“It’s better for me to take her than to entrust her to a petty man who won’t even lend a hand to an injured woman.”
The emperor’s voice, resurfacing unerringly whenever Shallen tried to forget, stirred his mind, making him set down the tea he was about to drink.
If someone asked what vexed him so, Shallen could confidently answer, “Everything, from beginning to end.”
From the emperor treating him, a lord of a friendly nation, like an enemy just to shield a mere maid, to personally carrying Kasallin in his precious hands, which supposedly never even tied his own shoelaces.
“It’s truly incomprehensible.”
He had only meant to give Kasallin a slight reprimand.
It was only natural to hold Kasallin accountable for standing idly by while the queen slipped and fell into the water.
A few words of rebuke wouldn’t break Kasallin’s spirit, and since she was such a brazen woman, Shallen firmly believed she needed strict discipline like this.
“But what, a petty man?”
How could someone of the emperor’s stature utter such a rude remark?
The reason his chest had been burning unpleasantly ever since that day was surely due to Parnes’s insult. Shallen believed this without doubt, and at Rose’s call from beside him, he sharply raised his head.
“Your Highness, what do you think?”
“Hm? About what?”
“You’ve been lost in thought for a while. I must have asked a hundred times to pick out which accessory suits me best.”
“Oh, my apologies. I was caught up in some thoughts. Let me see.”
The imperial court announced that the scheduled ball would be postponed, and a reading event would be brought forward instead.
The reading event, practically the first official event of the grand festival season, was a prime opportunity to connect with key nobles from other nations and assert one’s presence, making it a highly significant occasion.
Shallen approached his wife, who had been tirelessly trying on clothes and shoes in front of the mirror all morning, fussing over her adornments.
“I think this brooch would suit you well.”
“Then I’ll wear that brooch tomorrow. All I need is to look beautiful in Your Highness’s eyes.”
“You can say such charming things. You adorable creature.”
Being with Rose allowed Shallen to escape his tangled thoughts.
She was simple, and with a few well-placed compliments, she would giggle and act cute, making her easy and pleasant to be around.
When his engagement to Kasallin had fallen apart, he felt some regret, but the more he reflected, the more he realized marrying Rose was the right choice.
If he had been eternally bound to Kasallin, who never backed down from a fight, he surely would have fallen ill from the constant strife.
“By the way, why is Kasallin late? She should have come to attend to Rose by now.”
The ominous thought crossed Shallen’s mind that perhaps she was lingering somewhere with the emperor again, making a fuss over a slight stumble by the stream that day.
“Kasallin is here. I’m coming in.”
Hearing Kasallin’s voice approaching from the threshold, Shallen quickly granted permission. Then, as if to show off to someone, he swiftly pulled Rose by the waist and embraced her.
While playfully nibbling at Rose’s flushed cheeks and ears, he sensed Kasallin, now dressed in a neat dinner gown, approaching them.
Pretending to be engrossed in teasing Rose, Shallen let out a low chuckle while stealing a glance to gauge the emotions on Kasallin’s face.
But Kasallin, paying no heed to them, was silently organizing Rose’s belongings.
With an awkward cough, Shallen released Rose and glanced at Kasallin, coughing once more.
Finally, Kasallin’s eyes turned toward him, and Shallen, pretending not to look at her, clasped his hands behind his back and gazed at the distant mountains.
He said,
“Why are you so late? The queen has been waiting for a while.”
“I stopped by the apothecary because I felt a cold coming on.”
“No excuses. Come here and tie the queen’s shoelaces.”
Kasallin set down her task and silently walked over, kneeling at Rose’s feet.
Leaning against the wall, Shallen discreetly watched Kasallin’s back as she arranged Rose’s shoelaces.
The delicate curve from her slender waist to the flowing hem of her skirt held his gaze for a long time.
“Excuse me.”
At that moment, a servant lightly knocked from outside. Shallen, slowly tearing his gaze from Kasallin, told them to enter.
But the person who appeared through the opening door was neither a servant nor anyone else—it was Emperor Parnes.
Startled by the unexpected visitor, Shallen abruptly straightened from his relaxed lean against the wall.
Parnes, crossing the room with his characteristic steady, unhurried steps, spotted Kasallin tying Rose’s shoelaces and slowly came to a stop.
Kasallin, still kneeling at Rose’s feet, gave a slight bow toward Parnes.
Parnes glanced at her briefly with an impassive gaze before shifting his attention to Rose.
“Queen Riche, I have something important to discuss with you. Do you have a moment?”
Rose was taken aback.
Assuming any business would be with His Highness Shallen, she had kept her mouth shut, but now she felt a surge of intrigue and curiosity welling up in her chest.
What could this cold-blooded emperor possibly want with her?
“Of course. What is it about?”
Parnes, about to speak, slowly blinked and surveyed the room, where several servants stood at attention.
Then, addressing everyone except Rose, he said,
“If possible, I’d like to speak with her alone quietly. Could everyone please leave?”
