Opheleia nodded calmly. She seemed to have already reached the stage of maturity, handling everything with indifference.
“I have harsh thoughts every day. There are many thoughts I can’t say out loud.”
“I think it would be most fatal if the belief that guy trusts in were to be completely shattered. That’s why I want to see that sight at least once.”
Speaking gently, Opheleia wiped Loo’s forehead.
The name Carlos Arthur Ingram, who had already risen to fame in Matap before it became known that he was the successor of the Sage, is a genius who was outstanding from the beginning. People like him never listen to others because everyone else is beneath them.
Recalling the time when she had heard the word “genius,” Loo also reflected on herself. If she hadn’t lost all her strength, her throat would have stiffened unknowingly.
“You need to experience failure, frustration, and realize that you can be wrong in order to progress, but Carlos never had that opportunity.”
Ophelia, behind the thick curtains in the Emperor’s bedroom, looked out the window.
“For those who have only experienced success, there are too many traps.”
It was something that only those who had suffered bitter and harsh failures could say.
“It seems Your Majesty is coming.”
Hayden was extremely busy today. After spending the past few days idling in the bedroom, he was now strolling through the entire Perseuta. Ophelia looked away from the window and gazed at the space in front of the bed.
“Your Majesty.”
Stepping forward, the Emperor, who appeared, immediately expressed gratitude to the Western Sage.
“Ophelia, thank you.”
“You’re welcome, Your Majesty.”
Receiving gratitude from the Emperor was very rare.
“It’s minor compared to what you’ve done.”
Speaking humbly, Ophelia released Loo’s hand and stepped back from beside the bed. Hayden quickly approached and, holding Loo’s limp hand, thanked her in his place.
“Loo, how are you? Are you okay?”
Loo smiled with a pale face.
“You treat me like a dying patient, Your Majesty.”
She smiled bravely, but those who saw her couldn’t laugh. Carlos had captured Loo as the most powerful weapon and spy, and now she was in a situation where she couldn’t escape.
War had broken out, but the reason Loo hadn’t been used as a weapon so far was that she was in care with a full-body fracture. However, there were infinite ways to use her. Carlos could have immediately taken Loo as a hostage for Hayden.
Indeed, Hayden faced all these risk factors knowingly when he embraced this war. Carlos was never an easy opponent. The act of gaining power over 430 years while living off others was not something anyone could do.
“Where does it hurt?”
With a dry hand, Hayden pressed hot lips. He kissed her fervently, matching each spot on the back of her hand and the joints of her fingers one by one.
“I’m fine.”
She smiled. Although her nature made her want to grab a sword and rush out immediately, Loo, who was well aware that staying here in pain was helping, was not doing nothing. Moreover, she wasn’t just anyone.
“I told you not to overexert yourself.”
Hayden murmured, looking at the handkerchief lifted in Ophelia’s hand.
“It’s not overexertion.”
Even lying down, even with two broken ribs and a broken spine, there are things one can do. Loo diligently worked on easing the curse placed on Ophelia today as well. Her proud smile froze at that moment.
“Loo?”
She couldn’t breathe. The curse around her neck began to tighten. Hayden, grinding his teeth, reached out his hand, recalling the words his mentor had taught him a long time ago.
“People can’t always be happy, Master Kong.”
Sophia Claris, the former Northern Sage who was educating the successor, said firmly.
“Neither I, nor Master Kong, nor His Majesty the Great Emperor are happy every day. You can’t always be good.”
Hayden Constantin Rostana Vellera, who would live a life far from the imperial power, without much expectation or desire, heard those words indifferently.
Although he was the Emperor’s grandson because his grandfather was the Emperor, he knew very well that he was not a direct descendant and was quite distant from the imperial power.
Children born as direct descendants are clearly distinguished in their education. That was different even for the son of the crown prince. The eldest son is the eldest son. The rest are simply those who cannot become emperor.
“Yes.”
Hayden replied very politely.
“It seems Master Kong is not very interested in his own happiness.”
“I am already happy enough.”
Sophia Claris looked at the young boy with a knowing look. He knew his limits at a young age, didn’t already have big ambitions, or didn’t want much. No, he didn’t originally want much.
“You can’t stay the same for the rest of your life, Master Kong. Someday you will recall this moment.”
Did she see the future? Or did she read some stubborn and tenacious quality dormant in the boy?
“Don’t try to force happiness. Sometimes it’s okay to be unhappy.”
Now, thinking back, the words of the former Northern Sage were, literally, the words of a sage. Sophia Claris saw it accurately. Hayden was now trying to forcefully hold onto happiness.
However, what he was trying to grasp was not his happiness but the happiness of Rustica Genesis.
Is it okay to be unhappy sometimes? Where is such a saying? She had already been unhappy enough.
Separated from her parents at the age of fourteen, at the age of twenty-one, she lost everything she had built up with her own strength. In those good days, she wandered alone, waiting for the day she would die. Hayden didn’t understand why such a woman had to be unhappy again.
Loo shouldn’t hurt anymore.
“Ugh, ah…!”
Loo made a gasping sound. Hayden’s forcibly immobilized body swayed. Hayden and Ophelia rushed in immediately. The three forces, those trying to block, those trying to infiltrate, clashed strongly.
The curse wrapped around Loo’s neck made an annoying sound, mocking them. While Loo scratched the curse until blood appeared on her neck, she pushed Hayden away with her other hand.
