Nodding, Alicia’s gaze lingered on Eric’s cravat.
“Eric. It’s crooked.”
“Huh?”
“The cravat.”
“Ah.”
Eric tried to adjust it roughly, but it was difficult because he couldn’t see what was crooked in the first place.
“Let me do it.”
Alicia, who had been watching, reached out towards Eric.
Still, it was a bit far to do it right away while sitting, so both of them barely squeezed onto the edge of the chair to narrow the distance.
When Alicia untied and tried to re-tie the cravat by crossing the ends, the carriage suddenly lurched.
“Oh.”
Alicia’s body swayed, and Eric quickly reached out to hold her.
“Dash[—].”
To avoid slipping, Alicia inadvertently exerted strength in her hand, pulling the cravat and causing Eric’s throat to tighten.
“Oh, sorry.”
“Ugh. You, did you just strangle me with my own cravat?”
“No, it’s not that[—]. It’s just that, crossing like this at that moment[—].”
Rubbing his neck, Eric adjusted his posture while looking at Alicia, who didn’t know what to do, so she patted Eric’s throat.
“Where are you looking? Are you okay?”
“It’s stronger than I thought, huh? I almost thought I was going to die.”
“Ah, even Kara got all messed up.”
“······Aren’t you worried? I almost died from being strangled?”
“It’s not a problem of being in pain. The problem is that you did it. Getting hurt.”
“What are you talking about, really.”
Smirking, Eric watched Alicia again crumple the cravat and smooth out the creased part.
“Give me your neck quickly. Properly.”
“Give you my neck?”
With a natural smile, Alicia held the cravat and began to tie it again when Eric moved closer to her.
“?”
“I don’t want my neck to be strangled again.”
“Then come a little closer.”
As Eric moved closer, Alicia tied the cravat again.
‘Really. Nervous about this kind of thing, now?’
Feeling embarrassed, Eric unconsciously swallowed his saliva.
Although he considered the possibility of his throat feeling tight again, he knew it wasn’t true.
Recently, he had been so busy that having personal time to attend a ceremony like this was rare.
Besides, the head said that all the magic was gone, so abstinence was over.
Moreover, the woman in front of him was so bright that she was dazzling.
“Done.”
“Ah, thanks.”
Adjusting the collar of his shirt and jacket, Eric smiled.
Then, Eric and Alicia’s eyes met.
“Why?”
“Hmm? Oh, no, it’s nothing.”
With the thought of ‘Why isn’t he returning to his original seat?’ Alicia glanced at Eric but left it alone.
Then, just in case Eric would notice, she adjusted the hem of her dress.
“It won’t wrinkle. Can you sit comfortably like this?”
Eric smiled and held Alicia’s hand, squeezing her fingers.
Today, Alicia found Eric’s calm and steady demeanor strangely suspicious, unlike his usual complaints.
“Do you have a plan to escape halfway?”
“Escape? No, I have a lot to do with you today.”
“A lot to do?”
Smirking, Eric lifted Alicia’s hand and kissed the back of her hand.
Flutter.
While exchanging a kiss on her hand, Alicia couldn’t take her eyes off his subtle gaze that met hers.
So, other than staring blankly, there was nothing she could do.
The imperial palace was still splendid and beautiful.
Perhaps because it was a long-awaited event, people’s faces looked happy.
Now that familiar faces were visible, Alicia lightly bowed and entered with Eric.
“Wow, it seems like you’ve been taking care of yourself a lot in the imperial palace.”
“Yeah.”
Eric’s response was somewhat heavy compared to Alicia’s admiration.
“There are more people than I thought.”
“Yeah.”
“Did your parents come?”
“Yeah.”
When Alicia suddenly turned her head, their eyes met, and Eric was slightly surprised.
“Why are you like that? I can’t concentrate on English.”
“Isn’t it? I’m concentrating so much that I don’t pay attention to anything else.”
“Is that so?”
Doubtful, Alicia looked at Eric, who laughed vaguely.
“Are you really planning to escape?”
“No. What do you take me for?”
“You have a record.”
“That’s true, but today, there’s a lot to do.”
After thinking for a moment, Eric smiled mischievously.
“You could escape if you want.”
“What are you going to do?”
“Well, that’s…”
“Don’t leave me alone. We go together no matter what.”
“That’s a familiar sound.”
“?”
Watching the grumbling Eric, Alicia looked puzzled, then he led her into the banquet hall.
As soon as they entered, they approached the Gloucester Duke and Duchess.
“You came early?”
“Did you come?”
“And your Majesty?”
“Luckily, not yet[—].”
At that moment, the sound of the emperor and empress entering was heard along with the music.
“Let’s go. We need to greet them.”
The duke and duchess hurriedly headed forward.
“Presenting their Imperial Majesties, the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester.”
“Welcome, Duke Gloucester. Duchess.”
After the emperor’s greeting, the empress lowered her fan and, smiling broadly, extended her hand towards Alicia.
“Alicia, dear. Have you been well?”
“Oh, yes, Your Majesty. Thanks to your concern.”
Although she responded calmly, Alicia was embarrassed by the unexpected warm welcome from the empress.
Eric, standing next to her, was also the same, and the emperor and William openly showed expressions of ‘What’s going on?’
Harry, however, kept his mouth shut and seemed unable to look directly, as if he couldn’t stand to see it.
But despite the atmosphere around, the empress opened her mouth as if nothing happened.
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
