The Obsession of the Tyrant Sub-Male Lead is Unnecessary

Episode 21

“But I heard your major is astronomy, Lily?” Verona redirected the conversation.

“Yes, it’s a bit embarrassing, but that’s correct. I want to work at the academy or the temple after graduation.”

Just then, a noblewoman who had finished her conversation joined in.

“I’ve heard that Lady Retinan is an excellent student, especially talented in observing the moon. Is that true, Lady Retinan?”

“I’m still lacking,” Lily replied with a humble smile. The mention of the moon piqued Verona’s curiosity.

“The moon is very important for farming and fishing. If you’re skilled in that area, you’ll be a great asset to the Empire.”

“You’re too kind, Princess.”

Lily seemed pleased. A countess joined the conversation.

“I’ve heard that you can predict the weather by observing the moon. Is that true?”

“Yes, but as a student, I’m not very knowledgeable yet. I’m still assisting my professors with their research. We’re currently observing changes in the lunar halo.”

Listening to Lily’s explanation with a smile, Verona suddenly felt a chill.

‘They’re observing the lunar halo at the academy?’

It’s well known that a thick lunar halo indicates rain. So, everyone would think it’s nothing unusual.

But Verona remembered an important detail she had forgotten.

In the novel, before the Emperor started his war, a major natural disaster struck the Clarence Empire.

A tsunami hit the coastal regions, causing significant damage to farmland and fisheries.

This disaster affected the Emperor’s rule and led to the invasion of Waterfall. Losing the people’s trust due to the disaster, the Emperor sought to gain new territories through conquest.

The people’s resentment toward the Emperor grew, and Olivia, the heroine, stepped in to help the affected citizens.

For about six months, the Grand Duke’s support continued, and Olivia’s knowledge of herbalism helped the people recover, eventually quelling their resentment.

The Emperor’s anger subsided, but the people’s loyalty shifted towards the Grand Duke.

The heroine became the wise woman who helped the hero, strengthening their bond, while the Emperor, as the secondary male lead, grew lonelier and more twisted.

‘That tsunami is approaching.’

Waterfall wasn’t affected at the time. Despite being close to Clarence, it was curious why Waterfall was unaffected. Now, it seemed that Verona’s intervention in the novel might have prevented the damage.

But what would it matter? They’d end up in war, not by natural disaster, but by human conflict.

‘It’s a dilemma.’

Verona frowned slightly. If she were still in Waterfall, she would have conducted regular inspections and prevented it. But being away from Waterfall now posed a problem.

‘We can prevent the tsunami in Clarence…’

But that would completely alter the novel’s storyline.

If they didn’t prevent it, Carlos would lose the people’s trust. If the tsunami caused chaos, Verona could leave the imperial palace safely. However, Olivia and the Grand Duke would gain the people’s trust and power.

Verona kept her conflicted feelings hidden and managed to get through the tea party. The noblewomen expressed their gratitude with small gifts before leaving.

“I hope we can meet again, Princess.”

“Yes, me too. I feel like I can get along well with Lily.”

Verona smiled warmly as she said her goodbyes. She sensed Olivia watching from the corner but ignored her.

“His Majesty will visit shortly.”

“Alright.”

After sending off the guests, Verona lay down on the sofa in her bedroom, and Luigi came in to report.

Mary, removing the ornaments from Verona’s hair, asked,

“Are you tired, Princess?”

“A little.”

“Lily seemed to talk a lot with you. I was worried.”

Olivia interjected with concern.

“She didn’t seem like a bad person.”

“…I suppose. After all, she is Lady Retinan.”

Since Olivia didn’t respond further, she stepped back. Verona looked at her for a moment and then broached a topic.

“Olivia, your academy diploma is coming soon, right? Have you thought about becoming a royal physician?”

“Well… I haven’t considered it yet. But I don’t think the royal physician’s path is for me.”

“Are you not interested in treating people?”

“No. I want to be a scholar rather than a physician.”

Olivia seemed genuinely uninterested. While herbalism wasn’t directly related to medicine, considering the flow of *The Duke’s Woman*, Olivia’s response was surprising.

