“I’m sorry, but it seems an audience with His Imperial Majesty will not be possible today.”
The Emperor’s aide who came to greet them spoke respectfully.
He introduced himself as Ludwig and said they could comfortably address him as Duke Ludwig.
Duke Ludwig appeared to be at least sixty years old, but his back was not bent at all and his posture was remarkably straight, making him look like an aged body housing the soul of a young man.
For a moment, their attention was drawn to the spirit and composure that suggested he must have been a swordsman in his youth.
Kasallin, Shallen, and Rose, who had traveled non-stop for a full week and half a day by carriage to finally enter the Renel Empire with great difficulty, could only be dumbfounded by his words.
“Has some urgent matter arisen?”
When Shallen asked, Duke Ludwig shook his head with a somewhat meaningful expression.
His complexion was not bright at all, as if something unpleasant had happened to Emperor Parnes.
“It’s a personal matter, so I cannot share the details. Please understand with a generous heart.”
“I trust this is not a simple refusal of audience due to a mere whim.”
“How could that be the case? His Imperial Majesty holds the distinguished guests from the Khan Kingdom in great respect. Please take your time touring the gardens today and rest from your travels. You should be able to meet him tomorrow or the day after.”
“Well, I must say. The hospitality shown to state guests in the Renel Empire is quite disappointing compared to its reputation as the hegemonic power of the western continent.”
Who could have predicted that the Emperor would stand up a neighboring country’s monarch from the very first day of their visit?
The Emperor of the Renel Empire, Parnes Escalo, was a man who carried all sorts of sinister rumors with him.
They said he would immediately take any woman who caught his fancy, regardless of time and place, and kill them brutally when he grew tired of them.
They said he would kill all subordinates who displeased him without question or investigation, so the scent of blood never left his hands.
They said he was able to become Emperor at a young age because he had murdered his father and usurped the throne.
Having heard such terrifying ghost stories and rumors, Shallen could not bring himself to blame the Emperor and merely expressed his disappointment with a single remark.
[This is the timeline separator]With the audience canceled and nothing to do, Kasallin went outside to tour the imperial palace, also to memorize the layout.
It was indeed the Renel Empire.
The Renel Empire was the only imperial nation on the western continent, with territory alone reaching four times that of the Khan Kingdom, and most of the land was fertile plains.
Befitting its reputation, there were said to be five palaces, each the size of a small city, making it easy to imagine the absolute power of the young Emperor.
“But where am I now?”
Having walked wherever her feet took her without much thought, Kasallin found herself lost and stopped to look around.
She must have wandered quite deep, as there were no passersby and vast forests surrounded her on all sides.
‘An artificial forest within the imperial palace… Just how wealthy is His Imperial Majesty?’
Kasallin walked aimlessly.
Following a path where purple irises bloomed abundantly, she came upon a garden with lush greenery like a real forest.
In the center of the garden stood a massive flowering tree that appeared to be at least several hundred years old.
Enchanted by the mystical sight of petals scattering on the silky, gentle breeze, Kasallin walked toward the tree in a daze.
‘Someone’s there.’
Under the flowering tree, a man was lying at an angle, leaning against it.
He was dressed in a way that made it difficult to guess his status.
Judging by the dark, modest clothing he wore, he didn’t seem to be royalty or nobility. Kasallin guessed he was either a gardener who liked to secretly slack off or a lower-ranking noble.
If it was a tree of this magnitude, it would surely be one managed by the imperial household, yet here he was lying down and sleeping carelessly.
If the Emperor were to see him like this, his head would surely roll.
“Excuse me.”
She called out softly, but he seemed to be in deep sleep and didn’t stir at all.
It was then, as she approached closer to examine the man’s face more carefully.
“Ah…!”
In an instant, her vision flipped upside down, and in the blink of an eye, the back of her head hit the ground.
The man had grabbed Kasallin’s neck with one hand and roughly pressed her down.
Groaning from the dull pain and opening her eyes, she found a man who resembled half elegant angel and half fierce beast looking down at her.
Kasallin momentarily forgot the situation she was in and became entranced.
Silver hair like fallen snow.
The sharply positioned features beneath it displayed the extreme of beauty.
Eyes like melted golden stardust and honey held a chilling coldness that contradicted their color.
“Who sent you?”
A voice as dark and desolate as a winter sea echoed in her ears.
It seemed there was a misunderstanding.
“Sent me?”
“…I’m in quite a foul mood today. If you answer honestly, I’ll show special mercy and kill you without pain.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about…”
Just as she was about to hurriedly explain that she had merely wandered into the garden while taking a walk.
Fresh blood suddenly gushed out like magic from the man’s shoulder as he shifted his position slightly, staining the green grass dark red.
Looking more carefully, his entire body was covered in stab wounds and cuts.
