Take all the responsibility?
‘Who the hell is it, and why won’t they leave me alone?’
Even if I generously concede to the duel, I don’t understand why the Empress is getting involved.
“You have to answer. Grand Duchess?”
The answer is already decided; you just have to respond.
The Empress’s expression clearly conveyed it.
I almost openly showed my displeasure but managed to restrain myself.
“All right.”
“That expression doesn’t say ‘all right.'”
The Empress scrutinized my expression with a snake-like gaze. It seemed that my expression gave away more than my words did.
“I guess I’m concerned about the safety of Prince and Grand Duke.”
Take responsibility for the duel.
It implied that any accidents during the duel would be blamed on me.
Even though the date hasn’t been set yet.
‘As if something significant is about to happen.’
Presumably, the Empress won’t be closely watching the duel.
Certainly, she could set the stage for Serdis to win or strategically lay traps.
As both are members of the imperial family, a duel within the palace would become a topic of gossip.
She wouldn’t miss this opportunity.
“If you’re so concerned, you could personally oversee the duel, Empress.”
However, I couldn’t refuse the Empress’s command suspiciously.
“No, I will do my best to ensure the safety so that the Empress won’t worry.”
At this point, accepting and preventing the Empress from finding other solutions was the best course of action.
“That’s right. You should.”
The Empress narrowed her eyes.
“Don’t think of winning the duel by unfair means. Tell the Grand Duke that.”
I simply nodded in agreement, but internally, I rejected her words.
‘If you don’t intervene, nothing significant will happen in the duel.’
Outwardly, I nodded as if understanding.
“Be careful not to let any unfair incidents happen on both sides.”
“All right. You don’t look very well, but don’t overexert yourself.”
I nodded vaguely at the courtesy remark.
“Thank you for your concern, Empress.”
The Empress seemed quite satisfied with my response, smiling and relaxing her face.
“The Grand Duchess is fortunate. Our son, who will become the Emperor one day, is fighting for her.”
She seemed to feign ignorance about why the duel was happening.
It was because of my son’s first love that this incident occurred, but the Empress seemed unconcerned about that point. She looked pleased, as if enjoying the spectacle.
“The Grand Duchess doesn’t seem pleased? Just enjoy it. How romantic is it for handsome men to fight for themselves?”
“It’s an unnecessary fight. I’m worried they might get hurt for no reason.”
“It’s not like anyone will die. Every man should experience a duel at least once. It’s not because of some petty young girls but because of the Grand Duchess.”
It was like that back then.
I pushed Hertian into a corner and tried to extract him.
‘I was ready to kill Hertian and make him the prince’s partner back then.’
The same situation could repeat itself this time.
“I appreciate your kindness.”
I had many things to say, but I mechanically responded. The conversation with the Empress didn’t seem particularly meaningful.
‘I want a break.’
I hoped this time would end soon, so I glanced outside. Despite my efforts to pretend not to notice, I felt the Empress’s warm gaze on me.
“Grand Duchess seems calm today?”
“I’m not feeling well.”
At that moment, I purposely coughed.
“Your face looks really pale.”
I shivered, nodding.
“I know it’s rude, but may I leave first?”
“You’ve already kept me waiting, and you want to leave already? I wanted to talk with the Grand Duchess for a while.”
“I might collapse in front of the Empress.”
Placing her hand on her forehead, the Empress, while gazing into the distance with a melancholic expression, stuck her tongue out disapprovingly.
“I’ll take my leave now.”
“Thank you for your understanding.”
I immediately rose from my seat and respectfully bowed my waist.
“I’ll sit here and leisurely catch up on gossip, waiting for the interview full of envy from those who love Serdis to be published in the gossip columns by tomorrow. We’ll have to wait for that.”
My body stiffened at once.
“What are you waiting for?”
She asked, surprised and curious.
“Why? Is the Grand Duchess, who has no interest in social circles, also getting interested? Well, then, let me send you one.”
I hadn’t thought of that.
The news of the duel that had already spread throughout the palace would circulate all over the capital.
“Then Violet will find out too…?”
I mumbled with a dazed expression.
“Since the lady isn’t interested in gossip, she might not know yet, but she’ll eventually hear about Serdis, right?”
“No…”
“It’s unfortunate that the lady has feelings for our Serdis. But where else in the capital besides the lady likes Serdis?”
No! Violet must not know that a duel is happening because of me.
If Violet finds out that Serdis is fighting a duel because of me in this situation, what might happen?
‘She might blame me, who became the center of this duel, for no reason.’
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
