After Claudius’ departure, Eliade devoted herself solely to work and reading. She was so lost in thought that premature wrinkles seemed likely to form on her forehead.
“Soon, there will be a royal ball, so we need to prepare in advance. And also for the charity event. I hope many new sponsors participate this time.”
“…Your Majesty the Empress, you have a headache right now, don’t you?”
Lynette hit the nail on the head. Despite Eliade’s attempt to hide it, the faint frown on her forehead seemed to give her away.
“I’ll bring you some medicine. Please lie down and rest, even if just for an hour. How many hours has it been already?”
Lynette’s tone suggested she would forcibly take Eliade to bed if she didn’t comply. Eliade nodded obediently.
Lying quietly in the dark room, perhaps Eliade could at least get a short nap. Lynette handed her a headache pill as she sat on the bed.
“Just for one hour. After that, I must wake you up without fail.”
“The Empress’s waking time is at the discretion of the head chamberlain of the Imperial Consort’s Palace.”
Lynette spoke firmly as she adjusted Eliade’s blanket. Her actions of dimming the lights and drawing the curtains were filled with affection and concern.
Not long after Eliade lay down, her breathing became regular and soft. Lynette looked back and saw that Eliade had quickly fallen into a deep sleep.
It was clear that she had also had a restless night before. How long could she endure like this without collapsing?
The sky had turned a hazy white. White light seeped through the cracks of the curtains, not yet fully closed. Wary of disturbing the Empress’s sleep, Lynette adjusted the curtains to block out the light.
Eliade’s face in sleep looked peaceful. The slight frown she wore while working had smoothed away.
Lynette tiptoed out of the room quietly. After instructing everyone in the Imperial Consort’s Palace to keep quiet for a few hours, she sat down silently in front of the palace doors.
When she first came here, how excited and nervous she had been. To live in the palace with Eliade, who was like a friend, like a sister.
Perhaps the backing of the Melfiram Count’s family played a part in Lynette becoming a maid to the imperial consort.
The image of the nursemaid and Eliade, who had become the imperial consort, entering the palace together was still vivid in her mind. She thought they would all be together until Eliade ascended to the position of Empress.
But the bright future she had imagined shattered overnight. The magnificent stone palaces she saw from the carriage now felt suffocating and frightening.
After that day, Lynette vowed never to be frightened or tremble again. She always reminded herself of Eliade, who faced the situation with calmness.
She didn’t want to be picked on by the palace people or walk around defeated. But who could she trust? She wanted to be a strong support for the isolated Eliade, but Lynette herself had no power.
In Eliade’s challenging palace life, at least Claudius, the Emperor, she hoped, would be on her side. She thought having someone to lean on during tough times would be enough.
Claudius’ first impression was quite good. People described him as the cold and mysterious sun of the empire, and Lynette agreed.
He seemed intimidating for not showing even a hint of emotion, but it would be fine if he was good to Eliade.
But he led Eliade’s loved ones to their deaths. In just a few days, it was a tragedy that unfolded like a well-woven fabric.
**
Not a single person affiliated with the Melfiram Count’s family survived.
The only survivors were Eliade, Lynette, who had come to the palace with her, and the nursemaid. Everyone from the family’s servants, gardeners, cooks, and other employees could not escape death.
Eliade wanted to grab the Emperor by the hem of his robe and ask him why he had to treat even the innocent as traitors.
There was no possibility of graves for the deceased. They were just buried somewhere, and grieving or praying for them was forbidden. The only way she could express her sorrow was by wearing dark-colored clothes.
The situation was even worse for the Countess and Rimres, who were accused of leading the rebellion.
“Chop up the bodies of the Countess Melfiram and Rimres Lowen Melfiram, who led the rebellion.”
Silent slaughter. Even in death, they couldn’t find peace. Their dismembered bodies were said to be scattered across the empire. Upon learning this, Eliade had been unconscious for two days.
Lynette and the nursemaid had stayed up nights, caring for Eliade and praying for her recovery. It was the first time in her life Lynette had sought out a deity.
“If you truly exist above us, please let Eliade wake up.”
And she cursed Claudius.
“If you exist, please don’t leave him be. Innocent people died by his hands. Please, answer my prayers.”
Whether the prayers reached heaven or not, Eliade woke up. However, while Eliade received love from the divine, nothing happened to Claudius.
The Villainous Demon Lord Laid an Egg for Her (Female-Dominated)
Several months after transmigrating into a book, Yu Wu found herself facing the demon lord Li You, who could no longer conceal his dragon horns. With one hand on her aching waist and the other gripping a sharp sword, she stared at him.
The demon lord’s eyes were red with fury:
“This is all your doing! Today, I won’t rest until I kill you!”
Yu Wu rubbed her temples. Putting aside the taboo against bloodshed during pregnancy, wasn’t it this very man who willingly walked into her trap that day?!
Warnings:
- Male pregnancy.
- Height ratios are set to mirror typical male-female height proportions.
- Characters include a foot-loving demon lord and an eldest daughter from an immortal family’s concubine lineage.
