The atmosphere in the morning parade was decidedly different from now.
The people showered Valliere with endless cheers and blessings.
However, their hospitality failed to mend Valliere’s shattered selfesteem.
All their goodwill was, after all, directed at the beautiful and great young Emperor Henri.
“Do I really have to receive celebrations while wearing this stifling mask? I look so pretty today! I put so much effort into my makeup, and yet I have to wear this suffocating mask!”
Today, Valliere herself felt she looked breathtakingly beautiful.
Subdued beauty could feel pitiful, but when she dolled up, she was no less adorable.
Moreover, when she adorned herself with intricately embroidered lace around her neck and large pieces of ruby and pearl jewelry, she even radiated the dignity and elegance befitting a duchess.
“Do they really think I woke up at dawn to get all dolled up just to be hidden behind this mask?”
She felt that if the people, the nobles, or even Henri saw her bare face, their attitudes might change. However, since Henri, the nobles, and the people were all wearing masks, there was nothing she could do but endure it.
As she was about to complete her circle around the square and return to the temple, Valliere spotted two women on the terrace of an upscale building surrounding the square, masks off and elegantly sipping tea.
They were Belest and Liena, who had humiliated Valliere just yesterday.
Neither had any good feelings toward Valliere, nor were they obligated to attend the ceremonial events, so they sat sipping tea in a nearby salon.
Moreover, they did not even glance at the square, not wanting to see Valliere make a fool of herself.
That sight, the two women ignoring her while sipping tea, chafed Valliere’s selfesteem.
In that instant, Valliere tore off her stifling mask.
The moment her beautiful face was revealed, the crowd in the square cheered and began to remove their masks as well.
“What is this?”
Henri looked at Valliere with strong disapproving eyes, but Valliere, now maskless, circled the square once more before finally returning to the temple.
“What are you doing!”
Once they were back in the temple alone, Henri was livid.
“It’s my inauguration ceremony. Am I not allowed to show my face?”
“You know we’re wearing these because of the epidemic!”
“We were outside. No big deal. Nobody got hurt, right?”
At Valliere’s softspoken words, Henri was at a loss.
Even though they were outside, the crowd density made infection possible. Yet, Henri had no knowledge of this and, as Valliere pointed out, no visible harm had occurred.
Henri simply hoped this wouldn’t escalate and dropped the matter.
Finally, the orphanage opening ceremony was about to begin.
As Ermedillin nervously awaited her turn to enter, she saw Pellio slowly approaching.
He was merely moving his feet, yet there was something so imposing about him that Ermedillin felt an odd sense of unease.
“Why are you late?”
“There were more matters to attend to than anticipated.”
“Thank you for coming before the ceremony.”
“It’s only natural that I attend.”
He had tried to speak gently, yet Pellio’s response was formal and rigid, his eyes fixed ahead.
“Did something unpleasant happen?”
Just as she was about to ask, Henri arrived.
“Your Majesty. Have you arrived?”
Ermedillin quickly adjusted her posture and bowed her head to Henri.
“I promised not to be late. Do you plan on wearing that mask the entire time?”
Everyone knows, although they’re orphans, they’re the stars of the show.
The purpose of those attending this event was to witness Ermedillin, famously known as the immoral empress, doing something virtuous.
“Yes. I’ll keep it on. Just in case.”
“I see.”
Henri nodded without much reaction.
Finally, the groundbreaking ceremony began, and the imperial couple ascended to the stage set up in front of the orphanage.
Welldressed orphans lined up in front of the emperor and empress, waiting to hear their words of blessing.
The children seemed delighted to be dressed well and the center of attention, smiles filling their eyes.
It was a shame that the masks hid their potentially adorable dimples.
Henri delivered blessings to the children with an imperial demeanor.
The gist of it was about the greatness of the Trebian Empire, about how they, blessed by the gods and the royal family, should be grateful and loyal to the nation.
When Henri’s turn ended, it was time for Ermedillin to bless the children.
“Um.”
Ermedillin had prepared a decent speech.
But standing on the stage, looking at the children, her mind went blank.
No matter how excited they were, no matter how welldressed, loneliness lurked in their eyes.
A loneliness that might haunt them for life, like a brand on their souls.
And that brand would only become more evident as they grew and began to see themselves more objectively.
Behind the innocent smiles hid lonely faces. Ermedillin knew those faces well.
Her own horrific past encountered in an unexpected place.
My Ex-Girlfriend Is The Regent In The Female-dominant World (Male lead transmigrates to the matriarchal world)
Two years ago, Gu Sui picked up a homeless woman in ancient costume from the street.
Apart from occasionally claiming to be a princess from a female-dominant country due to illness, her figure, appearance, intelligence, and martial arts skills were impeccable.
Naturally evolving from roommates to girlfriends, as time went on, Gu Sui found it increasingly difficult to tolerate her queen syndrome.
“Mu Jiulu, can you stop controlling me inside and out? Let’s break up.”
Gu Sui made a breakup call, and since then, he couldn’t find any trace of her.
A year later, Gu Sui, who was planning to move, woke up the next day and found himself in a different place.
“Young Master, today is the day you choose your Wife-master through martial arts competition at Jade Dew Pavilion. Please get up quickly.”
Gu Sui: Who am I? Where am I? What am I doing?
As the only son of a general’s mansion in a female-dominant dynasty, the young empress personally issued a decree allowing Gu Sui to select his Wife-master through martial arts competition. Whoever could defeat him could marry him.
Gu Sui: “……”
He didn’t inherit the original owner’s martial prowess, so anyone could defeat him! And what the hell is a Wife-master?
Forced to come to Jade Dew Pavilion, the densely packed women below made Gu Sui’s agoraphobia act up, and his face was full of resistance.
Until he saw the Regent sitting on the second floor, with a smile on the corner of her lips, her eyes wicked and nonchalant.
Hmm… she looked a little familiar.
It turned out that the Regent also found him a little familiar.
Mu Jiulu fiddled with her bone clasp, her deep gaze locked on the man who was out of place in this world.
“Finally, I found you.”
Male transmigrates into female-dominant world
One-sentence summary: What goes around comes around, taking turns in the crematorium
