Chapter 167
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 167
The dress I chose back then was a design that, in its own way, took both Benjamin and Ferdinand into account.
It was a dress with a pale beige base, accented by luxurious gold thread patterns.
Nobles of the Brillant Empire couldn't afford to be excessive with gold embellishments on their banquet attire. Doing so risked the infamy of appearing to covet the prestige of the Imperial Family.
Because of that, this dress only featured beautiful roses embroidered in gold thread along the décolleté.
Countless small but genuine diamonds were nestled between the golden petals, sparkling brilliantly at the slightest touch of light.
The moderately puffed hem of the skirt was adorned with delicate lace, also featuring rose patterns. It was a truly lovely dress.
With this, I’d certainly look like a matching dance partner for Benjamin, wouldn't I?
The fact that I used the Imperial Family’s signature gold embroidery without overdoing it showed that I had sufficiently considered the Crown Prince’s dignity.
‘Empress Carmi will probably like it at first, too.’
Since I’d be arriving in a dress that gave off a subtle "couple" vibe with Dave.
But there’s a catch, isn't there?
The nobility of the Brillant Empire placed great importance on the visual harmony between a man and a woman’s attire.
If I wore this dress with its golden accents, Empress Carmi would undoubtedly be pleased. However, her face would gradually contort as she saw the male leads appearing one after another behind me.
People would completely forget Dave, who shared the first dance with me, and only remember Benjamin with his golden hair and eyes.
Since I’d be dancing with the Crown Prince next, Dave would be relegated to something less significant than the nitrogen in the air.
‘Everything’s ready. Time for some sleep.’
There were already over ten dresses in the bedroom brought in by the maids. All I had to do was cover the one I’d selected with a red cloth to signal my choice and go to bed.
Then, under Adel’s supervision, everything would be prepared systematically in the morning...
“Hey. Don’t wear that.”
But who could have guessed that the red cloth would be snatched away so abruptly?
Startled, I spun around. A large man stood there, silhouetted against the full moon.
A spring night.
No matter how late it was, the breeze remained warm and gentle. Through the window that had been opened at some point, I could hear the wind rustling the leaves of the large poplar tree.
Shhhhh.
For a moment, I felt as if I were standing on a beach rather than in my own bedroom.
The man before me—Klaus Rocheva—was likely responsible for this surreal sensation.
His ash-grey hair swayed gently.
His deep blue eyes held a chilling aura, characteristic of something wild.
When he smiled, his fangs gave him a mischievous air, but with this expressionless face, his handsome features exuded a strange, murderous energy.
Perhaps it was because it had been a while since I’d seen him. Or perhaps it was because a "Hidden" Male Lead was exactly that—"Hidden."
Klaus felt incredibly unfamiliar...
‘Wait.’
In that instant, my breath hitched.
A sudden red light had flickered in Klaus’s eyes!
That blood-red light, like the reticle of a long-range rifle.
How could I not recognize it?
It was the exact same aiming point that had appeared over his eyes on the day I barely managed to save him from those crazed heretics!
‘W-what is this?’
Reflexively, I looked up at the sky.
Today, as always, Kim Ddong-byul was hovering faintly above me like the moon orbiting the Earth. There was nothing unusual.
Yes, that was the problem!
The difference from that day was that there was no quest active now.
It felt as if that reticle-like light had nothing to do with Klaus’s life. Or perhaps...
It felt as if it didn't matter whether Klaus lived or died...
I gasped, drawing in a sharp breath.
I couldn't pinpoint my exact emotions, but what I felt in that moment was definitely fear.
And because of that...
“...”
Once again, I reflexively reached out and covered Klaus’s eyes with my hand.
The ominous, blood-red reticle that seemed to be targeting his eyes did not appear on the back of my hand. It simply vanished, as if satisfied by my action.
“...”
And so, here we were again in this ridiculous position.
The villainess boss abruptly covering the eyes of a male lead.
An absurd silence stretched between us once more.
However, there was one thing different from before.
“...”
Klaus Rocheva, who had grabbed me by the collar while half-cursing that day, now simply stood still like a dog submitting to its master.
He didn't even push my hand away; he just stayed in that posture.
In a way, his attitude was excessively obedient, like a subordinate receiving orders from a superior.
Then, he simply stood there and spoke.
“Don’t do this in front of the others.”
Since Klaus had shown zero interest in other people the entire time he was with me as "Kl-Kl," hearing him mention others felt a bit awkward.
I found myself asking back without thinking.
“...The others?”
“My subordinates. I don't care if it's just them, but the Kingdom sent some useless bastards along too.”
“Useless bastards?”
Even as I asked, my eyes followed the movement of Klaus’s lips. I swear, this wasn't intentional.
Don't they say that when a person’s eyes are covered, their hearing becomes more acute?
With those deep blue eyes that always radiated such an intense presence hidden, other features—like his near-perfectly balanced bridge of his nose or his exquisite lips—completely captured my attention.
In short, it was all the fault of the destructive visual settings in The Milk Bread.
