The Empress' Beast Selection (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 2
Her heart was beating erratically.
Faster.
Sophia asked as if it meant nothing.
“Do you know who it is?”
“They say she’s a cousin from the Deer family. I heard she’s been terribly frail and has only just begun preparing for her debutante season.”
Sophia pictured her appearance in her mind.
Delicate and beautiful—the very embodiment of loveliness, like a flower-deer.
At Sophia’s silence, Lady Fieldmouse fussed anxiously, as if to reassure her.
“It’s only a one-sided Name, after all. Nothing serious will happen.”
“That’s right. It’s not a common occurrence, so His Majesty probably went to see her out of curiosity.”
That made sense.
A woman bearing his Name—of course he’d be interested.
“I suppose so.”
Sophia nodded.
Suddenly, the dream she’d had that morning felt like a premonition.
Amid the slightly awkward atmosphere, tea time ended a bit earlier than usual.
Even as the sun set, even as night deepened, no word came from Demios.
Sophia gazed out her bedroom window.
By now, the rumor must have spread throughout the entire Imperial Palace.
She looked beyond the night sky, piecing together the information she’d gathered during tea time.
“She was adopted into the Louvre family.”
Though originally cousins, she’d recently been registered into the Louvre household.
It wasn’t uncommon for noble families to adopt adult relatives.
Usually, such adoptions occurred when the person fulfilled a specific need for the family.
Given that she’d lived as an orphan for so long, it was highly likely the Emperor had noticed the Name imprinted upon her and arranged the adoption.
A woman bearing the Emperor’s Name was indeed special.
An unbidden sigh escaped Sophia’s lips like a muted breath.
“A Name, of all things.”
Naming was the act of imprinting oneself onto another’s body.
Those who bore a Name granted their bearer a sense of stability and an intense, irresistible attraction.
Yet one crucial detail remained.
Was it a one-sided Name—or mutual?
Depending on the answer, the outcome could differ vastly, as though worlds apart.
Unconsciously, she’d wrapped her arms around herself, gently patting her own arms.
“It’s fine. We still don’t know for sure.”
A Name could appear anywhere on the body.
She knew it gradually surfaced on the skin over the course of about a month.
At first, it would seem faint, like a smudge—only after several days would one realize it was an imprint.
“I don’t even know his body myself.”
In public, Sophia and Demios were known as an amicable couple.
They maintained proper boundaries, yet occasionally appeared somewhat affectionate.
As Emperor, he was willing to grant Sophia whatever she desired, and as Empress, she reciprocated in kind.
But public perception wasn’t the whole truth.
Sophia lowered her eyes.
Her sigh at the windowsill condensed into a faint wisp of breath.
The Suin Empire was a land blessed with all four seasons.
Perhaps because autumn had arrived, the contrast between indoor and outdoor temperatures felt especially sharp.
Her sigh on the window would slowly fade, dissolving into the air—
unlike the anxiety already rooted deep within her chest.
“It’s time you retired for the night.”
A concerned maid approached, draping a shawl over Sophia, who had stood by the window for a long while.
Turning around, she saw all three maids wearing worried expressions.
‘They must have heard the news.’
By now, tomorrow would see the rumor spread beyond the capital—soon, no one would be unaware.
Forcing a smile, Sophia nodded.
“Could you prepare a warm cup of tea for me? I’ll go to bed right after drinking it.”
“I’ll bring you a calming blend right away.”
The maid, seemingly delighted just to be given a task by Sophia, hurried off to prepare the tea.
Sipping the steaming tea, Sophia sank once more into thought.
A Name imprint wasn’t purely romantic.
If anything, it leaned closer to tragedy.
A twisted bond dictated by unchangeable fate—if one wasn’t the protagonist, it brought only suffering.
A theme long cherished in theater and opera proved far colder to those cast as mere supporting characters in reality.
“But it’s alright.”
After all, she remained Empress—that wouldn’t change.
With this sole reassurance, Sophia let out a sigh.
Suddenly, along with her dream from that morning, a memory absent from the dream surfaced.
Empress of the Huron Empire.
Now the Empress Dowager, she had summoned Sophia every dawn, subjecting her to relentless psychological torment.
“You’re utterly useless, child. Even when you’ve fully grown, that will never change.”
Those words had always left young Sophia isolated.
But not anymore.
Setting down her cup, Sophia curled her hands into fists.
“I’ve become the most useful person—and I’ll protect my place.”
Though this land wasn’t her homeland, it had undeniably become hers.
Especially since it was personally chosen for her by a foreign goddess.
Thus, Sophia had to remain here.
No matter what.
In the end, Sophia spent the entire night awake, lost in countless worries.
The cause of her distress.
She finally managed to meet her husband the following afternoon.
A tranquil afternoon.
Autumn roses bloomed splendidly in the main garden of the Imperial Palace.
Sophia changed into an outdoor dress and headed toward a secluded spot in the rose garden.
She’d been invited by the Emperor for tea.
Tea time required far less time than a proper meal.
Choosing tea over a meal—and outdoors, at that—meant he wished to spare her only a brief moment.
