Immediately after Scylla vanished, the Imperial Princess’s army, which had surrounded the outer fortress, advanced on the imperial city in one swift move.They sealed off all the gates of the imperial palace and eradicated the remnants of Scylla’s forces left within the city.The Imperial Princess captured everyone who had worked under Scylla, discerning whether their actions stemmed from free will or were induced by hallucination or brainwashing.And she meted out punishments befitting each crime.
People gradually broke free from the hallucinatory spells cast by Scylla and the wicked flower.Most of those with severe symptoms struggled to regain their senses quickly, but those lightly affected recovered within half a day.The Imperial Princess dispatched knights to gather the remaining roots of the wicked flower, brewed them into tea, and distributed it among the people.Those who awoke all said it felt like waking from a long, hazy dream.
The Emperor, having been exposed to Scylla’s poison for a prolonged period, could not be saved even by the roots.The Imperial Princess declared that, with the Emperor having lost his ability to govern and the Crown Prince dead, she would ascend the throne as the first in line.The coronation was held the very next day, conducted with utmost simplicity.
Everything in Esperanda was restored slowly.Missing people returned to their families, and the nobles who had collaborated had their entire fortunes confiscated.The Marquis Blake family was stripped of their noble titles.However, considering that the family’s young lady had been terminally ill and had gone missing before the incident, their estate was allowed to remain.Of course, most of it had already been squandered by debts.
Stories about the young Duke Montrosa and his wife began to circulate like legends.In particular, the deeds of the young Duchess were achievements that seemed nearly impossible for a frail woman’s body.Pessimists believed the tale that “the young Duchess foresaw the rebellion and saved Her Majesty, the Imperial Princess, now Emperor.”Those filled with dreams and hope believed the legendary tales instead.Stories of gods, sea witches, and the vile, foolish Scylla…
And it didn’t take long for all of it to be regarded as legend or absurd tales.Now, only one person remained anchored to that era.
“Did you hear the rumor?”
As one of the sailors pulling up a rope spoke, someone responded.
“What rumor?”
“That residence near the cliff. The one abandoned for a while after the former mayor left.”
“That place? The one a bunch of outsiders swarmed to a few days ago, cleaning and replacing furniture?”
“Yeah, that one. They say the new mayor appointed is our Duke!”
“Hey, watch it, man. Talk sense. Why would someone like him, lacking for nothing, come to a backwater like this?”
The one who started the conversation waved his hands as if pleading innocence.
“I wouldn’t have believed it myself if I’d only heard it. But I saw it with my own two eyes!”
“Saw what?”
“Last night, I saw Duke Montrosa entering the residence! His looks are kinda famous, you know?”
At that, a stir rippled through the group.
“Sounds legit?”
“I heard they hired a few villagers to help as servants. Looks like the new mayor’s appointment is real.”
“So, you mean the one from those rumors… right?”
“What, you believe those childish stories? The capital’s always buzzing with nonsense.”
“Well, it’s true that the former Duke retired due to a leg injury, and he took the dukedom at a young age. He’s got plenty of merits too.”
“What’re you all talking about?”
A village woman arrived with a basket of lunch, and the men mending sails gathered eagerly.Sipping rum mixed with water and lemon, they poured out their questions.In a small town like this, rumors spread fast, and since everyone knew even the number of forks in each other’s homes, verifying truth was quick too.
“Hey, about the mayor’s residence.”
“The mansion? What about it?”
“They say the young Duke Montrosa is moving in?”
“Yeah, I haven’t seen it myself, but the village chief said so.”
“Exactly! What I’m wondering is why someone so important would come all the way here.Leaving all those pretty, refined ladies in the capital. What’s there to see in this backwater?”
“What did he say…?”
The woman in a headscarf frowned, trying to recall something. Then, as if it suddenly came to her, she added,
“He said there’s someone he’s waiting for.”
While the villagers buzzed with talk about who would stay at the mayor’s residence, the mansion remained steadfastly quiet.Its location on a remote cliff, where voices barely carried, was part of it, but fundamentally, few people came or went.Aside from the butler who had followed from the Montrosa estate, there wasn’t even a single live-in servant, as nobles typically kept.
In truth, this wasn’t due to the Duke’s eccentricity but because the residence was absurdly small for housing staff.A modest parlor and bedroom, creaky stairs, and an exterior too plain to call quaint.Aside from the terrace facing the cliff, the sea view it offered, and a small garden at the back, it was hardly fit for a mayor’s residence.Yet the man himself seemed to have no complaints.
