The Blackened Second Male Lead’s Wife - Chapter 51

The first thing that caught my eye was the dangling accessories that adorned his entire body.

The man with flashy accessories, from his ears, neck, arms, and waist, yawned nonchalantly.

‘Oh my! He even has makeup on!’

He was not an extremely handsome man, but he looked gorgeous with that clean face and makeup.

He looks just like an idol all dressed up.

He looks completely different from what I had expected.

‘It would suit that face if he were to hold a microphone, instead of a scalpel.’

I approached Kuhn, grabbed my skirt, and greeted him.

“Welcome to the Empire. I’m Pernia Lilac, your escort.”

I thought he would continue by introducing himself right away, instead…

Kuhn looked up and down at me as if he were looking at an object and said with a blunt face.

“What? I was wondering how great Kardien’s fiancee must be but… you’re ugly.”

…. What did he say?

I’m ugly?

I was speechless.

I was told by many that I was rude, and that I was incompentent, but the one thing that has never been insulted was my face.

I wanted to grab him by the collar and shout, ‘Can your eyes see properly?’ but I held it in.

‘Lucian told me about this in advance. He has an unusual personality, so it won’t be easy to deal with it.’

Let’s never be swayed by this. The important thing is to properly please the emperor and take Kuhn to his Majesty.

I kept a smile that I had honed countless times.

“(Stop talking nonsense and) Let’s go. His Majesty is waiting.”

Fortunately, Kuhn followed me with a gentle nod.

Although he muttered more nonsense.

“You’re ugly even when you smile.”

Should I just kill him now?

***

I had to exercise tremendous patience until we got to the castle.

This is because he constantly uttered bullcrap on the way there.

Due to this, I had to use the advanced skills of a noble lady. It was a technique called letting the words go in one ear and out the other.

Of course, since he was a VIP, I couldn’t ignore him as I’d like, and so I replied with soulless comments.

“You’re completely different from what Estelle said. She said you were a lady of great beauty. Sigh… I’m a fool to believe her.”

“Each country has different standards of beauty.”

A face like mine is of high value in the empire.

I struggled to answer with a smile, but the answer that returned was bleak.

“The Empire has a very unique taste.”

It didn’t end there.

“You said you were the daughter of Marquis Lilac, right? So you’re like family to the imperial family. Are you close to the imperial family? Or do you have a highly valuable piece of land?

“I’m just an ordinary lady.”

“What? How did an ugly girl like you become Kardien’s fiancee?”

It was the emperor’s order!

His questions continued after that.

“How’s your relationship with Kardien?””

“Good.”

“Pfft. Stop lying. Be honest. Even if you are his fiancee, you hardly ever saw him. Because he’s terribly indifferent to people and puts up a wall with women.”

Not able to stand it anymore, I stared at him, and then turned my eyes away.

Otherwise, I would’ve rushed into him and ripped his head off.

I answered mechanically.

“Think as you please.”

Ha. Nothing is easy in the world.

I thought that maybe I shouldn’t have done anything, but fortunately, we arrived at the palace.

The short meeting with him was over now.

“You’re not pretty, nor do you come from a good family. I thought you would have a good personality, but you don’t. You’re no fun.”

It’s none of my concern whether you found me fun or not.

I said, ignoring what he said.

“We’ve arrived at the imperial palace. From here, you can go with those servants.”

“Aren’t you going with me?”

“That’s not my job.”

So, bye bye.

Let’s not meet again.

***

Kuhn found the emperor’s room.

Unlike when he was making a fuss in front of me, he treated the patient with focus.

Kuhn said with a cautious face after reading the emperor’s wrist.

“You’re not in a good condition. But it’s not too late.”

“Does that mean…”

“I’m going to start the detoxification treatment today. Completely fixing organs that have already been damaged by poison would be irrational, but it is possible to remove the poison that remains in the body. You won’t die if that is done.”

Kuhn’s words brightened the smiling emperor’s face.

It was a miracle for him, who thought that only the day of his death was left.

The emperor said.

“Have the best equipment be prepared for Lord Kuhn.”

Thus, Kuhn began to treat the emperor.

Surprisingly, not long after, I began to see improvement in his majesty’s health.

A sip of water improved the condition of the emperor, who vomited blood.

“I heard your Majesty’s condition has improved noticeably.”

“Such amazing skill. Lord Kuhn is the empire’s savior.”

The name that saved the dying emperor. A doctor with mysterious foreign medicine.

Kuhn became a huge celebrity among the aristocracy.

Then, one day.

“Haaa. I’m so tired of seeing his face and doing the same thing every day.”

Kuhn’s words made the imperial city go wild. Somehow, we had to capture the volatile doctor’s heart so that he wouldn’t leave us.

