“You must have had some reason, Your Majesty?”
There should be. A valid one at that. Even with a significant reason, assault is not allowed.
In the past, even a non-royal in Basuker could challenge and win a duel to become the emperor.
Given that culture still existed, Ikar was undoubtedly the strongest in current Basuker.
Receiving a punch from such a person…
The actions of Viscount Belkein could easily escalate into an international issue.
Ikar must be aware of that.
Yet he was so nonchalant.
“He just didn’t seem to like me, I guess.”
Viscount Belkein spoke in a subdued voice.
Reneb frowned and turned her head toward Viscount Belkein.
Although he said so, his broad shoulders seemed gloomier than usual today.
Seeing him look like a lost puppy, Reneb felt even more sorry.
Naturally, her gaze toward Ikar was not pleasant.
Just as Reneb was about to say something more.
“I’m fine. It hurts me more to see you distressed because of me.”
Viscount Belkein’s large hand covered Reneb’s on the table.
Startled by the sudden contact, Reneb was momentarily flustered.
But before she could shake his hand off, Viscount Belkein’s hand graciously retreated.
“Touching an unmarried woman so casually, you’re disgraceful, Prince.”
Ikar spat out the words.
His lips curled slightly, but his eyes resembled a predator eyeing its prey.
Reneb swallowed dryly.
She had momentarily forgotten, but Ikar was undeniably dangerous.
“If you won’t tell me why you hit Viscount Belkein, it’s better for you to leave.”
Reneb indirectly told Ikar to leave.
She had no expectations of an apology.
But if he was unwilling to even discuss the reason, there was no need for pointless squabbling.
Ikar slightly furrowed his brow, seemingly understanding Reneb’s intention.
“Something similar happened with Viscount Siren before.”
Ikar mumbled quietly.
“What?”
“I thought it was the same situation…”
Stopping mid-sentence, Ikar suddenly stood up.
He briefly glanced at Viscount Belkein, then walked toward the door.
Just before exiting, Ikar added one more sentence.
“I will thoroughly compensate for this matter.”
And then he left the reception room.
Stunned by the absurdity, Reneb gaped as she watched Ikar’s retreating figure.
“……What happened at the estate of Duke Siren?”
Viscount Belkain asked, and it was only then that Renéve understood why Ikar had hit Viscount Belkain.
‘So, could it be……?’
Ikar, leaving the reception room, walked the palace corridors with an expressionless face.
Walking a long corridor to cool his head, Ikar entered an empty bedroom used for guests.
And he muttered.
“Was it just to remove the ginkgo leaf stuck on the hem of the dress?”
Ikar had taken the tyrannical emperors of the past as negative examples.
Even if he became emperor, he would not attack or harm others without a justifiable reason.
And today, he had broken that promise to himself.
Ikar wiped his dry face.
‘Why on earth… did I do that?’
Heat rushed to the tips of his ears, an obvious symptom.
He had acted entirely out of character.
Sending a punch before even thinking when he thought that Viscount Belkain was about to forcibly kiss Renéve.
And the moment he remembered the prince of Paradigm kissing Renéve at the Duke Siren estate, a stabbing pain struck his chest.
Ikar touched the area of his chest where the pain had risen.
“Do I have a disease?”
There was no other explanation for his behavior.
“It must be an illness.”
Yes, that would explain it.
Ikar immediately left the bedroom and walked the corridor again. He soon encountered a servant.
“Call the physician.”
“Eh? Yes, Your Majesty.”
The servant looked a bit surprised, then bowed deeply and departed.
As Ikar moved toward his office, he thought.
He would expedite the establishment of a mental health research facility.
‘What happened at the estate of Duke Siren?’
Renéve recalled what Viscount Belkain had said earlier, and heat quickly flushed her face.
‘So Ikar saw all of that…’
The thought that she had been seen being forcibly kissed by Lucius by Ikar made her feel strange.
She had certainly done nothing to feel ashamed of before Ikar.
Yet she couldn’t shake the feeling that she had been caught red-handed by him.
“Lady, are you feeling hot?”
Kieren asked, watching Renéve fan her flushed cheeks.
With no other pretext, Renéve agreed with Kieren’s words.
“It is a bit hot today…”
“Isn’t it? Then let me open the window for a moment.”
Kieren slightly opened the tightly shut window.
The cool breeze of early evening quickly cooled Renéve’s flushed cheeks.
Renéve rested her chin on the table and stared out the window.
However, she was only briefly captivated by the beauty of the evening sky as the sun set.
Soon, the image of Ikar throwing a punch at Viscount Belkain vividly replayed in her mind.
Even without showing an authoritarian attitude, Ikar exuded an aura that was sufficiently unapproachable.
The Male lead Always Seduces Her with His Beauty (Matriarchy)
Xin Jiao Zhou is the leader of the world’s premier sect. She has just experienced betrayal from all sides, was poisoned in an assassination attempt, and faced death squad attacks while the poison was taking effect. After finally clearing out the scum from her sect, she was drugged again while trying to detoxify.
After waking up from a night of unconsciousness, she gained a “beautiful and kind-hearted” husband.
Xin Jiao Zhou: “???”
He fell ill.
She came to see him, bringing breakfast.
As she put down the breakfast and was about to leave, his hand slipped while holding the spoon. “Clank!”
She turned around upon hearing the noise.
He looked up at her, his eyebrows drooping: “My hand… has no strength.”
“Shall I… feed you?” she asked tentatively.
He opened his mouth cheerfully: “Ah—”
Thinking she was drowning, he jumped in without hesitation to save her, but nearly drowned himself. In the end, it was she who swam over to rescue him, giving him air underwater.
After emerging from the water, his ear tips turned red. He lightly brushed his cheek, tucking his sideburns behind his ear, revealing delicate, pink-tinged ear tips. He lowered his gaze, too embarrassed to look at her.
Xin Jiao Zhou: He’s truly beautiful, kind-hearted, and adorable.
A certain someone when disciplining subordinates behind the scenes: “If they don’t obey, just kill them.”
What’s that? She might already have someone she cares about in her heart? A certain someone: Find out who it is, kill them, and then there won’t be anyone.
What? She met a man by the riverside? What? That man even hurt her? A certain someone: Whichever hand hurt her, chop off his entire arm.
Love at first sight without realizing it, gradually falling in love, slowly getting closer…
Family and national grudges, schemes and desires, good and evil, crime and punishment, she and he face the future together, seeking justice with passion!
A naturally dark female lead who could accidentally destroy the world but is actually an honest person VS a weak, pitiful, and helpless but skilled fighter, beautiful white-cut black male lead
My heart is not of stone, how steadfast is your love? — Tao Yuanming “Imitating the Ancients (No. 3)”
— Reading Guide —
Cold female lead & dramatic black lotus with hidden yandere traits male lead
