The Obsession of the Tyrant Sub-Male Lead is Unnecessary

Episode 15

Verona finished the large glass of juice, feeling the cool breeze from the balcony.

Despite drinking a lot, her thirst was not quenched. She looked around for the attendant but couldn’t find him.

She resigned herself to sitting back on the sofa, watching people and admiring the ring on her finger.

The sparkling lights and the beautiful diamond ring.

The rustling sound of dresses and the happy laughter of people.

And the romantic vows spoken to her earlier…

Her mood inexplicably lifted. Leaning against the wall, she closed her eyes and smiled.

“Princess?”

Someone called her in a shocked tone. Verona opened one eye to see a man with black hair kneeling beside her, holding her hand. It was someone she knew well. Verona blinked her eyes open.

“Oh! The Sub-male lead!”

“…What?”

“Hehe.”

Verona giggled, reaching out and leaning her upper body toward him. She wanted to touch his wide-open emerald-green eyes.

As her golden hair spilled over him, she suddenly slumped down.

“…Verona?”

“Ah, so pretty.”

She mumbled absentmindedly, not even aware of what she was saying, expressing the thoughts filling her head.

Then, perched on the edge of the sofa, she spread her arms and pulled his face against her chest. Carlos’s body stiffened.

“You’re really pretty. So handsome.”

“…Pretty? What is?”

“You.”

“…”

“Carlos, your face is so pretty.”

Verona ran her fingers through his hair, stroking it like she would a cat.

“Your hair is smooth. Your shoulders are broad. Hmmm, you’re tall too. And your voice is so handsome. I didn’t expect this.”

“…”

“And strong… so strong…”

Verona licked her lips and hugged him tighter. Carlos realized something was wrong with her.

“Verona, what’s wrong with you?”

He tried to pull back to look at her face, but she clung to him, nuzzling her face into his neck.

“I feel… so good.”

Her voice was dreamy, and she giggled again. Carlos frowned, gently but firmly detaching her from his neck and examining her closely.

“Did you drink something strange?”

“Just… juice…”

Carlos’s expression darkened. He stood up, lifting Verona effortlessly into his arms.

“Hold on. We’ll find out what’s going on.”

As he carried her, Verona clung to him, murmuring soft compliments and giggling. Carlos, concerned, moved quickly through the crowd, searching for help.

Reaching a quieter area, he called for a physician and found a secluded room to lay her down, holding her hand and watching her closely as they waited.

“Don’t worry, Verona. I’ll take care of this.”

Her head felt heavy, and her vision blurred, but Carlos’s firm grip on her hand and his steady presence were comforting.

Carlos stood up, holding the now silent Verona in his arms. She clung to him, her arms around his neck, seemingly unwilling to let go. It was endearing.

Chamberlain Jess quickly approached, sensing something was wrong.

“Your Majesty!”

“Jess, end the party.”

“What? But it’s just getting started…”

“The ceremony is over. That’s what matters. And fetch the royal physician immediately.”

Carlos cut him off sharply, striding out of the ballroom and heading quickly to the nearest private room.

“Verona, wake up.”

He laid her on the soft bed, gently touching her flushed cheeks. She merely frowned slightly in annoyance, not fully waking up.

“Could it be…?”

Carlos leaned in close, sniffing the air around her. The sweet scent confirmed his suspicions. Something was off with what she had consumed. His face turned icy.

At that moment, the royal physician rushed in, panting.

“Your Majesty, what happened?”

“Check if the princess has consumed alcohol.”

It wasn’t long before the physician confirmed she was indeed intoxicated.

“It appears she has consumed a popular apple wine, favored among young ladies recently. But it’s not poisoned.”

“Will it affect the child?”

“What? A child?”

“Just answer the question.”

The physician recalled the recent consultation about Verona’s potential pregnancy and calculated the dates.

‘It’s too early to be certain she’s pregnant…’

He wanted to say it was unnecessary to worry at this stage, but the man before him had the power to strip him of his title as royal physician.

Stammering, he carefully worded his response.

“While alcohol is strictly forbidden for pregnant women, this apple wine has a very low alcohol content, akin to a dessert beverage. If it’s very early in the pregnancy, it shouldn’t have much effect.”

“Are you sure?”

The physician wanted to tell the emperor he was overreacting but decided against it, sensing the futility. He sighed internally, pitying the princess who would undoubtedly face more of this protectiveness.

Carlos, finally reassured, dismissed the physician and locked the door behind him.

The noise outside had quieted, indicating the nobles had left. Carlos sighed deeply and turned back to the bed.

“Carlos.”

To his surprise, Verona sat up, looking dazed. Carlos quickly moved to her side.

