The Sub Male Lead is Burning with Jealousy - Chapter 8 Part 1

‘Should I just cut off my ring finger…?’

 

 

 

Anais pondered this as she confirmed that she was hearing the voice calling her again. Just the thought of it made cold sweat run down her back, but it seemed like the only way to remove the ring in the shortest time possible.

 

 

 

If the visions and voices in her head were caused by the ring, an extreme method like cutting off her finger would remove it. The real issue was if those phenomena persisted even after she cut off the finger wearing the ring.

 

 

 

‘Even if I cut it off, a high-ranking priest could regenerate it with healing magic… I just need to anesthetize it so there’s no pain and then cut it.’

 

 

 

The problem was how to persuade Rahil. There was also the matter of the imperial family’s reputation.

 

 

 

‘If Rahil agrees to it easily, that itself would be unpleasant, but it would be difficult if he opposed it.’

 

 

 

If he were to strongly oppose, she would have no choice but to try it alone, without anyone to help her. After all, Anais hadn’t yet established any loyal followers within the imperial family. Although she was from the Ruol family, a distinguished military lineage, she wasn’t confident enough to cut off her own finger. The thought of attempting it made her feel like she might faint.

 

 

 

On top of that, rumors about her cutting off a finger over such an incident would be problematic. Even a lower-ranking noble would be talked about for years, let alone an empress of the imperial family.

 

 

 

‘It would be seen as a disgrace to the imperial family’s honor.’

 

 

 

It would be an embarrassment, really. And since this had all happened because of a wedding gift, the ridicule would be even greater.

 

 

 

As Anais was caught up in these concerns, Rahil ordered Emilio, who kept trying to persuade him, to be expelled. The ring kept showing abnormal reactions, so while he couldn’t banish him from the palace entirely, he intended to keep him away from Anais.

 

 

 

“Your Majesty, just a moment.”

 

 

 

—Radiel….

 

 

 

Anais furrowed her brow as she heard the voice calling her again. However, the slow but powerful voice resonated in her mind as if it were tempting her. Judging by the unbothered expressions of those around her, it seemed the voice was only audible to her.

 

 

 

“Lord Emilio, do you know anyone named Radiel?”

 

 

 

“Hmm? No, I’ve never heard that name before….”

 

 

 

For the first time, Anais called Emilio by his name, causing his heart to flutter slightly. But then he noticed Rahil glaring at him with a terrifying expression, and quickly composed himself.

 

 

 

‘Wow, this is nerve-wracking in a different way!’

 

 

 

“Radiel, huh? Hmm? I feel like I’ve seen that name somewhere….”

 

 

 

“What is Radiel?” 

 

 

 

Rahil asked, unable to hide his displeasure. Emilio, noticing Rahil’s scowl, glanced at him before responding cautiously.

 

 

 

“I’m trying to remember…. Where was it? Oh.”

 

 

 

Emilio suddenly turned his head to look directly at Anais.

 

 

 

“There. The Dragon’s Palace…. The fountain statue had something inscribed in ancient script. The letters were wrapped around the statue, so I could only see the beginning of the phrase, but that word was there.”

 

 

 

Which meant that even the Master of the Mage Tower didn’t know whose name it was. Emilio looked at Anais with curiosity.

 

 

 

“Your Majesty, did you read the ancient script on the fountain?”

 

 

 

“No, it’s just that… I’ve been hearing someone calling the name ‘Radiel’ in my head since earlier….”

 

 

 

“What?”

 

 

 

Rahil, alarmed, quickly moved closer to Anais.

 

 

 

“Even now?”

 

 

 

“It’s not constant; it comes and goes. I wasn’t sure if it was real because no one else seemed to hear it.”

 

 

 

“That sounds exactly like the dragon mistaking Your Majesty for someone named Radiel. Am I the only one thinking that?”

 

 

 

Emilio playfully suggested, then quickly realized this wasn’t something to joke about and fell silent. Everyone in the room looked at Anais, speechless.

 

 

 

She, too, had begun to entertain the same thought after hearing Emilio’s comment. Rahil’s face turned pale, then flushed with anger.

 

 

 

“Is there any basis for that claim, Emilio?”

 

 

 

“N-no…. I mean, it’s just that! The situation! The fact that a spatial gate is opening and voices are being heard seems suspicious, doesn’t it?”

 

 

 

“For now, we should focus on removing the ring…. And if worst comes to worst, we may have to consider cutting off my finger.”

 

 

 

It would be disastrous if the entity, possibly a dragon, come for her directly. While it wasn’t certain that it was a dragon, the incident was linked to a dragon’s relic, so the culprit seemed obvious.

 

 

 

Rahil gritted his teeth as he looked at the serious expression on Anais’s face.

 

 

 

“That won’t happen.”

 

 

 

He had no intention of letting it come to that. He glanced around at the others in the room, who were all shocked by the Empress’s calm suggestion of cutting off her own finger.

 

 

 

It would be one thing if she were an ordinary noble, but she was the Empress. It wasn’t something to take lightly—amputation over such an issue could severely damage the dignity of the imperial family.

 

 

 

But if a dragon were to fly to the capital and attempt to abduct the Empress….

 

 

 

“Let’s try again. Anais, please.”

 

 

 

“What are you planning, Your Majesty…?” 

 

 

 

Sion, who had been watching, asked cautiously. Rahil turned his head and raised the hand with the ring, replying,

 

 

 

“I’m just going to test something. …I won’t do anything dangerous, so don’t worry.”

 

 

 

As Rahil looked back at Anais, she slowly nodded in agreement.

 

 

 

* * *

 

 

 

“…Oh! So that ring was the key after all.”

 

 

 

Rahil hadn’t done anything special. When Anais opened the portal leading to the Dragon’s Palace, Rahil simply reached his hand through the gap.

 

 

 

Unlike when Emilio tried to enter, the gap allowed Rahil’s hand to pass through without any resistance.

 

 

 

“Emilio.”

 

 

 

Rahil motioned with a slight nod for Emilio to come over, and Emilio, catching on, excitedly lit up. When he used magic to take Rahil’s sword from one of the knights, Anais was startled.

 

 

 

“Your Majesty!”

 

 

 

“Your Majesty, you mustn’t!”

 

 

 

Ignoring their protests, Emilio handed Rahil his sword and then grabbed Rahil’s hand. Together, they stepped through the gap, their bodies passing through effortlessly.

 

 

 

However, since Anais remained where she was, the portal stayed open. From the other side, Emilio handed Rahil his sword and then reached his hand back out through the portal.