The Obsession of the Tyrant Sub-Male Lead is Unnecessary

Episode 2

“Did you have a peaceful night last night, Father?”

Verona bowed her head with a weary expression and greeted the king. The king, who had risen from the bed with only his upper body leaning on it, asked in confusion.

“Why does your face look like that, Verona?”

“Huh?”

“You look like you haven’t slept a wink.”

Well, that’s because I indeed didn’t sleep a wink… if I were to answer that, it would cause chaos. Verona chuckled awkwardly.

“Ahaha, I guess I stayed in the water a bit late last night.”

“Even though it’s almost summer, it’s chilly at night. Be careful. If you catch a cold, it will break this old man’s heart. You’re the only successor, aren’t you?”

“Yes. I’ll be careful.”

“Marie came to me last night and complained that she couldn’t find you.”

The king lowered his voice. Verona’s heart sank.

‘Did Marie find out?’

“It seems she suspected you sneaked out of the castle or were kidnapped. Since I’ve covered for you, don’t worry. But don’t go out at night frequently from now on.”

Fortunately, the king didn’t suspect her. While she was relieved, she couldn’t help but feel a prick of conscience.

Anyway, after finishing the morning greetings and returning, Verona flopped onto the bed. Despite lying on the plush and warm bedding, she still felt slight pain. But she couldn’t show it.

“Princess, are you really not going to eat something?”

“No. I’ll just have a simple dinner later. You can leave now, Marie.”

Marie, the red-haired maid whom she had been close to since childhood, seemed worried as she touched Verona’s forehead before leaving the room. She nagged to cover herself well with the blanket.

‘Ugh, I’m going crazy thinking about that day.’

Verona wiped her sweaty face.

It had been 10 years since she entered the novel “The Duke’s Woman.”

When she woke up suddenly in the body of an 8-year-old princess one day, she didn’t even know she had entered the novel.

Because Verona was truly an extra among extras.

As a swimmer, she usually woke up early in the morning and read novels on the bus when going to practice. So, she didn’t pay much attention to minor details like the names of other countries or supporting characters’ backgrounds, focusing only on the stories of the male and female protagonists.

Therefore, for about two years after being possessed, she had no memory, and rumors spread in the castle that the princess had become a lunatic, and she had to learn to speak and write from scratch.

When she turned 10, she finally realized who she was.

Well, more precisely, one night while taking a bath, when her legs transformed into a tail, she remembered a minor detail from the forgotten novel.

She was the princess of “Waterfall,” the country that the sub male lead Emperor of the novel eliminates.

The legend of Waterfall’s founding myth mentioned a lineage of merfolk, but that was it. No one really believed that the royal family of Waterfall were actually merfolk.

Although the novel didn’t have a scene featuring mermaids, she vaguely recalled the parts that briefly described it afterward.

Of course, the princess of Waterfall had little significance, as tiny as a speck of dust. So, even if she was a princess, she was of a status comparable to a countess in the empire.

For years, the empire had been coveting it for conquest, and with the king being frail, the country was on the verge of collapse, and the princess was almost defenseless.

According to the novel, when she turned 19, the sub male lead Emperor, driven by jealousy after losing the female lead to the Duke, takes her away.

The first country to express jealousy and revenge due to this jealousy was, of course, the small country of Waterfall. Because the royal family of Waterfall, with their mixed lineage of merfolk blessed by the gods, was suitable for enhancing the reputation of a conquering lord.

The princess, bedridden due to illness and with hardly any close aides, was helplessly robbed of her country and lived as a slave until her death.

However, when she realized that she was the princess of Waterfall, Verona couldn’t help but feel fascinated rather than scared.

— You’re a princess, Verona. A daughter is precious to the Waterfall royal family. Sons don’t have the ability to manifest as merfolk. I wasn’t sure when you were born, but I’m proud of you.

The king was overjoyed, tears welling up in his eyes as he looked at Verona’s golden tail.

— Now you can go anywhere there’s water. With the power of the moon and the sea, you can control droughts and floods and even predict earthquakes and tsunamis. The gods have recognized you as the successor of Waterfall.

From then on, Verona gave up her vague thoughts of just getting by and decided to survive with all her might.

As a former swimmer, although she wasn’t talented enough to compete in major competitions, she was glad that as a mermaid, she could swim as much as she wanted.

Also, she enjoyed being able to help others with the abilities of the merfolk descendants and the beautiful scenery of peaceful countries.

But the best part was having a father who loved her just for being there.

— How much did you spend on this? Is that all you can do? I should have never given birth if I knew this was all you could do! How much more disgrace do you want to bring upon my face?

After winning a bronze medal in a small competition, these were the first words she heard from her father.

As a local councilman, he was also displeased with his illegitimate daughter doing sports. Moreover, he couldn’t stand it if she couldn’t even win in such sports.

— It’s okay. Everyone makes mistakes like that. Are you hurt anywhere?

But when she mistakenly collapsed the castle wall while trying to stop a small tidal wave for the first time, her father in this world was the one who worried about her first.

At some point, she began to want to live more in this world than in the original world she belonged to.

So, Verona decided to protect Waterfall from the insane emperor before she turned 19.

‘But how did things end up like this!’

Verona tossed and turned on her feather pillow.

The Empire had its sights set on Waterfall regardless of Verona being an extra character. And, of course, there was a great deal of interest in “who the king’s only heir would marry.”

If her father lived long, it wouldn’t matter, but it had been over five years since he last left his bed. If he suddenly passed away, there would be only one descendant of the merfolk left: Verona.

To maintain stability, the power to control the moon and seawater required at least two heirs. So, when she turned 15, the king eagerly sought a husband for the princess. However, due to concerns from the Empire, no one was willing to marry her.

