“Be my mistress.”
When Shallen said those words, Kasallin could only part her lips as if confronted with an unfamiliar foreign tongue, unable to muster any response.
At first, his words didn’t even register.
But as the word “mistress” sank into her mind and its meaning gradually dawned on her, Kasallin’s already pale face turned ashen, like a sheet of white paper.
“What does that—”
Kasallin shook off his arm, which was gripping her waist, as if it were filthy refuse, and took a few steps back.
But only the cold wall met her back, leaving no further room to retreat.
Shallen approached Kasallin, picking up a cherry rolling on a plate and swallowing it.
The sight of the small, red fruit being crushed and mashed between his teeth was utterly chilling.
“Why are you so surprised? Isn’t this something you expected to some degree?”
“Have you finally gone mad?”
“As you can see, I’m perfectly sane.”
“No. You’re not in your right mind. If you were, you wouldn’t dare make such a proposition to me.”
“I’m sorry to say, but this isn’t a proposition—it’s an order.”
“Please, stop spouting nonsense.”
Kasallin, her eyes bloodshot with agitation, barely managed to squeeze out her voice.
She now realized that when someone is too shocked, even their voice fails them.
“Kasallin, I believe I told you once before: the Kingdom of Kan is mine. The Kan royal family is mine. And you, who reside and work in that royal family, are also mine.”
“No. You could die and come back to life, and you still wouldn’t have me. Do you know why?”
Kasallin continued, her eyes brimming with resolve.
“You had me wholly once before, but you cast me aside with your own hands. Without even giving me time to heal from the wounds. Without caring whether I festered and rotted in some corner.”
“…”
“And now, what? You want me to be your mistress?”
For a fleeting moment, a flicker of unease crossed Shallen’s expression.
But he brushed off Kasallin’s words with complete indifference, as if they were inconsequential.
“Tonight, I will return to the Kingdom of Kan. I will treat you as my official mistress with all due formality and procedure, granting you land and a title. You’ll live a lavish life, supported by the royal family until your death. Do you really find that so distasteful?”
His arrogant, cunning assumption that wealth and power could sway her heart was utterly deplorable.
Kasallin, as was her usual self, took a deep breath to calm the heat rushing to her head.
“What do you intend to do by making me your mistress? Surely you have some excuse or reason prepared.”
“You crossed a line you shouldn’t have.”
“A line?”
“I warned you several times not to get close to Emperor Parnes.”
Shallen rummaged in his pocket and pulled out a stolen lapis lazuli hair ornament.
The deep, ocean-like lapis lazuli glimmered forlornly between delicate golden threads.
He dangled the threads in the air, as if tormenting a helpless butterfly.
“In the Rnel Empire, lapis lazuli is called the Eye of God and treated as the finest gem. It’s usually a treasure given during imperial proposals, but surely Emperor Parnes wouldn’t make you his empress. That leaves only one answer.”
He paused briefly before continuing.
“Emperor Parnes intends to make you his mistress.”
“…”
“You know, don’t you? The rumors that the emperor has dozens of secret mistresses, locked away in a hidden villa no one knows about.”
“What’s your basis for claiming those rumors are true?”
“I’ve seen it a few times. Emperor Parnes disappearing somewhere. Occasionally riding off on horseback and returning only at dawn. Each time, he seemed to come back with scratches and marks on his body. No doubt due to his wild and perverse tastes. So, what do you think? Are you starting to believe me now?”
“No.”
Kasallin answered without a moment’s hesitation.
Shallen’s brow twitched, convulsing slightly.
“I’ve decided not to judge someone based on baseless rumors. Just as His Majesty Parnes didn’t judge me by appearances alone.”
“I think I understand a bit how you managed to win the favor of that cold-blooded emperor.”
Shallen strode forward and grabbed Kasallin’s chin.
“Your personality may be flawed, but your looks are decent enough. You probably flattered him with sweet words and that pretty face, deluded into thinking you could rise to become empress.”
“Think what you want. Explaining myself to someone like you would only waste my breath. But let me tell you something.”
Kasallin swatted his hand away and continued.
“You seem to have conveniently forgotten that you’re the one trying to make me your mistress with improper intentions.”
“No, don’t misunderstand. I’m not doing this out of some personal attachment. It’s to keep a close watch on you, who might one day betray our Kingdom of Kan.”
“Then I suppose I should bite my tongue and die as soon as possible. Becoming your mistress and living a humiliating life would be far less fulfilling than wandering this world as a ghost.”
Kasallin snatched the pitiful butterfly from Shallen’s hand and stormed out of the dining hall without looking back.
As she stepped into the corridor, she caught a glimpse of a white skirt and familiar feet hurriedly disappearing around a corner.
It was unmistakably Rose.
“With all due formality and procedure, I will treat you as my official mistress, granting you land and a title.”
Rose had intended to ask Shallen if he knew anything about a suspicious man named Aster.
