The only noticeable priestess was Aris. She was looking around with wide eyes, leaning on Hubert due to the sudden commotion.
‘Was that priestess Aris?’
“I smell burning.”
Giovanni commented nonchalantly. Indeed, the burning smell was growing stronger.
It should be nothing serious. Had anyone been hurt, it wouldn’t have just been rumors of a fire.
Yet, I was somewhat worried.
The situation was becoming increasingly chaotic.
The nobles, alarmed by the news of the fire, were growing more discontent.
“What in the world is happening?”
The king demanded, to which the steward, wiping sweat from his brow with a handkerchief, responded.
“Seems like a spark caught the woodpile while preparing the food in a hurry. Given the dry weather… Although it’s far, it might reach here, so it would be best to move outside.”
The steward seemed genuinely panicked, indicating it was no minor issue.
The king’s face contorted in anger.
“How could such a disgrace happen in front of our guests!”
Regardless of the king’s temper, my focus was elsewhere.
‘The smell is…’
The scent of burning was becoming painfully intense.
The hall filled with an uneasy atmosphere.
Kichep approached urgently.
“Prince, we should evacuate outside. The fire seems more intense than expected. It might reach here.”
Giovanni turned to leave, and I was about to follow when someone blocked my path.
It was Kichep.
“Will you follow?”
“What, should I stay here instead?”
I asked incredulously, to which he frowned openly.
‘Even in this situation, he dislikes me.’
“Please don’t try anything with the Prince.”
I was about to say that we were in a cooperative relationship, but then Kichep’s sharp gaze caught my eye. I wondered why he still disliked me, even after clearing up misunderstandings with Giovanni.
Suddenly, ‘the Prince’s secret sexual preference’ came to mind.
“Why do you stop talking?”
His annoyed look made me swallow hard.
“Oh, it’s nothing.”
“…?”
“I understand what you want. I’ll be careful.”
As I responded obligingly, doubt flickered in Kichep’s eyes.
“I have no intention of harming the Prince. In fact, I’m trying to cooperate. So, you don’t need to be so wary of me.”
I spoke as kindly as possible to him.
“I’m not interested in the Prince romantically.”
“What? Oh, well, that’s good.”
He seemed relieved. I sighed in relief, realizing my guess was correct.
“Good. Then you understand? You have no reason to be jealous of me.”
“…Jealous?”
His gaze suddenly sharpened, piercingly focused on me.
“I don’t know what nonsense you’re talking about, but I don’t trust you. Be aware that I’m suspicious of you.”
After he left, I shook my head in disbelief.
‘Is that the look of a man crazy with jealousy?’
Scary.
The outdoor garden, now empty of people, was bustling with noise.
Everyone was watching the spreading fire at Darius Palace.
Darius Palace, where the royal banquet’s food was prepared, was close to the main palace, making the extent of the fire immediately visible.
“What is that!”
“Good heavens, the fire is bigger than I thought!”
The murmuring quickly grew louder.
“It will soon spread here.”
Startled by Giovanni’s voice as I walked stealthily, I noticed his frown looking at my awkward posture.
“What are you doing?”
Avoiding your jealous subordinate.
But it was no use. Kichep had already spotted me, scowling.
I coughed and straightened up.
‘You don’t need to be wary of me. I understand your feelings.’
I looked firmly at Kichep with that thought in mind.
Kichep whispered something to Giovanni.
“I told you, she’s a mad woman.”
Why whisper when I can hear so clearly…?
I awkwardly raised one corner of my mouth.
But Kichep continued to growl at me, while Giovanni observed the situation.
“Too relaxed.”
I took my gaze off Kichep and looked at him.
“Relaxed?”
“Look there. The fire is quite fierce. If it continues like this, it will reach us.”
He was right.
The flames, flickering like a snake’s tongue, were engulfing the roof of Darius Palace.
“But they’re just causing a commotion, not preparing anything.”
“That’s because…”
I started to respond but hesitated, feeling strangely about the word ‘because’ that I had just uttered.
“Because?”
“There’s a priestess. She can make it rain.”
My voice trailed off.
Why did this feel so odd? It was entirely natural for a priestess to step in here.
“So they just sit back and do nothing? What if there were no priestess?”
His words made me lift my head suddenly.
That was the unease I felt.
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
