Ironically, the place where the Saint’s healing powers shone the brightest was the battlefield.
However, the current Emperor had no intention of waging war, and the same was true for the Emperor of the desert nation. The smaller kingdoms were out of the question. Thus, Helene, despite becoming a Saint, couldn’t find an opportunity to make her name known.
But she couldn’t just start a war, so Helene had to find another way.
A way for everyone to unanimously acknowledge her worth.
That was to kill a demon.
At that time, Enrique, still under great threat to his life from his siblings, readily agreed to her proposal.
What could be more impressive in the Holy Empire than killing a demon and bringing back its corpse?
Helene wanted to give such glory to Enrique. And in return, she wanted to ascend to an eternally unchanging position.
‘I didn’t expect to lose the banquet preparations to the Empress… but maybe it’s for the best. If the Empress only decorates with thorn apple trees. Then she’ll receive the blame, and I’ll get the praise.’
Helene didn’t just randomly declare she would decorate the banquet hall with thorn apple trees.
Secretly, she found out that people from the desert nation were so unsophisticated that they would pick and eat anything they found in the banquet hall.
So they would surely eat the thorn apple fruits without suspicion. And when they suffered from stomach pain and high fever, she would step in to help.
Pretending she ‘didn’t know’ about such a culture while providing treatment.
Imagining the faces astonished by her powerful holiness, Helene sighed prettily. Then, suddenly recalling the Empress, she scowled.
The woman she remembered as lackadaisical and lazy had changed so much that she doubted it was the same person.
‘And that indescribable sense of intimidation… I don’t want to see those eyes again.’
The Empress looked down at her like a true lioness might look at a herbivore.
It was the look of a predator perfectly aware of its superiority, enjoying its status.
‘It’s unlikely, but… I should check through the people I’ve planted in the Empress’s palace.’
Why the Empress had suddenly changed so much.
A chill ran down her spine.
Ever since I declared I would personally oversee the banquet, the Empress’s palace became incredibly busy.
I had no intention of using anything prepared by Helene, so I had to look for everything anew, even the curtains.
“The sculptors and painters have arrived, Your Majesty. I’ve guided them to have a meal in the reception room.”
“Once they finish eating, take them to the fruit room as planned.”
“Yes!”
The fruit room, completed yesterday, was filled with every kind of fruit produced in the empire.
The artists were to collaborate in creating artworks from these fruits.
Artworks that are edible.
Decorations that serve their purpose best when eaten.
That’s what I desired.
“I should continue the conversation we were having.”
After giving brief instructions, I slowly turned my head.
In front of me were three young female architects I had summoned through inquiries.
Wearing tools like hammers and chisels on their belts, they were dressed relatively lightly for the cold, their eyes sparkling with excitement.
Opportunity.
That’s what I intended to give them.
“Your task is simple. You need to create an artificial waterfall and waterways inside the grand banquet hall.”
“By artificial waterfall, do you mean in its natural form, or artistically reinterpreted?”
“The latter. Make it sophisticated, so the nobles will be in awe. Can you do it?”
The three young architects were all women.
All had graduated top of their class from prestigious art academies but were stuck doing menial work under established architects, unable to showcase their talent.
The reason was simple.
They were women.
The nobility did not trust the skills of female architects, and as a result, they had never had the opportunity to build their own buildings.
I had deliberately chosen and invited these individuals.
The best way to manipulate a human as a minion of a demon is to fulfill their desires.
I planned to fulfill their desires and make them my people.
“We’ll fill the waterways with champagne. But it has to be clear and sparkling. Oh, and it would be good to line the bottom of the waterways with mother-of-pearl.”
“If we line the entire bottom of the waterways with mother-of-pearl, the budget would…”
“Do you think I’m worried about money?”
I said softly with a smile, making the architects gulp.
Their eyes were filled with ambition and desire.
A color I knew well and appreciated.
“This is the first banquet hosted by the Empress of this nation. No matter the cost, do as you wish. As long as you stick to what I’ve said, the rest doesn’t matter.”
They knew this was an opportunity that wouldn’t come twice.
Not worrying about the budget.
Even if it wasn’t building a structure, this was a start.
The oldest architect, nearly forty, with her hair tightly tied back, asked me a question.
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.]
