Part 2 Chapter 96
The look on Ryan’s face showed pure despair.
He was quick to notice — even though I hadn’t said anything, he already understood something had gone wrong.
And… the emperor noticed too!
His expression turned awkward as he realized it.
Ryan looked hurt, the emperor looked guilty, and everyone watching just felt uncomfortable.
So, in a panic, I blurted out,
“I—I’m not ready to let my father go yet!”
Yup. I said complete nonsense.
“What are you talking about?!”
Ryan exploded immediately.
“Dad, are you already trying to abandon me?”
“I have to get married someday!”
“Whaaat?!”
The instinct of a single man wanting a mate easily won over his bond with me.
“I-I just meant I know some lovely ladies I wanted to introduce to you, Father~?”
I had no idea what I was saying anymore.
Everything was spinning, but before I could fix it, the Crown Prince jumped in happily.
“Oh right! The Crown Princess told me she wanted to personally find Lord Ryan a match, so maybe I was rushing things!”
“Y-Your Highness! Still—!”
Ryan tried desperately to stop him.
“But the meeting’s already arranged—shouldn’t I at least go once—?”
“No need for that!”
The prince jumped up.
“The Crown Princess will find you a fine match! Women know best about these things, after all!”
And just like that, he dumped the whole problem on me.
Then, pretending to remember his schedule, he said,
“Ah, yes, the next meeting’s delayed. Let’s end here! See you all soon!”
—And ran away.
***
“Why did you make up such a ridiculous lie?”
Back in Ryan’s room.
While Ryan went to escort the emperor out, I confessed everything to Nike.
“I mean, how could I say the truth in front of everyone? The emperor would feel bad, Dad would be hurt, and everyone would just feel worse.”
“So what now?”
“I’ll tell him privately later, I guess.”
We both sighed at the same time.
“Don’t you know anyone suitable? Maybe among the knights’ families?”
“Even if I did, they’d all run away screaming.”
“What? Why? My dad’s amazing!”
Handsome, tall, strong, owns land.
When the Bassenberg trial ends, the emperor himself plans to award him a title for his service — he’ll become Duke Belzer soon.
And yet…
“Who’d risk their life dating him?”
Because just one glare from him could practically kill someone.
His special power is literally instant death.
Unlike other attack abilities, his is made purely for killing.
“The man born to kill,” basically.
That’s what makes people terrified of him.
“Being tall and huge on top of that just makes it worse. People can’t help feeling uneasy.”
“What do you mean? It’s not like he’s violent!”
“…”
“That’s ridiculous! You’ll never find a man as good as my dad!”
And I wasn’t saying that just because he’s family — I truly meant it.
Ryan was strong enough to dominate a prison with his fists alone, but he never once abused his power.
He was always careful, aware that his strength scared people.
Especially with his family.
He always said, “Boys need to toughen up,” but he never once hit Alex, even when he misbehaved.
He spoiled me too — never let me do dangerous work, always protected me.
Sure, he could easily kill someone barehanded, but he never did.
He’s the gentlest man I know.
And yet, because of that very strength, he can’t date or marry anyone.
“Ryan’s a good man,” Nike said with a sigh.
“But how do you prove that? Especially to noble families — who would trust their precious daughter to him?”
“…”
“And women his age are mostly married already. The Crown Prince probably struggled to even find those candidates.”
Everything she said made sense — which only annoyed me more.
“So you’re saying my dad should just live alone forever?”
“I’m saying you can’t set him up directly. Maybe he needs to meet someone naturally.”
“…”
“There’s gotta be at least one woman in this world who’ll see how good he really is.”
“Ughhh!”
Then Nike grabbed my cheeks with one hand, making me pout.
“And you — are you staying out again tonight?”
“…Oh.”
Right.
We were at Count Belzer’s mansion — the luxurious three-story house the emperor had given Ryan when I married Nike.
Since the Bassenberg incident, our whole family was staying here to handle post-trial work.
“You’ve spent enough time catching up with your siblings, haven’t you?”
“Eeeh~~”
Especially Richard and Krista were here too.
We’d been eating dinner together, chatting, even sleeping under one roof again.
It was so nice that I kept saying, just one more night…
“You know you’ve been staying here for a week straight, right?”
Nike’s patience was wearing thin.
“Eeeh~~”
“Stop that cute act.”
“I really still have things to do outside!”
“Like what?”
“Come closer.”
I whispered into his ear.
And honestly, it wasn’t a lie — I did have something to do.
About Richard and Krista.
“Lovers?” Nika’s eyes widened.
Exactly.
Turns out I wasn’t the only one with a tragic love story in my past life.
Both Richard and Krista had lovers they couldn’t forget.
“But this time around, they never even met each other.”
I could guess why —
because of how different things went after I and Alex were exiled, their lives changed paths completely.
“I just feel bad. They loved so deeply before… I can’t just let that go this time.”
“So you’re going to help them meet?”
“Yup. Even if they don’t fall in love again, I want them to at least know the other exists.”
I poked his chest playfully.
“It’d be unfair if I was the only one who got my boyfriend back~”
“I get it,” Nike said firmly, holding my hand.
“But why do you need to stay out overnight for that?”
“…”
He caught me.
Truth was, I just liked hanging out with Richard and Krista.
“It’s not like I’m staying at a stranger’s place — it’s Dad’s house! With family!”
“I’m family too. You’re married. I’m your husband. You should sleep with me — at home. The palace isn’t far, it’s ten minutes by carriage! Why keep staying here?”
And there it was — the rapid-fire nagging.
Now that Nike had all his past-life memories back, he wasn’t shy or sweet anymore.
He was full-on husband mode.
“I even offered to come pick you up, and you refused. So what is it — you like your family more, or you just don’t want to be with me?”
He looked half-jealous, half-sulky.
“How could you say that? Of course I love being with you! I just… also love being with family.”
“Not convincing.”
“Eeeh~~”
“Stop that sound.”
“…”
Guess my cute act expired after a week.
Time for plan B.
“If I don’t come home tonight…”
I grabbed him and shut him up with a kiss.
He froze, frowning slightly — but then wrapped his arms around me and kissed me back deeply.
Ha. Works every time.
But then—
Click!
The door opened barely three seconds later.
We jumped apart.
Standing there, looking completely shocked, was Ryan.
‘Oh great. Perfect timing…’
And there I was — kissing my husband right in front of my poor single dad who can’t even get a date.
If he killed me on the spot with his death power, I honestly couldn’t complain.
“Don’t you knock?” Nike asked boldly.
“This is my room,” Ryan replied flatly.
“Oh… right. Sorry.”
Ryan walked straight up to me.
“So, little rabbit — tell me the real reason you sabotaged me.”
“…”
“You do have some lady to introduce me to, right?”
He looked desperate.
He must’ve already realized the truth — that the Crown Prince’s matchmaking fell through, and I’d just blurted something random to save face.
Still, he was clinging to hope — that maybe, just maybe, it wasn’t all a lie.
‘Oh no…’
Looking into those sad lion eyes, I couldn’t tell him the truth.
“D-Dad, actually…”
“Ryan,” Nike said quietly, putting a hand on his shoulder.
“They said no. They’re scared.”
“…”
Silence.
Ryan closed his eyes.
His lips trembled slightly downward.
“R-Ryan!”
“Dad!”
And then his big, strong body suddenly went limp — collapsing pitifully into Nike’s arms.
