Picked Up a Beast, Turns Out He's an Emperor (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 15
A cream-colored ivory carriage adorned with golden trim rolled into the village and came to a halt before a bustling shop.
The footman seated at the rear of the carriage quickly leapt down and opened the door, upon which a small foot stepped onto the carriage step and emerged outside.
“My lady, please go in.”
Head maid Vera, standing before the shop with its red roof, cheerfully ushered Arabella inside.
At a glance, it was clearly the village’s finest boutique for women’s attire.
“Welcome, my lady.”
The moment Arabella entered, Shannon, the boutique’s owner, clasped her hands respectfully and bowed her head in greeting. Following her lead, eight women lined up neatly inside the shop hastily bowed as well to welcome her.
Arabella had never received such a reception in her life. Truthfully, having never even visited such a splendid boutique before, her soft brown eyes widened in flustered confusion.
The head maid, who often accompanied the Countess here, puffed up proudly and spoke on Arabella’s behalf.
“We sent word that our young lady needs travel dresses, riding attire, and several formal gowns ready to wear immediately upon entering the Imperial Palace—have you received our request?”
“Of course! We’ve even locked the boutique doors and waited solely for you. Please sit here. I shall present the finest garments unseen anywhere else in the Empire.”
“I already mentioned our young lady is a finalist in the Empress selection—she requires your utmost attention. Also, please show us shoes, stockings, parasols, and gloves that match the dresses.”
The trio—the head maid and two maids—kept calling her “our young lady” as though Arabella had always been theirs, bustling about to assist her.
Finding their meticulous checklist-checking behavior irritating—as if they were the Empress’s personal attendants—Shannon inwardly rolled her eyes but maintained a bright smile as she observed Arabella.
The Emperor had never caused scandal with any woman. Yet rumors had already spread like wildfire throughout the village: he was staying in Count Laurell’s domain with a young noblewoman.
Moreover, she was on her way to the Imperial Palace as a candidate in the Empress selection.
People crowded the roadside, eager for just a glimpse of the noblewoman who might become Empress, but dared not make a scene—so fearful were they of the Emperor, who had annihilated House Laurell in a single night.
Though distant from the capital, the locals mirrored their Count’s sensitivity to gossip. They were well aware of Emperor Maxwell’s reputation as the Empire’s greatest ruler—merciless and unyielding.
Annoying the young lady could bring grave consequences. Furthermore, with a giant-sized knight leading over a dozen armored guards trailing her carriage, no one even dared to stare directly.
No sooner had Arabella entered the shop than the Emperor’s royal guards stationed themselves before its glass windows, their massive backs completely blocking the view inside.
Shannon’s assistant swiftly drew heavy curtains over the large glass panes, forcing the disappointed onlookers outside—who had been standing on tiptoe—to reluctantly resume their way.
Eight shop assistants began presenting an array of exquisite dresses—sometimes elegant, sometimes charming, and sometimes alluring—crafted from the finest fabrics.
Overwhelmed by the endless stream of lavish gowns and accessories unfolding before her, Arabella felt cold beads of sweat form on her brow.
She clasped her hands tightly to stop herself from refusing outright and bit her lower lip, recalling the Emperor’s words from earlier.
“You seem to have misunderstood…”
The Emperor had said this to Arabella after breakfast, when they’d dined alone together in his chambers.
His eyes lazily fixed on his thumb, still faintly stained with lip tint.
“It would be troublesome if you thought I was so desperate to buy you clothes. I merely wish to ensure you, posing as an Empress candidate, aren’t exposed.”
During breakfast, the Emperor had ordered the three maids to accompany her to the boutique and prepare her wardrobe. When a startled Arabella tried to refuse, the Emperor merely twisted the corner of his lips and replied.
His Majesty’s reasoning held merit.
If she entered the Imperial Palace wearing patched, threadbare dresses and worn-out shoes among the Empire’s highest nobles and foreign princesses and noblewomen, she would not only raise suspicion but also shame His Majesty.
Noticing Arabella lost in thought, the Emperor deliberately added in a dry tone, a faint smile playing on his lips.
“Don’t let your heart flutter thinking the boutique’s garments are a gift from me. Consider them necessary preparations for our arrangement.”
Convinced by his comparison—that these were like armor and swords for a knight heading to war—Arabella now sat on the boutique’s VIP lounge sofa, staring at the twenty-five parasols prepared for each dress.
