Chapter 22

Auston watched as everyone apologized to Ruan Tang one by one, only then did his expression soften slightly, though his gaze remained coldly fixed on those who had yet to apologize.

Eldest Young Master Fedia, assessing the situation, stepped forward and said, 'I'm sorry, Madam. It was my failure to properly discipline my younger brother. On behalf of him and myself, I apologize to you...'

He looked at Ruan Tang, hoping Ruan Tang would give him a way out.

But before Ruan Tang could speak, Auston coldly interrupted, 'That won't be necessary, Eldest Young Master Fedia. Just now, my wife said you did nothing wrong, so there's no need for apologies.'

Eldest Young Master Fedia's expression stiffened, uncertain of what Auston meant.

Auston's gaze then swept to the next person.

When Ruan Xi was swept by his terrifying gaze, he felt a chill run through his body. He scrambled over to Ruan Tang, looking as if he was about to cry, and said in a trembling voice, 'Gege, I'm sorry. It's all my fault. I couldn't stop Owen. It's all on me...'

At this moment, he couldn't care less why this villain had deviated from his norm and not killed Ruan Tang, but instead doted on him... He was so scared he nearly pissed his pants.

The person he feared most in this world was this mercurial, murderous, perverse villain.

Facing Ruan Xi, Ruan Tang couldn't be bothered to even acknowledge him, feeling that his apology annoyed him more than no apology at all. He only glanced indifferently at Owen, who had been thoroughly tormented by Auston, then walked over to Auston and said softly, 'My lord, it's getting late. I'm a bit tired. Let's go back first.'

After the situation had escalated to this point, he no longer wanted Owen's apology.

Auston gave Ruan Tang a deep look, then without a word, released his mental suppression on Owen and responded softly, 'Mm.'

No one had expected that with just one sentence, Ruan Tang could change Auston's decision and make Auston so deferential to him. Their looks at Ruan Tang grew even more astonished.

Though Auston was a madman, he was also a madman with immense power and authority, and extraordinary strength...

Now that Ruan Tang had not only become his nominal partner but was also so highly regarded by him, it seemed that in the future, they would have to be more cautious in how they treated Ruan Tang. Every onlooker's thoughts were in turmoil.

Eldest Young Master Fedia also breathed a sigh of relief.

As soon as Owen was free from Auston's mental torment, this frail dandy collapsed onto the ground, drenched in cold sweat, unable to even crawl.

Eldest Young Master Fedia saw that he was still in a daze after a long while, so he stepped forward and shoved him, reminding, 'You fool, why aren't you apologizing to the Duchess yet...'

Only then did Owen come to his senses. Looking at Auston, who now regarded him with hostility, a chill pierced his heart, and he was filled with regret.

Although he didn't know why this madman had fallen for Ruan Tang, this 'black-hearted lotus', everyone in the empire knew that this madman was one of the seven dukes of the empire, and also one of the most untouchable figures in the entire empire. Even his own father was three parts afraid of this madman...

His many deeds only proved how terrifying and chilling he was. Those who crossed him never met a good end.

Before, he hadn't valued Ruan Tang, that was one thing, but now he had publicly acknowledged Ruan Tang as his duchess and intended to protect him. Having just humiliated Ruan Tang like that, it was impossible to avoid apologizing now.

Thinking this, Owen suppressed the hidden resentment in his heart, followed his elder brother's words, scrambled to Auston's side, and began to apologize with a trembling voice: 'Esteemed Lord Auston, I'm sorry, I...'

'No need, Young Master Fedia. Your apology is more than I deserve.' But before he could finish speaking, Auston cut him off with a gloomy tone and laughed: 'If apologies worked, what would we need the empire's laws for? Don't you think so?'

It sounded like a calm and gentle voice, but coming from Auston's mouth, it was like the howl of a demon from hell.

Since just now, when Ruan Tang let him apologize, he refused, then now there was no need for an apology...

