“It’s possible to share a secret with you and Onyx, just the two of you, but a secret shared with over 200 people… is no longer a secret.”
“…”
“And since I’ve resolved not to run away or hide for Jediel’s sake… I can’t back down now. I have no choice but to return as Princess Veronia.”
Veronia’s appearance as she calmly expressed her will seemed sacred. It was as if there was an illusion of a soft halo of light surrounding her body.
“I’m scared… but I’ll still try.”
“I will help you. I will devote everything I have to protect Your Highness.”
“…I know.”
Without either initiating, Veronia and Killian’s lips gently embraced each other’s before parting.
Veronia put on the earpiece and activated the communication device. As if waiting, Jediel responded immediately.
– Mom? Duke?
“Jediel, my baby!”
– I miss you and the Duke so so much!
“Mom misses our Jediel very much too!”
“So do I.”
As soon as the child’s face appeared on the communication device, Veronia’s eyes became moist. The same was true for Killian. Jediel exclaimed with a bright smile.
– I missed you a lot, but since you showed your face, I’ll give the Duke 1 point!
Veronia and Killian burst out laughing at the innocent child’s words. If they had been next to him, they would have hugged him tightly, but not being able to do so was so regrettable.
“Thank you, Jediel. So there’s 1 point left now?”
– That’s right. The remaining 1 point is…
The child seemed to be thinking hard as he rolled his eyes this way and that, then finally spoke.
– I’ll give it to you when Mom and the Duke return safely! Then you’ll have all 10 points!
“Oh, then will I be recognized as Jediel’s father?”
– Yes! We promised. From 10 points, the Duke is Jediel’s dad.
“Will you call me Dad?”
– That’s… we’ll see… gradually.
Jediel blushed and mumbled, seemingly a bit shy and awkward about directly calling him Dad just yet. It seemed too sudden for Killian to request.
‘Of course. It’s a word he’s never used in his life.’
Veronia felt sorry again. Both for Jediel, who had never had a father, and for Killian, who had never had a son. Perhaps noticing her feelings, Killian gently embraced her shoulder. It seemed like he was telling her it was okay.
– You know what? This weekend, I’m going to spend the night at Grandma and Grandpa’s house in Rosler.
“That’s nice for Jediel. You’ll get lots and lots of love from Grandma and Grandpa when you go.”
– I’m so excited to go to the old house after a long time. My heart is pounding with anticipation.
The child said in an excited voice, placing his small hand on his chest. At that sight, bright smiles spread across Veronia and Killian’s faces.
For this moment of conversing with the child, they could completely forget about worries of the southern plague or Jonathan’s crimes. The same was true for the fear of having to stand before the world as a princess.
– I also bought gifts for Grandma and Grandpa with the allowance I’ve saved! They’re sweaters.
“Oh my, Jediel! You even saved your allowance?”
– Yes! Grandmother Clarissa said I should learn how to use an allowance from a young age, so she gave me some every week.
She knew that the Duchess was very interested in the child’s education, but she didn’t know she was even attentive to allowance management. She thought she was a truly grateful person.
“Then be healthy and listen well to Grandmother. We’ll see you in a week.”
– Yes! Both of you take care. Bye!
The communication ended with the adorable sight of Jediel waving his hand cutely. She wanted to run to him right now and hold him in her arms, but she had to endure. There were many things to take care of before that.
‘Jediel, please wait a little longer. When Mom returns, I’ll tell you all the stories I couldn’t tell you before. About Mom’s family, and about Jediel’s father too.’
[This is the timeline separator]Tate, who had come to the Empress Dowager’s palace, was in the middle of an argument with a maid blocking his way. The maid maintained a consistently polite attitude but did not make way for Tate.
“Her Majesty the Empress Dowager has been suffering from a severe migraine since last evening and has been resting in bed all along.”
“I just need to see her face briefly and pay my respects. I also have urgent news to deliver.”
“Her Majesty is very sensitive. She strictly ordered not to let anyone in today.”
“Even me?”
“…”
Instead of answering, the maid just bowed her head. Tate decided to give up at this point. It seemed that nothing would change no matter how much longer he persisted.
Tate turned around. His clenched jaw tightened with force.
‘It seems there has been a change in your heart since meeting my elder brother, Mother.’
His fists trembled, tightly clenched due to the anger surging within him.
‘I trusted you, Mother… But in the end, this is how you treat me! However, you cannot carelessly discard me. Because I know you too well, Mother.’
Tate, having completely left the Empress Dowager’s palace, had a face of complete determination.
[This is the timeline separator]“What? Tate just left after going to the Empress Dowager’s palace?”
“Yes, that’s what I heard.”
Jonathan burst into a satisfied laugh upon hearing the servant’s report.
“She’s always quick to change her stance!”
Ha ha ha! The servant swallowed a sigh as he watched Jonathan laugh frivolously, holding his stomach and even kicking his legs. Still, he thought it was fortunate that he seemed to be in a good mood today. It was much better than breaking things, after all.
“Hmm… I should give a gift to Mother for her efforts.”
Jonathan said with twinkling eyes, having finally stopped laughing. The corner of his mouth twisted upwards, looking dangerous.
“That’s right, I should treat Mother to a meal.”
The servant had to secretly shudder at the eerie creepiness as he watched Jonathan chuckle in a good mood.
[This is the timeline separator]‘What on earth… is this situation?’
Onyx was staring intently at the letter placed on the desk with his arms crossed. It had been 10 minutes already.
