Of course, it was undeniable that both individuals possessed different strengths and charms.
While walking lost in thought, she came upon a fork in the road.
One path led deeper into the walking trail, while the other circled back towards the mansion.
She couldn’t stray too far from the mansion, as Duke Amaterasu’s daughter might look for her after finishing their date.
Just as Countess Greykin was about to turn back towards the mansion she had already passed,
Someone called out her name.
“Countess Greykin.”
Turning her head, she saw a handsome man with dark blond hair neatly slicked back with pomade.
It was Count Preston.
“So this is where you were. Duke Amaterasu’s daughter is looking for you. Shall we go together?”
[This is the timeline separator]Since she was told to visit Cardia Manor periodically, Jieselgrante thought Cabelased must have other intentions.
That he would demand something in return for taking the risk to protect Countess Greykin.
But all she did today at Cardia Manor was have a meal with Cabelased and check if Countess Greykin was doing well.
‘Then why did he ask me to come?’
While Jieselgrante was pondering Cabelased’s incomprehensible psychology, the Amaterasu household staff entered the reception room one by one carrying framed paintings.
They lined up the framed paintings along one wall of the reception room.
Jieselgrante examined the frame placed at the front.
“This isn’t it.”
As she shook her head, the butler drew a line across the parchment he was holding.
Slowly moving to the frame placed next to it, Jieselgrante carefully observed the painting within just as before.
“This isn’t it either…”
The butler drew another horizontal line across the parchment.
After she had checked all the paintings lined up on the wall, the butler said,
“Next.”
The staff swiftly moved the framed paintings out of the reception room.
Soon, new framed paintings filled the empty wall of the reception room.
‘As expected, it’s not easy to find.’
Looking at the parchment covered in horizontal lines, Jieselgrante crossed her arms.
Pouring tea into an empty cup, Lindsey asked with a curious expression,
“Young lady, may I ask you something?”
Jieselgrante nodded as she brought the steaming teacup to her lips.
“Why are you buying paintings from the Rugal region?”
At that, Ola, who was placing a dessert plate in front of her, also looked at Jieselgrante with interested eyes.
For some time now, she had been searching for the artist who painted the portrait of the late Empress that she saw at Cardia Manor.
Heeding the Empress’s words that royalty should not only pore over documents but also cultivate artistic sensibilities, she had been steadily increasing her understanding of art.
Knowing the names and styles of the court painters employed by the Imperial Palace at the time, and even those before, she could tell who the artist was or who influenced them by looking at the style.
But the style in the late Empress’s portrait was quite unfamiliar.
So, judging that the one who painted the late Empress’s portrait was likely not a famous artist, Jieselgrante bought paintings by artists active in the Rugal area.
From renowned artists in the region to wandering painters.
And with what she saw today, she had seen all the paintings by artists primarily active in Rugal.
“…Just. I became a bit interested.”
At her nonchalant answer, Lindsey puffed out her cheeks and said,
“I know everything now. What your plan is.”
Finding her slightly sulky expression cute, Jieselgrante asked with a slight chuckle,
“What is my plan then?”
Lindsey leaned slightly towards her and whispered softly,
“You’re trying to discover promising new artists in the Rugal region before others, aren’t you?”
“…What?”
Jieselgrante let out a small laugh at Lindsey’s unique imagination.
Afterwards, Lindsey continued to chatter away, sticking close to her side.
“Sister. You’re bothering the young lady. Stop talking and come help me with this.”
Lindsey’s brow furrowed at the sudden criticism. She quickly scurried over to Ola.
“I’m the older sister, you know? I hope you haven’t forgotten that fact.”
Ola, who was about to snap back at Lindsey with a glare, noticed Jieselgrante’s gaze and closed her mouth with an expression that said she should keep quiet.
Then she busily moved her hands.
“What, so I’m not even worth talking to?”
“Don’t make noise while the young lady is resting, and polish this until it shines.”
Ola placed a dry cloth in Lindsey’s hand.
Grumbling at first, Lindsey soon quietly began polishing Jieselgrante’s shoes with the dry cloth.
Of course, she didn’t forget to quietly grumble towards Ola.
Having no particular memories of siblings since childhood, Jieselgrante found the relationship between the Lindsey and Ola sisters, who bickered yet also cared for each other specially at times, quite fascinating.
‘Come to think of it, Mikhail is really kind to his younger sibling.’
Jieselgrante had such thoughts as she sipped her warm tea.
