I Like Another Man, Not the Male Lead - Chapter 44

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 44

I was on my way back to the pavilion after the banquet ended. A mild fatigue was weighing down on my shoulders. Selena and Grace had already returned to the pavilion long ago. I should have left early too. The champagne was so delicious that I kept drinking it.

I was slowly heading toward the pavilion when someone called out to me.

“Reina.”

That voice again. This time I was really annoyed.

Caesar was looking at me. With his hands clasped behind his back and the light behind him, I couldn’t see Caesar’s expression clearly.

Caesar took a step closer. His expression was revealed under the lit torch. It was a tense expression. Caesar smiled awkwardly.

“I have something to give you, Reina.”

Something to give?

Caesar hesitated before extending his hand. In the firm fingers of a knight who wielded a sword, there was a cute five-colored ribbon that didn’t suit him at all. The five-colored ribbon was much more crudely made than Selena’s.

I lifted my head and stared at Caesar.

“Why this…?”

Rather, Caesar was the one who should be receiving it. Wasn’t Caesar also going out hunting?

As I stared blankly at Caesar without accepting it, he opened his mouth. His expression looked a bit anxious.

“It’s my wish for your safety. It’s nothing grand, so I hope you’ll accept it.”

This isn’t grand? How could it not be grand? When it contains care and heart.

I let out a sigh.

“Caesar Prince, I…”

“This is enough. Really, this is enough.”

Caesar seemed to be in pain.

I stared at the five-colored ribbon in his hand. I had already learned through Selena what meaning it carried.

That was a heart. Some people had maids make them instead, and others bought ready-made ones. But that didn’t mean the giver’s heart wasn’t contained in those five-colored ribbons. They were just lighter.

Even receiving such lightly prepared feelings would be troubling to consider, but that crude object was definitely not even such light feelings. That was sincerity. Like Selena’s heart already wrapped around my wrist.

Accepting that five-colored ribbon would be the same as accepting Caesar’s heart that thinks of me.

I shouldn’t do that…

Caesar’s gaze turned toward my wrist.

“That is…”

“It’s from Selena.”

I spoke reflexively without thinking.

“Selena gave it to me.”

Strangely, I didn’t want to let him misunderstand that another man had given it to me. Even though that might have been better.

“Is that so? Then please accept this as well.”

Caesar spoke as lightly as possible, as if it were nothing.

“As a friend, or if not a friend, then as a neighbor who uses the pavilion next door.”

He looked so pitiful that I couldn’t refuse any longer.

“…Just this once, Your Highness.”

Caesar nodded. Only then, seeing the faint smile spreading across Caesar’s lips, I unconsciously swallowed.

Why are you making that expression now, Caesar?

Really, why now of all times.

Another feeling settled in my wrist. It was quite heavy.

＊ ＊ ＊

After the banquet ended, only the Emperor and Viviana remained in the pavilion. The red dress Viviana wore looked seductive under the candlelight. The Emperor gazed at her with an enchanted expression.

“You look even more beautiful today. Is this dress newly tailored?”

“I prepared it thinking Your Majesty would like it. Viviana stands out particularly well, doesn’t she?”

Viviana moved gracefully. The Emperor burst into laughter. The atmosphere between the two was as sweet as newlyweds. The Emperor was getting from the Imperial Consort what he couldn’t get from the Empress. Viviana blushed as if shy. It was perfect acting. The Emperor’s eyes, clouded by excessive drinking, were becoming increasingly unfocused.

“Viviana… my love…”

The Emperor leaned against Viviana and murmured. Viviana tenderly kissed the Emperor’s forehead.

After confirming the Emperor’s eyes had completely closed, Viviana’s expression instantly turned cold. The affectionate smile from just moments ago had vanished without a trace.

After laying the Emperor on the bed, Viviana changed into lighter clothes. It was completely different from the glamorous and heavy dress she had worn from today’s banquet until now to please the Emperor.

And as midnight approached, Viviana quietly slipped out of the Imperial Bedchamber. She wrapped herself in a black cloak and moved like a shadow. Her footsteps made no sound, and her speed was fast. Having lived by her swift feet since childhood, it was only natural. How many long years had it taken for Bibi, the street thief cat, to become a proper Young Lady of a Count’s House and reach this position?

But Bibi had succeeded.

And now Viviana knew how to seize what she wanted. So she wasn’t afraid of what awaited her.

She entered a small cabin on the outskirts of the hunting grounds. It was an abandoned hunting ground keeper’s cabin. Someone was waiting in what should have been an empty place.

“Imperial Consort.”

Heyson, dressed in black clothes, knelt on one knee. After being dismissed from the Knight Order, he had become Viviana’s faithful dog. Unlike his previous carefree self, his eyes now burned with venom.

Her face revealed beneath the cloak wore a completely different expression from what she had shown before the Emperor moments ago.

“You’ve worked hard coming such a long way, Heyson. You didn’t come alone, did you?”

“Yes, Your Majesty. Everyone is waiting for orders.”

Heyson raised his head. Revenge burned in his eyes. It was a look of anticipation for revenge against those who had made him this way.

“Is the groundwork finished properly?”

“Yes. We hired professional hunters and received their confirmation. Tomorrow’s work will definitely succeed.”

Originally, she had planned to use a wolf pack tomorrow to build a bridge between Grace and Caesar Prince. Special events different from the ordinary often serve as bridges between people.

However, she abandoned that plan. Today Viviana had seen Caesar Prince’s gaze directed at Reina. It seemed difficult to shake with just this level of incident. Viviana didn’t waste effort on impossible tasks.

But still, she could use what was already prepared to plan for a better future.

“We’ve already driven the starved wolves into a specific area and are ready to excite them with drugs.”

A twisted smile spread across Heyson’s lips.

“You must do well, Heyson. We can’t be exposed while trying to eliminate Reina Regfield. You understand what I mean, right?”

“That bitch ruined my life. I was expelled from the Knight Order, and my family’s honor was tarnished too. Please trust me.”

Venom filled Heyson’s voice.

Heyson had already distorted all his memories to suit himself. In his mind, Reina Regfield was the cause of all this misfortune. He was prepared to do anything to kill Reina.

And Rochester, who had brought down innocent him while trying to protect that Reina. He would destroy himself once Reina died.

“I’m looking forward to The Guy’s expression when he sees his sister’s miserable corpse torn apart by wolves.”

Viviana took out a small medicine bottle from her bosom. The red liquid glowed ominously even in the darkness.

“Feed this to the wolves. It will never be detected.”

“Understood.”

Heyson took the medicine bottle. His hands were trembling with excitement.

“There will be no failure. I will personally drive that bitch into the wolf den with my own hands.”

Heyson’s eyes flashed with madness.

“You will have to take responsibility for those words, Heyson.”

“Yes, Imperial Consort.”

Heyson knelt down again.

“Thank you for giving me this opportunity. I will surely succeed and fulfill Your Majesty’s will.”

Viviana left the warehouse and Heyson burst into laughter alone in the darkness. It was laughter tinged with madness.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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