When Beauty Destroys The BL World

Chapter 18~The Crown Prince~

The two of them walked back, each lost in their own thoughts.

When they finally arrived at the tavern, Irene and Lucas immediately noticed the unusual silence. The lively crowd that was usually there was gone.

Both of them turned to Old Judy and Lydia, who stood behind the counter in silence, looking visibly afraid. Arlo was kneeling before a man dressed in black, with two men who looked like guards standing beside him. The man seemed to be enjoying his wine, drinking it as if the bitterness did not bother him.

He set the cup down and turned to look at them, revealing a strikingly handsome face.

Lucas stepped forward the moment he recognized him.

"Your Highness."

Hearing that title, Irene froze.

Just as Lucas was about to kneel, Nickolai reached out to stop him.

"No need for formality," he said.

Old Judy and Lydia, having heard the title, were shocked. Realizing he was royalty, they hurriedly knelt. Irene, still stunned, also dropped to her knees.

"We greet you, Your Royal Highness," Old Judy said.

But Nickolai ignored them, his attention fixed entirely on Lucas as he examined him, checking for injuries.

"I’m sorry for being late," Nickolai said.

"It’s alright, Your Highness. I am still alive and well."

"That’s good. As long as you are unharmed. I can’t believe the assassins managed to injure you. It seems the guard I assigned to you was of no use."

"I have committed a grave sin, Your Highness. Please punish me." Arlo bowed his head to the floor.

Nickolai coldly ignored him.

"Your Highness, if it weren’t for Arlo, I would be dead by now. Please have mercy on him," Lucas pleaded.

Hearing this, Nickolai relented.

"For failing your duty, you deserve death. However, since the holy priest pleads for you, you will instead receive punishment and military discipline."

"Yes, Your Highness. I thank you for your mercy, Your Highness and Your Holiness." Arlo saluted them both.

"Your Highness, they are the ones who gave us shelter and took care of us generously," Lucas added.

Only then did Nickolai glance at the three of them. His gaze stopped on Irene.

Feeling his icy stare, Irene trembled.

In the original story, the Crown Prince had mercilessly killed his wife—the villainess. Before her death, he had her tortured, then ended her life by cutting off her head. It had been so horrifying that Irene had almost stopped reading the novel.

And now… that same fate could be hers.

Her entire body began to shake uncontrollably.

"I heard that a young lady saved the both of you. Who might that be?" Nickolai asked.

Old Judy and Lydia instinctively looked at Irene.

Seeing her remain silent, Lucas spoke on her behalf.

"She is Miss Irene. If she hadn’t saved us from the river, we might have already lost our lives."

"Come forward. Let me take a look at the savior of my confidant," Nickolai ordered.

Irene took a shaky breath before rising. Step by step, she approached him, not daring to lift her gaze.

As she reached the two men, she attempted to bow—

—but her legs gave out.

She almost collapsed, but two strong arms caught her before she could hit the ground. Lucas and Arlo.

"Irene, are you alright?" Lucas asked with concern.

Feeling trapped between them, Irene quickly pulled her arms away. She couldn’t help but scold them in her mind.

Why did they have to help her in front of him? What would he think now?

"Thank you, Your Holiness. Thank you, Sir Arlo," she said nonetheless.

Nickolai watched everything in silence.

That silence frightened her the most.

Because she knew how terrifying he could be when jealousy took hold.

"Miss Irene, you have saved them. For that, I will reward you generously," Nickolai said.

"Thank you, Your Highness," Irene replied, trying to steady her nerves.

Nickolai observed the way Lucas and Arlo looked at her, while she kept her gaze lowered.

He chuckled softly.

"However, Miss Irene… your features remind me of someone. Someone who has been missing for a month. We have searched for her to no avail. She disappeared a week before her wedding. She is my fiancée—my bride-to-be, Lady Dacia Wickson."

At those words, Irene’s heart pounded wildly.

Even Lucas and Arlo were visibly surprised.

Only Old Judy and Lydia remained unaware.

"Do you wonder why I bring this up?" Nickolai asked.

Irene said nothing.

"It is because I suspect that behind that veil… you are the very person we are searching for."

Sweat gathered in Irene’s palms as she clenched her hands tightly.

"To prove me wrong…" Nickolai’s voice turned colder.

"Remove the veil from your face."