The Male Leads Were Stolen By The Extra [EN]: Chapter 76

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Tan leaped down from the railing and approached Celonia.

“Are you alright?”

He came closer, examining Celonia from head to toe as he asked.

She looked up at Tan with a dazed expression, nodding.

His red eyes were filled with so much concern and worry that she couldn’t help but nod.

“I’m late.”

His hand carefully brushed against Celonia’s shoulder where the handprint was, his fingertips barely touching her.

His expression seemed filled with self-reproach, his brow furrowed.

“…….”

Celonia forgot what to say at that moment.

She should be asking how he got here, telling him he shouldn’t be here, but her mind was blank.

The shoulder that had been throbbing with pain just moments ago felt hot, as if it were burning up as soon as Tan’s touch reached it.

Moreover, she felt exposed under his persistent gaze lingering on her bare shoulder. She felt embarrassed and wanted to cover herself.

Just now, she had unknowingly waited for him.

She had become so used to Tan appearing whenever something happened that she looked around, half-expecting him to show up.

Then, discovering the emptiness around her, she realized what she was doing. *What am I doing right now?*

*He wouldn’t come, I should take care of my own problems.*

She realized that she was unconsciously relying on him.

She was about to give up and move when he suddenly appeared. *He really showed up….*

“Celonia, what do you want to do with that bastard?”

Tan didn’t even glance at Ian, who had been knocked away, and asked Celonia, looking directly at her.

“You dare! Fine. Today, I will truly punish you for insulting nobility.”

Ian, unable to contain himself, let out a shallow groan as he grabbed the railing and stood up.

His face flushed red with shame at being so easily defeated without being able to retaliate.

Panicked, Celonia grabbed Tan’s arm. It was really dangerous if things continued like this.

Ian would really try to punish Tan, and Tan wouldn’t let Ian get away with it.

“Tan, let’s go. Let’s get out of here……!”

“The Emperor and Empress are entering!”

It was then. An announcement that drowned out her voice echoed through the terrace.

Celonia’s face turned pale in an instant at the appearance of the Emperor and Empress.

Ian or whatever, it was unacceptable for the Emperor and Tan to meet. Even if Tan had no memories, a Demon King and an Emperor….

“Shall I get rid of them without anyone knowing?”

Whether he knew her feelings or not, Tan didn’t grasp the situation and only stared intently into her eyes, asking what to do with Ian.

“That’s not the problem. You can’t be here right now. You shouldn’t come to the Imperial Palace recklessly. Hide yourself.”

“Like I’d let you! If you thought I’d let you off just because His Majesty appeared, you’re mistaken!”

Then, Ian, who was behind her, snarled and reached out his arm.

In an instant, Ian’s arm passed over Celonia’s shoulder and grabbed Tan’s collar. No, he tried to grab it.

Tan easily brushed off his arm.

“You son of a bitch!”

Ian shouted, embarrassed that he had slipped up in front of Celonia, and tried to rush at Tan.

Celonia was sandwiched between the two.

But she didn’t pay any attention to Ian and anxiously pushed against Tan’s chest.

“Tan, hurry. Go back to the mansion for now!”

“Lady Bessaine, please come out and greet His Majesty!”

A voice calling for her echoed loudly to the terrace.

Knock knock.

“Lady, you have to come out……!”

Before Ella’s anxious voice could be fully heard from beyond the door, the closed doors of the terrace burst open.

With a whoosh, the curtains that Ian had drawn were pulled back.

“Please come out. His Majesty is waiting.”

The knights who opened the door and curtains spoke to Celonia.

Before them was a spectacle of nobles gathered in the hall, paying their respects to the Emperor.

“The three of you, come out here and pay your respects to His Majesty the Emperor and Her Majesty the Empress!”

The chamberlain shouted loudly towards them on the terrace.

*I’m screwed.*

Celonia’s vision went dark for a moment.

The Emperor and Empress were already standing at the highest point of the Negzite Hall.

The chamberlain had specifically said three people, so it was more important for Tan to disappear now.

“Just bow as quietly as possible,” Celonia whispered very quietly, only loud enough for Tan to hear, and led him out of the terrace.

Ian followed, grinding his teeth at Tan, who was walking closely beside Celonia, but he came out to pay his respects to the Emperor first.

He couldn’t start a sword fight in front of the Emperor.

“Finally, the protagonist of today has appeared.”

The Emperor welcomed Celonia, who had revealed herself, with open arms.

