As the Investiture was nearing its end, Ermedelin was impatiently waiting for this tedious event to conclude quickly. She wanted to rush to Pellio as soon as it ended to express her gratitude for the brooch.
‘Ah, when will this irrelevant event finally end?’
Although she wanted to lift her chin, being the Empress by title meant she couldn’t disrupt the formal ceremony with any posture deviations. With an effort to maintain a gracious smile, she hoped for time to pass quickly.
“As for this Investiture, it is Leopold Gongja from the Valius Empire…”
The voice of Chamberlain Halshtain, who was reading a paper with the details of the Investiture, began to tremble.
“Leopold Gongja from the Valius Empire.”
Upon hearing the name, Henri immediately stood up from his seat, causing a significant disturbance among the nobles below.
‘Leopold? Could it be? Wasn’t that the name written in a small corner of the note?’
Ermedelin also felt her blood running in the wrong direction at the sound of that name. Still, she tried her best to maintain a calm demeanor.
The man with golden eyes who was announced as the Investiture recipient didn’t even glance in Ermedelin’s direction.
Fortunately, he seemed to have no intention of pretending to know her.
“After hearing the news of my nephew’s birth, I rushed here within a month. Have you been well, Your Majesty?”
‘Nephew? Did he say nephew just now?’
Ermedelin’s fingertips were trembling with the effort to calm them, and her mind was not functioning properly.
“It has been a while, Leopold Gongja.”
Henri also tried to maintain a composed attitude in this unexpected encounter, but seeing him right next to her, one could observe a slight tremor in his Adam’s apple.
“Hearing the news of a nephew, you came rushing with gifts after a month? I suppose the one embracing the imperial grandson is not Her Majesty the Empress?”
Despite Leopold’s provocative remark, Henri remained silent, looking down at him with an imposing gaze.
“Quite audacious. Coming back here and making such presumptuous remarks?”
In the midst of Leopold’s mockery, Henri’s response was calm and composed, his eyes maintaining an intimidating stare.
“Where is it? Returning to our father’s country and speaking arrogantly?”
Whether he had found composure during the confrontation or not, Henri’s reaction to Leopold’s mockery was cold and composed.
“Where? It is my father’s country, the country where my beloved brother is reigning as the emperor. And I have visited the Valius Empire as an official envoy to congratulate the birth of the imperial grandson in the Tribean Empire.”
Leopold provocatively continued, and among the watching nobles, a faint sound of laughter began to be heard.
“You are quite bold. Returning here to speak arrogantly?”
In the meantime, whether he had regained composure or not, Henri’s response to Leopold’s mockery remained calm and composed.
“Is it? Thank you for generously accepting the gifts sent through you. Since I have come to the father’s country after a long time, why not enjoy some sightseeing and have a pleasant time before returning? Have you arranged a place to stay?”
“I have already rented a residence near the palace as there are many attendants. They’ve been paid for their accommodations and expenses by His Majesty.”
“Indeed, Your Majesty takes care even of a half-brother like us. Thank you for your generosity.”
After offering a graceful farewell, Leopold left the Investiture chamber.
As soon as Leopold disappeared, Henri sighed softly, covering his lips with his palm.
All the nobles’ attention was focused on every small gesture Henri made.
Henri soon realized his actions and straightened his shoulders, sitting down with a graceful and relaxed demeanor.
Thump, thump, thump, thump.
However, contrary to their appearances, the sound of their hearts pounding became so loud that it felt like it echoed inside their heads.
Balier, unfamiliar with the Western script, seemed subtly rolling his eyes, perhaps drawn to the pile of gold and silver treasures in the large box. Both Henri and Ermedelin were nervously wondering if the sound of their hearts could be heard by the person sitting next to them.
“Damn it!”
As soon as Henri returned to his office, he spat out curses while removing his mask.
“I didn’t expect him to bring a congratulatory letter from the Valius Empire and appear officially at the Investiture.”
Count Halstein also seemed partially out of his mind, wearing a bewildered expression.
Because of his noble lineage among the illegitimate children, Henri’s half-brother, who could have become his strongest competitor if he had the mind, suddenly appeared publicly. It was understandable that he could become such a threat.
