A dark shadow crossed Jerim’s face. Elihu, who had inspected the flask, spoke with an equally shadowed expression.
“It’s the flask used by the high priests during the last proxy war.”
“……What?”
Elihu spoke indirectly so that Lisa and Emperor Eteria wouldn’t understand. The flask that only the plaguestricken high priests used during the last proxy war.
The flask that contained the blood of the Ferdiaq experiment’s victims. That is, it was related to the alchemist Generba.
‘…I thought so…’
I read the letter with a darkened face. The letter was undermining the weakened two, making it impossible for them not to use the flask.
“After taking that medicine, I felt an intense thirst. Parts of my body felt as if they were on fire, and then it started to hurt terribly.”
“Lisa’s hair began to turn white, day and night. Sometimes even her eyebrows and eyelashes turned white.”
“Who sent this?”
Levanfell’s voice rumbled low. The murderous voice startled Emperor Eteria, Lisa, and they both turned around.
Levanfell’s golden eyes were filled with madness. He was a victim of the Ferdiaq experiment.
“……Your Majesty.”
Jerim, who knew Levanfell’s secret, whispered to calm him down.
“……When I went out, only the flask and letter were left at the door. It seemed like someone had left it, but there were no traces or signs of anyone. …I really don’t know. I was out of my mind at the time.”
Emperor Eteria muttered, wiping the corners of his eyes unnecessarily.
It might be difficult to see it as related to the Ferdiaq experiment, but it was certain that the sender of this flask was related to Generba.
‘But why?’
This was the palace, and Lisa was the guest of the Emperor, a member of the Eteria royal family. If they were caught leaving the flask? What was the reason for taking such a risk to make Lisa drink the liquid in this flask?
‘They must have had a reason to act boldly.’
To enter the capital like during the last proxy war? But if the assassination of the royalty succeeded, the security of the capital would be stricter.
It didn’t make sense.
“Jerim. What about the remnants captured during the last proxy war?”
“There hasn’t been anything since then.”
“The symptoms that appeared to the previous proxies were different from those of Empress Eteria. Go and interrogate them about what caused Empress Eteria’s symptoms.”
“Yes.”
“……Elihu. Investigate the flask with trustworthy priests.”
“I will do as you command, Your Majesty.”
Levanfell called Jerim again as he was about to leave to carry out the order.
“Jerim. Check everyone who works here. Not only their identity but also if they have followers. Investigate thoroughly.”
“I will prepare immediately, Your Majesty.”
“Not only those working in the palace but also those who can come and go freely. There may be followers among them too, so check them as well. And send a letter to Duke Tenen.”
Levanfell’s golden eyes sparkled as if he couldn’t tolerate it anymore.
“Send a clear letter that if he does not serve as the Empress’s escort, he will be obliterated. There will be no persuasion.”
“……Yes, Your Majesty. I will do so.”
Levanfell’s command had Jaerim bow her head and call the knight. A knight appeared, rushing from beyond the broken door.
Jaerim told the knight to gather everyone working in the palace at once, and to also bring those who had not shown up for work. She also instructed him to bring the visitation records of those who had recently entered the palace.
The knight was holding a stack of wanted papers in his hand, standing there.
“……Huh?”
The sight made Emperor Eteria frown, and he approached Jaerim. No, he was speaking to the knight standing in front of Jaerim.
“I would like to see one of those.”
“Here it is.”
Emperor Eteria took one of the wanted papers from the knight’s hand and opened his eyes wide in surprise. Then he called Lisa to confirm the portrait drawn on the wanted paper.
The sight of the portrait made Lisa’s face pale simultaneously. Lost in thought, I slowly approached Lisa.
“What’s wrong?”
“……This person…… I’ve seen him before.”
Lisa answered my question with a trembling voice. At Lisa’s soft voice, everyone sharply turned their heads. It was enough to stir a small breeze.
“Where? Where did you see him?”
Levanfell gritted his teeth and approached Lisa, asking threateningly. Startled, Lisa quickly bowed her head, but Emperor Eteria skillfully intervened.
“I saw him too.”
Emperor Eteria redirected the attention from Lisa to himself, speaking. Levanfell’s eyes shone sharply.
“Tell me where you saw him now.”
