“The first unit, led by Commander Jacob, will ambush above the river. As the fire spreads through the forest, drive the rats down towards the river. Then, my second unit and I will eliminate every last one of them.”
Dressed in a silver armor with the emblem of the red lion of the Empire, Emperor Maxwell reined in his white horse, turning its head as he commanded.
“We will heed your command, Your Majesty.”
Thirty elite guardsmen of his personal guard, handpicked by the Emperor himself, bowed their heads, acknowledging his command.
It was observed that over a hundred soldiers of the Northwest Alliance, disguised, were entering Count Lorel’s castle along the river.
A diversionary tactic to scatter the large groups was needed to face the Count’s and Alliance’s troops. The Empire could wait for reinforcements, but the Emperor would not tolerate unnecessary delays.
“Your Majesty, the signal has been sighted!”
A young soldier watching from a tree pointed upwards, shouting. Black smoke rose at the edge of the night sky, followed by the spread of red flames. It was the signal of setting fire at the entrance of the forest on the opposite side.
As soon as the report was over,
“Now, we begin the hunt, charge!”
The Emperor spurred his white horse and charged into the forest below. His guardsmen followed, weaving through the trees towards the south side of the river.
In the cold night wind, his dark blue cloak with golden trim fluttered as he rode. The Emperor’s red eyes, devoid of warmth, radiated confidence, already declaring the victor of the night.
Emperor Maxwell, praised as the red lion of the Empire, disliked being compared to the king of animals. He believed that it wasn’t the male lion who guarded the pride’s territory and hunted for food, but rather the lionesses.
The male lion, perceived as brave and extraordinary, only engaged in battles against rival prides after the lionesses and young males had been sacrificed. In essence, it was only a desperate last stand for survival.
To him, lions were no different from the incompetent emperors who hid within the palace walls, boasting only in words.
The true ruler of the continent must personally cut off the threats to his reign, ensuring no one dares to covet his possessions – the throne, the empire…
Riding his warhorse, which had shared life and death with him on battlefields, the Emperor’s presence seemed not of a human, but of a deity from another realm.
Not a benevolent light descending from the heavens to save humanity, but a dark terror rising from the underworld to judge them.
As the forest fire caused confusion among the Alliance soldiers at the entrance, they were attacked by the first unit in ambush and fled towards the river.
Unaware of who awaited them below, the Alliance commander, relieved by the smaller number of Imperial guards, charged down on horseback…
Clang, clang, agh! Swish, swish, ugh…!
Emperor Maxwell masterfully commanded his guards, disrupting the enemy’s tactics with his dazzling swordsmanship, decapitating their commander, and throwing them into disarray.
Despite their small numbers, the morale of the guards, elite troops who had been with the Emperor through many battles, soared under his immense charisma. They suppressed the enemy like fish back in water, vigorously leaping in action.
With every sweep of the Emperor’s longsword, silence gradually enveloped the surroundings.
Under the burning night sky,
“Uwaaaaah!”
“Hail the Helterd Empire!”
“Hail His Majesty the Emperor!”
Victory cries resonated through the forest.
Having seized the new weapons of the Alliance, the Emperor lifted a water bottle. He poured water over his head, blackened with ash, and then curled up one corner of his mouth.
“Now it’s time to eradicate their hideouts.”
Without time to clean the blood from his sword, the imperial guard followed the Emperor towards Count Lorel’s castle.
Count Lorel, once trusted by the previous Emperor, was now kneeling on the cold marble floor, awaiting his fate. His once noisy, vibrant castle, alive with nightly entertainment, was eerily silent.
Only Count Lorel and the Emperor were there in the opulent crystal ballroom.
At least among those still breathing.
Thud, thud.
The sound of boots crushing hundreds of shattered chandelier crystals echoed. As the footsteps approached, Count Lorel, his head bowed to the ground, began to tremble uncontrollably.
“Do you know why I’ve kept you alive until now, despite you being nothing but poison to the Empire?”
Into the Count’s dull grey eyes came the tip of a black boot stained with blood.
“Spare me, Your Majesty. It’s a misunderstanding. I only intended to bring the new weapons of the Alliance to present to you. Please, think of the late Emperor Alexandros and trust me.”
“You’re asking for my trust?”
“Yes, yes! Please trust me. I saved the life of His Late Majesty in the Nather River battle 35 years ago. Please don’t doubt my loyalty.”
As the Count pleaded earnestly, a sneer crossed the Emperor’s lips.
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
