Can an Enemy Become Salvation? (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 10
“Do you know the situation here?”
“I do—well, at least the general circumstances.”
On that point, Ivenel’s voice could only grow quieter. After all, since she was going to die anyway, she hadn’t bothered learning anything.
‘If I’d known it would come to this, I would’ve used every means possible to gather information.’
It was a moment when the time she’d wasted doing nothing in the past stung her deeply.
“The noble families entrusted with power guard the areas where monsters frequently appear. Regular extermination campaigns are also carried out. Now, thanks to ongoing investigations and research into these monsters, we’ve reached a level where we can handle them with our own strength alone.”
Ivenel already knew that much. She understood how Caries had regained its current peace only after enduring great sacrifices.
Yet, it wasn’t a situation where they could feel completely secure.
“However, we can’t rule out the emergence of unforeseen variables—just as we still don’t know exactly how monsters first came into existence.”
Even the Caries Empire had only a tiny number of people with power, so it couldn’t entirely eliminate the damage caused by monsters. Moreover, the fact that monsters remained mysterious entities whose true nature hadn’t been fully uncovered only added to that fear.
No one could guarantee when, where, or what kind of monster might appear next.
If even a single, unknown monster possessing formidable power were to emerge, the capital would surely be reduced to ruins in an instant.
Outwardly, it seemed peace had been restored, but in truth, it was no different from walking a precarious tightrope.
Yet, unexpectedly, good fortune rolled right in—the reappearance of Ivenel, the Young Lady whose abilities had been thought lost, now awakened.
Though she was someone from Aodin, whom he despised so thoroughly, Suhel couldn’t deny the undeniable truth: her power was absolutely essential to Caries.
Thus, this time, his decision was made rationally, as Emperor of the Caries Empire, setting aside all personal feelings completely.
How delightfully foolish of Aodin to have slit open the belly of the goose that laid golden eggs.
“Let me be blunt. I need to borrow your power, Young Lady. In return, I’ll grant you anything you desire.”
“I don’t think I’d be able to stay here comfortably, though.”
Despite his offer, Ivenel responded with considerable skepticism.
And understandably so—people passing by kept whispering about her; she doubted she’d even get a proper meal.
If this were only happening within the imperial palace, it might be bearable, but she was certain she’d receive the same reaction anywhere in the Caries Empire.
‘But the Emperor clearly has no intention of simply letting me go.’
From Caries’ perspective, her assistance was absolutely indispensable. Therefore, he’d surely resort to any means necessary to keep her here.
Fully aware of all this, Ivenel deliberately wore an expression suggesting his proposal held little appeal to her.
She had no intention of letting this negotiation proceed solely according to his wishes.
“To be honest, your offer doesn’t particularly entice me. It contradicts my original purpose for coming here, so I see no reason to heed Your Majesty’s words. What benefit would I gain by aiding you? I’d have to face dangerous monsters, and on top of that, people desperate to kill me are practically within arm’s reach.”
From her standpoint, there was no reason to endure all that just to stay in Caries. Besides, wasn’t the Emperor before her the very person who’d once tried to kill her?
‘I can’t guarantee the same thing won’t happen again.’
Suhel hadn’t expected Ivenel to accept his offer willingly. But he was confident he could make her act according to his will.
“When the Emperor of Aodin learns you’ve awakened your abilities, he’ll surely bind your hands and feet somehow. Ah, he might even force you into marriage with that violent, reckless Crown Prince. Would a life controlled by the imperial family truly be comfortable? If you dare resist, they’ll simply cut off your hands and feet—after all, they only need your eyes.”
Imagining that scenario, Ivenel’s brow instinctively furrowed. He spoke those cruel words with a completely indifferent expression.
‘He’s not entirely wrong.’
She knew nothing about Caries—or even Aodin—but given that they’d singled her out as a sacrifice despite the risk of her death, his words didn’t seem entirely fabricated.
“So, Your Majesty is saying you wouldn’t do the same?”
“We’re not as despicable as Aodin. Your life comes first. And as long as you provide reliable assistance, I won’t force you into anything against your will. Choosing the lesser evil over the worst seems the wiser course.”
“So, it’s evil either way, then.”
His blunt honesty felt more trustworthy than polished, empty words. At the very least, it seemed he wouldn’t harm her as he claimed.
But Suhel wasn’t finished yet.
“If your family learns of this matter, do you think the Duchess and her daughter would welcome it? No—they’d surely resort to any means to kill you. They wouldn’t stand by and watch you gain attention, even if the Empire were under monster attack. You’d have no allies if you returned to Aodin.”
“That’s certainly true.”
Ivenel readily admitted it and even smiled—an oddly cheerful expression given the circumstances—which made Suhel’s expression subtly shift.
“You’re not surprised at all.”
“It’s not shocking enough to warrant surprise.”
She’d met Serina only once, but from what she’d heard, they were precisely the kind of people capable of such cruelty.
‘But for him to uncover even that… He’s no easy opponent.’
