Seducing the Tyrant Instead of My Favorite (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 15
I shot Kares a decisive ‘double wink and blown kiss’.
It was quickly revealed that even if the effect wore off, I could seduce him again.
“The artifact is on His Majesty’s desk in the imperial study. His Majesty is receiving ministers, so now is our chance.”
Kares, once again an ardent admirer, replied with hazy eyes.
How many days would it last this time?
It seemed I needed to run a few more experiments.
[This is the timeline separator]The Emperor’s study on the third floor of the main palace was heavily guarded.
But there was no need to worry.
With just one wink, the knights turned into docile lambs.
“Take a rest—you must be tired. Use this to buy yourself some nourishing food as well.”
“Thank you, Lady Elizabeth.”
The knights took the coin purse I handed them and vanished.
Now that they’d accepted a bribe, even if the charm wore off, they couldn’t protest.
At first, I’d been a little startled, but having the effect fade was far more convenient.
‘I could use this more often! I hesitated before, afraid of changing someone’s life. But I shouldn’t make unreasonable demands—think of the future!’
Lord, please allow me to become a righteous thief!
Though an atheist, the prayer slipped out naturally.
After all, I had no choice but to steal something belonging to the Emperor himself.
I wiped my sweaty palms on the hem of my dress.
I grasped the doorknob, carved with a golden lion.
Just as Kares said, Morasinthia’s eye lay carelessly atop the desk.
Nikolai’s usual carelessness was unusually welcome this time.
“I found it! It was worth coming all this way!”
Thinking I could now help Franz filled me with joy—and urgency.
Just then, a cold voice sounded behind me.
“Do you feel fulfilled while stealing?”
I spun around in alarm.
Nikolai, who should have been in the audience chamber, leaned against the doorframe.
A bead of cold sweat rolled down my forehead.
“Why are you coming out from there, Your Majesty?”
“Did I come somewhere I shouldn’t?”
“How did you know I was here?”
“You’re impossible to miss. Your scent resonates through the air.”
Nikolai inhaled deeply, as if that alone let him catch my scent.
Did I really smell? I bathed morning and night!
My cheeks burned hot.
His emerald eyes, fixed on me, had cooled to an icy stillness.
It wasn’t anger—but something even more dangerously flickering.
Nikolai stepped closer.
I shuffled backward, but there was nowhere to run.
Reflexively, I squeezed my eyes shut, bracing my hands on the desk.
‘I told you to take your affection elsewhere…!’
The trembling wouldn’t subside.
It wasn’t from fear.
Now, I could even sense the clean yet comforting warmth emanating from Nikolai’s solid frame.
Where was that hesitation about reconsidering the seduction game before becoming Franz’s tutor?
Nikolai had tangled my heart again—
just by taking a few steps forward.
“Remember, Elizabeth. You can never escape my gaze. No matter where you go, I’ll follow.”
His breath brushed past, perilously close.
His eyes held mine fully, yet not so near as to be unbearable.
Of course, if he reached out, he could touch me.
But unlike before, he didn’t lay a hand on me without permission.
‘Did he choose indifference over flirtation? Or is this some new scheme?’
I bit my lip.
My counterpart was a tyrant who enjoyed kidnapping and imprisonment.
He was also the cold-hearted man who pretended not to hear reports of his own son falling ill.
He’d probably never understand kindness.
“Your sense of smell is sharp. It would’ve been better if your hearing were keener instead.”
“Why’s that?”
“Don’t play innocent. You received reports about your son’s health, didn’t you?”
“…Is Franz unwell?”
Shock washed over Nikolai’s face.
He looked genuinely startled—beyond any doubt.
“That’s a first-time reaction, isn’t it?”
“Explain in detail. What happened to Pinch?”
Nikolai seized my arm.
He gripped so tightly tears nearly sprang to my eyes.
I shook his arm off and retorted,
“I’ll speak without threats.”
“Oh—sorry.”
Nikolai was so distraught he hadn’t even realized the brute force he’d used.
He didn’t seem to wear another mask, nor was he feigning paternal love.
The fear in his eyes—of losing someone precious—was impossible to fake.
“I’ll summon the Crown Prince’s Chief Physician immediately. I’ll hear the rest as we go.”
“You should’ve done that sooner. His Highness kept refusing treatment.”
“Why would he do such a thing?”
“How would I know? I’m not even his tutor. Even you don’t know.”
Nikolai bit his lip.
His expression was heavy with guilt.
I was confused.
Nikolai had flatly refused all reports concerning Franz.
I’d also heard they hadn’t met in quite some time.
I’d assumed he was the typical neglectful parent—but Nikolai’s reaction was different.
