The Blackened Second Male Lead’s Wife - Chapter 96

Seeing Princess Lara’s exposed body, some noble men of the empire coughed. 

Princess Lara sat down with a smirk at the sight. 

Then the nobles of Axion, who followed her, sat down. 

‘This is what Duchess Rosasa meant when she said they were hard to deal with.’

Unlike the modest imperial nobles, the Axion nobles all had a grim expression. 

Princess Lara opened her mouth, raising her plump lips to bring attention to it. 

“Long time no see, everyone. It’s been a year since I last saw you.” 

“Has the princess been well and healthy?” 

“Of course. I ate well and grew a lot as you can see, I’m sure.”

Was it a coincidence that she shook her big breasts as she said that? Or was it on purpose? 

If it was on purpose, then that means..

That she’s more wicked than I thought she would be. 

Princess Lara glanced at the noblemen sitting at the table, fluttering her thick eyelashes. 

“From the looks of it, the empire still…” 

Princess Lara lowered her eyebrows as if she was really disappointed. 

“Lacks handsome men. That makes Lara really sad.” 

She made an out-of-the-blue statement that did not fit the occasion. 

However, the nobles were not surprised as if they had expected that from her.

Duke Rosasa hid his repulsed expression and asked with a gentle face. 

“Has the princess not found her rightful spouse yet?” 

Princess Lara nodded and twisted her hair with her fingers. 

“Lara’s ideal type is a beautiful and strong man with a bad personality, but I have not found such a man.” 

Duke Rosasa said, lowering his eyebrows. 

“You’ll find someone like that very soon. God prepares a perfect match for everyone.” 

Duke Rosasa, I respect you. 

It was admirable to see him receive such absurd remarks in such a normal manner. 

‘And a beautiful and strong man with a bad personality? I have someone in mind…’

Princess Lara said with her eyes wide open as uncomfortable thoughts came to my mind. 

“By the way, Duchess Rosasa, did you change your makeup look?” 

Duchess Rosasa, who was very nervous next to Duke Rosasa, flinched her shoulder. 

She cleared her voice and nodded. 

“Yes, you have a great eye for spotting that especially since it’s been a year.” 

There was a deep tension in her voice. 

Which was understandable.

Princess Lara spoke her mind regardless of who it was, and the soft-hearted Duchess was hurt. 

Even more, she criticized her appearance. 

But Princess Lara made an unexpected remark. 

“Hmm. It’s pretty.” 

“…..!”

“It’s much better than before when you looked like plain tofu. Who did it for you? It looks good.” 

Duchess Rosasa had a vague look on her face, unsure of whether she should be offended or pleased. 

Fortunately, Princess Lara no longer spoke to her. 

Because she began to greet each of the aristocrats at the table. 

If one thought that they could outdo her, they thought wrong.

“Marquis Lionel. It looks like you’ve gotten quite an appetite these days. You’ve gained a lot of weight in these two years. But take care of yourself. You’ll be hated by your wife.” 

“Marquise Martien. How can you wear such large diamonds all over? I guess you like to look extravagant and annoying.”

Her eyes reached Marquis Garthian and Erica, who were sitting at the end of the table. 

Marquis Garthian and Erica, who had just received the title this year, did not seem to have understood the situation yet since it’s her first time meeting Princess Lara.

Princess Lara tilted her head and said to the young couple, who had no idea what was happening. 

“You’re the new Marquis Garthian?” 

“Yes.” 

Marquis Garthian replied with blazing eyes, as if to assert his presence. 

Princess Lara said, giggling. 

“Your mustache is really funny. It looks round like a snail.” 

“….!”

He had never heard any insult like that before. Marquis Garthian’s face was flushed.

I thought Marquis Garthian would immediately grab the princess by the collar and get angry. Because when I saw him the other day, he was quite belligerent. 

But Marquis Garthian did not lose his temper. 

His eyes and his nostrils were wide open as if he were angry, but that was it. 

Marquis Garthian grinned. 

“I’ll take it as a compliment.” 

But Princess Lara foiled his last effort to drag on to a normal conversation. 

“It was not a compliment. You’re not very smart.” 

I thought I was going to burst into laughter. 

I managed to hold back my immense laughter. 

Unlike me, the face of Marquis Garthian was distorted like crumpled paper. 

At that moment, the emperor appeared with impeccable timing. 

“The ruler of this land, the noble Emperor of the Empire.” 

Adorning a golden cape, the emperor entered the banquet hall. 

Those who were sitting at the table rose all at once, seeing the emperor, and bowed their heads. 

I bowed to the floor, too. 

“Raise your head.” 

