The Deposed Empress and Her New Husband (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 16
Ikar’s brow furrowed slightly.
Though tension pressed in, Renev calmly stepped forward one pace at a time and spoke with composure.
“I’ve heard rumors that His Majesty, the Emperor of Vaschker, has hair as black as obsidian and crimson eyes.”
“…….”
“And I also heard that Sir Drhan has golden hair and green eyes.”
Walking in step with Renev’s stride, Ikar asked,
“Is that all the clue you had to recognize me as the Emperor?”
“There’s more.”
Ikar gave her a look urging her to continue.
“According to rumors, Sir Drhan is said to resemble a delicate, youthful beauty. But Your Majesty…”
“Your Majesty…?”
Renev looked at Ikar’s firm arm and said,
“Your build is exceptionally robust—strong enough to overpower even a seasoned knight.”
“I had no idea such rumors had reached Paradium.”
Ikar murmured quietly, his expression growing slightly serious.
Of course, such detailed gossip never circulated in Paradium. Renev only knew because she’d seen both of them in person before her regression.
Since admitting she’d regressed would surely earn her the reputation of someone wearing flowers in her hair, this was the best answer Renev could give.
“And though you may not know this, there are also rumors that both of you are extraordinarily handsome.”
This was true.
Ever since his surprise appearance at the Founding Day Festival, Ikar had been the talk of Paradium’s social circles for quite some time.
“Both of you?”
But Ikar seemed oddly fixated on that particular point. Renev quickly shifted tactics.
“Of course! Especially—everyone agrees that His Majesty’s appearance is overwhelmingly beautiful.”
“Then, which type is to your taste?”
“My taste?”
“Yes. Do you prefer delicate, youthful boys, or someone sturdier than a knight?”
Renev was deeply flustered.
She’d spent days trying to understand Ikar, yet he remained utterly unpredictable.
His actions and words held consistency, but occasionally he’d surprise her.
Thus, Renev pondered carefully what to say to navigate this crisis smoothly.
“Judging by your hesitation to answer immediately, your preference must lean toward the delicate type.”
Renev, who had been nervously biting her lower lip, startled when her eyes met Ikar’s.
His eyes were slightly curved, and the corners of his mouth lifted faintly.
Yet he radiated a distinctly unpleasant aura—an ominous, threatening presence as if he might draw his sword at any moment.
Renev quickly spoke up.
“My preference may not matter much, but I suppose I do lean toward the sturdier type.”
This was the truth.
Though Lucius trained with the sword, he spent most of his time handling documents in his office, so he couldn’t truly be called muscular.
Compared to Ikar, he definitely leaned toward the delicate side.
And that had been the moment Renev realized her taste wasn’t for smooth, slender beauties after all.
“Despite his unassuming appearance, Drhan is quite strong too.”
Only then did Ikar ask with intrigued eyes,
“And… I also think sun-kissed, healthy-looking skin is very attractive.”
Ikar spoke with even greater interest.
“Oh? Like mine, you mean?”
“Of course, just like Your Majesty’s.”
Renev forced out each word with difficulty.
At last, a broad smile spread across Ikar’s face—the perfect moment for the saying: “Flattery can make even a dragon dance the hula.”
Unaware that Renev had broken into a cold sweat trying to soothe his suddenly foul mood, Ikar’s spirits had considerably lifted.
“Your Majesty, are you heading to the study?”
Drhan, approaching from across the corridor, asked.
“Yes.”
“I happened to have something to report—this is perfect. Regarding what you mentioned last time…”
Drhan, who had been glancing down at some documents, suddenly looked up.
Because Ikar was humming a tune under his breath.
Even Drhan, who had served his lord closely for over ten years, had never seen Ikar humming like this before.
“…Your Majesty?”
“What is it?”
“Has something pleasant happened?”
“Pleasant?”
As Ikar calmly walked toward the study, the corner of his mouth curled upward slightly.
Drhan tensed immediately. Every time he saw that expression, trouble inevitably followed.
“Now that I think about it, yes.”
“What was it? This pleasant thing, I mean.”
“I hadn’t intended to mention it, but since you seem curious, it’s only right I tell you myself.”
Wondering what on earth Ikar was building up to, Drhan quietly waited for his reply.
“A short while ago, I went for a walk and met Lady Renev of House Seiren in the Grand Garden.”
“I see.”
“The young lady told me her preference in men.”
Drhan nodded along with an appropriately responsive murmur.
“You mean Lady Renev of House Seiren’s preference in men?”
Ikar nodded.
“Drhan, are you curious?”
“Huh? Well… yes. Please tell me.”
In an instant, the smile lingering on Ikar’s lips vanished completely.
At first, upon hearing Renev’s taste in men, he’d planned to clearly inform Drhan.
That an insurmountable wall of preference stood between Drhan and her.
But Ikar quickly changed his mind.
‘No need to tell him after all.’
The image of Renev intently gazing at Drhan in Count Juelbern’s manor had just surfaced in his memory.
“Vain, you’ve worked hard well into the late hours.”
Vain, who had been reviewing documents inside the study, looked up.
“It’s nothing unusual, Your Majesty. In fact, I felt rather empty without you visiting the study even after meals.”
