Picked Up a Beast, Turns Out He's an Emperor (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 5
On the first floor, the dining room held only a worn, cheap rectangular table for eight—so meager it was almost embarrassing to call it a noble’s dining hall.
Emperor Maxwell sat at the head of the table, legs crossed, patiently enduring the extras gathered around him.
“Arabella was raised better than my own daughter Margot—given finer clothes, better food. She’s like my own child. And Arabella herself treats me, her great-uncle, like a father.”
“Even when our budget was tight, we always assigned Arabella a personal maid, Your Majesty. I gave her all the love her runaway mother never did.”
Seated on either side of the Emperor, Baron and Baroness Cander ceaselessly emphasized how much they had invested in Arabella. Listening to them, one might think the estate’s financial troubles stemmed solely from her.
Not to be outdone,
“Though I have three daughters, Arabella is the most special to me. I favored her so much when they were young that my other two daughters grew resentful. They had to help with estate affairs, but Arabella never got a single drop of water on her hands.”
Arabella’s father, seated beside Lady Cander, put on a servile smile as he boasted.
Camille, Roxy, and even Margot—already seated at the table—joined in, desperate to prove they were Arabella’s closest companions.
“As her elder sister, I raised Arabella from childhood, stepping in as both sister and mother. She was always such a handful. Arabella still has much to learn, but I’ll accompany her to the palace and guide her diligently.”
“Sister Arabella is my most beloved sister. She’s a bit naive, so palace life will surely trouble her. I’ll go with her, as I always have, and serve as her hands and feet.”
“Arabella is my dearest friend. We share secrets, cover for each other’s mistakes—and though Arabella caused nearly all of them… I was the one scolded. She’ll be lonely in the palace, so I must go with her to protect my closest friend.”
The three young women were frantic, unwilling to miss this chance to go to the capital.
When a gentle smile touched the Emperor’s lips, Arabella’s family inwardly rejoiced. It wasn’t just the enormous reward they anticipated—perhaps fertile lands and lofty titles awaited them.
Lost in their delusions, they failed to notice the Emperor’s crimson eyes growing cold.
“It truly seems you cherish her more than your own daughter,”
Maxwell finally spoke, his gaze fixed on Arabella, who stood silently at the far end of the table with her head bowed.
“After all, you didn’t serve her that wretched meal.”
On the table sat seven plates of midnight snacks and seven wine glasses filled with wine.
When the Emperor entered the dining room and took his seat, the Cander couple, their daughter Margot, Arabella’s father, and her two sisters promptly claimed their places.
Only Baron Cander had yielded the head seat to the Emperor, taking his absent son Eric’s spot instead. Arabella, following the family in, had gone to stand at the table’s end to serve them.
Unthinkingly, the head maid from the kitchen handed Arabella the water pitcher. Arabella poured water into the cups before everyone, who accepted her service as if it were only natural.
These dull-witted people couldn’t grasp the Emperor’s sarcasm at once. Their faces simultaneously paled as they stood there slack-jawed, finally realizing they’d completely forgotten the very subject of their conversation—Arabella herself.
“Oh, Arabella, why are you standing there? Come quickly and take your seat.”
Baroness Cander called out in an exaggeratedly sweet tone. Her father, Jonathan, hastily added with a shake of his head,
“Arabella is just so slow in her ways—it gives us quite a headache.”
Arabella’s large eyes trembled in confusion at the urging to sit—there was no place set for her at the table.
“Roxy, what are you doing? Why are you sitting in Arabella’s seat? Get up at once!”
Baron Cander scolded Roxy with a frown. Her face flushed crimson as she pushed back her chair and stood.
“M-Margot has gained weight lately and skipped supper, so the kitchen only prepared seven portions. Arabella, come quickly and eat.”
At Lady Cander’s excuse, the quick-witted Margot sprang up and went to Arabella.
Arabella’s thin shoulders stiffened as Margot affectionately hooked her arm through hers. The Emperor’s sharp gaze sparkled with amusement.
“Arabella, hurry to your seat. She’s so clueless—we have to teach her everything from scratch. Ho ho, don’t worry, Arabella. I’ll go with you to the palace and help.”
Camille and Roxy glared at Margot as she pulled Arabella into a seat, their eyes twitching with frustration at losing the chance to impress the Emperor.
