The Deposed Empress and Her New Husband (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 8
Escort?
Renev’s eyebrow twitched slightly.
“…If it’s about escorting, are you referring to an order from His Majesty, the Vaschker Emperor?”
“Naturally, wouldn’t that be the case?”
He seemed intent on not revealing his identity as emperor. Renev decided to play along and opened her mouth.
“Then you’re being rather rude. To speak so informally to me, whom His Majesty entrusted with escort duty?”
When Renev pressed him, Ikar replied casually.
“My lady, you might as well speak more comfortably.”
…Is that really alright?
Renev considered several possible scenarios that might unfold afterward.
For instance, what if the emperor before her was the type whose words and actions didn’t align?
If he happened to have an authoritarian personality like Lucius, the fallout once his imperial status was revealed would be hard to bear.
“Be that as it may. Your lord surely designated Her Highness the First Imperial Princess, correct?”
“That’s right.”
“But then I suddenly volunteered to go in her stead. Does His Majesty of Vaschker know about this?”
At Ikar’s expression, which seemed to ask what the problem was, Renev’s eyes widened.
“…So He already knew everything.”
“Of course. It was rather amusing, too. That day, the Empress’s side seemed about to bring up marriage talks between you and the Third Prince.”
This meant he knew Paradium’s imperial family affairs very well.
Ikar, who had been slowly stroking his chin, continued.
“You must have disliked the Third Prince quite intensely—to the point of biting your lips.”
Surely not…
“So you were here earlier today as well?”
Ikar nodded, and Renev’s eyes widened even further.
“You saw… everything?”
“That part was unfortunate. It wasn’t intentional.”
Ikar offered a brief apology.
Renev was so overwhelmed with things to say that she didn’t know where to begin, and her words stuck in her throat.
‘Has the situation changed from before…? Why?’
Ikar had visited Paradium exactly twice—officially, that is.
The first time was when he demanded the First Imperial Princess as a hostage for a peace treaty; the second was during the founding anniversary celebration when Renev was Empress.
And yet here he was, sneaking into a marquis’s estate?
“It seems His Majesty of Vaschker takes great interest in the Paradium imperial family.”
When Renev struck right at the core, Ikar, who had been stroking his chin, took a step toward her.
A slightly unbuttoned black shirt and black trousers—his attire felt more like a mercenary’s than an emperor’s.
Yet, perhaps due to the unique aura emanating from him, Renev’s shoulders stiffened and her toes curled involuntarily.
“Naturally. To prevent major conflicts, we must understand each other well, shouldn’t we?”
Ikar spoke as though he were a pacifist, but Renev knew the future—knew he was a warmonger and a killer who would gradually devour neighboring nations.
“But tell me… are you usually like this?”
Ikar folded his arms and stared intently at Renev.
“…?”
“I was just wondering—does my lady always treat even a mere escort with such formality?”
Renev’s lips pressed tightly shut.
Since he’d introduced himself as just an escort, it was only right to treat him accordingly. But how could she possibly speak informally when she knew he was the emperor?
“I couldn’t possibly slight an escort personally appointed by His Majesty.”
“Of course, once we cross the border, I’ll be the only one you can rely on.”
Rely on him? The emperor of the enemy nation himself?
When Renev’s expression shifted oddly, Ikar continued.
“…My lady? Why that look?”
Renev, who had been frantically searching for an excuse, slightly opened her mouth.
Having safely returned the princess to her homeland after the promised three years, she’d foolishly assumed he wasn’t as tyrannical as expected.
“It’s getting late. I should return to the estate now.”
Renev turned to leave, deciding to excuse herself.
“Judging by the atmosphere, you seem set to depart tomorrow.”
At Ikar’s words, spoken just as she tried to brush past him, Renev’s steps halted abruptly.
“Did you… happen to enter the estate itself as well?”
Ikar wordlessly shrugged his shoulders—as if that alone were answer enough.
Meanwhile, Renev was inwardly shocked.
‘He breaks into homes without permission and still acts so brazenly?’
But she couldn’t bring herself to say those obvious words aloud.
This was the man who’d infiltrated Seiren Marquis’s estate without anyone noticing. If she offended him, she might end up murdered without a trace.
It would only be her loss. Hadn’t she just died a few days ago?
Now was the time to stay cautious.
“I plan to leave before sunrise.”
“I see.”
Ikar nodded.
As Renev walked toward the estate, she stopped and asked,
“But where have you been all this time?”
Ikar raised his index finger and pointed upward.
‘Surely he wasn’t perched in a tree the whole time? The Emperor of the Empire?’
Renev concluded that Ikar was a man of unusually unpretentious and highly impulsive nature for someone of noble birth.
