The Empress' Beast Selection (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 16
“They say he’s quite the drunkard, from what I’ve heard.”
“Even with a sound mind, he’s supposedly a brute like no other, right?”
“I heard he completely wrecked the hotel lobby—several staff had to be carried off on stretchers.”
“If he’s a herbivore male, he should at least have a gentle side, Young. It was quite a decent hotel—now its reputation’s ruined. We’ll have to look elsewhere; this simply won’t do.”
Before the victory celebration, the young ladies had already shared all the information.
Unaware of this, the count tried to liven the mood with a joke.
“Those who return from the savage lands may have absorbed some foulness from their long stay there. Hahaha.”
Instantly, the atmosphere around the count turned icy.
No matter how oblivious one might be, saying such a thing to the very guests of honor at the banquet was unthinkable.
This is exactly why provincial nobles shouldn’t be trusted.
Another noble, inwardly clicking his tongue, quickly shifted the topic.
“But isn’t it fortunate? I heard His Majesty had the city gates opened early for the expeditionary force.”
“Oh, that’s right! With the victory celebration so close, I was needlessly anxious myself.”
The nobles nodded in agreement.
The previously frosty air gradually thawed. Still, realizing his joke had fallen flat, the count reluctantly joined the conversation with a disappointed look.
“Is that so? How fortunate indeed.”
Could someone really be this clueless?
Watching her husband’s foolish behavior, the countess nearly slapped her forehead in exasperation.
Countess Delcy chuckled softly and nudged Titié forward.
“His Majesty is the just and noble guardian of the Empire. For such a figure’s name to appear before Titié—Red Wolf and White Stag. What a perfectly fated pair! Isn’t that right, Titié?”
The countess patted Titié’s shoulder.
Titié nodded shyly, then spoke up.
“Actually… I asked His Majesty to allow the expeditionary force entry into the capital.”
“Good heavens, is that truly so?”
The young lady who had fretted over the expeditionary force asked in astonishment.
When Titié nodded, everyone around her marveled at her thoughtfulness.
“We had no idea you were so considerate. You’re truly remarkable.”
“It’s nothing that grand. I merely pleaded with His Majesty, hoping those who brought glory to the Empire would receive proper treatment.”
Titié lowered her eyes, seemingly embarrassed by the gathering attention.
Her gentle demeanor drew cheers from all present.
In that moment, the consort—previously thought arrogant and riding on the Emperor’s authority—suddenly appeared in a different light.
Thanks to Titié, the count’s blunder was instantly forgotten.
Lebroga, who had been watching Titié alongside Sophia, asked suspiciously,
“Could that really be true?”
“…No.”
She could say it with certainty.
After all, it was Sophia herself who had opened the East Gate.
Even now, Titié was fabricating a false narrative with an utterly innocent expression.
Startled by the stiff reaction, Lebroga unsheathed her claws like a cat.
“Goodness! Isn’t she a complete stone-hearted beast?”
Her neatly manicured nails now bore a menacing edge—an unsettling sight.
Lebroga was about to erupt in outrage.
“Eh? What on earth are you talking about?”
At this bewildered question, everyone—including Titié—turned their gaze.
Standing there was a red-haired knight.
Groar Chet, Chief Commander of the expeditionary force.
A coyote beastkin, he held a plate stacked high with steaks—despite his lean frame—as if performing a trick.
With practiced ease, he pulled the top steak off and chewed heartily.
Because his carnivorous nature slightly surfaced, his canines—distinctive to predators—looked threatening every time he moved his mouth.
After swallowing the steak in one gulp, he spoke.
“That’s odd. It was Her Majesty the Empress who opened the gates, wasn’t it? Isn’t that right, Lord Roxan?”
At the end of Groar’s gaze stood the Duke, the evening’s guest of honor.
The Duke stared impassively at the source of the false rumor.
Titié flinched slightly, then offered an awkward smile. Ignoring her, the Duke’s eyes widened as he mentioned Sophia.
“Yes. We owe it all to Her Majesty the Empress.”
Groar responded immediately to the Duke’s words.
“And it wasn’t just opening the gates, was it? Her Majesty also provided lodging for everyone throughout the victory celebration. Imagine—after all that hardship, returning to the capital only to sleep rough during the festival. Could anything be more dreadful?”
Due to the victory celebration, festivities were in full swing not only in the Imperial Palace but across the capital.
Moreover, with the influx of people from the provinces, finding accommodation was as difficult as plucking stars from the sky.
Knowing this, the Empress had offered an empty palace for the expeditionary force.
There, the knights not only rested comfortably but also enjoyed abundant food and servants sent by Sophia, savoring days of unexpected luxury.
