The Empress Dowager, who had been silently listening to the conversation between the princesses and the Emperor, spoke while looking directly at Harchen.
“Your Majesty, I gave birth to four children one by one. With unclear circumstances surrounding her birth, she’s a hidden princess of Tane who started a war and was captured as a prisoner. What on earth is Your Majesty lacking to arrange a royal marriage with such a person? I wish to oppose this marriage.”
That’s right. I must have gone mad.
But even now, at this moment, she’s not by my side, and I’m afraid Tane’s Emperor might do something unpredictable again, that the princess might flee instead of coming here, and I’m anxious without news from Lean, feeling like I might go crazy.
He couldn’t clearly explain the cause of his anxiety. An obsession with a woman he wanted to possess.
That alone couldn’t define the complex emotions. It was an intangible feeling, but it was currently dominating his reason.
“I also oppose that royal marriage, Harchen. A lady of the enemy general who started the war, it’s absurd. Harchen, I absolutely oppose it.”
“Your Majesty the Empress Dowager, I’m not here to seek permission for the marriage. I’m informing you. Prepare for the royal wedding.”
Harchen spoke firmly in a cold voice and stood up from his seat.
“Then, I’ll be going to the round table meeting.”
In the conference room near Emperor Kazan’s bedroom in the Tane Empire.
The Emperor, wearing a dark purple velvet imperial robe over his pajamas and the imperial crown, sat propped up on a movable bed cushion.
The captain of the imperial guard and Empress Pamila stood on either side of the Emperor.
To the right of the Emperor’s seat sat the imperial council, and to the left sat representatives of the noble council from count families and above with decision-making power.
“Let them enter.”
The Emperor’s voice, wearing the imperial crown, was resonant.
The imperial knights brought in Princess Patricia and positioned her in the center.
“Princess Patricia Calian Evas of the Tane Empire greets Your Majesty the Emperor, guardian of the Arkan continent and master of Mount Hesperos.”
Patricia was inwardly surprised as she formally greeted the Emperor. Although the Emperor was in a reclined position on the movable bed, his complexion looked good. Compared to Patrick, he seemed like a healthy person.
‘Then, is this not just the Empress’s scheme but a collaboration with the Emperor? Surely not, why?’
The Emperor inwardly groaned as he watched Patricia enter the conference hall.
‘Hmm, Aldisha.’
Perhaps because it was the first time seeing her in a dress, she looked like Aldisha. Especially similar to her appearance during her time as the Crown Princess.
The nobles who saw the shadow princess in person covered their mouths with their fists, but sighs escaped here and there.
Except for hair length and build, Patricia looked exactly like Patrick. No, even the small and petite build was similar, excluding the feminine body characteristics of supple curves.
She also reminded them of Princess Aldisha of the Torun Kingdom.
Golden wavy hair, a white and delicate chin, a sharp and pointed nose bridge, distinct philtrum and plump lips, a confident expression and dignified posture.
Anyone could see she was a legitimate descendant with Tane’s royal blood flowing through her veins, so similar that one could believe she was Patrick.
Duke Parse, the chairman of the imperial council, cleared his throat and bowed his head to Patricia.
“It’s our first time meeting, Princess. Then, let’s begin the emergency imperial council meeting.”
“Council Chairman.”
Patricia called out to Duke Parse in a calm and firm tone.
“First, please show proper respect to me as an imperial princess. Restraining my body as if I were a criminal of high treason, without even determining guilt or verifying the truth, is an act that diminishes the dignity of the imperial family.”
The nobles, including Duke Parse, were surprised by Patricia’s calm voice.
Her attitude, maintaining an upright posture and looking around the assembly with unwavering eyes, was neat and dignified.
Emperor Kazan straightened his back and waist that had been leaning on the cushion. He was already displeased with the sight of the princess’s arms and body bound with ropes.
‘Who dared.’
Golden hair, blue eyes with distinct and sharp features. The Emperor frowned as he looked at Pamila, who must have been behind the order to restrain the princess who resembled him in every way.
Moreover, unlike the docile and quiet Aldisha, he rather liked how she asserted her demands in front of the unfamiliar elder nobles while being restrained, reminiscent of himself.
The Emperor spoke in a low voice.
“Untie the ropes.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty.”
Patricia slightly bent her knees while maintaining a flat waist and bowed.
The Emperor had observed Patricia, wearing armor and attending the war instead of Patrick, sometimes from afar and sometimes up close.
Her appearance wielding a sword atop a war horse much larger than her body reminded him of himself when he was young.
She didn’t step back or cower, and she was agile. Though she swung her sword somewhat flamboyantly, it gave her excellent spatial control.
The Emperor was satisfied, but to him, Patricia was like spilled water.
According to the request of the Empress who blindly believed in the oracle, he had planned to send Patrick to the Torun Kingdom once he came of age and recovered his health. The Valenti family, Aldisha’s maiden family, had agreed to take him in.
The problem was that Patrick, who seemed to have recovered his health, fell ill again, and the Emperor himself also lost strength and was bedridden for a few days.
Taking advantage of this opportunity, the Emperor was enraged to hear that Patricia, the shadow princess, had broken the peace treaty with Karsik and started a war.
He thought Patricia was coveting the position of Crown Princess.
Moreover, when he received reports that she had planned to incite Patrick to rebellion, he was ready to cut off any paternal affection he might have had, if there was any to begin with, and get rid of her.
At least the clever Empress Pamila came up with a clever plan, which also worked on the Karsik Emperor.