The moment Renev stepped inside the estate, Marquis Seiren asked,
“Where have you been alone at this late hour, Renev?”
The marquis, seemingly just returned from the palace, was still in his formal uniform.
“Didn’t the Imperial Prince visit the estate earlier today?”
Patrick, standing beside him, also raised his voice. Renev let out a soft sigh and said,
“Shall we… talk?”
Even as they headed to the reception room while she explained everything, and even after they arrived, Patrick kept grumbling.
“He tried to force a kiss on you!”
When Patrick added some unsavory curses, Marquis Seiren frowned and gave his son a warning look.
Patrick must have picked up that rough tongue on the battlefield.
“To think I nearly accepted him as my son-in-law without knowing—that’s horrifying just to imagine.”
“I did tell you long ago, Father, that he seemed like a bad seed.”
Only after the two had vented their frustration for a while could Renev finally bring up the important matter.
“I’m worried the imperial family might use this incident to find fault with House Seiren.”
“Don’t worry about that. They couldn’t find any real evidence besides the flying pebble.”
“Right. They barged in without even giving prior notice of their visit to the marquis’s estate. And no harm was done, either.”
Patrick pouted, sounding disappointed.
“Then I’m relieved. I’ll take my leave now. I’m rather tired today.”
Seeing Renev rub her eyes, both men looked up at the same time.
“Oh, will you?”
“Yes, you must be exhausted. Go rest.”
“Yes, good night.”
Renev etched their figures into her memory and turned away.
‘I’ll be careful.’
Dawn, before the sun had fully risen.
Renev placed a brief note on her desk and pulled her robe tightly around her.
She briefly considered taking one of the maids who’d served her before she married Lucius and entered the palace in her previous life.
But she quickly shook her head.
One girl had to care for her ailing widowed mother and younger sibling, and the other was soon to receive a marriage proposal from a blacksmith’s employee.
She didn’t want to disrupt their lives for her own sake.
Yet she didn’t want just anyone by her side, so Renev resolved to leave alone.
Renev checked the carriage waiting at the back gate through the window, then picked up her bag.
On the day Lucius visited the marquis’s estate,
Marquis Seiren had apparently gone to the palace and exhausted every effort to stop Renev from going to Vaschker.
Worried the plan might fall through, the Empress’s side had sent someone late at night with a message:
“If your mind hasn’t changed, please prepare to depart immediately.”
Renev tossed the Empress’s letter into the fireplace and left her room.
Creak.
Just as she carefully pushed the door open, muffling even the sound of her footsteps—
“…?”
Renev, sensing someone’s presence, was about to turn around.
“Shh.”
A large hand reached from behind and covered her mouth. The crisp, familiar scent let her instantly recognize who it was.
Did he suspect she’d have second thoughts and try to slip away secretly?
Slightly annoyed at not being trusted, Renev nonetheless calmly tapped the man’s hand. Only then did he release her.
“So the escort chosen by His Majesty of Vaschker has a hobby of breaking into homes, I see.”
When Renev glanced sideways at him, Ikar’s eyes widened slightly.
“You’re not surprised?”
“If I get startled twice, I’ll end up visiting the afterlife.”
As she walked ahead, Renev subtly patted her chest, unseen by Ikar.
‘Oh, what a fright.’
She wasn’t pregnant, but she nearly lost the child she didn’t have.
“But is it alright to leave without even telling your family? It’ll be three years before you set foot in the empire again.”
Renev stopped walking and looked back at the estate.
“If… I’m able to step onto Paradium soil again alive, I’ll apologize then.”
“What a remarkably cold-hearted young lady.”
Ikar said as he opened the carriage door.
“I promise you this: three years from now, you’ll safely set foot on Paradium imperial soil once more.”
Even though he was the one who’d demanded a hostage from Paradium?
Renev almost mocked him for being such a considerate emperor, but changed her mind.
“Please keep that promise.”
His Majesty, Emperor of the enemy nation.
She swallowed the rest silently.
When Renev opened her eyes again, she was still inside the swaying carriage.
“The ride is hardly comfortable, yet you slept well.”
Ikar, seated across from her and gazing indifferently out the window, didn’t even look her way as he spoke.
Renev checked her disheveled clothes from sleep, reflecting on how careless she’d been in front of the enemy emperor.
“Now that I think of it, we haven’t even properly exchanged names.”
“The precious daughter of Marquis Seiren—Renev. Correct?”
Ikar gave a slight nod toward Renev, as if he already knew her name.
“Thank you for introducing me.”
This time, Renev mirrored his gesture, nodding toward Ikar to prompt his introduction.
Since Ikar had introduced himself as merely an escort, she had ample justification for acting slightly informally.
“Ha, just call me Drhan.”
Ikar introduced himself as Drhan with a hollow chuckle.
