“Really, this feels strange, such a thing.”

As Merriam got closer, a faint and pleasant scent emanated from the woman.

Feeling his heart drop, Merriam quickly backed away, roughly wiping his lips.

“Eldaim, maintain this pocket dimension until the woman wakes up.”

Will you return right away?

“Yes.”

Back to a place where no one welcomes him.

Merriam removed the bracelet he was wearing and placed it beside the woman. That was the end of it.

Without looking back, he walked away.

It didn’t matter who the woman was.

After all, he was destined to return here soon.

‘We’ll meet again.’

Next time, he’ll ask for her name.

For the first time, the existence of someone wishing him alive made Merriam unafraid of living.

“Ugh.”

Tossing and turning, I couldn’t overcome the nightmare dragging down my consciousness.

When I finally awoke, the boy was gone. Left behind were my clean fur coat and a golden bracelet.

“This is a magical artifact?”

There was a time when magic naturally coexisted in the human world, during the Great Mage Empire. Then, various magical artifacts were developed and even children used them.

But not now.

‘This must be at least 1000 years old.’

Examining the bracelet, I recited the ancient script inscribed inside. It glowed and began functioning as a magical artifact.

“Ah, a divine energy barrier.”

Typical barriers protect against physical or magical attacks, but this one shielded against divine energy.

Unless someone possessed divine energy strong enough to destroy this artifact, they couldn’t threaten me.

“Leaving such a precious item for me. He should be using it himself.”

I clicked my tongue, but I had no intention of rejecting it. A barrier against divine energy was exactly what I needed.

‘As an empress, I’ll have to visit the damned temple, praying for the empire’s well-being. And I’ll meet the priests.’

This artifact is the only thing that could surpass Enricke’s divine energy.

But will he realize it’s a magical artifact and destroy it?

‘Unlikely. The concept of magical artifacts is practically nonexistent now.’

I owed him one for this gift.

Humming, I stretched and left the Spirit King’s pocket dimension, only to stop in my tracks.

‘Why is it dawn?’

How much time had passed?!

Cold sweat ran down my back, confirming my senses weren’t wrong.

“Empress!!!”

Soldiers from the Achillo family, guarding the Empress’s palace, frantically searched for me.

When they found me, I was escorted back to the palace, where Lady Bertolt waited with an exhausted face.

“Empress…”

Derrick returned late from the forest, looking utterly spent.

“I’m sorry, everyone.”

I definitely told them to wake me in an hour. But that damn spirit ignored my request. Trusting spirits was a mistake.

I couldn’t voice these thoughts aloud. I didn’t want them to doubt my sanity.

I forced a smile, underwent a medical check-up, and then endured a barrage of worried lectures from the palace staff.
“Where have you been? I was so… so worried about you…!”

“Well, I just fell asleep. I’m not sure where, but in some deserted room, I ended up crying and then just passed out.”

“You were crying? Why, what happened to make you cry! Who made our Empress cry?!”

Charlotte, the maid, raised her voice in indignation. That’s when I remembered how I had encountered that boy.

‘I completely forgot about Enricke amidst all the shock.’

I was so stunned to see the descendant of the Sun God here that I forgot everything else.

Feeling a bit embarrassed, I scratched my cheek.

“I saw the Emperor.”

“……!”

“With the saintess.”

Charlotte immediately teared up. Lady Bertolt’s expression was one of utter dismay.

Surveying them, I remembered something important I had to address.

“Why didn’t anyone inform me about the summit meeting?”

When I asked calmly, Lady Bertolt knelt before me. The other maids followed suit.

“I apologize, Your Highness. One of the reasons for… the accident… I couldn’t bring myself to tell you. Seeing you so happy after losing your memory, I kept thinking I should tell you but then thought ‘just one more day’ and kept silent.”

“The Empress’s Palace isn’t prepared to host any dignitaries at all, is it.”

“……Yes, Your Highness.”

“Has the saintess been overseeing every court banquet?”

Lady Bertolt answered with her silence.

I sighed deeply and extended my hand.

“Stand up, Susan. I understand you didn’t tell me for my sake. But if this happens again, I can’t trust you.”

“I’m deeply sorry.”

“So, will you tell me? How much influence does the saintess currently hold in the palace? What is the status of the Empress’s Palace? What are the upcoming duties meant for the Empress? How much has the saintess taken from me? Tell me everything.”

Life and energy are the same.

A person with little time left can’t be full of vitality.

Yesterday, I could barely walk, but today was different.

Thanks to absorbing the boy’s positive energy, my voice was strong, and my actions were quick.

An Indifferent Woman is the One Men Desire the Most

One-line summary: The female lead is actually cold-hearted and extremely rational. She has stage-by-stage relationships and won’t two-time, but there will always be someone who secretly likes her.

This novel has the following triggers, so if you’re sensitive to these, please don’t read:

1. The female lead has had many relationships, but she treated each one seriously and broke up properly.

It’s just that the men unilaterally pestered her incessantly. For the female lead, when she doesn’t like someone anymore, she simply doesn’t like them.

(This applies to her relationships with Male Lead 1, 2, 3, and 4 as well, but she’s loyal in each 1-on-1 relationship!)

2. In this novel, Male Lead 2 and the female lead kiss in a car, and Male Lead 1 sees it and beats up Male Lead 2.

The female lead calls the police and sends both Male Lead 1 and 2 to the police station! Male Lead 1 begs the female lead not to break up with him.

3. Male Lead 1 has a gentle appearance but an obsessive personality.

Male Lead 2 has a delicate and soft appearance, slightly green tea-like (two-faced).

Male Lead 3 is a youthful college student and a smart person who has secretly liked the female lead for a long time.

Male Lead 4 is the female lead’s father’s special assistant, a business elite with deep, hidden thoughts.

4. At the beginning of this novel, the female lead has already broken up with Male Lead 1 (Chapter 4) and gotten back together with Male Lead 2 (ex-boyfriend).

5. Enter with caution if you have triggers!!!