Caspian, who left the Duke of Drea’s mansion with his companions, headed to another party. His breathing was rough due to the anger that still hadn’t subsided, and his companions were on edge, fearing they might catch a stray spark.
Especially, Viscount Royce Paren, who had provided the cause for the incident, was restless. He raised his voice while sneaking a glance at Caspian.
“This is all because of that woman, Frida Mitchell or whatever. Because I got unnecessarily entangled with her… I’m sorry, Your Highness.”
“Right. This is all because of that woman.”
Caspian said, grinding his teeth. In fact, the ‘that woman’ Caspian referred to was Veronia. Because that woman interfered, the atmosphere with Killian turned hostile and so his mood was ruined.
‘Even though I applauded… Even though I cheered! To repay kindness like this. How dare she!’
His blood boiled again as he felt like his image had been tarnished because of that woman.
‘Wait… Come to think of it, even before, we were in the newspaper together, and when compared to that woman, I was the only one who got more criticism!’
As his thoughts reached that point, Caspian became even more unbearable. He struck his thigh with his tightly clenched fist, making a loud noise.
Viscount Paren, who had boarded the carriage with him, tensed up even more and hunched his shoulders. He felt he needed to do something to improve Caspian’s mood, even if just a little. Viscount Paren said with a cunning smile.
“I tried to be nice to her because her face was pretty decent, but she’s a completely shameless woman who ignored my goodwill. We can’t just leave it like this. We need to teach her a lesson.”
“How?”
Caspian asked, his eyes flashing wildly. It was like the gaze of a viper facing a trembling prey.
[This is the timeline separator]Sandra’s state was not much different from Caspian’s. After briefly staying at the party, Sandra left the mansion early and returned directly to the imperial palace.
Seeing Sandra’s face flushed red and blue as she got out of the carriage, all the maids of the Empress Dowager’s palace tensed up and flinched their shoulders.
As the maids had anticipated, as soon as Sandra arrived in her bedroom, she started throwing things around. The teapot, cups, and vase on the table shattered with sharp breaking sounds.
After smashing all the objects in one go, her anger seemed to subside a little. Sandra, tidying her disheveled hair, ordered her maid.
“Clean the room. Prepare a bath. And immediately contact Tate and tell him to come to the palace.”
“Yes, Your Majesty the Empress Dowager.”
The maids moved in unison at Sandra’s command.
Sitting in the steaming bathtub, Sandra had a lot on her mind.
“The Duke of Drea and the silver-haired healer…?”
The situation was unfolding in a very peculiar way. She couldn’t explain it in words, but it was strange. It gave her an odd feeling.
“Nia Lampert… was it?”
She had intended to use that woman to improve Caspian’s image. She thought it was quite a good plan, but with Killian by her side, everything had come to naught.
“Then our Caspian will remain unable to shed his image as the violent prince.”
She didn’t like that. It didn’t sit well with her. To pull up an image that had fallen into the abyss once, a powerful device was needed, but no other device came to mind besides the silver-haired healer.
“Is there no way? Should I meet that woman again?”
For a moment, Sandra’s eyes glinted. But that light didn’t last long. She soon sighed deeply and shook her head.
Killian would block her way. She desperately wanted to tear that sly fox to pieces.
She wanted to accuse him of disobeying her orders as the Empress Dowager and lying, and issue a banishment order to remove him from her sight.
“But… I said I wouldn’t accuse him of his crimes in front of all those people…!”
The more she thought about it, the more furious she became. As a noble and august member of the imperial family, she didn’t like at all the situation of being pushed back by a mere noble.
“Ha! To think that I, of all people, have to be wary of such a young noble! I should get rid of that bastard as soon as possible!”
She couldn’t live a life of tiptoeing around Killian like this. That would be a humiliating life. She was the Empress Dowager, and therefore, she no longer needed to endure this kind of insult.
Before his influence became more powerful, before the current power structure solidified, she needed to come up with a plan. To defeat a powerful opponent, a direct approach was too risky. She needed to target only the weaknesses and attack suddenly without anyone noticing.
‘I need to find out more about that woman in detail.’
That woman must be Killian’s precious fiancée and his only weakness. Sandra’s eyes glinted dangerously.
[This is the timeline separator]A few days later, Killian visited Emperor Jonathan.
“In half a year, I wish to temporarily step back from central administration and politics to live in my territory.”
Surprised by this unexpected statement, Jonathan furrowed his brow tightly.
“Is this decision related to your marriage?”
“Yes. I think the territory would be better than the capital for raising children. And I also thought the experience of managing a territory before running the entire country would be valuable.”
“Then may I understand that you will return to the capital someday?”
“That is correct, Your Majesty.”
Hmm, Jonathan had a lot to think about. This confirmed that Killian was not a person who threatened his political position.
