The Rogue System [BL]

It was okay. Not being able to climb that wall was okay.

Eric was not a trained soldier, after all. How was an ordinary person supposed to simply climb over a two-story wall without years of training? It was completely understandable that he had failed.

At least, that was the excuse Eric repeated to himself as he stormed back toward his room, his expression dark with wounded pride.

He had only slipped down that wall approximately twelve times.

Perhaps thirteen.

That was beside the point.

He had been wearing enough layers to dress three people, and the jewelry around his body probably weighed as much as a small child. Anyone would have struggled under such circumstances.

Yes. That was definitely the reason.

Eric turned around a corner, still muttering angrily beneath his breath, only to walk straight into someone.

"Hey, watch it!" he snapped.

He took a step back, ready to complain further, but the words died on his tongue.

The person standing before him was certainly not one of Ryan’s servants.

In fact, she looked like she had walked straight out of a royal treasury.

She was dressed entirely in gold, her elaborate robes shimmering with every movement. Her hair was arranged into an intricate style and decorated with so many jewels that Eric genuinely wondered if she had simply emptied an entire jewelry box onto her head.

The ornaments continued down her body as well, glittering from her ears, neck, wrists, and waist.

She was so extravagantly dressed that Eric’s eyes almost hurt from looking at her.

He frowned and instinctively took a small step back.

The young woman stared at him for a moment, confusion crossing her delicate features. Then her large, doe-like eyes widened.

Recognition flashed across her face.

Her expression immediately twisted with fury.

"It’s you!" she exclaimed.

Before Eric could even ask what she was talking about, she shoved him hard.

"You dirty bastard! I bet you used some kind of trick to force my Ryan into marrying you!"

Eric had absolutely no time to prepare for the attack.

He stumbled backward and landed squarely on the ground, staring up at the haughty young woman in disbelief.

What the hell?

Who was this woman?

And, more importantly, why had she just pushed him?

Eric slowly got to his feet, brushing dust from his clothes.

"Who might you be?"

The young woman scoffed as though the very question had offended her.

"Why should this one introduce herself to a lowly thing like you? Tsk. Just looking at you makes me want to vomit."

Eric’s eyebrow twitched.

"I could say the same," he muttered beneath his breath.

"What did you say?"

The woman’s voice immediately rose.

She stepped toward him, her beautiful face turning vicious.

"I dare you to repeat that, you roach! I will have your head for that! You—"

"Your Highness."

Ryan’s calm voice suddenly interrupted them.

The woman’s entire demeanor changed so quickly that Eric almost wondered if he had imagined her previous behavior.

The fury vanished from her face.

Her lips curved into the sweetest smile.

"Ryan!"

She hurried toward him, suddenly looking like an innocent young woman who had never so much as raised her voice in her life.

"I just wanted to come and have a look at you. It’s been so many months since we’ve seen each other."

She lowered her eyes shyly and began playing with the sleeve of her robe.

"Why didn’t you come to see me when you visited the palace?"

Ryan’s expression remained as stoic as ever, though Eric noticed him discreetly placing his hands behind his back.

"I was busy with the wedding, Your Highness."

The moment the young woman heard the word wedding, her smile faltered.

Only for the briefest instant.

It was so subtle that most people probably would not have noticed it.

Eric did.

Her eyes flickered toward him before she quickly put her sweet expression back in place.

"O-oh... I heard about your wedding."

She smiled up at Ryan, her voice suddenly soft.

"I... I came to congratulate you."

Ryan gave a polite nod.

"It’s a great honor, Your Highness. However, you shouldn’t be here without an escort. It is too risky."

"But I have you."

She smiled brightly and stepped closer, slipping her arm through his without the slightest hesitation.

Eric’s expression immediately darkened.

"Now," she continued sweetly, "I heard that your residence is famous for its tea. Won’t you serve me some?"

Ryan paused for a moment.

Then he nodded.

"If that is what you wish, Your Highness."

The two began walking toward the residence together, the princess’s arm still comfortably linked through Ryan’s.

Eric stood where he was, staring after them.

Something about the sight irritated him.

Actually, it irritated him quite a lot.

He couldn’t quite explain why.

Perhaps it was simply the fact that she was walking around Ryan with her arm linked through his as though she had every right to do so.

Eric clenched his fists.

Absolutely not.

He shamelessly followed after them. After all, he was Ryan’s wife.

Well... technically.

More importantly, this was his residence too now. Why should he shrink away simply because some unknown woman had decided she owned the place?

If she wanted to drink tea with Ryan, fine.

Eric would drink tea too.

Ryan led them into the residence’s reception hall, a spacious and elegantly furnished room meant for receiving important guests. A low table had already been prepared in the center, with cushions arranged around it. Once they were seated, Ryan took his place at the table and calmly began preparing the tea.

Eric watched with mild curiosity.

The entire process was surprisingly fascinating. Ryan measured the tea leaves with practiced ease, poured in the hot water, and allowed them to steep briefly. Then, to Eric’s surprise, he poured the first infusion into a separate cup and discarded it.

The second steeping was the one he served to the annoying woman.

Eric raised an eyebrow.

So that was how these people drank tea?

He had expected Ryan to simply pour hot water over some leaves and call it a day, but apparently there was an entire ritual involved.

Still, the moment Ryan finished serving the woman, Eric leaned slightly toward the table and shamelessly held out his cup.

"Come on, husband. Serve me too."

The princess’s expression stiffened almost imperceptibly.

Ryan, however, didn’t react at all.

Without so much as changing his expression, he poured Eric a cup of tea. But unlike the princess’s cup, he didn’t immediately hand it over.

Instead, he held it for a moment, gently blowing across the surface to cool it before finally passing it to Eric.

Eric blinked. He took the cup from Ryan, staring at it for a moment before glancing back at him.

The princess was staring too.

Her fingers tightened slightly around her own teacup.

Eric suddenly felt that the tea tasted much sweeter than it had a moment ago.