I Left my Cheating Husband and Married a Beast

Chapter 37

Beloni noticed that Elness was feeling extremely tense.

Although he maintained his usual smile, there was a coldness in his voice and expression. His open hostility toward the Empress was so intense that even Beloni found herself being cautious.

“Playing the role of a mother-in-law? Please, Crown Prince, be mindful of your words.”

The Empress’s wrinkled face trembled slightly.

If she admitted to Elness’s words, it would mean she was insulting the former Empress.

If she denied them, it would only confirm that she had been unfairly oppressing Beloni without cause.

Beloni quietly admired how Elness managed to corner the Empress with just a few words. But rather than enjoying the Empress’s discomfort, she simply wanted to get out of there as soon as possible.

“Oh! I think I know the reason.”

All eyes turned to Beloni as she spoke.

Seeing Elness’s expression soften a bit, she let out a small sigh of relief and playfully cupped her face with a bright smile.

“Isn’t it because of my famous beauty? The Empress must have wanted to see it for herself!”

Holding her soft, fair cheeks while smiling, Beloni looked stunning.

Her delicate features and gently curved eyes made even her bold words sound convincing.

“Pfft!”

Elness was the first to burst into laughter.

The Empress, looking utterly baffled, scowled, while the Third Prince, momentarily stunned, snapped back to reality at the sound of laughter.

In the end, the Empress reluctantly nodded, her expression sour.

“Yes… I suppose so.”

Beloni felt relieved.

“It seems the rumors were wrong. You are even more beautiful in person, Lady Beloni.”

At his words, Beloni placed her hand lightly on Elness’s outstretched palm.

“And Your Highness is even more handsome than the rumors say.”

“Oh? Now I’m curious about these rumors. Will you share them with me?”

“My pleasure.”

Finding a perfect excuse to leave, the two exchanged smiles.

Just as they turned to go, Elness suddenly seemed to remember something and glanced at the Empress.

“May I take Lady Beloni with me?”

At this point, the Empress had no choice but to agree. Pressing her fingers against her throbbing temples, she forced a stiff smile.

“…I suppose so.”

“Then let’s go, my lady.”

Without giving the Empress a chance to respond, Elness began walking, and Beloni followed with an air of reluctance—though inwardly, she was more than happy to avoid further interactions with the Empress, who seemed intent on testing her.

“…That’s how they left, Your Majesty.”

A servant with an utterly ordinary face bowed his head as he finished his report.

A loud burst of laughter immediately followed.

“Hahaha!”

The Emperor clutched his stomach as he laughed uncontrollably, his eyes welling up with tears.

Unlike the amused Emperor, the man in front of him—Shanur—urgently asked the servant,

“Was she hurt? Was she uncomfortable in any way?”

“No, Lady Beloni is unharmed.”

Only then did Shanur let out a sigh of relief, though he was still restless, eager to leave.

Once the servant withdrew, the Emperor finally calmed down, though his face was still filled with amusement.

He glanced at Shanur, who was fidgeting impatiently.

“Do you need to use the restroom?”

“You already know why I’m like this, Your Majesty. Since everything is settled, I will take my leave.”

“Wait. Didn’t the report say that the Crown Prince left with her safely?”

Shanur sighed, realizing the Emperor had no intention of letting him go so easily.

Now he understood—Elness got his cunning nature from the Emperor.

Even their tendency to test people was the same.

When Beloni was summoned for a private audience with the Emperor, Shanur had been waiting just outside the door.

However, a royal chamberlain suddenly appeared, saying the Emperor had ordered Shanur to be escorted elsewhere.

That was when he realized—this was a deliberate move by the Emperor.

A while later, the Emperor returned with a servant, who then recounted everything he had witnessed in the Empress’s quarters, word for word.

At that moment, Shanur understood what was happening.

The Emperor had deliberately sent Beloni into a situation with the Empress and the Third Prince—just to observe how she would handle it.

“The Empress spoke sense for once. You did bring home a woman just like yourself.”

