The Blackened Second Male Lead’s Wife - Chapter 44

Chapter 44

I haven’t visited Lucian since then. Lucian didn’t visit me either. And he didn’t send any more gifts to me.

It’s been like that for a week.

“You look so beautiful today, miss! You look even more beautiful than the roses in autumn and brighter than the moon in the night sky.”

Anne’s generous compliment made the corners of my lips raise.

“Then I’ll be back.”

I had a big bouquet of flowers in my hand. It was for Estelle.

Today was the day that Estelle left.

The whole empire was shocked to suddenly find out about Estelle’s study abroad. A Saint leaving the empire for personal matters was unheard of.

The news of her studying abroad made a lot of noise, but with the power of the three men, the situation soon calmed down.

[The saint is a precious treasure of this empire. If such a person leaves and if something were to happen to them, then the Empire will suffer a great loss.]

The Emperor refuted the aristocrat’s dispute.

[Think about the benefits, not the losses. It is unusual for the Kingdom of Sebran to allow foreigners to study at their national medical center. This is possible only because she is a saint. If the saint learns the medicine of the Kingdom Sebran, our imperial medicine will advance dramatically. Wouldn’t this be very helpful for our country?]

The aristocrats kept their mouths shut when the Emperor said it was of national interest.

The Emperor continued with a gentle face.

[If you’re so worried about the Saintess, you can use your own money to hire her an escort. I won’t stop you from gathering a few hundred people to guard her.]

In the case of commoners who were directly cared for by Estelle, their response was more explosive than the nobles’.

In particular, those who were being treated at the Flower Grass House held Estelle’s hand with desperate faces.

[What if the saint abandons us? We can never live without the saint.]

[You said you’d care for me until I was healthy again.]

[Please don’t go.]

From children to mothers, workers, and old people, they all hung onto Estelle with desperate faces.

It was Carlix who stopped them. Carlix’s black eyes pierced through them.

[Don’t worry. I will personally take care of you from now on.]

Carlix was responsible for taking care of the Flower Grass House when Estelle left.

Estelle needed to be taken care of as well. And that’s one thing he could do for her.

His beautiful heart was created by their love.

But contrary to his sincerity, the people seemed to feel differently about it.

[I’m not hurt at all!]

[My whole body feels alright now!]

[You can go anywhere you want to, Saintess!]

Evenmore, Carlix miraculously was able to treat those who even Estelle couldn’t treat. Those who couldn’t get out of bed were now able to.

…..Or they were faking it. (Note: The joke here is that some people might have been faking their illness this whole time.)

Anyway, that was the situation with the common people.

The last ones left were priests, who were the most persistent.

They even staged a hunger strike and flocked to the Flower Grass House, preaching how the Saintess should never leave.

And what made the priests shut up was….

In front of my mansion stood a huge carriage and Lucian.

Lucian approached me with a smile on his face.

“Long time no see, Lady Pernia.”

My heart started pounding a little, but I hid it and nodded with a haughty face.

“Hm.”

Lucian smiled with no sign of displeasure at my curt reply.

“Let’s go then.”

His face, escorting me into the carriage, was the purest.

He looked so harmless like he would not even kill a fly buzzing in his ear.

But I knew how scary he could be to protect anything precious to him.

Sitting in the carriage, I asked in a coy voice.

“I heard from Estelle yesterday. The priests, who persistently opposed Estelle’s study abroad, came and wished her a safe trip. Estelle was very happy that she could comfortably leave now.”

“That’s a relief.”

I clicked my tongue at Lucian’s reply. It was as if he had nothing to do with it.

“I heard the priests changed their minds after you visited them. How did you change those oldies’ minds? Did you bring out your sword and threaten them?”

Lucian’s eyebrows rose like he couldn’t believe what I just said.

“I wouldn’t do such an impolite thing to the priests.”

“Then what did you do?”

Lucian replied with a troubled face.

“……Just eye contact. That lasted a little but too long.”

I looked into Lucian’s eyes.

How can such pretty red eyes be scary? I could only think of rubies when looking at them.

I couldn’t imagine it, but I could believe it.

‘Since he could kill a man with his eyes, then that means he must’ve done it dozens of times.’

For Estelle.

“……Lady Pernia, what’s wrong?”

“What?”

“You look angry.”

“No, I’m not.”

“……”

I gave a short answer and turned to the window. I felt Lucian anxiously looking at me, but I ignored it.

