The Regressed Empress Tames the Hunting Dog (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 9
Ronica Royal Palace was generally quiet.
Of course, as befitting the royal palace of a nation, many people came and went, and those who worked there diligently performed their duties—but rather than being dynamic, the atmosphere was quaint and warm.
Yet for the first time in a long while, the palace was unusually noisy.
Amidst the unfamiliar, excited atmosphere, Bellia glanced swiftly around her.
Near Bellia, who stood on the stairs, everyone—from the King of Ronica and other royals to the Prime Minister and elder nobles of the council—had gathered outside.
“How are you feeling?”
At that moment, Herald, standing beside her, asked cautiously while studying Bellia’s expression.
Though she clearly understood why her older brother was watching her so closely, Bellia pretended ignorance and answered with a bright smile.
“I’m very happy.”
Herald gave an awkward laugh at Bellia’s reply, which sounded no different from her usual self.
His expression plainly showed discomfort, obvious to anyone who looked.
‘Why not just ask me outright? Honestly, older brother really…’
That was why.
The reason such an unusually large crowd had gathered here, and why Herald kept glancing sideways at her expression, was—
“Waaaah!”
“Welcome to the Ronica Kingdom!”
“Kyaa! His Highness Prince Kalid!”
—because today was the official visit of Kalid, the Second Imperial Prince of the Ingott Empire, who had recently been rumored to have some kind of relationship with Bellia.
Cheers began echoing from near the main gate—apparently, he had finally arrived.
‘At last…!’
After his previous visit to the palace, Kalid had sent a formal letter stating his intention to officially visit the Ronica Kingdom. Although the matter had already been settled with the king, appearances still mattered greatly at times like this.
Raoul, the First Prince, had already arrived in Ronica and was leading the joint investigation team between the Empire and the Kingdom, and now Prince Kalid, the Second Prince, was visiting the palace.
Two imperial princes from the Empire visiting the same country simultaneously—such a thing had never happened before, and it was certain that foreign nations would watch with great interest.
“Don’t be needlessly rude to the Second Prince, alright?”
“…Hmm.”
Herald didn’t respond to Bellia’s seemingly caring reminder, merely giving a sullen reply.
How dare he secretly meet my little sister…!
In Herald’s burning eyes, Kalid was no better than a thief.
‘No. I never said the rumors were true.’
Herald calmed himself as best he could and looked toward the main gate—there he saw the Second Prince, the very culprit behind all this, marching forward with his knights and entourage.
As Kalid drew closer to the palace, people kept glancing at Bellia’s expression and behavior.
Their faces clearly screamed curiosity—were the rumors true? Were they really lovers?
“Well… He’s only average-looking.”
Herald muttered grumpily, and Bellia let out a small laugh. Apparently, just because the man was rumored to be involved with his younger sister, Herald instinctively felt rebellious.
“He looks much better up close.”
At his little sister’s playful remark, Herald widened his eyes and turned to stare at her.
His gaze was full of a silent question: Could those rumors actually be true?
Bellia gave no answer to that unspoken question.
After all, their relationship would be revealed to everyone soon enough.
Hehe. Bellia let out a meaningful chuckle and glanced past Herald to catch sight of Raoul’s face.
He was smiling brightly, but she knew it was a carefully constructed facade.
The subtly crooked corner of his mouth and his constantly fidgeting thumb and index finger—
These were his long-standing habits that surfaced whenever something displeased him.
‘Ha. Sincerity, my foot…!’
As she coldly observed him, a conversation from a few days ago with Raoul suddenly came to mind.
With a sharp sound, Bellia’s expression crumpled instantly. The more she thought about it, the more anger surged within her.
“He’s much better than someone else, at least.”
Though she didn’t specify who, Herald immediately understood and murmured softly,
“Well, I suppose he seems less insufferable than the First Prince.”
“Pfft!”
This time, Clozé beside her couldn’t hold back her laughter.
“Clozé…”
“Oh. Sorry, sister.”
Clozé apologized in a voice still tinged with giggles and quickly composed her expression again.
When Kalid reached the palace entrance, the King and Queen of Ronica stepped forward to greet him personally and offered words of welcome.