Rose hurried down the corridor with such speed that one might doubt she was someone who had twisted her ankle falling into water.
Her urgent steps stopped at Kasallin’s room.
“Sister!”
Bursting through the door with an agitated voice, she saw Kasallin, seated at her desk, look up.
Kasallin closed the book she was reading and stood.
“Did your conversation with His Majesty the Emperor go well? It ended sooner than expected.”
“Never mind that, Sister. Do you know what this reading event is about?”
Seeing Rose’s flushed cheeks and flustered demeanor, Kasallin felt puzzled but nodded.
“Yes. It’s a meaningful event where participants write about the history or theology of the Western Continent, read their works before distinguished guests from various nations, and engage in constructive discussions. But why…”
“No, listen! The emperor asked me to write a piece as the representative of the Kan Kingdom! He said he’s looking forward to the refined education of a newly crowned queen, spouting such nonsense! I thought he wanted a private talk for something else!”
Kasallin tilted her head slightly as Rose paced the room, venting her frustration.
How odd. He didn’t seem like someone who’d take a personal interest in Rose.
With a small question lingering in her mind, Kasallin shrugged toward Rose.
“It’s not nonsense what His Majesty said.”
“What?”
“Asking you to speak before distinguished guests from other nations is a way of giving you special recognition. It’s also an opportunity for a newly crowned queen. It’s a good thing.”
“A good thing?”
Seeing Rose unable to close her mouth, Kasallin couldn’t help but smile inwardly.
It might be a disaster for you, though. Ever since you were young, you’d feign illness to skip reading or writing lessons.
And this year’s theme was history and theology, subjects Rose loathed to the point of dread.
It would take considerable effort to write that piece.
But if she pulled it off well, it was undeniably an opportunity.
“If you successfully complete the reading, you’ll earn high praise from the ministers of various nations, and your reputation as a queen will improve. Congratulations. Do your best.”
“Do my best? Sister, are you trying to push your work onto me?”
“What do you mean?”
“Being a maid isn’t just about helping with adornments or keeping company. It’s your duty to step in and solve problems when your master is in trouble. Do you understand?”
“No, I don’t. His Majesty said he wanted to see the queen’s writing, not mine.”
Giving a speech as a representative at the reading event was a great honor among the dignitaries of various nations. It was a sacred occasion, and since representatives had to answer questions and lead discussions about their texts, it was customary for all representatives to prepare their own work. A maid could hardly interfere.
Seeing Kasallin’s reluctance, Rose furrowed her brow.
“Sister, I’m really sorry, but I’m not feeling well. Please.”
Shallen and Rose had such strange ways of thinking.
Why did they consider it rebellion to say something couldn’t be done or to point out something was wrong?
Advising the queen to fulfill her duties was also an important part of a maid’s role. Why did they dismiss it as hysteria whenever it didn’t suit their convenience?
“Doesn’t it hurt your pride?”
“What?”
“For a queen of a nation to lack the confidence to write a single piece well and to delegate it to her maid. If it were me, I’d stay up all night to do it myself.”
Rose’s face turned pale, then flushed red again.
Kasallin stared straight at her, lips closed, then suddenly let a faint smile play on her lips.
“But if you really can’t do it, I’ll help you this once.”
Rose, caught off guard by the unexpected response, was the one flustered.
Expecting a lecture on overstepping boundaries, she blinked at Kasallin, wondering if she’d eaten something strange.
“Really?”
“Yes. But I have my shortcomings, so I can’t guarantee I’ll write a perfect piece in just one day.”
Still, you’re sure that’s okay, right?
Kasallin asked with intense, piercing eyes, and Rose, momentarily overwhelmed by that gaze, nodded absentmindedly.
“Uh… yes. It’s fine. Then, I’ll leave it to you, though it’ll be tough.”
Rose, unsure why but relieved that her sister agreed to help, left the room with a lighter heart.
The heavy pendulum of the grandfather clock announced that it was already two in the morning.
Except for the occasional wall lamp and the stationed guards, only a cool silence filled the corridor as Parnes walked alone.
His steps halted at the path leading directly to the palace where Kasallin was staying.
Visiting a foreign maid’s quarters at such a late hour without notice was somewhat improper, but there was no one here who would dare block the emperor’s way.
“I greet Your Majesty the Emperor. Shall I summon Miss Kasallin Robepon?”
At the guard’s question, Parnes lightly hissed through his teeth.
So as not to wake her.
He stepped inside, silencing his footsteps like a ghost.
The first thing to greet Parnes was a single lamp, flickering as if its oil was nearly gone.
A few sheets of paper, neatly arranged at perfect angles on the desk.
And her, sleeping uncomfortably, slumped over them.
“Mother…”
Parnes stood still for a long time, gazing blankly at Kasallin, who was whimpering in her sleep as if troubled by a nightmare.
His eyes belatedly fell on the paper with writing on it.
[Author, Rose Robepon Riche.]A prominent vein bulged on Parnes’s forehead.
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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