Her old log house, secluded and seldom visited by the Bireta family due to the rugged mountain terrain.
Sharti hastened her steps, calming her unnecessarily excited heart.
As dusk approached, the border soldiers in the village were preparing to ascend the mountain.
“Captain, we’re ready. We should start climbing before it gets darker.”
The captain, yawning lazily, waved off his subordinate’s comment.
“Make sure to carry your swords. This mountain is often frequented by wild beasts.”
Of course, by wild beasts, they meant animals.
The soldiers giggled and began their search.
The mountains in the northwestern region of the Newitten Empire were notoriously rugged, making them ideal hideouts for various criminals, from cattle thieves to deposed royalty.
Thus, at the onset of numerous wars, the Emperor of Newitten had ordered the strengthening of the borders.
The regular visits of border soldiers to mountain villages were for this purpose.
However, this particular visit was purely for personal gain.
“Why are we searching at night? It’s too dark to see anything.”
“Maybe they think night searches look more impressive?”
The soldiers, not sensing any danger in this odd night search, chuckled among themselves.
‘Fools.’
Only the leader of the 8th squad, Dodint, sneered inwardly.
‘They don’t even question why they’re climbing this high mountain right as it gets dark.’
It was convenient to have such naïve and simple-minded subordinates, born and raised on the border.
Hiding his sinister smile, Dodint recalled the secret letter delivered only to him last week.
Dodint, who thought he’d spend his life rotting on the border, read and reread the letter.
This was his chance.
Dodint grinned with exhilaration.
A baronetcy – a dazzling bait for Dodint, who was of common birth.
After researching the Synde Trading Company, which had recently started dealing with the royal court, Dodint carefully hid the letter.
‘Synde Trading Company deals with the royal court, eh? The person who sent this letter is no ordinary individual.’
Dodint, determined to execute the mission outlined in the secret letter perfectly, had liquidated all his assets to equip this search party with brand new weapons. He even bribed his superior to get additional support troops from other squads.
‘Scared by the word “deserter” and saddled with the task.’
Thankfully, recent rumors of a deserter charged with serious crimes provided a convenient excuse for the search.
Everything was falling into place for Dodint, who constantly smirked at the sweet promise of future wealth and power.
“Captain, the path narrows from here on.”
“We might come across the stream that flows through this mountain if we go higher.”
If someone, critically injured from a fall, was clinging to life, where might they be hiding? Naturally, they would have wandered in search of water.
Utilizing his experience in tracking criminals, Dodint began to move toward the stream, his lips curling with a mix of anxiety and anticipation as night fell.
As the soldiers were just starting to climb the mountain, Sharti hurriedly returned to the cave.
“I waited… What’s wrong?”
The man, who had been pacing inside the cave waiting for Sharti, felt a fleeting sense of relief upon seeing her.
Ignoring him completely, Sharti began frantically stuffing items from the cave into her bag.
Noticing her unusual behavior, the man quickly approached her.
“What’s going on? Did something happen?”
“…”
Breathing heavily and scanning the area around the cave, Sharti looked up at the man and bit her lip.
“Soldiers?”
The man frowned, obviously uncomfortable with the thought.
Sharti nervously clenched and unclenched her hands.
Sharti gripped her hood and avoided the man’s gaze, who seemed to understand what she was trying to hide.
“Seems like the soldiers are looking for someone with a serious charge attached to them.”
His tone carried a hint of sarcasm.
Contempt was directed not at Sharti, but at himself.
“Right.”
The man stared at the tips of Sharti’s fingers, then spoke in a slightly lowered voice.
“So, what’s your plan?”
At least her reluctance to jump to conclusions was keeping him calm.
It was the only comfort he had.
“What?”
The man was taken aback by her drastic response.
Without hesitation, Sharti grabbed a shovel from inside the cave and climbed onto the bed.
“What are you doing…!”
The man was shocked as Sharti began to hit the ceiling of the cave with the shovel.
But Sharti pushed him away.
‘Go outside.’
She pointed towards the cave entrance.
“What…?”
Instead of explaining, Sharti continued to jab the ceiling with the shovel, growing increasingly anxious.
‘We’re running out of time.’
The speed of the approaching soldiers was unknown, leaving no time to delay.
Thud.
“!”
As dirt fell from the ceiling, a faint metallic sound, different from the noise of hitting stones, was heard.
Just as Sharti was about to strike the area where the metal sound came from…
“!”
A strong grip suddenly encircled her waist, and her view shifted.
The man had effortlessly hoisted Sharti onto his shoulder with one arm. He also snatched the shovel from her hand.
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
