Reborn As Noble

Chapter 1545: The Weeping Wife Trap ( 1545 )

Heres swallowed hard, his voice trembling as he took a slow step back.

”A... ah... K... Kliatana... l... let’s talk about this... i... in a calm and reasonable manner... like adults... please...”

Kliatana tilted her head, her smile widening. The ground beneath them rumbled. A wall of sand rose high into the air, crackling with magic, forming a massive barrier that trapped all five brothers inside. The sand wall encircled them completely, sealing off any hope of escape.

Hundreds of magic circles flared to life, appearing from every direction. They hovered in the air around the brothers, their runes glowing with dangerous, crackling energy. Fire, lightning, ice, wind, earth, all swirling together in a deadly, beautiful display.

Kliatana rested her club casually on her shoulder, her other hand on her hip. Her smile remained sweet, her eyes curved into pleasant crescents.

”Calm? Me? Oh, I am calm, my darling husband~” She tilted her head, her voice dripping with mock affection. ”But my heart is not. Because my husband, my beloved, charming husband, just told me that he whispered sweet nothings to another woman. That he promised her things. That he was eager to charm her with his words.”

Her eyes narrowed, her aura flaring dangerously.

”Tell me, My Dear Husband~ Were you planning to add another wife without consulting me? Hmm~? Were you thinking, ’Oh, my wife won’t mind. She’s so calm and understanding.’ Did you think my sweet smiles meant you could do whatever you wanted? Or perhaps you think just because you are a prince, I, as your first wife, don’t get any say on my next co-wives? Or maybe you’re just so eager to have more wives that you’ll pick up any random girl you find pretty~? Hmm?”

The magic circles pulsed, growing brighter.

”I’m going to count to three, Heres. And when I’m done, I expect a proper explanation. One that doesn’t involve blaming your brothers. One that doesn’t involve excuses. One that’s honest.”

Heres’s legs were shaking. He looked at Javier, then at Aelius, then at Marcellus and Cedric, who were standing at the edge of the sand wall with their heads turned away. Marcellus was casually checking his nails. Cedric was staring at the sky with great interest. Aelius was counting coins in his palm.

”One~”

Heres’s knees gave out.

”Javier! Help me!!”

”Two~”

Javier glanced up at the magic circles hovering above them all. He swallowed hard, his eyes widening as he noticed the runes were aimed not just at Heres, but at everyone inside the barrier.

”Errr... guys? I think those magic circles are aiming... not only at Heres...”

Marcellus and Cedric’s eyes widened. They raised both palms quickly, their voices urgent.

”Sister-in-law, please calm down! We had nothing to do with this! We’re innocent!”

Aelius’s eyes darted around wildly, searching for any gap in the sand wall, any way to escape. His voice came out high and strained.

”There’s no way out... She sealed the entire area...”

Kliatana smiled sweetly, tilting her head to the side. Her voice came out in a sing-song tone, light and melodic.

”Don’t blame me~ Blame Heres~ Because of him, everyone who covers for him...”

She paused, her eyes turning sharp and terrifying. The magic circles above flared brightly, their runes pulsing with dangerous energy.

”...will receive the same~ PUNISHMENT!”

The last word came out as a sharp hiss, her aura exploding outward in a wave of pressure that made the sand beneath their feet tremble.

Javier let out a long, weary exhale, his shoulders slumping as he looked back at her.

”Ugh! Can you calm down a little, bratty?”

He raised both hands in surrender, his voice carrying a note of genuine apology.

”It was my fault. I’m the one who pranked Heres and tricked him with the simulator. I told him the girl inside wasn’t real, but I used my newest puppet knight, the one that can change to match anyone who wears the special control helmet. I put it on Heres while he was asleep.”

Kliatana’s smile didn’t waver. She tilted her head the other way, her voice calm and sweet.

”I know how you love to prank your brother, Javier. But that doesn’t give Heres the right to charm a girl, make promises to her, and~” her voice dropped to a low, threatening whisper, ”...consider taking her as a wife without my knowledge.”

She tilted her head, her sweet smile never fading as her eyes narrowed. The magic circles pulsed brighter, casting eerie shadows across the sand.

”If he really wants to have more wives, he should ask for my permission first. Isn’t that right~? Hmm~?”

Kliatana’s face turned serious, her eyes glowing with a dangerous light.

”And you know what’s worse?”

Javier scratched his head, glancing back at Heres, who was still on his knees behind him, staring down at the sand with a guilty expression.

Kliatana’s voice carried a sharp edge, her earlier sweetness replaced by something deeper and more wounded.

”I just learned about this girl just a moment ago. Before you played your prank, before you shouted with that voice across the entire island, I didn’t know anything. I wouldn’t have known anything.”

She paused, her voice trembling slightly.

”He kept it a secret from me. He did all of that before you even led the soldiers toward Vurghen. Before he even met the Lurghen heir.”

She dropped to her knees, both hands rising to cover her eyes as soft sobs escaped her lips.

”Why couldn’t he just be honest with me? Why did he have to keep it a secret like this? Why did I have to learn about it later than everyone else? Was I not his wife? Was I not the one he promised to cherish and confide in?”

Javier narrowed his eyes toward Heres. Aelius shook his head slowly. Cedric pinched the bridge of his nose, letting out a weary sigh. Marcellus stared at Heres with a look of disbelief.

Heres remained on his knees, his head bowed, unable to meet anyone’s eyes.

Kliatana kept both hands pressed against her eyes, her shoulders trembling with exaggerated sobs.

”Are our vows just empty words to him? Or has Heres started to see our marriage as a cage? Or did he start thinking he could just do whatever he wanted without telling me? Did you ever truly love me? Or was I just... convenient?”

Heres’s face went pale. He scrambled to his knees, his voice cracking as he rushed toward her and pulled her into his arms, pressing her head against his shoulder.

”K... Kliatana! No! That’s not true! I love you! I’ve always loved you!”

He held her tightly, his voice trembling with desperation.

”You’re my wife. My first wife. The one I chose. The one I promised to cherish. I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. I should have told you. I should have been honest from the start. Please... please don’t cry. I can’t stand seeing you cry. I’ll do anything. Just tell me what to do to make this right.”

Kliatana’s sobs quieted. She lifted her head slightly, her face still hidden against his shoulder.

”Really?”

Heres nodded quickly, his voice firm. ”Yes. Anything.”

A low, gleeful chuckle escaped her lips. The sound was soft, almost sweet, but it carried a terrifying edge that made Heres’s blood run cold.

”You know, dear~” she whispered, her voice turning silky and smooth. ”Why does Javier call me bratty~?”

Heres’s eyes widened. He tried to pull back, but both of his hands were suddenly gripped by Kliatana’s, her fingers locking around his wrists like iron shackles.

Kliatana lifted her head, revealing a wide, predatory grin. Her eyes glinted with dangerous amusement.

”Because I can be a little... rough~”

( End Of Chapter )