That’s right. Rather than sending her empty-handed to the Torun Kingdom, it was a hundred times better to arrange a royal marriage with Karsik, the Golden Empire that would lay golden eggs.
“I have one more thing to add.”
The Emperor stroked his chin as he looked at Patricia.
The anti-empress faction nobles, having just witnessed Patricia regally get her ropes untied, acknowledged and accepted her as a princess.
Moreover, her refined dignity was even moving, as if seeing the late Empress Aldisha.
The pro-empress faction nobles had planned to make the second prince Chris the crown prince if Patrick couldn’t recover his health.
However, after seeing Patricia’s demeanor, a few anti-empress faction nobles inwardly thought of a crown princess and imagined Patricia becoming the crown princess.
“There’s someone here who has no decision-making power in the imperial council, and therefore no right to participate. I’d like to proceed after that person leaves first.”
Patricia looked at Empress Pamila with a neat expression.
The face of Pamila, with hair as red as raging flames, contorted. Noticing the nobles’ gazes, Pamila glared viciously at Patricia.
‘No, who do you think you are, how dare you. The likes of you, ordering me to leave.’
“You’re not in a position to order me around.”
“I am Princess Patricia Calian Evas. Though I grew up in the west tower, you can’t deny that I’m a princess. In what capacity are you attending this imperial council?”
‘Empress Pamila. From the Lasbur viscount family, wasn’t it?’
Even as an empress, she was of a status that couldn’t enter a noble council above the rank of count.
‘The woman who poisoned the Tane Empire’s empress, my mother.’
“It seems the princess who was confined to the west tower doesn’t know who I am?”
Pamila’s sharply breaking voice revealed her emotions raw. It was unstable and merely intense.
Patricia’s fists trembled as she recalled Patrick, whose face had been consumed by poison.
“You are the one who gave birth to the second prince Chris. You are the one receiving His Majesty the Emperor’s favor. However, the current imperial council is a separate matter…”
“Enough! It’s noisy. I allow the empress to observe.”
The Emperor spoke, looking up at Pamila affectionately.
“Empress. Come closer and wipe my neck.”
Pamila sat on the edge of the bed and leaned towards the Emperor. She wiped the Emperor’s nape with a handkerchief.
“Oh my, Your Majesty. Are you tired? Why are you sweating so much?”
She brought her face close to the Emperor’s neck and slowly blew air with her mouth. With her fluttering hand, she caressed the Emperor’s thick nape and chest.
“Your body is damp. I’ll wash you after this is over.”
She whispered softly into the Emperor’s ear. At her words, the shameless Emperor’s face and neck turned red. With a face melting and flowing red, he pulled the empress’s waist towards him.
Pamila looked at Patricia and raised one corner of her mouth in a vulgar smile.
‘I’ll remember every detail, Pamila. Poisoning my mother, using poison on Patrick, and if that wasn’t enough, driving me to the battlefield with your schemes – I’ll remember it all clearly.’
Patricia’s eyes trembled a cold blue. Something like shattered glass fragments poured out. Light flashed.
The Emperor struck the floor with the royal scepter in his right hand.
“Duke Parse, proceed.”
“Yes, Your Majesty. I declare the convening of an emergency imperial council to overcome the current crisis in the empire. First, the captain of the guard will briefly interrogate Princess Patricia, who started the war with the Karsik Empire.”
‘Starting a war, you say. I merely received the Emperor’s order meant for Patrick.’
“Princess Patricia, do you admit to being born a twin with Crown Prince Patrick and hiding your existence, living in seclusion in the west tower for 25 years?”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
“Do you admit to claiming that you received the deployment order with His Majesty the Emperor’s personal signature and seal, which was issued to Crown Prince Patrick, on his behalf?”
“It’s not a claim, but a fact.”
“Do you have the deployment order?”
“No. It was confiscated during a search in Karsik.”
“We’ll revisit that part later. Princess, do you admit to concealing your existence from Tane soldiers and imperial knights by wearing plate armor and a helmet, and impersonating the crown prince?”
“Yes.”
“Do you admit to ignoring the order to resolve the assassination of the delegation returning from the Karsik Empire and instead commanding the war?”
“No, that’s not true. Crown Prince Patrick received the deployment order, and I was told that reinforcements would be sent later.”
“Princess! Answer only yes or no to the questions asked. Did you go to the Karsik Empire instead of the crown prince and command the war as the commander?”
Patricia clenched her fists, digging her nails into her palms.
“Yes, I did.”
“On the tenth day of the war’s outbreak, were you captured as a prisoner by the Karsik Emperor in the Tamil Valley of Mount Victoire?”
“Yes.”
“The day after being captured, did you order the vice commander to retreat via carrier pigeon?”
“Yes. I had an escape plan.”
“This is Princess Patricia’s second major crime. She escaped from the Karsik Emperor’s castle but did not rejoin the retreating army, instead deserting. She crossed the border alone and arrived in the capital by train. Even after entering the palace, she did not report but met with His Highness Patrick and plotted rebellion…”
The captain of the guard transformed and packaged each of Patricia’s actions as treason.
“The greatest crime was conspiring with the crown prince to attempt the assassination of His Majesty the Emperor and the Empress. This note exchanged via carrier pigeon is evidence.”
The captain of the guard showed the carrier pigeon paper to the Emperor, Empress, council chairman, and nobles. The Emperor’s face turned blue with rage.
Finally, the captain of the guard unfolded two carrier pigeon notes in front of Patricia’s eyes.
“Patty, your rose is in full bloom. Come carefully, I’ll wait. I miss you. The spider and red ant?”
“I’ll kill the spider and red ant for you.”
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!!!