“I greet the most sacred sun of the Empire, His Majesty the Emperor, and the most enlightened moon of the Empire, Her Majesty the Empress,” Celonia recited a line she had seen somewhere and paid her respects to the Emperor and Empress.

Tan, who was standing one step behind her, also bowed, following her lead.

Cold sweat was running down her spine. She could only hope that the Emperor would not pay attention to anyone else, especially Tan.

“Hahaha. Yes. I am glad to see the Empire’s treasure, the Lady, back in such good health.”

“Thank you. I am overwhelmed that Your Majesty has even held such a splendid banquet today.”

“Of course, we must hold a celebration for the Lady. You were unable to attend the victory ceremony, after all.”

“It is an honor, Your Majesty.”

“Yes. Take a good rest while you are on leave and then return. The sanatorium will always have a place for the Lady.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty.”

Formal conversations continued, but Celonia could not shake the feeling that she was walking on a knife’s edge.

She wanted to quickly finish the greetings and have the Emperor and Empress leave.

Originally, the Emperor and Empress would only show their faces at such celebrations and then leave.

“Many have come today for the Lady. Everyone, raise your heads.”

The Emperor said cheerfully, looking around at the people gathered in the hall. But the Crown Prince was still nowhere to be seen.

One of the Emperor’s eyebrows twitched subtly. He was managing his expression, but he couldn’t hide his displeasure.

“Where is the Crown Prince?”

“He is on his way.”

When the Emperor quietly asked the chamberlain beside him, the answer came back.

“Tsk.”

The Emperor sat on the throne, dissatisfied.

Originally, he was going to leave after giving his congratulatory remarks, but he was thinking of staying to see how the Crown Prince treated the Lady.

“Your Majesty, then I will go in first.”

The Empress, who did not enjoy such events, conveyed her words to the Emperor and turned around.

“Everyone, don’t be stiff because of me, enjoy today’s banquet.”

The Emperor said to the nobles who were looking at him, hesitant.

Soon, as the imperial orchestra began to play beautiful melodies, the nobles began to move slowly.

Among them, only Celonia’s face had turned ashen.

The moment the Emperor sat on the throne, she had a bad feeling, and she was convinced by his words not to worry about him. He meant that he would not leave and would watch the celebration.

*Why today of all days….*

First, she was going to quickly take Tan to the terrace and use teleportation to escape from here.

“Follow me.”

Ian, who had been biding his time, spat out the words to Tan.

Then, the people gathered around began to glance at them, startled by Ian’s fierce appearance.

“Oh, isn’t that the Beast of the Night?”

Pellein and Abel also looked this way and tilted their heads as if they recognized Tan.

“Beast of the Night?”

“Oh my! Where?”

In an instant, curious gazes turned this way.

*I’m going crazy, really!*

Celonia screamed inwardly at the unmanageable situation and calmly organized her thoughts.

*Yes. Rather than staying here, it would be better to take Ian and Tan, who were like ticking time bombs, out of the banquet hall altogether.*

Let’s take them out and think about what to do next. Just as she was about to move her feet.

“Hmm? But who is that behind the Lady?”

The Emperor’s question echoed too loudly and clearly in the hall, which had not yet regained its vitality.

In the end, Celonia froze in her spot.

“A face I’ve never seen before.”

Emperor Arheksio stroked his chin, looking down at the large man with striking black hair.

He couldn’t help but notice the man.

The man with the tall height, solid build, and red eyes was impressive even from afar.

“That is said to be the Beast of the Night.”

“Oh ho. So you are the rumored Beast of the Night?”

The Emperor’s eyes twinkled with curiosity at the chamberlain’s report. Wasn’t this the man he had wanted to see?

“You, come forward, reveal your identity to His Majesty, and pay your respects!”

The chamberlain raised his voice towards Tan, who was standing still despite the Emperor’s mention.

“Your Majesty.”

It was then.

When everyone was looking at Tan, a voice was heard from somewhere. People’s gazes moved in unison towards the direction of the voice.

“Oh, Duke Hushbrook. You haven’t left yet.”

The Emperor greeted the man who entered the hall with a welcoming face.

Celonia also recognized the man who was entering now and narrowed her brows slightly. It was Duke Ius Hushbrook, whom she had encountered once before.

*But why is the Duke suddenly appearing at this timing?*

While she was thinking that it was strange, Ius walked confidently, receiving everyone’s attention, and stopped exactly next to Tan and said.

“Allow me to introduce him. This man is the new Duke who will succeed me.”