Eventually, only a little more than half of the people who first lined up remained, and then the game started. Most of the remaining participants boasted muscular bodies.
They must be confident that they won’t hurt the target.
“Tell me what rudeness these guys committed.”
Watching with interest, Merem spoke up frankly.
The voice was quite muffled, so if I didn’t answer, it seemed like it wouldn’t be good. However, revealing what those guys blabbered about could lead to a fatal incident.
“It’s nothing. No need to worry. They’re receiving their punishment.”
“You must have done something I shouldn’t hear.”
Splurt.
Merem’s lips curved up slyly.
However, at that moment, the voice of Silver Rose Grand Duke came from the left.
“Indeed. I’m quite curious about what rudeness they committed against Her Majesty the Empress.”
“Grand Duke.”
“Good afternoon, Arti. No, Your Majesty the Empress.”
The last sentence was whispered into my ear, avoiding being heard by others.
Due to the ticklish breath, my hairs stood on end. As I shivered, Merem, who was on my right, sharply narrowed his eyes and pulled me closer by the waist.
‘Oh, I told him not to greet me today.’
Nevertheless, knowing that I was the Empress, I couldn’t ignore the greeting.
“I thought so. I considered you extraordinary… Please forgive my rudeness yesterday.”
“Rudeness? It was enjoyable, so it’s fine.”
“If it brought you joy, I’m relieved. Please call me Shail.”
As soon as the Grand Duke permitted the name, Merem emitted a growling sound on my right.
It was so cute that I bit the tender flesh inside my cheek to suppress laughter.
‘Oh, I shouldn’t find every little thing like this cute.’
Rather than a cool appearance, these kinds of things are what remain in memory for a long time.
In that sense, I felt confident that when I looked back in time, today would be vividly remembered.
“Nine out of ten hits the target is currently the leading candidate for victory. Anyone else participating?”
This time, Merem stepped forward at Fabel’s announcement.
“I’ll do it.”
“Oh, oh, aren’t you the leader of the Astaloth Knights! Here, here. Here are the darts!”
The guys who became targets were trembling, breathing heavily with cloth covering their faces.
Merem arranged them not horizontally but vertically, forming a single line. Then, he took out only one dart from the provided set and put the rest back.
“Holding only one dart, what kind of confidence is this? Very intriguing!”
While hearing Fabel’s announcement, I watched Merem with my fists clenched.
His well-developed biceps and triceps, earned through consistent effort, and an upright posture. I focused on such features as his intense gaze, and at that moment, Shail quietly threw a comment.
“Did you think about what I mentioned yesterday?”
“Well…”
“It would have been nice if you did. I thought about you all the time.”
Thud!
Whether he heard Shail’s words or not, Merem threw the dart somewhat sharply.
Due to that, the apples made a squishy sound and burst.
“Heheek!”
“W-what is that? It’s supernatural power!”
The crowd was greatly shocked by the thunderous noise, as if the heads of the people standing in a straight line might have exploded.
Of course, the affected targets were also shocked.
“Heheuk, heuk, huk…!”
The guy who used to throw cigarette butts anywhere was standing at the very end. The dart was stuck in an apple placed on his head, and he was trembling like crazy.
I looked at the guy’s contemplative face and felt confident that from now on, he would never casually throw cigarette butts anywhere in his life.
“Wow, that was an incredible throw! Unfortunately, in this game, the goal is to hit the apples, not burst them! So, even though the strength was impressive, you’re eliminated!!!”
At Fabel’s proclamation, Merem wiped his forehead and displayed an irritated expression.
Perhaps he wanted to appear cool.
I welcomed Merem’s inner thoughts revealed so clearly and chuckled.
“Impressive, Merem.”
“Still, I couldn’t get the doll.”
“No need to be disappointed. Even if you got it, it would have sparked controversy for unfairness.”
As I praised him while brushing off Merem’s cheek, he tilted his head in a consenting manner.
“Now, is it my turn?”
It was at that moment.
The Male lead Always Seduces Her with His Beauty (Matriarchy)
Xin Jiao Zhou is the leader of the world’s premier sect. She has just experienced betrayal from all sides, was poisoned in an assassination attempt, and faced death squad attacks while the poison was taking effect. After finally clearing out the scum from her sect, she was drugged again while trying to detoxify.
After waking up from a night of unconsciousness, she gained a “beautiful and kind-hearted” husband.
Xin Jiao Zhou: “???”
He fell ill.
She came to see him, bringing breakfast.
As she put down the breakfast and was about to leave, his hand slipped while holding the spoon. “Clank!”
She turned around upon hearing the noise.
He looked up at her, his eyebrows drooping: “My hand… has no strength.”
“Shall I… feed you?” she asked tentatively.
He opened his mouth cheerfully: “Ah—”
Thinking she was drowning, he jumped in without hesitation to save her, but nearly drowned himself. In the end, it was she who swam over to rescue him, giving him air underwater.
After emerging from the water, his ear tips turned red. He lightly brushed his cheek, tucking his sideburns behind his ear, revealing delicate, pink-tinged ear tips. He lowered his gaze, too embarrassed to look at her.
Xin Jiao Zhou: He’s truly beautiful, kind-hearted, and adorable.
A certain someone when disciplining subordinates behind the scenes: “If they don’t obey, just kill them.”
What’s that? She might already have someone she cares about in her heart? A certain someone: Find out who it is, kill them, and then there won’t be anyone.
What? She met a man by the riverside? What? That man even hurt her? A certain someone: Whichever hand hurt her, chop off his entire arm.
Love at first sight without realizing it, gradually falling in love, slowly getting closer…
Family and national grudges, schemes and desires, good and evil, crime and punishment, she and he face the future together, seeking justice with passion!
A naturally dark female lead who could accidentally destroy the world but is actually an honest person VS a weak, pitiful, and helpless but skilled fighter, beautiful white-cut black male lead
My heart is not of stone, how steadfast is your love? — Tao Yuanming “Imitating the Ancients (No. 3)”
— Reading Guide —
Cold female lead & dramatic black lotus with hidden yandere traits male lead
