Chapter 4: Let’s See How You’ll Act

Emperor Kalik lay in the center of a very large bed, slowly moving his eyes along the intricate patterns drawn on the ceiling.

It was a meaningless action. This large bed, spacious enough for five large men to lie on, was designed so that if an intruder ever attacked him, they would have to get onto the bed first, allowing his sensitive nature to detect even the slightest movement. In other words, it was for the Emperor’s protection. Of course, it would only be possible if they could get past the Imperial Guard, especially Anton and the Divine Sword.

Kalik, who usually fell asleep without much thought, found it difficult to sleep despite the ache in his body and the dawn breaking in a hazy light.

Because of just three syllables.

Bel. Li. Ta.

Bellita had been acting very strangely a moment ago, to the point where he suspected she might have taken drugs or gone mad. He had never once thought of her like this, which was also strange.

He had gone deep into the mountains intending to kill her. When a disheveled woman came running and fell backward, he thought it was someone else.

Who would have thought it was Bellita? Bellita, who always meticulously groomed her appearance, running around in such a state? If it weren’t for the luxurious dress, he might have just passed by her, seeing only the torn and dirty clothes. That was just the start of the oddities. And what about her manner of speaking?

[Thank you for saving me.]

She spoke formally. And even knelt down very politely. Just from that one sentence, he thought this woman had finally lost her mind.

Her eyes, filled with fear, were something he had never seen before. Her appearance was stunning, but her eyes had always been lifeless, only exuding sensuality. Those eyes were trembling. Her whole body was trembling.

Why? What kind of play is this? And asking me to believe her? What does she take him for!

He didn’t believe her. He didn’t even want to know why she was acting like this.

When he mentioned kidnapping, a skilled liar like Bellita should have grabbed onto it. She should have claimed she was kidnapped to avoid death, but she didn’t. For the first time, she piqued his interest. He wanted to know her intention.

But as expected, when he saw Bellita with tears in her eyes, the small interest he had immediately vanished. A woman using tears as a weapon. No matter how beautiful her blue eyes sparkled like gems, it was disgusting. As expected. He didn’t even blink in front of her tears. But then, strange words came out of her mouth.

Husband, couple, wife.

[Can you please not use those words? It feels so suffocating, like I’m being restrained. Please make sure I never hear those terrible words again.]

He hadn’t forgotten her sarcastic voice. Bellita, the only Princess of the Kingdom of Pellon. The only reason he tolerated her arrogant behavior, believing in the power of her kingdom, was because of his promise and interests with the King of Pellon. If she hadn’t humiliated the Imperial Family by eloping with the Prince of the Loca Kingdom, he would have let her continue living in the Imperial Palace.

That same Bellita was now uttering those terrible words herself. 

Even though she might die now, was she still being arrogant? 

His expression naturally turned fierce.

But she lay on the ground, trembling all over in fear. She couldn’t even lift her head.

She looked like a stranger. 

Why was she putting on this false act and gaze? And to me, of all people. 

His lost interest slightly returned.

We had no interest in each other. It was best to live without clashing or seeing each other.

Then why?

She was trembling so much that her small body looked like it might shatter.

How long will this ridiculous play continue?

If so, let’s see how you’ll act.

When he asked her to prove it, she caught him off guard.

Bellita. Bellita. The woman who had played with more than half the men in the Imperial Palace.

Acting shy and innocent as if it was her first kiss.

Though her appearance was a mess, he acknowledged her beauty.

And contrary to his thoughts, his breath quickened at the touch of her lips. Not because of her skill, but because her clumsy, innocent lips moved him.

Damn it.

He shouldn’t have done it. Especially not such a rough and passionate kiss.

He never imagined he would kiss this woman like that. The brief touch at the wedding was all there had been. She was indeed a seductress.

If Bellita hadn’t fainted, he didn’t know when he would have stopped or how far it would have gone. This was also a first.

Bellita, who didn’t reject him.

Bellita, who softly leaned into him.

Her eyes, shaking as if filled with sincerity.

It might not be bad to watch her a little longer. That was the conclusion he reached as he looked at her fainted form. So he brought her to the Imperial Palace.

But.

One thing remained unchanged.

Don’t be fooled.

Countless men had been deceived by her false actions.

No matter how strangely she acted, she was still the infamous Bellita. Don’t forget that.

After organizing his thoughts on the absurd situation, fatigue settled on his eyelids. It was natural to feel tired when entangled with Bellita. As he slowly drifted into sleep, a faint smile appeared on his lips.

This is amusing.

Seeing her tremble before me.

I want to see it again. That’s why I brought her.