Kalid, instead of the cold expression he’d worn when first meeting Bellia, now wore a faint smile as he expressed his gratitude to the king and queen.
“Sister. I think I was right.”
“About what?”
“The Second Prince. You know?”
Clozé poked Bellia’s side as she spoke.
At first, Bellia was confused, not understanding what she meant—but then she immediately recalled their previous conversation and bit her lip hard to keep from laughing.
She had to struggle not to ruin her carefully maintained dignified expression.
“What are you talking about?”
“It’s a secret between just you and me, so don’t ask, older brother.”
“So you two left me out again and had your own fun?”
“If I tell you, Abamama will hear everything, so I can’t!”
Clozé declared firmly and turned her head away with a huff. Herald looked at Bellia with a wounded expression.
But Bellia merely gave an awkward smile and turned her head away too.
“…That’s so unfair.”
Herald suddenly felt a little lonely.
The exchange of formal greetings between the king and Kalid finally concluded.
Then, as the king slightly turned to introduce the princes and princesses to Kalid, their eyes met—Kalid’s and Bellia’s.
Kalid grinned widely, clearly delighted.
His smile seemed to say he was eagerly anticipating what kind of welcome greeting she’d prepared.
‘Whew.’
Bellia took a few deep breaths inwardly.
She knew it was a crazy thing to do.
But still.
“Hrk…”
Noticing Bellia’s tense, frozen expression, Kalid smiled and turned his body.
Then, naturally, he greeted Herald.
Herald wore a displeased look, but Kalid’s expression was strikingly bright in contrast.
Soon after, the king began introducing the princesses of Ronica to Kalid.
“These are Bellia and Clozé. All of them are lovely children, aren’t they?”
“Yes. Truly so.”
Oh no, seriously.
At his reply, which made no attempt to hide his feelings, Bellia squeezed her eyes shut and opened them again.
“Hello. I’m Clozé of Ronica.”
“Princess Clozé. It’s a pleasure. I am Kalid Ingott.”
“Yes! I’m really! So happy to meet you!”
While Bellia was mentally preparing herself, Clozé, who was exchanging greetings with him, replied more brightly than anyone else. After all, the Second Prince certainly seemed better than the First Prince.
Her own sister had acknowledged her relationship with him.
In moments like this, she ought to step forward and support her sister.
Thinking this, Clozé winked and whispered softly,
“Please take good care of my sister.”
Kalid, charmed by her adorable words, quietly replied in an equally soft voice,
“Of course.”
Then, for some reason, the two giggled together.
A moment later, Kalid stood before Bellia.
“Bellia.”
He called her name sweetly, flicking his eyebrows slightly.
It was as if he were saying, “If you’ve prepared something, go ahead.”
“Welcome me as if I’m the only one in the world for you.”
His words from before buzzed in her ears.
Just as everyone began to wonder why Bellia wasn’t offering any greeting or action—
Bellia bit her lip tightly.
‘It’s already too late.’
She had started all of this herself.
After all, weren’t they in this together?
There was no need to shy away in embarrassment.
A moment later, when she lifted her head after briefly bowing it, her expression was completely different from before.
‘See this?’
Kalid watched her transformation in real time and gave a mischievous smile.
“Kalid. I’ve missed you.”
As she spoke, Bellia stretched out her arms and took one step forward.
Then, gently closing her eyes, she smiled.
Her smile was so radiant it almost made the surroundings seem brighter.
‘He asked me to treat him as if he were the only one in the world for me?’
Well, that wasn’t hard to do.
To make Raoul retract his marriage proposal, merely spreading rumors about her relationship with the Second Prince wasn’t enough. She needed a grand spectacle that would sear itself into everyone’s memory—a moment so shocking that Raoul would have no choice but to withdraw his proposal.
And so, she had come up with exactly this.
If anyone could have seen into Bellia’s heart right now, they would have desperately tried to stop her.
But no one could read her thoughts—and so, it happened.
“Oh my!”
“Bellia!!”
“Oh dear!”
Bellia stood on tiptoe, wrapped both arms around Kalid’s neck, playfully met his gaze—and then immediately kissed him.
Reactions varied widely, but Kalid’s response was the most striking.
