Next, the treasure brought from Calcutta was examined. The large box, heavy enough to require the combined strength of two men to open, piqued everyone’s curiosity about its contents.
“Here is the sacred beast Pantiras from Calcutta.”
What emerged from the box was a majestic beast sculpture, as large as a lion.
The Pantiras, with the body of a leopard, wings of a bird, and claws of a dragon, was entirely made of jewels. The most striking part was its four eyes.
“The eyes of Pantiras are embedded with top-grade Majeong stones,” the guide continued, eliciting exclamations from the audience.
The darker the Majeong stones, the higher their magical power, and the stones in Pantiras’ eyes were deeper red than blood, indicating their supreme quality.
A faint smile crossed the Emperor’s lips.
The process of verifying bloodline documents and inspecting gifts continued. Stella realized that the value of the gifts represented the worth of the princesses themselves.
Some princesses brought statues of mighty beasts made of jewels or swords used by legendary kings. It signified they were treasured princesses.
Stella became curious, and then worried, about what gift the King of Amalun had sent with her.
Only Stella and one other pale-faced princess remained. The trembling princess, barely holding her box steady, nervously approached the Emperor.
The Emperor, with his usual stoic expression, took the bloodline document from the box and flicked it to the magician beside him.
The magician, who had received the bloodline document with a respectful demeanor, suddenly furrowed his brow upon unfurling the scroll, as if disbelieving what he saw. He then placed his palm over the opened document, but instead of the white light seen before, a lifeless yellow light flickered weakly and then extinguished. The previously warm atmosphere instantly froze, and the princess who had stepped forward collapsed on the spot.
“This bloodline document is a fake. This woman seated here is not the legitimate princess of Veradun,” declared the magician.
At this, Emperor Kai, who had been expressionless until then, smiled slyly for the first time.
“King of Veradun has sent us a very amusing gift. Naturally, we must reciprocate.”
Immediately after the Emperor’s words, two knights stepped in and forcefully lifted the collapsed woman, or rather, the impostor. Already pale, she staggered as she was roughly dragged away.
“Your Majesty, please spare my life! I only did as the king ordered. Please, just spare my life!” she pleaded desperately, but the Emperor remained unmoved.
“What shall we do with the gift, Your Majesty?” the chief attendant asked, pointing to the unopened box.
“Burn it.”
The princesses stood petrified, unable to breathe, witnessing the scene unfold before them. However, the most anxious person there was Stella.
Legitimate princess.
She was not a legitimate princess but a daughter born in shame, a fact that her father, the king, resented.
“It’s your turn, Princess Stella,” said an attendant, approaching the petrified Stella, who stood frozen in place.
“Ah, yes.”
With everyone’s eyes now on her, Stella walked forward, feeling dizzy. She clenched the box containing her bloodline document tightly, trying not to let her hands tremble.
Click-clack, click-clack.
The sound of her new shoes’ heels matched the rhythm of her heart. Her breath quickening, Stella consciously tried to breathe slowly.
Finally, in front of the Emperor, Stella, holding her breath to hide her trembling, set down the box.
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!!!
