That I was the assassin who destroyed your everything and came back in time to your side. Would you believe that?
How much more sincerity must I show to gain your trust?
Sharp words escaped me unintentionally.
“Yes, is it wrong to remember?”
His eyes wavered.
“What?”
“I remembered a little, as the blind fortune-teller said. Is it wrong that my memory is returning?”
I wanted to vent to someone.
I never thought it would be you, right in front of me. I shouldn’t have dared to.
Regret pushed down my unjust anger. I had no right to be angry at you. Speaking out like a petulant child.
“How much more sincerity must I show for you to trust me?”
“I trust you.”
‘?’
He trusts me?
While acting distrustful?
“Your Grace, then why…”
“Draw your sword.”
“Your Grace.”
“If you refuse the duel, I’ll assume you have something to hide.”
“!”
I was truly angry.
I didn’t want to fight with you, not with these feelings, not in this situation.
What do you expect me to do?
“Very well, Your Grace.”
I extended my right arm holding the sword to my side.
Ready to parry any incoming attack.
“As you wish. I have no choice.”
The Duke’s expression twisted.
He held his long sword like a dagger, raising it in front of him, then tilting it to the side.
“Don’t try to deceive me like you did with Arkady. If you fake your skills and spare me, I’ll hold you accountable.”
Every word stung.
‘You think I deceived maliciously?’
“Understood.”
“I will not hold back. I won’t deceive with my skills. It’s the only truth I can show you right now.
I am quite tired today.”
In an instant, the Duke approached me like the wind. Simultaneously, his sword almost scorched my face as it swooped down.
I blocked his attack and turned my body, parrying his next strike.
With my left hand on the ground and my back bent, I used the sword in my right hand to fend off his downward thrust.
We were locked in a standoff.
The Duke asked, “Have you ever killed someone?”
“!”
“Have you?”
“No.”
“Lies.”
I resented him. Why does he keep asking me these painful questions?
Lies?
I haven’t killed anyone in this life.
‘How pitiful, Esdel.’
From my bent position, I slid my sword down his, straightening up and swinging it vertically.
He easily dodged the attack that could have bisected him.
As my sword hit the ground, his swooped down towards my shoulder. I raised mine above my head to block his.
His forceful push filled the space between us with our heavy breaths.
“Is this your best?”
“No.”
“Show me your best.”
I leaped up and distanced myself from him.
Should I really attack you with all I’ve got?
Are you sure you can handle it?
I adopted an attack stance.
His blue eyes sparkled.
“Like the movements of an assassin.”
His words pierced my heart like a nail.
I couldn’t move for a moment. The pain was indescribable, more than a mere ache in the heart.
‘You’re being cruel.’
What did I expect from you?
I forgot my place, warmed by your kindness in this life.
I mistook your occasional glances and touches for complete trust.
“You will regret saying that.”
I approached him. Silently, like flowing air.
And leaped towards him from a distance where my sword couldn’t reach.
His sword pointed at me lost its direction momentarily as I twisted in the air, aiming for his side.
In my past life, no one could dodge this attack. But he…
He quickly positioned his sword, blocking my extended strike. Our swords intertwined in midair.
‘He blocked it?!’
When scheming men desperately battle for her favor in the male harem
This one’s also on my reread list! The rivalry, scheming between the men in the imperial harem are just as intense and thrilling as in classic palace drama novels, where concubines fight to the death. Give it a read, girls! I promise you won’t be disappointed.
Synopsis:
“I am not worthy of her… but I still want to be by her side, even if only as a loyal dog…”
Those were the painful whispers of Yue Guanyi – the proud Crown Prince of the Great Qi, who was torn between deep love and a guilty conscience. Despite holding the supreme power of the Imperial Guard, he still could not forget the dark past when he was sold into a brothel.
Fate played a cruel twist when Qiu Shuzhi – a young female official who had just passed the imperial examinations with top honors – stepped into his life. She did not know that she was the one who had saved him from a tragic fate many years ago. And now, her heart was the target of pursuit for both Yue Guanyi and the powerful Empress Dowager Qin Qing.
While Yue Guanyi only dared to silently care for and protect the one he loved from afar, the Empress Dowager Qin Qing openly expressed his feelings and did not hesitate to take advantage of his power to approach Qiu Shuzhi. The covert struggle between the two most powerful forces in the imperial court began…
Trigger warning: All men in this novel are yandere style.
_____
Please help me, I want to bring you the best possible things.
If you find any chapter or novel with poor translation and editing quality, let me know by commenting directly under that novel or chapter. I will retranslate it as soon as possible.
[Touch the gear icon in the bottom right corner of the screen to move to the next chapter if you want.]
