The Empress' Scandalous Paramour (5 Chapters Left to Complete) - Chapter 15
Ironically, the place where the Holy Maiden’s healing power shone brightest was the battlefield.
But at that time, the Emperor had absolutely no intention of waging war—and, by coincidence, neither did the Emperor of the Desert Kingdom. As for the other minor kingdoms, it went without saying. Thus, despite becoming the Holy Maiden, Helene never got the chance to make her name widely known.
She obviously couldn’t just start a war herself, so in the end, Helene had to find another way.
A way that would make everyone unanimously declare her existence truly valuable.
That was to slay a demon.
Enrique, who at the time was under serious threat to his life from his brothers, readily accepted her proposal.
What greater feat could there be than slaying a demon in the Holy Empire and taking its corpse?
Helene wanted to bestow that glory upon Enrique—and in return, she wished to ascend to an unshakable, eternal position.
‘I didn’t expect the Empress to take over planning the banquet this time… but perhaps it’s for the best. If she decorates everything with firethorn berries, she’ll get all the blame while I receive all the praise.’
Helene hadn’t declared her intention to decorate the banquet hall with firethorn berries without reason.
Through discreet inquiries, she’d learned that the people of the Desert Kingdom were so uncivilized they would pick up and eat anything placed in the banquet hall.
So they’d surely eat the firethorn berries without suspicion—and when they suffered stomach cramps and high fever, she’d step in to heal them.
She’d simply claim she “didn’t know” they had such a custom and offer treatment.
Imagining their astonished faces at her formidable holy power, Helene let out a delicate, satisfied sigh. Then, suddenly remembering the Empress, her expression soured.
The woman had changed so drastically it was hard to believe she was the same lethargic, apathetic person Helene remembered.
‘And that inexplicable aura of dominance… I never want to see that look in her eyes again.’
The Empress had gazed down at her like a true lioness observing prey.
It was the gaze of a predator fully aware of her superiority and thoroughly enjoying her position.
‘It shouldn’t be possible… but I’ll have to investigate through my agents planted in the Empress’s court.’
Something about the Empress’s sudden transformation sent an eerie chill down her spine.
[This is the timeline separator]Ever since declaring she would take full charge of the banquet, the Empress’s palace had been frenetically busy.
Since I had no intention whatsoever of using anything Helene had prepared in advance, I had to personally select everything anew—even down to the curtains.
“The sculptors and painters have arrived, Your Majesty. I’ve guided them to the secondary reception room for a meal.”
“Once they’ve finished eating, take them to the fruit chamber as previously instructed.”
“Yes!”
The fruit chamber, completed just yesterday, was filled to the brim with every kind of fruit produced within the Empire.
The artists would collaborate to craft works of art from these fruits.
Edible masterpieces.
Decorations whose meaning would be most profound precisely when they disappeared through being eaten.
That was what I wanted.
“I suppose I should finish what we were discussing.”
After giving brief instructions, I slowly turned my head.
Before me stood three young architects I’d summoned after extensive inquiries.
Despite the cold, they wore relatively light clothing, tools like hammers and chisels hanging at their waists—and their eyes all sparkled brightly.
Opportunity.
That was precisely what I intended to give them.
“Your task is simple: create an artificial waterfall and water channels inside the Grand Banquet Hall.”
“When you say ‘artificial waterfall,’ do you desire a naturalistic form, or one artistically reinterpreted?”
“The latter. Make it exquisitely stylish—something that will leave the nobles in awe. Can you manage it?”
All three young architects were women.
Each had graduated top of their class from a prestigious art academy but, unable to showcase their talent, now performed menial tasks under established architects.
The reason was simple.
They were women.
The nobility refused to trust female architects, so none had ever built a structure of their own.
I’d deliberately sought out such individuals.
The best way to turn a human into a demon’s pawn is to fulfill their deepest desire.
I intended to fulfill theirs—and make them my own.
“The channels will be filled with champagne—but it must be crystal clear and luminous. Oh, and inlay mother-of-pearl along the channel floors.”
“Inlaying mother-of-pearl along the entire floor would exceed the budget…”
“Do I look like someone who worries about money?”
They swallowed hard as I smiled gently.
Their eyes now burned with both yearning and ambition.
A look I knew well—and enjoyed.
“This is the first banquet hosted by the Empress of this nation. Spend however much you need. Do exactly as you please—as long as you adhere to my few stipulations.”
