Having never made friends or mingled when in Lupeon Kingdom, this situation was not familiar.
When I showed my surprise and dislike, Levanfell neatly summarized it.
“The princess doesn’t like it. Reject them all, Jaelim.”
“It’s not a good choice.”
“You will refuse my command?”
“It’s not refusal. It’s just what I do. I assist you, Your Majesty.”
Jaelim quickly picked out a few marked letters and handed them to me.
“Do you intend to expel the princess entirely from society? You already have no acquaintances in the kingdom, so you must be lonely.”
“I’m here.”
“…Do you know that a husband who says that is considered the worst?”
Jaelim, with his slender eyes, glared at Levanfell and continued.
“If someone spreads false rumors, there’s no one to correct them. What the princess needs now is someone who will fight for her.”
“Why do we need such guys? If they are around, take them and cut off all their heads.”
“Do you want to make the princess a social outcast like yourself? Or do you want to become a tyrant?”
Jaelim coldly rebuked Levanfell, then advised me.
“It’s good to have many allies for the princess. In society, words fly like swords. So, I have selected some influential people.”
“If I become friends with all these people……”
“I’m not saying that you must. They’re not all good people.”
Jaelim’s face showed no emotion. He continued impassively.
“There are those who make illegal drugs and those who do dirty deeds. There are also those who have power that way.”
Levanfell, who had been acting playfully, immediately turned serious at Jaelim’s words and stopped the letters that Jaelim handed to me.
“Jaelim. I don’t think we need to tell the princess about those people.”
“No. She needs to know. She’s going to be the empress now.”
Jaelim bypassed the blocking Levanfell and handed the letters to me again.
“It’s up to the princess whether to use them or discard them. No one will dare say the princess is bad if you use them to get what you want.”
He was not wrong.
I had traded with Levanfell and obtained great power that made my family bow down in an instant.
So, I also have the duty to bear it.
“I understand what Assistant Jaelim means.”
I reached out and snatched all the letters that Jaelim was holding and embraced them.
“So whether I fight as a social outcast or make those without any power my allies to fight together is also my choice?”
Even if they are not the people Jaelim recommended.
Holding the heavy letters in my arms, Jaelim sent applause as if satisfied, as if he had wished me to act like this.
“You are wise, Princess.”
But the eyes sending the satisfied applause were still cold.
He is a reputedly competent chief assistant. It had reached the Lupeon Kingdom that he stayed beside the worstcalled tyrant.
Jaelim is the emperor’s chief assistant.
He is not my person.
“The princess is indeed great.”
Levanfell smiled contentedly as if he had been praised, and Jaelim frowned.
“Why is Your Majesty so pleased that the princess is wise?”
“Jaelim. Your throat seems itchy these days.”
“If you cut off my throat, Your Majesty will lose someone to work for you during these comfortable times. Will that be alright?”
“Will you refuse?”
Certainly, here is the translation:
“These two people, they suit each other well.”
They growled as they fought, but they did not appear to be uncomfortable with each other.
In this palace, the only person who could speak to Levanfell like that seemed to be Jaerim. Conversely, that meant the only person who could get close to Levanfell was Jaerim.
“Jaerim. How are the wedding preparations?”
“The preparation of the hall for the wedding is almost finished. Would you like to check it out?”
It was the venue where my fake wedding would take place.
“Sure.”
As he agreed, Levanfell snatched a letter from his bosom and handed it to Jaerim. Then he escorted me to the hall where the wedding would take place.
“Wow.”
Gold and red were mixed, and the imperial symbol, the pattern of the world tree, was stamped on a long tapestry, and there were plenty of colorful and fancy fresh flowers that were hard to find these days.
It was a beautiful sight, hard to find in a dying world.
“It feels like my mind is clearing.”
I felt dazed, as if intoxicated by the fragrant scent of flowers. My head felt refreshed, as it was before the world tree withered.
Then it happened.
“We sprinkled holy water everywhere and purified it, so it should feel refreshing.”
An unfamiliar yet sacred voice joined in from behind us.
