Chapter 95: Whispers of Regret and Reunion

“Emotion… Emotion.”

Of course, to keep shedding tears as useless as chicken dung, he needed to summon some real feeling. Kim Bing-ui replayed that tear-resisting challenge video he’d seen, over and over in his mind.

“Huh… Hehe, that’s strange. Seems like some dust got in.”

But when Elina II, caught in her method acting, rubbed her eyes and looked up, there was no dependable embrace there to hold her.

‘Tch, did she dash off already? But whatever! She’s bound to come back to me anyway.’

Kim Bing-ui’s lips curled into a smile. His face had long been distorted by mascara smeared with tears.

* * *

Karlahee was out in his nerdy disguise beyond the walls of the Forbidden Imperial Palace. Ever since the birthday ball, work had been a constant grind, and he hadn’t known freedom for a week. Strolling down familiar streets, he entered a teahouse and immediately spotted Lara already seated.

“Lara, long time no see. You doing okay?”

“I’m always fine. Hoho.”

Karlahee felt a sudden warmth at how consistently Lara treated him, even after learning his true identity. Sitting across from her, he couldn’t help but notice that her dress looked even better than usual. The white earrings peeking from her coral locks, her shy rosy cheeks, and her lips all blended perfectly.

‘You look pretty today, acquaintance.’

Then, realizing he had been staring a bit too fixatedly, Karlahee lowered his gaze, worried that the sound of his swallowing might have been too loud.

‘What should I even say…’

With a slight frown, Karlahee broached the subject he’d been nurturing for the past week.

“Lara, did you hear that they announced ‘I am the chosen Onlirex!’ host?”

‘I am the chosen Onlirex!’ refers to the Magical Girl Lilica Onlirex event—a sale featuring magazines and doujin goods. Being the largest event in the capital, it spans two weeks, with last week and this week. And this week is the final round.

He had been too busy last week to even meet Lara, let alone make it to the event. But this week, his schedule was completely cleared, ready to sync with hers at a moment’s notice.

“The Magical Girl Lilica Onlirex ends this week. Of course, we go together…”

“Of course, I already went!”

Lara replied confidently. When Karlahee froze for a moment at her unexpected answer, she set her portable bag on the coffee table and spread out the doujin goods she’d bought at the event.

“These, these, and this are Lilica postcards; these and those are magazines; these and those are mini cushions; this is a keychain, and this is…”

“What’s all that?”

“It’s nothing else—it’s a gift for you, Rahi. I assumed you’d already been to the event last week, but you must have been too busy. Had I known, I would’ve grabbed another copy of Yumer’s new release.”

“Ah, thanks for thinking of me. I’m so thrilled.”

Without a chance to dwell on any slight disappointment, Karlahee was overcome with joy as he took in the array of goods before him. Though it stung not to accompany her, the fact that she remembered him filled him with unparalleled happiness.

Yes, that was pure joy.

It was his mistake for assuming she would have gone ahead. Why did he take for granted that he could join her, that she would naturally wait for him? He had been arrogant.

As Karlahee silently berated himself, Lara spoke with a tinge of regret.

“It would have been fun if I’d gone with Rahi. It’s such a shame—if that acquaintance hadn’t suggested going together first, I probably would have gone with Rahi.”

“…An acquaintance?”

“Ah, yes! Did I mention? I recently got to know that Lord Robes cosplayer, and I even went to the event with him.”

The mention of ‘an acquaintance’ brought that imposter to mind—just as expected. Though he adored Lilica even more, he also had feelings for Lord Robes. Now, even the name ‘Lord Robes’ felt like a potential landmine.

“That guy is an absolute stud. That’s why he worked as a cosplaying staff for this event, isn’t it? He even got me an extra ticket—I’m so grateful. Ah! I’ll ask him if there’s one more ticket left. Rahi, you’ll be going too, right?”

“……”

“…Rahi?”

Lara looked at him curiously as the conversation fell silent. Though his thick glasses hid his expression, she could sense his mood was low. Just then, his tightly sealed lips finally parted.

“…Lara, could you introduce me to that acquaintance—the Lord Robes cosplayer?”