‘What happens if Olivia doesn’t play her role?’

The story might completely diverge from what she knew.

While Verona was lost in thought, Carlos arrived.

“Was dealing with the ladies exhausting?”

Carlos went straight to Verona and lightly kissed her forehead as he entered the bedroom.

“If it was too much, you could have refused them all.”

“They were nicer than I expected, so it wasn’t hard. But Carlos.”

Verona removed Carlos’s hand from her hair and asked,

“Has there been any word from the temple lately?”

“The temple? We’re not on particularly good terms, so there’s nothing to exchange. Though they seemed more subdued after the engagement ceremony.”

“Oh… So, you don’t usually interact with them?”

“Not really. The temple has its own agenda, often clashing with the interests of the imperial family.”

Verona pondered his words, feeling the weight of the upcoming events. She had to navigate carefully, balancing the novel’s events and her role in this world.

“Indeed.”

So that’s why things were this way.

Verona sighed deeply, filled with regret. While the academy might not have caught on, the temple must have noticed the signs of the impending tsunami. The scriptures mentioned that the divine would reveal their intentions through the moon.

Given the strained relationship between the Empire and the temple, it was clear the temple had deliberately kept this information to themselves.

‘What should I do? This man has made enemies in so many places.’

She felt a pang of pity as she looked at Carlos, who held her in his arms, caressing her cheek with a sweet smile. He treated her like a precious treasure, making her heart soften even more.

* * *

Carlos continued to caress her cheek, but when Verona remained silent and just looked at him quietly, he gently lowered his hand.

He touched her delicate, beautiful neck and then rubbed the faint mark left by a kiss. Still, Verona only gazed at him intently.

Carlos boldly lowered his hand to cover her lower abdomen.

Though it was still flat, the thought of it soon swelling with their child made him smile. He felt as if he could already sense the baby’s heartbeat beneath his palm.

Overwhelmed with emotion, Carlos embraced her tightly.

“Carlos.”

“Yes?”

As he stroked her luxurious golden hair, Verona wriggled slightly and lifted her head.

“I want to visit the temple.”

“Why suddenly the temple? It’s quite a journey to the southern sea.”

“I want our child to receive a blessing from the gods.”

“A blessing?”

“Yes. I also have some other matters I want to attend to.”

Carlos, about to mention the difficult relationship with the Pope, hesitated at the mention of their child.

It did make sense.

Although he wasn’t devout, receiving a blessing for their child wouldn’t be a bad idea.

‘If it ensures the child’s safety…’

Carlos silently placed his hand on her lower abdomen again.

If it was for this child, he could even grovel at the Pope’s feet.

Carlos nodded.

“Alright, let’s go.”

“Together?”

“Of course. As the father, isn’t it only natural?”

“Uh, yes.”

Verona, after a moment of hesitation, suddenly stood up and pulled him by the hand.

‘Verona is taking the initiative to hold my hand?’

Carlos felt a surge of joy as he followed her. Verona led him to the garden between the emperor’s and empress’s palaces, with Retrius following at a distance.

“But why did we come here?”

Verona changed the subject.

“The construction of the lake is complete, isn’t it?”

“I put that brute to work.”

Carlos gestured towards Retrius with a nod.

“I had it connected to the sea for your sake. That brute’s worth at least that much.”

“Then it should be easier than I thought.”

“Easier for what?”

“You know, Carlos.”

Verona, having thought it over, decided she couldn’t just sit back and let the events of the novel unfold.

Maybe it was the dream of the baby, or perhaps she was really pregnant and her emotions were fluctuating.

Regardless of the reason, she couldn’t ignore the danger Carlos would face, nor could she disregard the safety of Waterfall.

“Retrius can use healing magic, right?”

“Yes. He’s not particularly skilled, but he can manage.”

“Then he could help if there’s a plague.”

“A plague?”

Carlos’s face tensed slightly. The biggest threat to an emperor’s authority was a plague, as the people saw it as a sign of divine wrath.

“Soon, there will be a tsunami in several provinces, followed by a plague.”

“How do you know this?”

“Let’s just say it’s because I’m a princess of Waterfall.”

