The Blackened Second Male Lead’s Wife

Lucian, who noticed my trembling, hugged me harder. 

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“Are you cold? We should go back to your room.” 

I held onto him and looked at the door of the drawing room as we moved away. 

Like that was the only thing that can save me. 

* * * 

My father and the emperor immediately left the castle. 

Because Lucian didn’t even give them time to stay overnight. 

I stood by the window and watched as my father left. 

Until just before leaving, my father turned back to the castle as if he was looking for me. 

I wanted to open the window and shout out. 

Take me.

But I bit my lip when I heard the low voice behind me.

“Who are you looking at, Nia?” 

There was an mysterious energy in his languid voice. 

I looked away from the window and shook my head. 

“I’m not looking at anyone.
I was just looking outside because I was amazed at the amount of snow.” 

“Ahh.” 

Lucian nodded and approached me.

Fortunately, my father and the emperor were no longer in sight.
All I could see was white snow. 

Lucian held me in his arms and whispered. 

“This area is barren land which only snows every day.
No one wants it, no one cares for it.
That’s why I was able to receive this place.” 

“………” 

“It’s said to be abandoned, but I like this place.
It’s quiet, white, and beautiful.
What about you, Nia?” 

I want to run away. 

“What?” 

I told Lucian, who was urging me to answer. 

“Me too.” 

I answered insincerely with an awkward face. 

Nevertheless, Lucian smiled as if he was satisfied. 

“From today onwards, we’ll both be busy.” 

“Why?” 

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Lucian grabbed my hand and kissed the back of it.
Lowering his long eyelashes, he whispered in a sweet voice. 

“We have to prepare for the wedding.” 

Since it’ll just be the two of us, I expected that it would be a humble wedding, which was wrong.

The dress designer came first. 

“It’s an honor to have this opportunity to make a dress for the beautiful bride.
I will do my best to make a beautiful dress, even though I am lacking in skill.” 

Nevermind the dress, I was concerned for her.

Because she is the first person I have seen ever since my father and the emperor visited.

“How did you come all the way here? Lucian gave you permission? Did he threaten to pluck your eyes out if you laid your eyes on me?” 

She bowed her head in response to my outburst.

“I-I’m sorry, miss bride.
He left a warning not to say anything other than what was necessary.” 

“…… ” 

The moment I saw her stiff face, I realized how fearful she was. 

I ought to not talk to her anymore. 

After that, she didn’t talk about anything other than the dress. 

She never said my name, and never even engaged in small talk with me.

“I’m done measuring.
I will refer to the details miss bride brought up and complete the dress as soon as possible.” 

After the designer went away, a jewelry merchant came in. 

“I brought an assortment of the finest jewels.
Tell me the jewelry and design you want, I will have it done according to what the bride requested.”

After that came the florist and shoemaker. 

The items brought in by each visitor were all high quality, but everyone acted the same way as the designer who came first.

I could feel them trying to avoid talking to me at all costs. 

This only left me with profound frustration. 

After they all went back, Lucian came into the room while I was resting with a dejected face. 

“Were you able to pick out your favorite? I asked them to show Nia only their best pieces…”

I answered awkwardly because if I said, ‘No,’ he would cut the necks of those who came today. 

“….Yes.” 

“That’s a relief.” 

Lucian, who came close, held my hand.
I shuddered at the chill I felt when our hands touched.

“Why are your hands so cold?” 

“I wanted to show something to Nia, so I did some work outside.”

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“Work?”

“Follow me, Nia.” 

Lucian dragged me with a child-like face. 

He took my hand and headed towards the castle garden.

My eyes widened.

There were beautiful sculptures made of transparent ice. 

Structures of flowers, foxes, birds, and even the benevolent goddess in the middle. 

The pieces of ice glistening in the sunlight looked more beautiful than any jewelry I’ve seen. 

I couldn’t say anything at the magical sight. 

Lucian said with a smile. 

“What do you think? Is it shiny and pretty?” 

“…When did you do this?”

Even though he has turned yandere, he couldn’t have become a wizard.
These enormous sculptures couldn’t possibly have been made in a few days. 

Lucian spoke as if he was confessing a secret. 

“Actually, I’ve been working on it for a long time.
I want to show you when you come here.” 

“…..”

Lucian approached me from behind, hugged me and said. 

