Following the spine sent shivers down my back.
I tried to reassure myself that there was no need to intentionally misunderstand.
However, doubts lingered.
“It seems you have been chosen by the Goddess.”
After that, Nikolai’s confession began.
He started chasing me after learning about my divine eyes from Archon Sochung.
An unpleasant voice once again touched me.
‘You’re being deceived. What if he used you from the beginning? What if everything—his gaze, voice, lips, breath—was all a well-scripted play?’
My mouth went dry.
I didn’t want to be captivated by strange delusions.
But once suspicions started, they didn’t easily fade away.
‘He judged that you were valuable after hearing Archon Sochung’s words. He wanted to possess you, his last hope. Think about it. Why would the Emperor personally come to take you? Maybe he came to capture you, worried you’d escape, just like when he kidnapped you to the palace.’
I forcefully shook my head.
I looked at Nikolai.
The man who always fascinated me with his world-class beauty.
The Emperor who adeptly changed faces as the situation demanded.
The man burdened with the life and death of the empire.
“Your Majesty, why are you following me?”
“Don’t you know?”
“It’s an important moment starting reforms centered around Lady Claudia. Is it okay for you to be here with me like this?”
I thought it was to focus Claudia’s attention.
If the Emperor left the palace for too long, various speculations would arise.
To succeed in the reforms, it was necessary to show that Nikolai was well behind Claudia.
Who wouldn’t know that?
But why was Nikolai with me?
‘Did he ask to come with me? There’s nothing to gain from being with a fugitive like me.’
Even though I thought he had a different purpose.
Even though I knew it would only bring more pain.
“If it’s not okay, do you want me to go back?”
Nikolai asked sharply.
“The Internal Affairs Minister must have opposed it too.”
“Cares knows nothing. By now, he might have noticed that she’s gone.”
“You hid it from Minister Cares too?”
After a brief sigh, Nikolai answered.
“I didn’t want to say it.”
“You’re the closest aide to Your Majesty. The reason for hiding it from him…”
It would be good if he could tell any story.
Nikolai frowned as if he didn’t want to talk about it.
A dry sound echoed from my desolate chest.
Even though it felt like it could collapse at any moment, my lips moved on their own.
“Your Majesty, you must know what will happen if you speak from the sanctuary. You probably anticipated how the holy knights would react.”
“What are you talking about now?”
Doubt. Or maybe misunderstanding.
Perhaps the truth.
I still wanted to believe in him.
I hoped I was wrong.
So I asked more sharply.
“Did you intentionally cause a disturbance? To make me stand out against the temple and rely only on Your Majesty?”
“How can you think like that?”
Nikolai glared at me.
I know it’s forced.
Sometimes, to hide that I’ve been hurt, I deliberately caused anger.
I would pour out sharp and cutting words, deliberately inflating my size.
Because then, it would hurt less.
It was the same now.
“Because I can’t understand Your Majesty.”
“Are you doubting me?”
Nikolai flicked back his flowing black hair roughly.
“If it’s reasonable.”
“What? How?”
“Because of the Underworld Flower, Your Majesty also needs Moracian Elixir.”
The light disappeared from Nikolai’s turquoise eyes.
His sensual lips slightly parted.
Through them, a sibilant voice flowed.
“To think I followed you just because of a mere elixir…”
A man deeply wounded by his pride.
He lifted his eyes.
“Do you want to say that I’m using you?”
Our gazes clashed, and sparks of resentment flew.
Silence whipped past us.
The door that had been locked at that moment creaked open.
“A decree has been issued from the Council of Elders. To cleanse the sin of violating the sanctuary, each person must donate one million gold.”
A contemptuous laugh accompanied the words of the Holy Knight.
In my confiscated luggage, there was elixir.
Even if he knew, why demand such a paltry sum as one million gold?
“The sanctuary has been defiled like this, and can forgiveness be obtained with just one million gold?”
I said with a chilly mockery.
The Holy Knight muttered as if grumbling.
“What are you saying?”
“As an apology to the Goddess, I’ll offer ten million gold. I’ll also offer prayers.”
“…Are you serious now?”
As much as I wanted to be devilish, I couldn’t.
That was the one thing I couldn’t do beside Nikolai.
Despite buying mansions and summoning a fortune, the Holy Knight’s eyes widened at the mention of ten million gold.
“Can I ask you to give a eulogy to the Lord Grand Chamberlain?”
“Well, that’s…”
“Oh, I guess the heretics can’t meet, right? Then I’ll give up.”
He turned his head as if disappointed.
Seeing him so excited that he didn’t notice the severed connection between me and Nikolai, I commanded.
“First, return my luggage. And make sure no one touches it.”
It was easy to leave the palace.
Male lead is reincarnated to save his wife
I’ve also read this one twice already. The female lead is kinda soft and gets embarrassed easily—not really my type, but the plot is definitely worth reading. Hurry up and read it, y’all!
Intro
When Shen Yuan encountered Su Jin again in his previous life, she had already become the Prime Minister of the current dynasty. As for him, the former top young master of the capital, he had long since fallen into the abyss, becoming a singer on a pleasure boat.
After a song ended, he was redeemed and sent to the Su Residence.
Su Jin respected and cherished him, gave him a roof over his head, and bestowed him with warmth. Shen Yuan fell deeper and deeper, but before he could express his feelings, Su Jin passed away.
Shen Yuan died to follow her in death, but instead, he returned to when he was fifteen years old.
At that time, he was not yet engaged, and Su Jin was just a poor scholar.
Shen Yuan gritted his teeth, casting aside all his pride, and thought of ways to coax and entice her every day.
The colder and more indifferent Su Jin was towards him, the more proactive Shen Yuan became.
He was not afraid of being mocked by the world, only wanting to marry his Wife-master early, to hold her hand and never let go for a lifetime.
[Note: This story will not specifically point out the male lead’s reincarnation time point; it’s all in the details. Whenever you feel that the male lead is acting strangely, he has most likely been reincarnated.]
[Touch the gear icon in the bottom right corner of the screen to move to the next chapter if you want.]
