The man’s steps were resolute. Approaching until he was right in front, he bent one knee to the ground without hesitation. Then, he grabbed her hand that began to bleed, covering the wound with a handkerchief.
“Ah…”
The force tightly gripping for hemostasis translated into pain. It was merely an involuntary groan due to the intense pain, but his intense gaze stared directly through her.
Ibelia stubbornly sealed her lips. However, she couldn’t resist the force entering her temples.
A warm sigh, as if making a promise, seeped into her ears. The Caliph, after tightly gripping her fingers wrapped in a handkerchief, raised his head.
“It might be better for you to discuss this matter with me.”
The Caliph firmly directed his words towards Yustia. Yustia, feeling the coldness, trembled for a moment but made an effort to regain composure.
Today, the release of Relia must be achieved without fail. Even if it was for the sweet revenge against Duke Garnet in the future.
“Riu, I think the Princess Consort has the right to know about this situation.”
“The Princess Consort’s opinion had no influence on the imprisonment of Lady Relia. But what does Ibelia need to know?”
“The Princess Consort is destined to become the Empress alongside you. In other words, if you cannot become the Emperor, the Princess Consort cannot become the Empress either.”
“…?”
“So, shouldn’t the Princess Consort know? It’s about how shaky your position is among the servants.”
Yustia sharply bit her tongue as if to spit out the words. It was bitterly unbearable to talk about her son’s position, but she had to endure the trial.
If she doesn’t stimulate the Princess Consort’s heart in some way, her son will never order the release of Relia.
“The imprisonment of Relia was a reasonable response to the disrespectful attitude of Lady Yeonga. It’s regrettable that the servants gossip about it, but if the position is so unstable, shouldn’t we first consider whether I have the qualifications as the Crown Prince?”
So, get rid of the nonsense. The Caliph, without stepping back at all, spat out his thoughts confidently.
It was infuriating to try to use Ibelia like this.
Ibelia, who had silently kept her place, slowly raised her head. The gaze from the Empress she met in an instant was extremely oppressive.
Her breath caught. It felt like every situation was about to reach extremes with just one decision. The burden was unbearable.
At that moment, she felt an unknown force from the finger caught by the Caliph. Her gaze involuntarily turned towards him.
‘No. It can’t be. I mustn’t do as the Empress wishes.’
It felt like she was directly hearing the voice of her sworn enemy. Ibelia exhaled the built-up breath in her mouth sharply. It felt like her head was about to explode. She couldn’t fathom why he would go to such lengths.
Why imprison Relia and confront Duke Garnet and others head-on?
Ibelia stared fixedly at the Caliph. However, in his eyes, she could find no other meaning than complying with the Empress’s wishes.
A thick breath leaked out. The Empress asked me a question, so I had to answer, whatever it might be.
As she momentarily pondered, she weakly pursed her lips.
“…No.”
“…”
“I, it seems my thoughts differ from yours.”
With her answer, the fingers wrapped in a handkerchief felt the force again. Yet, Ibelia, without changing her mind, looked at the Caliph unwaveringly.
“Your Highness, if imprisoning the Princess Consort was due to the rudeness you witnessed that day, I hope you would consider lifting the punishment.”
“…”
“The Princess Consort did indeed commit rudeness and caused harm to me, but I am not offended at all. So, I respectfully ask this of you.”
With each word she uttered, his face seemed to stiffen. However, Ibelia, without stopping, moved her lips again.
“For my sake, please, even if only for me, lift the punishment.”
It was the first earnest plea she made as the Princess Consort.
“Haah…”
Ibelia, who had left the glass greenhouse, let out the breath she had held. Her irregularly pounding heart had not found stability yet.
However, sadly, stability seemed unlikely in the future as well. It was because of the gaze of the man behind her.
“…”
“…”
Feeling the gaze fixed on her, Ibelia exhaled deeply. Then, she pretended not to notice and started walking.
Several maids, including Phailin, moved along with her. Though many footsteps mingled behind her, Ibelia could only hear one set of footsteps distinctly.
Tap-tap, the sturdy footsteps resembling him echoed in her ears. The more it happened, the more Ibelia fell into confusion.
He is undoubtedly not the man she loved, just a stranger… Yet, her heart still responded to him.
It wasn’t just today’s occurrence. It had been like that since the night she first saw him returning from the battlefield. Perhaps, he was much more provocative than the Riulian before he left for the battlefield.
An Indifferent Woman is the One Men Desire the Most
One-line summary: The female lead is actually cold-hearted and extremely rational. She has stage-by-stage relationships and won’t two-time, but there will always be someone who secretly likes her.
This novel has the following triggers, so if you’re sensitive to these, please don’t read:
1. The female lead has had many relationships, but she treated each one seriously and broke up properly.
It’s just that the men unilaterally pestered her incessantly. For the female lead, when she doesn’t like someone anymore, she simply doesn’t like them.
(This applies to her relationships with Male Lead 1, 2, 3, and 4 as well, but she’s loyal in each 1-on-1 relationship!)
2. In this novel, Male Lead 2 and the female lead kiss in a car, and Male Lead 1 sees it and beats up Male Lead 2.
The female lead calls the police and sends both Male Lead 1 and 2 to the police station! Male Lead 1 begs the female lead not to break up with him.
3. Male Lead 1 has a gentle appearance but an obsessive personality.
Male Lead 2 has a delicate and soft appearance, slightly green tea-like (two-faced).
Male Lead 3 is a youthful college student and a smart person who has secretly liked the female lead for a long time.
Male Lead 4 is the female lead’s father’s special assistant, a business elite with deep, hidden thoughts.
4. At the beginning of this novel, the female lead has already broken up with Male Lead 1 (Chapter 4) and gotten back together with Male Lead 2 (ex-boyfriend).
5. Enter with caution if you have triggers!!!