“When was it? One day, I had a dream.
It was a dream where I was here with you.” 

We walked over the white snowy field where the morning sun shines. 

Then, we played in the snow, warmed up in front of the fireplace, and drank sweet hot chocolate. 

Then, when we got tired, we leaned on each other and fell asleep.
When I opened my eyes, it was dark.

Under the starry night sky, we kissed. 

Lucian opened his eyes.
He spoke in a loving voice. 

“At that time, I only thought it was a dream.
Although you were my fiancee, I couldn’t believe I would be marrying you.
Because you were so precious and beautiful.” 

“……” 

Lucian swept my hair flying in the wind behind my ears and said. 

“But it’s not a dream anymore.
Because you’re here now.” 

Lucian said with a beautiful smile at me. 

“I love you, Nia.
Let us live happily here from now on.” 

But I couldn’t smile comfortably at his sweet confession. 

Because I knew what he meant by ‘us.’

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His ‘us’ meant only him and I.

The ‘us,’ where no one else can intervene. 

Where we refuse to talk with anyone else and only look at each other. 

I felt suffocated by the future he hoped for. 

I spoke without realizing it. 

“I don’t like it.”

I shouted at Lucian, whose eyes were wide open. 

“How can I live and only look at you? I have family and friends.
You are the most precious to me, but you’re not the only one!” 

Oh no! I covered my mouth. 

‘W-what did I just say…’

I trembled and looked at Lucian. 

But Lucian was not angry as I thought he would be.
He only looked at me with wide eyes.

At that moment, I had a little bit of hope.

‘Would it end differently from the original?’

Lucian in the original was a terrifying killer, but Lucian in front of me (at least) had never killed anyone in front of me. 

He could communicate well, and he was more affectionate than anyone else. 

So even if he has turned yandere, he might still listen to me. 

However, the moment Lucian spoke, the little hope I had shattered.

“Then, if your family and friends disappear, would I be the only one?” 

“…… ” 

“Please answer me, Nia.” 

Hearing him continue to say such terrifying words with such a sweet voice, I lost all hope. 

He’s insane. 

He is not the Lucian I loved.

I held back my tears.
Then I smiled miserably and said playfully.

“Ayyy.
What I just said was a joke.
There’s no one else for me but Lucian.” 

If you were Lucian in the past, you would have noticed that my words were false. 

But as expected, Lucian didn’t notice anything.
He didn’t even try to notice. 

Lucian now only listens to what he wants to hear and only says what he wants to say. 

“Nia is the only one for me, too.” 

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Lucian’s smiling face did not show any concerns about what I had just said.

It made me feel terribly disappointed. 

I am preparing for the wedding that I had been anticipating, but what was in my heart was neither excitement, happiness, or love. 

It was just fear. 

‘I beg you.
Someone save me.’

* * * 

“The finished dress will come today.
I’m really looking forward to it.
Oh how beautiful you would look in that dress!” 

Lucian looked to be in a good mood since this morning. 

He looked very excited to see me in the dress. 

But I wasn’t thinking about the dress at all.

‘Why isn’t Estelle coming?’

It has been a long time since the emperor departed.
He had more than enough time to tell Estelle about me.

‘Did she decide not to come even after hearing about me?’

I shook my head. 

Estelle won’t do that.
She is someone who would come to me even if the whole world wanted to stop her. 

Rather, it was more likely that there were other reasons she hasn’t come. 

Perhaps… 

I turned pale from one reason that came to mind. 

‘What if the emperor didn’t tell Estelle about me?’

That was a possibility.

The emperor cares about Estelle.
She was a noble saintess of the empire, the emperor’s savior, and the crown prince’s lover. 

He wouldn’t want to bring Estelle into a life-threatening situation. 

Above all, the emperor had nothing to lose if I ended up trapped in Lucian’s grasp. 

Well, he’s seen how dangerous Lucian has become and to prevent anyone from being harmed, I have to be by Lucian’s side, so he may want to keep me where I am. 

When I thought about it, my heart swelled.

‘No, that can’t be.’

I desperately denied the terrible possibilities. 

“Nia, the designer has arrived.” 

I came to my senses at Lucian’s words.
Suddenly, the designer was standing in the room.

Unlike before, when I was being measured, there were two assistants standing next to the designer. 

Their hands held a blindingly beautiful dress.