The Blackened Second Male Lead’s Wife - Chapter 67

I was lost in thought while drinking hot tea. 

‘It’s a pity that I couldn’t escape right away, but it’s okay. Anyway, someone who I can ask for help is coming.’

I don’t know if the emperor will actually come all the way here, but at least my father will. 

I don’t want to get direct help from my father. 

Lucian in his current state won’t have any mercy for my father. I also don’t want my father to do anything bad to Lucian for my request.

All I wanted was to have someone inform Estelle of my situation.

‘The only person who overpowered yandere Lucian in the original was Estelle, the saintess. So if Estelle finds out about this, she’ll be able to help me somehow.’ 

“What are you thinking about?” 

The soft voice surprised me. 

Lucian, who entered the room, was looking at me. 

‘You scared me.’

Seeing my hand on my chest, Lucian hurriedly approached me. 

“Are you okay?” 

“It’s nothing.” 

“Oh, tell me. What if you burned your tongue?” 

“……” 

Lucian’s face was full of worries. To the point where I had doubts about his yandere state.

I had high hopes, seeing how warm-hearted and tender he was acting.

Maybe he’s back again. Perhaps the power of the devil has disappeared. 

But it was all my illusion. 

Pushing my hair behind my ears, Lucian said. 

“His Majesty and the marquis have arrived.” 

“Already?” 

I was surprised since Lucian had just sent the letter to them. 

Seeing that they arrived so quickly, they must have come here as soon as they received the letter. 

“Then I must go greet them.” 

Lucian stopped me from getting up.

“I’ll greet them for the both of us, so Nia should stay here. There’s no need for you to go through the trouble.” 

I felt suffocated from his will to never let me out of this room. 

‘What if I say that I miss my father…’

I shook my head. 

Saying such things was forbidden.

Lucian was extremely sensitive to my wants. Even if it is concerning my father, there’s no telling how Lucian will react.

Having quickly gathered my thoughts, I crossed my arms and said to Lucian. 

“I want to show my father and His Majesty how happy we are.” 

“…..”

“You know I like to brag about things like that. Lucian, don’t you want to brag about our lovely relationship to people?” 

Of course, all of that are lies.

This isn’t a happy relationship at all.

I can’t even sleep soundly because I never know when Lucian would transform.

But I can’t reveal that to anyone. I smiled desperately and looked at Lucian. 

‘Please fall for it!’

Lucian looked at me carefully and nodded. 

“Okay then, let’s go together.” 

* * * 

As soon as I entered the drawing room, I saw my father and the emperor sitting in a chair. 

It was my first time seeing someone other than Lucian after coming to this castle. 

It was heartbreaking to see my father shivering in thick clothes.

‘He gets cold easily.’

My father was the weakest among the weak. He is the typical nobleman who never had to endure hardships.

He never went out on a cold day saying he hated the cold.

I felt sad seeing my father’s red nose and wet hair. 

My father, who turned his head at the sound of footsteps, looked at me and widened his eyes. 

“P-Pernia! You’re safe! I-I haven’t heard from you since Lord Kardien took you. Do you know how worried I was? I couldn’t find any traces of you even after asking everyone I could. Even after sending a letter to Lord Kardien, I got no answer, and I stayed up all night wondering if anything happened to you, but you were here. You were here all along!”

My father got up from his seat and ran toward me. Or, at least he tried to.

Lucian blocked my father from coming towards me.

“Marquis, I understand you’re glad to see her after a long time, but please stay away.” 

“H-huh?!” 

Lucian said to my wide-eyed father. 

“I’m the only one who can touch her.” 

My father blinked, shocked at what just happened. 

As soon as my father came to his sense and was about to yell out, the emperor stepped up.

“You heard him. Sit down, Marquis Lilac.” 

“B-but that…!” 

“Sit.” 

At the emperor’s commanding voice, my father sat down, barely able to hold back his boiling emotions. His eyes are still on me.

I could feel resentment on his distorted face.

‘That’s understandable. He was suddenly dragged here when he still wasn’t able to contact me.’

As I looked at my father and sniffled, Lucian suddenly pulled me into his arms. 

“L-Lucian. What are you doing?” 

“Because you looked like you were tired.” 

“….!” 

As if he was not satisfied, he wrapped me in his cloak.

Like a mother hiding her young from hunters. 

It was fortunate that I could only see Lucian’s face since I couldn’t move properly from being wrapped in the cloak. 

Otherwise, I would have to face my father and the emperor who witnessed the most indecent thing in the world. 

‘I want to die.’