‘Ah. As if Benjamin growing up so well wasn't enough, now I’m suffering from the urge to collect portraits of all the male leads.’
I’d already drawn up a blueprint to somehow purchase a portrait of the Crown Prince once he was fully grown.
“The Kingdom sent mages with them.”
“Huh? Mages?”
Klaus’s voice suddenly broke through my thoughts. A faint trace of displeasure lingered in his tone.
I didn't know why he was showing such irritation.
However, there was no doubt that Klaus’s words were shocking.
I immediately withdrew my hand from his eyes. Klaus frowned slightly, but he kept his gaze fixed on me.
“Why? The Summer Continent never sends mages to other continents, do they?”
Unlike the mages of the Spring Continent, who were treated like high-level technicians, mages of the Summer Continent were worshipped as extraordinary talents.
I knew they planted many spies in secret to steal mages from other countries and allocated enormous budgets to prevent their own mages from escaping.
Where did I learn that?
From The Milk Bread.
To send such precious talents not just to another country, but to another continent...
Perhaps because it was a story few people in the Spring Continent knew.
Klaus also wore a puzzled expression.
“You know about that?”
“How could I not?”
“I suppose. You are the daughter of a high noble, after all.”
“Exactly. I’ve just picked up a lot of rumors here and there.”
“It shows.”
‘This brat?’
The moment I glared at him with fire in my eyes...
A gentle breeze blew in through the open window again. Klaus reached out and tucked a stray lock of hair behind my ear.
For some reason, his hand felt hot.
He stared at me intently and muttered.
“Right. To a foolish, thoughtless high noble lady who’s only good at picking up rumors.”
“...What did you say?”
The strange atmosphere from a moment ago vanished instantly, replaced by the urge to grab him by the collar.
But I couldn't even ask why he was suddenly picking a fight.
It was because Klaus’s eyes were still locked onto mine.
“I’m sorry.”
“For what now?”
“The mages suspect you.”
“Eh?”
“No, that damn Lassen started the suspicion first. He’s asking if you’re the leader of the black sorcerers.”
“Me? The leader of the black sorcerers?”
What on earth was he talking about? Even in my bewilderment, the name "Lassen" kept ringing in my ears.
Because, as far as I knew...
“Klaus.”
“Yeah.”
His voice was low, reflecting his foul mood, but I had to ask.
“Who is this 'Lassen' person?”
“The King of my country.”
“...Ah, the King. His Majesty the King. So...”
“Yeah. This guy’s father.”
“Wow...”
What a total lack of filial piety...
I couldn't bring myself to say it out loud, but I couldn't hide it from my eyes.
Normally, Klaus would have snapped, asking what was with that look, but this time he just snorted and turned his head away.
“Anyway, that old man has grown senile, getting seduced by such unlucky and nonsensical rumors.”
‘Old man? If he’s your father and not your grandfather, there shouldn't be that much of an age gap...?’
But I stayed quiet. Klaus seemed genuinely pissed off.
Besides.
I glanced upward again.
Listening to Klaus, a sudden hypothesis occurred to me.
‘What if Kim Ddong-byul is the leader of the black sorcerers? Honestly, the possibility is overflowing.’
I felt so wronged that I was the only one who knew what a malicious star that bastard was; the whole world should know.
“Klaus.”
“Yeah.”
“So, did you come here to tell me to watch my step because they suspect me?”
“There’s that, and I have something else to say.”
Before Klaus could even finish his sentence...
“...Is this what you had to say?”
I let out a hollow laugh, trapped in his embrace. I still wasn't used to Klaus’s habit of suddenly pulling me into a hug like a child who’d been gifted a giant stick of cotton candy.
‘Well, he was stuck to my side as a dog all this time.’
It felt quite awkward having him do this in his form as a fully grown man.
However, I didn't feel like telling him to get lost. Due to that bizarre "Oath of Submission" or whatever it was, Klaus would waste away like a critically ill patient the longer he was away from me.
This time, we had been apart for an especially long time.
I hadn't noticed at first because of his face, but looking closely, his cheeks were sunken and his lips were pale.
So, I just fidgeted with my fingers, feeling more awkward than usual, unable to bring myself to tell him to go away.
Then, a sudden curiosity struck me.
“Klaus.”
“...Yeah.”
“Then, do you not suspect me? Of being the leader of the black sorcerers?”
Klaus chuckled, still holding me in his arms. My body shook along with his laughter.
“Hey, someone like you?”
“Someone like me?”
“If you’re the leader of the black sorcerers, then I must be the god of the black sorcerers.”
“What?”
I let out a scoffing laugh.
“Hey. You’ve got the order wrong.”
“The order?”
“Think about it. I should be the god, and you should be the subordinate. You should be serving me like the heavens themselves. What’s with this reversal of roles?”
I have your leash, you know. Where do you get off being so arrogant?
At my words—half-sincere, half-joking—Klaus’s laughter died down.
What now? Why again? Just as I was about to ask if I’d been too rude...
“You’re right.”
Klaus said, his voice somewhat thick with emotion.
“If you are a god, then I suppose I am your only priest.”
“...”