When the Villainess Died, the Male Lead Went Crazy - Chapter 144.2
“If the Empress doesn’t want a consort…”
Kylian glared at him, waiting for him to continue.
“Perhaps if the consort is introduced, it would be handled immediately… No, forget I said that.”
As Kylian’s gaze sharpened, the Minister of Justice broke into a cold sweat. His palms were so sweaty that it seemed as though his gloves were about to soak through.
“Or maybe this?”
In an attempt to save himself, the Minister whispered a clever idea into Kylian’s ear. Kylian’s expression looked displeased, but it seemed like there was some logic to the suggestion, and he leaned back in his chair.
“That could be an acceptable option.”
Kylian twisted his lips into a small smile, as if the anger he had felt earlier was forgotten.
* * *
The Tower Master Lionel came to visit Anais. Standing in the middle of the Empress’s office, Lionel appeared to have aged considerably.
“It’s been a while, Lionel.”
“I greet the Sun of the Empire.”
With Lilith completely absent from the past, Lionel remained the one who had once tried to kill Anais alone. Though he didn’t understand why he had acted that way, guilt still weighed heavily on him, and he was strangely submissive.
“The Denver Bridge you mentioned has been rebuilt.”
“Good job. How does it feel to rebuild the bridge you yourself destroyed?”
“Well… I feel guilty, devastated, and ashamed. And it’s too embarrassing to go outside, so…”
“Enough.”
Anais no longer intended to blame Lionel. She preferred him working with a sense of duty as a Tower Master rather than forcing him to move or act against his will.
“You’re good at saying things you don’t mean, aren’t you?”
“I apologize.”
“Do you still not know why you tried to kill me?”
“…No, I don’t. But why did I try to kill Lady Anais? Even back then, His Majesty loved Lady Anais so much.”
Anais frowned as the past came flooding back to her.
“Back then?”
“Yes, of course. Didn’t you know?”
“I found out recently.”
“Recently? When?”
“The night of the coup…”
Anais remembered the words Kylian had spoken that night after the coup was successful, when he held her close. It was then she realized his true feelings.
Since becoming Emperor, Kylian had changed. He became anxious and concerned about her, and even though past misunderstandings had caused so much chaos, he never made excuses for it.
He had assigned only men to all the positions around him and was extremely wary of female servants. Since everything Kylian did was to prove his love for Anais, she knew he was sincere. His waiting for her was part of that.
“Ha.”
“I’ve liked you since I was ten.”
At that time, she thought he was just saying it casually.
“I guess I was a bit careless.”
“Right.”
Anais had been feeling conflicted lately because of the dreams she had been having. But while some of it was Kylian’s fault, the situation was more complicated because of her own inability to understand his feelings.
“When did you realize, though? Kylian’s feelings?”
“I’m more surprised you didn’t know until the coup. He was always watching Your Majesty, no matter where you went. He paid the most attention to you, more than anyone else…”
“And?”
“Well, his behavior was very different in front of Your Majesty compared to how he was with others. But you’re not going to blame me for saying this, right?”
“Why would I blame you? You’re one of the most useful people.”
Anais said this while still thinking about Kylian. She remembered how, whenever she looked at him, he would frown and turn his head away.
“Could it be embarrassment?”
As she thought this, Anais realized that, even though she had never picked up on it before, she had really hurt him. He’d liked her since he was ten, and she had made him suffer for ten years.
“Hmm.”
“By the way, did you hear? Now priests can get married.”
“Why is that important?”
“Does that mean you’ll take High Priest Lewarren as a consort?”
“What? Lewarren?”
Anais looked at Lionel with a stunned expression.
“Well, you two are quite close… and High Priest Lewarren only listens to the Empress. I thought the reason you two never had a romantic relationship was because High Priest Lewarren is a priest.”
“Goodness.”
“I’m not the only one who thinks that.”
“Good grief.”
“Really.”
“Crazy.”
Anais couldn’t help but respond like that, shivering and gesturing for the guards to approach. She handed Lionel a small paper, motioning for him to leave.
“Your Majesty!”
“Handle that.”
“Your Majesty!”
Lionel, seeing the paper, knew it was probably a command to rebuild something that had been damaged, and he cried out in despair.
“Your Majesty!”
Just as he was about to be thrown out, dragged along by his legs, he realized he no longer wanted to help with the construction work, which drained his magical power.
“The, the Emperor seems to want to take a priest as a consort!”
“What?”
Anais stopped Lionel from leaving with that statement.
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