“Do you have something to ask me?”
As the conversation ended, everyone was leaving the audience chamber when Delina grabbed Estelle.
“Yes, I have something I want to know.”
“Yeah, sure, what is it?”
“Do you happen to know of a drug that can control people’s minds?”
“A drug to control people’s minds? Well, controlling minds… let me think.”
Lost in thought, Estelle furrowed her brows.
“Come to think of it, there is one drug I’ve heard of recently.”
“What is it?”
“The problem is I haven’t personally seen it… Have you heard of Ferocis Grass?”
“No.”
“Yeah, it was discovered just a few years ago. But that grass has a peculiar characteristic. When Ferocis Grass grows, the surrounding insects don’t go elsewhere; they circle around that grass.”
“…Is that so?”
“Because of that feature, many people are interested in researching Ferocis Grass. I’m one of those people. The problem is that it grows for a very short period, and it’s found only in the Lunan Empire. So I’ve only seen it a few times.”
Estelle paused for a moment, seemingly pondering something, before adding.
“But recently, there have been rumors that they succeeded in developing a drug from Ferocis Grass.”
“Then, that drug… wouldn’t it be targeted at insects rather than humans?”
“Yeah, it’s a drug for humans.”
“…”
“People have their unique scents. If you carry the drug, when the drug’s scent mixes with your scent, it releases a fragrance. People who continuously smell that fragrance from someone holding the drug naturally want to stay close to that person.”
‘If it’s that drug, maybe…’
Delina thought of Celine’s necklace. There must be a drug made from Ferocis Grass inside it.
“In that case, the person naturally harbors various emotions or even becomes obsessive. If someone is addicted to the person with the drug, just separating from that person makes them uneasy.”
“…I see.”
“But I’ve only heard about it through rumors; I haven’t seen it in person. It’s such a dangerous and hard-to-make drug. If the drug really exists, the high-ranking officials in the Lunan Empire would probably have tried it.”
Decar.
In the Lunan Empire, known for various drugs and plants, the only one who could get such a drug ahead of others was him. Delina nodded silently.
Delina headed to the Duke’s residence. Before coming out to the palace, she had asked Grace to keep the fact of her recovery a secret. It seemed necessary to keep Celine off guard.
The Duke’s residence, preparing to depart for the border, was enveloped in a tense atmosphere.
“It feels like it hasn’t been long, but it’s been a while.”
It was the first time since the hunting incident. The first time she came to her room. Nothing had changed, yet it felt strangely silent. Delina looked around for a moment before snapping back to reality.
“Now is not the time for this.”
At Belion’s mention of heading to the border, knights were bustling outside the window, organizing in groups. Delina, too, began to move around the room, packing her belongings.
“Alright. I’ve got my gun, dagger, and also…”
Click!
As Delina finished preparing, she double-checked her items. Jewelsy hopped inside through the window.
Click, click!
Seeing Delina after a long time, Jewelsy happily clung to her shoulders.
“Yeah, that’s right. Jewelsy, how have you been?”
Delina petted Jewelsy as if welcoming an old friend. However, she couldn’t continue playing with Jewelsy. Delina picked up Jewelsy, meeting its eyes.
“Jewelsy, listen well.”
Click?
“I want to play with you too, but I have to go somewhere. I need to bring Calix and Gendo, and also the others. Got it? So, just wait quietly here.”
After finishing her words, Delina put Jewelsy down on the desk. Jewelsy, which had been still for a moment, suddenly clung tightly to Delina’s shoulder.
“No, you can’t. I have to leave now, okay?”
Click, click!
“…Are you coming too? Together?”
Click!
Only then did Delina understand Jewelsy’s intention. Jewelsy was clinging to her shoulders with a mischievous look. Delina furrowed her brows for a moment.
“Really going? Even though it’s dangerous?”
Click, click!
It seemed like it was going to follow secretly if Delina didn’t take it. Eventually, Delina nodded.
“Alright, fine. But you have to stick close to me. It’s a pretty dangerous place.”
Click!
“Yeah, let’s both be strong and go. Got it?”
Click, click!
Delina clapped her hands together with Jewelsy, raising her voice with confidence. At that moment, a sound came from the direction of the door.
“Miss, if you’re ready, you can come down to the main gate.”
“Oh, yes! I’ll go right away.”
Only then did Delina hurry out of the room. Outside, Betty was standing. Delina stared at her in astonishment.
“Betty… you…”
“I’ll also be going to the border this time.”
Delina had seen Betty in a maid’s outfit many times, but it was the first time she saw her in armor. Delina quickly remembered Betty’s previous occupation.
“Come to think of it, you used to be in the knights, right?”
“Yes, so I put on armor after a long time.”
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
