne without a shred of guilt.
Veronia quietly repeated the words she couldn’t bring herself to say out loud.
“Suddenly talking about breaking the engagement, what do you mean…”
Killian was having trouble following Veronia’s words.
To hear the word ‘breaking the engagement’ from her mouth. He was flustered by a situation he had never even imagined in his dreams.
But unaware of Killian’s feelings, Veronia continued speaking with a calm expression.
“I can’t do it right away, but I’ll definitely break it off someday, the engagement. If you want, I can even write a contract. This is better. For me, and for you too.”
“…How is breaking the engagement better for both of us? I find it… hard to understand.”
At Killian’s words that he found it hard to understand, this time it was Veronia who became difficult to understand.
My Ex-Girlfriend Is The Regent In The Female-dominant World (Male lead transmigrates to the matriarchal world)
Two years ago, Gu Sui picked up a homeless woman in ancient costume from the street.
Apart from occasionally claiming to be a princess from a female-dominant country due to illness, her figure, appearance, intelligence, and martial arts skills were impeccable.
Naturally evolving from roommates to girlfriends, as time went on, Gu Sui found it increasingly difficult to tolerate her queen syndrome.
“Mu Jiulu, can you stop controlling me inside and out? Let’s break up.”
Gu Sui made a breakup call, and since then, he couldn’t find any trace of her.
A year later, Gu Sui, who was planning to move, woke up the next day and found himself in a different place.
“Young Master, today is the day you choose your Wife-master through martial arts competition at Jade Dew Pavilion. Please get up quickly.”
Gu Sui: Who am I? Where am I? What am I doing?
As the only son of a general’s mansion in a female-dominant dynasty, the young empress personally issued a decree allowing Gu Sui to select his Wife-master through martial arts competition. Whoever could defeat him could marry him.
Gu Sui: “……”
He didn’t inherit the original owner’s martial prowess, so anyone could defeat him! And what the hell is a Wife-master?
Forced to come to Jade Dew Pavilion, the densely packed women below made Gu Sui’s agoraphobia act up, and his face was full of resistance.
Until he saw the Regent sitting on the second floor, with a smile on the corner of her lips, her eyes wicked and nonchalant.
Hmm… she looked a little familiar.
It turned out that the Regent also found him a little familiar.
Mu Jiulu fiddled with her bone clasp, her deep gaze locked on the man who was out of place in this world.
“Finally, I found you.”
Male transmigrates into female-dominant world
One-sentence summary: What goes around comes around, taking turns in the crematorium
