The Empress' Beast Selection (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 4
“Thank you for granting me permission, Your Majesty.”
Titié smiled bashfully.
One might call it boldness—making a request even while expecting outright rejection.
Up close, Sophia was the very embodiment of the mythical stag.
Yet Sophia knew well that not all who carried the blood of herbivores were gentle or weak.
“I see.”
Titié’s eyes widened at the blunt, matter-of-fact reply.
There truly was nothing more to say—beyond questions of like or dislike.
‘What else could I possibly talk about?’
A wolf’s mate was meant to be one and only one for life.
Thus, it was only right for the Imperial House, bearing the bloodline of the divine wolf, to be condemned for taking a consort.
Yet the sole exception was Name Imprinting.
My husband’s lawful consort.
Perhaps soon to enter the Imperial Palace.
Unaware of Sophia’s thoughts, Titié beamed brightly.
“I’d also like to get along well with you, Your Majesty.”
Sophia flinched slightly at those words.
What was Titié’s true intention?
They were two people who, if sane, could never truly coexist amicably.
‘Would things be different if we set aside our hearts?’
No, that wasn’t it either.
Even before Titié appeared, Sophia and Demios had never been lovers.
And now, with mutual imprinting manifesting between them…
Her head spun dizzily.
When Sophia offered no further reaction, Titié suddenly lit up as if struck by a thought.
“Oh, right! Shall I show you His Majesty’s Name?”
Before Sophia could stop her,
Titié pulled down her clothing to reveal the Name imprinted on her right breast.
Demios’s name, sharply etched in black ink.
A perfect imprint.
“It’s done.”
Titié flinched, sensing Sophia’s expression had turned icy cold without her even realizing it.
“I’m sorry. I thought Your Majesty might be curious.”
“His Majesty has already seen it. There’s no need for me to verify it myself.”
“Is that so? If I were you, I’d have wanted to see it.”
Titié tilted her head, genuinely puzzled.
Just then, the carriage halted—they had arrived at the Empress’s quarters.
The coachman was about to open the door.
Titié rose first and leaned toward Sophia.
“What…?”
Sophia was swallowed by Titié’s shadow.
Within that descending darkness, violet eyes shimmered eerily.
“Now I’ll warm His Majesty’s bed for him, so please don’t worry too much.”
What on earth had she just heard?
Those strangely gleaming eyes sent chills down her spine.
As the malicious whisper faded, the carriage door opened.
Titié instantly pulled away as if nothing had happened and flashed a radiant smile.
She spun lightly on her heel and headed straight for the door.
Then collapsed.
“Aaah!”
Her delicate frame tumbled forward as if she’d tripped.
The moment Sophia reflexively stood up, a cold, low voice filled the carriage.
“I told you to be careful.”
Demios caught Titié and gently lowered her to the ground.
The Emperor’s white stag nestled in his arms, offering a shy smile.
“I’m sorry. I tripped.”
Amidst the deepening sunset, long silver and white hair intertwined like threads.
An undeniably well-matched couple.
Enough to momentarily erase the memory of what had just transpired inside the carriage.
Beyond Titié, crimson eyes fixed upon Sophia.
“Why are you two together?”
The question was clearly directed at Sophia.
Before she could answer, Titié interjected.
“Her Majesty kindly offered me a ride. I was on my way to His Majesty’s residence.”
“You could have just sent for someone.”
Demios’s gaze returned to Titié.
The white stag’s eyes sparkled adoringly.
“I wanted to visit His Majesty without him knowing.”
To dare sneak into the Emperor’s palace—
It was absurd, yet her harmless expression somehow justified it.
‘He’s always been fiercely protective of his own domain.’
Though his attitude was unreadable, Demios seemed unconcerned.
While Sophia couldn’t tear her eyes away, Demios’s gaze shifted back to her.
“And the Empress?”
“I was returning after concluding discussions regarding the Victory Celebration.”
She was relieved she could speak so calmly, more than she’d expected.
All palace-hosted events fell under the Empress’s purview.
Ensuring their smooth execution was Sophia’s duty.
Soon, she noticed Demios’s brow furrowing.
“…So it was Duke Claude Leofort.”
His delicate beauty, sharpened by irritation, cast an even colder aura.
Strangely, Demios always seemed displeased whenever the Victory Celebration was mentioned.
The reason being…
‘They’re adversaries.’
Claude, as the son of the Red King—the late Emperor’s elder brother—was undeniably part of the imperial bloodline.
That explained Demios’s sharp reaction.
‘Was there conflict when the throne was passed down?’
But Duke Leofort had departed on his campaign over ten years ago.
Demios had ascended the throne seven years prior and had long since solidified his rule.
“Go on inside now.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
At those words, Titié naturally looped her arm through Demios’s.
