Nikolai froze as he examined every inch of my body.
He had apparently just discovered the stab wound.
“Summon the court healer immediately!”
Nikolai commanded.
His tone was calm and stern.
But the intensity it carried was extraordinary.
It felt like even the herald of hell couldn’t emit a more ferocious aura.
“I’m fine. It can be healed with a potion.”
“That’s nonsense. Your dress is stained with blood.”
“I’m tougher than I look!”
I flexed my arms, trying to appear cheerful.
I wanted to alleviate Nikolai’s guilt.
Was it because I was finally at ease?
Or was it because I was acting tough?
A sharp pain surged through my waist.
“Ah!”
“Elizabeth!”
Nikolai, his face flushed with fear, lifted me up.
His scent enveloped me once again.
I had already become accustomed to his aroma.
Just the mere touch relaxed my tension and melted my worries.
Childish behavior I’d never shown even to my parents emerged subtly.
“I don’t think I’m okay, Your Highness.”
“Don’t worry for now. Rest. I’ll handle the rest.”
“Is that really okay?”
“Nobody will harm you anymore.”
I felt safe and warm in Nikolai’s arms.
And so, sleep came rushing in.
Ever since I was kidnapped, I had wanted to see Nikolai.
I had hoped he would come to rescue me when I was cornered.
I could handle it on my own, but I wanted to feel protected, at least for once.
Especially if it was by Nikolai.
‘I don’t need to struggle alone. I have Nikolai by my side…’
Muttering internally, I lost consciousness.
So, I didn’t manage to say what I absolutely needed to say to Nikolai.
(This is a time separator.)
The Viscount with rings on all ten fingers hunched his shoulders as he lurked in the alley.
His movements, while pulling up his coat collar, were filled with irritation.
“Why did you ask to meet outside? What if we’re seen?”
The Blackford Earl waiting for him nervously stroked his black mustache.
“Don’t you know that it’s riskier in a mansion or a salon? We can’t be seen together.”
“Damn fools! Couldn’t even kidnap a girl.”
The Viscount couldn’t contain his anger and stamped his foot.
The eyes of Blackford Earl grew fierce.
“If things go wrong, it will all be your fault, Viscount.”
“It was you, Blackford, who suggested dealing with the girl through the Dark Guild!”
“If you’d moved the mercenaries as you wanted, we would be in the dungeon by now.”
“Hmm.”
“Forgot that you only reported onetenth of our forces to the Emperor? Kidnapping is a lesser crime compared to that!”
Blackford Earl cornered Viscount.
The Viscount deflected the conversation with a gloomy face.
“I should have listened to Duke Riman’s advice. Damn it!”
“Anyway, I have a good idea.”
“Let’s hear it, Blackford.”
“We’re not the parties to the bet, right?”
“So?”
“Let’s frame it as something orchestrated by Brendan. He has both the motive and the resources.”
Viscount’s pupils dilated at the idea of framing someone.
It was only for a moment; he wore a satisfied smile.
“So you’re saying we should completely bring down Duke Brendan?”
“Duke Brendan has tarnished the honor of the four great houses with his vulgar speech and vile business practices. They even say that Simon is the strongest swordsman in the empire.”
“True. Betting his whole fortune and a common girl. Shameful.”
“We can manipulate the Noble’s Circle to bring down Duke Brendan. Leaking fake evidence about the kidnapping would also be good.”
“So you mean to leave the cleanup to the Emperor?”
“He’ll gladly take the bait since he’s infatuated with the girl.”
“I always wondered who the wise Empress inherited her wisdom from! It must be her father, you, Blackford!”
“Be cautious when talking about Duke Riman.”
“Trust me. We’re in the same boat, aren’t we?”
“Our friendship and prosperity will be eternal.”
The Viscount and Blackford Earl exchanged a fervent handshake.
The Viscount had no idea.
Count Blackfold was unaware that he was harboring another secret.
He had no idea.
That the Duke of Fife, whom he had underestimated, had already made separate arrangements for his assassination.
(This is a time separator.)
That day, I couldn’t return to the Canary Room.
It was because Nikolai insisted that my wounds could worsen due to the shaky carriage.
For the time being, I decided to recuperate in the guestroom at the top of Emster.
I only found out about this later.
By the time I came to my senses, everything had been decided according to the situation.
“……Your Majesty?”
I sat up in bed.
Nikolai, who had been sitting in a chair next to the bed, approached like lightning.
“Don’t move. Your wounds were just stitched.”
He gently laid me back down.
His touch was as considerate as a nurse who had received professional training.
If there were nurses as handsome as Nikolai, hospitals would be filled with hypochondriacs.
“Were you by my side all this time?”
“Yes.”
“Did you get any rest?”
“Drink some water first. Thirst is bad for your health.”
Ignoring my question, Nikolai handed me a cup of water.
On the side table, there were simple snacks, painkillers, and disinfectants prepared.
Male lead is a Love-Obsessed Merman
When he discovers she has gone, he risks everything to pursue her on land, enduring agonizing pain to transform his tail into human legs…
One-line summary: Male lead chases female lead. The male lead’s love is a bit sick, an invincible love brain.
Synopsis
During a voyage at sea, Jiang Yang accidentally captures a merman.
Servant: I heard that mermen are fierce and brutal.
Jiang Yang looks at the merman obediently rubbing her palm like a puppy: “You call this fierce and brutal?”
Servant: I heard that mermen have no human nature.
Jiang Yang looks at the merman with wet puppy eyes, obsessively calling her ‘A Yang’ like a childish infant: “You call this having no human nature?”
With great difficulty, she releases the merman back into the sea and returns to shore.
Who would have thought that in less than half a month, the merman, who should have been freely wandering in the South China Sea, would shed his scales, endure the pain of losing his tail, transform into human legs, and come ashore to find her?
He kneels at her feet, rubbing her palm, with merman tears rolling down: “A Yang, don’t abandon me.”
_____
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