Rose snatched the resignation request and read it with trembling eyes.
Kasallin spoke to her.
“Given how things have turned out, His Majesty the King will have no choice but to approve it.”
“When you and His Majesty Shallen were so eager to plunge daggers into my heart, and now you’re trying to run away pretending you know nothing? Don’t you think that’s cowardly?”
“……Daggers?”
That single short word caused the first sign of agitation to appear on Kasallin’s face, which had maintained composure throughout.
Kasallin let out a hollow and empty laugh because she couldn’t believe what she had heard.
She hadn’t expected Shallen and Rose to show any sign of remorse from the beginning, but she never imagined they would blame the victim as if she were the root cause of all the incidents.
“Haven’t His Majesty the King and Her Majesty the Queen truly plunged countless daggers into my heart?”
“We did? When?”
Rose asked back in a tone that genuinely seemed to not understand, and there wasn’t a trace of mockery to be found in her.
At this very moment, she didn’t even know what she had done wrong or what she should apologize to Kasallin for.
A child who commits wrongs can eventually gain enlightenment through countless persuasions and teachings.
But just as a rock blocking the road can never be given enlightenment no matter how much you plead for it to move aside, Rose was the same.
Kasallin realized anew that no human conversation would work with Rose.
This realization gave more strength to her determination to leave this place as soon as possible and head to Rnel.
“Fine. Let’s say Shallen and I approved the resignation request. Then what can sister do after leaving the royal palace? What can you become? I’m not being sarcastic, I’m genuinely curious.”
“…….”
“You’ll just hole up in your family home and spend the rest of your years meaninglessly. You have no work to do, you can’t inherit a title, you don’t have parents to serve, and you can’t form a family either.”
“…….”
“Even if occasionally some man approaches you attracted by your appearance, once he learns that you’re unable to bear children, they’ll all be busy running away in haste. Does such a life have any meaning for you, sister? Isn’t it because of me, the queen, that you can at least do the honorable work of being a lady-in-waiting? Think carefully. And remember this well. Right now, without me, you are nothing.”
Daggers don’t necessarily require visible curses or resentment.
Kasallin felt each thoughtless word that Rose uttered becoming sharp thorns piercing her heart.
There was no bleeding, nor could the thorns be removed.
The daggers that would remain embedded there forever, causing only pain, Rose was using all too well with the simple excuse of ‘just asking out of curiosity.’
“It’s my life, so I will manage it well myself.”
Kasallin spoke in a voice clearly showing exhaustion.
She had no intention of telling them right here and now that she planned to change her nationality and marry Emperor Parnes.
Whether it was Shallen or Rose, both would naturally find out soon enough, so she didn’t want to tire her mouth unnecessarily.
Since returning to her homeland, countless events had swept in like a storm, making her so exhausted that it wouldn’t be strange if she collapsed right now.
She just desperately wanted to bury her face in a pillow somewhere and rest without thinking about anything.
Just as she was about to give her farewell and stand up.
“Your Majesty the Queen, disaster has struck! Marquis Kalman Robepon has laid hands on His Majesty the King!”
[This is the timeline separator]Unlike the Rnel Empire where the eldest child regardless of gender inherits the title as a principle, in the Kingdom of Khan, if there were no sons, the rights would pass to distant relatives.
Kalman Robepon, who was originally just a viscount, inherited the marquis title when his older brother died.
It was inevitable since the law was structured that way, but Kalman had always lived with feelings of guilt toward Kasallin because of it.
If she had been born in the Rnel Empire, Kasallin would have become an excellent Marquis Robepon by now.
She would have fully utilized her abilities to manage the territory prosperously.
Being naturally intelligent and diligent, Kalman thought she would undoubtedly have secured a position in the imperial court, to the extent that Kasallin was an adult in Kalman’s eyes.
An ideal child who would do what needed to be done even without someone to take care of her, and never complained about hardships.
Kalman became relieved without realizing it, and that relief gradually turned into irresponsibility, thinking it would be fine to leave her behind and go far away.