The effortless intimacy of the gesture froze Sophia’s thoughts.
Their relationship had grown far closer than she’d anticipated.
‘The past is just the past.’
The woman standing beside Demios today was no longer Sophia.
She realized this truth once again.
That night.
No matter how deep the darkness grew, sleep refused to come.
Even the maids had long since fallen asleep.
Sophia wrapped a shawl around herself and stepped out of the Empress’s quarters.
By now, the path was so familiar she could walk it blindfolded.
Yet she felt disoriented.
Every future moment looming ahead seemed distant and hazy.
‘Clear, unmistakable hostility.’
It had been a long time since she’d sensed such intense malice—ever since leaving her homeland.
It felt like a declaration that everything Sophia possessed would be taken from her.
Above all, Demios and Titié already appeared as a complete couple.
She wandered endlessly through the garden shrouded in darkness.
When she finally lifted her head again, Sophia found herself in an unfamiliar place.
‘Where am I?’
She’d gotten lost in the Imperial Palace—a place she prided herself on knowing well.
And now stood before a secluded palace, its lamps unlit.
A massive, cold, yet strikingly beautiful carved door loomed before her.
After a moment, Sophia realized where she was.
‘This is… the vacant palace.’
She’d heard of it before.
A grand ducal title that existed in name only, with no holder.
And the so-called “Phantom Palace.”
‘I heard it was created during the late Emperor’s reign, but no one ever received the title.’
Everyone knew of this peculiar title.
Yet its owner had been absent—long, long absent.
‘This is my first time coming here in person.’
Sophia had only heard rumors; she never imagined she’d actually visit.
How had she ended up here?
It simply meant she hadn’t been in her right mind.
During the busy days, she could pretend everything was fine.
But in moments meant for rest, her thoughts became impossible to escape.
Especially tonight.
Sophia squeezed her eyes shut.
‘I should go back.’
Just then, a sharp gust of wind rushed past.
The shawl she’d held loosely slipped from her grasp.
The fabric vanished into the wind before her very eyes.
‘It’s cold.’
Losing just a shawl made her feel piercingly cold.
Even though full winter hadn’t yet arrived.
Sophia hunched her shoulders.
She knew she ought to return—but couldn’t bring herself to take that first step.
At that moment—
“Excuse me.”
Sophia’s eyes flew open.
A pleasing baritone accompanied the weight of a coat settling over her shoulders.
Warmth enveloped her back—
A man’s coat, warmed by someone else’s body heat.
She turned around.
There stood a man, backlit by the moon.
His eyes, meeting hers as she craned her neck upward, shone like the sun—golden.
His raven-black hair, paired with his refined features, resembled the purest night.
Even beneath the midnight moonlight, his gaze held warmth.
Sophia silently regarded him.
In response, the corners of his lips curved into a gentle arc.
“Your clothing is far too thin. The night is harsh.”
He carefully fastened the front of the coat draped over her shoulders.
His hands, glimpsed briefly, were as neat and large as his appearance suggested.
Due to their height difference, Sophia was practically swallowed by the coat. Still—
‘It’s warm.’
The chill that had gripped her moments ago had completely vanished.
Sophia smoothed the unfamiliar fabric and studied the stranger.
His presence and face were entirely unknown to her.
‘What kind of beast is he?’
This was the Empire of Beasts.
She’d heard no news of human visitors, so this man must be a beast as well.
Carnivore or herbivore?
Though his expression was kind, he gave off the strong impression of a predator—
A large feline, claws carefully sheathed.
Having given her his coat, he now wore only a thin shirt.
Noticing this, Sophia spoke.
“Your own attire seems scarcely thicker than mine, my lord.”
She hadn’t meant to sound so curt.
And certainly not in a manner unbefitting the Empress.
She wasn’t showing it outwardly, but inwardly, she was flustered.
Yet contrary to her expectations, the man didn’t seem offended. Quite the opposite.
When the male lead is punished by carrying the female lead’s child and having periods like a woman
“I’ve given birth to two children for you, yet you still think about him.
Was I nothing but his substitute to you from beginning to end?”
Synopsis:
Meng Huan, a scumbag who has dated countless girlfriends, transmigrates to a female-dominated country.
Day 1: Whether it’s female dominance or not doesn’t matter. The beauties here are passionate and amorous. Isn’t it easier to date them than in modern times?
Day 2: After a night, Meng Huan discovers the differences in the female-dominated world. Men here actually have chastity locks and menstrual cycles. This hinders his ability to perform, damn it!
Day 3: What’s wrong with sleeping around? I don’t want you to marry me. I’m meant to be a playboy. I don’t care about male virtues… What? You want to drown me in a pig cage? Marry, I’ll marry!
Day N: Meng Huan inexplicably vomits and receives the shocking news of his life… He’s pregnant.
_____
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