Returning to the garden after dining with Icar, Reneb ran into Viscount Belkein in the corridor.
As their eyes met, Viscount Belkein greeted her and started talking right away.
“You weren’t seen at mealtime, you didn’t skip your meal, did you?”
Although it wasn’t promised to dine with the guests, as they had continuously eaten in the dining room, he seemed concerned.
“No. I had dinner elsewhere today.”
“Elsewhere, it seems you wanted to eat alone today.”
“I had to return something to His Highness, and it happened to be His Highness’s mealtime too.”
“……I see.”
Viscount Belkein’s already slightly drooping eyes drooped a little more.
“Did I, by chance, offend you just now?”
When Reneb asked cautiously, Viscount Belkein lightly shook his head.
“No. Have you had your afterdinner tea?”
“No, not yet.”
At Reneb’s answer, Viscount Belkein’s eyes softened.
As if he had never been upset, the relaxation was almost at 5G speed.
“That’s good. Would you like to have a cup of tea with me?”
“Sure.”
It seemed to work out well as she had to talk about the palace ball partner.
“Today is cloudy. I think it would be nice to have it indoors, what do you think?”
Looking up at the sky beyond the corridor window, Viscount Belkein said. The sky was dark as if it was about to pour rain any moment.
Reneb nodded.
“Let’s do that.”
As they moved to a small reception room next to the dining room, the conversation between the two did not cease.
Viscount Belkein was certainly eloquent. But he was not a chatterbox who monopolized the conversation.
He could be seen as skillfully leading the conversation to suit Reneb’s interests.
After a while, when they had enjoyed their conversation, the time for the seamstress to arrive was near.
It seemed like it was time to go back.
As Reneb tried to broach the subject of the partner, Viscount Belkein spoke first.
“By the way, there’s not much time left until the palace ball, are you preparing well?”
“His Highness has decided to send a seamstress.”
“His Highness is also sending a seamstress to me. It seems that His Highness is taking good care of the guests.”
Viscount Belkein said, smiling brightly. Seeing that expression, it became harder to bring out words of refusal.
Nevertheless, because there was a time for words that had to be said, Reneb opened her mouth with a thin smile.
“I……. I think it will be difficult to be with Viscount Belkein at this ball.”
Viscount Belkein slowly put the tea cup he was holding on the table.
And his subsequent reaction was unexpectedly refreshing.
“I thought you might.”
Reneb speculated that Viscount Belkain would have similar thoughts to her own.
What would happen if Reneb were to reject Icar’s proposal and attend the Imperial Palace ball with Viscount Belkain?
Not long ago, on the walking path, Icar had revealed his displeasure at seeing himself and Viscount Belkain conversing happily.
It meant he did not want to foster excessive familiarity among the guests of the garden.
Knowing that, it was not a good idea to enter the Imperial Palace ball side by side with Viscount Belkain.
There was no need to unnecessarily provoke Icar’s sensibilities.
“I’m not sure if I’ve caused Your Grace undue burden.”
Viscount Belkain broke the awkward silence that had settled between them, touching the back of his neck.
“Not at all. I’m thankful just for the proposal.”
Although she had to reject it, she was indeed grateful.
Had he and Icar not made the Imperial Palace ball partner proposals, Reneb would have been the one in trouble.
And since Reneb knew how much courage it took to make the proposal first, she bowed her head.
“Thank you for saying so.”
Viscount Belkain, who had been fiddling with his teacup, continued speaking.
“There’s something that’s a bit concerning.”
“Concerning?”
“Yes, I’m not sure if I’ll fit in well with the nobles of Bashuker.”
“What?”
Reneb’s eyes widened.
Viscount Belkain was affable, and among the garden’s guests, he was the most adept at befriending new people.
For him to say such a thing…
“I think I know what Your Grace wants to say. I’ve heard a lot about your sociability.”
“Yes, it’s really unexpected.”
“Even so, I have a lot of shyness. It also took courage for me to approach Your Grace first.”
As if to prove that statement true, Viscount Belkain’s pale earlobes turned slightly red.
A bit of empathy arose.
Before entering the book, Reneb was somewhat lacking in sociability.
After becoming Empress, she had to deal with dozens to hundreds of people every day.
At first, all of that was like a trial.
But wanting to be a good wife and partner to Lucius, Reneb gave it her all.
She invited a respected lady to teach her diplomatic skills and honed herself.
That’s why she understood Viscount Belkain’s words.
“Me too. Approaching someone first never seems to get easier.”
“Your Grace feels that way too?”
Viscount Belkain opened his eyes wide, as if he had never expected it.
“Yes, I’m not very skilled at making new friends either.”
Finding they had something in common seemed to cheer up Viscount Belkain, whose mood visibly improved.
Reneb was relieved to see him gain a bit of energy.
Top Celebrity Younger Brother Bears Her Child (Female-dominant)
One-line summary: Forced to live stream romance with a top celebrity in a female-dominant world.
Yan Jin transmigrated into a brothel, with a fellow transmigrated junior beside her.
Hearing the obscene words coming from outside, the unfortunate junior covered his ears tightly, his cheeks flushed red, and whispered to comfort her, “Don’t worry, I will definitely help you escape.”
“Don’t worry, I will definitely defend your chastity.” Yan Jin looked at the flawless and delicate features of the unfortunate junior and gently comforted, “Because we have transmigrated into a female-dominant world.”
※※※
Top celebrity Yu Shu suddenly fell into a coma during a concert.
Research scientist Yan Jin fainted in the lab after working overtime.
Two people with no connection were rushed to the same hospital.
Three days later, neither of them had woken up.
Suddenly, the entire nation discovered that a live streaming app had been forcibly installed on their phones.
Upon opening it, they heard the two discussing how to escape from the brothel.
The entire internet was in an uproar.
After the two successfully escaped from the brothel, Yu Shu’s fan group rushed to make a banner and sent it to the hospital overnight.
“Big sister bravely took action to defend the chastity of our idol!”
※※※
When Yu Shu was diagnosed with pregnancy, Yan Jin stared at his belly for a long time.
Covering his stomach, he muttered gloomily, “If you don’t like it, I’ll go get an abortion.”
“It’s not that I don’t like it.” Yan Jin hugged Yu Shu and said softly, “I just feel like I’m not human.”
Yu Shu comforted Yan Jin, “I was already an adult when we got together.”
Yan Jin hesitated, “But you won’t be of legal marriageable age even after giving birth to the child.”
At the same time, a flood of bullet comments appeared in the live streaming room that the two couldn’t see.
[Although it’s inappropriate, I also want a young and handsome boyfriend to have my child.]
①Male pregnancy (highlighted)
The female lead is five years older than the male lead, and the male lead is already an adult when he appears.
