“Your Majesty the Emperor, don’t be too angry. It’s just that I really like this tea and wanted to share it with the Empress.”
“…I’m sorry. I’ve ruined the tea time.”
“Didn’t Your Majesty also invite me? It’s all my fault.”
She bowed her head deeply, her face looking like she was about to cry, fidgeting with her fingers. But inwardly, she felt triumphant. She glanced at Eliade, who was walking away.
Celina’s plan had worked to some extent. The Empress touching the tea gifted to the beloved Consort. She had hoped that Claudius would rebuke her.
She was a bit startled by Claudius’s intense reaction, but seeing the Empress’s lonely back, she felt a sense of relief from her frustrations.
Suddenly, she was pulled towards Claudius. The scent of the man she loved enveloped her with his breath.
Claudius leaned in and whispered softly in Celina’s ear, so quietly that no one else could hear.
“This tea is meant only for the Consort. Sharing it with anyone else in the palace is something I, as the Emperor, do not permit.”
Celina was certain. Ah, he loves me. She embraced Claudius, engulfed in joy.
“Yes, I understand, Your Majesty.”
The garden returned to its peaceful state. There was no place for the Empress there. The traces of Eliade being completely excluded were like the spilled tea on the ground, aimlessly seeping away.
It would be a lie to say she was unaffected.
She had long passed her destination, the Empress’s Palace. How long had she walked? A stifling heat rose in Eliade’s cold heart.
Should she have retaliated in kind? Even if she had opened the teapot and poured the remaining tea on Claudius, would that have eased her frustration even a little?
Impossible. Eliade stopped in her tracks and let out a self-deprecating sneer. If her feelings could be resolved that easily, she would have already killed Claudius and followed him in death.
‘What exactly is in the tea the Consort is drinking?’
It could literally be a black tea specially made for the Consort. Unfortunately, Eliade might have been caught in the love game between the Emperor and the Consort.
But Claudius was using Celina to frustrate and anger Eliade. Did he want to see a strong reaction or tears from her?
It seemed like a sincere reaction for such an obvious provocation. Had he actually fallen in love with Celina while using her? That would be much better. Nothing was more dreadful than the possibility of Claudius still being in love with Eliade.
‘No, perhaps…’
Eliade was pondering this when she noticed a stealthy movement behind her.
“Could you at least make some noise?”
The hidden movement behind her halted abruptly. An artificial forest created in the middle of the palace, filled with numerous trees and dense bushes, often used by palace people for secret meetings. It was also perfect for hiding.
The person must have been following Eliade, taking advantage of this.
“My apologies.”
Revel emerged from the shadows of the trees. Eliade, without showing any surprise, turned around to confirm her guess.
The shade created by the densely grown trees. In the midday darkness, he approached. Even in the shadow, his eyes sparkled blue.
“You’re the first to notice my presence so quickly, Your Majesty the Empress.”
“I wish that were a compliment.”
Her words came out more sarcastically than intended, perhaps due to her heightened sensitivity. However, Revel didn’t seem to mind. Instead, he gave Eliade a full smile.
“It is a compliment.”
He looked better when he smiled. Eliade thought it suited him more than his usual expressionless face.
It was a strange comparison, but he reminded her of a large black dog approaching its master.
‘What am I thinking…’
Eliade quickly dismissed the odd thought. Revel, who had briskly approached her, now knelt in front of her. The smile still lingered on his face as this happened.
“No, wait… there’s no need for such formality…”
As she bent down to grasp his shoulder, their eyes met.
Deep, blue eyes. The afternoon sun, the sky, and the trees, everything around them seemed to stop in time. The world fell silent, as if only they existed.
At first glance, Revel’s eyes appeared blue, but upon closer inspection, they were a deep blue-gray. The color of the time rushing from night to dawn. Neither dull nor clear, but a palpable sense of clarity was present.
It’s said that one can somewhat understand a person by looking into their eyes. Dark but warm, deep blue-gray. Such a comforting darkness. She almost wanted to close her eyes and dive into it.
Eliade snapped back to reality. She almost felt like she would have caressed Revel’s face with her hand if she had stayed still any longer.
She didn’t want to make a mistake like last time. Back then, she had a severe headache and did something embarrassing just after waking up, but this situation was different.
Did Revel remember that incident? Since she couldn’t ask, all she could do was close her mouth. Eliade stood up, awkwardly averting her gaze.
“From now on, a simple greeting will suffice.”
“Yes, Your Majesty the Empress.”
After hearing Eliade’s response, Revel also stood up. Only then did Eliade fully take in Revel’s appearance.
If we consider height alone, he might be as tall as, or even taller than, Claudius. His body, honed through countless battles, was made of thick and firm lines.
His black clothes seemed appropriate for hiding in the darkness. I had heard that he often moved in secrecy, especially in the case of the Lycas Mercenary Group, which primarily undertook tasks that were not recorded. They were involved in covert operations, like assassinations.
‘I did keep that in mind when choosing him…’
As if cutting through her thoughts, Revel stood up and met Eliade’s eyes again. His dark gaze seemed unexpectedly gentle.
Top Celebrity Younger Brother Bears Her Child (Female-dominant)
One-line summary: Forced to live stream romance with a top celebrity in a female-dominant world.
Yan Jin transmigrated into a brothel, with a fellow transmigrated junior beside her.
Hearing the obscene words coming from outside, the unfortunate junior covered his ears tightly, his cheeks flushed red, and whispered to comfort her, “Don’t worry, I will definitely help you escape.”
“Don’t worry, I will definitely defend your chastity.” Yan Jin looked at the flawless and delicate features of the unfortunate junior and gently comforted, “Because we have transmigrated into a female-dominant world.”
※※※
Top celebrity Yu Shu suddenly fell into a coma during a concert.
Research scientist Yan Jin fainted in the lab after working overtime.
Two people with no connection were rushed to the same hospital.
Three days later, neither of them had woken up.
Suddenly, the entire nation discovered that a live streaming app had been forcibly installed on their phones.
Upon opening it, they heard the two discussing how to escape from the brothel.
The entire internet was in an uproar.
After the two successfully escaped from the brothel, Yu Shu’s fan group rushed to make a banner and sent it to the hospital overnight.
“Big sister bravely took action to defend the chastity of our idol!”
※※※
When Yu Shu was diagnosed with pregnancy, Yan Jin stared at his belly for a long time.
Covering his stomach, he muttered gloomily, “If you don’t like it, I’ll go get an abortion.”
“It’s not that I don’t like it.” Yan Jin hugged Yu Shu and said softly, “I just feel like I’m not human.”
Yu Shu comforted Yan Jin, “I was already an adult when we got together.”
Yan Jin hesitated, “But you won’t be of legal marriageable age even after giving birth to the child.”
At the same time, a flood of bullet comments appeared in the live streaming room that the two couldn’t see.
[Although it’s inappropriate, I also want a young and handsome boyfriend to have my child.]
①Male pregnancy (highlighted)
The female lead is five years older than the male lead, and the male lead is already an adult when he appears.
