Don't Be Kind Rashly (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 11
According to the original plan, Lu was supposed to buy the latest newspapers and read them thoroughly, finish the report she’d started writing last night, and look into the noble who used the surname ‘Jenus’—the one Perseita’s emperor had mentioned so uneasily.
In short, she was busy. Extremely busy. Yet receiving three invitations meant she’d have to put all that aside and waste her time on something even more pointless.
“Just who the hell is crazy enough to send an invitation to an embassy getting pelted with stones?”
Lu flipped through the invitations the mail carrier had delivered that morning, checking the names of those lunatics. One was from the Perseita Imperial Household, sealed with silver ink on a purple envelope.
‘Ah, that unlucky emperor from yesterday. I get it now. He’s completely lost his mind. Absolutely certain.’
Lu didn’t even open the imperial invitation before moving on to the next one.
Another came from a gathering of diplomats stationed in Perseita. Since Kalleta’s ambassador was also a diplomat, they must’ve decided to include her. It was probably just a formal event, but she absolutely couldn’t skip it.
And the last invitation, on a black envelope edged with a thin golden border, surprisingly came from next door. She opened it.
To welcome Ambassador Kalleta’s arrival in Shalea, the Nirva Embassy cordially invites you.
If you are free, please join us for tea at three o’clock the day after tomorrow.
We await your reply. — Ambassador Felice Kaika of Nirva.
The invitation radiated sincerity, care, and polite formality—so genuinely pleasant that Lu scratched her messy hair.
An invitation made with such thoughtfulness deserved an equally courteous reply.
“Should I buy some sweets to go with the tea…?”
Did Martin even know how to buy pastries? For a moment, Lu wondered—then recalled Martin was from the Kalleta Imperial Household and quite knowledgeable about poisons. Ha! She laughed irritably.
This embassy really had no one remotely useful!
Anyway, the ambassador’s schedule—expected to remain completely empty—was unexpectedly filling up neatly. The day after tomorrow, a light tea gathering at the Nirva Embassy; in ten days, the Perseita-based diplomats’ meeting. And finally…
Lu stared uncomfortably at the ornate purple envelope, then reluctantly picked up a letter opener and tore the corner. She pulled out the contents, read them, and reached a conclusion.
“Madman.”
The emperor had invited Rustica Jenus to a tea gathering scheduled for this very afternoon. No matter how she looked at it, he truly was insane.
“Thief! How dare you set your filthy foot here!”
“Get lost!”
Stones that had started flying at the Kalleta Embassy since dawn still lay scattered at the front gate.
At least the officers Perseita’s government sent—whom they called police—had calmed the crowd and sent them away, though they couldn’t possibly stop every stone hurled secretly from afar.
‘Stones are nothing. At night, assassins with blades might even sneak in.’
Though, admittedly, the assassin inside the embassy was probably stronger.
Lu watched the embassy recede as the carriage moved, then pulled the curtain shut.
It’s better to keep your enemies close—that’s why she was heading into the palace again today. Of course, above all else, she couldn’t possibly refuse the Perseita Emperor’s invitation.
Sitting across from her wasn’t Aldwin, but Lady Eliza Barcova. She was today’s escort.
‘Leaving me alone with Martin felt too uneasy… Though, to be fair, Aldwin isn’t exactly someone I can fully trust either.’
Then again, Lu herself wasn’t exactly harmless—bringing a hastily baked cake made by Martin, who was famously skilled in poisons, into the palace.
She couldn’t attend the emperor’s invitation empty-handed, yet she didn’t know what etiquette required, so she’d just told someone to buy a cake for the tea gathering.
If this cake contained poison meant for the Perseita Emperor, Lu’s life would end today.
“Shouldn’t we strengthen your security detail?”
Eliza, whom Lu expected to stay silent, unexpectedly spoke first.
“With the atmosphere this tense, it’s unwise to keep going out.”
“I came prepared. What must be done, must be done.”
Both the people of Perseita and Lu herself had to get used to this.
The Kalleta Imperial Embassy had to establish itself firmly in Perseita. She needed to meet the emperor and initiate even the minor negotiations Perseita showed little interest in. Besides, staying indoors didn’t guarantee safety anyway.
‘My head might roll off any moment today.’
Every day was thrillingly intense. Ha ha. So thrilling I might cry.
The carriage passed through Diplomat’s Street and entered Shalea Imperial Palace directly. After strict inspections, Lu was separated from her escort and guided alone.
Meeting the emperor privately naturally meant enduring tedious, repeated security checks. Naturally, her cake was confiscated, and Lu found herself trudging along as the rude guest who arrived at tea time with nothing.
‘Will I be alright?’
The emperor’s overwhelming presence and the fear it instilled yesterday remained vividly fresh, and today she was once again prepared to die.
‘Ah, what’s the point of worrying now?’
She’d long since lost any reason to keep living.
“This way, please.”
