“Vengeance quickly matures a person. However, the more the fire crackles, the faster the firewood burns.”
“…….”
“I dislike being at a loss. If I’ve started something, I should maximize the benefits. That’s why I liked Calix. No one else has brought me as much profit.”
“…….”
“But even so, I am looking for his substitute. The moment revenge is over, I know exactly what choice he will make.”
The emperor laughed, but unlike the cheerful laughter, his eyes were submerged as if sediment had settled.
“I have high expectations for you. Since what choice Calix makes will be entirely up to you.”
“…….”
“It’s commonly said, love accomplishes many things.”
Not likely. The power of love is something achievable only in fairytales.
Love has no power.
Knowing that, instead of answering, I extended a sheet of paper.
Aside from the Crest of the Craton Duchy stamped at the bottom, it was a blank page with nothing else written.
Anything could be written here.
“It will serve as a pretext.”
“Are you okay with this? Using this, you’ll be even more suspected as a traitor, won’t you?”
“I am prepared for it.”
To be honest, more than that.
Without saying more, I simply raised the corners of my mouth.
“I didn’t say this, but you should be careful with your body now. The eyes watching you now aren’t just a couple.”
“Fortunately.”
“And it will be even more so in the future. You know that, right? There’s not much time left now.”
“Are you well?”
“Very.”
The emperor, putting the paper into his pocket, winked one eye. He seemed to know that there was a lot of strength in my hand, hidden under the desk.
“Take care of yourself.”
“Too well, to the point of suspicion. Otherwise, you might spill all sorts of stories to me.”
“…….”
It didn’t matter how much Margaret had confided in the emperor, but how much Duke Piren knew was an important issue.
There were things in the world that didn’t need to be known.
I hoped that Duke Piren knew as little as possible about what I had tried to save him, or the loss of the child because of it. Even if it wasn’t that event, he had already spent enough difficult times.
“Don’t worry. I haven’t told everything. Ten years ago, there was a child between the two, and it’s not a completely bitter memory for me.”
The emperor muttered quietly, not without answer.
Instead of replying, I turned my head.
Even though Margaret and Beck intervened, in the end, the starting point was the former emperor. As long as that fact didn’t change, the emperor who inherited his blood could not be free from the events of ten years ago.
The idea that guilt should not be inherited is an ideal theory, but when you are in that position, it feels different.
As the target of revenge disappeared with the death of the former emperor, the dreadful memory remained.
I didn’t show it, but whenever I looked at the young emperor, I recalled the former emperor who used to look down on me.
And, a keen-witted man like him would be well aware of that fact.
“When I see you next, I hope your belly is a bit fuller. Sometimes showing is more important than telling.”
“Even if that’s not the case, there will be plenty to see.”
“That’s true. It’s not common for the noble Lady of Crayton to perform as a clown.”
Of course, someone may not appreciate it.
The emperor winked.
Although he didn’t say it, we all knew the identity of the person he mentioned.
“You’ve finally returned. My Calix.”
“…….”
“Don’t make that expression. Do you know how long I’ve been waiting for you?”
“You must have been. You had expectations, after all.”
“So, did you kill her?”
With his chin propped up, Ruzen’s eyes sparkled. Even if he already knew, he wanted to see Calix’s wavering face.
“Honestly, I wouldn’t have minded that either. This would have been a good opportunity to explore your weaknesses.”
“…….”
“But such a thing won’t happen. At least, as long as she’s around.”
“…….”
“It’s a truly remarkable love. Isn’t it?”
Ruzen, leaning against the armrest of the sofa, crossed his long legs. A sly smile lingered on his lips.
Calix turned her head away, unable to bear that gaze.
“It’s not foolish enough to overlook the obvious numbers.”
“Is that so?”
“…….”
“Let’s stop pretending not to know when we both know everything about each other. Honestly, you know why I accepted Lady Crayton’s proposal.”
Deciding to take Rivianna’s hand was partly because her proposal was intriguing, but ultimately, the biggest reason was the man right in front of her.
She wanted to see how far the man’s first love could influence him.
Ruzen stared at the man who turned away. Every time he saw the back he had seen countless times, Ruzen had the same thought.
“I’ll tell you in advance, I’ll act like this next time too. I’ll be holding your hand and still have someone on the other side.”
“That’s a strange thing to say.”
“Yes. It’s strange. Unfortunately, for us, there is no such thing as trust or faith.”
“…….”
“But the situation can change at any time, right?”
When scheming men desperately battle for her favor in the male harem
This one’s also on my reread list! The rivalry, scheming between the men in the imperial harem are just as intense and thrilling as in classic palace drama novels, where concubines fight to the death. Give it a read, girls! I promise you won’t be disappointed.
Synopsis:
“I am not worthy of her… but I still want to be by her side, even if only as a loyal dog…”
Those were the painful whispers of Yue Guanyi – the proud Crown Prince of the Great Qi, who was torn between deep love and a guilty conscience. Despite holding the supreme power of the Imperial Guard, he still could not forget the dark past when he was sold into a brothel.
Fate played a cruel twist when Qiu Shuzhi – a young female official who had just passed the imperial examinations with top honors – stepped into his life. She did not know that she was the one who had saved him from a tragic fate many years ago. And now, her heart was the target of pursuit for both Yue Guanyi and the powerful Empress Dowager Qin Qing.
While Yue Guanyi only dared to silently care for and protect the one he loved from afar, the Empress Dowager Qin Qing openly expressed his feelings and did not hesitate to take advantage of his power to approach Qiu Shuzhi. The covert struggle between the two most powerful forces in the imperial court began…
Trigger warning: All men in this novel are yandere style.
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