After much consideration, the Empress Dowager held a banquet for Kuhn. The imperial palace’s doors finally opened after a long time.

Numerous nobles attended the banquet.

They came to enjoy the incredible feast provided at the banquet, but the biggest reason was to see Kuhn.

It was an opportunity to see the name in the rumor.

“……I don’t really want to see him.”

My father gave me a serious look from what I said.

“What are you saying, Pernia? If you are from the Lilac family, you should know the face of a celebrity. It’s even better if you get to know each other!”

Looking at my enthusiastic father, I sighed.

‘He brought me because he wanted to pretend to know Kuhn.’

When my father heard that I escorted Kuhn, he praised me, saying how my relation to him was important to our family.

Then, he dragged me with him to see Kuhn.

Kuhn’s first impression of me was so bad that I didn’t want to go to the banquet. However, my father was so persistent so I had no choice but to follow him.

‘Okay, let’s pretend to be filial.’

To be honest, it’s true that I was too cold-hearted to my father.

If Kuhn or Koom pretends to not know me, then I can stop.

I headed to the imperial banquet hall with my father.

Entering the banquet hall, my eyes widened.

‘They held a banquet to suit Kuhn’s taste. It’s definitely glamorous.’

So far, imperial banquets have been refined and elegant. However, today’s banquet was fancy enough, it feels superficial.

It glistened with elaborately engraved ornaments throughout the banquet hall.

Kuhn appeared as the main character of the banquet.

Lapping in accessories. Neatly drawn eyeliner. Flashy clothes. He was dressed more glamorously than when we first met.

“… d-did you put on makeup?”

“That’s what it is.”

Some people were repulsed by his completely different appearance from the noble men of the empire, but the women’s response was favorable. (Especially girls who are vulnerable to his gorgeous looks.)

“I thought he was a potbellied middle-aged man… I didn’t know he was this young and handsome.”

“Experience is important for a doctor. How can you have such skills at that age?”

In response to the women, Kuhn replied, sweeping his hair over.

“Because I’m a genius.”

….Such a ridiculous response. But it seems to have worked again.

“So cool!”

The women applauded Kuhn and praised him.

…. It was a spectacle.

After that, the banquet became a dogfight, no, a Kuhn-fight.

Kuhn had a conversation with the women around him with a smile.

“I heard you participated in numerous wars.”

“Really?”

“You’re so brave to go to such a dangerous place on your own. Weren’t you afraid?

“Not at all. I’m a doctor. A doctor is a friend of death. I’m never afraid of death.”

“Kyaa!”

His fangirls, who formed before I knew it, screamed.

In all respects, today’s banquet was far from elegant.

Looking at Kuhn and his fangirls, some nobles clicked their tongues.

The empress smiled and said.

“He’s really free-spirited, perhaps it’s because he’s from abroad. He must have been such a talented person from a young age.”

Grandma, don’t lie and tell us what you honestly think.

In truth, she thinks he’s a total dog.

Kuhn did not use common honorifics, let alone court etiquette.

It was clear that it was unbearable for the Empress Dowager, who values courtesy.

Nevertheless, the Empress Dowager did not say anything to Kuhn.

Kuhn was the person who currently holds the string of life and death of the emperor.

The Empress Dowager wasn’t the only one who criticized Kuhn as such. The older nobles smiled sourly and struggled to side with Kuhn.

“Banquets here have always been quiet, but the atmosphere became brighter thanks to our precious guest.”

“That’s what I meant. Hahaha.”

A noble old man called out.

Although I look to be smiling, I’m actually not.

‘…Well, in my father’s case, I think he’s really into Kuhn.’

Father was nodding as if he was impressed by Kuhn’s words as he was caught among young noble ladies.

Kuhn’s groundless confident talk seems to have suited father’s taste.

My father raised his hand and asked with a passionate face.

“Mr. Kuhn, I heard that Lord Kardien was also with you on the battlefield. Is it true?”

“Yeah.”

“Lord Kardien is the best knight in this empire. He is also a hero who ended a long war in three years. However, very little is known about Lord Kardien because he is a very quiet person. Can you tell us any stories about him on the battlefield?”

…Father, I was supposed to ask that question.

When my father asked that question, the women who were listening to Kuhn’s stories stirred up.

A story about the rising star, Kuhn, and the universe’s star, Kardien.

It was a story that anyone would be curious about.

Including me.

Until now, the earholes that had been blocked because they didn’t want to hear Kuhn’s bragging were opened at once.

‘Seeing that he was curious about my face, he must be a big fan of Kardien, huh?’

I wondered what kind of story he would tell.

“Kardien, huh? I have an anecdote about that bastard.”

Him calling Kardien a “bastard” was offensive, but I let it go. He’s a thoughtless man with no manners.

Kuhn continued as the people at the banquet hall watched him.