Renev stared at him with hazy eyes. She was certain she’d heard the name Drhan before.
For instance, it sounded like the name of the man known as the right hand of the enemy emperor.
“Oh, Drhan. But I heard His Majesty of Vaschker is currently in Paradium. Won’t he be returning with you, Sir Drhan?”
Ikar replied with perfect nonchalance.
“His Majesty said he still has matters to attend to in Paradium.”
“Oh…”
Renev bobbed her head listlessly, her eyes devoid of emotion. Ikar turned slightly toward her and asked,
“Could it be, my lady, that you’re interested in the foreign emperor as well?”
Male lead Asks for a Divorce Every Day
It’s not often you come across a plot like this in the female-dominant genre — make sure to check it out!
This is a novel I’m planning to reread as well.
The male lead is strong, skilled in martial arts, and not the usual fragile type you often see in matriarchal novels.
Meanwhile, the female lead is a scientist—rational and logical. Even when she falls for the male lead, she doesn’t let her emotions cloud her decisions.
If you push through the first few chapters, you’ll gradually find the story really intriguing.
It has a mix of mystery, detective elements, and romance.
The author’s writing style is like crafting a puzzle—except they deliberately leave out a few pieces, making it hard to predict what happens next, yet keeping you hooked.
In the end, everything will come together and be explained.
One-sentence summary: Wife, stop playing with beakers and look at me!
In a laboratory accident, research scientist Zhu Wansheng accidentally travels to a matriarchal world. The original owner of the body is an eighteen-year-old only daughter of a wealthy rouge merchant, already married with a handsome young man.
Zhu Wansheng grins: Nice! She always said she was heaven’s favorite granddaughter. After a life of toil in her previous life, she can enjoy blessings in this one.
However, her joy lasts no more than three seconds as bad news arrives: the original owner’s family is about to go bankrupt, and her husband wants a divorce.
Even worse, she’s stuck with a research system full of restrictions.
Zhu Wansheng: ? Is this the destiny of a research dog?
——
Faced with this mess, Zhu Wansheng pours herself a bowl of wine to drown her sorrows. In her drunken haze, her husband arrives.
His figure is imposing, holding a long sword, with a dignified air that captivates Zhu Wansheng.
Gu Yingqing, however, looks at the alcohol-reeking Zhu Wansheng with undisguised disgust and coldly asks, “Divorce or not?” The intoxicated Zhu Wansheng mumbles vaguely, “I think… it’s not… it’s not… impossible!”
——
The next day, after sobering up, Zhu Wansheng is full of energy, rolling up her sleeves ready to make a big move. As for yesterday? She has no memory of it.
Zhu Wansheng is ambitious; a research dog fears nothing!
Upgrading rouge, extracting fragrances, producing perfumes, researching lipsticks… all shall bow to the power of modern technology!
The original owner’s dying rouge shop is revitalized. Her mother is pleased and with a wave of her hand, passes on the family business to her. As she takes control and her experimental results gain popularity, it’s the pinnacle of her life…
——
But there are always those who can’t stand to see her doing well. Jealousy, scheming, assassination attempts – they want nothing less than her life.
The person who has always kept his distance from her suddenly holds her tightly in his arms, eyes full of concern.
She is unharmed, but he falls into a pool of blood…
Zhu Wansheng feels guilty, “I can grant you one wish.”
Gu Yingqing tentatively circles his arms around her, carefully resting his head in the crook of her neck, pleading softly, “I regret it. Can we not divorce?”
Zhu Wansheng: ? When did I agree to a divorce?
[Small Theater]
The newly developed rouge is beautifully packaged, and Zhu Wansheng is eager to try it.
Gu Yingqing suddenly appears: “My lady, may I apply it for you?”
Cool fingertips lightly brush her lips. His Adam’s apple bobs as he leans in for a light bite.
Zhu Wansheng: ?
Gu Yingqing: It smells so good, I wanted to taste it…
On a warm spring day, Zhu Wansheng tries a new perfume: “Spring Night.” Gu Yingqing corners her against a wall.
Warm breath lingers on her neck.
“My lady, from now on, may I test the fragrances for you?”
[Humorous female scientist vs scheming live-in son-in-law male lead]
[Touch the gear icon in the bottom right corner of the screen to move to the next chapter if you want.]
MANGA DISCUSSION
1 Comment
Chapter Comments (84)
Poor horses!! But even with your past life as an empress, you know surprisingly little
I am actually with Ikar on this one! If you knew you are helpless without maids, should have brought atleast one along
What happened to the intense revenge drama ? Not liking this !
Inline Comments (1)
It felt familiar yet warm—somehow.
How an already 30 chapters in without anything significant happening?!
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VKotaku28
She is only interested in staying rich, happy and single