Indeed, he was the Emperor of an empire. He understood far too well how to make others act according to his intentions.
“But… what if I were to return to Aodin?”
“Oh, I seem to have forgotten the most important part.”
As if suddenly remembering something, Suhel’s expression changed to one of realization. Leaning forward slightly, he fixed her with that familiar cold gaze—a leisurely, predator-like gesture, as if his prey stood right before him.
“If I can’t have you, I certainly won’t let Aodin benefit from you. Better that no one gets you at all.”
Unlike the faint smile playing at his lips, his words were utterly chilling.
“So, it’s blackmail, then.”
“Let’s call it persuasion.”
“I wonder if Your Majesty realizes just how unbelievable that sounds.”
What Suhel was doing was nothing more than blackmail disguised as persuasion—if she didn’t comply with his will, he’d simply kill her.
To ensure she’d never become an asset to Aodin.
‘So it’s come to this after all.’
In truth, Ivenel had fully anticipated things would unfold this way. Now, it was her turn to give her answer.
“Then, is that all the cards Your Majesty holds?”
Though Suhel’s eyes darkened with cold intensity, she met his gaze directly, wearing a calm, composed smile.
“Your Majesty’s final statement was mistaken. I belong to no one. That fact won’t change—no matter where I am, who I’m with, or even if I lose this ability.”
Her unexpected words made Suhel’s eyes flicker momentarily. Simultaneously, a palpable tension thick enough to cut filled the air between them.
Just as the atmosphere seemed about to turn deadly—perhaps interpreting her words as outright refusal—Ivenel broke the tension instantly with a smile.
“But I’ll accept Your Majesty’s proposal.”
Contrary to her words, her ready acceptance deflated Suhel. He’d been prepared to draw blood if she still refused to comply after all this.
“You’re quite skilled at negotiation.”
“This is only the beginning.”
“So you have something you want.”
“If Your Majesty receives something, fairness demands I receive something in return.”
Demil, standing behind Suhel and observing their exchange, was astonishingly flustered.
No one dared speak so boldly before Emperor Suhel. In fact, no one even considered negotiating with him.
They’d simply bow their heads and accept whatever he decreed.
From Suhel’s perspective, it was far easier if she just stated her desires plainly.
“What exactly do you want?”
“I’ll assist you whenever my abilities are needed. In the meantime, I’ll reside in the imperial palace, and you must ensure Aodin cannot take me back. Also, there’s a condition regarding duration.”
“Duration?”
Suhel’s expression hardened at the mention of a time limit. Since monsters could appear at any moment, setting a deadline would only disadvantage him.
Noticing his thoughts from his expression, Ivenel quickly waved her hand to clarify.
“I don’t mean a fixed, physical timeframe.”
“Then what?”
“Until the power I possess becomes utterly meaningless to Your Majesty.”
He couldn’t immediately grasp why she’d propose such a condition. As long as monsters kept appearing, that scenario wouldn’t happen.
She surely knew it was disadvantageous to herself.
Of course, Ivenel knew that too. But there was one thing she understood clearly about this world.
‘It was clearly stated that another female protagonist with the same ability as mine would appear. Once that happens, I’ll have no reason to stay here.’
She’d decided to remain only until that moment. After all, the darkest place is beneath the lamp—and staying right under the Caries Emperor’s lamp would be the safest option.
Naturally, she wasn’t foolish enough to say that aloud.
“No one can predict the future, after all. For example, monsters might vanish, or someone in Caries might develop abilities like mine.”
Though Suhel found her reasoning absurd, he nodded immediately—it was a condition that harmed him in no way.
“Anything else?”
“If I ever leave the imperial palace, please grant me a new identity and a sum of money commensurate with the aid I’ve provided.”
“Agreed.”
That condition wasn’t unreasonable at all, so he accepted it readily—though it seemed almost too simple, making him wonder if she had some hidden motive.
“That’s all my conditions.”
“Is that truly all?”
“Yes, this is enough for me.”
“Judging by your reaction, you’d already decided everything beforehand.”
Ivenel had pondered this very point from the start—whether to somehow return to Aodin or stay here by aiding Caries.
She could’ve easily returned to Aodin by explaining her situation; after all, they needed her power just as much.
But upon calmly weighing the consequences, staying in Caries was clearly the more advantageous choice.
‘If I return to Aodin, I’ll be trapped there for life.’
Whereas in Caries, she could exchange what she offered—her abilities—for safety, dealing with Suhel on mutually beneficial terms.
Perhaps even more so than in Aodin, since Caries was in a more desperate situation.
Another reason was that no one here knew the old Ivenel. Thus, no one would suspect she’d changed.
‘And perhaps… the reason I gained this ability is…’
Pushing those thoughts firmly from her mind, she met Suhel’s gaze and spoke.
“You must keep your promise. I’ll do the same.”
“Of course.”
“Then, I look forward to working with you.”
Ivenel willingly placed herself into his grasp. After all, the enemy of my enemy is my friend.
