Walking down the streets, the sounds of people daring to insult the Emperor reached her ears without any trouble. There had been no such insolent and uncivilized individuals in Caletta. Sane people wouldn’t have left them alone.
‘This is all because the Emperor is not a proper person.’
Eliza thought so. If the Emperor were governing properly, there would be no grievances. Isn’t that so? She covered her face once again and frequented the back-alley bars.
While Aldwin mingled with nobles and diplomats, she always had to keep an eye on the sentiments at the bottom of Chalea.
‘Not a proper person…’
Of course, before lending an ear to what people were saying, Eliza checked herself once again. Don’t waver, just gather information. She was a loyal subject of the Caletta Empire. After reaffirming her firm loyalty and patriotism, Eliza listened.
The workers who usually come here can’t even read newspapers; they listen to read-out articles while cursing or smoking heavily while playing cards. Today, articles about monster subjugation were heard again.
“A young Emperor, huh? Seems like he’s doing a good job?”
“What does it have to do with us? Just let the bread run out, let the money come.”
“You haven’t been to the Gubinwon Hospital area, have you? They do free meals every morning. Kids are full every morning.”
“Huh?”
“They even provide medical check-ups.”
“Ah, so that’s why the cops are all over the place? If I see a blue uniform, I run away.”
The sound of giggling was noisy. The Gubinwon area. She had heard it was a filthy and dangerous place. I’ll have to visit later. Eliza stored various things in her memory and squinted her eyes.
There were no filthy back-alleys in Katat. They were driven out beyond the walls for ruining the aesthetic. But Eliza, who came from those back-alleys, had never experienced a hospital or a food distribution in a back-alley.
‘Is the Emperor desperate enough to win the sentiments of the back-alleys?’
This too was something she had to investigate.
[Star Icon]Security at Glea Palace was always strict. Guarded directly by Imperiale, the place visited frequently by the Emperor was tightly secured.
The entire palace hosting the banquet was no different. The center of that strict security, Rustica Gennes, looked back and forth with a very troubled face.
On one side was an enormously large bouquet sent by her father to celebrate his daughter’s social debut, so large it was hard to pass through the door. On the other was a bouquet presented by her partner and the Emperor, Hayden, who had arrived sooner than she expected.
Hayden, who had intruded just as she was finishing her hair, claimed he originally planned to wait in the reception room.
“A gentleman naturally waits for a lady. However, our Count Plache seems to be quite…”
He looked at the bouquet, no, the mountain of flowers that a grown man couldn’t possibly carry alone.
“He seems to be quite pleased about his daughter’s first ball.”
Ru closed her eyes and turned her head. No matter where she looked, the lavish bouquet screamed, ‘Daughter! Your dad! Your partner isn’t! What a pity!’
Not just her dad, but Hayden too exuded an undeniable presence. From his head to his toes, he looked perfect alone.
The exposed forehead, the distinct features underneath, and the lanky but muscular body wrapped in the Emperor’s dignified yet elegant formal wear were all utterly perfect.
“Thank you, anyway.”
“You’re welcome.”
“Is it that serious, though?”
“What is?”
Playing dumb.
“You’ve come so early, it’s about my security, isn’t it?”
Ru was very quick-witted.
“No, if I prepare beforehand and wait for you, we’d make a perfect couple. Just like right now.”
And Hayden was exceedingly slick.
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
