The Blackened Second Male Lead's Wife

Lucian looked at me with a puzzled face and sighed quietly. 

And held my hand. 

When Lucian and I held hands, all eyes in the banquet hall turned to us.

After a while, Lucian and I began to step to the music. Looking at Lucian’s face full of tension, I giggled. 

“Fortunately, you didn’t forget how to dance.” 

“I don’t forget things I’ve memorized easily. I’m just worried my body won’t move properly.” 

Lucian’s face hardened at the thought that he might make a terrible mistake. 

Whenever I took a step, I felt his body become rigid.

I laughed jokingly to relax him. 

“It’s okay to make some mistakes. We’re not even the main characters.” 

“People will judge you too.” 

“…..”

“I’d hate to bring shame to you.” 

…. How can this person always be so considerate of me? 

Trying to hold onto my pounding heart, I held Lucian’s hand and spun around. 

I was feeling really happy for the night.

After the banquet, Lucian and I walked side by side on the road. 

We were the only two people on the empty street as it was late at night.

The winter breeze was chilly, but I felt cozy thanks to Lucian’s jacket over my shoulder. 

I was drunk from drinking wine at the banquet, so I chatted with more enthusiasm than usual.

“Next time, I’m going to hold a banquet. There will be so many people who would want to talk to me about makeup. Because of that, I’ll have to be on alert. It’s also been a really long time since I’ve prepared a banquet.” 

“You look happy.” 

“Hehe, can you tell? I am very happy.” 

Previously, I was just a side villainess character. 

A beautiful villainess who only knows how to bully others.

But not now. 

“People have been praising me for my great skills. They also really enjoy talking to me. That’s a good thing. Lucian, you know what this feels, right?”

Lucian was also someone who started from the bottom when no one recognized him. 

A cursed child with red eyes. How happy he must have been when he was fully recognized for his ability amidst such prejudice. 

I think I got to understand him better. 

Thinking so, I said. 

“I don’t know if I can achieve as much as Lucian, but I’m going to try.”

“Try what?” 

“I’m going to work hard for this. I’m going to study various makeup techniques and launch my own brand of cosmetics.” 

“Oh…” 

Lucian blinked as if he had heard something unexpected. I smiled awkwardly. 

Was that a bit random? 

But this was a huge opportunity for me. An opportunity to make my life more purposeful and meaningful.

It was great living everyday in leisure, rolling around like a seal, but I also wanted to live a life full of passion, like a burning flame. 

Like Estelle and Lucian. 

I held Lucian’s hand with bright eyes. 

“You’ll see. I will become an amazing figure and surprise the whole world.”

“You’re already the most amazing person.”

“Only Lucian sees me like that.”

Lucian muttered softly after hearing what I said. 

“…… Is that not enough for you?” 

“What?” 

“No. It’s nothing.” 

Lucian shook his head and said, 

“I will always support you.” 

I smiled happily at his sweet words.

* * *

<Nia, have you been well?

It must be nearing the winter season in the empire right now. 

It is always warm in the Kingdom of Sebran throughout the whole year, so I’m wearing a light dress. 

As expected, the Kingdom of Sebran’s medicine is really advanced. I can’t keep up with it even if I stay up all night studying.

However, this isn’t difficult.

Just thinking of how I can share the knowledge I learned here when I come back is so rewarding.

But I’m worried. His Highness, Carlix, said that he will not be returning to the empire again this month.

He said that His Majesty’s condition improved so he doesn’t have to go back.

My heart pounds every now and then thinking as to whether His Majesty will be angry at His Highness or whether rumors about his long absence will spread over there.

-From the anxious Estelle with mixed feelings about His Highness’ situation>

<Huh? That guy’s not coming back?

It seems like he wants to stay with Estelle until your study ends, using His Majesty’s improvement as a reason.

Well, it doesn’t matter. 

As soon as His Majesty had recovered his health, he began to participate in political affairs and became very busy. The same goes for the ministers. 

No one here cares about the crown prince’s absence. So don’t worry too much about it.

By the way, Estelle, I’m finally opening the shop today. 

I sent so many invitations, but it’s a pity that I couldn’t invite you. 

When you return to the empire, I’ll show you around my shop. 

Good luck, and until then! 

-From Pernia, a CEO starting from today>

* * * 

I put the completed letter in the envelope. 

Anne came into the room. 

“My lady, let’s go. The master is waiting for you in the carriage.” 

“Okay.” 

As I got into the carriage, my father, all dressed up, was waiting for me looking much more excited than I was. 

Today is the grand opening of “Pernia’s Beauty Shop.”

As more and more people asked me to do their makeup or wanted to learn how to do it from me, my father came up with an amazing idea. 