But what Rose witnessed was Shallen’s shocking proposal to Kasallin to become his mistress.
Rose, half out of her mind as if she might lose it entirely, ran out to the garden and collapsed onto the grass.
As if mocking her emotional turmoil, the beautifully blooming tulips swayed leisurely in the breeze.
“No, no way. This can’t be. I must have misheard.”
“What can’t be?”
Rose jolted in shock and looked up.
Aster stood there, wearing a light smile tinged with slight curiosity.
“It’s none of your business, so leave.”
Rose hurriedly stood, brushing the dirt from her skirt.
Aster let out a soft “hm” and carefully approached, plucking a blade of grass from Rose’s hair.
Rose stared at him strangely, her eyes wide.
“Why do you keep lingering around me? If you want something from me, don’t even dream of it!”
“I don’t want anything.”
“What?”
“Well, maybe one thing.”
Aster gently lifted the corners of Rose’s lips with his fingers.
“I’d like to see Your Majesty the Queen smile brightly. That would be enough.”
“What—what are you saying? How dare you mock the Queen of Kan?”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to tease. It’s just that I can’t help but wonder why someone with such a beautiful face always looks so troubled.”
Rose, dumbfounded, touched her cheeks.
This was a first.
Always overshadowed by her sister, who received endless suitors and was constantly compared to her, Rose had never even heard Shallen call her beautiful.
“Were you… watching me?”
“I know it might sound presumptuous, but I’ve been watching Your Majesty for quite some time. Or rather, I found myself rooting for you without realizing it.”
“What does that mean?”
“There were times you attended small parties with Kasallin, weren’t there? Despite not being favored within your family, I noticed your efforts. Even though socializing was difficult, you tried to face people with a smile. That caught my eye.”
It must feel uncomfortable, right?
Aster scratched his neck lightly and smiled apologetically.
Rose was stunned to learn that someone had been paying her positive attention without her knowing. It was a first, and she didn’t know how to respond.
He continued.
“I believe there was a deep misunderstanding at the last reading event. I couldn’t attend due to other commitments, but I found your determination to carry on with confidence truly admirable.”
“Well… that’s because I’m the queen. It’s only natural that I don’t crumble easily.”
“That’s not a given. I think it’s something you can take pride in.”
Rose adjusted her disheveled hair and steadied her voice.
The unfamiliar flood of compliments made the man before her seem both suspicious and oddly exhilarating in a way she couldn’t describe.
“On the other hand, Kasallin didn’t resemble Your Majesty at all.”
“You know my sister?”
“Yes. I saw her a few times in passing at the royal academy. Once, she bumped into my shoulder without apologizing and toyed with the attention of other gentlemen.”
Aster quietly gauged Rose’s expression through narrowed eyes.
When her eyes wavered slightly, he fanned the nascent spark to kindle it further.
“Unlike Kasallin, who always calculates gains and losses and prioritizes reason, I believe Your Majesty values people’s hearts.”
“So what are you trying to say?”
“I’ve always thought it was a shame that Your Majesty’s potential and talent were overshadowed by Kasallin. In my view, you were born with far greater qualities. If you have any concerns, please tell me. I might be able to help.”
Rose, her heart rippling with unfamiliar joy, struggled to stay composed and finally looked properly at the man named Aster.
Upon closer inspection, he was quite a handsome man with a charming presence.
Maybe it wouldn’t hurt to at least remember the face of someone like him.
“Actually, I do have one concern that just came up.”
Rose trailed off, casting a subtle glance at Aster.
Aster bowed courteously, offering a kind smile.
“Tell me anything, dear Queen.”
Breaking down someone’s defenses with insincere smiles and flattery—
That was one of the things Aster did best.
When scheming men desperately battle for her favor in the male harem
This one’s also on my reread list! The rivalry, scheming between the men in the imperial harem are just as intense and thrilling as in classic palace drama novels, where concubines fight to the death. Give it a read, girls! I promise you won’t be disappointed.
Synopsis:
“I am not worthy of her… but I still want to be by her side, even if only as a loyal dog…”
Those were the painful whispers of Yue Guanyi – the proud Crown Prince of the Great Qi, who was torn between deep love and a guilty conscience. Despite holding the supreme power of the Imperial Guard, he still could not forget the dark past when he was sold into a brothel.
Fate played a cruel twist when Qiu Shuzhi – a young female official who had just passed the imperial examinations with top honors – stepped into his life. She did not know that she was the one who had saved him from a tragic fate many years ago. And now, her heart was the target of pursuit for both Yue Guanyi and the powerful Empress Dowager Qin Qing.
While Yue Guanyi only dared to silently care for and protect the one he loved from afar, the Empress Dowager Qin Qing openly expressed his feelings and did not hesitate to take advantage of his power to approach Qiu Shuzhi. The covert struggle between the two most powerful forces in the imperial court began…
Trigger warning: All men in this novel are yandere style.
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