Return of Black Lotus system:Taming Cheating Male Leads-Chapter 87 --

System 427 sat up straighter on the desk, composing himself with a visible effort, ears still slightly damp at the tips, expression shifting into something that was trying very hard to be professional.

He cleared his tiny throat.

"Right," he said. "From where we left off—"

Heena dipped her pen in ink.

For the first time since the night had started pulling itself apart at every seam, something in the room settled. Not fixed — nothing about this world was anywhere close to fixed — but quieter. Just the soft sound of pen on paper and a small lion’s voice dictating sentences in the small hours of the morning, both of them doing what they could with what they had.

Which, Heena thought, looking at him out of the corner of her eye, was actually quite a lot.

She didn’t say so out loud.

But she thought it.

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The next day, the foreign delegations arrived.

There were quite a few of them. It seemed that not only the Marus Kingdom had sent envoys, but several others had taken the opportunity to visit as well.

Heena hadn’t looked at the details carefully—she was damn tired, and most of it was being handled by her secretary anyway. She sat at her desk, bandaged wrist resting in her lap, as he stood before her with a folder full of reports.

"Not only the Marus Kingdom," he said, flipping through pages, "but also the Sarik Kingdom and the Ruhu Kingdom have sent their delegations. The Marus Kingdom, in particular, has sent their prince."

He passed her a portrait.

Heena took it and paused.

’Oh.’

The man in the painting was striking. His skin was a rich, deep bronze—completely different from her pale-skinned consorts. His eyes were a vivid, shining blue that practically glowed against his complexion, and his hair was an unusual mix of gold and something lighter, almost like pale wheat or sand. Heena couldn’t quite name the color, but it looked beautiful.

What really caught her attention, though, was the jewelry.

Unlike the men in her empire, who wore formal suits and minimal adornment, this prince was draped in gold. Thick necklaces layered across his chest, rings on his fingers, and—

Heena leaned closer. "Are his ears pierced?"

The secretary nodded. "Yes, Your Majesty. In the Marus Kingdom, it is custom for men to have their ears pierced at birth. When they marry, they pierce the upper cartilage as well." He gestured to his own ear, pointing to the curved fold at the top. "Here. This part."

Heena studied the portrait again. Sure enough, the prince had multiple piercings along both ears—delicate gold hoops and studs glinting in the painted light.

She set the portrait down slowly. "If I’m not wrong... there’s something unusual about the Marus royal family, right? Something that makes them different from other kingdoms. What was it?"

The secretary hesitated, then nodded. "Yes. The Marus royal family has a very unique constitution. It is said that even their ’males’ can bear children."

Heena blinked. "Wait. Their men can get pregnant?"

"Yes."

She leaned back in her chair, processing that. "So... are they hermaphrodites? Or is this some kind of same-sex reproduction thing?"

The secretary covered his face with one hand, looking pained. "Your Majesty, ’please’—it’s not like that. It’s done through ’magic’."

Heena raised an eyebrow. "Magic?"

"Yes," he said, lowering his hand. "They use a specialized ritual. The essence of both the mother and father is magically combined and transferred into the father’s womb. It’s... complicated. But it’s commonly practiced in their royal family because most Marus princes are married off to other kingdoms as diplomatic ties."

He cleared his throat.

"In those cases, it ensures that the mother—who remains in Marus—doesn’t have to risk her life in childbirth far from home. The father carries the child instead."

Heena stared at him. "That’s the most absurd thing I’ve ever heard."

"It is what it is, Your Majesty."

She looked back at the portrait, studying the prince’s face again. The strong jawline, the confident tilt of his head, the way the artist had captured the faint smirk at the corner of his lips.

"This man is handsome," she said aloud. "I have to admit it."

The secretary coughed. "Your Majesty..."

Heena’s smile turned sharp. "Looks like we found a match."

The secretary’s eyes went wide. "Your Majesty, are you—what do you mean by ’match’? Are you suggesting—"

Heena waved her good hand dismissively. "The welcome banquet for them is this evening, right?"

He nodded slowly. "Yes, but... aren’t you busy? Your hand is injured, and there’s still the apology letter—"

"Who said I’m busy?" Heena interrupted, standing. "Of course I need to go and meet our ’guests’."

She picked up the portrait again, eyes gleaming with mischief.

"Especially this one."

The secretary looked like he wanted to say something—possibly scream something—but wisely chose silence.

System 427, who had been napping on a cushion nearby, suddenly jolted awake.

"Host?" he said nervously. "Why do I feel like you’re about to cause chaos?"

Heena smiled sweetly. "I have no idea what you’re talking about."

The system’s ears flattened. "We’re doomed."

"Probably," Heena agreed cheerfully. "Now, someone fetch me something presentable to wear. I have a prince to impress."

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The entire banquet hall was decorated like something out of a dream. Shining lights hung from the ceiling in delicate cascades, tables overflowed with platters of roasted meats, fruits, pastries, and delicacies from across the empire. The scent of spiced wine and honey-glazed dishes was so strong you could smell it from a kilometer away.

Nobles and diplomats mingled, chatting and laughing, glasses clinking, the hum of conversation filling the air.

Then the doors at the far end swung open.

A guard’s voice rang out, clear and formal: "Welcoming the Prince of the Marus Kingdom—Prince Larus Okmana!"

The room quieted slightly as the prince entered.

He was ’stunning’.

Draped in gold jewelry from head to toe—layered necklaces, thick bangles on his wrists, rings on nearly every finger, and multiple piercings glinting along both ears. His skin was a deep, rich bronze, completely unlike the pale complexions common in this empire. His blue eyes stood out like sapphires against his dark skin, and his golden-wheat hair was tied back loosely, a few strands framing his face.

People stared.

Some whispered.

He carried himself with effortless grace, smiling warmly as he greeted the nobles nearest to him, his voice smooth and confident. He didn’t seem bothered by the attention—if anything, he seemed to ’enjoy’ it.

***

Meanwhile, in the corridor leading to the hall, Heena was making her way toward the entrance.

She heard footsteps behind her—hurried, purposeful.

She glanced back and resisted the urge to roll her eyes.

Her five husbands were rushing after her, dressed to perfection. Kieran in military dress uniform, medals glinting. Adrian in formal robes with gold embroidery. Lucian in dark, severe attire that made his scars look even more dramatic. Raphael in pristine white vestments with delicate silver threading. Damien in sleek black with just enough flair to be unsettling.

They looked like peacocks ready to display their feathers.

In the past, the original Celeste would have waited for them. She would have smiled, taken their arms, acted like the loving, devoted wife desperate for their attention.

Heena didn’t even slow down.