Lucian looked at ease, not caring that my heart was about to die of shame.

It was the emperor who opened his mouth first after a moment of silence. 

“I had a feeling after receiving the report, but you’ve changed a lot. In the past, when you’ve only heard Pernia’s name, your ears would turn red…” 

“Don’t speak her name with your lips.” 

“….”

“The marquis is someone who is related to her by blood, so I can endure him, but not Your Majesty. It’s very unpleasant to hear another man speak her name with his mouth.”

His tone was polite and soft, but something in his voice felt creepy.

So the emperor quickly settled the situation. 

“Okay, I’ll be careful.” 

With that answer, I realized that the emperor was more aware of Lucian’s changes than anyone else. 

The emperor was watching Lucian’s movements promptly and was gauging how to deal with it.

He was gaugig what is dangerous to bring up, and how far he can go on with the conversation. 

The emperor naturally brought up something that would change the mood. 

“So, you want me to grant permission for your marriage?” 

“Yes. She said she wanted to get permission from both of you properly before the wedding. What a cute desire.” 

The emperor did not scold him for making him come here for just that.

Instead, he nodded with a calm face. 

“That won’t be hard to do. The marriage between you two was what I had hoped for.” 

But it wasn’t for my father. 

Father shouted with vigor. 

“Not me. I agreed to the engagement when Lord Kardien was a sane person. I’m not that crazy to allow a violent kidnapper to marry my…” 

It was the emperor again this time that stopped my father, who had lost his sense of fear.

“So, are you going to hold a wedding ceremony after getting permission from both of us?” 

“Yes. We planned on having a quiet wedding with just the two of us here.” 

Lucian smiled happily.

The emperor stared at Lucian and nodded. 

“…Alright.”

“Your Majesty!” 

Despite my father’s protest, the emperor did not take back his words. 

“Is there anything you wish to receive for the wedding? I shall send it to you to congratulate you on your marriage.” 

“I do not wish for anything.”

“I’m asking your fiancee, not you. The bride might wish for something.” 

“…..!”

I was looking for an opportunity to talk with the emperor and father.

I noticed. 

That this is the only chance the emperor can give me. 

I wriggled and said in Lucian’s arms. 

“I-I do wish for something, Lucian.”

“What is it?”

Lucian looked at me with a frown. 

“A blessing from Miss Estelle!” 

“…..”

“If we receive a blessing from the saintess, all darkness will disappear and happiness will come. Because she is the most divine. It’s the perfect gift for a bride.” 

The brilliant emperor must have realized the meaning behind my words. 

Estelle is the only one who can confront yandere Lucian. 

When the emperor was about to nod his head to signal he understood, Lucian shook his head and said. 

“That’ll be difficult.” 

“W-why?” 

“Don’t know. I just think so.”

It was as if his instinct automatically sensed my scheme.

Lucian kissed my forehead and said as if to comfort me.

“Above all, I don’t want anyone else to intervene in our wedding.” 

“B-but…” 

“I’ll give you something more precious than Miss Estelle’s blessing. So please give up on that wish, Nia.” 

“……!” 

The sudden kiss made my face warm with heat.

Lucian smiled at me and stood up. 

Still keeping me in his arms.

“Now that I’ve got permission from both of you, our business is finished. I hope you get home safely.” 

It was a cold congratulatory decree. 

My father, who couldn’t stand it, jumped up from his seat and shouted as he approached us. 

“No matter how much I think about it, this can’t be! You crazy punk. Give me my daughter back!” 

At that moment, I definitely saw it. 

Lucian’s bright red eyes shining eerily. 

‘No!’ 

I hugged Lucian tightly and shouted before he could do anything. 

“Dad, I really like this person! I’m happy with him!” 

“W-what do you mean, Pernia?” 

“Don’t worry about me and go home!” 

Please.

Did my desperate cry work? Did he think my clumsy acting was sincere? 

My father looked at me with trembling eyes and dropped his hand. 

What a relief.

With that, Lucian left the room with me in his arms. 

Bang!

The sound of the closed door rang loudly in my ears. 

As I stared at the closed door, I heard a giggle over my head. 

Lucian giggled gleefully and said. 

“Nia, it is as you said. It does feel really nice to show others how much we love each other.” 

“…..” 

“The moment you hugged me and declared you liked me, I felt pretty good.” 

Lucian smiled as innocent as a child. 

But the smile didn’t make my heart pound as it did before. 

It was chilling that that’s all he felt after cutting short my meeting with my father.

Whenever he smiled like that, I felt it vividly. 

That he’s not normal.