What exactly was wrong between Nikolai and Franz?
‘The servants probably couldn’t say anything—they must’ve been silenced by Franz. But what about Simon? Didn’t he claim Franz was the empire’s future?’
I wanted to stomp on Simon’s smug face with my boot.
As if time couldn’t wait, Nikolai reached out his hand to me.
“We must hurry, Elizabeth.”
It was the first time since meeting him that I wanted to take his hand.
Perhaps it was also the first time since becoming Elizabeth that I longed to run somewhere, leaning on someone else.
I looked anew at the man with large, warm hands.
[This is the timeline separator]“Simon. Have you sent the letter to the southern border?”
The hooded woman flicked her crimson lips.
Her face was hidden, but her silhouette bathed in moonlight was exquisitely elegant.
Simon knelt on one knee before her.
“Good tidings will arrive soon, Mama.”
“You’ve thoroughly isolated the Crown Prince, I trust?”
“Worry not. I am the only one the Crown Prince trusts and relies upon.”
“What of that woman, Elizabeth?”
“She’s a commoner acting far above her station—a vulgar girl flaunting her pretty face.”
“So she’s very beautiful, then.”
Though laughter tinged the woman’s voice, Simon hurried to explain.
“How can a rare diamond be compared to a bead played with by street ruffians? She’s nothing but cheap trash, unworthy even of your feet.”
“Never compare me to that woman again.”
“I—I’m deeply sorry!”
“They say she fancies handsome men. Simon, you could tempt her, couldn’t you?”
“I’ve laid some bait already. But if I touch a woman His Majesty has set his eyes on, won’t I get caught?”
“So you’re afraid?”
Her tone was sharp as icicles.
Did Simon even understand what awaited him if he incurred her wrath?
Simon’s face turned deathly pale.
“I’m not afraid! Please entrust this to me!”
“Don’t disappoint me, Simon.”
“What shall we do about the Crown Prince?”
“Eliminating him would be best.”
“!”
“Only then will His Majesty take me, won’t he? The empire needs a new heir—one who truly carries His Majesty’s noble blood.”
The woman chirped cheerfully.
Simon swallowed hard, glancing around nervously.
No one would come to this secret garden—but if discovered, it wouldn’t end with mere death.
“If that woman gains His Majesty’s favor, it’ll become a serious headache. You understand what I mean?”
“Understood, Mama.”
“There’s no need to deal with the Crown Prince immediately. Just be ready to break his neck at any moment.”
“I await your command.”
“I trust neither the goddess, nor my family, nor my father. I trust only you, Simon.”
The woman traced Simon’s jaw with her pale hand.
Trembling with emotion, Simon replied fervently,
“Only you, Mama, can possess Hartman’s heart.”
“I think so too. But what if His Majesty refuses to make me Empress?”
“Then we’ll have no choice but to install a new Emperor.”
“No—my chosen man will become the new Emperor. There’s no rule saying it can’t be you!”
“Mama!”
Leaving behind a sinister laugh, the woman departed.
Simon watched her retreating figure with flushed excitement.
A crimson storm was gathering over the imperial palace.
[This is the timeline separator]The elderly Chief Physician examining Franz smiled kindly.
“There’s nothing seriously wrong. It seems fatigue has accumulated.”
Franz, who had resisted fiercely, now lay sullenly in bed.
He still shot me resentful glances from time to time.
It seemed I’d have to give up on becoming his tutor.
“He’ll recover quickly if he takes the medicinal decoction.”
“Don’t take your eyes off the Crown Prince for a moment. Report directly to me.”
Nikolai spoke in a flat tone.
His shoulders were still rigidly tense—putting on a tough front in front of his son.
Franz, unable to hold back any longer, protested,
“I don’t need any medicine!”
“That’s my decision.”
“You don’t trust me, Your Majesty.”
“Don’t trust you?”
“You must think I’m a weak son who collapses at the slightest thing.”
“I’ve never thought that.”
“Then withdraw your order to take medicine.”
Throughout their exchange, neither Franz nor Nikolai looked at each other.
I carefully observed the boy with his head bowed and the Emperor feigning indifference to uphold dignity.
“I’m only worried about the Crown Prince who will succeed me.”
“I’m sorry I’m not a more reliable heir.”
“Stop that useless talk.”
“I’ll try my absolute hardest.”
“You don’t have to.”
Franz’s face suddenly darkened.
Nikolai’s brow furrowed, clearly puzzled.
He seemed utterly unaware of what his own son was thinking.
Franz’s attitude was problematic too.
‘Both of them are hopeless. If left alone, they’ll dig in opposite directions and never meet again.’
