Yerpi shook her head to help Johan, who was in a difficult situation.
“It wasn’t something the adjutant told me. I’ve known this information since before entering Growen.”
“Has the ecology of the Hwan-su been leaked outside?”
At that, Yerpi answered cautiously.
“Yes. From a very old manuscript kept in the family archive.”
It recorded various types of Hwan-su, their appearances, and their behaviors and temperaments.
Suspicious eyes turned sharply toward her.
Though her stomach churned uneasily under that gaze, Yerpi forced herself to maintain a calm expression.
In truth, it was all a lie.
But this was the only way she could explain the knowledge she had gained through dreams.
“It was purely my guess, but it seemed like an ancient text left behind by an ancestor who once ventured beyond Growen’s barrier. At first, I thought someone had made it up from imagination, but now that I’ve seen it firsthand, everything turned out to be true.”
Even those living within the barrier weren’t forever trapped inside.
Some had been exiled to the outside world, or left for other reasons—but returning to Growen afterward was nearly impossible.
Raymond listened to her in silence.
Encouraged by his patience, Yerpi spoke as if to reassure him.
“There’s no need to worry too much about the leak. When I was young, I accidentally burned the book while working in the kitchen.”
That manuscript no longer existed in this world.
To be more accurate, the records of the woman who had once lived here existed only within Yerpi’s mind.
Yerpi, facing him, moistened her dry mouth.
Would this hastily constructed lie hold?
Before the tense Yerpi could react, an answer came.
“…For now, I’ll have to believe it.”
Though the suspicious gaze remained, she had gained temporary permission.
Relieved inwardly, Yerpi considered this fortunate.
But another question followed.
“What do you want from me?”
Now came the main point.
Yerpi, having organized her thoughts while being escorted by the knight to Raymond, began to speak.
“I believe I can help.”
Even though Pinkbells were naturally social creatures, covering the vast plain so extensively was abnormal.
No wonder Raymond was struggling with a situation he had never faced before.
Yet Yerpi had a vague suspicion about this anomaly.
It came from the memories of the original Yerpi, seen in dreams.
“She arrived here, and strange phenomena began.”
At first, the people of Growen merely found it odd, but gradually they began focusing on the Archduchess.
Everyone said the Hwan-su started going wild ever since she arrived.
Already tormented by lack of affection and nearing madness, Yerpi suffered under the public’s accusing stares. When she realized the cause was the very Hwan-su she feared so much, she fell into even deeper despair.
Alone and cowering in a strange land, there was no one to help her.
In the end, Yerpi began searching for a solution herself, just to escape such rumors.
And it began with uncovering information about the Hwan-su.
This land belonged to the Hwan-su, and Growen’s library was overflowing with ancient texts and records about them.
She studied the Hwan-su and gradually learned about their behaviors.
Yet her fear never faded, and nothing changed.
Still, Yerpi’s efforts were now proving immensely helpful to her present self.
“How exactly do you plan to help? If an accident occurs because you’re showing off superficial knowledge, the responsibility will fall entirely on you.”
Raymond, arms crossed, looked down at Yerpi.
He seemed to be criticizing the arrogance of an Archduchess recklessly inserting herself.
But in truth, Raymond himself had no immediate solution for dealing with the Pinkbells.
The swarm occupying the entire plain remained immovable, showing no sign of opening a path.
Moreover, there was another reason why they couldn’t recklessly interfere with the Pinkbells, beyond their species-specific traits.
An ancient heritage that all Hwan-su were bound to uphold.
Perhaps because of this, they avoided the unreasonable killing of Hwan-su who remained mentally untainted.
So they offered an opportunity.
A clear chance to communicate their intentions.
Yerpi knew this as well, so she didn’t cower under Raymond’s sharp attitude.
“I won’t provoke the Pinkbells. Instead, I’ll make them follow.”
At her words, Raymond’s eyes narrowed, then widened.
He, too, had just thought of a solution.
In fact, this land was more deeply influenced by the Archduchess—the spice—than by dragon blood.
Because the Hwan-su were byproducts of dragons, and drawn by the power of spice—that was their nature.
“The scent of spice.”
For generations, the spices, as companions to dragon blood, had cared for Growen.
Occasionally, when Hwan-su lost their way, the Archduchess would guide them with her fragrance, resolving the chaotic territorial disputes among them.
And the reason things had reached this point lay with her.
“It’s probably because of me.”
While she was unconscious, the natural fragrance of honey had drawn the Hwan-su.
