Do you like it?
For a moment, Yasiris thought whether the meanings of those words had changed without her realizing it.
Wasn't what she saw in Runelia's attitude exactly the opposite?
Arrogance.
Deception. superiority.
Vanity.
Perhaps jealousy or inferiority were also mixed in.
Ronelia was always troubled because she could not show her relationship with Kazan.
By this time, Yasiris was curious.
What exactly does this woman believe in, and what does she hope to achieve through such actions?
“What is your goal?”
“Do you think I have ulterior motives?
This really hurts.
I simply wanted to become a friend of Her Majesty the Empress.”
"I have no intention of exchanging jokes with you.
I'll ask again.
What do you want?"
“We'll soon share the same surname, so why can't we get along?
What's so hard about that?”
Communication was useless.
Yasiris slowly realized the truth and lowered her head.
Instead of responding to Runelia, who seemed more interested in arguing with baseless accusations than improving their relationship, Yasaris walked away.
“I don't see any willingness to talk, so I'll excuse myself...”
“Your Majesty!”
Ronelia grabbed her arm.
Just as Yasiris was about to throw it away, overwhelmed with exhaustion, Runelia stirred.
“Are you jealous because of my relationship with Kazan?”
"What?"
Yasiris's mouth opened.
Before she could recover from her astonishment, Ronelia continued,
“I knew it.
No matter how much you pretend to dislike him, you actually have feelings for Kazan, right?
You should hate me all of a sudden.
But how can a man only have eyes for one woman?
Your Majesty, shouldn’t you understand that too?”
It took Yasiris some time to fully understand Runelia's words.
The illogical nature of the accusations left her stunned, leading to a delayed reaction.
Yasiris, do you have feelings for Kazan?
Was she jealous of Ronelia?
Was she seeing Yasiris this way, through just such a lens?
A woman who was stripped of everything by the Emperor.
Yasiris was taken aback for a moment before gradually regaining her composure.
After thinking about Runelia's words several times, something resembling boiling lava began to rise from deep within her.
“Hmm...”
She thought about calming herself down first.
There is no need to give in to such provocations.
Yasiris, with a trembling corner of her mouth, took a deep breath.
With an even colder demeanor, she looked directly at Runelia.
“Darling, it seems you're wrong about something.”
“Wrong?
Well, everything is already clear to me, so no need to bother denying it.”
“Miss Logitin”
“Should we keep this a little secret?
The fact that Your Majesty loves Kazan is a secret.”
“Ronelia Logitin!”
“In fact, Her Majesty preferred the embrace of the Emperor of the Great Empire over the petty marquises of the small kingdoms…!”
slap-!
Runelia's head cocked to the side.
With this bounce, her body faltered and collapsed miserably.
“Ah...”
“If you stop barking, I'll leave.”
Yasiris stated with disdain evident in her eyes as she looked at Runelia.
Seeing her with her hand on her cheek, tears flowing, aroused not sympathy but annoyance.
“How dare you lay your hands on me...!
The Emperor will not let this matter pass!!”
"And if he doesn't?
What do you think he'll do to me?"
"He's going to do something.
You dare hit me!"
“Then what?”
“Who dares to mention my name in this situation?
In front of me.”
With the sound of the door closing, a man's voice interrupted them.
Lost in the emotional conversation, unaware of the intrusion, Yasiris was startled when she turned to face Kazan.
"when?!"
While Yasiris was surprised, unlike her, Ronelia got up as if she had been waiting, tears streaming down, and hugged Kazan.
“Your Majesty, the Empress… Ah, Her Majesty, she-”
“I slapped you”
Kazan's gaze briefly touched Runelia's cheek before turning to Yasaris's hand.
With her clenched fist, he couldn't confirm whether her delicate palm was stained red.
“I just wanted to get along...”
“Don't cry, Ronelia.
The Empress will receive appropriate punishment.”
“As always, I have no one but His Majesty,”
Yasiris stood silently, watching them with a stern expression.
As Runelia sobbed in Kazan's comforting embrace, and even a distant figure seemed to offer condolences, Yasiris felt as if she was observing a scene from a distant world.
Nausea, anger, and disappointment overwhelmed her.
Yasiris hated that.
She found the whole situation annoying, yet it seemed like she was genuinely jealous.
Just like Runelia's words.
“So, do you have any excuses, Empress?”
Yasiris gritted her teeth at Kazan's inquiry.
Normally, she would step back and bow her head, but the turmoil boiling inside her did not subside easily.
Her anger was boiling and flowing, exploding into defiant words.
“I didn't do anything wrong, so why should I make excuses?”
