“I have received such great grace from him that I cannot repay. So, I swore to the gods to live the rest of my life for my lord. And I promised him that I would go to him myself.”
“Swenden Yungae.”
“Call me Ines.”
“Alright, Ines. I understand your words to some extent. I am still listed as the closest maid to the Crown Princess, so I may be able to initiate you as my maid.”
Since there seemed to be room for negotiation in those words, Ines raised her head, sparkling with hope.
“But I don’t want to charge you tuition.”
“Then…?”
She hesitated for a moment, but the hesitation did not last long.
“Swear that Swenden won’t turn away from me.”
“Agreed.”
“Then, instead of initiating you, help me not to be expelled from the palace.”
“What?”
“I don’t want money. Of course, it’s true that my family is currently facing financial difficulties. But I don’t want to quit my job more than that.”
“But…”
Of course, she didn’t know everything about her, but she could tell that she wouldn’t be able to make such a request to Viscount Swenden. However, Ines was prepared for all the palace residents to ridicule her and was willing to initiate Casey as her maid. So, Casey, please do what I want.”
Ines couldn’t answer hastily. Then Casey’s firm voice was heard again.
“If I prove my worth.”
“Worth?”
“Yes, if I show that I am indispensable to Empress Yungae, then, at that time, please make a request to him for me.”
“…Even if that request is not accepted, I won’t resent you.”
In a situation where she came to make a request but ended up receiving a favor, Ines couldn’t thoroughly examine the circumstances. As Ines said, if Casey needed her in the palace, even if she used personal favoritism, there was no reason not to make such a request.
And maybe Ines could prevent Casey from going to Romfield.
Casey hadn’t treated Ines as kindly as Charlotte, but still, they had relied on each other in that hellish place.
On the day Ines was released, Casey’s figure following her caught her eye.
Meeting her again, she might not have known that it could be the hand of fate preparing a different destiny, perhaps even that of a disciple of God.
“Alright.”
In the dim carriage as the sun began to set, the two nodded at each other.
“I, too, must prove my worth to him.”
While making a pledge to stand in the two positions that everyone would ridicule, the two women looked at each other with new hope shining in their eyes.
Now, Ines had come one step closer to him. Perhaps she didn’t know that she might be able to face him up close soon.
At that time, in the Swenden Mansion, where Ines had left abruptly after leaving only one letter, there was a commotion.
“What? Where did the messenger come from?”
“It’s from the palace, Master.”
Andrew hurriedly dressed neatly and rushed to the main gate of the mansion to meet the palace messenger. His wife was already standing in the lobby.
“What’s going on?”
Answering Elena’s anxious eyes with a faint smile, Andrew carefully received and read the imperial letter. The two ordered the messenger to be treated and moved to where the family gathered for a meal.
“What’s in the letter?”
When her husband stared at the letter without saying anything, Elena’s voice trembled even more.
“It’s a handwritten letter from the Lord.”
“A handwritten letter?”
“Yes.”
Although he was already considered the Emperor in the palace, as the formal coronation had not yet taken place, the seal of Landhill Territory was stamped side by side with the imperial seal on the letter.
“Is it about the territory?”
“No.”
“Then…?”
“He hasn’t officially become Emperor yet, but there will be a formal coronation soon…”
“Why bother telling our family separately about this?”
“So…”
Unable to continue his words hastily, Elena, who was frustrated, accepted the letter from her husband. The carefully read letter contained such content.
As the situation is settled, he will come to take Ines, and she should take good care of her in the Swenden family. Along with that, there was a story that he would not allow her to be approved by any other castle except Swenden at the moment.
“What should we do about this situation? We should send a reply to the messenger right away.”
In a panic, Elena raised her voice, scratching her head at her husband’s bewildered face.
“Just tell the truth.”
After Ines disappeared, the Swenden family had been busy without any breaks. They had to send rejection replies to the families where they had submitted marriage proposals to Ines’s family. The content included lies such as her health suddenly deteriorating, and she had left for a more secluded territory for recuperation.
Was that all? Ines did not forget to ask various favors from her parents while resisting their words and running away.
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
