Sensuous crimson lips blossomed.
The surrounding air suddenly seemed to expand.
Or perhaps it had all evaporated.
Gasping for breath, I turned my head frantically.
Even if I fell behind in mental combat, there was no other way.
“Go quietly to your room. Stop speaking blasphemies in the temple.”
I wanted to warn him sternly.
If Nikolai’s eyelashes hadn’t trembled, it might have been half successful.
Whether any conscience remained, Nikolai briefly glanced at the Moracian goddess statue hanging on the wall.
“A person should act with discretion according to the time and place.”
Nikolai, with a serious face, muttered while shaking his head.
I responded by snapping my fingers.
“That’s exactly what I was going to say!”
“Moreover, isn’t this a temple where dangerous divinity sleeps?”
“You’re finally thinking sensibly. You’ll avoid divine punishment, Your Majesty.”
As I was about to catch my breath,
Nikolai grabbed my wrist tightly.
“So let’s go outside the temple.”
A tingling sensation, as if a current were penetrating, made me jump.
His fixed turquoise eyes rose sharply.
Struggling to endure the pouring heat, I stumbled over my words like a fool.
“Why, why?”
“Because this is a temple.”
My heart was struck again.
I wanted to plead for him to stop.
To avoid surrendering so readily.
But I couldn’t open my mouth.
“Who knows if the priests might overhear? Arkanso seems to have very sharp ears.”
Nikolai ran his moist tongue over his lips.
He was beautiful enough today to make it hard to breathe.
Though he hid it with casual words, he too seemed to be struggling with thirst.
“If you want, anywhere here is fine.”
Nikolai said in a gentle, calming voice.
Suppressing unknown feelings of fear or excitement, I shook my head.
“What?”
“Anything.”
Nikolai gently stroked my eyebrows with his soft fingertips.
He touched my cheek and traced my jawline.
Each time, my lower abdomen tingled and itched.
My heart already felt like it was halfway burst.
Gasping for breath, I nibbled on the corner of my helpless lips.
Due to the solemn atmosphere of the Moracian goddess statue and the temple, guilt intensified.
With a surrendering mentality, I led Nikolai away.
“Let’s go! Outside the temple!”
Since it had come to this, I decided to confirm Nikolai’s nature of a beast.
If someone were to seduce, it should be me, not him!
There were four assassins in total.
Franz wiped the cold sweat on his palm against his clothes.
Shade skillfully demonstrated his abilities.
However, the opponents were no ordinary ones.
The sharp sound of swords clashing rang in Franz’s ears like screams.
‘I took care of the ruffians on the farm in the blink of an eye. What if Shade gets hurt like this?’
The assassins relentlessly targeted Franz.
Each time, Shade’s blade blocked them.
Owen and Douglas stood in front of Franz, protecting him.
Douglas, who looked tense, asked, “Are you okay, Your Highness?”
“It’s not pleasant, but bearable.”
“I’m concerned that you might be mentally affected by the cruel scene.”
Douglas covered Franz’s eyes with his hand.
Franz tilted his head and gently pushed his hand away.
“Thanks, but I’ll pass. I won’t collapse again.”
“Hao-na…”
“My knights are fighting for me. It’s the lord’s duty to watch over them until the end.”
In truth, he wanted to cover his eyes and ears.
He wanted to crouch under the desk and wait for everything to be over.
Just like the day his mother collapsed.
‘I’m not a 4-year-old child anymore. I won’t be afraid of those who target me!’
He gritted his teeth and glared at the assassins.
Who sent them?
Perhaps…?
Franz’s face became even paler.
From a very young age, Franz had suffered various dangers.
‘When Empress Penelope was in power, every day was a series of tensions. If I weren’t a knowledgeable child, I wouldn’t have endured it.’
After Penelope’s expulsion, encounters with assassins were rare.
Because an attack on the crown prince could stir up a storm of blood.
Unnamed enemies bought Franz’s maidservant, poisoned his food, and sowed discord between Nikolai and Franz.
Until Elizabeth entered the picture.
‘I wonder what Elizabeth is doing now.’
Franz longed for her red hair, smile, and even her nagging.
“Krah!”
One of the thugs collapsed, blood spurting from his heart.
The remaining three were also seriously injured.
“Hoo, retreat!”
The assassins, who had been stealthily watching, began to flee.
Shade’s sword pierced through one of them.
“Ahh!”
“Thunk!”
Shade’s dagger was embedded in another one’s leg.
One desperate individual managed to escape.
“Shade, are you uninjured?”
Shade’s handsome face had a few droplets of blood.
Brushing the blood away with his fingers, Shade looked embarrassed.
“I’m sorry.”
“You saved my life, Shade. What’s there to be sorry about?”
“In front of Your Highness, I killed someone again.”
Shade lowered his opaque eyes without showing any emotions.
It seemed like he remembered Elizabeth’s words.
Trying to cheer him up, Franz patted Shade’s back.
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
