Shuher closed the distance with Evenel as if he were pressing her. As he approached, she had no choice but to step back.

But even that was blocked by a bookshelf, and she couldn’t escape any further.

He completely blocked her retreat and, leaning on the bookshelf with one arm, looked down at her.

“You must know now for certain. There’s nothing you can do here. So don’t do anything. Don’t hustle to change something. Just do as I tell you.”

Evenel maintained her silence to the very end, despite the harsh words he poured out. But she didn’t avoid his eyes.

Shuher was, in fact, angered by her utterly unswayed appearance.

He wouldn’t have felt so bad if she had bowed her head in front of him, or resisted, asking why he was doing this.

He had decided to do nothing instead of actively threatening, just for that.

To completely isolate her, and to make her feel the bonechilling powerlessness.

So that Evenel would feel more miserable.

“Don’t waste your time on this useless act and think about how to use your abilities. Your worth ends right there. Don’t forget that without that ability, your life would have already been taken.”

Leaving a sharp warning, Shuher intended to leave the library with her behind, but belatedly Evenel’s voice reached him.

“Did you ask me what I felt after reading those books?”

Stopping at her words, he turned around to face her.

Evenel looked directly at him with eyes that showed no fear, just like when they first met. And this time, she was the one who approached him first.

“I admit it. As you said, I realize that I knew nothing. And….”

Many thoughts filled her mind, but only one sentence surfaced in face of Shuher’s antagonism.

“I’ve realized once again that in Karies, being a person of Aodin is a crime.”

For a moment, ripples formed in Shuher’s eyes, as if he’d been pierced.

Those words, spoken so calmly, made it all the worse.

“Reading those books, hearing your words, I have no choice but to agree.”

Evenel felt a lot calmer since she didn’t deny the past things that had nothing to do with her.

Time couldn’t be turned back. The past didn’t become as if it never happened.

But if she was only captivated by the past, she couldn’t do anything, just as Shuher said. She wasn’t standing there to live as a puppet moving to his whims.

“And again, you’re wrong. I’m the only one who can determine my worth.”

Shuher showed a twisted smile at her confidence.

“You’re hugely mistaken about your situation. Ah, do you want to avoid reality by thinking like that? All you’re doing is being hypocritical.”

“You’re the one who seems to be mistaken now.”

Evenel told him the same words she had told Demil. She had no intention of correcting him, though he would not understand their meaning.

“I’ll do everything I can, whatever you say.”

Shuher left the library, leaving her declaration behind. But her admission that her existence itself was a crime kept echoing in his ears.

“Sigh…….”

As soon as he disappeared completely, Evenel’s legs gave way, and she collapsed on the spot. Though she had spoken bravely, she was at the peak of tension.

She felt drained whenever she faced Shuher. Maybe because he revealed his antagonistic emotions more than anyone else.

“I should’ve just endured it.”

She had tried not to get on his nerves, but what was pride, after all?

Evenel messed with her hair for no reason and tidied up the scattered books. Then, a true feeling slipped out.

“Why do all the people I meet mistake me? What am I changing?”

Returning directly to her room, she was mentally exhausted and wanted to fall asleep quickly.
“Miss, it’s Lia.”

“Come in.”

Then Lia came, and the joy of seeing her for the first time today flowed through. She was already worried about whether she was adapting well.

“How’s work? People aren’t making it hard on you?”

“It’s not as hard as I thought. In the Duke’s house, I took care of the Miss alone, but not now.”

“That’s what worries me more.”

Although she wanted to stick to herself, realistically, she couldn’t do that.

Lia knew her feelings and spoke with a more lively voice.

“It’s better than I was worried about.”

“That’s a relief, but actually, I had to leave the palace for subjugation.”

“Really?”

When Lia expressed her concern, Evenel comforted her.

“It’s okay. I anticipated this much. So, I’ll be busy for a while. I have a lot to prepare.”

“Just concentrate on preparation, Miss. I will do my best in my place.”

“Yes.”

When Lia said that, she could relax a little.

After taking care of Evenel’s bed, Lia, who had worked all day without a break, looked at her blistered hands.

‘I’m glad. The Miss didn’t see it.’

She couldn’t tell about what happened today. Hearing about going to subjugate, she wanted to relieve the worry even for herself.

That was the best she could do now.

(This is a time separator.)

After deciding to go to the subjugation, Evenel’s life changed completely. She moved so busily that every minute and second were lacking.

When scheming men desperately battle for her favor in the male harem

This one’s also on my reread list! The rivalry, scheming between the men in the imperial harem are just as intense and thrilling as in classic palace drama novels, where concubines fight to the death. Give it a read, girls! I promise you won’t be disappointed.

Synopsis:

“I am not worthy of her… but I still want to be by her side, even if only as a loyal dog…”

Those were the painful whispers of Yue Guanyi – the proud Crown Prince of the Great Qi, who was torn between deep love and a guilty conscience. Despite holding the supreme power of the Imperial Guard, he still could not forget the dark past when he was sold into a brothel.

Fate played a cruel twist when Qiu Shuzhi – a young female official who had just passed the imperial examinations with top honors – stepped into his life. She did not know that she was the one who had saved him from a tragic fate many years ago. And now, her heart was the target of pursuit for both Yue Guanyi and the powerful Empress Dowager Qin Qing.

While Yue Guanyi only dared to silently care for and protect the one he loved from afar, the  Empress Dowager Qin Qing openly expressed his feelings and did not hesitate to take advantage of his power to approach Qiu Shuzhi. The covert struggle between the two most powerful forces in the imperial court began…

Trigger warning: All men in this novel are yandere style.

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