Though later, everything began to blur together, forcing her to calm her racing thoughts—unlike the already exhausted Arabella, the head maid radiated boundless energy, scrutinizing each gown with hawk-like precision.
“His Majesty plans to take you three as Lady Arabella’s personal maids. He mentioned to Counselor Kael that the young lady herself requested you.”
With just those words from Counselor Kael, the three women vowed to work tirelessly for Lady Arabella.
They were determined to help her secure the position of Empress. The current frontrunners in the selection were Princess Lilibet of Seville and Lady Grace of House Lecain. Everyone had expected a showdown between these two formidable candidates from the start.
But… together, the three maids had nearly ninety-five years of experience serving high society. Their sharp instincts hadn’t missed the Emperor’s subtle attention toward the young lady—visible in every glance and gesture.
Though he seemed to deny his own feelings, Lady Arabella clearly held an advantage. Only the occasional flicker of possessiveness in his crimson eyes gave her slight pause.
Fortunately, neither His Majesty nor the young lady seemed aware of it—so there was no need to stir up trouble by speaking of it.
If handled well, they might become the Empress’s closest confidantes.
After enduring the despicable Laurell family, serving this gentle, kind-hearted young mistress made the world seem bathed in pink. The trio clenched their fists tightly, resolved to serve Arabella in the palace and begin life anew.
“We’re truly fortunate you escaped the wildfire unharmed.”
Shannon, the boutique manager, smiled as she poured sweet-tart peach juice into Arabella’s cup. Beside her, Maid Rosa quietly packed lace gloves and whispered softly.
“But did you hear? They say the wildfire wasn’t natural—it was arson.”
“Oh, surely not. How could anyone be so cruel?”
Shaking her head in disbelief, Shannon was interrupted by a shop assistant.
“Old Tommy, who’s lived in these mountains for forty years, said so—it must be true. Think about it: our forest has always been so damp and humid, it even escaped the wildfire that spread from the mountains two years ago.”
“That’s true. Besides, it’s late autumn—not the season for natural wildfires.”
“Old Tommy said the arsonist planned it thoroughly—stripped more than half the mountain bare.”
“Thankfully no lives were lost, but what about the wild animals? With all the trees burned, their homes and food turned to ash…”
“They’ll come down hungry this winter and cause trouble.”
“Let them try. We’ll hunt every last one.”
As the boutique staff chatted, Arabella’s face slowly turned pale and stiff.
The wildfire had been deliberate arson—not a natural disaster. The cries of animals who’d lost their homes, their mothers, their young, still echoed vividly in her ears.
No one in this world deserved the right to destroy a forest that had given humanity so much.
“My lady, look at this dress—it complements your skin perfectly.”
The head maid’s voice sounded distant in Arabella’s ears.
She couldn’t abandon the mountain stripped bare or the displaced creatures. Arabella bit her lower lip, her rounded nostrils flaring slightly.
Her furious, wide eyes failed to notice what the three maids were hurriedly packing into the box.
The garments they discreetly slipped inside, watching Arabella’s every reaction… were sheer, translucent lingerie fit for a bride on her wedding night.
[This is the timeline separator]“You bring me such news now? Get out! Leave at once!”
Empress Dowager Natalia screamed, hurling a jeweled box at the servant standing by the door.
Thud. The servant, not daring to dodge, took the hard box directly to his forehead, blood trickling down.
“Please compose yourself, Your Majesty. There are more than a few ears listening outside.”
Baron Brad, who had entered the Empress Dowager’s chamber, quickly ushered the servant out and shut the door.
“Have you also heard? The Count was executed for treason—by Maxwell himself?”
At the Empress Dowager’s shrill, ear-splitting pitch, Baron Brad glanced toward the door, then leaned closer and lowered his voice.
“You must exercise extreme caution now. His Majesty doesn’t know of your agreement with Count Laurell, but he is thorough. Burn every shred of evidence linking you to the Count. Notify your kingdom and tighten their tongues as well.”
Her still-voluptuous, stunningly beautiful body trembled uncontrollably with rage.
She and Count Laurell had long shared a close economic and political alliance. Though she’d endured his lecherous, repulsive gaze, he’d been essential to siphoning imperial wealth into her kingdom.
When news of the Count’s misdeeds reached the capital, it was Empress Dowager Natalia herself who reminded the late Emperor of the Count’s wartime heroism, thus shielding him from punishment.
Even Emperor Maxwell couldn’t recklessly punish an old loyalist who’d saved his grandfather’s life—especially without solid justification.