All the servants of Shalea Imperial Palace were exceedingly elegant and gentle—quite different from the servants of Kalleta’s Katat Imperial Palace, who, like Martin, were rigidly disciplined and stiff.
Unless absolutely necessary, they communicated through gestures rather than words, and their smiles remained consistently warm.
That wasn’t to say they lacked discipline. If anything, they expressed themselves far more richly and calmly than those at Katat Palace.
A servant with neatly combed gray hair led Lu into a courtyard draped with greenery. In the center, a small fountain gushed vigorously, its constant splashing filling the air.
Since she was guided straight in without waiting for yesterday’s “you may enter” permission, it meant the emperor had prepared a private spot just for her.
“Ah, you’ve arrived. Please sit here.”
“Good day, Your Majesty.”
The moment she heard his voice, Lu immediately bowed her head. Before crossing the barrier into Perseita, during her crash-course training in the Kalleta Empire, her instructor had emphasized, “Never bow your head carelessly.”
It was nonsense about how proud citizens of the great Kalleta Empire must hold their heads high wherever they went.
‘Let him try that here. His head would roll off the moment he held it up so proudly.’
When your head’s about to roll, holding it high only shortens your lifespan. She had no reason to live—but that didn’t mean she wanted to die young!
“Ambassador Jenus?”
Lu raised her head. Only then did she properly see the emperor.
He wore a light white shirt, sleeves rolled up to his forearms, paired with gray trousers. With his hair neatly swept back to reveal a clean, cool forehead, he looked refreshingly crisp.
“This way.”
Ah. Lu belatedly realized the emperor had been gesturing to the seat all along.
“Thank you.”
When she’d lost her ability to use magic and even her swordsmanship had deteriorated, it was precisely this kind of awareness that had crumbled alongside them.
The sharp instincts honed through real combat, the survival instincts that kept her alive—all had vanished, leaving her painfully dull.
That’s why she’d grown overly sensitive, but deadened senses never returned. A proper knight would’ve naturally seated herself where the emperor indicated while greeting him, never committing the rudeness of making him hold his hand up.
The void left by her lost abilities constantly made her feel a little more pathetic.
“How is the embassy after one night? I hope it wasn’t uncomfortable.”
Repeating yesterday’s question, the emperor smiled as refreshingly as his attire. Regardless of her own sinking, bitter mood, he truly shone—stunningly handsome. His face was flawless. His body, too.
“Thanks to Your Majesty’s consideration, I’m quite comfortable.”
“If any inconveniences arise in the future, please let me know anytime. A landlord must ensure the tenant’s comfort.”
“Ah, yes. Thank you.”
She understood perfectly—he was reminding her not to forget she was merely a tenant.
“Do you like tea?”
He asked, watching Lu, who never took words at face value.
‘No. I barely taste anything but hot water with fragrance, so I don’t really like it.’
Lu answered while observing the clean white teapot with smooth curves the emperor picked up.
“I eat anything well.”
“That means you dislike it. Here, it’s better to clearly say you prefer coffee over tea, or that you enjoy teas flavored with fruit or flowers.”
With a slightly tired expression, he poured tea into a white cup edged with gold.
“Most people in high society love gossip—say one thing, and ten rumors spread.”
Rich, deep tea aroma filled the air. Today, the Perseita Emperor looked utterly at leisure. He was so relaxed that he’d unbuttoned his neatly worn shirt down to fully expose his collarbones.
Thus, when he leaned slightly to pour tea, his firm pectoral muscles were clearly visible beneath. Lu naturally averted her eyes from the well-developed muscles tightly wrapped in that thin shirt.
“People are also very interested in the Kalleta ambassador.”
“Yes. Just judging by the amount of stones thrown this morning, I can tell. Ah, of course, I’m certainly not complaining to Your Majesty.”
But she was complaining.
“I carefully selected even a single windowpane—what a pity.”
The emperor spoke casually, his expression showing no regret at all, as he filled his own cup and set the teapot down.
If Hayden truly felt regret, it was solely because Lu had suffered such treatment.
What did his personally chosen window decorations, the embassy’s interior design, or the meticulous finishing details matter? As long as Lu was comfortable and happy, that was enough.
Though, of course, the person he cherished and poured such attention into probably thought nothing of it.
She felt the atmosphere was tense. No—Lu alone was on guard, while the emperor remained utterly unfazed. Indeed, every encounter between Kalleta and Perseita was inevitably a battle of wills.
‘The Perseita Emperor is trying to crush the Kalleta ambassador from the start. I’ll have to yield here, but I mustn’t let myself be utterly obliterated.’
Composing herself, Lu spoke.
“I’m also regretful. So whatever I do, rumors will surely turn unfavorable—I won’t worry about it.”
“That sounds less like not worrying and more like not expecting anything at all.”
Lu, who’d suffered from gossip and public scrutiny before, replied without smiling.
“Naturally, I have no expectations of people who love talking about others.”
“I have no such expectations either. But rumors can kill. And here, Ambassador, you have nowhere to run.”
