“Let’s get to the point. I called you here to tell you why Riccardo brought you to the ducal palace.”

Am I really going to learn it this easily? I gripped my teacup so tightly that my knuckles turned white.

“The Dermayer Emperor has ordered the execution of the remaining members of the Pennel family.”

“What?”

I almost dropped my teacup, and it clinked sharply.

“And the Saintess’ star has risen again.”

The star of the Saintess, associated with Riccardo’s birth and the companion of Rochester, which had been hidden in darkness, had begun to shine again. It was a very belated appearance, especially since Riccardo had already completed his awakening.

“But what does the Saintess’ star have to do with my family?”

“You may not have been born under the Saintess’ star, but you aided in Rochester’s awakening.”

“…”

“When the Emperor learned of your existence, it broke a prophecy that had never failed before. How this secret leaked, I do not know, but it’s the first time the original prophecy has been shattered.”

Ah, I forgot I was in front of the Duke and Duchess and held my head in my hands. I remembered all I had done to protect him, even the moment I struck his forehead with a wooden sword.

“So you are now the greatest source of instability for the Dermayer Empire.”

Confused, I was given a moment to collect my thoughts.

“The Emperor fears Riccardo. I cannot explain the reason, but more precisely, he fears Riccardo reaching his full potential.”

The Duchess continued while the Duke remained silent. Once married, a Rochester inherits the title, and all the family’s power would become Riccardo’s. What the Emperor feared was that absolute power, capable of completely overturning his own authority.
“I know that Riccardo moved you and your family to where you currently reside. He may not remember, but it was precisely then. It was after he met you again that he awoke.”

“Ah…”

“I believe that you were instrumental in Riccardo’s awakening too. You may not be the Saintess, but you have played a part akin to that of a Rochester’s companion.”

“His awakening… because of me?”

“Yes.”

I clenched my eyes shut tighter, as forgotten fragments of a dream replayed in my ears.

〈Boldly, a witch trying to substitute for the Saintess is a grave sin.〉

So, this has become my reality. I learned to read and write, but that was all. I had forcibly ignored it, but I had ended up becoming the witch who substituted for the Saintess. Does that mean I’m only left to be burnt at the stake?

“Then… where is the Saintess now?”

“She too resides in the Lesothia Duchy. We have yet to meet her.”

From birth, she is under the protection of Rochester and the Hadeima Temple. Only they know of her existence and location, so she is safe. Until the Saintess’ star shone again, she was insignificant to them.

“The Emperor, of course, will also try to harm the Saintess, just like you.”

“…”

“Honestly, for Rochester as well, you are an element of instability. But protecting you is a priority. That’s why you were brought to the ducal palace.”

With the Saintess’ star risen, she who will soon become the most noble woman in this empire is likely to arrive at this mansion soon. Ignoring the heavy pain pressing down on my chest, I held my head high.

“So, if I understand correctly… you brought me here to protect me.”

“Yes.”

“In other words, I can’t save my family.”

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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