“You boldly slapped my future wife’s face.”
“I only did what Miss Laughton wished to be punished.”
“When have I ever done that...!”
“Ronelia,” After interrupting her response, Kazan paused for a moment before gently wiping away the blush on her cheek.
Only Ronelia was able to perceive the coldness on his face as he leaned towards her with a worried expression.
"You look very sore.
Go back and rest, won't you?"
“Yes, Your Majesty”
In response to the stark contrast between his behavior and his words, Runelia responded hesitantly, then hugged Kazan tightly.
She surrendered to the intimacy that was only permitted in front of others and then backed away, smiling cheerfully.
“I will wait in your majesty’s room.”
“Okay”
As Runelia started to turn to leave at Kazan's response, she stopped midway, turned her head, and shot a sarcastic look at Yasiris.
From her expression to the slight sarcastic smile, it was the embodiment of perfect impudence.
“Take care, Your Majesty the Empress.”
“Hmph”
Yasiris wanted to point out Runelia's situation right away, but she couldn't.
The situation required her to address the consequences of her actions.
She was not foolish enough to escalate matters by giving in to provocation recklessly.
Therefore, without any response, Yasiris remained silent.
Ronelia shrugged her shoulders and left without further ado.
There was a hint of satisfaction on her face as she left.
Thunk-
With a faint sound, the door closed, leaving only the two of them in the living room.
There was a short silence between them.
Yasaris, staring out the window, and Kazan, watching her.
Kazan was the first to break the silence.
“I didn't know you were able to lay your hands on someone directly.”
“Isn't there a moment in life when that is necessary?
It has happened now.”
Yasiris calmed down noticeably when Runelia disappeared from her sight.
She didn't regret hitting her, but thinking about the impending consequences made her feel depressed.
What will he do next?
Will he take revenge on Yasiris in the same way, and urge others to get their hands on her?
Will he inflict pain, insult, or interfere in the affairs of her people?
Yasiris hid her worry, and glanced sideways at Kazan.
Expecting him to be angry for hitting the woman he loved, Yasiris was surprised by his calm demeanor.
He seemed lost in thought as he tapped the table with his index finger.
Click-
After a moment, his finger stopped, and his low voice filled the room.
“What was the reason for hitting Runelia?”
"I've already explained.
I simply responded to her provocation."
“More precisely”
Yasiris could not understand what Kazan wanted.
He didn't seem to ask for a justification as to whether hitting Runelia was right or wrong, so why ask for a reason?
But sometimes, she can understand him.
Yasiris has given up trying to decipher Kazan's intentions.
She calmly spoke the truth instead of making up lies to cover up, even though she didn't know how much he already knew.
“I hit Ronelia because she provoked me.
She insulted me and my ex-fiancé.
She refused to listen to me and made arbitrary judgments, so I had no choice but to raise my hand.”
After finishing speaking, Yasiris closed her eyes.
Conversations about baritone always bothered Kazan.
Just looking at the recent uproar over the effects, one could understand how much he hated Baritone.
Therefore, it is natural to expect that he will be upset this time as well...
“Is that all?”
Yasiris blinked in surprise at the unexpected response.
She examined him, wondering if he was trying to lull her into complacency, but she could detect no signs on his expressionless face.
Today, Kazan was acting strangely.
It was as if his mind was occupied with something else, as if he could not fully focus on their conversation.
Or maybe there was a different answer he wanted to hear.
Maybe he threw the question in hopes of getting that specific answer.
However, because she did not know what exactly he was referring to, Yasiris stuck to her prepared response.
“Yes, Your Majesty”
“Okay then...no, it's okay.
That's the way it is.”
What's happening?
Despite Yasiris's suspicious look, Kazan offered no explanation.
Instead, he combed his hair back as if to clarify his complex thoughts.
As soon as he arrived at the salon, Ronelia's voice echoed in my ears.
Before he could even comprehend the meaning behind it, Yasiris slapped her cheek, and in the midst of loud noises, Kazan burst into the room.
Realistically, it was an absurd statement.
He knew better than anyone that Yasiris secretly didn't like him.
He understood her attitude towards the person she truly loved.
He welcomed the second spring with Yasiris.
Her platinum blonde locks were swaying in the breeze.
Yasiris, with her hair pulled behind one ear, was delicately holding the flower that had fallen from the branch, and looking at him with a precious expression.
Under the dazzling sunlight, her clear smile was shining.
The scent of fragrant flowers caressed his nose.
Her soft and gentle voice, the gentle warmth that guides his hand, and the endless warm gaze…
These were things he would never see again.
Yasiris now, she hates him.