This was called throwing a fit. (Note: 흥칫뿡 is basically how a girl would throw a fit but in a cute way. There is a song called 흥칫뿡 (Hmph!) by WJSN CHOCOME if you want to get the vibe of it.)

I had all sorts of thoughts in my head.

‘I did tell him to stop sending me gifts, but he didn’t have to stop right away. If he really wanted to keep sending me gifts, he should’ve argued back.’

‘And. While he did listen when I told him to take everything back, he shouldn’t have done it the very next day. How could he take back what he already gave me that quickly? If he really didn’t want to take everything back, he should’ve said something.’

‘And how can he not contact me even though I didn’t contact him either? He used to come all the time even when I told him not to.’

‘And he met with Estelle twice.’

The thought of it still made me angry.

You said you liked me!

Well, even if I didn’t return it, you don’t have to distance yourself, you stupid man!

“Lady Pernia, we’re here.”

“….!”

I came to my senses when I heard his soft voice.

I often get lost in my thoughts these past few days.

Having regained my senses, I wrinkled my eyebrows in shame.

I drew a line first because I wasn’t sure about him, and now I’m blaming him for distancing himself.

‘You’re a fool, Pernia.’

I closed my eyes tightly and opened them.

Lucian was looking at me with a very worried expression.

“Are you all right? Are you not feeling well?”

“I’m fine. Estelle is waiting for us. Let’s go.”

I managed to control my expression on my face and fixed my clothes.

Lucian looked at me with a worried face and opened the carriage door.

I held Lucian’s hand and stepped into the dense forest.

Estelle and Carlix were standing on the wooded path. The two of them were holding hands. They looked like a well-matched pair of lovers.

Estelle, who was grinning at something Carlix said, looked our way and smiled brightly.

“Miss Nia! Lucian!”

“We’re not late, are we?”

“Nope. Thank you for coming all the way here.”

“Don’t say that. I wanted to see you off.”

The Kingdom of Sebran was famous for being picky with foreigners. It was impossible for nobles to get permission to enter the country within a two weeks time period.

I looked at Carlix, who was glued to Estelle’s side like a gum.

“You managed to get an entry permit from such a strict country.”

“This is the body of a Crown Prince. Who would dare block my steps?”

He’s pretending to be cool.

If they don’t give him an entry permit, they’ll have to prepare for a war.

‘Well, this is good for Estelle.’

Thanks to Carlix’s fuss, Estelle did not have to travel far away alone.

Estelle would have an easier time adjusting to the Kingdom of Sebran if Carlix was with her even if it’s just for a short amount of time.

Above all, given that the Crown Prince of the Empire cherished her so much, no one in the Kingdom of Sebran would dare to treat Estelle as they liked.

Thanks to him, I was able to send Estelle away without much worry.

I handed Estelle the bouquet I was holding.

“Take care and come back safely.”

Tears soon formed in Estelle’s round eyes. Estelle smiled, holding a bunch of white flowers that resembled her.

“Thank you, Miss Nia.”

“Did you pack plenty of paper?”

“Yes. I’ll write you a letter once a week.”

Estelle’s departure to a faraway place was regrettable, but not a sad development.

Because Estelle’s leaving to fulfill her dream.

Estelle would see, hear, and experience a lot in the world.

This didn’t happen in the original novel.

I liked this version much better.

After our warm goodbye, it was Lucian’s turn.

Estelle smiled facing Lucian.

“Lucian, you were always the one leaving and I would be the one staying, but this time it’s the opposite.”

“I know.”

Estelle said, frowning as if she was finally telling the truth.

“I’m telling you now, but I was a little upset that you always left without writing me a single letter or saying goodbye.”

Lucian said with lowered eyebrows.

“……I didn’t want to make you worry about me.”

That’s a lie.

If you saw Estelle’s face, you wouldn’t want to leave.

Estelle naively believed his brazen lie.

“Yeah but I was upset. However, I’m going to forgive you for that. Because you came to see me off today.”

Estelle gave him a playful smile. It was an expression that she only showed to those who she really likes.

Lucian burst into laughter at Estelle’s face.

“Then, have a safe trip.”

This was just an ordinary farewell.

I shouldn’t feel anything from this.

That’s why even Carlix, the embodiment of jealousy, stayed still where he was.

But….

Why did I pull Lucian’s hand away?

As if I didn’t want him to look at Estelle anymore, and for him to stay by my side.