I sighed deeply and raised my hand.
If they truly disliked each other, I wouldn’t have intervened like this.
“Excuse me—may I interrupt for a moment?”
Nikolai and Franz shook their heads simultaneously.
“No.”
“No.”
Just like father and son.
Well, that wouldn’t stop me.
“What His Majesty just said sounded like, ‘I expect nothing from you, so just stay quiet.’”
“That’s absurd.”
“To convey your goodwill, you should say, ‘You’re already enough as you are—don’t push yourself too hard.’”
“……”
“And Franz, it’d be even better if you added, ‘I nearly died worrying about you.’”
I mimicked Nikolai’s voice as I gave the advice.
Nikolai twitched his lips, clearly displeased.
Franz looked utterly bewildered.
“Your Highness, please stop doubting. Accept His Majesty’s concern as genuine.”
“I—I’ve never doubted!”
“Then it must be insecurity. You twist everything His Majesty says.”
“!”
“You two need special training—to understand each other and take one step closer!”
Franz’s jade-green eyes widened.
Nikolai’s teal eyes gleamed sharply.
Both showed interest.
“If you’re fine as you are, I won’t interfere.”
“……”
“But if you both wish, I’ll help improve your relationship. What’ll it be?”
“What kind of special training?”
“If you’re curious, pay the lesson fee first.”
“Lesson fee?”
Nikolai’s voice cracked.
I’d been waiting to say this for ages.
“Surely you didn’t think it was free?”
Nikolai chewed his lip, his fingers fidgeting anxiously.
It was the classic sign of an impulsive buyer hesitating.
‘He’s taken the bait—time to press harder!’
I resolved to help Nikolai open his purse wide.
I couldn’t possibly miss such a rare windfall.
Male lead is a Divorced Husband
She said to him: “Tell me, what makes you like me? I’ll change it!”
Liu Changning transmigrated into a female cannon fodder character in a female-dominant novel.
After reading the first half of the novel’s plot, the first thing she did upon transmigration was to divorce the Pan Jinlian-style male protagonist she had just married.
She indulged herself, pretending to be ugly and poor.
But as time passed, the way that man looked at her became more and more unusual…
Liu Changning was dumbfounded: Tell me, what makes you like me? I’ll change!
――
This lifetime, Pei Yuanshao was rejected by the same woman twice!
The first time, she drove him away. Forced by the situation, he endured the waves of anger in his heart, yielding and humbling himself.
That person lay slanted on a rocking chair, her sallow face emotionless: “If you don’t want a divorce, go cook!”
Pei Yuanshao’s face was dark and gloomy: “You!”
The second time, after the crisis in Jinling City was resolved, the new emperor sent someone to pick him up. He turned around, stammering: “I… I have to go. If you keep me…”
That person lay on the kang bed, her back to him, as if she had long anticipated this day, crisp and clear: “Goodbye!”
Pei Yuanshao was so angry his fingers trembled: “You… you!”
The mission of family and country made him restrain himself, averting his eyes and turning to leave this broken household.
Two years later, they met again. Seeing her ethereal face, his body shook like a sieve.
“She was originally a ‘she’!”
At the Qionglin Banquet, the top scholar of the imperial examination, a talented person with exceptional speech and conduct, all the unmarried young gentlemen from aristocratic families looked at her with shy and timid eyes.
The peerless imperial official Pei Yuanshao felt the anger in his heart erupt. He pointed at the woman surrounded by the crowd at the Qionglin Banquet, his thin lips slightly curled: “Little sister, I wants that person to be the wife-master of my Mingde Prince Manor.”
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MANGA DISCUSSION
1 Comment
Chapter Comments (82)
Hmm, I don’t think the emperor would act that way, but it’s good that she didn’t tell the truth either.
Hahaha, Emperor Casanova has completely fallen for my dear Elizabeth.
Yes, yes, they’re meeting to kill her. I don’t feel that Douglas is as good as he seems, and Claudia too. I feel that they are conspiring together.
Inline Comments (3)
Claudia had disliked Nikolai for a very long time.
Hahaha, how disgusting! She’s been completely manipulated for their own interests. I think there’s a group trying to get rid of Elizabeth and the Emperor.
It was astonishing that such a small, delicate girl had developed a medicine eve
What kind of medicine is it? It’s making me more curious
Nikolai, dressed head to toe in black, glared at her with eyes as cold as ice.
Oh my God, the hero has arrived! Hahaha, thank God! Thank you, writer! 🥺🤭💗
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Miioo
Hahaha, Elizabeth doesn’t miss any opportunity to make money.