Why don’t you open a shop?

I was surprised. 

Usually, nobles don’t make such suggestions to their daughters. An unmarried aristocratic lady running an independent shop is unheard of.

Especially in this society, where a lady is criticized if she does not stay docile and obedient. 

However, my father was thinking differently. 

[Pernia, I told you! I was right to believe that fortune teller said that you are the one to save the empire when you were first born. You are a being who can save the empire, so it must mean that you can save the Lilac family too?! You’ll definitely succeed!]

So, my father made a bet with our family’s fate. 

My father opened the shop with all the emergency money he had saved up. 

This would be my shop, a place for those who want to dress up beautifully.

I swallowed my saliva with flushed cheeks. After a while, people began to flock into the shop.

There were members of the BMA, who I had gotten close to over a short period of time, and nobles who became interested in my makeup method, which has begun to attract attention these days. 

“Congratulations, Lady Pernia.” 

“The shop looks really nice. It’s beautiful.” 

My father greeted the guests with more enthusiasm than me.

“Oh my. Welcome. Duchess Rosasa. Thank you for coming to our humble shop. The interior is really nice, right? I got the best craftsman in the imperial city to build the shop. That’s why my wallet is empty. Oh, you don’t have to look at me with such pity. In the future, this place will be so famous that there’ll be no one in the capital who doesn’t know it. Hahahaha.” 

….Awkward. 

The women, upon hearing my father’s intrepid words, laughed. Duchess Rosasa said.

“You have high expectations for your daughter. Then, you must become successful for the marquis, Lady Pernia.” 

“I know.” 

I nodded and looked at the women with hope. 

“Will you make a reservation today? If you make a reservation today, you will also get a rose lipstick made by me as a gift.” 

“Hoho, of course I ought to make a reservation. I was a regular even before the shop opened.” 

“Me too.”

Many women raised their hands and made reservations. Even though the price was set quite high, no one was worried about the payment. 

As expected, noble guests are the best! 

My father and I, whose eyes widened at the numbers, talked to our guests in a hurry. 

Then a woman asked. 

“But I don’t see Lord Kardien.” 

I said with downcast eyes.

“Lucian had to go to the imperial palace due to an order from His Majesty. I don’t think he will be able to come today.” 

“I see.” 

The woman could not hide her disappointed face. 

I think she came to see Lucian, not me. 

‘Well, there are many who approach me mainly because I am Lucian’s fiancee.’ 

Baroness Grande stood up to break the sour mood. She patted the disappointed woman’s shoulder with a lively face. 

“What does it matter if Lord Kardien isn’t here? Today’s star is Lady Pernia. You can enjoy having a conversation with her.”

Then she spoke to me.

“Lady Pernia, what kind of products do you have here in the shop? I can see products that I’ve never seen before.” 

Oh, Baroness Grande!

How can she change the mood so sensibly? 

I looked at Baroness Grande, expressing my gratitude for her intervention. She winked at me.

I couldn’t miss this chance to promote the shop to women.

* * * 

At that time, Lucian was kneeling and the emperor sat on the throne in front of him. 

The emperor looked completely different from before. 

His complexion was no longer pale, and his dry lips looked full of life.

He had not yet fully recovered his health, but at least he was not in a condition of a sick person counting to his death day. 

It was thanks to Kuhn’s treatment. 

The emperor told Lucian.

“Lucian, go to the war zone one more time.” 

Lucian replied with a firm face and a voice as clear as the blue sky. 

“The war has already ended. The enemy admitted defeat, and our soldiers have occupied their land.” 

“That’s right. But it’s not looking good. Contrary to the agreement you reached with the enemies, the defeated soldiers and locals over there have not been cooperating. Because the terrifying Kardien, who was the commander of the war, is not there.” 

“…..” 

“So I need you. I’m not asking you to go to war. All you have to do is stay there for a while. That alone will keep them quiet and make them listen to the imperial forces.” 

Lucian said with downcast eyes.

“……There are many other knights who can control the situation. It doesn’t have to be me..” 

The emperor shouted with a displeased expression. 

“Even if I send 10 of those guys, they’ll never be able to live up to the effect your name has!”

Then the emperor spoke, looking as if he wanted to comfort Lucian. 

“I am sending you this time to show the nobility here how great of a knight you are, Kardien. How could those aristocratic bastards treat you so cruelly when you ended the long war for us?”

The emperor recalled when Lucian returned from the war with news of the empire’s victory. 

Even though he did lead the army out of the war, which had been a long headache for the empire, the nobles did not fully acknowledge that Lucian, a commoner, had achieved such a thing.