Owen's whole body stiffened, and he felt a chill all over: 'Au, Lord Auston...'

'I think I must teach you, on behalf of your father, that having a loose tongue comes with a price.' Auston did not accept his apology, only left these words with a sinister tone, then without hesitation, pushed the wheelchair and took Ruan Tang away.

Leaving only a terrifying back view to the crowd.

It took Owen a long time to climb up from the ground, and trembling with a pale face, he asked, 'He doesn't accept my apology. What does he mean by that? My father is Duke Feidiya; he won't do anything to me, right?'

'He won't, right? Brother.' He looked at his elder brother uncertainly.

Eldest Young Master Fedia, however, shook off his hand. He himself was uncertain how Auston would deal with Owen and said grumpily, 'How would I know? I told you to apologize, but you wouldn't. Now look... You've blown things up, and you only cause trouble for the family!'

With these words, he shook off Owen and left, intending to go report this matter to his father...

'He won't, right?' Owen watched his back and asked the crowd repeatedly, as if seeking a definite answer from them.

But the crowd, having witnessed Auston's fury just now, remained silent; no one could give him an answer.

Normally, even if it were another duke, a duke's son with a loose tongue might be given a lesson but not severely dealt with. But Auston was different...

This one was the empire's famously known madman...

A madman who did as he pleased and held great power.

No one knew what he would do after being offended...

As for Ruan Tang, they all had to reassess his standing. From the looks of it, he was completely Auston's sweetheart now.

However he had managed it, making this madman so docile and compliant was his skill.

'Beep! Reminder to host: Failed to slap Ruan Tang's face, failed to acquire Protagonist Halo! Current Ruan Tang reputation +30, host energy -60, host average Protagonist Halo value 40. Host Protagonist Halo value below 60; there is risk of golden finger and Protagonist Halo shattering. Please find a way to supplement Protagonist Halo value within three days! Otherwise, the golden finger will gradually become ineffective!'

As Ruan Tang's status rose in people's minds, the System's cold, warning chime sounded in Ruan Xi's mind. Ruan Xi's face instantly paled.

He didn't know why the villain who had originally wanted to kill Ruan Tang had suddenly started acting as if he was in love with him...

Even more, he didn't know why, despite his well-laid plans, the situation had turned out like this: trying to steal Ruan Tang's Protagonist Halo, he had only ended up losing system energy instead.

'What should I do? How can I replenish my Protagonist Halo value?' But all he knew was that he must not lose his golden finger, must not let his Protagonist Halo shatter, or else he would have nothing.

He asked the System urgently in his mind.

'According to detection, Ruan Tang has a new high-status admirer, thus raising his social standing. As long as the host can win over this admirer, you can naturally replenish your Protagonist Halo value.' The System's mechanical voice sounded in Ruan Xi's mind.

Ruan Xi immediately asked: 'What do you mean? When did Ruan Tang get a new high-status admirer? Who is it?'

'It's the villain, Duke Auston.'

Hearing this answer, Ruan Xi's face turned deathly pale.

So it was that perverse villain...

He could manage to steal Ruan Tang's previous admirers with the system's help, but facing this bloodthirsty, twisted villain that he feared the most as an admirer of Ruan Tang, how could he steal him?

He didn't know what had happened to the original plot; how could a villain fall in love with Ruan Tang...

He only felt that fate was too unfair to him. Whatever he wanted, he had to scheme and work to obtain, while Ruan Tang, relying on a Protagonist Halo, could win effortlessly and get everything that he himself wanted but couldn't have.

Even a pervert could fall for him.

Ruan Xi didn't know where to start, but he knew he had to steal; he could not sit back and let his Protagonist Halo shatter, returning everything he had so hard won back to Ruan Tang.

Absolutely not.

...

Ruan Tang and Auston boarded the ducal mansion's hovercar together. The two looked at each other for a time, neither speaking.

