I Abandoned the Male Lead Who Cheated with the Villainess - Chapter 127
‧₊˚ ☁️⋅♡𓂃 ࣪ ִֶָ☾.
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‘It really feels like I’m standing in front of the Crown Prince.’
Just like during the birthday celebration, he was an incredibly handsome man. Yet, his casually tousled black hair made her wonder why she had never thought of him as Rix before.
Instinctively, she wanted to stroke his cheek.
‘So, just like that time when he leaned against me under the sofa… would he look happy again this time?’
In that moment, who had felt joy at her touch—was it Herix, Rix, or perhaps both?
‘I don’t know.’
She tried to turn her gaze away from Herix. The love she felt for him and the betrayal she harbored were waging a war within her. However, she ultimately couldn’t take her eyes away from the man in front of her because…
‘The brooch…’
Unlike during the birthday celebration, the amethyst brooch nestled between his tightly buttoned shirt collar was shining brightly. It was the very brooch she had gifted Rix, now his treasured possession.
Herix was the kind of man who knew how to capture her attention even more effectively. He clearly understood that she had feelings for him.
‘He wouldn’t have worn it otherwise.’
Ah, what a total defeat. She had thrown up her hands completely. As long as Herix continued to imitate Rix—or rather, as long as Rix existed in some corner of Herix’s being—she knew she couldn’t win against him.
“Ha…”
“…”
A deep sigh escaped her. At this, Herix, who had raised his voice at her and even placed shackles on her with a permission that wasn’t really permission, flinched slightly.
The glimmer in his purple eyes, which had turned wild, now appeared somewhat collected, as if he was satisfied with her submissiveness. It seemed that even the purple eyes that had convinced her he was the Crown Prince now resembled Rix’s.
Looking at him, one thought crossed her mind.
‘He looks a bit gaunt.’
It was a concern directed toward him. Now that she looked closely, he resembled someone who had been ill for days, not just in voice but in appearance. It seemed the rumors about him staying up all night asking about her whereabouts every two hours were true. A wry smile crept onto her lips.
Ah, the feelings she held for Rix were indeed a cruel and foolish love—an overwhelming quantity that could hardly be accumulated in just this lifetime. Whether metaphorical or factual, she had grown to love that man deeply.
Just like when she had returned home with Rix, swallowing her sighs.
‘I always thought I preferred to confront reality rather than escape from it, but perhaps I was just better at rationalizing.’
Just before meeting the Crown Prince, she had made a determination: if the moment came when she had to confront him, she would try her best to talk it out. Now was the time to uphold that promise.
“When we go back… let’s talk.”
First, she would attempt to have a conversation. Rushing into a physical confrontation or emotional battle wouldn’t solve anything, so she aimed to think as rationally as possible. If, after that, the issues still seemed insurmountable…
‘I can worry about that when the time comes.’
Although Isaac had been flung away without being able to defend himself against Herix, she felt confident that Herix would never harm her. It was an irrational belief, almost bizarre in its intensity.
‘It’s okay. The goddess of fortune will be on my side.’
At the very least, she was certain that Novnie, the main God of the Empire, would favor her. Though she didn’t know it yet.
As she gradually found her calm, she became curious about what answer Herix would give.
However, what she didn’t know was that Herix’s arm, turned away from her, was trembling like a quaking aspen, as if he wanted to hide his previous aggression toward her.
As Ivonne’s expression softened somewhat, she noticed Herix’s shoulders relax from the tension they had held. The shackles on her ankles had evidently been bothering him throughout.
Perhaps her expression had given him some courage?
“…Yes. But I would prefer you to go to the palace instead of the Tens Mansion.”
Herix rarely contradicted her, his low voice returning to the tranquil tone she was used to. He spoke with Rix’s voice, but the content was undeniably something a Crown Prince would say.
Frustration welled up again alongside the feelings of betrayal, but Ivonne forced herself to suppress her emotions.
“Our home is the Tens Mansion. Where exactly do you want to go?”
Her voice was sharp enough to surprise even herself.
“…Ah. I’m sorry.”
Yet, Herix smiled brightly even as he apologized. It was as if he was a different man from the one who had seemed on the verge of shedding tears just moments before.
“That’s right. Our home is there.”
He even appeared to take joy in being chastised by her.
“Shall we go to our home, then?”
Herix cautiously extended his hand toward Ivonne. Watching the gentle offer of escort from a man who had shackled her ankles, she couldn’t help but smile bitterly.
‘I must be really crazy in love.’
Even though he looked so much like Rix at this moment, she felt no desire to push him away, which made it clear that something had shifted in her mind.
