Silence was as good as consent.
All that remained was Sephia’s approval.
After a brief silence, Sephia spoke.
“Let’s do that.”
Accepting Roxan’s request, she rose from the Empress’s seat.
Even though she was just stepping down the stairs, she was already tense.
Especially since she had never blessed anyone before.
Sephia recalled a memory from the past.
When she first arrived in the Therianthropic Empire, the High Priest of the sea had blessed her.
A sensation of being enveloped in a gentle light, feeling like floating in water or swimming in amniotic fluid.
It was one of the few mystical experiences she had ever had.
That was the first and last time she received someone’s blessing.
‘Maybe I can at least imitate it.’
The stairs seemed unusually long, probably because of the constant gazes she encountered.
Every step she took was captured in his radiant golden eyes.
Having descended the platform, Sephia stood on the same ground as him.
Roxan was kneeling on one knee, forcing Sephia to look down at him.
‘Did he hide his identity because of his relationship with Demios?’
If his approach to her was for the sake of the punitive force.
But he never mentioned the standby order or anything related to it.
Which only added to her confusion.
However, the blessing was the priority.
Hesitation in front of everyone might lead to further speculation.
Sephia placed her hand over his shoulder.
“I bestow a blessing upon Duke Leopold, under the star of Ishtar.”
There was no divine power, so no special effect followed.
But her wish to bless him was sincere.
Unlike the secrets Roxan kept from her, the time and pain he sacrificed for the Empire were real.
‘May he receive compensation for his suffering now.’
Next was the benediction.
As she pondered what to say, his words by the lake came to mind.
“May you escape solitude and find your rightful place in life.”
In the quiet hall, only Sephia’s voice resonated.
As the blessing ended, Roxan’s pupils quivered. Soon, a bright smile spread across his face.
“For the glory of the Therianthropic Empire.”
Sephia withdrew her hand from his shoulder in surprise.
Even though it was a statement for the empire, it felt like a tribute to her.
Roxan’s hand enveloped hers.
The white lace glove covering Sephia’s hand was so thin that she could distinctly feel his warmth.
It was different from direct skin contact.
Along with the unusual sensation of the lace between them, his lips touched the back of Sephia’s hand.
It might have been a fleeting moment, yet.
‘It’s hot.’
The place where his lips lingered under the unmarked glove felt tenderly warm, as if leaving an indelible mark, invisible yet unforgettable.
The blessing was over.
It was the moment to begin the first chapter of the Victory Celebration.
The commendation of the Duke’s achievements was followed by a ball.
In such a grand banquet, it was customary for the Emperor and Empress to open the first dance.
Sephia stood in the center of the hall, escorted by Demios.
As they faced each other, the royal orchestra began to play.
The rich orchestral music enveloped them. Sephia and Demios stepped into the dance.
It was a familiar tune. Thus, it was natural for them to follow the rhythm without faltering.
It was just Demios who felt awkward and uncomfortable.
‘It wasn’t like this before.’
There had always been a certain awkwardness between them, even before a consort appeared.
But she had never felt this level of discomfort before.
As Sephia tried to hide her feelings, Demios spoke.
“Is he here?”
“What?”
The music was loud, and she thought she might have misheard him.
When Sephia asked, a cold gaze returned to her.
“The Empress’s consort.”
Again.
He was insinuating the existence of a non-existent consort, criticizing Sephia.
Just when she thought her heart had settled, it ached anew.
Cold Male Lead Became My Clingy Husband (Female-Dominant)
Feng Bai Su transmigrated into a matriarchal novel, becoming the sister of the female protagonist and the Seventh Princess of the Feng Ling Kingdom.
After working herself to death in her previous life, finally reincarnating as a princess, she only wanted to be a lazy fish who could eat, sleep, and play.
Until she met the male protagonist from the book, Wei Jing Mo, and he took a liking to her!
Wei Jing Mo is the top young man in Feng Ling City, talented in both appearance and ability, from a prestigious family, with a cold and otherworldly appearance, a figure like the bright moon in the hearts of noble ladies. It was thought that only the most powerful and talented noble lady in Feng Ling City would be worthy of such a brilliant young man. Who knew that this young gentleman would secretly admire the infamous Seventh Princess?
Short scene 1:
Feng Bai Su looked at the young man crying like a pear blossom in the rain before her, and couldn’t help but doubt her life.
Wasn’t the male lead described as a cold and otherworldly figure in the book?
Then who was this poor little thing crying with swollen red eyes and tear-stained face?
Short scene 2:
Wei Jing Mo stared intently at Feng Bai Su who was about to go out, wanting to say, “Be careful on the road.”
Before he could speak, Feng Bai Su suddenly bent down and bit his cheek.
Her peach blossom eyes were full of disdain: “Tsk! You’re so clingy!”
Wei Jing Mo: “…”
A talented fox spirit female lead with a flirtatious appearance but actually abstinent VS A cold-looking but actually naive and clingy little jealous male lead