“What? Oh, of course. I’ve been meaning to introduce you anyway. I’m sure the three of you would have a great time together!”

Lara beamed, clearly excited at the thought.

* * *

Lately, Karlahee hadn’t felt right—ever since his meeting with Lara two days ago. He knew exactly what was setting his nerves on edge, though he refused to admit it.

‘Obsession? Possessiveness? No, no… I could never be such a despicable man.’

Shaking his head, he leaned back. Amid the rustling sounds from the clutter, he caught the scratch of a pen on paper from a nearby desk. There sat Diches, scribbling something roughly.

“Lady Elina I! I will make you look back at me! Hahaha, the creative urge is overflowing. Yes, by doing this and that, Lady Elina I will come to rue it bitterly, and here I shall…!”

‘Yeah, I’m definitely not on the same level as that obsessive guy.’

Karlahee frowned slightly as he glanced at Diches. Soon enough, with a resounding bang, Diches slammed his chair and stood up. Clutching a manuscript filled with dark ink, he pulled his long lips into a satisfied smile.

“This is the masterpiece I birthed through sleepless nights. Would you like to read it?”

“What is it?”

“It’s ‘The Beautiful Duke’—a regret-themed novel. I tried my hand at one since regret stories are in vogue.”

Diches, ever the capable secretary, continued smoothly.

“The synopsis goes like this: Diches, the Duke who was the most beautiful when in love, is rejected by the woman he adores—Lady Elina I—and falls into despair. At that moment, Lady Elina II, the sub-lead and gentle Benz girl, seizes the chance to comfort him. In short, a new love blossoms, and by showcasing this tender romance in front of the trashy Lady Elina I, the Duke’s true worth is rediscovered.”

“I see. So instead of working, you’ve been scribbling nonsense?”

Karlahee slowly ran his hand under his chin, closing and reopening his eyes. His blue gaze burned with an anger colder than frost. He drew his sword, its sharp tip piercing through the paper and pausing in midair.

“Duke, you want your neck cut?”

“…Behold the tyrant class, if you will.”

“I meant it as a way to say you’d end up fired. You’re so scared you can’t even use a figure of speech.”

After sheathing his sword, Karlahee spoke. In response, Diches murmured, “Is that so?” as he turned toward the door. Grasping the doorknob, he lowered his eyes wistfully. Would you not hold on? With a weak effort, Diches managed a faint smile.

“…I am no longer the person I once was. I’m neither the obsessive man nor your right-hand man. I’ve been reborn as the regretful male lead.”

“Is that really what it means to be a regretful male lead? It sounds like you’re just a lead who writes regret stories…”

“For a moment I believed in His Highness… Did you know? His Highness isn’t much different from that trashy Lady Elina I.”

“Who do you think calls someone trashy right before they’re scrapped?”

“There will come a day when I show my true worth. And may you regret this day to your very core.”

Diches flashed the brightest smile he could muster, and opened the door.

“I will return as a master of regretful novels. Until then, take care of yourself.”

“No, get back to work! Work!!”

Even as his voice cracked from heightened emotion and surging blood pressure, Diches left without looking back.

“Farewell. His Highness.”

* * *

“Rahi, is something wrong lately?”

“I’ve been stressed out by a bunch of things…”

Lara looked at Karlahee with concern. Even though he was in disguise, his disheveled hair, dark circles beneath his glasses, and badly chapped lips made him look pitiful—as if he suffered from chronic stress.

“I don’t know what’s going on, but hang in there…”

“Lara, you really give me strength with your comfort. Thank you.”

Karlahee smiled with a fragile, almost ephemeral look, as if he might crumble at the slightest breeze.

Lara wondered if he should rest, managing a strained smile. Even if it meant postponing her date with the stud, she felt compelled to send him back to the Imperial City.

And rightly so; his condition was so unstable that he looked ready to burst or fall apart with the slightest provocation.

While Lara kept an anxious eye on Karlahee, she spotted the familiar Inyoung entering the teahouse.

“Ah, over here, Stud.”

Once again, the cosplayer Lord Robes appeared in a dark cloak—enough to draw attention. True to his mysterious persona, he quietly sat beside her. Lara smiled as she glanced back at Lord Robes.