Verona spoke softly, letting go of his hand and moving closer to the lake. She bent down and dipped her hand into the water.

A faint glow seemed to flicker and then was absorbed into the lake.

“It’s too much to prevent the tsunami from here. This will reduce its scale, but it’s not as effective as going to the sea directly.”

“Oh! Is that an ability of mermaids?”

Retrius exclaimed in amazement from behind her. Carlos turned towards him and asked,

“Retrius, did you see that?”

“Yes, Your Majesty. It’s incredible!”

Carlos, still gazing at Verona, felt a mix of awe and gratitude.

“Verona, you’re amazing.”

Verona straightened up and turned to face him, her expression serious.

“If we don’t take action, many people will suffer. The tsunami is just the beginning. The aftermath could be catastrophic.”

Carlos nodded, understanding the gravity of the situation.

“We’ll do everything we can to prevent it. I’ll coordinate with the relevant officials and make sure we’re prepared.”

Verona felt a sense of relief wash over her. Despite the uncertainties, they were taking steps to mitigate the disaster. She hoped that with their combined efforts, they could avert the worst of the coming calamities.

“Mermaid abilities?”

“Eh? Didn’t you know? That’s one of the abilities of the merfolk. They’re called the blessed ones of the gods for a reason.”

“It’s abnormal for humans to know that.”

“Oh, right. You’re human, after all.”

“I’m glad you finally acknowledged that.”

Carlos sarcastically replied and then pulled out a handkerchief from his pocket to dry Verona’s wet hand. Verona asked,

“When can we go to the temple? We should leave as soon as possible.”

“I’ll arrange for us to depart in about five days.”

Verona frowned slightly.

‘That might be cutting it too close…’

While the loss of public trust in the Emperor of Clarence, a ruler with legitimate authority, wouldn’t happen overnight, the impending tsunami could be the beginning of a decline.

The initial impact of the tsunami, followed by the subsequent smaller issues, would slowly erode his reputation.

During the time Carlos becomes infatuated with Olivia and clings to her, the citizens would gradually turn away from him.

By then, Osmund would have already won Olivia’s heart and would be praised for taking care of the people’s welfare.

‘I don’t want it to come to that.’

Verona was determined not to stand by and let this happen.

“Carlos, would it be alright if I go ahead to the temple and wait for you? It would be better to move quickly to prevent the tsunami. I can transform into a mermaid and reach there in half a day…”

“No.”

Carlos cut her off sharply with a serious expression.

“I can’t let you swim in the cold sea water in this weather, especially when you’re not alone.”

Verona felt a mix of frustration and warmth at his concern. His protectiveness was touching, but it also complicated things.

“Carlos, I understand your concern, but this is really important. If I don’t get there in time, the consequences could be disastrous.”

“I know, Verona. But your safety and the safety of our child come first. We can travel quickly and safely by land. I’ll make sure we leave as soon as possible.”

Verona sighed, knowing he wouldn’t budge on this. She had to find another way to ensure they reached the temple in time.

“Alright, but please hurry with the preparations. Every moment counts.”

Carlos nodded, his face serious.

“I will. We’ll leave in five days, and I’ll make sure everything is ready for a swift journey.”

Verona, feeling a bit more reassured, decided to focus on preparing herself for the trip. She couldn’t shake the feeling of urgency, but at least they were moving in the right direction.

* * *

Back in her quarters, Verona paced restlessly. She needed to think of something to expedite their journey. The idea of traveling as a mermaid was tempting, but Carlos’ concerns were valid.

“Maybe I can find a way to alert the temple beforehand,” she mused to herself. “If they know we’re coming, they might be able to help speed up our travel.”

She called for Olivia, who arrived promptly.

“Yes, Princess?”

“Olivia, I need you to send a message to the temple. Tell them we’re coming and explain the urgency of our visit. Make sure they understand the gravity of the situation.”

Olivia nodded, her expression serious.

“I’ll take care of it right away.”

Verona watched as Olivia left, feeling a bit more at ease. She knew the journey would be challenging, but she was determined to do everything in her power to protect both the Empire and her homeland of Waterfall.