If she returns to her old self quickly, it won’t be fun.

Then I’ll kill her. There’s no need to think or care further.

With a satisfied expression, Kalik finally fell into a deep sleep.

***

“Ahhh!!!!!!!”

She screamed at the top of her lungs. Covering her eyes with one hand and her chest with the other, she curled up tightly, even pulling her legs in.

“Princess!!!”

Startled by the sudden scream, the nanny rushed in urgently.

Get rid of that… horrible thing.

“What are you doing?”

The nanny’s scolding voice left the n*ked maid standing by the bathtub bewildered.

“I… I didn’t do anything… I hadn’t even started….”

“Shut up. Get out.”

That bastard must have done something. How dare he to our Princess. Especially when she’s already in a bad state! That wretched thing.

Holding only its clothes, the n*ked maid quickly disappeared, and the nanny hurried to Bellita.

“Princess. It’s okay now. Calm down.”

Soothingly removing the stiff arms, the nanny gently helped Bellita out of the bathtub. After quickly dressing her in a soft gown, she guided the still dazed girl out of the partition and to the adjacent seat.

Like a robot, she walked as the nanny led her. The shock of seeing something strange had emptied her mind.

“Lie down here. I’ll avoid the wounds and relax your body. Your calves are tightly knotted. This will make you feel better.”

Obediently lying down on the narrow bed instead of the large one, she felt dizzy. The nanny’s voice was barely audible. She couldn’t understand a word.

In her dazed eyes, two strange people appeared. The nanny greeted them and moved away, and the two approached, gently holding her arms and legs.

“We will make the Empress happy today as well.”

“Close your eyes and feel it.”

A deep voice. Though she couldn’t comprehend their words, she realized their voices weren’t female. As they subtly touched and caressed her arms and legs, she turned her gaze. Muscular, well-developed chests came into view.

They aren’t wearing clothes.

Bare chests…

Huh?

Bare chests?

Suddenly, she snapped out of it and roughly pulled away from their grasp. Despite the pain from her wounds, she managed to suppress a groan, sprang up from the bed, and shouted.

“What… what is this?”

She thought she heard something about deserving death and begging for forgiveness, but then they suddenly lowered their thin pants.

Ahhh!

Again.

And this time, there were two.

“Nanny! Nanny!!!”

Once again, she screamed at the top of her lungs, tears welling up. She had escaped one, only to face two now. On the verge of madness, she desperately called for the nanny.

“Get out. Why is everyone acting like this today?”

The nanny, who had rushed in, hugged the now worse-off Princess and yelled at the top of her lungs.

“Princess. It’s okay. I’ll throw them all in prison. Calm down.”

Hugging and patting Bellita, the nanny was deeply worried. It was the first time the Princess had shown such a reaction. 

Trembling in her arms like this. The Princess, who usually thrived around men. She must be weak from not eating since the afternoon. 

Supporting the unsteady Bellita, the nanny led her to a plush, antique sofa.

“Wait here for a moment.”

Slumped in the feather-soft sofa, she blankly stared at the retreating figure of the nanny.

Don’t… go.

She couldn’t even muster her voice. All she wanted was to lie down on the large bed she had first seen. She didn’t want to think about what she had seen or experienced. The series of horrific events had left her unable to gather her thoughts.

I just want to rest. Just a little.

Give me some time to organize my thoughts or something…

Step, step.

As she raised her gaze, a gentleman in a clean white uniform entered the room, holding a large tray. Placing the tray on the elegant table in the center of the room, he approached her with a very gentle smile. He looked the most normal among all the men she had seen so far.

“Empress, it’s time for your Happy Meal.”

His voice was polite. Maybe because she was exhausted, she began to smell something delicious.

Happy Meal sounded familiar. 

McDo00 hamburger Happy Meal. Could it be a hamburger? 

She was so drained that she wanted to eat something to regain her strength.

As she struggled to move, trying to get up.

Ah.

The man approached and lifted her without permission.

Uh… I can walk by myself.

Awkward and unsure, she thought he was trying to sit her in the chair by the table. It was still embarrassing. But…

She did sit in the chair. The problem was she wasn’t alone. The man who carried her sat down, leaving her perched on his lap.

Why… in this position…

Her eyelids fluttered.

“Here. Empress. Ah~~~.”

With the strange words, a delicious piece of meat approached her, and she opened her lips in confusion. But the meat didn’t go into her mouth; it went into the man’s.

Why…

Her eyes began to widen again. The man’s half-closed eyes, approaching with the meat in his mouth, were horrifyingly creepy.

No way… mouth to mouth?

What is this!!!