By the way, that a court minister was such a young person made her curious about what kind of place the Perseta Empire was. Usually, having such a young person in that position, responsible for court affairs and acting as the Emperor’s right hand, was very rare.
Squeak!
Riga looked at a white hawk crying in the clear sky. Suddenly, she remembered the lord who ruled a nameless territory in the westernmost of Momentum, raising a black hawk in a chicken coop.
It seemed like that magnificent white hawk had cried back then too.
Lost in thought, Riga suddenly realized that the carriage had entered Shalea. The carriage slowed down a bit, but was still moving at a significant speed. Knights in white uniforms escorted on both sides, and people on the streets were watching.
‘Ah.’
Their expressions were cold. She hadn’t expected a welcome, but the realization hit her once again as it was as expected.
Riga was now in the midst of the enemy. Just as she had been a monster in the Kaleta Empire, feeling disillusioned by the continuous war, here in Perseta, most people would likely be hostile towards Kaleta if it came to war.
“That is the imperial palace.”
The carriage quickly entered the imperial palace. The doors were so grand in scale that it was impossible to gauge their size.
It was overwhelming. Truly overwhelming. The spectacle of those enormous doors, which would be hard to open even with four strong men, opening in succession was magnificent. The place that could intimidate a visitor just by entering was none other than the Shalea imperial palace.
The carriage finally stopped, and Riga stepped down onto the white marble.
“This way.”
Duke Simon Kainberg skillfully guided her.
They ascended numerous stairs and entered a building guarded by neatly arranged knights.
The sound of footsteps echoed through the vast building, symbolizing the dignity and authority of the place where the emperor resided. Riga, who was somewhat accustomed to such grandeur from his early days wandering through the Catat Palace, was slightly surprised.
Bright light filled the interior, where blue plants were everywhere. As he passed the red carpet and reached the space with golden banners, Simon Kainberg, a knight, spoke to a neat woman who had been waiting there.
“Tell His Majesty that the envoy from Kaleta has arrived.”
A secretary? A servant? Or perhaps a knight? Most likely she was both a knight and a secretary. She quietly nodded her head, then opened the door and went in. It wasn’t long before she came out again and opened the door wide.
“Please come in.”
For a massive door that reached the ceiling, she handled it effortlessly, even though she was opening it alone.
As Riga and Simon Kainberg entered, the door closed silently behind them. Perhaps they would be dragged out and beheaded right here. As he tensed, his hands became cold and sweat filled his palms.
The piercing gazes that bore into her were five pairs, no, seven pairs. There were seven people sitting in chairs around a round table. And the elegant white chair in the center was empty.
Swoosh, a breeze came from the open balcony behind the white chair. Blue sky, green leaves, and sunlight poured straight in.
And there, a striking man who had been standing with his back turned, looked around.
“Ah.”
With the sunlight behind him, the man was entirely black. With his abundant black hair and black clothes, it was clear to anyone that he was the owner of the empty white chair. Riga bit his lip to keep from screaming.
“Duke Gennes. His Majesty the Emperor of the Perseus Empire.”
Simon Kainberg whispered beside her. She immediately bowed her head. Rather, bowing her head provided an opportunity to hide her face.
“You have finally come.”
Squawk! An excited white hawk flew through the balcony and perched on the man’s broad shoulder.
The beating of her heart, once fast, suddenly made no sound at all. Along with the heart, the once hot blood suddenly cooled down.
“The envoy from Kaleta…?”
The Emperor of the Perseus Empire looked at her.
“Rustica Gennes.”
She answered stiffly.
“…Duke Rustica Gennes.”
His grey eyes sparkled. His soft, low voice savored her name as if hearing it for the first time.
The moment he focused on her, the presence of everyone else in the room disappeared.
Always praised for his perfect appearance and his intimidating stature, as well as the atmosphere and eyes that dominated everything around him, he paid attention only to Rustica Gennes.
It felt like his gaze was tightly binding her from the ankle to the top of her head. Rustica couldn’t even breathe properly.
The man who had disappeared in the western end of the Momentum forest just a day ago had kept his last promise.
See you soon.
“I hope your journey to the Perseus Empire was enjoyable. Welcome.”
The Emperor of the Perseus Empire, no, ‘Hayden,’ said.
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!!!
