It was a miracle.
A proposal from the beast-kin Emperor, sealed with his personal signet.
Even Hyuron’s Empress couldn’t ignore this.
‘He didn’t forget me.’
She felt like walking on clouds.
After several discussions between the royal family and the beast-kin empire, Sephia was able to depart for the unknown land.
Even as she boarded the carriage to the beast-kin empire, she was anxious.
‘What if he dislikes me?’
The beast-kin empire was a land of beasts, beings fundamentally different from her kind.
Yet, she was not afraid.
Anywhere would be better than her homeland or the distant desert lands.
Arriving in the beast-kin empire with such trepidation, Sephia was astonished.
She was greeted with immense hospitality.
‘The Star of Ishtar.’
A special position ordained by the goddess.
The beast-kin called her by the destiny given by the goddess rather than her real name.
Sephia belatedly realized that Demios hadn’t called her because of their past memories.
When they met again, he had changed, seemingly forgetting most of their shared past.
But it was okay.
It was almost as if he had found her again.
Even if the reason was the call of the goddess.
Thus, Sephia became the Empress of the beast-kin.
The abusive lessons disguised as training for an Empress had ironically helped her fulfill her duties.
Yet, just handling duties wasn’t enough.
‘I need to prove my worth as the Empress.’
Every time her past memories surfaced, Sephia clung to her duties as the Empress.
She didn’t want to be seen as a useless being or just a foreigner riding on the goddess’s blessing.
She had to be a perfect Empress.
Her first vow eventually bound her.
‘I thought that would be enough.’
With bone-grinding effort, Sephia thought if she was just useful, the forgotten past memories, the lukewarm marital relationship, everything would be okay.
But it wasn’t.
This secret lake was a place she occasionally visited with Demios.
Despite their busy schedules, they used to come here for a walk, like a date.
‘But we can’t come here together anymore.’
No, before that, she wondered if he even remembered this place.
The royal palace had more beautiful places than this lake.
Strolling around with his mistress, he would quickly forget such a secluded spot.
Sephia recalled what Demios said at the lake.
‘You don’t have to try too hard. Only a blind beast wouldn’t see the Empress’s efforts.’
The one who comforted her like that was gone now.
She could ignore others’ finger-pointing.
But he, who had witnessed her efforts up close, should not have said those words.
‘Maybe that was his true feeling.’
Until the woman bearing his name appeared, Sephia was the only wife he had.
Suddenly, she thought.
‘Were we ever truly a couple?’
No. Going further back, were they even lovers?
Now, all that remained between Demios and Sephia was a relationship formed by Emperor and Empress. Nothing more.
Tears welled up in her eyes again.
Once started, the tears kept surging, tormenting Sephia.
Instead of crying, she gazed at the lake.
Looking at the clear water, she wanted to wash everything away.
‘Maybe I should dip my feet.’
Would that make her feel a bit better?
It was autumn, but not too cold during the day.
She felt an urge to do something uncharacteristic.
Soon, she found herself walking toward the water’s edge.
Just as she was about to remove her shoes on the brown grass.
“Stop that!”
A frantic voice.
At the same time, an arm reached from behind and pulled Sephia’s waist toward a firm body.
The warmth of a stranger’s embrace.
Turning around in surprise, she saw…
“……Sir Roxan?”
As Sephia uttered his name, his well-defined eyebrows twitched.
Roxan’s face had turned even paler than Sephia’s.
“You must never attempt to take your own life, under any circumstances.”
……What is he talking about?
She wanted to ask back.
But his extremely pale complexion made her hesitate.
In the meantime, Roxan stepped in front of her.
“There seems to be a serious problem with your husband.”
His assertive tone made Sephia silent.
Whatever his deduction was, it was true.
His sharp golden eyes were coolly set, trembling with earnestness.
She couldn’t face him.
Sephia lowered her gaze, but Roxan’s eyes persistently scanned her.
“……Is your husband abusing you?”
“What did you say?”
Startled, Sephia followed his gaze downward.
“Ah.”
The wound on her hand.
A recent accidental scratch from a sharp pen nib, vivid like a red thread.
The maids had made a fuss about it, wanting to apply medicine, but Sephia had refused.
Internal scars can’t be reversed.
Yet, it felt odd how quickly such accidental marks could fade.
“It’s nothing.”
In her fluster, she had forgotten what he had asked.
She tried to pull her injured hand back, but Roxan was quicker.
“Please tell me honestly.”
He held her hand firmly.
His insistent gaze made it impossible to look away.
It was just a scratch, but seeing him so concerned was painful.
“It’s not like that. This is just… from my own mistake.”
She had to sound casual.
Why She Is Still Unmoved (Female-dominant)
One-line summary: He uses various methods to seek her affection, but she remains unmoved.
Synopsis:
Si Qingyu is a doctor who has saved countless lives and enjoys tranquility.
Luo Shaoxuan is ruthless, deeply scheming, and the top young master in the capital. He admires Si Qingyu.
Luo Shaoxuan: I want to be the only one in your eyes and heart.
Features a cold and calm female lead vs A noble and scheming male lead.
There will be both sweetness and torture towards the male after their marriage.
