My knees wobbled as my strength drained.
The women who had been with Nikolai exploded in anger.
“You said you didn’t want to butt in?”
“You must wait your turn quietly!”
It seemed they thought they had been cut in line by me.
“Everyone, step back.”
“Your Majesty!”
“I have something to say to this woman. Alone.”
Nikolai’s gaze was fixed on me.
It was a look that seemed to pierce my hidden heart and even dig up my hidden sincerity.
‘Success? Or failure?’
I bit my lips at the crossroads of life and death.
Nikolai did not show the passion characteristic of someone who had been seduced.
Neither anger nor resentment was displayed.
I could not move a step in front of the eyes of a predator searching for prey.
Then Nikolai swiftly removed the mask that had covered half of his face.
When the elaborate mask disappeared, his wild and sensual beauty was fully revealed under the moonlight.
Thick eyebrows and deep, mysterious eyes.
High nose bridge and sensual lips were indeed works of art.
But why was he looking at me like that?
Was it the look of a man reuniting with a parted lover? Or the look of a boy in love for the first time?
No, something was different.
‘Think positively. The charm worked. Nikolai has become my puppet!’
Joy and elation that I had extended my lifeline engulfed me.
Then Nikolai licked his lips.
It was a voice too rational and cool.
“You, become my empress.”
[Star Icon][Star Icon][Star Icon]Even as he surveyed the two women, Nikolai’s nerves were focused entirely on the party hall.
‘It smells strange somewhere. Is it an illusion?’
A hollow laugh escaped.
Since his 22nd grand ceremony, Nikolai had not been able to smell any scent.
Neither freshly baked bread, blooming roses, nor topgrade perfume.
His sense of smell only reacted to the stench of a stone disease called ‘Underworld Flower’.
Finding the Underworld Flower and secretly isolating the people infected with the plague was Nikolai’s fate.
When the Underworld Flower broke out, the infected suffered from red rash like petals, a strange smell, high fever, and then died.
There were no cures or preventive measures.
To stop the uncontrollable spread of the plague, the emperor sought the healing goddess Morasincia.
He personally fasted for 10 days and then offered 100 days of sacrifices.
Also, he dedicated 1,000 oxen and 1,000 sheep to the temple.
The goddess Morashinia, who was wrapped in silk, drove out the underworld flower and bestowed a wolf chasing the seeds of the plague upon the emperor’s body.
The underworld flower concealed its traces, and the emperor was recorded as a holy warrior who saved the country.
Nikolai bit his lip.
‘The wolf only finds, tastes, and suppresses the underworld flower. It can’t fundamentally eliminate it. I don’t know why the underworld flower, which ended in the previous generation, is coming back to life, or why it only breaks out in young women.’
The emperor’s voice struck his ear.
“Remember, the wolf parasitizes on your desires. An emperor must not waver in lust. Do not pursue trivial happiness. Do not let anyone steal your heart.”
If the goddess’s wolf was by one’s side, the underworld flower did not break out.
That was why those who harbored the seeds of the underworld flower were imprisoned in the imperial palace.
They were all young women, so Nikolai had to endure being called a Casanova.
Only a few people closest to him knew this.
Even those close to him did not know that the 28yearold young emperor was a virgin.
To Nikolai, women were nothing more than an endless duty, an object of surveillance.
Desire disappeared along with sensation.
Today, he had only followed the stench of the underworld flower.
‘The scent of cherries, jasmine, and sweetberries mixed… It’s not an illusion. It seems the wolf noticed it too.’
He placed his right hand on his racing heart.
When the owner of the fragrance appeared on the terrace, he was frozen.
He had never smelled a fragrance so enchanting.
‘Is this woman the heiress of the Emster family? Wasn’t she just an ordinary, scentless woman?’
The Emster family was a notable wealth in the Hartman Empire.
Nikolai could not be unaware of the Emster’s heir.
He was well aware of the rumors about the social queen bee.
But that was it.
Women unrelated to the underworld flower had no meaning to him.
What provoked Elizabeth was the intense curiosity he felt for the first time in a long time.
No, was it hunger?
Or perhaps a desperate wish?
“Do you want to join?”
