Callis thought as he looked at Helena, who was leaning on him.
The title shouted like a child idolizing a fairy tale hero.
Upon hearing that word, Callis’ unease melted away like snow in spring.
It was the customary time for breakfast.
“Your Majesty, I beg your pardon for interrupting.”
If it wasn’t for an unwelcome guest, everything would have been routine.
Ignoring the objections of his knights and chamberlain, Callis burst into the dining room.
The knights that followed Callis immediately took positions on either side of the uninvited guest. They looked ready to eject Callis at Kun’s command.
At Kun’s wave, they reluctantly let go of Callis’ arm.
“What matter is so urgent it disrupts breakfast?”
“I may need to return to the kingdom sooner than planned. There’s an urgent matter in my duchy that requires my attention.”
“An urgent matter… Not because of the offense your household committed?”
At the spiteful question, an innocent Chloe bit her tongue instead of her food. Wiping her mouth discreetly, she showed no emotion.
Callis was no exception; his bent knee trembled as he paid his respects.
In an effort to conceal his agitation, he bit his lip lightly before answering.
“…I apologize once again for that matter. Please forgive Helena’s ignorance.”
“If the Duke wishes it.”
Surprisingly, Kun accepted the apology. His attitude was remarkably indifferent, considering he had expertly tormented Helena the day before.
“Do you have any other requests? I am currently enjoying breakfast with a guest.”
His attention seemed to be elsewhere.
“I have one more favor to ask.”
“Your household’s offense was forgiven, yet you ask for more? You’ve already asked for much, Duke.”
“Your Majesty, Helena is not my household.”
Kun’s snide smile abruptly stiffened. Yet, the other person assumed the silence meant approval and continued to ramble.
“I wish to formally make Helena my wife. This is my final request.”
Kun unknowingly tightened his grip on his knife. The man, begging shamelessly, was unbearably pitiful.
When he glanced at Chloe again, she looked surprisingly calm, as if holding back laughter.
‘Does she still love the Duke?’
A question suddenly grazed his mind. Even in the absence of a situation, the image of a woman diligently doing her duty came to mind.
In the end, Kun also burst into laughter.
“If bringing her into the family as a wife is the plan, then what’s the need to ask for my permission.”
“I wish to have a wedding ceremony with Helena.”
In this world, just as divorce was not permitted, neither was remarriage. The temples allowing the system of mistresses was based on the reason that they wouldn’t casually hold a wedding ceremony with a mistress.
To vow to another while already having vowed to God. It was an act of denying one’s promise to God and an insult towards God.
However, the ruler’s permission made both divorce and marriage possible. In other words, nothing was impossible once the Emperor’s approval was given.
“I beseech you, even for the sake of the smallest bit of affection, Your Majesty.”
Chloe, who stood beside him, was demanding a divorce; Callis, who stood in front of him, was demanding marriage.
Thinking so, Kun began to see the man in front of him as incredibly pitiful and pathetic.
He’d probably end up divorced before anyone realized it, decorating his family with the things stolen from Chloe.
“Fine. For the sake of the smallest bit of affection, I will permit it. After all, marrying a wife isn’t a completely nonexistent affair.”
It was a rather selfish thought, but it was a thankful one. Thanks to his constant floundering, an opportunity had come his way too.
“…! It’s an honor, Your Majesty. I will not forget your favor!”
The Male lead Always Seduces Her with His Beauty (Matriarchy)
Xin Jiao Zhou is the leader of the world’s premier sect. She has just experienced betrayal from all sides, was poisoned in an assassination attempt, and faced death squad attacks while the poison was taking effect. After finally clearing out the scum from her sect, she was drugged again while trying to detoxify.
After waking up from a night of unconsciousness, she gained a “beautiful and kind-hearted” husband.
Xin Jiao Zhou: “???”
He fell ill.
She came to see him, bringing breakfast.
As she put down the breakfast and was about to leave, his hand slipped while holding the spoon. “Clank!”
She turned around upon hearing the noise.
He looked up at her, his eyebrows drooping: “My hand… has no strength.”
“Shall I… feed you?” she asked tentatively.
He opened his mouth cheerfully: “Ah—”
Thinking she was drowning, he jumped in without hesitation to save her, but nearly drowned himself. In the end, it was she who swam over to rescue him, giving him air underwater.
After emerging from the water, his ear tips turned red. He lightly brushed his cheek, tucking his sideburns behind his ear, revealing delicate, pink-tinged ear tips. He lowered his gaze, too embarrassed to look at her.
Xin Jiao Zhou: He’s truly beautiful, kind-hearted, and adorable.
A certain someone when disciplining subordinates behind the scenes: “If they don’t obey, just kill them.”
What’s that? She might already have someone she cares about in her heart? A certain someone: Find out who it is, kill them, and then there won’t be anyone.
What? She met a man by the riverside? What? That man even hurt her? A certain someone: Whichever hand hurt her, chop off his entire arm.
Love at first sight without realizing it, gradually falling in love, slowly getting closer…
Family and national grudges, schemes and desires, good and evil, crime and punishment, she and he face the future together, seeking justice with passion!
A naturally dark female lead who could accidentally destroy the world but is actually an honest person VS a weak, pitiful, and helpless but skilled fighter, beautiful white-cut black male lead
My heart is not of stone, how steadfast is your love? — Tao Yuanming “Imitating the Ancients (No. 3)”
— Reading Guide —
Cold female lead & dramatic black lotus with hidden yandere traits male lead
