Chapter 84
The Male Lead Obsessed with the Proposal
78. About Fate
Venerucia spoke, his face lost in thought.
“Celli, you’re one of the thorns of Clorakean too, right?”
Fortunately, Venerucia seemed to have inferred from Senelia’s words that she was indeed a thorn of Clorakean.
That was proof that he trusted Senelia.
Knowing the future, like Lucalina.
The reason an ordinary young lady like Senelia had been kept so close to the Emperor for so long.
If Senelia had never intended any ill toward Venerucia from the start, all of it could be explained by her being a thorn of Clorakean.
“Perhaps the restrictions your brother placed on you are some sort of oath-magic preventing you from revealing certain things.”
Starting from the fact that Senelia was a thorn of Clorakean, Venerucia had inferred truths that were close to reality.
“Your brother probably never properly explained about the thorns of Clorakean… so it’s natural that you don’t know.”
As Venerucia said, aside from what appeared in the original story, Senelia knew very little about the thorns of Clorakean.
Perhaps sensing that Senelia couldn’t properly speak due to the oath-magic, Venerucia continued without demanding an answer.
“Celli, the fates created by the thorns of Clorakean can conflict with one another. I’ve recently learned this myself.”
Detailed knowledge of the thorns of Clorakean was a privilege reserved for the royal family.
Even for royalty, seeing the thorns of Clorakean was not easy.
Thus, Venerucia only possessed the general knowledge the royals typically had.
After hearing that Lucalina had reincarnated, Venerucia ordered investigations into the thorns of Clorakean.
Of course, Cliffed had already hidden much of the truth about them.
So while it wasn’t possible to uncover everything, Venerucia’s competent subordinates managed to gather some useful information.
“…What does that mean?”
Fate can conflict?
Senelia’s face was full of questions.
“You know that the thorns of Clorakean refer to those who can change predetermined fate.”
Senelia nodded at Venerucia’s words.
But what followed was all new information she had never known.
“To be precise… it means they can divert the path of fate set by the gods into multiple directions.”
Senelia was hearing explanations for the first time.
“Of course, since our souls are ultimately one, the paths not taken will close… but it’s not about following a predetermined fate—various possibilities emerge from choice.”
Hearing this, Senelia paused, picking up on a hint in Venerucia’s words.
“Wait… does that mean what happened to Sir Elihan never actually happened?”
Lucalina had abandoned the timeline she originally lived in to come to this one.
In other words, the timeline she was supposed to live in became the “path not taken” in Venerucia’s words.
So, according to him, that path was closed.
“…According to the records, probably. So there’s no way I’ll die.”
Venerucia nodded.
It was then that Senelia understood why he could not help but be weaker toward Lucalina.
According to Lucalina, she and Venerucia had been in love before she went back in time.
By giving up that timeline to save him, he survived, but she lost their love.
Considering that, it was natural for differences to arise between the original story she knew and what was happening now.
By acting as a thorn of Clorakean, Senelia had caused fate’s paths to branch in multiple directions.
“…Still, it feels strange.”
However, Venerucia’s explanation did not fully satisfy her.
“Even so, why is there a gap between what I know and what Sir Elihan knows?”
Venerucia had stopped loving Lucalina as a result of her going back in time.
And the future was still changing because Senelia had not followed fate’s predetermined path.
Then who caused the change from the future Senelia knew—where Venerucia did not die—to the future Lucalina knew—where he would die?
In the original story, only those who turned back time could remember the time that was reversed.
At the very least, if Lucalina caused this change, she should have known that Venerucia could survive.
Yet Lucalina was certain he would die.
So the closure of the path where Venerucia and Lucalina could be happy together meant someone else must have gone back in time.
Senelia found that puzzling.
“…Well, I haven’t investigated enough to know that yet.”
Venerucia said, clearly frustrated.
“It wasn’t His Majesty the Emperor.”
Senelia said firmly.
Eventually, Venerucia and Lucalina would rule the empire, and Cliffed would die.
A dead person cannot change fate.
“Then there must be someone else.”
Venerucia’s voice darkened.
Yet he did not ask Senelia why it could not be Cliffed.
He understood that the oath-magic prevented her from telling him.
It was a faith-based understanding: if she didn’t tell him, there must be a reason.
“…If such a person exists, why would they have turned back time?”
Senelia felt complicated and leaned lightly against Venerucia.
Thinking he trusted her, she unconsciously sought comfort in him.
Thanks to Venerucia’s tall stature, it was easy for her to lean on him even while sitting on the sofa.
Even though it must have been uncomfortable for him, Venerucia lifted his upper body slightly to embrace her more comfortably.
In his arms, Senelia suppressed the flood of thoughts rising in her mind.
“Why… change fate.”
Unconsciously, she muttered words that sounded like resentment.
Although unknown in the original story, if Cliffed and Venerucia had gone to war, the Daphne territory likely wouldn’t have survived.
Perhaps the person who turned back time saved her by changing fate.
Yet on the other hand, because fate changed, she ended up meeting Cliffed.
She could not untangle where this cruel thread of fate began.
But her life, influenced by Cliffed, had far too many days worse than death.
So she could not help but resent whoever turned back time.
“…I’m sorry, Celli.”
Venerucia, quietly holding her, suddenly apologized.
Senelia simply leaned against him, listening.
“I… I’m still satisfied that I came to love you, that I can keep you by my side.”
He must have found the pain she endured deeply regrettable and pitiable.
Yet instead of erasing her experiences, he could not bear the thought of her not being by his side.
“That’s… a truly selfish thing to say, Your Grace.”
Senelia lifted her upper body slightly and stared at him.
“Honestly, I don’t even like that Demonic guy laughing with you.”
Yet Venerucia met her gaze squarely, either shamelessly or confidently.
The man who had quietly comforted her now revealed his desire, wrapping his strong arms around her delicate waist.
Their upper bodies were now barely a hand’s width apart.
“Just not liking him laugh? Honestly… I even dislike him breathing next to you.”
Seeing Senelia laugh because of Demonic had clearly upset him.
Still, Venerucia restrained himself.
She was finally laughing properly after a long time.
Yet if fate had not been altered by someone, she would have been laughing beside another man forever, not just in this moment.
At that moment, his silver eyes gleamed ominously.
He pressed his lips to her palm.
“Impossible.”
“How could I imagine not being by your side?”
Senelia withdrew her hand.
His soft lips against her palm tickled her.
Amusingly, he tried to hide his cunning, but it was futile.
For someone as willful as Venerucia, suppressing his emotions had never worked.
Senelia was far too fragile for him.
If he gripped her tightly, she might shatter.
If that weren’t the case, he thought he might have held her fully in his grasp.
That was his great regret.
Yet what could he do? His love was for someone delicate like glass.
“So… don’t get too close to that guy.”
Thus, Venerucia, almost playfully, rubbed his lips against her palm again.
The sight looked no different from a predator pretending to be a pet.
Thanks to his striking appearance, even that seemed plausible.
Of course, Senelia didn’t fall for it.
Suddenly, she pulled her hand away and quietly spoke to him.