Though this thought left a bitter taste, she couldn’t show it.
Accompanied by her maids, Sophia arrived at a wooden maze.
The Emperor’s personal steward awaited her at its entrance.
“Your Majesty, this way.”
Following his guidance, she stepped into the wooden labyrinth.
The fragrant scent of roses mingled with the aroma of tea.
At the maze’s hidden center stood a pristine white circular table, and beyond it sat a strikingly handsome man.
His silver hair cascaded as he turned his head.
His pale skin and crimson eyes formed an exquisite harmony with his delicate features.
The Suin Empire’s foremost authority—and its most beautiful man.
Demios Baroque Drodian.
He was of the noble bloodline descended from the Great Divine Beasts.
“Welcome.”
His ruby-red eyes fixed upon Sophia.
Though his hair and eye color remained unchanged from childhood, his demeanor was now cold—yet the fact that he’d once been Sophia’s cherished childhood friend remained unaltered.
“I pay my respects to Your Majesty.”
She bowed politely and took the seat her maid pulled out for her.
An exquisite assortment of pastries already adorned the table.
As the steward poured tea, her maid filled Sophia’s cup with hot brew.
“Drink.”
“Yes.”
Their exchange was far briefer than usual.
Sophia lowered her gaze.
Judging by its green hue and fragrance, it was peppermint tea—prepared to Demios’s preference.
Its intense flavor chilled her mouth and mind the moment she took a sip.
Though not to her taste, the strong tea finally made her feel she was truly facing her husband.
Thanks to that, Sophia managed to take a few more sips.
The forced clarity sharpened her resolve, and she spoke the words she’d held back.
“I heard news regarding Your Majesty. Is it true?”
From someone other than you.
She swallowed the rest of the sentence.
Demios set his teacup down gracefully before nodding.
“It is.”
It was merely confirmation of what she already suspected.
Yet the resolve she’d clung to—vowing not to waver—felt as though it were being dragged downward.
His next words struck her like a greater wave.
“The sense of attraction and stability—I thought it nonsense, but it was real. Her embrace was comforting. Warm and gentle.”
His eyes softened as if recalling the woman’s embrace.
He suffered from severe insomnia.
Even when sleep came, he was plagued by nightmares.
Now, the woman bearing his Name held him, soothing his unrest.
Something Sophia couldn’t do.
“I’m glad to hear it.”
Her heart sank so deeply she felt dizzy.
But she was still alright—for now came the crucial question.
“…Then, has Your Majesty also been imprinted?”
“No.”
His blunt, curt reply left Sophia wide-eyed.
She barely suppressed a sigh of immense relief.
“I see.”
She thought she’d spoken as indifferently as possible.
Yet those keen crimson eyes studied her intently, as if probing her true feelings.
“You seem concerned.”
She couldn’t deny it.
Even if—
“Though we’re merely a nominal couple.”
The love of their childhood was long gone.
Because—
They had never once shared a bed.
Only Sophia and the Emperor’s personal attendants knew this truth.
Not a single trace of his former feelings likely remained.
And yet, Demios had proposed to Sophia because of a revelation from the Suin Empire’s temple.
“The Star of Ishtar.”
A being destined to revive the empire had taken human form.
Throughout history, the Star of Ishtar had always become the Emperor’s consort.
This time, it was Sophia.
A human had taken on a fate originally meant for a Suin.
She’d only learned this truth after setting foot in the Suin Empire.
As a foreign Empress, Sophia had strived tirelessly to forget her past.
One fragment of memory had let her breathe even through pain.
Only after much time had passed could she recall those painful memories without being wounded anew.
“Since she bears Your Majesty’s Name, as Empress, I can’t help but be concerned.”
It was the same now.
‘Don’t let it show.’
After all, there was no love between them.
Male lead is reincarnated to save his wife
I’ve also read this one twice already. The female lead is kinda soft and gets embarrassed easily—not really my type, but the plot is definitely worth reading. Hurry up and read it, y’all!
Intro
When Shen Yuan encountered Su Jin again in his previous life, she had already become the Prime Minister of the current dynasty. As for him, the former top young master of the capital, he had long since fallen into the abyss, becoming a singer on a pleasure boat.
After a song ended, he was redeemed and sent to the Su Residence.
Su Jin respected and cherished him, gave him a roof over his head, and bestowed him with warmth. Shen Yuan fell deeper and deeper, but before he could express his feelings, Su Jin passed away.
Shen Yuan died to follow her in death, but instead, he returned to when he was fifteen years old.
At that time, he was not yet engaged, and Su Jin was just a poor scholar.
Shen Yuan gritted his teeth, casting aside all his pride, and thought of ways to coax and entice her every day.
The colder and more indifferent Su Jin was towards him, the more proactive Shen Yuan became.
He was not afraid of being mocked by the world, only wanting to marry his Wife-master early, to hold her hand and never let go for a lifetime.
[Note: This story will not specifically point out the male lead’s reincarnation time point; it’s all in the details. Whenever you feel that the male lead is acting strangely, he has most likely been reincarnated.]
[Touch the gear icon in the bottom right corner of the screen to move to the next chapter if you want.]
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