With the negotiation successfully concluded, she naturally extended her hand toward Suhel. But the first to move was Demil, standing behind him.
Instinctively, he blocked the hand she offered.
“What do you think you’re doing?”
To Demil, she was still someone he couldn’t trust—primarily because she was from Aodin, and possibly hiding something.
“I was trying to shake hands.”
Just as she wondered if handshakes didn’t exist in this world, given their reactions, Demil spoke.
“You can’t initiate a handshake with His Majesty.”
She was about to ask why, when suddenly she recalled this world’s rigid social hierarchy. If the other person were an elderly elder, she wouldn’t have offered a handshake—but since they appeared roughly the same age, she’d momentarily forgotten.
“Oh, I’m sorry…”
Just as Ivenel awkwardly began to withdraw her hand, Suhel grasped it before it could fully retreat.
His expression showed no displeasure at all—in fact, he seemed almost pleased.
“Let’s get along well from now on, Lady Ivenel.”
“I look forward to it as well.”
All Ivenel hoped was that she’d never come to regret this choice.
Ex-husband Wants Reconciliation
One-line summary: Chasing the wife to the crematorium (making an effort to attract someone who has become indifferent), the female lead doesn’t look back, the second male lead takes the position.
Intro:
To repay the kindness of the older generation, Su Mu crossed into a female-dominated world and became a live-in daughter-in-law of the Yan family, single-handedly saving the Yan family from fire and water.
But her husband, Yan Jiyue, the eldest son of the Yan family, treated her with sarcasm and never showed her a good face.
It wasn’t until after Su Mu’s death that this pampered and arrogant young master shed a few fake tears and pretended to want to die for love.
This life’s kindness was enough. If there was a next life, she would definitely kick Yan Jiyue away.
Who knew that the heavens would be so kind as to allow her to be reborn, returning to the time when she had just married into the Yan family.
Su Mu glanced at the Yan eldest son, who still spoke coldly to her, and threw a divorce letter in front of him.
“Let’s divorce!”
***
Yan Jiyue never imagined that he would be reborn. He happily went to find Su Mu, wanting to make up for the mistakes he had made in his ignorant youth.
Wasn’t the reason the heavens allowed him to be reborn to let him reconcile with Su Mu?
But when he pushed open the door to Su Mu’s room, the person lying on the bed was another man.
Su Mu’s personal attendant, Xie Yi.
Yan Jiyue hated him so much that his teeth itched. In front of Su Mu, Xie Yi was a gentle and considerate whisperer of sweet nothings, but in reality, he was vicious-hearted and deliberately sabotaged their husband and wife relationship.
In the previous life, it was he who secretly hid in Su Mu’s coffin and committed suicide, stealing a step ahead of him to be buried with Su Mu.
Yan Jiyue’s eyes were filled with hatred as he cursed, “What kind of thing are you? Your background is lowly, what right do you have to occupy Su Mu?”
Xie Yi looked at the sleeping Su Mu and no longer pretended to be a whisperer of sweet nothings.
He proudly stuck out his belly, “I have the right because my belly is capable of giving the Wife-master a daughter.”
***
Yan Jiyue was consumed with jealousy. He spread rumors that Xie Yi had once been branded with the mark of a “harlot” on his chest.
But on the night Xie Yi cut off the flesh bearing that mark, Su Mu suddenly realized something was amiss.
“How did you know the exact moment I was poisoned? And why did you show up a month early?”
Xie Yi remained silent, blood from his wound soaking through his robes. His sapphire eyes brimmed with anguish – or was it just a flawless act?
Between a once-arrogant husband now seeking redemption, and a gentle soul willing to die for her – who truly held the darkest secrets? And could it be that Su Mu and Yan Jiyue weren’t the only ones given a second chance at life…?
[Reading Guide]
1. True divorce, chasing the wife to the crematorium, the female lead doesn’t look back, the male lead is Xie Yi.
2. The ex-husband did not cheat, he just realized too late and didn’t realize that he liked the female lead.
_____
Please help me, I want to bring you the best possible things.
If you find any chapter or novel with poor translation and editing quality, let me know by commenting directly under that novel or chapter. I will retranslate it as soon as possible.
[Touch the gear icon in the bottom right corner of the screen to move to the next chapter if you want.]
MANGA DISCUSSION
1 Comment
Chapter Comments (43)
oh no,leave that asshole immediately,escape and run
judging an innocent lady because of what her family and country
if i were you ivenel i would pack my bags immediately
Inline Comments (3)
He wanted her to experience firsthand the humiliation Caries had endured and ult
Heh at the end tou will still fall for her after all
“After reading those books and hearing Your Majesty’s words, I can’t help but ad
Yas gurl give him a piece of your mind. He needs to know its not ur gault
Then, in the distance, she spotted a familiar figure—Lia.
Nah bro get out. You gonna get the pieci of my mind
YOUR COMMENT
2. Inline comments are now available. Tap the end of any line in a chapter to share your thoughts instantly.
Log in to comment.
debban23
agreement between them is reched but lets see if it will follow through