All afternoon, the Empress Dowager had eagerly anticipated a passionate encounter with the fifteen-year-old Baron Brad—until she learned of Count Laurell’s final moments.
“Not even an Emperor can dispose of loyal servants so carelessly. The elder nobles won’t stand by idly. I’ll meet them myself tonight.”
“The elders won’t be able to help. The charge was clear-cut treason with undeniable evidence. Anyone who intervenes risks being branded a co-conspirator. No one in the Empire—or on the continent—wishes to draw His Majesty’s ire. Myself included.”
Baron Brad laid out the harsh reality to the raging Empress Dowager and sat at the edge of her bed,
surreptitiously gauging her reaction.
“Why do you look at me like that? Is there more you haven’t said?”
Irritated, the Empress Dowager pressed him. The Baron hesitated before speaking.
“It seems you haven’t yet heard…?”
“What is it? What’s wrong?”
“His Highness Prince Eric… has been appointed deputy commander for the campaign against the Northwest Alliance. The troops depart at dawn tomorrow—by His Majesty’s decree.”
“You mean Eric—who’s studying in Senfer Kingdom? My Eric?”
The Empress Dowager’s face turned ashen with disbelief. Baron Brad nodded.
“The imperial delegation is likely escorting him back as we speak.”
“Aaaaaah! I won’t let this pass! To send my Eric—my only son—into battle! Aaargh!”
Empress Dowager Natalia clutched her chest and shrieked.
The throne was meant for Eric. If only the Emperor hadn’t died then… Her husband had clearly intended to bypass his grandson Maxwell and name Eric—three years younger—as Crown Prince.
But the late Emperor died in a tragic riding accident before he could amend his will… and she had endured every indignity to build power for Eric’s rightful inheritance.
“There’s no way I’ll let him go to war! He’s only twenty-two! Throwing that child to lions as prey—that monster! More vicious than a demon!”
The Empress Dowager’s eyes flashed as she ground her teeth, completely forgetting that she herself had been one of the key figures who sent sixteen-year-old Maxwell into the Empire’s most brutal and devastating war.
Male lead is a Divorced Husband
She said to him: “Tell me, what makes you like me? I’ll change it!”
Liu Changning transmigrated into a female cannon fodder character in a female-dominant novel.
After reading the first half of the novel’s plot, the first thing she did upon transmigration was to divorce the Pan Jinlian-style male protagonist she had just married.
She indulged herself, pretending to be ugly and poor.
But as time passed, the way that man looked at her became more and more unusual…
Liu Changning was dumbfounded: Tell me, what makes you like me? I’ll change!
――
This lifetime, Pei Yuanshao was rejected by the same woman twice!
The first time, she drove him away. Forced by the situation, he endured the waves of anger in his heart, yielding and humbling himself.
That person lay slanted on a rocking chair, her sallow face emotionless: “If you don’t want a divorce, go cook!”
Pei Yuanshao’s face was dark and gloomy: “You!”
The second time, after the crisis in Jinling City was resolved, the new emperor sent someone to pick him up. He turned around, stammering: “I… I have to go. If you keep me…”
That person lay on the kang bed, her back to him, as if she had long anticipated this day, crisp and clear: “Goodbye!”
Pei Yuanshao was so angry his fingers trembled: “You… you!”
The mission of family and country made him restrain himself, averting his eyes and turning to leave this broken household.
Two years later, they met again. Seeing her ethereal face, his body shook like a sieve.
“She was originally a ‘she’!”
At the Qionglin Banquet, the top scholar of the imperial examination, a talented person with exceptional speech and conduct, all the unmarried young gentlemen from aristocratic families looked at her with shy and timid eyes.
The peerless imperial official Pei Yuanshao felt the anger in his heart erupt. He pointed at the woman surrounded by the crowd at the Qionglin Banquet, his thin lips slightly curled: “Little sister, I wants that person to be the wife-master of my Mingde Prince Manor.”
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I’m not yet convinced this is a curse. There are a lot of questionable events. Why would a black panther kidnap a princess?
I’ve been wondering just how he intends to keep her alive and unharmed enough to even attempt lifting the curse. I don’t believe these classes will be enough if she only had four days.
Is she not concerned because the emperor told her she wasn’t going to become the empress regardless? He explicitly stated she only needed to break his curse & that she wouldn’t become the empress as she wasn’t qualified (I don’t recall his precise wording).