「How hellish must it have been for me, who because of Your Majesty fell from distant cliffs and crossed the threshold between life and death countless times?」
How could he, someone who was supposed to be a guardian, not even know what his niece was going through in her homeland and leisurely think only about making money? Kalman couldn’t forgive himself.
「If anything happens, write a letter to the Kingdom of Ram.」
A letter?
To a child who had become unnecessarily strong in responsibility since her parents’ death and never made a sound of crying, a letter?
Thinking about it now, Kalman regretted how foolish he had been.
Telling Kasallin to write a letter was essentially the same as nailing down ‘no matter what happens, you must handle it alone.’
Elizabeth Robepon, the stepmother who only schemed to arrange advantageous marriages for her own children but never gave Kasallin genuine affection.
Similarly, the self-righteous and selfish half-sister who didn’t know how to cherish her older sister.
How lonely must she have been between them, unable to express it outwardly?
How difficult must it have been to grow up alone for so many years in a house filled with warm memories of her deceased parents?
The more he thought about it, the more Kalman couldn’t forgive Shallen.
If he didn’t step forward, the royal family would certainly cover up this incident and let it pass.
‘But I don’t think me stepping forward now would help Kasallin.’
As Kalman was thinking whether there was truly nothing he could do for Kasallin, the presence of a man approached him.
When he turned his head, Shallen’s close attendant Alonzo Laugel was approaching.
“You are…….”
“I wonder if you’ve calmed down your excitement a bit. Just earlier, you were raising your voice to His Majesty the King to an excessive degree.”
Shouldn’t one always be careful with words and actions to live long?
When Alonzo Laugel provoked him with meaningful eyes, Kalman’s complexion, which had barely calmed down, hardened stiffly.
“Do you really think I acted excessively?”
“The person you shouted at is His Majesty the King. The owner and ruler of this country. A great monarch who will someday surpass the Rnel Empire and rise to become the leader of the Western Continent.”
Acting tough when you can’t even make a peep against the Rnel Empire.
Kalman wanted to retort without restraint, but thinking of Kasallin, he decided to conduct the conversation calmly like a noble.
“Kasallin and I don’t ask for much. Just one sincere word of apology from His Majesty the King. That would be enough. But how is it that His Majesty doesn’t feel sorry for Kasallin at all?”
“If Miss Kasallin had just obediently followed His Majesty the King’s orders from the beginning, things wouldn’t have come to this. Isn’t it your niece who should truly apologize?”
“What?”
Kalman’s complexion twisted viciously.
Seeing his two fists trembling so much they turned white, Alonzo Laugel spoke in a tone full of mockery.
“Miss Kasallin requested a nationality change, but it seems His Majesty the King has no intention of approving it. After throwing the royal family into chaos, she’s trying to cowardly run away. Normally, she should be severely punished, but our His Majesty the King is truly magnanimous. Don’t you think so?”
Kalman immediately went to the royal palace upon hearing those words.
With anger reaching the top of his head, he told the soldier he wanted to see His Majesty the King.
The soldier said it wasn’t allowed, but surprisingly, a voice from inside said to let him in.
Through the opening door, Kalman stepped in without hesitation.
Contrary to his expectation that Shallen would be seriously contemplating this situation even a little, Shallen was leisurely sipping coffee.
“Your Majesty. Please allow Kasallin’s nationality change.”
“Walking into the royal palace like it’s your own room and having nothing you can’t say. Marquis Kalman Robepon. Do you know thanks to whom you reached that position and are acting like this?”
“If you can’t do that, at least apologize to Kasallin.”
“Why should I do that?”
The coffee cup clinked in Shallen’s hand.
“This incident was of course my mistake too, but her fault is much greater. How could she deceive both the king and queen simultaneously and sow discord among people?”
“……What did you say?”
“I will definitely hold her responsible for this incident. Even if I have to use somewhat violent methods, I must firmly correct that insolence so she can never rebel against me again…….”