Rubbing his drowsy eyes, Vain spoke as Ikar sat at his desk and began paperwork.
“Um, Your Majesty?”
Drhan tilted his head, looking at Ikar. Only then did Ikar lift his gaze to meet Drhan’s.
“What is it?”
“You were about to say something earlier…”
Just as Drhan finished speaking,
“Vain, it might be best to double-check this document.”
Vain quickly stepped over to examine the papers.
“Oh—there seems to be an error in the figures. My apologies, Your Majesty. I’ll correct it right away.”
Ikar lowered his eyes back to the documents but still noticed Drhan standing firmly before him.
“Drhan. If you’re not heading to your chambers to rest, why not catch up on your pending work?”
“…Yes, Your Majesty.”
Drhan opened and closed his mouth helplessly before moving to sit beside Vain.
Thus, as usual, the Emperor’s study remained brightly lit until dawn.
Renev’s eyes widened in astonishment as she stepped out of the bathroom.
“What on earth is all this?”
“These are the items His Majesty has graciously bestowed upon you, my lady.”
The bedroom was densely packed with dresses she’d never seen before—apparently, the Emperor was keeping his promise to provide generous support to his honored guest.
As Renev gazed at the dresses with a troubled expression, Kieran cheerfully spoke up.
“My lady, which dress will you wear today?”
The maid seemed delighted that the young lady she served was receiving such fine treatment.
“This one looks nice.”
Renev had chosen a puff-sleeved dress made of light blue fabric adorned with cream-colored lace.
Once her choice was made, the maids moved in perfect unison—clearing the dress racks that filled the room into the adjacent chamber and assisting Renev with her change.
“It suits you wonderfully!”
As Renev stood before the mirror in her new dress, Kieran brought her tightly clenched fists to her cheeks and shook them excitedly.
“Thank you, Kieran. I look forward to working with you.”
At Renev’s slight smile, Kieran blushed and replied,
“It’s truly an honor to serve someone as ladylike as you. The pleasure is mine!”
Nodding, Renev moved toward the door and asked,
“By the way, Kieran, where do others usually take their meals?”
“Some dine in the dining room, while others prefer their private chambers, as far as I know.”
“Then I’ll have today’s meal in the dining room.”
Kieran promptly opened the bedroom door and said,
“I’ll show you the way, my lady.”
Upon entering the dining room, Renev spotted someone just settling into their seat.
It was Princess Rachel of Laina.
She had visited Paradium during Renev’s time as Empress.
Back then, Rachel had even openly rebuked Esica, who acted arrogantly as if she were Empress herself.
Rachel had merely pointed out the obvious truth.
But in Paradium at that time, no one dared speak such obvious truths aloud.
After all, Lucius had gradually become a tyrant as he aged.
Perhaps for that reason, Renev found Rachel endearing. Their similar ages likely helped their conversations flow easily too.
Seeing her again now, a natural smile graced Renev’s face.
“If you haven’t started eating yet, would it be alright if I joined you?”
At that, the maid standing behind Rachel quickly whispered into her ear.
“Of course! Please sit here.”
Despite the sudden encounter, Rachel’s friendly nature kept the meal warm and lively throughout.
Their main topics included where each was staying and Vaschker’s customs.
After the meal, Renev and Rachel moved to the imperial palace garden for tea.
Midway through their conversation, Rachel’s remark startled Renev.
“But… have we met before?”
Renev lowered her gaze to her teacup and thought.
‘Why would she ask that? Could it be…?’
For a fleeting moment, she wondered if she wasn’t the only Regressor—but quickly dismissed the thought.
“I believe this is our first meeting. May I ask why you ask?”
“It’s hard to explain, but I feel strangely familiar with you.”
“I feel the same. It seems I get along well with you, Your Highness.”
“Oh! So it’s not just me! That makes me so happy!”
Rachel, whose already large eyes widened further in delight, was just beaming—when her maid approached and whispered to her.
“…Understood. Tell them I’ll be there shortly.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
Rachel said with an apologetic expression,
“What shall I do? It seems guests have arrived from Laina.”
“Oh, don’t worry about me—please go ahead.”
“I’m sorry, my lady. I’ll see you again.”
Rachel rose from her seat first.
Renev, glancing at her now-empty teacup, also stood up.
The sunlight felt pleasantly warm. A short stroll through the palace garden seemed just right.
As she walked slowly, lost in various thoughts, Renev eventually focused on one question.
In the original story, Lucius and Esica overcame adversity, confirmed their love for each other, and the tale ended there.
Yet, whether before or after her regression, Renev’s different actions had led to circumstances diverging from the original plot.
After all, in the original story, Ikar was merely an extra side character who died young.
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
MANGA DISCUSSION
1 Comment
Chapter Comments (76)
Shouldn’t you try to caution your parents a little Renev?
I suppose revenge is completely out of the window?
I am sensing the emergence of the second male lead !
Inline Comments (1)
It felt familiar yet warm—somehow.
How an already 30 chapters in without anything significant happening?!
YOUR COMMENT
2. Inline comments are now available. Tap the end of any line in a chapter to share your thoughts instantly.
Log in to comment.
VKotaku28
Did Ikar stay single because he fell in love with rebev?