When the Villainess Died, the Male Lead Went Crazy - Chapter 148.1
Kylian had anticipated that Anais would come with Lewarren. There had been widespread rumors that the Empress was going to take the High Priest as a consort, so many people were eagerly hoping that they might finally see the veiled High Priest at the New Year’s banquet.
However, Kylian attended the banquet alone. Although it was uncommon for the Emperor to appear without a partner, Kylian believed that if Anais saw him standing alone, she would be more inclined to care for him rather than Lewarren.
After all, Lewarren wasn’t that impressive. To Kylian, Lewarren was someone with mediocre skills, a wide-reaching influence, a tendency to complain, and a cowardice in odd places.
Moreover, Lewarren’s first impression, when he was just a petty thief, had been disastrous.
It was clear that Lewarren was someone beloved by the Goddess of Destruction, but in a past life, he was the one who had put the Goddess of Destruction to sleep with his own hands. Of course, now the goddess didn’t remember that.
“Your Majesty, I believe the Empress will be arriving shortly.”
“Right.”
Kylian glanced at the people gathered in the banquet hall below. Before stepping out onto the interior balcony on the second floor, he had been watching the hall through the curtains.
Waiting for Anais was incredibly difficult for Kylian. But the mistakes he had made were too grave to undo, and he knew he had to atone for them. If Anais made him wait… if she simply promised she would come, Kylian felt he could wait for her forever.
Any waiting was better than mourning for the dead Anais.
He reassured himself, feeling his heart slowly thumping in his chest.
Click, click. As his heart, which had been slow and steady, began to pick up pace, it responded to the sound of Anais’s footsteps. What had once been a calm, gentle rhythm now pounded like a drum as she drew nearer.
“Kylian.”
“Wife.”
When he turned around with a joyful face, he was met with the unexpected.
“Both of you, go ahead.”
“Alright.”
“Sure.”
Anais uncrossed her arms, which were linked with Lewarren and Phileal’s, and motioned for them to go down. Kylian, momentarily stunned, unknowingly wiped the expression off his face and forced a smile as he looked at Anais.
“You have two partners, then.”
“Two seems a bit much.”
Anais laughed and stammered, not quite understanding the intent behind his words.
“But what about Kylian’s partner?”
“…I don’t have one.”
“Eh? Didn’t you receive any notice?”
“…No, I just don’t have one.”
Kylian, noticing that Anais was slightly flustered but didn’t seem to pity him, continued.
“You’ve come with another partner, Wife. As for me, I would want no one as my partner but you.”
“Didn’t you already know?”
“Well, I did…”
Anais thought that since he had known, that’s why he had been so persistent in bed that night. As the memory resurfaced, a faint blush appeared on her cheeks.
Kylian gently took Anais’ hand. She had been slowly regaining her memories lately. When they touched like this, the memories from that time would return, making her resent him while still not being able to let go of the love she felt for him, unable to be harsh with him.
“May I… continue holding your hand?”
“Yes.”
With her permission, he grasped her hand tightly. There was no gap between their hands as he held it firmly, watching her intently until she fully locked her gaze into his eyes.
Anais felt her ears reddened as their eyes met. She looked down at the ballroom for a moment, then met his gaze again.
As the clock struck 6, a loud sound resonated, signaling the guests in the hall to quietly stand up from their seats.
Kylian, still holding Anais’ hand, led her to the central balcony on the second floor.
“We greet the two suns of the Empire!”
At the loud, unified shout, Anais gazed at them with indifferent eyes, while Kylian, aware of her presence, was conscious of her every move.
“Thank you to all the noble guests present here today. You are the righteous ones who have rewritten history and condemned the corrupt emperor.”
As he finished speaking, Kylian felt Anais’ gaze on him and his heart began to race. It was just a mechanical speech, but just by her looking at him, even this trivial speech became something he gladly carried out.
“Where new history is written, new winds blow, and these new winds will make the Cypnos Empire the most powerful in the entire continent.”
Watching him speak seriously, Anais couldn’t help but smile slightly.
“For the glory of the Cypnos Empire!”
As Kylian shouted, the ministers standing around him repeated in unison.
“For the glory of the Cypnos Empire!”
After the speech, Anais descended the stairs next to the central balcony with Kylian.
“Wife, please hold my hand tightly. The dress seems uncomfortable.”
“Does it only seem uncomfortable?”
“No, it’s just… so beautiful…”
Kylian spoke as if forgetting the people around them.
“I want to gouge out the eyes of any other man who gazes upon you.”
“Kylian!”
“It’s painful knowing that anyone other than me sees your beauty.”
He said this and placed a kiss on her shoulder. Anais felt a tickling sensation but couldn’t push him away, as his expression was full of tenderness.
“How do I look today? Was the speech okay?”
“Kylian, you really looked amazing. You showed such a dignified Emperor’s presence too.”
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