Dehan couldn’t understand his lord’s actions, but he believed there must be a very important reason.
‘Perhaps His Highness has discovered something suspicious about Baron Seiren and wants to monitor it himself.’
(This is a time separator.)
Upon arrival at the Julevern Baron’s castle, a woman about Reneb’s age came out to meet them.
“I am Selma of Julevern. I heard the news via messenger bird and have been waiting for the two of you.”
Selma bowed her waist to Icar and Dehan as they dismounted.
“Thank you for your hospitality, Lady Julevern, despite the sudden news of our visit.”
“We will take care of you without any shortcomings, so you can rest comfortably. Please come this way, I will guide you to your resting place.”
Reneb looked around the castle of Julevern as she followed Selma’s guidance.
The uncolored gray stone building had a chilly atmosphere, and there were no particular murals or decorations in the corridors.
But owning a castle with baronial status and the dress Selma was wearing also belonged to the high price range.
The Julevern Baron’s family seemed quite affluent.
“You’re Sir Dehan, right? I recognized you right away from the dark blond hair.”
Selma said to Dehan as they walked down the long corridor.
“……I am Bein. This gentleman is Sir Dehan.”
When Dehan pointed to Icar, Selma looked back and forth between the two, a confused expression on her face.
“These days in Paradium, it’s trendy to pour water on your head.”
Selma’s eyes sparkled at Icar’s nonchalant lie.
“Ah…… You must have dyed your hair when you went to Paradium!”
It roughly seemed that Selma thought the two of them were in tune with the latest fashion trends.
But throughout the diligent tour inside the castle, Reneb noticed Selma’s glances fleeting towards Icar.
‘Is this what they call love at first sight?’
As she snuck a glance at Selma, her eyes met Icar’s.
“What?”
“What is it?”
Reneb replied to the question with a question. Icar squinted and said,
“You looked at me as if you had something to say, didn’t you?”
As if nothing was amiss, Reneb shook her head vigorously.
At that moment, Selma stopped walking and spoke to Reneb.
“Lady Seiren, you can use this room.”
“Thank you for guiding me. Lady.”
Reneb thanked her briefly, showing a thin smile. It was the public smile she had practiced tens of thousands of times in front of the mirror when she was the Empress.
“Then.”
Reneb lightly bowed and turned to enter her bedroom.
As the bedroom door closed, Selma exclaimed with a surprised face.
“Wow… She really is elegant. Are all the ladies of Paradium so dignified like her?”
Icar raised one eyebrow and muttered softly.
“I never dreamed she would be like that.”
As if asking what he meant, Selma blinked, and Drhan politely intervened.
“I desperately need rest after rushing from Paradium without a break. If it is alright with you, Your Grace, could you also show Drhan and myself to our rooms?”
Selma, momentarily puzzled by Drhan’s words, quickly moved.
“Ah! What’s wrong with me? Lord Bane, this way, please.”
Icar, who had been staring at Reneb’s bedroom door for a moment, soon followed.
(This is a time separator.)
Reneb, who had resolved not to care about others’ opinions since her regression, still couldn’t shake the long habit of the empress.
Hadn’t she just been trying not to appear frivolous to the aristocrat’s grace?
“If you need anything, call me anytime. Lady.”
A maid bowed to Reneb. Reneb nodded with a faint smile.
“I will.”
Drawing her eyes away from the retreating maid, Reneb looked around the bedroom.
With its antique design bed and a few pieces of furniture, the simple structure was sufficient.
She hadn’t rested properly on the way here.
A little hard, but enough to support her back, Reneb nestled into the sofa and closed her eyes.
And she organized the things that would happen in her head.
The First Princess’s role in the original was very small, but there was still something to know.
‘The first place to stay will be the garden.’
Garden.
Where women with exceptionally beautiful looks or outstanding artistic talent stayed in the imperial palace.
In a word, a harem for Emperor Basuker.
The First Princess did not receive proper marriage proposals because she had lived in the garden. The prejudice that she was the puppet of the enemy emperor was widespread.
But reality was different.
The garden after Icar ascended to the throne became a salon.
It transformed into a place where nobles or visiting dignitaries exchanged knowledge on academics, business, politics, and all aspects of society.
Knowing this situation was why Reneb volunteered in the first place.
She was trying to think about other important matters when there was a knock at the door.
“Lady, I’ve come to help you bathe.”
“Come in.”
Interrupted in her thoughts, Reneb entrusted herself to the maids. Soon, the maids washed and dressed Reneb.
As a result, she was able to maintain a somewhat aristocratic grace, though not as much as when she was in Paradium.
“She’s coming.”
Selma, who had arrived first in the dining room, spotted Reneb and smiled.
Reneb nodded to Selma as she walked to her empty seat, and Icar’s red eyes, which had been wearing a bored expression, resting his chin on the table, widened a bit.
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