‘Why is the Emperor asking to meet me?’
It wasn’t a request for an investigation, but a dinner invitation.
“Haa…”
A deep sigh burst from Onyx’s mouth as he rubbed his face. No matter how much he racked his brain, he couldn’t think of any reason why the Emperor would invite him to a meal.
‘I am investigating the Emperor’s shady areas, but there’s no way that information could have leaked.’
Only three people in this world knew that fact: himself, Veronia, and Killian.
‘It’s not like he’s inviting the Guild Master, and among the various Vice Guild Masters, he specifically named me… There must be a clear reason, but I have no idea what it could be.’
He had an ominous feeling precisely because he didn’t know the reason. From Onyx’s perspective, having been in the Information Guild for over 10 years, it was unsettling to know so little about the situation unfolding before him.
Normally, he would have investigated before accepting the invitation, but this time, the time was far too tight.
‘An invitation given just 3 hours in advance. Come on, this is ridiculous.’
He could have easily made an excuse that he was too busy to go, but he didn’t want to. If he avoided it here, he would never know why the Emperor had urgently invited him today.
‘Maybe it’s a good thing after all.’
He was curious. He couldn’t understand why the Crown Prince, who had been first in line for the throne succession, had deliberately killed the previous Emperor and ascended to the throne.
It was equally incomprehensible that while sitting in the most noble position, he was still making massive investments in secret monster research.
He thought that perhaps meeting the Emperor today might allow him to understand some of his intentions.
‘This is exciting!’
Finally uncrossing his arms and standing up, a confident smile played on Onyx’s lips.
“Still, I can’t go to the Imperial Palace dressed like this. I should go shopping first.”
It seemed there wouldn’t be enough time to stop by a clothing store before going to the Imperial Palace. Onyx walked out quickly, taking large strides. His heart beat excitedly with both tension and anticipation.
[This is the timeline separator]‘Why is he calling me again so suddenly?’
Deep wrinkles formed between Sandra’s brows as she sat in front of her dressing table. She was watching the maids busily moving to prepare her, but Sandra’s mind was endlessly repeating what the servant had said just moments ago.
‘His Majesty the Emperor said he has good news to deliver to Her Majesty the Empress Dowager and has invited her to dinner this evening.’
‘Dinner? Today?’
‘Yes. His Majesty requested to meet you today without fail.’
While receiving a dinner invitation on the same day wasn’t particularly appealing, the mention of good news piqued Sandra’s interest. Her heart also started to flutter.
‘Have they finally found Caspian’s murderer?’
She was in the middle of contemplating what punishment could inflict pain worse than hell on that worm-like criminal who deserved to be chewed up, when she suddenly remembered another piece of news Jonathan had mentioned.
‘Surely… he doesn’t mean they’ve found that child?’
Her first child, whom she had abandoned on the street right after birth.
If a noble young lady gave birth to a child before marriage, not only the child but also the mother would lose their place in this world. It had been a choice made to live as a human being, so she felt no guilt at all.
‘But what difference does it make to find out about that child’s whereabouts now?’
She had no desire to meet at all. What would she say if they met? Should she say sorry when she didn’t mean it? That was too much even for her.
‘Please let it be news that they’ve found the murderer.’
Looking at her beautiful reflection in the mirror, Sandra prayed over and over again in her heart.
The Male lead Always Seduces Her with His Beauty (Matriarchy)
Xin Jiao Zhou is the leader of the world’s premier sect. She has just experienced betrayal from all sides, was poisoned in an assassination attempt, and faced death squad attacks while the poison was taking effect. After finally clearing out the scum from her sect, she was drugged again while trying to detoxify.
After waking up from a night of unconsciousness, she gained a “beautiful and kind-hearted” husband.
Xin Jiao Zhou: “???”
He fell ill.
She came to see him, bringing breakfast.
As she put down the breakfast and was about to leave, his hand slipped while holding the spoon. “Clank!”
She turned around upon hearing the noise.
He looked up at her, his eyebrows drooping: “My hand… has no strength.”
“Shall I… feed you?” she asked tentatively.
He opened his mouth cheerfully: “Ah—”
Thinking she was drowning, he jumped in without hesitation to save her, but nearly drowned himself. In the end, it was she who swam over to rescue him, giving him air underwater.
After emerging from the water, his ear tips turned red. He lightly brushed his cheek, tucking his sideburns behind his ear, revealing delicate, pink-tinged ear tips. He lowered his gaze, too embarrassed to look at her.
Xin Jiao Zhou: He’s truly beautiful, kind-hearted, and adorable.
A certain someone when disciplining subordinates behind the scenes: “If they don’t obey, just kill them.”
What’s that? She might already have someone she cares about in her heart? A certain someone: Find out who it is, kill them, and then there won’t be anyone.
What? She met a man by the riverside? What? That man even hurt her? A certain someone: Whichever hand hurt her, chop off his entire arm.
Love at first sight without realizing it, gradually falling in love, slowly getting closer…
Family and national grudges, schemes and desires, good and evil, crime and punishment, she and he face the future together, seeking justice with passion!
A naturally dark female lead who could accidentally destroy the world but is actually an honest person VS a weak, pitiful, and helpless but skilled fighter, beautiful white-cut black male lead
My heart is not of stone, how steadfast is your love? — Tao Yuanming “Imitating the Ancients (No. 3)”
— Reading Guide —
Cold female lead & dramatic black lotus with hidden yandere traits male lead
