“That’s true. It looks different from yesterday, Your Highness.”
The oncebarren Gardenia garden had begun to bloom with white flowers again.
Since the Emperor ruined two gardens, Rasilia had refused flowers. Fortunately, the palace garden was as beautiful as ever.
“I heard that the royal tailor is quite excited. His Majesty said you can use any fabric or jewel you want. The palace people are all talking about the amazing clothes they’re going to make.”
Rasilia gave a sardonic smile.
‘I’ll have to keep those clothes untouched.’
The newly made clothes would all be genuine gifts for a real companion. Much like a garden without flowers cut for bouquets.
“Ah, Lady Pashard is coming tomorrow. Should we prepare some tea?”
A sudden thought made Yvette’s face turn serious.
“I’d really like to prepare well, if you allow it. Being of palace origin and serving as a chamberlain, I don’t want to hear that the quality has dropped.”
“I don’t think tea will be necessary. And you’re doing fine as a ladyinwaiting. Lady Pashard won’t find any faults.”
“Ah, Your Highness, you’re too generous. She’ll definitely find something to nitpick.”
Yvette clenched her fist as if she had already confronted Lady Pashard.
“Just do as you’ve been doing. And tea isn’t necessary. Lady Pashard won’t be in the mood for pastries.”
“Ah, you’re right. She’s not coming for a pleasant reason. Then, I’ll forget about the tea and clean the reception room once more after the walk.”
“Do as you wish.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
As the two conversed and passed by a fountain, something happened.
“What’s…?”
An inexplicably strange feeling washed over her.
Suddenly, a chilling sensation hit her chest, and Rasilia involuntarily pulled Yvette into an embrace.
Whoosh!
The fountain’s water surged as if alive, covering Rasilia.
“Empress!”
Serben ran toward her frantically.
But it was too late. Rasilia was drenched from head to toe.
“Damn it! Who’s behind this?”
Swish!
Serben unsheathed his sword and inexplicably stabbed it into the base of the fountain.
Bang!
A crack formed in the marble fountain, and water splashed in all directions. A shadowlike figure flickered amid the spray.
Swish!
Serben, catching the shadow’s movement, stabbed his sword without hesitation.
Rip!
The tip of the sword tore through something.
“……Be gentle.”
The shadow then materialized into a person.
“What… Decan?”
“It’s been a long time, Sir Serben.”
The color drained from Serben’s face.
“Ha! What’s going on, you brat! Did you just do that? Have you lost your mind?”
Decan raised both hands.
“I swear on His Majesty’s name, I had no intention of causing harm to Her Majesty the Empress. It was due to my clumsy spell.”
“Huh, what on earth… …Ah, never mind. Kneel and beg for now.”
Dekan, nodding his head, knelt on one knee in front of Rasilia.
“I have committed an offense. Please punish me.”
“……”
Rasilia stared at the bowed Dekan. He was impeccably polite in speech and demeanor, but that was all.
‘He seems to think he hasn’t done anything wrong.’
The odd feeling she had before the fountain water sprouted wasn’t for nothing.
‘He said his spell was clumsy. Does that mean he’s a sorcerer? …Sorcerers still exist in the Empire.’
There must be a reason a sorcerer suddenly appeared before her.
“First, let’s hear who you are. You seem familiar with Knight Sigres.”
“I am Dekan Horseed, the third shadow protecting the current Emperor.”
“A shadow knight, you say? I don’t think I’ve ever seen your face before.”
“My assigned duty lies outside the palace. You will have no occasion to see my face within.”
“Then what about today?”
“I regret to report, my spell failed. Please punish me.”
“What was the spell for?”
Dekan hesitated for a moment before looking up to meet her eyes.
“It was to ascertain whether Her Majesty the Empress has recently used sorcery.”
“……”
Rasilia desperately suppressed her shock.
‘So, Count Piellion knew about the sorcerer. He wanted to confirm if it was because of the Empress… This means the Emperor must also know.’
The Emperor had already become aware of some secret concerning the Empress. And he wanted to confirm whether she had used sorcery. Linking the secret with sorcery was just a matter of time.
‘If he finds out that the seal is being removed… and that a sorcerer was called to reverse it, it’s over.’
Rasilia gritted her teeth, making no sound.
The Emperor was no fool. On the surface, he might have been giving her leeway, but behind the scenes, he was scrutinizing the Empress’s identity.
No matter how pitifully he might appear, tied to a stake like a dog, she couldn’t be swayed. He could kill her with a single word at any time.
Taking a slow breath, Rasilia asked a question that could also mean her death.
“So, did you find any traces?”
An Indifferent Woman is the One Men Desire the Most
One-line summary: The female lead is actually cold-hearted and extremely rational. She has stage-by-stage relationships and won’t two-time, but there will always be someone who secretly likes her.
This novel has the following triggers, so if you’re sensitive to these, please don’t read:
1. The female lead has had many relationships, but she treated each one seriously and broke up properly.
It’s just that the men unilaterally pestered her incessantly. For the female lead, when she doesn’t like someone anymore, she simply doesn’t like them.
(This applies to her relationships with Male Lead 1, 2, 3, and 4 as well, but she’s loyal in each 1-on-1 relationship!)
2. In this novel, Male Lead 2 and the female lead kiss in a car, and Male Lead 1 sees it and beats up Male Lead 2.
The female lead calls the police and sends both Male Lead 1 and 2 to the police station! Male Lead 1 begs the female lead not to break up with him.
3. Male Lead 1 has a gentle appearance but an obsessive personality.
Male Lead 2 has a delicate and soft appearance, slightly green tea-like (two-faced).
Male Lead 3 is a youthful college student and a smart person who has secretly liked the female lead for a long time.
Male Lead 4 is the female lead’s father’s special assistant, a business elite with deep, hidden thoughts.
4. At the beginning of this novel, the female lead has already broken up with Male Lead 1 (Chapter 4) and gotten back together with Male Lead 2 (ex-boyfriend).
5. Enter with caution if you have triggers!!!
