No matter how much she was called Matapju, she couldn’t fly to the Imperial Palace out of the blue.
She had to get permission to enter the Imperial Palace in the proper procedure. Meeting the emperor required a separate procedure.
Until now, she had lived without paying much attention to such procedures, receiving special treatment as Matapju. However, now that she was practically a noble with territory in the respectable Newton Empire, she was mindful of her behavior.
“I’ll get straight to the point and leave, Your Majesty.”
Of course, she hadn’t yet reached the point of reciting long and lengthy etiquette in a situation where she faced the emperor.
“I have confirmed the life and death of Duke Gwendhill.”
“……!”
The emperor, who had been touching his forehead, suddenly rose from his seat.
Perhaps too surprised, the emperor, who staggered for a moment, clenched his arms.
“Where is the Duke?”
“He is alive and well.”
As soon as the emperor heard the news of the survival of Duke Leo Delt Gwendhill, he seemed to collapse into his seat.
Various emotions fleeting through the emperor’s sharp pupils.
Taking a deep breath with a dry cough, the emperor exhaled deeply.
“So, where, where is he?”
The gleam between his fingers was far from relief. The look in his eyes, cold and carefully planning, was closer to that of a tactician than a strategist.
While facing the emperor’s gaze that didn’t deviate from any expectations, Matapju smiled lightly.
“The request Your Majesty entrusted to me must have been to find out the life and death of Duke Gwendhill.”
“What are you talking about?”
The emperor frowned.
Matapju casually swept her long hair back.
“I’m not obliged to provide any information other than life and death.”
“Matapju!”
The emperor swung his armrest down with his fist.
The rarely raised voice of the emperor was quickly restrained as if controlling the intense emotion that had momentarily surged.
“… Where is the Duke, Matapju?”
“Haha.”
Matapju laughed lightly in front of the emperor of the Newton Empire. The emperor’s expression stiffened.
“Your Majesty.”
Without smiling, only lifting the corners of her mouth, Matapju took a step forward.
“Although it is clear that Matapju has established an alliance with the Newton Empire, it does not mean that I, Matapju, become Your Majesty’s servant.”
“……. ”
“Shouldn’t we maintain the respect between us?”
The last time the emperor and Matapju cooperated was possible because they had distinct purposes other than a common enemy named Driden.
The emperor was never swayed by base emotions, and Matapju didn’t reach out for things that had no benefits.
In this way, an alliance can be maintained by filling each other’s interests and desires equally.
“You thought Matapju’s intentions were the same as yours, didn’t you?”
Wasn’t it about gathering intentions to block and control the greed of the noble faction led by Duke Driden?
The emperor stared at Matapju with a face that seemed betrayed.
“I don’t know if Your Majesty prioritizes the peace of the empire over trust with me.”
The expression “a worm with a heavenly face” was appropriate.
Matapju had become an shameless person who disregarded the divine relationship with the emperor of the empire.
Of course, Matapju didn’t care.
“Hmm~ It seems Your Majesty has a misunderstanding for now.”
Matapju spoke with a fresh smile.
“I was entrusted by Your Majesty, not as a noble but to wish for the peace of the empire. As soon as I confirmed the life and death of Duke Gwendhill for the trust with Your Majesty, I came to inform you without hiding anything. If you wish for more here… Well, you can send a formal letter to Matap.”
It was a diplomatic expression that this level of kindness was appropriate for personal favors.
The emperor contemplated Matapju’s words and attitude.
“Is there something wrong with the Duke?”
The emperor stared at Matapju and tapped his armrest.
The Leo Delt Gwendhill known to the emperor was not left alone to be torn apart by the nobles. Especially now, when he knew that he was leaving alone after trapping himself in a trap and covering up the charges of rebellion, he realized that contact with the emperor was more urgent than anyone else.
‘There’s a problem with security.’
The emperor looked down at Matapju.
Although Matapju might be capricious on her own, she was not unaware of the seriousness of the problem.
‘Did she just inform that the Duke is alive?’
It meant that the current condition of Leo Delt Gwendhill was not good.
‘Or maybe the current situation is difficult to disclose.’
Even though the life and death were confirmed, the situation did not seem to improve.
The emperor wiped his face with his hand to hide his embarrassed expression. However, the deep shadow was not easily removed.
“Can I ask you one thing, Your Majesty?”
“Hmm, speak.”
“Would Your Majesty prioritize the peace of the empire over personal happiness?”
“It’s the destiny of the one sitting here.”
It was a response worthy of an emperor.
Matapju nodded once.
“Why do you ask that?”
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