Now, Verona was 18, with about a year left until Waterfall’s end. Verona was anxious to the point of madness.

She had never even considered needing a husband. What was needed was an heir who could protect Waterfall. So, she decided to forgo marriage and just have a child.

Although she knew she couldn’t succeed on the first try, she still made the attempt.

‘But that man saw me!’

Her first attempt ended in complete failure.

Verona rubbed her chilled hands and feet while thinking hard.

Blonde hair and emerald green eyes weren’t rare. Verona’s hair and eye colors were as common as extras. Besides, noblewomen in “The Duke’s Woman” were mostly blonde.

Green-eyed individuals were occasionally found among the common folk. Even the mad emperor of Clarence was said to have green eyes.

‘You don’t know who I am, do you? And you shouldn’t.’

If it were known that the princess of Waterfall secretly attended the Empire’s victory celebration ball, it would turn the continent upside down. Especially if it was revealed that she had slept with a man.

‘The emperor won’t stay quiet.’

Verona trembled at the thought. Since the female lead was still balancing between the emperor and the duke, the emperor hadn’t completely lost his mind yet. However, if he sensed any signs of rebellion from the small country, there was a high possibility he would accelerate the war.

‘Why did I fall asleep so deeply! I should have just finished my mission and escaped. I’m crazy, I’m crazy.’

Feeling pathetic for losing herself in ecstasy for the first time, she cooked a meal but wasn’t hungry. She was afraid that what she had done with such determination would ruin the country.

‘If I knew it would be like this, I should have just fled with my father.’

But then what about the people?

What about this beautiful country?

Verona sighed deeply. She had no idea what to do now.

She could only hope that the man, who was undoubtedly a nobleman of the Empire, didn’t know who she was. She just prayed that he would never come looking for her.

So, Verona quietly held her breath and didn’t take a step outside the castle for a week.

The intense night gradually faded, and Verona felt relieved. There were no warnings or messengers sent from the Empire, and the country was at peace.

So, she let her guard down for a moment. Just like that night.

“Oh, no…”

The moment Verona entered the study instead of her father, she froze.

A familiar man with black hair and intense green eyes looked at her and smirked.

“Long time no see.”

Why is this man here! How did he find his way here?

Without hesitation, the man wrapped his arm around Verona’s waist and pulled her towards him. Caught off guard, Verona was engulfed in his embrace, her face turning pale.

“Let go, let go. The servants are watching…”

“Let them see.”

His whispered voice sent shivers down her spine.

Turning around, Verona saw Marie standing with a look of utter shock on her face, her mouth wide open. Verona quickly shot her a look urging her to close the door and disappear.

Fortunately, Marie disappeared without a trace. Only then did the man release Verona.

Verona trembled as she stepped back like a fish leaping out of water and asked with a trembling voice.

“They said an envoy came from the Empire…”

“That’s me.”

“So, how did you…”

“To meet the princess.”

“…”

Even though her words trailed off, the man didn’t hesitate to respond. Her head was spinning.

The Empire had suddenly announced their intention to visit this morning. However, her father had fallen ill with a cold a few days ago and couldn’t possibly meet the envoy. That’s why Verona, as his successor, had to come out.

‘I should have asked about the appearance of the envoy!’

Of course, she never thought the Empire would send just anyone, but she didn’t expect this man. Was it a coincidence that he had come to meet her? How could she persuade him to leave?

Regardless of his rank, Verona was still a princess of the country. Although the scale was comparable to that of a Count due to the majority of the population being farmers or fishermen, the honor was comparable to that of a duke.

Perhaps this man was lured by that honor.

“Um, excuse me.”

Verona said as she sat down with a complicated mind. The man followed suit and sat opposite her.

“Yes?”

“How did you recognize me?”

“You ran away naked.”

“…”

At his blunt words, Verona’s face flushed. Finding it amusing, the man let out a chuckle.

“You disappeared from the bathroom as a mermaid, so it’s easy to deduce that you’re the princess of Waterfall, isn’t it?”

Easy?

No, not at all.

While it was a well-known fact that the Waterfall royal family had merfolk lineage, the ability to transform into a mermaid was a secret. Even Marie, who had been loyal to the royal family since birth, didn’t know this fact.

Only she and her father knew that fact.

“How do you know?”

Verona was confused. She had enjoyed reading “The Duke’s Woman,” but the main characters hadn’t been prominently featured, so she thought the characters in the novel wouldn’t be known. That’s why she had escaped without worry.

‘Could it be that high-ranking nobles in the Empire know this fact?’

If so, it’s a bigger problem. There’s no doubt that the emperor knows this fact and sent this man as an envoy.

He provided the perfect excuse to ruin the country!

Verona felt a dizzying sensation under her feet and unwittingly touched her forehead.

“Oh…”

“Is your head hurting?”

The man’s expression became serious as he immediately stood up from his seat to support Verona. Verona was taken aback and pushed him away.

“I-It’s fine!”

“You should be careful.”

“…Excuse me?”

Be careful? But she hadn’t done anything.

Verona tilted her head in confusion. Once she seemed okay, the man sat back down, as if he were concerned about her.

‘Why is he like this?’

While Verona was wondering, the man spoke.

“I brought back the princess’s clothes and shoes. Here.”

“Thank you.”

Verona thought she shouldn’t disturb him for now.

“Well, it seems like there’s a problem that needs to be resolved.”

“Yes, that’s what I hoped for.”

The man nodded eagerly. Despite his sharp appearance, his cooperative attitude put Verona at ease.

“That night… well… it was a mistake.”