Arabella’s family began clamoring that they should all go to the capital together.
“Enough.”
The Emperor raised his right hand slightly.
The tender smile vanished from his lips, and the air in the dining room instantly turned icy. All the chattering mouths fell silent.
“That’s all the generosity I’ll show. I wish to speak with Lady Arabella alone—everyone else, leave.”
His crimson eyes, not glancing at anyone else, fixed solely on Arabella.
Even these fools sensed they must leave at once. Arabella’s family, chilled to the spine, hurried out the door.
“You guards, leave as well. I have private matters to discuss with the lady.”
The royal guards swiftly exited the dining room and stood post outside the closed door.
Silence filled the room, now occupied only by the Emperor and Arabella. The Emperor was deeply irritated—he’d wasted time on people unworthy of his attention. Yet, for some reason, that wasn’t the only source of his foul mood.
He was annoyed that the girl still refused to lift her head and look at him. After all, she’d boldly rubbed her head against the beast and fearlessly stroked its ears and belly.
Arabella felt crushed under the weight of the Emperor’s silence. She still didn’t understand what he’d said in the stable, and being alone with him now was deeply uncomfortable.
‘He must be worried I’ll reveal his secret… That’s why he came—to confirm it himself since he couldn’t bring himself to ask.’
Realizing the Emperor’s intent at last, Arabella’s face brightened slightly.
When her soft brown eyes met his, the furrow in the Emperor’s brow smoothed out—though he himself didn’t notice.
Arabella wiped the sweat gathering in her palms onto her skirt and spoke.
“I swear I’ll never tell a soul about what happened in the mountains—not even on my deathbed.”
Her voice was plain, yet it carried more sincerity than any promise the Emperor had ever heard. When Arabella quickly lowered her gaze again, his brow furrowed once more.
“How can I trust your word? Ordinary people avoid looking someone in the eye when they lie. The fact that you keep dodging my gaze only makes me suspicious.”
Arabella jerked her head up and shook it vigorously.
“N-no! I’ll never break my promise. I don’t lie.”
“How can I believe you without any guarantee? For all I know, you’ve already spread rumors in the village. From what I’ve seen, you seem fond of chattering to animals—have you been telling them too?”
At the Emperor’s threat, her round eyes shimmered with wounded indignation. Her pink lips quivered as if to speak, softening the Emperor’s eyes—and a faint curve appeared on his crimson lips.
He’d grown irritated watching Arabella stiffen before those insufferable fools. Yet, strangely, seeing her flustered because of him lifted his mood.
To prove she wasn’t lying, Arabella met the Emperor’s gaze squarely. Staring into her flushed, earnest eyes stirred something low in his belly.
‘Teasing women isn’t my habit.’
Especially not the weak—he had no interest in mocking them. He enjoyed toying with and crushing only the strong and wicked.
Still, he couldn’t help but stare at her guileless face, itching to tease her further.
“You’ll leave tonight—get ready.”
Maxwell gave the order gently, as if bestowing a kindness.
One glance was enough to see she’d lived here as a scapegoat. If he told her he’d take her as an empress candidate, she’d understand the magnitude—this was a future beyond imagination.
The final ten candidates who didn’t become Empress received honorary titles and immense consolation payments—more money than the entire estate could earn by selling itself. No matter how naive she was, she wouldn’t miss such an opportunity.
After a brief pause, Arabella slowly lifted her head. To prove her sincerity, she met the Emperor’s eyes.
“I’m deeply grateful for your offer, but I cannot accompany Your Majesty.”
Had any other woman given the same answer, Maxwell would’ve scoffed, assuming it was a ploy to seem coy and win his favor. But her clear eyes held no trace of deceit.
His wounded pride dripped into his voice as he sneered,
“I’m not taking you to make you Empress. Simply becoming a candidate will bring you great wealth—consider it your reward for aiding me.”
“I understand. I’d never dare entertain such thoughts. I’ll soon be leaving this place—my Master promised to come for me.”
The Emperor was so flabbergasted that words failed him—he could only gape.
“You mean the same Master you praised all last night until the beast’s ears nearly fell off?”
“Yes… He promised to come on the night of next month’s full moon.”
When the Emperor asked calmly, Arabella replied with a sweet smile.
“The night of the full moon… And where, pray tell, does your esteemed Master intend to take you?”
