Even the most foolish among them sensed they needed to leave immediately. Arabel’s family, feeling a chill down their spines, quickly disappeared out the door.
“Guards, leave us. I have important matters to discuss with the Lady.”
The royal guards promptly left the dining room and stood guard outside the closed door.
Silence filled the room, leaving only the Emperor and Arabel. The Emperor was very displeased, having wasted time on those unworthy of his attention. Yet, for some reason, he felt even more irritated for another reason.
Frustrated, he fixed his gaze on the girl who still refused to look at him. She would affectionately rub her head against animals, fearlessly stroking their ears and belly.
Arabel felt oppressed by the Emperor’s silence. The things he said at the stable still didn’t make sense, and being alone with him was extremely uncomfortable.
‘Is he worried that I might reveal the secret?… He must have come to confirm it himself.’
Realizing the Emperor’s intentions, Arabel’s face brightened a bit.
Her light brown eyes turned towards him, causing his furrowed brow to smooth out. Of course, he was unaware of this.
Arabel, wiping sweat from her hands onto her skirt, spoke up.
“I won’t tell anyone about what happened in the mountains. I promise.”
It was a plain but the most believable promise the Emperor had heard. When Arabel lowered her gaze again, his brow furrowed once more.
“How can I trust your words? People usually can’t look directly into someone’s eyes when they lie. You keep avoiding my gaze, which makes it suspicious.”
Startled, Arabel jerked her head up and shook it vigorously.
“No, I won’t break my promise. I don’t lie.”
“How can I trust you without any guarantee? For all I know, you might have already spread rumors in the village. It seems like you enjoy talking to animals; did you tell them too?”
The Emperor’s accusation caused Arabel’s round eyes to waver with a sense of injustice. Her pink lips wriggled as if to say something, softening the Emperor’s eyes. A curve formed on his red lips.
The Emperor had been displeased seeing Arabel stiffen up in front of those ridiculous people. Yet, when she was flustered because of him, he found himself strangely pleased.
Arabel proved she wasn’t lying by steadfastly meeting the Emperor’s gaze. Seeing her wide-eyed, innocent face, he felt a tickling sensation below his belly.
‘Teasing women is not my hobby.’
Especially not the weak. He had no interest in toying with them. He preferred playing with and crushing those who were strong or evil.
The Emperor kept gazing at Arabel’s appealing face.
“Prepare to leave tonight.”
Emperor Maxwell commanded tenderly, as if bestowing mercy.
It was evident even at a glance that she had lived like a Cinderella in this house. If he said he would take her to the palace as a candidate for the empress, she would understand the significance. An unimaginable future was unfolding before her.
The last ten candidates who failed to become the empress were awarded honorary titles and enormous consolation prizes. The amount was more than the entire estate. No matter how naive, she wouldn’t miss such an opportunity.
Arabel, after a moment of thought, slowly raised her head. To avoid any doubt of her sincerity, she met the Emperor’s gaze.
“Thank you for your words, but I cannot follow Your Majesty.”
If any other woman had answered the same, Maxwell would have scoffed, thinking she was feigning coyness to win his favor. However, Arabel’s clear eyes held no deceit.
A mocking tone crept into the Emperor’s voice, slightly bruised in pride.
“I am not taking you to become the empress. Being a candidate alone can bring great wealth, so consider it compensation for helping me.”
“I understand. But how could I dare think such thoughts? I am about to leave this place soon. My master has promised to come for me.”
Maxwell’s mouth fell open in disbelief.
“The master who you praised all night long for his ears falling off from the animals?”
“Yes… He promised to come on the night of the next full moon.”
When the Emperor asked calmly, Arabel smiled and replied.
“On the night of the full moon… So, where does your noble master plan to take you?”
Arabel, unaware that the Emperor’s smile had faded, answered.
“My master travels through time to rescue animals in mythical worlds. Until now, I was too young to accompany him, but this year he promised to take me. On the first full moon of October.”
“Time travel. Mythical world animals.” The Emperor, who seldom let his emotions get the better of him, struggled to control his rising anger.
He, too, transformed into a beast once a month due to a curse, but hearing this absurd story brought a sense of self-derision.
“It sounds like some wandering bard or quack doctor made a joke eight years ago, and she has been faithfully waiting ever since.”
“Does your father know about this?”
“No… But father always said that once I come of age, I should leave home and earn money. I turned twenty last month, so now I can follow my master. He said he will pay me a salary, so I can send money home every month.”
“Where did you agree to meet?”
“In the cave where I met Your Majesty. That’s where I first met my master and learned about animals from mythology.”
Maxwell’s usually cool and calculating mind throbbed with a headache. He envisioned Arabel, with her bundle, waiting under the full moon.
The thought of Arabel endlessly waiting for a no-show master or being deceived and following his sweet-talking was displeasing to Maxwell.
The image of her naively following the swindler, her back shrinking in the distance, caused the blue veins on Maxwell’s forearm to pulse visibly.
“You’d be better off entering as a candidate for the Empress selection in terms of the money you want to send your family. Don’t you realize that becoming an Empress candidate could elevate your entire family?”
“I’ve promised my master. I’ll train hard until he returns. Helping animals in danger during time travels with my master is my life’s dream. I cannot imagine anything else.”
Arabel’s firm response narrowed the Emperor’s eyes.
She was unexpectedly stubborn. He thought she would be easy to sway, but she was resolute about her future.
“What if I, the Emperor, command you? Would you still refuse?”
Even resorting childishly to his authority, Arabel shook her head.
“I’m not qualified. The candidates for Empress are all exceptionally noble and accomplished in every field. It’s preposterous to think of me as a candidate. I would surely bring great trouble to Your Majesty.”
The answer made the Emperor’s throat pulse visibly.
He had planned to persuade her to accompany him, to experiment during the selection period to see how she was related to his curse, and then let her go with a hefty compensation. If she continued to resist, he could forcefully take her and conduct the experiments.
He was the Emperor of the Empire. Any sacrifice made for his well-being was not an issue. Arabel never had a choice to begin with.
Seeing her stubborn lips refusing his offer, an unbearable thirst overwhelmed him. His red eyes darkened menacingly as they fell on her slender neck.
Male lead first thought she played hard to get, only to realize she
really disliked him
Short intro:
What she can’t stand the most is the streets full of effeminate men, especially that so-called top beauty whom she avoids at all costs.
Shen Yaoxing looks at Jiang Mingyue, who keeps approaching her with coy shyness.
Shen Yaoxing: Bro, don’t be like this, I’m really about to throw up!
She fears nothing in heaven or earth, except for him getting close to her.
*
At first he thought she was just using the trick of feigning indifference to attract his attention. Later, he learned that she truly despised him.
This dealt a heavy blow to Jiang Mingyue, and he vowed to make her, like everyone else, fall at his feet in worship!
***
Synopsis:
Before transmigrating, Shen Yaoxing only wanted to find a reliable man to spend her life with. Who knew that after transmigrating, she would become a reliable woman herself…
A forced misandrist, highly skilled, and reliable female lead
vs.
An initially aloof and arrogant, later morbid, obsessed male lead
_____
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