Shanur wasn’t sure whether that was a compliment or an insult. Either way, it was a relief that Beloni had managed to handle the situation smoothly.

“I’ll take that as a compliment.”

He rubbed his damp forehead, feeling the tension still lingering in his body.

“You should. Do you know how much trouble I went through raising you? It’s only fair that you struggle a little too.”

Despite the teasing tone, there was genuine affection in the Emperor’s words.

Shanur couldn’t hold onto his frustration.

He knew better than anyone that everything the Emperor did—even the meddling—was out of concern for him.

“Your Majesty.”

Hearing his solemn tone, the Emperor’s smile faded slightly.

“Yes?”

“I understand your intentions. But please, do not test Beloni like this again. The Crown Prince already did the same thing.”

“Did he now?”

Even though he surely already knew, the Emperor feigned ignorance.

“Beloni is not someone you or His Highness should treat lightly.”

The Emperor turned to look at Shanur with an unreadable expression—not out of anger, but as if he were studying him.

Shanur met his gaze firmly.

“…The Crown Prince said you were in love, but I didn’t believe it.”

It wasn’t just because he had heard it from Elness.

The Emperor had raised Shanur like a son, watching over him for years.

Though they were twenty years apart, he had always considered Shanur his little brother. Even when Shanur had gone off to war at a young age, the Emperor knew him better than anyone else.

And he knew that Shanur was not the type to fall in love easily.

So when Elness insisted the rumors were true, the Emperor had humored him but never truly believed it.

Even when he met Beloni and spoke with her, he wasn’t convinced.

But seeing how restless Shanur had been, waiting for her return—he realized he had been wrong.

“…Do you truly love her?”

Shanur met the Emperor’s gaze calmly.

The question wasn’t unexpected.

Shanur knew the Emperor was perceptive.

That was why he had avoided introducing Beloni to him for so long.

But now, the Emperor wasn’t just doubting their relationship—he was asking about Shanur’s feelings.

Thinking of Beloni, Shanur’s lips curved into a soft smile.

“…I love her.”

Beloni was intelligent, capable, and kind.

It was impossible not to love the woman who had thoughtfully sewn an extra layer into his mask to prevent it from chafing his skin.

“So, please, respect her as well, Your Majesty.”

Since she was the woman he loved, he wanted his closest family—the Emperor and the Crown Prince—to respect her, too.

“Promise me you won’t test her like this again.”

The Emperor, slightly taken aback, clicked his tongue.

“Alright, you brat. They say people always take their spouse’s side after marriage.

I see it’s true—you’re already defending her.”

Despite his grumbling, a smile lingered on his lips.

“The Crown Prince personally apologized to her after testing her. What will you do?”

At Shanur’s bold question, the Emperor let out a dry chuckle.

“Fine, fine. I’ll make it up to her with a generous reward. Happy now?”

“That’s secondary. Just let me go already.”

Seeing the conversation nearing its end, Shanur’s impatience flared up again.

The Emperor shook his head in exasperation just as a sudden, harsh cough wracked his body.

Covering his mouth, he failed to hide the blood seeping between his fingers.

Shanur shot up from his seat, but then, without hesitation, pulled out medicine from the Emperor’s pocket and pressed it to his lips.

The Emperor swallowed it with difficulty, then waved Shanur off.

“Go. If I keep you here any longer, you’ll probably cancel the wedding just to stay by my side.”

“Your Majesty…”

The Emperor gave him a faint smile and patted his hand.

“Go on.”

Shanur clenched his fists.

“I haven’t forgotten your request.”

Ten years ago, when the Emperor’s health had begun failing, he had asked Shanur to ensure that Elness would safely take the throne.

It was the first and last request he had ever made.

“Thank you… and I’m sorry.”

The Emperor knew the end was near.

That was why he was relieved—Shanur was finally stepping out of the shadows.

Marriage would be his first step forward.

“I look forward to meeting my niece. Raising two stubborn men nearly killed me.”

The Emperor’s joke shattered the tension.

Shanur let out a short laugh and stood up.

A niece?

He had far bigger problems to deal with first—like making it through his wedding night.