“No way!”
The noxious stench that filled the terrace receded, and a refreshing floral scent rushed in.
His nose cleared, and saliva pooled in his mouth.
His eyes, looking at Elizabeth, flared like a starving beast.
‘If the ones emitting the stench taste bitter, wouldn’t the fragrant ones taste sweet?’
A strange heat tangled his stomach.
He wanted to taste her.
Right here, right now.
A fierce desire he had never entertained before flared up.
Male lead Asks for a Divorce Every Day
It’s not often you come across a plot like this in the female-dominant genre — make sure to check it out!
This is a novel I’m planning to reread as well.
The male lead is strong, skilled in martial arts, and not the usual fragile type you often see in matriarchal novels.
Meanwhile, the female lead is a scientist—rational and logical. Even when she falls for the male lead, she doesn’t let her emotions cloud her decisions.
If you push through the first few chapters, you’ll gradually find the story really intriguing.
It has a mix of mystery, detective elements, and romance.
The author’s writing style is like crafting a puzzle—except they deliberately leave out a few pieces, making it hard to predict what happens next, yet keeping you hooked.
In the end, everything will come together and be explained.
One-sentence summary: Wife, stop playing with beakers and look at me!
In a laboratory accident, research scientist Zhu Wansheng accidentally travels to a matriarchal world. The original owner of the body is an eighteen-year-old only daughter of a wealthy rouge merchant, already married with a handsome young man.
Zhu Wansheng grins: Nice! She always said she was heaven’s favorite granddaughter. After a life of toil in her previous life, she can enjoy blessings in this one.
However, her joy lasts no more than three seconds as bad news arrives: the original owner’s family is about to go bankrupt, and her husband wants a divorce.
Even worse, she’s stuck with a research system full of restrictions.
Zhu Wansheng: ? Is this the destiny of a research dog?
——
Faced with this mess, Zhu Wansheng pours herself a bowl of wine to drown her sorrows. In her drunken haze, her husband arrives.
His figure is imposing, holding a long sword, with a dignified air that captivates Zhu Wansheng.
Gu Yingqing, however, looks at the alcohol-reeking Zhu Wansheng with undisguised disgust and coldly asks, “Divorce or not?” The intoxicated Zhu Wansheng mumbles vaguely, “I think… it’s not… it’s not… impossible!”
——
The next day, after sobering up, Zhu Wansheng is full of energy, rolling up her sleeves ready to make a big move. As for yesterday? She has no memory of it.
Zhu Wansheng is ambitious; a research dog fears nothing!
Upgrading rouge, extracting fragrances, producing perfumes, researching lipsticks… all shall bow to the power of modern technology!
The original owner’s dying rouge shop is revitalized. Her mother is pleased and with a wave of her hand, passes on the family business to her. As she takes control and her experimental results gain popularity, it’s the pinnacle of her life…
——
But there are always those who can’t stand to see her doing well. Jealousy, scheming, assassination attempts – they want nothing less than her life.
The person who has always kept his distance from her suddenly holds her tightly in his arms, eyes full of concern.
She is unharmed, but he falls into a pool of blood…
Zhu Wansheng feels guilty, “I can grant you one wish.”
Gu Yingqing tentatively circles his arms around her, carefully resting his head in the crook of her neck, pleading softly, “I regret it. Can we not divorce?”
Zhu Wansheng: ? When did I agree to a divorce?
[Small Theater]
The newly developed rouge is beautifully packaged, and Zhu Wansheng is eager to try it.
Gu Yingqing suddenly appears: “My lady, may I apply it for you?”
Cool fingertips lightly brush her lips. His Adam’s apple bobs as he leans in for a light bite.
Zhu Wansheng: ?
Gu Yingqing: It smells so good, I wanted to taste it…
On a warm spring day, Zhu Wansheng tries a new perfume: “Spring Night.” Gu Yingqing corners her against a wall.
Warm breath lingers on her neck.
“My lady, from now on, may I test the fragrances for you?”
[Humorous female scientist vs scheming live-in son-in-law male lead]
[Touch the gear icon in the bottom right corner of the screen to move to the next chapter if you want.]
