I Abandoned the Male Lead Who Cheated with the Villainess - Chapter 72
‧₊˚ ☁️⋅♡𓂃 ࣪ ִֶָ☾.
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The rage that had been simmering within Herix subsided abruptly when he brought out a small jewelry box. At a glance, it didn’t seem like an extraordinarily expensive item. Of course, for someone living the life of a crown prince, what really could be considered expensive?
“…Huu.”
Yet, upon seeing the box made of deep purple velvet, Herix smiled. It was a dreamy smile, one of utter bliss and bewilderment.
‘Is the Miss nearby?’
Did he hear Ivonne’s breathing or footsteps? If so, Johann planned to use Ivonne as a tether to calm Herix down.
But then—
“Take a look at this.”
“Yes?”
With a soft click, the box revealed an old-fashioned amethyst brooch inside. Herix showed it to Johann, barely concealing his beaming smile. That bewitchingly charming smile was reserved exclusively for Ivonne, ensnaring all who saw it, regardless of age or gender.
Faced with it head-on, Johann’s pupils shook violently as if an earthquake had occurred.
“Ivonne bought it for me.”
It was like a child showing off a treasured snake skin or cicada shell. There was a hint of smugness, as if to say, ‘You don’t have something like this, do you?’
In short, Herix was boasting to Johann.
“Ah… Oh~”
Johann momentarily thought of Herix as ‘innocent,’ then immediately chastised himself and quickly applauded.
“Indeed, the Miss’s taste is impeccable. It suits you very well, Your Highness. Surely the Miss would’ve thought of you while selecting this gift.”
“She put it on me herself. All weekend.”
“Wow, you’ve truly become the Miss’s possession then. Congratulations.”
Herix’s face was brighter than it had ever been. Despite his features being more suited to melding into the darkness, his beauty transcended day and night.
“Huhu.”
The man who once tore through a wyvern’s belly with his bare hands and ripped apart an ogre’s mouth now blushed and laughed shyly. Even his cheeks, usually as cold as if molded from concentrated darkness, flushed pink.
‘Yuck.’
Johann felt disgusted but, for the sake of survival, pushed his social skills to the extreme. He clapped his hands so vigorously it was a wonder smoke didn’t start rising from his palms.
“But why don’t you wear it? If you had asked the Miss to put it on you, it would have been clear to everyone that you are the Miss’s possession.”
At his words, Herix momentarily had an incredibly touched expression. But soon, he tensed up as if holding back an impulse. The sound of paper tearing in his hand was heard.
‘Oops.’
Seeing Herix’s expression quickly darken, Johann wanted to kick himself. Herix murmured in a voice as if sinking into a bog,
“I might get caught as the Crown Prince…”
Then, he would become ‘the person who betrayed Ivonne with lies,’ leading to their final conversation. After which, they would never see each other again. Even though he had become Ivonne’s possession, he would be immediately discarded.
That’s why Herix had kept the brooch Ivonne bought him that he wore all weekend, tucked away in its box.
“Ivonne…”
The hand gently caressing the brooch dripped with regret and sorrow.
Inaudible threats and irritation enveloped Johann’s entire body as he internally repeated ‘I’m doomed.’ The lethality emanating from the man, who had been shy moments ago, seemed impossible to belong to the same person.
In the oppressively gloomy office, Johann wished to leave this world behind.
⚜ ⚜ ⚜
In the Sortenic Empire, there are four Magic Towers, each lead by an ‘ancient wizard’ known for their powerful magical abilities.
Pope Elmana Emulit, of the Northern Magic Tower.
German Busse Cyand of the Eastern Magic Tower.
Isaac of the Western Magic Tower.
And as of today, Ivonne, the rightful master of the Southern Magic Tower.
Although each was in charge of a different tower, traditionally, the tower masters were alumni of the Imperial Academy, taking the lead roles. Even now, when not all tower masters are from the same academy, this atmosphere persists, creating a hierarchy similar to a senior-junior relationship among them.
‘In other words, it’s customary for the tower transfer to be conducted by a tower master.’
Therefore, to welcome Ivonne, the newly appointed master of the Southern Magic Tower, one of her seniors was sure to be waiting at the South Tower.
‘Since the Northern Tower’s master is the Pope and cannot move… that leaves two seniors.’
Knowing this through the original story, Ivonne thought to herself as she passed through the teleportation gate towards Orca Cape, where the Southern Magic Tower is located.
‘I hope it’s the Western Tower’s master waiting. The Eastern Tower’s master can be troublesome.’
And for good reason, as seen at the Crown Prince’s birthday party, German was Celestia’s father.
‘There wasn’t any description of a particularly good father-daughter relationship in the original story, but still, blood is thicker than water.’
German might be unaware of Celestia’s crime of stealing another’s man, but even if he knew, it was unlikely he would side with Ivonne, a commoner.
After all, this is the Sortenic Empire, where noble bias is deeply ingrained.
