The leader of the noble faction, Duke Elkin, also didn’t stop him. Nobody knew if Duke Elkin, the Queen’s relative, had grand plans in his mind to elevate the noble faction’s favored lady to the position of Crown Princess.
The noble faction was too greedy.
Thus, the best candidate to be elevated to Crown Princess was indeed Madelleine’s eldest princess.
Being a known bastard, she was easy for the noble faction to criticize, yet she was the only one who could empower the Emperor’s faction.
And the very woman his own dog desired so much.
The Emperor swallowed his laughter and nodded.
“Let’s postpone the discussion about a year’s grace to the end and start the meeting now.”
“Yes. Then I’ll start with the first agenda item. The treaty with Hephereti is next month…….”
As he listened to the Deputy’s words, the Emperor awaited the opening of that door with joyful eyes.
There had been dozens of letters sent by the Duke, desperate to hear a clear answer about the marriage. Using the marriage he so desired as bait, the Duke would surely rush over.
Imagining the grand Duke’s splendid face twisting when he announced a year’s delay over the expected approval of the marriage brought joy.
.
.
.
But the Duke did not appear until all the items of the meeting were discussed.
The Emperor, staring at the door that would not open, slowly furrowed his brows.
It couldn’t be.
Had the Duke, who had wanted the marriage more than anyone, suddenly changed his mind?
As the Emperor’s silence continued, the nobles began to murmur. Earl Etel was at the forefront.
“It is possible that His Highness, the ruined Duke, may not have a sense of time, but the princess with him should have kept the time, don’t you think?”
“If it was Lady Etel, she would never do that.”
Subtle words demeaning the princess continued. At the same time, the number of nobles praising Lady Etel increased. It was ridiculous to see how Duke Etel puffed out his chest with pride.
The emperor clicked his tongue, Tsu. He felt his head would ache quite a bit for a year because of Duke Etel.
The emperor, already boiling with anger as the duke had not arrived, finally slammed down the armrest of the imperial throne. It was when all the nobles’ eyes turned towards the emperor at the rather loud noise.
“Your Majestic Sun, the Emperor, I greet you.”
A splendid voice immediately stole the attention focused on the emperor. The emperor forcibly lifted the corners of his mouth and looked towards the gate.
Duke Vicander.
The man he had expected to come running was facing him with an utterly relaxed face. That too, dressed to match the princess as if they were partners.
“…You’re late, Duke. I’ve been waiting for you since long before the meeting started, and now you come.”
“I must say, Your Majesty, the attendance notice you sent arrived just a little while ago. It’s not like you deliberately sent it late, so please understand.”
The sarcastic tone was rather blaming the emperor. In front of the nobles, the emperor, struck to the core, let out a Ha, an angry voice.
“So, Duke. What do you want to say? Are you blaming me?”
“Would I do that? Your Majesty. The first meeting may be late, but I am speaking to receive proper notification so that I can arrive early for the next meeting.”
The next meeting?
The emperor exhaled a heavy breath, trying not to show that he was startled, and smiled.
He had been the one preventing the duke from attending meetings while raging across the battlefield. It was the most effective way to prevent the duke from establishing his influence on the system.
He had only hoped that the duke would come today, all in a flutter, just to hear about the marriage.
“…I cannot call the busy Duke to every meeting.”
“What business could there be now that the war is over? Now, I too, as the head of Vicander, will stand by your side.”
Head of Vicander.
This was the first time the duke had referred to himself as the head.
As the nobles murmured at what unfolded before their eyes, the emperor glared at the duke with sharp eyes.
Now, his dog was baring its teeth at him. No longer the emperor’s dog but living as a duke.
“…What the Duke wants is not to attend the nobles’ meetings.”
This was a warning.
A warning that he would never get the white crystal mine if he continued this way. There had never been a time when this warning had not worked.
But.
“…It would be good to start my official duties with negotiations with Hepherthy. Your Majesty.”
A dangerous smile played on the Duke’s lips.
For a moment, the emperor looked down at his hand. He thought the leash on his dog was eternal. He thought it was always within his grasp, but it was slipping away like sand through his fingers.
The white crystal mine not working? What’s going on? He should have tied him securely with the princess’s marriage.
He tasted bitterness in his mouth from the belated regret. However, the emperor knew well that this was not the end.
“…We’ll deal with that issue later. The urgent matter today is the marriage of the Duke and Princess Madeleine.”
The emperor’s voice dropped softly. At the same time, Duke Etel’s eyes also sparkled ominously, turning towards Olivia.
Now was the chance.
The perfect opportunity to elevate his precious youngest daughter to the position of crown princess.
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