The smile had vanished from his crimson eyes, though Arabella didn’t notice as she answered,
“My Master travels through time to rescue mythical creatures in danger. He couldn’t take me before because I was too young, but he promised he’d bring me this year.”
“When did he make that promise?”
“When I was ten.”
“Was that also the last time you saw your ‘most handsome and perfect’ Master in the whole world?”
“Yes, but he swore he’d return for me when I came of age—on the night of the first full moon in October. That’s why I can’t go with you to the capital.”
Time travel. Mythical creatures. The Emperor, who rarely let emotions sway him, struggled to control his rising anger through deep breaths.
He himself was cursed to transform into a monster once a month—but hearing this absurd tale made him feel ridiculous.
Clearly, some wandering bard or quack had played a trick on this innocent girl. And she’d believed an eight-year-old promise with absolute faith.
“Does your father know?”
“N-no. But Father always said I should leave home and earn money once I came of age. I turned twenty last month, so I can go with Master now. He said he’d pay me a salary—I’ll send money home every month.”
“Where did you agree to meet?”
“In the cave where I first met Your Majesty. That’s where I met Master and learned about mythical animals.”
Maxwell’s usually calm mind throbbed with pain. He pictured Arabella, waiting with her bundle on the night of the full moon.
He disliked the image of her waiting endlessly for that Master who’d never come—and even more, the thought of her naively following that charlatan’s sweet talk.
The vision of her trailing after the fraudster made a blue vein pulse in Maxwell’s forearm.
“Wouldn’t becoming an empress candidate bring your family far greater wealth? You seem unaware—being chosen as a candidate could elevate your entire house.”
“I made a promise to Master—to train diligently until he returns. Rescuing endangered creatures alongside him through time travel is my lifelong dream. I can’t imagine anything else.”
At Arabella’s firm reply, the Emperor’s eyes narrowed.
She was surprisingly stubborn. He’d assumed her will was weak, yet she spoke with unwavering certainty about her future.
“What if I, as Emperor, command you? Will you still refuse?”
Childishly wielding his authority, but Arabella shook her head.
“I’m not qualified. All the empress candidates are noblewomen excelling in every field. It would be absurd for me to join them—I’d surely bring great harm to Your Majesty.”
At Arabella’s answer, the Emperor’s Adam’s apple bobbed sharply.
He’d intended to coax her gently. During the selection process, he’d planned to test her connection to the curse, then reward her handsomely and send her away. If she kept refusing, he could always force her into confinement for experiments.
After all, he was the Emperor of the Empire. Any sacrifice for his safety was justified. From the start, Arabella had no choice.
Seeing those infuriating lips reject his offer, an unbearable thirst suddenly gripped him. His crimson eyes dropped to her slender neck, darkening with something ominous.
When scheming men desperately battle for her favor in the male harem
This one’s also on my reread list! The rivalry, scheming between the men in the imperial harem are just as intense and thrilling as in classic palace drama novels, where concubines fight to the death. Give it a read, girls! I promise you won’t be disappointed.
Synopsis:
“I am not worthy of her… but I still want to be by her side, even if only as a loyal dog…”
Those were the painful whispers of Yue Guanyi – the proud Crown Prince of the Great Qi, who was torn between deep love and a guilty conscience. Despite holding the supreme power of the Imperial Guard, he still could not forget the dark past when he was sold into a brothel.
Fate played a cruel twist when Qiu Shuzhi – a young female official who had just passed the imperial examinations with top honors – stepped into his life. She did not know that she was the one who had saved him from a tragic fate many years ago. And now, her heart was the target of pursuit for both Yue Guanyi and the powerful Empress Dowager Qin Qing.
While Yue Guanyi only dared to silently care for and protect the one he loved from afar, the Empress Dowager Qin Qing openly expressed his feelings and did not hesitate to take advantage of his power to approach Qiu Shuzhi. The covert struggle between the two most powerful forces in the imperial court began…
Trigger warning: All men in this novel are yandere style.
_____
Please help me, I want to bring you the best possible things.
If you find any chapter or novel with poor translation and editing quality, let me know by commenting directly under that novel or chapter. I will retranslate it as soon as possible.
[Touch the gear icon in the bottom right corner of the screen to move to the next chapter if you want.]
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).