The Deposed Empress and Her New Husband (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 4
At Patrick’s menacing aura, Countess Andny rolled her eyes and quickly scanned the surroundings. The corridor was dark, and no one was passing by.
“…If I’ve offended you, I apologize.”
Having served for a long time as a trusted maid to the Empress, her instincts weren’t that poor—evident from how swiftly she offered an apology.
After all, in such a secluded place, even if the hot-blooded Patrick acted outrageously, there would be no one to testify for him.
“Is Her Imperial Highness the Empress looking for me?”
“You’re quite reasonable to talk to, my lady.”
Countess Andny, having said that, glanced briefly at Patrick—but immediately averted her gaze from his still-unrefined intensity.
“I was just on my way back to the Great Hall anyway, Countess Andny.”
“That works out well. Let’s go.”
As Countess Andny stepped forward, Patrick looked at Renev with a questioning glance, as if asking if she’d be alright.
Renev silently moved only her lips.
‘Don’t worry.’
Had he sensed something odd?
Patrick, who had been staring fixedly at Renev, tilted his head in confusion before quickly turning his face forward again.
Following Countess Andny, they soon arrived at the Imperial Palace’s Great Hall. Judging that the Empress hadn’t secretly summoned him, Patrick’s wariness relaxed slightly.
That inexplicably made Renev’s heart feel tender. In her previous life, they’d hardly had any connection as siblings—and now, having possessed this body, they weren’t even true blood relatives.
Yet merely knowing someone cared so deeply for her safety filled her chest with overwhelming warmth.
“There they are.”
At that moment, the Empress, surrounded by a group of noblewomen, raised her voice.
Renev gritted her teeth at the sight of her former mother-in-law’s bright smile—the very woman who had tormented her in her past life.
‘There’s no need to glare so fiercely. You may not know this, but an heir is absolutely necessary for the stability of the imperial throne. Surely, as a member of the imperial family, you understand that much?’
The Empress’s whisper from her past echoed in Renev’s mind—how she’d murmured about taking a consort right before Renev’s miscarriage.
“Renev, are you really alright? You seem a bit strange today.”
Patrick roused her from her thoughts. Only then did Renev lower her gaze and rein in her anger toward the Empress.
“Well, of course I’m fine. What else could possibly be wrong?”
Just then, a knight from House Seiren approached and whispered into Patrick’s ear.
“Really? It’s just that… right now is a bit inconvenient…”
Seeing Patrick’s troubled expression, Renev asked,
“What’s wrong?”
“Father says he’s looking for me.”
Patrick licked his lower lip, glancing alternately between Duke Seiren, who was deep in conversation with nobles, and the Empress.
“Oh, I’m fine—go see Father. Are you worried some stranger might suddenly appear in the palace and harm me or something?”
“It’s not that… Zen, you must stay by Renev’s side.”
Clearly uneasy about leaving Renev alone near the Empress, Patrick patted the knight’s shoulder firmly as he delivered his instructions.
“Yes, sir.”
Only after sternly warning the knight—“If anything happens to Renev, your head will roll”—did Patrick finally walk toward Duke Seiren.
Zen took position behind Renev, vigilantly scanning their surroundings. Renev let out a soft sigh and stepped toward the group surrounding the Empress.
At a table by the wide windows of the Great Hall, the Empress and her circle of noblewomen were gathered, chatting amiably.
And right beside the Empress, Renev stood—enduring silent torment for the thirtieth minute straight, lips tightly sealed.
She was undeniably present, close enough for them to reach out and touch.
Yet the Empress and the noblewomen treated her as though she were stranded alone on a remote island—or an invisible phantom—never addressing her or even meeting her eyes.
‘Same old tactic.’
In her previous life, the Empress had often tormented Renev this way.
Back then, she’d realized too late that this was the Empress’s scheme to crush her spirit from the very beginning.
But now, she understood.
It was a kind of trophy effect.
For the Empress, nothing was more precious than her victory in successfully placing Lucius on the throne over the two sons born to the Empress Dowager.
Each time she looked at Renev—who had achieved that glorious feat—it must have reignited the thrilling satisfaction of that triumph.
And once the hunt ends, the hunting dog is discarded.
“This one came from the Kingdom of Venistan.”
“Oh my, the color is truly luminous and exquisite. Did you buy it from that jeweler last time?”
Renev was half-listening, half-ignoring the noblewomen’s chatter when—
Dong, dong.
The large grandfather clock struck twelve.
“Excuse me for a moment.”
Renev whispered softly to the Empress, indicating she wished to leave. The Empress’s brow furrowed slightly—but Renev didn’t care.
She immediately approached a nearby servant and said,
“Please inform Her Imperial Majesty the Empress that Renev of Seiren wishes to see her.”
“Please wait a moment.”
Renev gave a light nod, then tore her gaze from the departing servant and swept her eyes across the hall.
Her father, Duke Seiren, and her brother Patrick were engaged in a heated discussion with nobles of knightly houses.
When she turned her head the other way, her eyes met Lucius, who was conversing with young nobles.
The moment their eyes locked, Lucius leaned in and whispered something familiar to the young lady beside him—her cheeks instantly flushed, visible even from afar.
How would the old Renev have reacted right now?
She probably would’ve stomped her feet in frustration, guessing what they’d said to each other.
But the current Renev didn’t mind—even if Lucius spent the night with another woman.
In fact, she preferred it.
Because she’d already experienced firsthand what awaited her if she built a future with that man.
Renev gave a faint, quiet smile and turned her head away. Just then, the servant returned from delivering her message to the Empress.
“I’ll show you the way.”
As Renev began walking, she glanced briefly toward the Empress.
Their eyes met instantly—the Empress must have been watching her too. Renev curved her eyes into a slight smile and quickened her pace.