She stared quietly at the heavy teapot. It’d be nice to smash that idiot’s head with it.
“Your Majesty. I truly appreciate your advice.”
“You don’t seem grateful at all.”
“Why did you summon me?”
The emperor, who’d been lightly prodding her sore spots, grinned. He propped his rolled-up sleeve on the table and clasped his hands. Sharp gray eyes rested atop long, clean fingertips.
“Does the ambassador not know that a private audience with the emperor is a tremendous honor?”
A terrifying being. Someone beyond human was questioning her. Those gray eyes might pierce right through her. Honestly, he was overwhelmingly scarier than any monster she’d faced at the barrier.
Though he held all his power in check, Lu, remembering her fear, hid her trembling hands in her sleeves and desperately forced words out.
“I know well, Your Majesty. But since your time is precious, every private audience must have a purpose, doesn’t it?”
“Not necessarily.”
When those gray eyes smiled faintly, Lu reflexively glanced at the teapot.
Might as well strike and end it. I’ll change my life goal to attempted regicide. Assassination’s impossible, but I can at least try. The weapon? A teapot half-filled with hot tea. Unique and perfect!
“Isn’t it just about fostering camaraderie and socializing?”
I don’t want to do that with you. Lu muttered inwardly.
“Oh? You don’t want to be friendly with me, Ambassador?”
Does this guy read minds too? She quickly smiled.
“Of course it’s an honor, Your Majesty.”
“Your smile lacks sincerity. No one would believe it’s genuine.”
That bastard. At this point, she couldn’t stop her hand from instinctively creeping toward the teapot.
“The teapot belongs to the host at a tea gathering, Ambassador.”
The emperor said this while sipping tea with utmost elegance.
“Your cup isn’t even empty yet.”
Damn it. Lu redirected her hand from the teapot to the tongs on the lemon plate beside it. Plop— a lemon slice dropped into her cup.
“I don’t particularly enjoy tea gatherings either. Too much talk, too tiring. Tea is merely a flavored beverage to enjoy, yet people burden it with endless pointless formalities—arguing about the order of things, the number and types of desserts that must accompany it.”
When will this end? When will the emperor stop tormenting her like this?
Still, she hadn’t expected this man could speak like this. Gone was the freshness and innocence from their chance meeting in the countryside.
To fabricate everything so skillfully—even that was impressive enough to draw admiration. Lu mechanically lifted her cup and drank.
“But it seems you don’t particularly enjoy tea gatherings either, Ambassador.”
“No, that’s not true.”
The mechanical reply came instantly. She took another sip—glug.
“Or perhaps you dislike the location?”
Kraaaaaah!
The huge roar violently shook the tea in her cup. Startled, Lu looked around at the suddenly transformed surroundings.
The warm, cozy air had instantly turned dry and barren—they now sat not in the palace garden, but in some desolate wasteland.
The elaborately set tea table remained unchanged, and the emperor sipped tea elegantly. His swept-back hair fluttered slightly in the wind.
Kyaaaaah!
And at the far end of the wasteland, letting out an enormous roar, stood a gigantic monster.
“This is what Kalleta calls the ‘original demon.’ We call it a monster.”
The monster’s gray skin looked incredibly tough, its body as massive as the barrier itself—far larger than any demon—and its forepaws bristled with long, sharp claws.
It seemed not even a sword strike would leave a scratch.
The Perseita Emperor set down his cup and looked straight at Lu, who was stunned by the overwhelming presence.
The monster stomped toward them—thud, thud—shaking the ground, clearly targeting them.
Though it was unmistakably aiming for her and the emperor, the emperor paid it no mind, his gray eyes still fixed solely on Lu.
‘This damn madman…!’
The monster, brimming with immense hostility and murderous intent, finally raised its forepaw for the killing strike.
Male lead first thought she played hard to get, only to realize she
really disliked him
Short intro:
What she can’t stand the most is the streets full of effeminate men, especially that so-called top beauty whom she avoids at all costs.
Shen Yaoxing looks at Jiang Mingyue, who keeps approaching her with coy shyness.
Shen Yaoxing: Bro, don’t be like this, I’m really about to throw up!
She fears nothing in heaven or earth, except for him getting close to her.
*
At first he thought she was just using the trick of feigning indifference to attract his attention. Later, he learned that she truly despised him.
This dealt a heavy blow to Jiang Mingyue, and he vowed to make her, like everyone else, fall at his feet in worship!
***
Synopsis:
Before transmigrating, Shen Yaoxing only wanted to find a reliable man to spend her life with. Who knew that after transmigrating, she would become a reliable woman herself…
A forced misandrist, highly skilled, and reliable female lead
vs.
An initially aloof and arrogant, later morbid, obsessed male lead
_____
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I’m not sure where Lu gets the patience to deal with Hayden. He’s like a bulldozer. He seems convinced he’s helping her yet he doesn’t consider her opinions throughout it all.