Everyone in the banquet hall raised their heads all at once. The eyes of those who looked at the emperor grew. 

It was because of the person standing at the center of the table, behind the emperor sitting in the upper seat. 

Lucian was in a white uniform. 

It was indeed Kardien, the emperor’s knight who had finally made an appearance after a long while. 

I cheered inwardly when I saw him. 

‘Lucian in the flesh with his milky skin! You’re so handsome, Lucian!’

The day I decided whether to attend the banquet as Duchess Rosasa’s maid of honor, I asked. 

[Can I really go by myself?] 

[You won’t be going by yourself. I’m going to the banquet, too.] 

[How?] 

To reiterate, only the heads of carefully selected families can attend the banquet. It was not a place where one could go if one wanted to. 

[Are you going to apply to become a servant at a banquet?] 

Lucian replied to my mischievous remarks. 

[It’s similar to that. I’m going to attend in the same way as you are.] 

Lucian went to the emperor and asked him to please allow him to attend the banquet as the emperor’s servant. 

The emperor did not refuse his request. 

‘Of course. The Emperor actually waited for Lucian to ask him that.’

I looked at Lucian standing behind the emperor’s back with a pleased face.

It’s been a long time since I saw him in the Knights uniform. 

‘It’s nice to see him in a white shirt and all ruffled up in bed, and it’s also nice to see him in a black suit and serving customers at the shop, but I like that the most.’

I liked the knight Kardien. 

I wasn’t the only one who couldn’t take his eyes off him. 

Everyone at the table was mesmerized by Lucian’s appearance. 

Princess Lara, who had just attacked everyone in the banquet hall, was no exception. 

She looked at him with sparkling eyes, like a child when they see an animal for the first time. 

It was the emperor’s voice that removed everyone’s attention from Lucian. 

“I shall begin. Firstly, distinguished guests from the Kingdom of Axion. It must’ve been tough coming such a long way. The alliance between the Empire and the Kingdom will be as strong as your perseverance.”

Princess Lara replied to the Emperor’s words. 

She said with a bright smile. 

“Of course, Your Majesty. The Kingdom of Axion is always on the side of the Empire.” 

“Princess Lara has gotten a lot more mature this past year.” 

“There’s a big difference between 17 years old and 18 years old.”

She’s 18 years old. 

I thought I would be older than her when I saw her amazing body and energetic way of speaking. 

‘I can’t believe how she, an 18-year-old girl, is not intimidated in front of the aristocracy and the Emperor. She’s amazing.’ 

The emperor seemed to be thinking something similar, and a small smile appeared on his face.

“And how is King Axion?” 

“Unfortunately, my father couldn’t come. I am leading the delegation on his behalf.” 

The faces of the imperial nobles froze at the princess’ words.

Today’s banquet was not just a place to strengthen a personal friendship. 

It was an important event to strengthen the friendship between country and country.

It was great disrespect for the king not to attend such an event. 

The emperor mumbled as he scratched his chin. 

“King Axion must be really offended by Kalyx’s engagement.” 

King Axion’s goal to marry Princess Lara and Kalyx was known by everyone. But that goal is now shattered, so he’s bound to be sad. 

‘But how can he not attend the banquet?! He’s being unreasonable. Politics isn’t something you can let emotions get in the way of.’

Princess Lara easily overturned my expectations. 

“He is. Your Majesty was too harsh. I can’t believe you pushed for this engagement so quickly, knowing how much my father and I have wished for it.”

Princess Lara said, pouting her cheeks. 

“The day I heard the news, I was so angry that I killed ten of my beloved slaves.” 

I doubted my ears for a moment. 

‘Did I hear it wrong?’

But it doesn’t seem like I did. 

I could see Duchess Rosasa sitting in front of me clenching her hands tightly with a stiff face. 

I looked at the princess again with an incredulous face. 

She continued with a face one would never imagine would speak of the dead as such.

“They were really pretty slaves. I was upset.” 

“……” 

The sense of unity I had with another villainess character disappeared. 

She’s not a normal villainess.

She’s completely crazy! 

* * * 

Although the absence of King Axion made the mood turn sour, the banquet managed to proceed peacefully. 

The representatives of the two countries, the emperor and the princess, were the main people talking, and the nobles interrupted with their occasional chirping.

In the middle of talking about small things between the two countries, the emperor took a sip of wine and asked. 

“Princess Lara, I’d like to talk about ‘him.’” 

Princess Lara, who was showing off her extraordinary appetite as she ate the food in front of her, opened her eyes wide. 

“What do you mean by ‘him’?”

The emperor said.

“The man who came to the Kingdom of Axion a few months ago and took the hearts of the royal family. His name is Griffon, I believe.”