Ruan Tang stared for a while at this masked man in a wheelchair. After a moment's hesitation, he bit his lower lip and suddenly spoke: 'My lord, thank you. I really didn't expect you to come today, let alone stand up for me. Really, truly, thank you...'

The longer he spent with Auston, Ruan Tang had to admit, the more he felt that this Bluebeard Duke, who in others' words was like a demon, was really quite good to him.

From a young age, he had faced countless difficulties, but every time, he had silently endured them alone. No one had ever stood up for him.

Having someone appear at a crucial moment to support and protect him had always been a privilege reserved for Ruan Xi.

And he had always been the vicious supporting character...

His husband, Duke Auston, was the first person in Ruan Tang's entire life who was willing to stand up for him.

Although he hadn't shown it on his face earlier, the moment Auston suddenly stepped forward to protect him, Ruan Tang truly felt that he, pushing his wheelchair, descended like a god before him...

Ruan Tang was particularly moved by this.

Consequently, he began to see this Alpha, whose true face he had never seen, in a different light.

'It's nothing, don't overthink it!' Auston's cheeks felt a little warm under his mask when he heard this, but he let out a light scoff: 'You are my wife now. Those people insulting you is a slap to my face.'

'It's not like I deliberately came to support you...' He refused to admit he had deliberately come to rescue this troublesome Omega.

Hearing this, Ruan Tang's smile remained unchanged: 'Regardless, I must thank you, my lord... I am very moved...'

He had never cared about what others said, only what they did.

Whether Auston had really stepped forward and defended him because he felt the insult was a loss of face for the ducal mansion, the fact remained that he had given him ample face and respect.

Ruan Tang felt he should be grateful.

'It's nothing, just a trivial matter.' Auston turned away awkwardly and stopped looking at Ruan Tang, but scoffed lightly, 'But you are too weak and easily bullied. Out there, you are a disgrace to our ducal mansion... If others bully you, it's one thing if you don't have the ability to bully back, but when I have your back, you still don't know how to fight back. And after they've been bullied, you even plead for them... You're a complete coward!'

He stared at Ruan Tang and reprimanded, 'If I see you like this next time, I will punish you. It's too embarrassing.'

'...I really don't know where I am weak and easily bullied. Please enlighten me, my lord.' Ruan Tang was utterly amazed. Recalling his own brave behavior today, being provoked by Owen, then turning the tables and forcing Owen to apologize, he really didn't know where he had given Auston the false impression of being weak and incapable of fighting back when bullied.

After all, Owen was a legitimate duke's son with a father to protect him, and before Auston had appeared, he himself hadn't been sure whether anyone would actually support him, the duchess.

He thought he had been impressive enough, okay?

Indeed, this madman's logic was different from normal people's.

'In my view, when you were being insulted, no one stepped forward to speak for you. They all watched coldly from the sidelines, and some even snickered. That is looking down on you and humiliating you.' Auston saw the expression on Ruan Tang's face and immediately understood his meaning, saying matter-of-factly, 'When I stood up for you, you didn't take the opportunity to humiliate them and gloat, and instead pleaded for them. If that's not weakness and being easily bullied, what is?'

If he were in the same situation, with no one at the scene speaking for him or beating up those who were offensive, then when he got the chance, he wouldn't let a single one go, from the main culprit to the accomplices.

He would definitely not just go after the one who provoked him; those who stood by coldly and looked down on him would also have to suffer.

Therefore, in his eyes, Ruan Tang was far too weak.

Ruan Tang hadn't expected him to have such logic and was rendered speechless: '...'

'I'm not weak. I think that before you have complete certainty to strike someone down fatally so that they can never get back up, it's not necessary to offend people too severely. Otherwise, there will be consequences.' After a long silence, Ruan Tang suddenly spoke, 'Especially since they were all people of high status and power. My lord, since you don't intend to kill everyone, you shouldn't push them too hard or humiliate others excessively.'