It must surely be terrible agony, as if bone and flesh were being torn apart, yet he didn’t even furrow his brow once.
“Blood, you’re bleeding.”
“Stop talking nonsense and just answer…”
“You’re bleeding! You’ll die from excessive blood loss!”
When Kasallin screamed in alarm, his eyes widened greatly.
There was no time to wonder how he had gotten so injured within the safety of the imperial palace.
Kasallin hastily tore off the hem of her dress, which was made of relatively absorbent material.
When her white legs were fully exposed, the man frowned deeply as if he had seen something he shouldn’t have and quickly turned his head away.
“Move away.”
“My goodness. Flesh has been torn away. How can you act like nothing’s wrong with such injuries…”
“Don’t touch my body carelessly!”
“I understand, so just stay still! Whether you strangle me to death later or whatever, do as you please!”
Kasallin raised her voice unusually due to her excitement at seeing blood.
Only then did the man fix his confused, wavering gaze on her at her scolding tone.
Taking advantage of his docility, Kasallin wrapped the fabric around his shoulder and tied it tightly.
His build was so sturdy and his chest so broad that even after tearing half her skirt, the fabric was almost insufficient.
The man initially showed clear signs of wariness like a wounded wild animal, but after watching Kasallin’s small frame struggling and moving about busily, he slowly began to breathe heavily.
“What on earth happened? Who did this to you? Was it a ruffian? Rebels? A spy? Should I go report it?”
No answer came in return.
The man simply moved his straight eyelashes slowly up and down, quietly glaring at Kasallin.
“I understand. You have no intention of answering. Then let me at least ask your name. I’m Kasallin Robepon. What about you? Surely you don’t intend to refuse even this much?”
“…What a noisy woman.”
“Your manner of speech is quite poor. I went so far as to tear my dress and stop your bleeding. At times like this, you should say thank you for helping.”
A sound escaped from between his teeth.
It seemed like he had just scoffed.
“Then who are you to be wandering around this place as you please?”
She was about to feel annoyed by his naturally arrogant informal speech, but this man probably couldn’t imagine that she was the Queen’s lady-in-waiting.
“What’s wrong with wanting to take a walk in the garden? Besides, I’m the chief lady-in-waiting to the Queen of the Khan Kingdom. How about it? Do you now feel inclined to show at least minimal courtesy?”
“No.”
“You’ve been speaking informally to me this whole time. I’m not of low enough status for you to address me so casually. While I’m not the type to obsess over status, shouldn’t we maintain basic courtesy when meeting for the first time?”
The man, who had been turning his head away the whole time, suddenly looked directly at her.
At the feeling of meeting eyes with a wild wolf, Kasallin unconsciously flinched.
“That’s what I should be saying.”
“Pardon?”
“I’m also not a person of low enough status for you to fearlessly bark at me like that.”
No matter how high his rank might be, he would be a noble at most, so where does that confidence come from?
She didn’t like anything he said.
Kasallin deliberately tied the fabric knot tighter.
She did it hoping it would hurt, but he didn’t even furrow his brow, let alone groan, which somehow made her feel irritated.
“So what? I don’t think I’d be scared even if you claimed to be His Imperial Majesty. Because all people, regardless of status, deserve respect. You’re the one at fault for being rude from our first meeting.”
Actually, it was a lie.
Given how widespread the rumors were about what kind of person the Emperor of the Renel Empire was, how could she not be afraid?
Since there was no possibility that he was the Emperor, she had thrown out the remark with some exaggeration, and half as a joke.
But the man showed a strange gleam between his lowered eyes, like a seasoned fisherman who had caught a good fish in a net cast without much thought.
“Are you confident you won’t regret those words?”
“Pardon?”
Kasallin was flustered but tried to nod with composure.
Where on earth does that confidence come from?
“Y-yes, of course.”
“…Is that so?”
Why has it been feeling eerily cold since a while ago?
What is this anxious sensation where instinct seems to be screaming not to say another word?
The man stood up abruptly without a single word of thanks for helping him to the end.
He walked past Kasallin coldly, then suddenly stopped.
“I’ll be sure to tell the Emperor about today’s events ‘properly’. Arrogant woman.”
Kasallin stood dumbfounded until the man’s retreating figure disappeared beyond the forest.
What did he mean by telling the Emperor properly, and what did he mean by asking if she was confident she wouldn’t regret it?
‘Surely he’s not one of the Emperor’s close associates? No. He can’t be. His hands were rough and his clothing was ordinary.’
Kasallin tossed and turned that night.
She hoped nothing would come of it, but events that would make her heart race began the very next morning.
“Thank you for waiting so long. His Imperial Majesty has granted an audience.”
The Emperor, who had stood them up just yesterday, had somehow suddenly changed his mind for reasons unknown.
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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