“Verona, are you feeling better? What happened? Who did this to you?”

“It was delicious.”

“The wine? Even so, you’re pregnant. How could you…”

“No. I meant you were delicious.”

“What?”

Carlos was speechless. She was spouting lines from a third-rate romance novel.

“A compliment. Aren’t you happy?”

“Where did you learn to talk like that?”

Looking closely, he realized her light green eyes were unfocused.

‘She’s not in her right mind.’

She was more intoxicated than that night. At least then, she had been clear-headed, not slurring her words.

“Verona, if you’re feeling better, let’s get up and return to your room.”

“I like you because you’re handsome.”

Carlos was again at a loss for words. He knew she was drunk, but her words still made his heart flutter.

“So, I liked that night.”

Verona, undeterred by his silence, grabbed his collar. Despite her slender wrists, she had an unusual strength. Carlos could have easily freed himself, but he let her pull him in. She kissed him.

Instinctively, Carlos wrapped his arms around her waist. After the short kiss, he had to clench his teeth to keep his composure. He spoke in a low, restrained voice.

“Verona, maybe we should stop. If you keep this up, I won’t be able to hold back. Let’s just go back to the annex and rest.”

“Why are you holding back?”

Verona looked up at him defiantly.

“Why are you holding back?”

“You’re carrying a child, and I…”

“I chose you. So why hold back?”

Verona pushed Carlos onto the bed, catching him by surprise. She clumsily climbed on top of him, her breath warm and heavy.

Carlos clenched and unclenched his fists several times, fighting his instincts. But as Verona started to unbutton his shirt, her fingers fumbling and tearing at the fabric, he couldn’t resist any longer. When her lips touched his bare chest, he grabbed her wrists firmly and flipped her onto the bed, pinning her beneath him.

The roles had reversed.

Dangerous intent flickered in his eyes. The restraint he had been holding onto snapped. The memories of that night surged through him, and his body responded instinctively.

Carlos tried one last time to pull away, but Verona wrapped her arms around his neck and whispered hotly into his ear,

“I like it.”

She giggled, and his self-control shattered completely.

“I like it when you’re rough.”

“…Then I’ll give you what you want.”

Carlos kissed the irresistible, intoxicated woman.

The night for the protagonists of the party had just begun.

* * *

“Aah…”

Verona slowly regained consciousness, hearing the chirping of birds.

Her throat felt parched, and the insides of her thighs were sore. The ache all over her body brought her back to full awareness.

“Mary.”

Her voice came out weakly, and there was no response. She tried again, louder this time.

“Luigi. Water, please.”

Soon, someone lifted her upper body and held a cup to her lips, letting cool water flow in.

After finishing the water, Verona finally felt somewhat alive and opened her eyes.

“…Carlos?”

“Awake at last?”

“Why are you here in the morning…?”

She had been about to ask why he wasn’t attending to his duties after the party, but memories from the previous night stopped her.

– Ah, so pretty.

– You were delicious.

– I like you because you’re handsome.

– I chose you. So why hold back?

Oh no…

Oh no…

Verona’s face darkened as the vivid memories flooded back.

Why did it all come back so clearly…?

And as the final words replayed in her mind, she had to stifle a scream.

– I like it when you’re rough.

‘This is insane. Absolutely insane.’

Her face flushed with heat. Remembering those words brought back everything that followed.

Verona’s heart pounded so hard she thought it might leap out of her throat.

“Judging by your expression, you remember everything.”

Carlos, his face impassive, brought a basin from the bedside table. He cradled her in his arms as he gently washed her face.

She remained frozen in shock, unable to speak as he washed her face and handed her a warm cup of tea.

‘Am I really someone who makes advances when drunk?’

Back in Waterfall, she only drank a single glass and had never been drunk before. She brewed alcohol only to sell it.

Having never been this intoxicated, she had no idea about her behavior when drunk…

‘Wait, but I didn’t drink alcohol. Wasn’t it juice I drank yesterday?’

How could alcohol taste so good?

Verona mentally chastised herself, vowing never to touch alcohol again. Not even if her life depended on it.

She wanted to disappear out of embarrassment. Yet Carlos, oblivious to her mortification, carefully tied her hair back.

If anyone saw, they might think Carlos was her nursemaid.

“S-stop that now.”

Her face as red as a tomato, she tried to push him away. Carlos didn’t budge. Instead, he looked at her with a guilty expression.

‘…What’s with him?’

Confused, Verona watched as Carlos spoke hesitantly.

“I’m sorry.”

“…What?”

“About last night.”

Why is he apologizing? How mortifying!

Verona felt a mix of surprise and embarrassment as she looked at him.