Doesn’t the emperor know?
Jillian Valroc wasn’t an easy person.
Rather, he would willingly submit to confinement.
If he were to really let go of the Wave at this point, it would be a problem for the Empire.
People’s eager gazes turned to the Grand Chamberlain.
He silently stared at Jillian with his lowered white eyelashes.
At that moment, Jillian, who had stopped laughing, pulled Bianca behind him.
Despite people often mistaking him for having a slender physique, Jillian was quite tall, especially for a northerner.
His long legs, straight like those of a deer, and the lean waist were as solid as a slow-growing evergreen tree.
Even Bianca, the imperial princess, who was taller than the average height of imperial women, disappeared neatly behind him.
People now truly saw Jillian.
His even shoulders were broad, and the skeleton revealed by the fur coat was that of a seasoned warrior.
Standing firmly on his two legs, he looked like a war god.
Beautiful, ruthless, and stronger than anyone else.
“There won’t be another chance for you.”
With a mercilessly cold face, Duke Balorc warned not the emperor but the Grand Chamberlain.
The target of this harshness was not the emperor.
It was the Grand Chamberlain.
People couldn’t understand why Duke Balorc was doing this all of a sudden, but no one intervened.
Regardless of what actions or words Duke Balorc took, no one would look or listen.
Their wish at this moment was for Duke Balorc to return.
Whether it was the emperor or the Grand Chamberlain, as long as they sent him away.
“I see you recognize him.”
“Is there any reason I shouldn’t know?”
Suddenly, the Duke went so far as to belittle the Grand Chamberlain.
Even after the emperor, now the Duke too.
The nobles, who were the top of the Holy Empire, wanted to faint if they could.
Meanwhile, the conversation between the two became sharper and more austere.
“It’s different from back then.”
“Is it different? Always late to everything, to the point of wandering around.”
“How can you be sure if you were late or not?”
“Enough with the bluff. You should know better than anyone that I won’t let go once it’s in my hands.”
“Does he know that?”
Jillian’s fierce gaze shook for a moment.
The Grand Chamberlain responded with an even deeper smile, as if it were a signal.
“Have you thought about how you’ll accept this later?”
Even though attention poured in from all directions, Duke Balorc and the Grand Chamberlain did not stop their enigmatic conversation.
Even the emperor, who had been reckless, seemed interested, not interrupting the conversation.
How long did their subtle confrontation continue?
A slender yet distinct voice echoed.
“Thank you for your concern, but I’ll decline.”
It was Bianca.
Since she wasn’t released, she was now only looking at Jillian’s broad back from behind.
But her voice was enough to draw people’s attention.
“Even if he had ulterior motives before, I don’t see how that matters now.”
“Your Highness.”
“Grand Chamberlain. Please be mindful of the titles. I have long been another master of the Valroc domain under the command of His Majesty the Emperor of Termina.”
It was a ticklish voice that tingled the ears. However, the board-like voice was unwavering.
“What are you implying? If there are issues between you two, resolve them on your own. Grand Chamberlain.”
Then, Jillian Valroc’s chilly voice followed.
Suddenly, the inquest fell into chaos.
People were intrigued, trying to deduce what had happened between the Grand Chamberlain and Jillian.
Once the atmosphere crumbled, it became challenging to maintain the inquest.
The Sun Hall filled with murmurs.
In the midst of this, pressing Duke Balorc any further for vague reasons would undoubtedly anger the Emperor.
Ecliff spoke up, grinding his teeth.
“What nonsense is this! Do you really not know why the inquest was held? It wasn’t to warn Duke Balorc and properly maintain the Wave!”
Trying to package the reason for the inquest belatedly with shouts, the broken mood did not recover.
The nobles exchanged glances and, as if on some unspoken agreement, collectively knelt and pleaded.
“Your Majesty, please order the return of Duke Balorc. Permit him another chance to shine his loyalty. Allow him the honor of protecting the Empire.”
Various buzzwords followed, but the essence was clear.
The return of Duke Balorc.
The Emperor’s playful move turned chaotic due to Balorc’s rough reaction and the sudden intrusion of the Grand Chamberlain.
He had nothing left.
“Permission granted.”
Only a reluctant murmur of mercy was squeezed out.
Balorc left, leaving behind a short farewell.
Efforts to evaluate the harvest of this incident revealed that, perhaps, Bianca had captured Balorc’s heart.
He disappeared like that, hiding behind my back.
“Well, the Empire is the best.”
Ecliff’s blue eyes, muttering, flashed dangerously.
If Balorc had taken Bianca into his heart, there was quite a bit to consider.
Really, a lot.
Lost in dangerous thoughts, Ecliff failed to notice the two pairs of eyes looking at him.
The Crown Prince and the Grand Chamberlain.
Neither of them radiated warmth.
“Jillian, can we leave so soon?”
Bianca’s voice trembled anxiously.
“Whether it’s okay or not. Didn’t you hear the Empress deny the order to return?”
“But…”
Wasn’t this the Imperial Palace she had been living in all her life?
Wasn’t it the reign of a foolish emperor?
Yet it was ending like this?
She couldn’t understand at all.
Even with Jillian’s reassurance, she couldn’t easily find comfort.
She hadn’t known what Jillian had said to dominate the emperor when he destroyed Rosevena.
Is it really okay to go…?
“Still…”
“Am I the only one who wants to go home quickly?”
“I wouldn’t say that. I just…”
When Bianca hesitated, Jillian gently grabbed her wrist.
With hurried steps, the small sound of the jewel boxes colliding in his pocket echoed.
Only then did Bianca remember the earrings she had meant to give to Deborra.
“…I won’t be able to give them and leave.”
“Why, is there someone else you want to meet?”
Jillian’s expression as he turned around was unexpectedly cold.
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
