The reason Emperor Maxwell didn’t tighten the noose around the Grand Empress Mother and his aunt’s Duke Lersang faction was simple. He could exploit these two conflicting forces for his own needs. Of course, he planned to cut off their lifelines at the right time.
In the Empress selection competition, prominent noblewomen and princesses from across the continent participated. It was a procedure for a political marriage, meant to strengthen the empire’s power.
Over 200 princesses and noble ladies gathered to compete for the seat beside the most powerful emperor on the continent. At the end of the second competition, ten candidates were selected to wait for the final two-month-long test.
However, the Emperor himself had not seen the faces of the candidates even once. After two months, Emperor Maxwell would marry the woman who emerged victorious from the fierce competition.
He had only one requirement for his future Empress: not to expect love from him, as unreciprocated emotions could become toxic. He wouldn’t interfere even if she had a lover.
But the future Empress needed ambition to become a partner to the ruler of the continent. She must be willing to use lies and strategies to achieve her goals, even exploiting those closest to her.
She needed the strength of a poker face to control the cunning women of the royal court. Only then could she emerge victorious in the unseen bloody battles of the court and become a partner Maxwell needed.
He despised characters who indiscriminately showed sympathy or couldn’t lie. A naturally kind character that was easily exploited and suffered losses was the worst match for him as a consort.
The girl standing before him, unable to take his offered hand, was exactly the kind of character he disliked.
Emperor Maxwell thought this as he looked at Arabell in the stable, reeking of manure. He had not even known such a poor domain existed in his prosperous empire, contributing nothing to the empire’s wealth.
“She’s the second daughter of the fallen Delchancré Ducal family.”
“Now they’re living off relatives in the Candor Baron’s domain.”
“There are no known connections in the capital.”
“Your father is known as a healer, but now he’s struggling with gambling debts, making a living by selling herbs,”
“Your mother ran away ten years ago, leaving her young daughters behind.”
This was the information Emperor Maxwell had received about the young woman who had just reached adulthood.
Baron Candor, though a noble, was disregarded even by the merchant class of the capital and held a much lower status.
Arabell was a daughter in a family that depended on such an insignificant person for food. Had it not been for the accursed encounter three years ago, their paths would never have crossed.
Maxwell deliberately stared more openly at Arabell, who continually avoided his gaze. Sweat formed on her forehead under his intense scrutiny.
“What are you waiting for? Show your respect and greet His Majesty the Emperor,”
“The Emperor?” Arabell, startled by the Baroness’s reprimand, raised her head and looked towards the Emperor. Her eyes finally met his, and seeing this, a satisfied glint appeared in his red eyes.
Arabell bowed her head deeply, realizing she had caught the Emperor’s attention. As her round eyes disappeared from his view, Maxwell’s jaw muscles tensed.
“You aided His Majesty the Emperor?” The Baron, who had never shown such kindness to Arabell, inquired in disbelief, still unable to believe that the Emperor had visited his domain.
“No, I mean… that’s not…” Arabell stuttered, afraid to say anything wrong that might harm the Emperor. Sensing her hesitation, the Emperor spoke for her.
“She took care of my injured horse all night.”
Arabell, looking startled like a deer caught in headlights, was immediately captivated by his gaze. It would have been natural for her to excitedly share such a significant deed, but Arabell was too concerned about revealing his secret.
The sharp-minded Emperor guessed correctly. Arabell was fretting, unable to withdraw her gaze from his capturing red eyes, worried that the secret of the Emperor, formerly a beast, might be exposed because of her.
She couldn’t understand why the Emperor had come to claim responsibility for her. To her, healing a beast was not something praiseworthy, let alone something that would garner this much attention.
‘This girl won’t last a day in the imperial palace.’
Emperor Maxwell looked at Arabell’s left cheek, bruised and swollen blue.
‘But now that I know you hold the key to my curse…’
His lips, a striking and distinct red, parted.
“I’ve come to take you as a candidate for the Empress selection.”
Turns Out He’s Been Secretly in Love with Me
One-line summary: He acts like he doesn’t like her but is actually playing hard to get.
Synopsis:
Xu Muzhou like her. He has liked her for a very long time, and through repeated schemes, he finally closed the distance with her.
But this is still far from enough.
He wants to be the one who stands out among her many suitors, to fight for her attention, and to make her take the initiative to pursue him.
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