[This is the timeline separator]“Young lady, the paintings have arrived.”
Jieselgrante was a bit surprised at the butler’s words.
She hadn’t found any painters with styles similar to the portrait among the paintings sold in Rugal.
So she had decided to expand the area a bit more and buy paintings just a few days ago.
That means the paintings couldn’t arrive this quickly now.
“They’ve arrived already?”
To the puzzled Jieselgrante, the butler explained,
“Well, the Duke and Young Master Mikhail, having learned of your recent enthusiasm for discovering new artists, ordered paintings to be purchased in advance.”
“Ah…”
A sigh escaped through Jieselgrante’s slightly parted lips.
“The paintings that arrived today are those ordered by the Duke, and the ones ordered by Young Master Mikhail are expected to arrive tomorrow or the day after.”
Watching the staff moving the paintings into the reception room, Jieselgrante let out a small, hollow laugh.
“Shall I continue with the explanation, young lady?”
The butler asked, gauging her bewildered reaction.
“Yes.”
“The paintings that came in today are from small towns between Rugal and Cardia duchy…”
While listening to the butler’s explanation, Jieselgrante looked at the paintings arranged on the wall.
“…How is it?”
Shaking her head, Jieselgrante moved to stand in front of the next painting.
The butler drew a horizontal line across the parchment he was holding, as if by habit.
After bringing in and removing paintings from one side of the reception room wall for some time,
The butler asked her, who had been standing in front of one painting for a long while,
“Do you like this piece?”
“Yes. I really like it. Could you find out who painted it?”
“Of course. I’ll send someone to inquire and have them brought to the manor right away.”
“Please do.”
As Jieselgrante nodded, the butler bowed with a noticeably brighter expression.
Then he dismissed the staff waiting in the hallway with paintings to show her.
Amidst the busy movements of staff moving paintings out and butlers giving them instructions, her gaze remained fixed on one spot.
While not exactly the same, it was the closest to the style of the late Empress’s portrait among the dozens of paintings she had seen recently.
If she could meet the artist who painted this, she might be able to learn how and under what circumstances the late Empress’s portrait was painted.
[This is the timeline separator]People from all over the empire gathered in the imperial capital for the Empire Founding Festival.
The Empire Founding Festival was an excellent event to showcase the empire’s influence and power.
On this day, not only the imperial palace but anywhere in the capital city exuded a fervent festive atmosphere.
The Emperor, Empress, and Crown Prince made a public appearance at the square to meet the commoners during the day of the festival.
Knights of the imperial guard in full ceremonial uniform marched in formation before and after the splendid carriage.
And at night, they held a banquet with the nobles at the imperial palace.
Amidst the nobles, Jieselgrante waited for the festival event to begin.
And as soon as the event started, she planned to quietly slip away to accomplish her purpose for coming to the palace today.
The Emperor’s congratulatory speech was about to begin.
She tried to quietly leave her seat.
“…Jiesel?”
To Mikhail’s questioning look asking where she was going, she merely glanced and gestured towards the sleeve of her dress.
Seeing the slightly protruding thread on her fluttering sleeve, Mikhail nodded with his mouth open in an ‘ah’.
Weaving her way through the nobles, Jieselgrante left the banquet hall and headed straight for her destination.
On the way, she encountered several palace employees in the corridor, who bowed to her first.
But they didn’t seem to remember her properly.
The Empire Founding Festival was one of the most notable annual events among the Faesius Empire’s ceremonies.
The palace staff would have started preparing to welcome nobles flooding in from all over the empire ten days in advance.
The accumulated fatigue must be considerable.
There was a high chance they wouldn’t even properly remember who they talked to or what they discussed today.
Well aware of this palace dynamic, she increased her pace towards the bedroom she used to use, without much worry.
Fortunately, the bedroom was not much different from when she had stayed there before.
She rummaged through the drawers with familiarity. And retrieved a cloak she found there.
Unable to visit the palace often, she looked around the bedroom to see if there was anything else she should take.
‘It’s gone…’
The portrait of her mother, the late Empress, that should have been on the bedside cabinet was missing.
She pondered the intentions behind removing only the late Empress’s portrait while leaving everything else as it was, and who might have done it, as she hurried towards the Emperor’s bedroom.
Although huge guards were guarding the entrance to the Emperor’s bedroom, she calmly went to a blind spot not visible from the bedroom side.
And lit the sleep incense.
Soon, as a small wisp of smoke rose, the scent of herbs wafted through the air.
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
