But it was already too late.
“Ah, so. You’re saying that ‘unwell’ wasn’t just about Viscount Youngae, correct?”
Subtly brushing off the princess’s words, Duke Kewell nodded. The nobles of the Empire gazed at the princess with perplexed expressions.
The always flawless princess had now exposed the flaws of the prince. What a strange turn of events.
In an instant, the princess faced Count Kewell with a face as white as if all her blood had drained away.
If only she hadn’t understood the meaning of my words. Before her fervent hope could bloom, Duke Kewell politely lowered his head.
“I’ve been so busy with the reconstruction efforts before and after, so the news from Heperti has been delayed. Unfortunately, I’ve only heard about the engagement between the prince and Lady Madelaine.”
It was a confirmation assassination. Although it was widely known, the confirmation came directly from the princess’s mouth, stating what no one had affirmed.
As if correcting a misalignment, the princess sealed her lips. She glanced at Madelaine, the junior viscountess, standing behind Duke Kewell, but the usually competent junior viscountess remained silent, refraining from uttering any words.
A heavy atmosphere enveloped them. There was nothing that could resolve the situation.
“Oh, it seems I misread the atmosphere once again.”
Duke Kewell chuckled awkwardly, just like when he first approached the princess.
After staring blankly at him for a while, the princess finally smiled.
“…I need a moment. I must get some fresh air.”
The princess turned slowly. As her graceful steps moved away, the nobles realized, for the first time since the summer banquet began, that no member of the royal family lingered in the hall.
Now, the highest-ranking person present was the Grand Duke, who was smiling contentedly as he escorted his lady.
“Well, it seems all is over. Shall we go back now?”
The lukewarm night breeze brushed against her cheeks. The princess exhaled a sigh, feeling the breeze. The sea-colored eyes sparkled ominously.
“That, Hepherti Duke, like a cunning serpent. Knowing everything and yet deceiving me…!”
“Your Highness!”
Startled by the harsh words, Lady Ruhas, the governess, looked around frantically.
It was the summer banquet.
Though she wore a face that asked, ‘What if someone overhears?’ the princess had no energy to spare on such concerns.
“Why did the foreign diplomatic envoy come to this year’s summer banquet of all times…!”
While she used to take pride in the foreign diplomatic envoys attending the summer banquet, she expressed her anger this time, completely disregarding that fact.
“Of all places, why did Olivia Madelaine have to be there…!”
If only they hadn’t made eye contact at that moment. Why did the Hepherti Duke choose that time to say such words to me?
It seemed unmistakable that Olivia Madelaine was behind some dirty trick. Otherwise, there was no way she could have been watching me at that exact moment.
The princess’s breathing became rough.
After Maria Etel, now the Hepherti Duke, and Olivia Madelaine too.
“It won’t do. Yumo. I won’t let everything slide. Not a single thing.”
“Your Highness, I present myself to you.”
A quiet greeting descended from the night sky. The princess, who had been venting her frustration, blinked in surprise.
A knight with well-kept ashen hair. The princess knew who he was.
“…A knight from Vicanthor.”
“My lord has a message he wishes to convey directly to Your Highness.”
Without waiting for permission, the knight brought up a matter. For the princess, who had received the oaths of all the knights, this was an unprecedented occurrence. Ignoring the knight’s words, she turned away.
“How dare you, without permission! Is all of Vicanthor this impolite?”
“Your Highness will face three crises. The recent incident was the first crisis.”
“…What?”
Instantly, the princess’s body, about to take a step, froze like ice. The first crisis? Three crises? What is all this nonsense?
The princess’s heart irregularly thumped, pounded [dash], and saliva dried up in her mouth. Could it be that this is all a plot devised by the Grand Duke?
“This is ridiculous.”
“Did you rest comfortably in Katanta?”
The princess, who was trying to mock, stiffened her face. The chilly wind slid down her spine.
“…Katanta, how dare you!”
The trembling voice vibrated sharply. Lady Ruhas, who was behind her, had an ashen face like the color of the knight’s hair, but the princess saw nothing.
“…Are you threatening me, the princess?”
The voice that came out like a spur was rough. When the flashing eyes met the knight’s, the knight answered calmly and composedly as he had from the beginning.
“I am merely carrying out the orders issued by my lord. That’s all for now.”
Having finished a light bow, the knight took strides and moved away. I’ll tear him apart. That knight, the Grand Duke Vicanthor who issued the orders, and also Olivia Madelaine, watching me from hiding.
Her vision turned crimson with anger.
A reception room in the banquet hall.
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
