The knight’s conveyed words were utterly shocking. The words heard from an unexpected place were chilling enough to make one’s hair stand on end.
It seemed I was not the only one.
No one dared to open their mouths rashly. Jaerim, who had barely regained his composure, licked his dry lips and spoke.
“What happened to the surviving children?”
“They are still under protection measures. Considering the situation, it would be best to send them back after a thorough confirmation. …Watching a child die in front of their parents is a cruel thing to do.”
The knight’s words made sense. If this situation was related to the Ferdiac experiment, then the surviving children might have already been injected with the essence of the World Tree.
If so, the situation could unfold where a child dies in the arms of a guardian.
“…Levanfell.”
I turned my head to check Levanfell. Anger was felt from his tightly clenched fist, the veins on the back of his hand bulging.
I grabbed Levanfell’s hand and asked the knight.
“Was Generba there?”
“No. Only her followers were caught. It seemed like not all of them.”
“Then have the knights infiltrate the way and capture all the remaining remnants. And Jaerim.”
“Yes, Teriella ma’am.”
“Is Earl Adresa still being investigated in the imperial palace?”
“Yes.”
“The Earl who was selling children surely knows about this situation. Send a messenger to investigate thoroughly. And also check if there was any other news. …His Majesty will personally interrogate, so hold them well.”
“I will do so.”
Levanfell, who had barely suppressed his anger at my soothing, stood up from his seat.
Everyone’s eyes were on Levanfell.
“Prepare the carriage.”
In his cold eyes, there was an overwhelming killing intent.
“I will check the place myself. I will take the lead in this incident. I will listen to all reports myself. If I’m absent, notify Jaerim immediately.”
“I will do so.”
We turned the carriage towards the place where the captured children were.
(This is a time separator.)
The deep mountain village where the children were said to have been sold, a nameless village, was nestled right in the middle of Earl Adresa’s territory and Count Tenen’s territory.
If you hadn’t come here yourself, you wouldn’t even know there was a village, so deeply was it tucked away.
Although it was called a mountain, in fact, it was just a desolate mountain since the trees that once crowded it had burned away.
With no growing trees, there were naturally no signs of animals.
Clint, who was riding and guarding the surroundings, stared into the quiet carriage.
‘Surely at that time…’
Generba, and the words Ferdiac experiment, had an unusually strong reaction from Levanfell.
Not only that, but Teriella and Jaerim as well. Both of them were watching Levanfell the moment they heard those words.
‘The color of His Majesty’s hair was clearly white in the garden.’
No one had explained it to Clint, but they weren’t hiding it either. Clint recalled the night when Teriella showed him a miracle.
The bright and warm light that drove away the darkness, and Levanfell, who absorbed it like sucking it in.
Only after absorbing that light did his shining white hair return to its original color.
‘Ferdiac experiment…’
During his exhausting day, Clint had frequently heard stories about the Ferdiac experiment. He had heard it even if he didn’t want to.
It was said that as if all life was taken away, the pigment drained from the body and the person died emaciated.
‘…Your Majesty.’
Clint turned his wavering eyes to the carriage. Jaerim, who was riding with him, approached him.
“Count. I will explain in detail later. You may have already noticed, but His Majesty’s that…”
“Jaerim.”
Clint cut off Jaerim’s concern firmly.
“It’s not me you should worry about. You are His Majesty’s aide, so just care for Him. If His Majesty dislikes it, you don’t need to explain further to me.”
“…Count.”
“I don’t have anyone close enough to tell. You know that. Don’t stray off course over something so trivial, Jaerim. We might be heading towards the villain’s lair. Someone might be lying in ambush.”
Jaerim smiled weakly and nodded.
“I’m glad you’ve returned to your former self, Your Grace.”
Jaerim left those words and turned away. Clint chewed on what he had left behind, then turned his gaze back to the quiet carriage.
‘Former self?’
No. Clint had never returned to his former self. Now, he does not protect the empire.
What Clint protects are not the empire but the precious people. What he fights against with his sword is not the invading enemy, but the evil trying to kill his precious person.
So whether Levanfell’s hair was white or black, it was not a significant issue to Clint.
Whitehaired Levanfell or blackhaired Levanfell.
To Clint, he’s only someone to be protected.
(This is a time separator.)
The quiet carriage was not a first, but today was the first time it was this desolate and barren.
Levanfell had not opened his mouth first since he got on the carriage. He even avoided making eye contact.
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