Startled, I turned my head and saw a man with long blond hair and white priest’s robes.
His mere appearance seemed to change the atmosphere of the hall in an instant. I felt pure, lifebrimming air.
“Ah, Elihu, you’re here?”
Jaerim, who had been standing with me, approached the unfamiliar man warmly.
“Elihu?”
I’ve heard the name. A man who answered God’s call and climbed to the position of Deputy Chief at the youngest age.
The man with the highest sacred power among the current Deputy Chiefs.
That means…
“I should avoid the Deputy Chief!”
He was a man incompatible with me.
I hastily hid behind Levanfell’s back before Elihu’s eyes reached me. Levanfell seemed to stiffen, perhaps taken aback by the sudden encounter.
“I didn’t know Elihu was still here.”
“I was sprinkling holy water and offering prayers to God, Semula, so that no evil energy would enter your majesty’s wedding. …I greet you, Emperor.”
“Elihu. It’s been a long time.”
Levanfell greeted Elihu, shielding me from his gaze.
“Elihu. If I had known you were here, I would have come later. Did we interrupt you?”
“No. Your majesty’s visit, an interruption? Anyone who dares to say such a thing will be punished by Semula.”
As he exchanged greetings with Levanfell, Elihu turned his gaze.
“The princess of rumors.”
Here comes my turn!
Elihu’s eyes naturally turned to me, hidden behind Levanfell’s back.
“It’s nice to meet you for the first time. I am Elihu, the Deputy Chief, the servant of Semula.”
“Nice, nice to meet you. I’m Teriella Lupeon.”
I knew from what I had heard that the Deputy Chief had to make contact to verify the sacred power. But his eyes alone, due to the tremendous sacred power emanating from him, seemed scary enough to recognize me.
I peeped at Elihu while clutching Levanfell’s arm.
“The princess seems to be on guard in an unfamiliar place, Elihu, so you understand.”
“Of course, your majesty. …Princess, you don’t have to worry either.”
Elihu smiled lightly. It felt like a pleasant breeze just by him smiling.
But for some reason, his green eyes looking at me were chilling. As if piercing through me.
“Elihu. How long will you stay in the empire? I heard you’re leaving for volunteering again.”
Levanfell seemed to read the strange atmosphere, lightly engaging Elihu in conversation.
“Ah… yes. I was thinking of leaving for volunteering.”
‘Why is it in the past tense?’
Elihu smiled. Like an angel’s smile, merciful and warm, but strangely unsettling.
And that uneasiness soon became reality.
“I’m out of volunteering this time.”
Elihu’s eyes circled back to me behind Levanfell’s back.
“I plan to stay in the empire for the time being.”
An Indifferent Woman is the One Men Desire the Most
One-line summary: The female lead is actually cold-hearted and extremely rational. She has stage-by-stage relationships and won’t two-time, but there will always be someone who secretly likes her.
This novel has the following triggers, so if you’re sensitive to these, please don’t read:
1. The female lead has had many relationships, but she treated each one seriously and broke up properly.
It’s just that the men unilaterally pestered her incessantly. For the female lead, when she doesn’t like someone anymore, she simply doesn’t like them.
(This applies to her relationships with Male Lead 1, 2, 3, and 4 as well, but she’s loyal in each 1-on-1 relationship!)
2. In this novel, Male Lead 2 and the female lead kiss in a car, and Male Lead 1 sees it and beats up Male Lead 2.
The female lead calls the police and sends both Male Lead 1 and 2 to the police station! Male Lead 1 begs the female lead not to break up with him.
3. Male Lead 1 has a gentle appearance but an obsessive personality.
Male Lead 2 has a delicate and soft appearance, slightly green tea-like (two-faced).
Male Lead 3 is a youthful college student and a smart person who has secretly liked the female lead for a long time.
Male Lead 4 is the female lead’s father’s special assistant, a business elite with deep, hidden thoughts.
4. At the beginning of this novel, the female lead has already broken up with Male Lead 1 (Chapter 4) and gotten back together with Male Lead 2 (ex-boyfriend).
5. Enter with caution if you have triggers!!!
