I just had to watch him go. Was I just supposed to watch the departing emperor? Should I catch him? Or should I wisely avoid him? It was a troubling time.
“Sister. Sister! Look at this.”
It was Shasha who rushed up to me, standing dumbfounded. Shasha had picked a bunch of flowers and handed them to me.
“Huh?”
“It’s for you, sister!”
“Is it for me?”
“Yes! Real flowers feel amazing. They’re soft and prickly, plush, and fragrant!”
Shasha’s smile never disappeared, perhaps in excitement.
“Thank you.”
“I’ll do it again! I will give you beautiful flowers every day!”
Looking at the bright smile of the child, my heart warmed. I was not here to live well; I was here to protect Shasha’s smile.
The emperor’s feelings did not matter to me; I only had to endure here. Realizing that late, I embraced the flowers that Shasha had given me.
“Shall I lead you inside, Miss Isabella, Miss Shanencia?”
Three people who had been watching our movements bowed their heads at the same time.
“Will you?”
“Yes. But first, let me introduce myself. I am Chertira, who is in charge here. I have worked in the imperial palace for fifteen years. This is maid Melodin, who will handle housekeeping, and servant Barum. Barum will deliver various news from the main palace and here.”
“Yes.”
“There are also two escort knights, although not here now. You will be safe here, so they won’t accompany you. They will move with you when you go out. The twin knights are Sir Ron and Sir Ken.”
I already felt a headache.
But it was not bad to grasp, so I etched every name in my mind.
Chertira seemed to be a person who would do something wrong in the back with a slightly nagging impression. Whether it was wearing small glasses or trying to control everything within her.
She seemed to value manners very much.
Melodin, next to her, was thin and looked quite troubled in the palace, constantly looking around.
With a clichéd face full of freckles, she had not even made eye contact with me.
Barum, the servant, showed what a pleasant person was like, being a bit chubby with a good physique.
Apart from that, there was nothing special. Occasionally, when our eyes met, he would scratch his head.
“Yes.”
“Let’s go in then. His Majesty the Emperor told us to prepare in a hurry, so it’s ready for use today, but I suppose there will be shortcomings.”
Striving for perfection, she was busy excusing herself until we arrived at the room.
In the meantime, we arrived at the room.
A room located on the first floor. Exactly three times larger than my room at the Earl’s house. Though not adorned with gold or such, ivory decorations added a gentle beauty here and there in the room.
There was also a door connected to a spacious terrace that led directly to the garden.
“Do you like it?”
“Yes. I like it.”
I very, very, very much like it. The palace had not been without some excessive elements, and I had worried that the room might be just as overwhelming, but on the contrary, the room provided a sense of mental calm.
“Is that so? I’m glad. If there is anything uncomfortable, please let me know. Ah, what shall we do with Lady Shanencia’s room? His Majesty thinks it might be best for you two to stay together for the time being……”
“We will stay together.”
“Understood.”
The emperor’s consideration was enough to bring forth a sigh. That he thought of even this. That he paid attention to every single detail.
‘Is it for me? Or is he reminded of his youngest sibling, or if not that… have I become an essential existence to him?’
Whatever it was, it was definitely a pleasant change.
‘No, it’s not that. He’s not using this as an excuse to… demand something from me.’
Though the emperor’s goodwill was not entirely welcome, it was probably because of what he had done. I mumbled to myself, then looked at Shasha. Excited, Shasha was busy walking around the room.
“Shall I bring in the meal?”
“Ah. Would you? I am hungry.”
“Yes.”
As if trying to create time just for Shasha and me, the three people closed the door and went out simultaneously. Then Shasha, who had been looking around the room, came over to me.
“Sis! It’s really big here!”
“Yeah? Very big?”
“Yes, yes! Really, really big! Much bigger than the Earl’s house!”
“We will live together in this big room from now on.”
“Really……? I’m so happy!”
Perhaps I felt a bit tired, so I sat on the sofa. Of course, Shasha followed and sat next to me, and I stroked the child’s head.
“Shasha.”
“Hmm?”
Shasha looked excited, and it seemed like I was throwing cold water on her excitement, but something I had to ask came to mind.
“Why didn’t you say anything earlier?”
Instead of answering, Shasha first let out an “Ah,” as if a person who had made a mistake.
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
