Tangled By Fate

Chapter 414: COMPETITION

Ironin looked away feeling uncomfortable. His ears turned red due to their silent admiration.

“My head is blowing away. Ironin, you are actually a romantic hero! Why don’t I have that kind of story in my life?” Darius wondered loudly.

Veronica retorted, “Isn’t it because you are after too many women and after using them you toss them away? You break women’s hearts. How can you become a romantic hero? If you ask me, you will only become a villain in the romantic books.”

“You... say that again...” Darius was going to stand up while threatening her.

However, a sharp glare struck him. Darius froze and looked at the man beside Veronica. Then, slowly he sat down.

He gulped and murmured, “What are you mad about? It’s not like I hurt her or anything.”

Without a world, Arthur focused on Veronica. He placed another pastry on her plate knowing how much she liked sweets.

.....

Veronica grinned triumphally at Darius before thanking her husband. She focused on eating.

“When did he tell you about us?” Zinnia asked Lady Jenette.

Lady Jenette stole a glance at her husband before chuckling. “My husband thinks very highly of you. Although he doesn’t say it, he shows it with his action.”

“Enough, Jenette,” Ironin warned her to stop in a soft tone.

When he tried to hide it, Felix became even more curious. “What’s there to hide? We don’t eat you. Just let us know with what action you shared our stories to your wife. We have the right to know.”

Lady Jenette said, “Then I shall take you to his office. Come with me.”

They had light snacks and after that, they went to Ironin’s office.

Ironin looked gloomy but he didn’t stop his wife.

Ironin’s office was spacious. His bookshelves were filled with books and scrolls.

The room was neat and clean. There were couches to sit and relax. Behind his desk, there was a huge painting of Ironin wearing his formal clothes. He looked majestic.

What surprised them was the paintings hanging on the wall. There were paintings of Arthur, Ovior, Darius, Zinnia and most certainly Veronica.

In the painting, Veronica was wearing majestic clothes. Her white colored dress with golden embroidery complemented her skin and shiny silver hair. She had a golden staff in her left hand. Her right hand glowed. There was a golden aura in it. There was a golden crown on her head.

There was a caption in the painting.

‘Veronica: The Blessed Child’

There was a signature in the corner of the painting.

Leonel

Veronica looked at Ironin in surprise. “You painted them all?!”

Lady Jenette smiled at her bewilderment. “One of his hobbies is painting. He is good, isn’t he?”

“This is remarkable!” Zinnia looked around. She couldn’t help but feel amazed.

Arthur looked at his painting and then turned to Ironin. “You are truly good at hiding yourself, aren’t you?”

“I didn’t mean to hide,” Ironin stated coldly.

“It’s fine if you want to hide it but Ironin, you are incredible!” Veronica complimented him.

“I can’t even recognize myself. Will you please paint one for me? Something similar to this one.” She pointed at her painting.

Ironin nodded.

Darius said, “If you are going to do hers, do mine too. I’ll keep it in my room. Whoever comes, I’ll proudly tell them that Murderous Mad Duke did such an amazing job.”

Ironin frowned. “Rejected.”

“Huh? Why?” Darius inquired.

“You are ugly,” Ironin replied.

Darius became furious. “What do you mean by that? I’m the most handsome man in the empire. Who can be compared to my beauty?”

Lady Jenette immediately retorted, “My husband can be compared to yours. Do you think you are any match against him? He has looks, wealth and power.”

Darius raised an eyebrow. He didn’t want to back off that easily.

“If it comes to looks, do I have to compete with him? Women go after me more than him. If it’s wealth, my money and property are no less than his.

“If it’s power, I’m as strong as him. If we start fighting, one of us will wind up dead and another will be gravely injured.”

Lady Jenette listened to his logic. However, she had more on her list.

“My husband is loyal, kind and sweet to me, his wife. He knows when to act. He doesn’t let other women get close to him.

“He keeps his distance from other women which makes him especially charming. Just like street women, playboys are cheap. And cheap things don’t have much value. Don’t you agree?”

Zinnia couldn’t agree more.

“That’s true. If I get a man who is hard to get, I’d be more interested in him. If a man comes to me easily and wants to do me, that will be just a one-night stand to seek pleasure. No matter how good that guy is in bed, he won’t interest me.”

Lady Jenette was delighted to have support. “See? The proof is right there.”

Veronica added, “I think so too. If Arthur ever seeks another woman, our relationship will be over. I’ll try to find a man who is loyal like Ironin and Felix.”

Arthur squinted his eyes as he heard his wife.

‘What did she say? She is going to look for a man like Ironin and Felix?’

Suddenly, the temperature of the room dropped.

Arthur hugged his wife from behind and glared at Ironin and Felix. “You two, stay away from my wife. Are you seducing her when I’m not looking?”

Veronica: “???”

Felix: “!!!”

Ironin: “...”

“Your imagination is off the hook. Come back to earth please,” Felix stated with a sour expression.

“I have Jenette,” Ironin said. He was expressionless.

Only then did Veronica understand her husband’s words. She was embarrassed.

“What do you mean by ‘seducing me’? Who are you trying to accuse? Do you think I’m disloyal?”

As she retorted, Arthur lowered his head to look at her. His expression was somber.

“Loyal or not, you are mine. In this life and the next lives. No one can take you away from me.”