When he spoke of retirement, the woman, now Emperor, wore an expression of both understanding and wanting to hurl a paperweight.To think he’d rest for life while she was swamped with work.In the end, she declared there was no statement more irresponsible and stamped it as a leave of absence, not retirement.To a third party, it might seem like a life of idling away time.
People asked why, among all the Montrosa estates, he chose this place, but to him, it was obvious.It was where the tomb of the Red Dawn stood, where Toulon’s statue was, where his first night with Ro was etched, and where he could gaze at the sea.Above all, this place, with its splendid grassy cliffs by the coast, was the spot Cardier—now Duke Montrosa—loved most in this city.
He especially loved the view from this cliff at sunset.When the sun hung halfway over the deep blue sea, the red sky, like dawn, drew a vivid line.Something he could chase his whole life and never fully grasp.Everything he loved, and would love, was there.Enjoying the late twilight, he stretched his arms behind him.Closing his eyes and tilting his head back, the salty breeze tickled his cheeks.
Languid sunlight settled on his face with a lukewarm warmth.A fading, slanting light.From his lips, across the bridge of his nose, to his forehead…Sunsets in this coastal village always passed quickly.Fireworks burst and lanterns floated into the darkening sky.Today, lively noises rose from the village square below the cliff.A festival for Pontos, they’d said.He rose casually from his seat.And the moment he turned around…
“Gotten handsomer since I last saw you?”
He raised a weary hand to rub his eyes.Sometimes, hallucinations struck this vividly.Usually, they took the form of the “Red Dawn,” but for some reason, today it chose Lea’s form.Either way, Cardier knew how to handle it.He’d endured it relentlessly for five years.He ignored the hallucination and walked past.
“Hey! I gave up a divine title for you and came here!”
As he grabbed the mansion’s doorknob, a woman’s voice shrieked behind him.She stomped with such ferocity, unbelievable for her small frame.Startled, half-disbelieving, he called her name.Even so, he didn’t forget to pinch his cheek, hoping to wake from a dream.Hallucination or dream, the aftermath could linger for a month.
“…Ro?”
But this time. This time was different.At his call, the woman rushed to him.Like a small wave crashing, she clung to his neck.It was warm.When he reached out, it wasn’t air but something solid.His hand was held.Lowering his head, Ro lightly kissed his lips.The brushing of lips soon deepened.Barely pulling away, Ro panted and said,
“I wanted to come sooner, but that damned Calypso held me back, saying I wasn’t fully healed yet.God, I missed you so much I thought I’d die.”
“You… missed me?”
“Of course.”
“You love me?”
“Yes, Cardier.”
Under the scattered starflowers, his goddess smiled.
“I’ll love you forever, always.”
To you, who I don’t love all that much
-The End-
Top Celebrity Younger Brother Bears Her Child (Female-dominant)
One-line summary: Forced to live stream romance with a top celebrity in a female-dominant world.
Yan Jin transmigrated into a brothel, with a fellow transmigrated junior beside her.
Hearing the obscene words coming from outside, the unfortunate junior covered his ears tightly, his cheeks flushed red, and whispered to comfort her, “Don’t worry, I will definitely help you escape.”
“Don’t worry, I will definitely defend your chastity.” Yan Jin looked at the flawless and delicate features of the unfortunate junior and gently comforted, “Because we have transmigrated into a female-dominant world.”
※※※
Top celebrity Yu Shu suddenly fell into a coma during a concert.
Research scientist Yan Jin fainted in the lab after working overtime.
Two people with no connection were rushed to the same hospital.
Three days later, neither of them had woken up.
Suddenly, the entire nation discovered that a live streaming app had been forcibly installed on their phones.
Upon opening it, they heard the two discussing how to escape from the brothel.
The entire internet was in an uproar.
After the two successfully escaped from the brothel, Yu Shu’s fan group rushed to make a banner and sent it to the hospital overnight.
“Big sister bravely took action to defend the chastity of our idol!”
※※※
When Yu Shu was diagnosed with pregnancy, Yan Jin stared at his belly for a long time.
Covering his stomach, he muttered gloomily, “If you don’t like it, I’ll go get an abortion.”
“It’s not that I don’t like it.” Yan Jin hugged Yu Shu and said softly, “I just feel like I’m not human.”
Yu Shu comforted Yan Jin, “I was already an adult when we got together.”
Yan Jin hesitated, “But you won’t be of legal marriageable age even after giving birth to the child.”
At the same time, a flood of bullet comments appeared in the live streaming room that the two couldn’t see.
[Although it’s inappropriate, I also want a young and handsome boyfriend to have my child.]
①Male pregnancy (highlighted)
The female lead is five years older than the male lead, and the male lead is already an adult when he appears.
