Rascal took Rasilia’s hand. He kissed the finger he’d forgotten about while talking.
“Forgive me. For hurting you.”
“…? The wound has nothing to do with Your Majesty.”
“The immature bird caused the wound, so it’s no different from one I inflicted.”
Rascal slowly let go of her hand. He held her hand, kissed her, and let go so slowly that she could remember every detail.
“Please heal quickly. And once you’ve healed, forgive me.”
“……”
As Rasilia said nothing, Rascal slowly disappeared.
The notion that a wound is a wound, no matter who inflicted it, kept Rasilia awake.
The meaning was that PeePee, who had vented and cried at me for liking someone else, felt the same as the Emperor.
(This is a time separator.)
“The clothes must be so uncomfortable, Your Majesty. What to do…”
Ivette rolled her eyes in pity.
The trial procedures in Eliaden were strict.
Rasilia had been unable to contact anyone three days before the trial. She hadn’t seen Ivette for those three days either.
Only bread and water were left at her door from the temple.
Ivette could only enter the room to dress her on the day of the trial.
Rough garments devoid of any color or decoration had to be worn by everyone standing trial, regardless of their status. It was to avoid being swayed by appearances.
However, one issue was inconvenient.
Even basic undergarments were not allowed.
Draping a longsleeved, coarse garment over bare skin was somewhat embarrassing.
Ivette tried her best to fix the awkward clothing.
“It must have been hard for you, not going out for three days and eating such terrible food. Even if the temple calls it ‘innocent bread,’ it’s not like it’s some amazing bread. How can one survive on just bread and water?”
“Three days weren’t that long. It’s okay.”
“Yes… If you say so.”
Ivette replied in a deflated voice.
She had worried to death over the past three days, fearing Rasilia might fall ill from the inadequate diet and the looming trial, but the Empress had only remained composed.
Ivette admired that composure but was also slightly resentful toward Rasilia.
“The clothes are ready, Your Majesty. Even in this ugly… Ah, sorry. Anyway, even in this hideous sacklike outfit, you are still incredibly beautiful.”
Hearing that the clothes were ready, Rasilia relaxed.
She had been mindful of her body’s angle to hide the marked area from Ivette.
“It’s good that I don’t look bad. So, we’re heading to the temple now?”
“Yes. The Imperial Guard will come to escort you when it’s time. You can travel by carriage. Please wait a moment.”
“Alright.”
Soon, I’ll be leaving the palace.
I’ve placed the letter inside the drawer of the vanity. Someone will find it while cleaning. I hope it would be Ivette.
There wasn’t much else to prepare.
The only regret was not getting to see Pippi before leaving.
“She still seems upset.”
Rasilia muttered this while gazing out the window, and Ivette tightly clenched her hands together.
“Ah… Lord Ren…”
“If he returns while I’m gone, tell him I’m sorry. And that I’m grateful.”
“Yes, Your Majesty. …Ah? But why do you speak as if you’ll never see Lord Ren again?”
Because that might be the case.
“Tell him if he comes back.”
Rasilia simply said that and turned her gaze away from the window.
Knock knock.
“Your Majesty, we’ve come to escort you.”
And it was time to leave.
(This is a time marker.)
The Harios Temple was larger than any I had seen before.
The magnificent temple, situated on top of the highest hill in the northern capital, couldn’t be taken in at a glance.
By scale, it seemed hardly smaller than the palace.
‘What an enormous place.’
Maintaining its size would require a vast number of followers and priests.
‘So that’s why they could issue a subpoena against the royal family.’
At the entrance of the hill leading to the temple, a large number of carriages had already gathered. These belonged to the nobles attending today’s trial.
The atmosphere was as if not a trial but a war was about to break out, largely because the Imperial Guard surrounding the path to the temple contributed to that.
“We have arrived, Your Majesty. Please disembark. From here, you’ll have to walk.”
“Understood. Open the door.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Thud.
Serven opened the carriage door.
“I’m sorry, but I can’t assist you in disembarking. You must come down yourself.”
Rasilia, wearing her stiff, coarse clothes, stepped down from the carriage. She was barefoot because she couldn’t wear any other shoes with her court clothes.
“I will guide you to the courtroom.”
After confirming Rasilia had stepped on the ground, Serven signaled to the Imperial Guard.
Click, click, click, click.
The Imperial Guard who escorted the carriage began to ascend the hill. The nobles who had been ahead all stopped and waited for Rasilia to pass.
After nearly 30 minutes of climbing, the front gates of the temple appeared.
Rasilia was guided to a very small room right next to the courtroom.
“You’ll wait here until the trial begins.”
“Very well.”
“I’m sorry, but I’ll have to lock you in.”
In that room, which reminded Rasilia of the Prophet’s chamber and had no window, she didn’t feel particularly uncomfortable.
“Proceed.”
“My apologies, Your Majesty.”
Thud, clang!
After the door closed, she heard the bolt slide into place.
Rasilia sat down and began to calm her mind.
Today was the end. The conclusion would soon be reached.
…Or perhaps not.
Woosh.
Suddenly, a shadow appeared on one of the unadorned walls.
“…?”
The shadow deepened and expanded. Then it wasn’t a shadow but a hole. It meant the wall was connected to somewhere else.
“What…!”
Rasilia leapt up from her chair.
“Sister! It’s me.”
Emerging from the hole, which had grown as large as a door, was none other than Count Pielion.
With a very urgent and desperate expression, he spoke to Rasilia.
“There’s no time, sister. We must escape now.”
The Male lead Always Seduces Her with His Beauty (Matriarchy)
Xin Jiao Zhou is the leader of the world’s premier sect. She has just experienced betrayal from all sides, was poisoned in an assassination attempt, and faced death squad attacks while the poison was taking effect. After finally clearing out the scum from her sect, she was drugged again while trying to detoxify.
After waking up from a night of unconsciousness, she gained a “beautiful and kind-hearted” husband.
Xin Jiao Zhou: “???”
He fell ill.
She came to see him, bringing breakfast.
As she put down the breakfast and was about to leave, his hand slipped while holding the spoon. “Clank!”
She turned around upon hearing the noise.
He looked up at her, his eyebrows drooping: “My hand… has no strength.”
“Shall I… feed you?” she asked tentatively.
He opened his mouth cheerfully: “Ah—”
Thinking she was drowning, he jumped in without hesitation to save her, but nearly drowned himself. In the end, it was she who swam over to rescue him, giving him air underwater.
After emerging from the water, his ear tips turned red. He lightly brushed his cheek, tucking his sideburns behind his ear, revealing delicate, pink-tinged ear tips. He lowered his gaze, too embarrassed to look at her.
Xin Jiao Zhou: He’s truly beautiful, kind-hearted, and adorable.
A certain someone when disciplining subordinates behind the scenes: “If they don’t obey, just kill them.”
What’s that? She might already have someone she cares about in her heart? A certain someone: Find out who it is, kill them, and then there won’t be anyone.
What? She met a man by the riverside? What? That man even hurt her? A certain someone: Whichever hand hurt her, chop off his entire arm.
Love at first sight without realizing it, gradually falling in love, slowly getting closer…
Family and national grudges, schemes and desires, good and evil, crime and punishment, she and he face the future together, seeking justice with passion!
A naturally dark female lead who could accidentally destroy the world but is actually an honest person VS a weak, pitiful, and helpless but skilled fighter, beautiful white-cut black male lead
My heart is not of stone, how steadfast is your love? — Tao Yuanming “Imitating the Ancients (No. 3)”
— Reading Guide —
Cold female lead & dramatic black lotus with hidden yandere traits male lead