She could feel his body stiffen upon contact. His usual composed demeanor had always annoyed her for no reason—but strangely, this time it felt satisfying.
After kissing him for a very long time, Bellia slowly pulled away.
‘Was this the reaction you wanted, Your Highness Prince Kalid?’
Kalid stared at Bellia’s satisfied expression with trembling eyes—only for a moment.
“Mmph!”
Kalid grabbed Bellia’s nape with one hand and kissed her deeply again.
“Good heavens…”
Herald’s stunned voice rang out.
But Bellia, with a “to hell with it” attitude, responded enthusiastically to Kalid’s kiss.
…They’d figure something out later, right?
Even though this was the official welcome ceremony for Prince Kalid, right in front of Ronica Royal Palace.
‘Raoul must be watching this right now too.’
Thinking of that actually made her feel a little pleased.
‘By the way…’
This man truly didn’t know the meaning of “moderation.”
Bellia lowered the hand that had been around Kalid’s neck and poked his shoulders repeatedly.
It was her way of saying, “Stop it.”
‘Seriously!’
But Kalid merely chuckled softly without pulling his lips away.
“St-stop…”
This time, Bellia warned him aloud in a small voice.
Only then did Kalid finally part his lips from hers. He then pulled her tightly into his arms with an exceptionally tender expression.
“I’m very pleased with your welcome greeting. Please do this often from now on.”
Kalid whispered softly into Bellia’s ear.
Bellia was speechless—but she couldn’t afford to lose. If she didn’t assert dominance here, she’d never be able to manage this willful man in the future.
“Actually, you’re not very good at kissing, are you?”
Kalid’s eyebrows twitched.
“Next time, I’ll count on you to do better, Your Highness.”
At Bellia’s provocative remark, Kalid burst out laughing loudly.
“So it wasn’t satisfying enough? I’ll try harder next time.”
After saying those final words, Kalid released Bellia.
When they finally looked around after their outrageous act, the scene was already in complete chaos.
“B-Bellia…!”
The king and queen stared at Bellia with wide eyes, unable to utter another word. Herald was the same. Among them, only Clozé’s eyes sparkled with amusement.
‘Since when did sister become so bold?’
Everything that had happened today would surely spread rapidly among the nobles.
Quiet, well-behaved Bellia—kissing so boldly in front of so many people, no less during the official welcome for a foreign prince!
And as for the Second Prince—
Not only did he show no sign of panic at Bellia’s sudden move, he actually kissed her back even more passionately.
Of course, he had flinched and stiffened slightly at first, but Clozé hadn’t noticed that part.
Watching the two, who clearly shared a deeper bond than she’d imagined, Clozé decided she’d soon have to pry every detail out of her sister.
She also didn’t forget to compare Kalid and Raoul.
‘Even upon second glance, the Second Prince is definitely better than the First.’
Clozé nodded several times.
Now that she’d met the Second Prince in person, she was fully convinced her earlier reasoning had been absolutely sound.
“Shall we go, then? I’ll help guide you.”
“Good.”
And amidst all the bewildered onlookers, only Kalid and Bellia remained perfectly calm.
Turns Out He’s Been Secretly in Love with Me
One-line summary: He acts like he doesn’t like her but is actually playing hard to get.
Synopsis:
Xu Muzhou like her. He has liked her for a very long time, and through repeated schemes, he finally closed the distance with her.
But this is still far from enough.
He wants to be the one who stands out among her many suitors, to fight for her attention, and to make her take the initiative to pursue him.
_____
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Chapter Comments (3)
Inline Comments (10)
Soon after, Kalid pressed his lips against Bellia’s.
Why the chapter stop here i want mooooore😭
Clozé spoke from the sofa, sprawled out in a thoroughly undignified manner.
I really like Clozé she’s a great supporting character and a good entertaining sister.
Clozé grumbled to herself.
Poor clozé her sister will go on another country to mary she will be allone
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Difficult but she needs to realize her revenge could take quite some time, years possibly. It’s understandable that her emotions have nowhere to go right now, but she needs temperance.
It’s nice to find a ML that has emotional awareness like Kalid does.
This emperor is such a greedy man. If he weren’t so detestable I’d have second-hand embarrassment.