In her past life, shortly after the clock struck twelve, the Empress had publicly declared Lucius and Renev lovers.
Given that most influential nobles were present, that moment had effectively sealed Renev’s fate—ruining any chance of marriage.
‘I won’t fall for it twice.’
Guided by the servant into the reception room, Renev found the Empress sitting upright with perfect posture.
“You wished to see me?”
Renev clasped her hands demurely and spoke calmly.
“I took the liberty of requesting another audience, as I believe it would be wise for Your Imperial Majesty to reach a decision swiftly.”
“I’m curious—what compels such urgency in your request?”
After dismissing the servant, the Empress stared intently at Renev, clearly cautious—wondering if there was some hidden motive.
Such caution from the Empress was only natural.
The imperial palace was a battlefield without swords or guns—a single careless word could cost one their head.
Renev understood well the Empress’s mindset: even when crossing a stone bridge, one must tap it first to test its strength.
“I deeply regret that I cannot disclose all the circumstances behind my request.”
“…”
Meeting Renev’s gaze directly, the Empress gave a quiet nod.
Though her expression appeared kind, something remained unhidden—a piercing look as if trying to see straight through Renev’s intentions.
To the Empress, reigning queen bee of high society, Renev must have seemed like a fledgling debutante.
She probably assumed Renev would inevitably reveal a slip during their conversation.
Thus, Renev deliberately continued with an innocent air.
“But this I can state with certainty: if Your Imperial Majesty does not make a swift decision now, matters will soon become exceedingly complicated.”
After a long silence following Renev’s words, the Empress finally spoke.
“I wonder—do you truly understand that regretting a decision made now will be useless later?”
It was a warning not to retract her current stance once trapped in an inescapable situation—lest she later claim youth or ignorance as excuses.
Intending to drive the point home, Renev moistened the corners of her eyes.
“My lady, a woman’s tears should not be shed lightly.”
Despite the Empress’s command to stop, Renev pinched her thigh hard. With a single blink, a tear rolled down her cheek.
“I… do not wish to marry His Imperial Highness Prince Lucius.”
“Is that why you intend to leave for Vaschker, my lady?”
Renev’s eyelids trembled.
Then, a tear slid down her opposite cheek.
“Yes, Your Imperial Majesty.”
“How curious. Any unmarried young lady would surely dream of marrying the Third Prince…”
The Empress tapped her index finger lightly on the tabletop as she continued.
“It’s rather suspicious—kicking away good fortune with your own feet.”
“For me, marriage to His Imperial Highness Prince Lucius could never, ever be good fortune.”
These words came from the deepest part of Renev’s heart.
Whether her death had been the Empress’s will or that of the consort Esica—whatever the truth—Lucius had failed to protect her, despite everything she’d sacrificed.
That was reality. That was her conclusion.
Remembering her final moments, she pictured her son Kael being torn away by knights, just within arm’s reach. This time, unrestrained tears surged forth uncontrollably.
Tap, tap, tap-tap-tap.
Annoyed by Renev’s sudden weeping, the Empress’s tapping fingers grew urgent.
“…Very well. Alright.”
Only then did the Empress accept the proposal.
“Oh, by the way—you’ll inevitably become enemies with the Empress over this. You understand that, don’t you?”
“I’m fully prepared for it.”
At Renev’s reply, the Empress’s lips curved into a satisfied smile.
Perhaps she thought they were now temporarily on the same side—or maybe she assumed this was the intention of House Seiren?
The Empress removed a piece of jewelry from her arm and handed it to Renev. Engraved faintly with the initial “N,” it clearly marked the item as belonging to the Empress.
“Remember always—you received aid from House Seiren in your time of need.”
Clutching the ornament tightly, Renev bowed deeply.
“Thank… you, Your Imperial Majesty.”
“If His Majesty learns I made this decision unilaterally, without consultation…”
The Empress sighed softly, muttering to herself before shaking her head.
The Empress left the reception room first. Only then did Renev lift her bowed head and wipe away her tears. It was a small victory—but she had no intention of being satisfied. The road ahead was still long.
“Your carefully applied makeup is quite ruined.”
The Empress remarked upon seeing Renev emerge from the reception room. After a maid tidied Renev’s tear-streaked face, the Empress extended her hand.
“Shall we head to the battlefield now?”
“Yes, Your Imperial Majesty.”
When the male lead is punished by carrying the female lead’s child and having periods like a woman
“I’ve given birth to two children for you, yet you still think about him.
Was I nothing but his substitute to you from beginning to end?”
Synopsis:
Meng Huan, a scumbag who has dated countless girlfriends, transmigrates to a female-dominated country.
Day 1: Whether it’s female dominance or not doesn’t matter. The beauties here are passionate and amorous. Isn’t it easier to date them than in modern times?
Day 2: After a night, Meng Huan discovers the differences in the female-dominated world. Men here actually have chastity locks and menstrual cycles. This hinders his ability to perform, damn it!
Day 3: What’s wrong with sleeping around? I don’t want you to marry me. I’m meant to be a playboy. I don’t care about male virtues… What? You want to drown me in a pig cage? Marry, I’ll marry!
Day N: Meng Huan inexplicably vomits and receives the shocking news of his life… He’s pregnant.
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MANGA DISCUSSION
1 Comment
Chapter Comments (88)
So is Reneb’s father a Marquis or a Duke? My understanding is that he is a margrave.
Margrave!!!! That scoundrel barged into your house!!
Ikar, you should have waited until she kneed that scum
Inline Comments (1)
It felt familiar yet warm—somehow.
How an already 30 chapters in without anything significant happening?!
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VKotaku28
The translation is confusing, but my understanding is that the empress has 2 sons and a daughter, while the consort has one son