“……Have we ever spoken about why and how we came here?”
Emperor Eteria dried his hands and responded without hesitation.
“A wandering merchant found us. He told us that a plague was about to spread in the Leonharta Empire’s council hall, but was prevented by Councilman Elihu.”
“…….”
“He also spoke of miraculous events, such as the ritual being unlike usual, as if a god had descended, and that a saintess might have been born.”
The word “saintess” made Levanfell’s face harden.
“He suggested that we go to the Leonharta Empire to meet Councilman Elihu for treatment. The Leonharta Empire seemed to be under the protection of the divine, he said.”
“So we thought it was our last chance and went to the Leonharta Empire. And the wandering merchant we met then was exactly…….”
Lisa pointed to the portrait in the wanted paper with trembling hands.
“That’s him. He wore a hat and glasses, so his appearance was different, but his face was clear. I remembered it clearly in case we got better and needed to repay the favor.”
The person who sent Emperor Eteria and Lisa to this empire was Generba?
I looked at the wanted paper in Emperor Eteria’s hand with narrowed eyes.
More precisely, at Generba’s portrait drawn inside it.
Inside the wanted paper, there was not only Generba’s portrait but also his alchemy. An alchemy that fuses two substances to create a new one.
And so, he believed he could create a world tree with his ability. That was the beginning of the disaster.
The wanted paper was widespread, and the continent was still looking for him, though much time had passed.
Many remember the heinous crime committed by alchemist Generba, but not many remember his face.
“If I had known he was a wanted person, Generba, I would have captured him. I never look at such things… really. I didn’t even ask where he was going. I’m sorry.”
Emperor Eteria earnestly apologized to the furious Levanfell. Levanfell stared angrily at Generba’s portrait inside the wanted paper, clenching his fist.
“Jaerim. Was there any other news from Prince Karayan of the Lupeon Kingdom?”
“No. There is no other news at present.”
Levanfell spoke in a cold voice, sounding cold.
“Jaerim. I will go fetch Tenen Kyung myself. If he refuses to come even after seeing my face, I will cut his throat.”
The Male lead Always Seduces Her with His Beauty (Matriarchy)
Xin Jiao Zhou is the leader of the world’s premier sect. She has just experienced betrayal from all sides, was poisoned in an assassination attempt, and faced death squad attacks while the poison was taking effect. After finally clearing out the scum from her sect, she was drugged again while trying to detoxify.
After waking up from a night of unconsciousness, she gained a “beautiful and kind-hearted” husband.
Xin Jiao Zhou: “???”
He fell ill.
She came to see him, bringing breakfast.
As she put down the breakfast and was about to leave, his hand slipped while holding the spoon. “Clank!”
She turned around upon hearing the noise.
He looked up at her, his eyebrows drooping: “My hand… has no strength.”
“Shall I… feed you?” she asked tentatively.
He opened his mouth cheerfully: “Ah—”
Thinking she was drowning, he jumped in without hesitation to save her, but nearly drowned himself. In the end, it was she who swam over to rescue him, giving him air underwater.
After emerging from the water, his ear tips turned red. He lightly brushed his cheek, tucking his sideburns behind his ear, revealing delicate, pink-tinged ear tips. He lowered his gaze, too embarrassed to look at her.
Xin Jiao Zhou: He’s truly beautiful, kind-hearted, and adorable.
A certain someone when disciplining subordinates behind the scenes: “If they don’t obey, just kill them.”
What’s that? She might already have someone she cares about in her heart? A certain someone: Find out who it is, kill them, and then there won’t be anyone.
What? She met a man by the riverside? What? That man even hurt her? A certain someone: Whichever hand hurt her, chop off his entire arm.
Love at first sight without realizing it, gradually falling in love, slowly getting closer…
Family and national grudges, schemes and desires, good and evil, crime and punishment, she and he face the future together, seeking justice with passion!
A naturally dark female lead who could accidentally destroy the world but is actually an honest person VS a weak, pitiful, and helpless but skilled fighter, beautiful white-cut black male lead
My heart is not of stone, how steadfast is your love? — Tao Yuanming “Imitating the Ancients (No. 3)”
— Reading Guide —
Cold female lead & dramatic black lotus with hidden yandere traits male lead
