“Seems like you’re making good use of my power.”
Ophelia spoke somberly as she observed the curse on Lu.
“So the power of the Matop still lives on.”
Hayden mumbled as he sipped his tea. However, Ophelia only chuckled, seemingly unbothered.
Lu stared in shock, alternating her gaze between the curses on herself and Ophelia.
The curse entwining Lu was a delicate thread of knots that bound her body meticulously, joint by joint. In contrast, Ophelia looked as if she was tightly ensnared by a snake-like force much larger than a human being.
It spiraled around her three times from shoulder to knee, rendering her immobile.
Had she glimpsed too quickly? When Lu’s eyes met Ophelia’s, she quickly looked away.
“Not that it’s my place to say, but it looks rather horrifying,”
The comment was directed at Lu.
“There’s no need to compare who’s worse. It’s merely varying degrees of grotesque.”
But I can’t help comparing. Lu avoided looking in the mirror whenever the curse showed itself, knowing it would certainly run from her head to her ankles, sparing only her eyes, in a series of unsightly knots.
In contrast, Ophelia seemed free from the neck up and below the calf.
It made her envious, to the point of self-contempt. Now it was challenging enough to get used to her light feet and bright view alone, let alone the rest of her bound body, which felt unbearably heavy and stifling.
“…Yes. It’s revolting.”
I want to tear it apart.
I want to rip it all off.
Burn it all off, cleanly.
“I don’t even want to look at it.”
“You’ll get used to it.”
Understanding Lu’s sentiments very well, Ophelia mumbled and then stared squarely at Hayden.
“You didn’t arrange this meeting for us victims to empathize with each other, so what is it, Your Majesty?”
Despite her dreadful condition, she retained her dignity. Unlike Lu, who had fled, unable to do anything. But then again, Ophelia was a sage; she would be different from ordinary humans.
“Why did you bring this young lady here?”
Terrifying. The faint intimidation she felt was akin to what she’d sensed from Hayden. He must be restraining his energy to that extent out of consideration for Lu. These were frightening beings.
“Didn’t I tell you? She is the heir to Count Plache, and she will be the future Count Plache.”
“That remains to be seen. No one knows what a freshly bloomed Plache will become, just like what happened to me.”
Lu felt an urge to leave the room upon hearing those sarcastic words. But Hayden laughed instead.
“I have ascended to the throne, Western Sage. I am the change.”
The young emperor who had filled the long-empty throne was confident.
“I’m not saying to immediately rise from your seat and go outside, or to replenish the empty library. But when spring comes, there is a great cleaning. Before the arrival of summer, preparations are made for rain; come autumn, leaves are swept away. Winter preparations cannot be neglected either.”
His gaze turned to Lu. The eyes, whether full of arrogance, confidence, or hubris, softened a bit.
“Especially since winter is so harsh.”
“Unless you’re explaining seasonal preparations, what’s your point, Your Majesty?”
“The point is, whether you wish it or not, everything has already begun to change, Sage.”
The emperor had returned, and the barrier had opened. Between the stagnant Perseta and Caleta, changes occurred that no one could ignore.
“Now even the seat of the sage will be filled.”
Ophelia listened quietly and then turned her gaze away, smiling faintly.
“I wish someone could fill my seat as well.”
“Ah, don’t say things you don’t mean.”
She looked at Hayden, who was sipping tea with mischievous blue eyes.
“I am tired, Your Majesty. I have been tired for a very long time. I am powerless, something this young lady sitting here would know well. How did you manage, young lady?”
“I ran away.”
“I envy you.”
Ophelia said sincerely, but Lou knew there was nothing to envy.
“Running away changes nothing. I simply wait for death in silence. There’s little I can do.”
When the word “death” was mentioned, Hayden’s eyes turned back to Lou, but she seemed oblivious to it.
“So, are you also waiting for death, Your Highness?”
Ophelia, holding her teacup, squinted her blue eyes and asked.
‘Also.’ Lou knew Ophelia was also waiting for death. Those who had endured the same experiences and losses could easily tell the other’s suffering with just one look.
“I would, if there was nothing else to do. But not anymore. If there’s a possibility, I’ll cling to it.”
The sage from the West, who had been quietly listening, lowered his gaze again.
“The possibility lies in your feet and eyes, Your Highness. But breaking the curse may take too much time.”
It’s possible. It might take a lifetime to break.
“I don’t hope for that.”
Then what do you hope for? Ophelia read a hard-to-conceal rage in Lou’s eyes, a rage directed at Carlos.
“As long as I have hands to wield a sword, that’s enough to cut a man’s throat.”
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