“How long has it been since I bathed in hot water?”
“Yes! This is what real cooking tastes like!”
It was a sweet respite—returning after a full decade.
They were so elated that many even asked if they could skip the victory celebration altogether and just stay in the palace.
Naturally, the Chief Commander was among them.
With Groar’s words, the Duke turned around.
Where Roxan’s gaze fell stood Sophia.
He bowed respectfully toward her.
“Everyone who couldn’t attend tonight sends their deepest gratitude to Her Majesty the Empress.”
Then Groar—and indeed, every knight in the banquet hall—expressed their thanks to the Empress.
It was a wave of salutes.
The expeditionary force’s gratitude toward Sophia wasn’t merely for lodging.
Most of its members were bastards disowned by their houses, illegitimate children, or commoner knights forcibly conscripted by political powers.
Forgotten existences in everyone’s memory.
Knowing what it meant to be cast aside, they shared an unbreakable camaraderie—and having survived, they deserved recognition for their worth.
The Emperor’s hostility toward these barely-surviving returnees had been a heavy blow.
Without the Empress’s kindness, a riot might have erupted before they could even celebrate their victory.
Honoring those who sacrificed for the Empire.
It was none other than the human Empress who first acknowledged the expeditionary force’s sacrifice.
“May you find your rightful place in life.”
Did the Empress know?
That her blessing had stirred such a tempest—not just for Roxan, but for the entire knightly order?
They were determined to reclaim, one by one, everything they had lost.
Groar, who had led the charge, winked playfully at Sophia.
“If Her Majesty hadn’t opened the gates, we’d probably still be huddled outside the capital, roasting ourselves over open fires. I’d even wager my left canine on it.”
He tapped his predator’s fang—the symbol of a beast—and grinned.
Despite Groar’s jest, Sophia couldn’t utter a word.
She had simply believed they deserved proper treatment and acted out of duty.
She never expected their gratitude to be so heartfelt.
Even the nobles, awed by the dignified scene, praised Sophia.
“Truly, you are the Star of Ishtar.”
“Ever since Her Majesty came to the Beastkin Empire, peace alone has filled this land.”
No one could deny the Empress’s achievements.
Just five years ago, minor and major diseases had plagued the populace.
Immediately upon taking her seat, the human Empress reorganized the filthy streets and launched waterworks projects, enabling even common households to access clean water.
Epidemic diseases rapidly declined as soon as the Empress intervened.
But that wasn’t all.
She also undertook numerous charitable initiatives—relieving the poor and supporting talented beastkin who, despite their abilities, couldn’t afford education—thus nurturing new talent.
This was a stark departure from past empresses, who had always accepted the strong dominating the weak as natural.
As a result, the current Empress enjoyed immense support among commoners.
“Of course. The Mother of the Empire possesses both compassion and wisdom. But…”
The young lady’s voice trailed off as her gaze landed on Titié.
Nobles who now knew the truth fixed Titié with sharp, reproachful stares.
“…Ah… well…”
Titié stammered, then lowered her eyes.
Unable to bear the surrounding scrutiny, tears welled in her amethyst-like, luminous eyes.
Slumping her shoulders, she murmured in a threadlike voice,
“…I only thought what I’d requested of His Majesty had come to pass.”
She had indeed made the request—but had no idea how it had actually been fulfilled.
It was a rather plausible excuse to smooth over the blunder.
If only Groar hadn’t so thoughtlessly—or perhaps deliberately—interfered.
“Oh dear, that’s impossible. Could the mighty Sun truly be shaken by a mere passing remark?”
“Heh.”
The rabbit young lady, instantly grasping the implication, unconsciously burst into laughter.
True to her small-hearted beast nature, she quickly glanced around—but most of those nearby were either stifling their laughter or hiding their faces behind fans.
Male lead reborn without memories — but he still falls for her.
The person he finds displeasing in this life turns out to be his cherished wife-master in previous life…
Xie Zhi and Fang Xianxing who had known each other for less than three days through a blind date sat in the same car in front of the civil affairs bureau. They had a disagreement and failed to get married.
Xie Zhi immediately took out his phone, slid through his contacts, and randomly selected the next marriage candidate.
The woman snatched his phone and hung up. Looking at his phone wallpaper, she awkwardly changed the subject: “An ancient painting, eh? It looks pretty good, it’s just that the person in the painting looks a bit like me.”
When he heard this, he sarcastically mocked her for being so delusional, completely unaware that, the person in front of him was the reincarnation of Wen Ru, the famous prime minister of Yuan Shun whom he most admired…
The female CEO who doesn’t want to get married with a divorce agreement in hand × The male archaeological researcher who will only get married if he’s sure he can get divorced
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