The Obsessive Male Lead Is Jealous Of My Doll - Chapter 45

23 — 1

Karentina arrived in her room and gulped down the water placed on the table.

‘Well, of course.’

She thought it was strange from the moment he was being so kind in the dining room.

Pfft—

“Male lead… Even though I look like this, I’m a true fan of the novel you came from.”

Karentina wasn’t affected at all by Ignis’s rude behavior. In fact, it was so mild compared to what she expected that it was almost surprising. He seemed to be suspicious of Zion, though…

She pursed her lips and fell into thought.

Since she knew the information from the novel, she concluded that she should help through Zion, and that way, the suspicion would naturally be resolved.

‘It seems like he was unsure of me because I saved Stella’s life. He probably said that to gauge what I would do.’

If Ignis had judged her as an enemy, he would’ve just killed her without even asking. As Karentina recalled the look of uncertainty in his eyes, a small smile escaped her.

‘He’s cuter than I thought.’

But there was one thing that puzzled her.

“…Where did the ridiculous idea that I’m aiming to become the crown princess come from?”

How could he even think that? Did Ignis have an inflated sense of self? Of course, his face was so convincing that anyone could have such thoughts, which was understandable, but…

‘Crown princess, really.’

Karentina shook her head vigorously.

The imperial palace was difficult and complicated, which she absolutely hated, and Ignis, aside from his looks, was far from her ideal type. She preferred a warm-looking man with a gentle, big, dog-like type who listened well. A man like Ignis, who was cunning, obsessive, and constantly resorted to confinement, was absolutely out of the question.

“Ah! I forgot to ask about Damion…”

Karentina lightly slapped her forehead. Then, she removed the jeweled hairpin that Gemma and the maids had placed in her hair and set it on the table.

Knock, knock—

With a cautious knock, Stella peeked her head through the door. After seeing that Karentina was there, the little girl grinned sheepishly and threw herself into her arms.

“Karen.”

Gemma, who followed behind, smiled with a helpless expression.

“Did my brother apologize properly? Isn’t he cool?”

Stella waited for an answer with an expectant face.

“Ah…”

Come to think of it, she hadn’t even heard an apology. He was sure he wasn’t going to suggest having dinner together again.

Karentina’s face darkened.

“Why did you take off the hairpin? You looked pretty earlier.”

She gently patted Stella’s head as she blinked.

“It’s nothing. I just felt like it wasn’t the right accessory for me. His Highness misunderstood.”

At that moment, Gemma’s expression gradually turned to one of shock. As if the empire had just collapsed, Gemma looked distressed and hastily bowed her head deeply.

“Oh, no… Young Lady Karentina, I’m truly sorry. I… I made a mistake…”

“Huh?”

“Gemma, what’s wrong?”

Karentina and Stella’s eyes widened simultaneously.

“Your Highness, may I speak with Young Lady Karentina for a moment?”

Gemma appeared anxious and unsure of what to do. Her gentle brown eyes looked like they were ready to shed tears at any moment.

“Can’t I stay?”

The child’s eyebrows drooped as Gemma nodded with a look of despair.

“Alright. I’ll go to my room.”

“See you later, Stella.”

At Karentina’s words, Stella waved weakly with a sad look on her face.

̊ · : * ✧ * : · ̊

A short while later, Gemma, who had walked Stella to her room, returned with a warm cup of lavender tea. As she set the teacup down in front of Karentina, a subtle fragrance tickled the tip of her nose.

“Lavender is said to have calming effects on the mind and body.”

“Thank you. It’s delicious.”

Karentina set down the book she was reading and took a sip of the tea that Gemma had poured for her.

‘It seems like she needs the tea more than I do.’

She glanced at Gemma, whose face had turned ashen as she asked in a somber tone.

“Did His Highness perhaps think that Young Lady Karentina was coveting the position of the crown princess?”

Oh, so that was why.

“It seems His Highness has misunderstood something.”

As Karentina recalled what Ignis had said earlier and let out a small laugh, tears welled up in Gemma’s eyes as she opened her mouth.

“Young Lady Karentina, I’m truly sorry. It’s all my fault. How could I commit such a discourtesy towards you like this…”

Taken aback by her sudden sobbing, Karentina didn’t know what to do and hurriedly handed her a handkerchief.

“Gemma, it’s okay. Things like that happen. I explained everything to His Highness.”

Although she wasn’t sure how Ignis took it, seeing as he hadn’t said anything so far, it seemed like he was willing to believe her. As she shrugged, Gemma wiped her tears with the handkerchief and opened her mouth in a subdued voice.

“This is all because of Her Highness the Imperial Consort.”

“Hmm?”

“Are you aware that after Her Majesty the Empress passed away, the Imperial Consort appeared later with the Prince?”

It was such a famous imperial scandal. Since Karentina knew about it from the original story, she nodded her head slowly. In the novel, Ignis’s father, the current Emperor, is depicted as a tyrant and a debauchee.

‘I think it was mentioned that he fell in love with Ignis’s mother and gave up his debauched lifestyle.’

Although there were many nobles opposing Ignis’s mother, who was from a humble aristocratic background, they couldn’t stop the Emperor’s firm decision. Ignis’s mother became the Empress but died of postpartum illness after giving birth to Stella. And then, as if waiting for the right moment, the current Imperial Consort, Christina Horton, appeared with a grown child.

「 I raised this child in secret because I didn’t want to interfere with His Majesty’s love. 」

It was a complete plot contrivance.

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