Don’t.
Hayden’s face twisted in pain. Again?
Don’t. I’m okay.
Loo’s signal was very clear. Ophelia also understood it well.
‘If you’re going to use me as a hostage, don’t kill her.’
That’s right. This was just a demonstration for Carlos. It was retaliation for twisting the path Hayden took to enter Perseta. Philosophers always dreaded this moment. But Loo won’t die. She’ll just suffer enough to die.
So, Hayden ignored Loo’s signal at once and used his hand. He forcefully pushed Carlos’s power, which had already annoyed him, to him. After all, he is a guy who cares more about his own safety than Loo’s. In the end, he will choose the power he can swallow, not Loo’s. Or not?
“Your Majesty!”
Loo’s groaning lasted only a moment.
In comparison, Hayden’s choice was very calm, fast, and overwhelming. Even Ophelia was surprised at the powerful force that indiscriminately flowed into the curse choking Loo’s neck. The expression of the Emperor, facing the sparkling emerald color, was tinged with madness.
“…This bastard?”
Muttering with a grinding sound as he gritted his teeth, the words passed like a whisper, but Ophelia’s sensitive ears clearly heard them.
Carlos refused to take Hayden’s power. And instead, he tormented Loo even more. Hayden grabbed Loo’s wrist. The flesh on her neck that she had already scratched turned crimson.
“…Kuh, cough, already…”
Even though Ophelia exerted her strength, a voice of pain came from Loo’s mouth, and suddenly, the voice was not hers but someone else’s.
“This woman is already mine.”
At Carlos’s clear voice, Ophelia staggered in surprise. A long-standing nightmare attacked her again.
Male lead Asks for a Divorce Every Day
It’s not often you come across a plot like this in the female-dominant genre — make sure to check it out!
This is a novel I’m planning to reread as well.
The male lead is strong, skilled in martial arts, and not the usual fragile type you often see in matriarchal novels.
Meanwhile, the female lead is a scientist—rational and logical. Even when she falls for the male lead, she doesn’t let her emotions cloud her decisions.
If you push through the first few chapters, you’ll gradually find the story really intriguing.
It has a mix of mystery, detective elements, and romance.
The author’s writing style is like crafting a puzzle—except they deliberately leave out a few pieces, making it hard to predict what happens next, yet keeping you hooked.
In the end, everything will come together and be explained.
One-sentence summary: Wife, stop playing with beakers and look at me!
In a laboratory accident, research scientist Zhu Wansheng accidentally travels to a matriarchal world. The original owner of the body is an eighteen-year-old only daughter of a wealthy rouge merchant, already married with a handsome young man.
Zhu Wansheng grins: Nice! She always said she was heaven’s favorite granddaughter. After a life of toil in her previous life, she can enjoy blessings in this one.
However, her joy lasts no more than three seconds as bad news arrives: the original owner’s family is about to go bankrupt, and her husband wants a divorce.
Even worse, she’s stuck with a research system full of restrictions.
Zhu Wansheng: ? Is this the destiny of a research dog?
——
Faced with this mess, Zhu Wansheng pours herself a bowl of wine to drown her sorrows. In her drunken haze, her husband arrives.
His figure is imposing, holding a long sword, with a dignified air that captivates Zhu Wansheng.
Gu Yingqing, however, looks at the alcohol-reeking Zhu Wansheng with undisguised disgust and coldly asks, “Divorce or not?” The intoxicated Zhu Wansheng mumbles vaguely, “I think… it’s not… it’s not… impossible!”
——
The next day, after sobering up, Zhu Wansheng is full of energy, rolling up her sleeves ready to make a big move. As for yesterday? She has no memory of it.
Zhu Wansheng is ambitious; a research dog fears nothing!
Upgrading rouge, extracting fragrances, producing perfumes, researching lipsticks… all shall bow to the power of modern technology!
The original owner’s dying rouge shop is revitalized. Her mother is pleased and with a wave of her hand, passes on the family business to her. As she takes control and her experimental results gain popularity, it’s the pinnacle of her life…
——
But there are always those who can’t stand to see her doing well. Jealousy, scheming, assassination attempts – they want nothing less than her life.
The person who has always kept his distance from her suddenly holds her tightly in his arms, eyes full of concern.
She is unharmed, but he falls into a pool of blood…
Zhu Wansheng feels guilty, “I can grant you one wish.”
Gu Yingqing tentatively circles his arms around her, carefully resting his head in the crook of her neck, pleading softly, “I regret it. Can we not divorce?”
Zhu Wansheng: ? When did I agree to a divorce?
[Small Theater]
The newly developed rouge is beautifully packaged, and Zhu Wansheng is eager to try it.
Gu Yingqing suddenly appears: “My lady, may I apply it for you?”
Cool fingertips lightly brush her lips. His Adam’s apple bobs as he leans in for a light bite.
Zhu Wansheng: ?
Gu Yingqing: It smells so good, I wanted to taste it…
On a warm spring day, Zhu Wansheng tries a new perfume: “Spring Night.” Gu Yingqing corners her against a wall.
Warm breath lingers on her neck.
“My lady, from now on, may I test the fragrances for you?”
[Humorous female scientist vs scheming live-in son-in-law male lead]
[Touch the gear icon in the bottom right corner of the screen to move to the next chapter if you want.]