They strayed from their purpose, confused, merging into one another until forming a massive colony.
Hwan-su were also affected by the Archduchess’s mood and emotional state.
Yerpi knew this well from the memories of the original story.
“Was that also written in the ancient manuscript?”
He asked, having momentarily forgotten this fact.
Yerpi nodded again, once more using the excuse of the mysterious old book.
“Yes.”
“You could make things worse if you act carelessly.”
Raymond’s voice sounded stricter now. Yerpi lifted her head and met his gaze.
“If you would assist me, I believe it’s possible.”
The first resonance.
Through a special light, Yerpi swam through his body and simultaneously felt the power within her.
Outside the barrier, she could barely sense whether she had any power at all—but crossing the barrier had changed everything.
It was as if she had returned home.
Above all, she could feel the power, once tiny as a fingernail, now growing.
And the closer she was to him, the denser and deeper it became.
Like honey ripening, waiting to be sweetened.
Raymond’s gaze still felt heavy, even a little frightening.
But just as he had helped her out of some whim, she wanted to repay him in return.
“Fine. Let’s try it.”
At those words, the adjutant and knights watching from the side simultaneously wore shocked expressions.
They had expected the Duke to naturally reject the Archduchess’s proposal.
Even Yerpi, who had anticipated refusal, was quietly surprised.
But since it was accepted, she had no choice but to do her best.
Yerpi gently placed the Pinkbell she was holding onto the ground.
The young creature tilted its head, looking at her curiously.
“Just wait here a moment. I’ll find your family.”
Having reassured the young Pinkbell, Yerpi turned toward Raymond.
He waited silently for her next move.
“Could you possibly give me a ride? I think I need a better view first.”
At her words, Raymond silently turned and walked away.
When he returned, a massive black steed followed behind him.
Cruaut.
A Hwan-su resembling a horse, twice the size of a riding horse, with a fiercer appearance.
Raymond, holding the reins, extended his other hand toward Yerpi.
“Come here.”
Yerpi cautiously placed her hand onto his large, vein-ridged palm.
He pulled her hand, wrapped an arm around her waist, and lifted her onto the saddle as gently as raising a feather.
As Yerpi blinked in surprise at the suddenly elevated view, Raymond mounted the horse as well, settling in front of her.
“This creature is naturally fierce. I don’t know how it will react to a spice. If you don’t want to fall, hold onto my waist.”
Afraid she might fall,
Yerpi’s arms moved instinctively, tightly embracing Raymond.
“I’m holding on.”
Thus, their bodies overlapped.
Was it finally time?
While he remained silent, Yerpi surveyed the endless swarm of Pinkbells from her elevated vantage.
“Incredible numbers.”
Clearly, an abnormal quantity.
Though her eyes remained fixed on the swarm, in truth, Yerpi’s attention was entirely on their overlapping bodies.
His broad shoulders and muscular arms were less bulky than they were sculpted—clean, precise, like carved stone.
His warmth transferred to Yerpi.
An inevitable attraction, brought forth by an ancient, inherited power.
She released the sweet fragrance of honey into the air.
Just like that night, when she first resonated with Raymond.
At that moment, the scent of honey became both light and aroma, stretching high into the sky like two radiant beams.
Male lead fell into her trap — and shattered when she walked away
This is also on my reread list!
This one is a slow burn, but when it burns, it burns hard.
Definitely worth a read, y’all!
The story follows a thousand-year-old seductive spirit who, on a bet, sets out to charm the male lead—a once-promising but unfortunate cultivator.
But just when she succeeds in making him fall for her, she heartlessly leaves, driving him to madness.
Determined to find her at all costs, he captures her, keeping her by his side no matter what, even if she hates him.
I love this kind of trope—I enjoy watching the male lead suffer in agony.
The ending drags a bit with unnecessary filler, but that’s fine.
As long as I enjoy the beginning, I’m good.
Intro
As an enchantress, Su Heng possesses captivating eyes and charming beauty, easily manipulating the joys and sorrows of living beings at her fingertips.
But to enchant a god, making him taste the bitterness of love’s separation, long-lasting resentment, unattainable desires, and inability to let go…
Do you dare?
Su Heng assists a divine lord in his cultivation, aiming to make him experience all the sufferings of love, so that he can attain the Great Dao.
Only after being chased down from the heavens by the divine lord, confined and completely possessed by him, does she realize how successful she has been.
The once gentle and polite youth has transformed into someone she no longer recognizes.
[Touch the gear icon in the bottom right corner of the screen to move to the next chapter if you want.]