Such a powerful person with no interest in power. That’s why Jonathan coveted Killian even more. If he could make him an ally and keep him under his feet, it would be like gaining a million-strong army.
‘Half a year from now… I must do whatever it takes to prevent him from going down to his territory.’
Jonathan’s mind began to work busily.
[This is the timeline separator]Caspian was once again giggling and playing with his friends at a secret social club. The dark interior, hazy with cigarette smoke, was filled with the smell of dancers’ powder and alcohol.
Just as the atmosphere was reaching its peak, Viscount Royce Paren entered with a bright smile and whispered in Caspian’s ear.
“Princess Espin and her maids will be attending the party at Count MacEwan’s mansion tonight.”
“Oh really?”
Caspian’s eyes glinted dangerously. The eyes of his friends, including Viscount Paren, were the same. Kukuku, Caspian laughed pleasantly.
“Well then, shall we slowly make our way to Count MacEwan’s party? It seems like there will be some fun.”
As Caspian stood up abruptly, his friends followed suit.
[This is the timeline separator]Late at night, the Duke of Drea’s mansion was turned upside down. This was because Princess Espin’s party, who had attended the party, returned in tears.
Not only Killian, but also Veronia, the Grand Madam, and Countess Miller gathered in the annex. Espin, constantly shedding tears, slowly explained the situation from beginning to end.
“Sob… Frida was strolling in the garden with a young man when it happened. Suddenly, a group wearing masks gathered and out of nowhere started kicking Frida and the young man… Huu…”
The indiscriminate violence continued for about 5 minutes, and then the masked group suddenly disappeared, she said.
“Oh my goodness!”
“How could such a thing…!”
It was horrifying that such a random act of violence could occur at a party venue in the middle of the capital. The faces of the Grand Madam and Countess Miller, who heard Espin’s explanation, twisted in pain.
Meanwhile, Veronia and Killian were biting their lower lips, waiting for Espin’s next words.
“Sob… Just like when they approached, when they disappeared, no footsteps were heard… It seems they used instant movement scrolls…”
“It’s alright now, Your Highness. You’re safe here.”
Veronia comforted Espin, wiping her tears with a dry handkerchief. Killian asked in a worried voice.
“How is Lady Frida?”
As if short of breath, Espin wiped her tears with a handkerchief and took a deep breath. When her breathing somewhat returned to normal, she painfully opened her mouth again.
“Her right arm is broken, and she has bruises all over her body. She was treated immediately at Count MacEwan’s mansion, and now she’s back and sleeping after taking painkillers and sedatives.”
“I see. Your Highness should also take some sedatives and rest comfortably tonight. I will go to Count MacEwan’s mansion right now to assess the situation further.”
Killian, who had stood up, immediately hastened his steps. Veronia followed behind him.
“I’ll go with you.”
“No, it could be dangerous.”
“No. I must go too.”
Killian tried to dissuade her once, but Veronia wouldn’t listen. Seeing her eyes blazing with intense light, Killian sighed. He sensed that he couldn’t persuade her.
“Alright. But you must stay right by my side.”
“Understood.”
Veronia nodded her head vigorously. Killian still had to swallow down the worry that kept pushing in.
The two chose horses instead of a carriage. Horses were better when quick movement was needed.
As he helped Veronia mount the horse, Killian asked.
“Do you have any suspects in mind?”
“Caspian. He’s always been like this.”
Veronia answered with almost certainty.
Male lead fell into her trap — and shattered when she walked away
This is also on my reread list!
This one is a slow burn, but when it burns, it burns hard.
Definitely worth a read, y’all!
The story follows a thousand-year-old seductive spirit who, on a bet, sets out to charm the male lead—a once-promising but unfortunate cultivator.
But just when she succeeds in making him fall for her, she heartlessly leaves, driving him to madness.
Determined to find her at all costs, he captures her, keeping her by his side no matter what, even if she hates him.
I love this kind of trope—I enjoy watching the male lead suffer in agony.
The ending drags a bit with unnecessary filler, but that’s fine.
As long as I enjoy the beginning, I’m good.
Intro
As an enchantress, Su Heng possesses captivating eyes and charming beauty, easily manipulating the joys and sorrows of living beings at her fingertips.
But to enchant a god, making him taste the bitterness of love’s separation, long-lasting resentment, unattainable desires, and inability to let go…
Do you dare?
Su Heng assists a divine lord in his cultivation, aiming to make him experience all the sufferings of love, so that he can attain the Great Dao.
Only after being chased down from the heavens by the divine lord, confined and completely possessed by him, does she realize how successful she has been.
The once gentle and polite youth has transformed into someone she no longer recognizes.
[Touch the gear icon in the bottom right corner of the screen to move to the next chapter if you want.]
