When the Female Lead Went Off-Script, the Main Male Lead Became the Tyrant's Empress - Chapter 24.1
The Emperor looked like a cosmos flower withering to death on asphalt.
As though they couldn’t even see him, the man and woman continued shouting at the top of their lungs.
What a fine mess this is.
“Even children read those, so why are you making such a fuss? Who told you to read the entire collection at once? You only have to read the parts I assigned!”
“Then why don’t you try reading one volume a day, Uncle!”
“……What did you say?”
Haster questioned Clary’s final remark.
One volume of an encyclopedia a day?
“May I see the schedule?”
Just as Clary eagerly held out the schedule in her hand to Haster as though she had been waiting for him to ask.
Not a chance!
Arden’s hand shot toward the schedule like the talons of a hawk snatching up a chick.
You’re the one who doesn’t stand a chance!
However, Clary reacted faster.
She crumpled the schedule Arden had nearly grabbed and shoved it straight into her mouth.
“Spit it out!”
“Mmph, mmph!”
Clary shook her head to avoid Arden, who was trying to force her mouth open, and quickly hid behind Haster.
While Arden faltered, blocked by Haster, Clary pulled the schedule from her mouth and handed it to her godfather.
Haster unfolded the damp scrap of paper that had once been a schedule, and his expression hardened.
The schedule was brutal.
A timetable arranged from early morning until late at night.
Even students in their final year at the academy wouldn’t study this much.
The books listed as required reading were all notorious for being tedious and lengthy, including an encyclopedia.
And the encyclopedia Clary was reading was one he had given her.
It had a green leather cover, a spine plated in pure gold, and each volume boasted a thickness of about three fingers.
Reading one of those in a single day would be too much even for someone who had received a higher education.
‘Doesn’t this look as though he’s trying to cut Clary off from the outside world? Just like that child’s uncle…….’
A vein bulged on Haster’s forehead.
Arden swallowed dryly when he saw his expression.
Suppressing the anger boiling within him, Haster calmly reported to the Emperor.
“……It appears he devoted considerable effort to her education out of affection for his niece. However, this seems excessive for Clary to manage, so I will readjust her class hours myself.”
“Yes, understood. I’ll place my trust in my worthy nephew. You may withdraw now.”
The Emperor’s mood improved now that the matter seemed to have been settled.
While the Emperor admonished Clary, saying, “No matter how frustrated and angry you are, you mustn’t lock someone inside a closet. Make sure you apologize,” Haster sent Arden a meaningful glance.
‘You. Follow me.’
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After leaving the audience chamber, the two entered a nearby empty drawing room.
When the waiting servant approached Arden and Haster, Arden opened his mouth.
“One glass of lemonade.”
“…….”
Under the terrifying gaze of the man before him, Arden cleared his throat.
“Ahem. No…… Bring me a glass of water. With plenty of ice.”
“I don’t need anything.”
The servant bowed after taking the order, then soon placed a glass filled with ice in front of Arden.
The servant left the drawing room without dawdling.
I’m scared to death.
Please don’t call me until this is over.
At the sound of the drawing room door closing, Arden realized that he would now have to endure this pressure entirely on his own.
“…….”
“…….”
Haster, who had summoned Arden, said nothing.
He merely crossed his arms and waited for his cousin’s excuse.
The ticking of the desk clock sounded unusually clear.
The ice in the glass melted and struck the glass wall with a faint clatter.
Trying to avoid this inescapable situation, Arden followed the patterns in the carpet with his eyes before taking a breath and raising his head.
To think he looked like a cowardly puppy with its tail tucked between its legs.
They were only cousins of the same age, weren’t they?
And Arden had reasons of his own that were perfectly valid.
“I can explain.”
“Then explain.”
The voice that struck back like lightning was as biting as a frost-laden wind.
Arden forcibly straightened his shoulders, which had instinctively begun to shrink.
‘Well…… They might not be entirely valid reasons, but it isn’t as though I did it solely for my own benefit.’
Strictly speaking, this had also been for Clary’s sake.
If he hadn’t pushed her that hard, she might have continued lazing around without even learning basic knowledge, doing nothing but acting spoiled toward the Emperor and the Grand Duke.
After all, those two were too busy indulging the oh-so-adorable Clary’s every whim.
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