“I told you to keep track of his whereabouts! Did you not know until he was right in front of your nose?”
At the sound of Henri’s loud, angry voice, Count Halstein closed his eyes tightly.
“Now that he has publicly started his activities, he will undoubtedly openly try to win over the nobles. Do we have no evidence to accuse him of treason?”
Male lead Asks for a Divorce Every Day
It’s not often you come across a plot like this in the female-dominant genre — make sure to check it out!
This is a novel I’m planning to reread as well.
The male lead is strong, skilled in martial arts, and not the usual fragile type you often see in matriarchal novels.
Meanwhile, the female lead is a scientist—rational and logical. Even when she falls for the male lead, she doesn’t let her emotions cloud her decisions.
If you push through the first few chapters, you’ll gradually find the story really intriguing.
It has a mix of mystery, detective elements, and romance.
The author’s writing style is like crafting a puzzle—except they deliberately leave out a few pieces, making it hard to predict what happens next, yet keeping you hooked.
In the end, everything will come together and be explained.
One-sentence summary: Wife, stop playing with beakers and look at me!
In a laboratory accident, research scientist Zhu Wansheng accidentally travels to a matriarchal world. The original owner of the body is an eighteen-year-old only daughter of a wealthy rouge merchant, already married with a handsome young man.
Zhu Wansheng grins: Nice! She always said she was heaven’s favorite granddaughter. After a life of toil in her previous life, she can enjoy blessings in this one.
However, her joy lasts no more than three seconds as bad news arrives: the original owner’s family is about to go bankrupt, and her husband wants a divorce.
Even worse, she’s stuck with a research system full of restrictions.
Zhu Wansheng: ? Is this the destiny of a research dog?
——
Faced with this mess, Zhu Wansheng pours herself a bowl of wine to drown her sorrows. In her drunken haze, her husband arrives.
His figure is imposing, holding a long sword, with a dignified air that captivates Zhu Wansheng.
Gu Yingqing, however, looks at the alcohol-reeking Zhu Wansheng with undisguised disgust and coldly asks, “Divorce or not?” The intoxicated Zhu Wansheng mumbles vaguely, “I think… it’s not… it’s not… impossible!”
——
The next day, after sobering up, Zhu Wansheng is full of energy, rolling up her sleeves ready to make a big move. As for yesterday? She has no memory of it.
Zhu Wansheng is ambitious; a research dog fears nothing!
Upgrading rouge, extracting fragrances, producing perfumes, researching lipsticks… all shall bow to the power of modern technology!
The original owner’s dying rouge shop is revitalized. Her mother is pleased and with a wave of her hand, passes on the family business to her. As she takes control and her experimental results gain popularity, it’s the pinnacle of her life…
——
But there are always those who can’t stand to see her doing well. Jealousy, scheming, assassination attempts – they want nothing less than her life.
The person who has always kept his distance from her suddenly holds her tightly in his arms, eyes full of concern.
She is unharmed, but he falls into a pool of blood…
Zhu Wansheng feels guilty, “I can grant you one wish.”
Gu Yingqing tentatively circles his arms around her, carefully resting his head in the crook of her neck, pleading softly, “I regret it. Can we not divorce?”
Zhu Wansheng: ? When did I agree to a divorce?
[Small Theater]
The newly developed rouge is beautifully packaged, and Zhu Wansheng is eager to try it.
Gu Yingqing suddenly appears: “My lady, may I apply it for you?”
Cool fingertips lightly brush her lips. His Adam’s apple bobs as he leans in for a light bite.
Zhu Wansheng: ?
Gu Yingqing: It smells so good, I wanted to taste it…
On a warm spring day, Zhu Wansheng tries a new perfume: “Spring Night.” Gu Yingqing corners her against a wall.
Warm breath lingers on her neck.
“My lady, from now on, may I test the fragrances for you?”
[Humorous female scientist vs scheming live-in son-in-law male lead]
[Touch the gear icon in the bottom right corner of the screen to move to the next chapter if you want.]