Before the words were completely finished, a dull thud clearly echoed through the wall to the corridor.
Shallen’s head snapped to the side, and simultaneously Alonzo Laugel and the soldiers who had been listening from outside rushed in as if they had been waiting.
[This is the timeline separator]Even a bolt from the blue wouldn’t be worse than this.
Uncle had always been the type to charge forward regardless of consequences when he reached the limit of his patience, but to think he actually laid hands on Shallen’s face.
Until she confirmed it with her own eyes, she couldn’t believe it, so Kasallin was hurrying toward the prison where he was being held.
However, Shallen appeared and blocked her path as she moved busily.
On one side of his cheek, traces of assault were clearly visible to anyone who looked. The moment she saw it, Kasallin realized that everything she had hoped wasn’t true was indeed fact.
She felt all the strength drain from her body.
“Do you see it?”
He even kindly turned his head so the side that was hit could be seen clearly.
“I’ve been hit for the first time in my life. It hurt so much my jaw went numb. Even my parents never touched a hair on my head, but a mere noble dared to lay hands on me, the great monarch of Khan. You know what that means, don’t you, clever and intelligent Miss Kasallin.”
She knew.
Uncle must have endured many times thinking of her, and Shallen and Alonzo Laugel must have intentionally provoked his anger.
Looking at Alonzo Laugel’s disgusting face walking up from the prison below with a sinister smile, she couldn’t help but know.
“Inflicting harm on the royal body is an unforgivable sin even if it were committed by a god. Normally, a royal trial should be held, but Kalman is also related to the queen by blood. So I’m thinking of showing special mercy and concluding with just cutting off both his wrists and banishing him from the capital.”
Kasallin knew what he had orchestrated this cowardly and despicable act for.
She also knew what he was demanding of her by holding Uncle’s life hostage.
Male lead is a Destined Young Husband (Female-dominant)
One-sentence summary: Wife-master, listen to my explanation!
Li Ruantang, a young lady from a prestigious family, stumbled and fell. When she woke up, she saw a noble and beautiful young man sitting by her bedside, wiping away tears.
The young master had slightly reddened eyes, and his every move exuded charm.
The sight made Li Ruantang’s eyes hot and her heart flutter. After all, she had made a bet with the young master Meng from the neighboring family. If she couldn’t marry a husband before the end of the year, she would have to admit defeat and give up the jade she had worked so hard to obtain.
Outside the window, the flowers were in full bloom.
Rather than losing the bet, the jade, and her face, Li Ruantang calculated that it would be better to seek marriage with the young master in front of her, killing three birds with one stone.
…
Meng Jun never thought that an accident during a spring outing would lead to them rolling down a cliff and into a river, yet still survive.
Now they were trapped in an unknown village, and Meng Jun had overheard that the family who had rescued them had their own intentions.
After all, it was Li Ruantang who had lost her mind and sought marriage first. He was only trying to protect himself!
Glancing at Li Ruantang, who was listing her own merits, the young husband’s voice softened, and he blushed as he lied, “W-wife-master, Wife-master, don’t you remember me?”
The young husband’s voice was clear and handsome, coaxing Li Ruantang’s heart to be soft and sweet, and she spared no effort to protect him.
It wasn’t until they returned to the capital that Li Ruantang suddenly remembered.
When they had fallen off the cliff, in order not to implicate Wei Yunruo, whom he secretly admired, the young husband had instead pulled her, who was slightly farther away, down the cliff with him…
Short summary by Yuushi L: Initially, the male lead (ML) liked another girl, while the female lead (FL) liked the ML. Both fell off a cliff. The FL temporarily lost her memory, and the ML, fearing others might take advantage of him, claimed FL was his wife while they were staying in a village. Later, when they returned home, the FL regained her memories and remembered that the ML liked someone else, so she kept her distance from him. However, during their time living together in the countryside, the ML’s view of the FL had completely changed. From this point, his pursuit of the FL begins.
Link to read