They understood better than anyone that opportunities like this never came twice.
To be free of budget constraints—
Even if they weren’t constructing an entire building, this was where it all began.
The architect with her hair tightly coiled into a bun—the eldest of the three, nearly forty—asked me hesitantly,
“Um, Your Majesty… why grant us such an opportunity? We have neither fame nor reputation.”
“So, can’t you do it?”
At my blunt question, she clenched her teeth.
“No. We can. We’ll carry out the construction so this banquet becomes one for the history books.”
“I reviewed all the graduation projects from the architecture department specifically for this banquet. Among countless works, yours stood out the most.”
That was half truth, half fabrication.
When would I have had time to review every single project?
From the start, I’d ordered them to find only female valedictorians who still hadn’t built a single structure—and selected from among them.
Hearing I’d recognized their ability, the other two architects’ faces brightened immediately.
Knowing it was time to seal the deal and move on, I patted each of their shoulders once.
“If you successfully complete this banquet, I promise you all the patronage of Duke Achilo. Don’t disappoint me.”
“We won’t…!”
“Good. Go have your meal.”
That matter settled, what came next?
“Your Majesty, we’ve brought every variety of champagne currently held in the Imperial Palace!”
I’d always wondered why there were seven reception rooms—rarely used at that—but now, actually working as Empress, even seven weren’t enough.
I entered another reception room and meticulously inspected the displayed barrels and glasses.
“This one’s too cloudy. Remove all red-hued champagnes.”
“Yes! That leaves these three.”
“All of you, taste them. We’ll use the one receiving the most votes.”
I nodded to the maids trailing behind me, and they quickly gathered to fill their glasses.
After exhausting themselves with banquet preparations, they must’ve welcomed the chance to refresh themselves with low-alcohol champagne.
“Dare I say, Your Majesty, the third one was the sweetest.”
“Me too.”
“Me as well!”
Then the third variety it was.
While preparing this banquet, I frequently sought opinions from those around me.
Because framing it as “a banquet crafted by everyone together” would be far easier to defend later if any problems arose, compared to one that seemed dictated solely by my own whims.
A banquet created by me alone would be mine to bear alone—but if someone attacked a banquet built collectively by everyone… they’d all step forward to shield it.
Besides, I desperately needed the image of an “approachable Empress.”
“The Empress isn’t as sensitive as I expected…”
“Right? I heard she was supposed to be really prickly.”
“Must’ve been a rumor. Even the maids were laughing and drinking champagne with Her Majesty. I got a glass myself.”
“What? They gave you that expensive champagne too?”
“Yep. Her Majesty ordered champagne barrels placed there—every servant in that reception room got some.”
“Wow, I’m jealous. Was it heavenly? Is noble champagne really that different from ours?”
“The Empress… she’s a good person…”
Hearing chatter beneath a window as I hurried off with only Derek in tow, I paused briefly.
The maids, carrying laundry, were chattering excitedly.
‘I did plant the idea for them to praise me… but actually hearing it feels oddly awkward.’
Scratching my cheek, I quickened my pace to avoid being caught eavesdropping—though stumbling slightly wasn’t intentional at all.
“Your Majesty! That was dangerous.”
“Ah… thank you, Sir.”
Derek, as always, caught me in a flash before I could fall.
“You ate far too little at breakfast and lunch. You’ll develop anemia.”
“Anemia, nonsense. I’ve never felt this cheerful and energetic before.”
“I just…”
Derek started to speak, then abruptly clamped his mouth shut.
He seemed to forget to let go of me—I remained half-nestled in his arms, which honestly felt quite nice, like being warmly embraced by a winter bear.
Tilting my head back to look straight up at him, I suddenly spoke.
“You’d actually prefer I never left my chambers, wouldn’t you, Sir?”
Male lead is a Divorced Husband
She said to him: “Tell me, what makes you like me? I’ll change it!”
Liu Changning transmigrated into a female cannon fodder character in a female-dominant novel.
After reading the first half of the novel’s plot, the first thing she did upon transmigration was to divorce the Pan Jinlian-style male protagonist she had just married.
She indulged herself, pretending to be ugly and poor.
But as time passed, the way that man looked at her became more and more unusual…
Liu Changning was dumbfounded: Tell me, what makes you like me? I’ll change!
――
This lifetime, Pei Yuanshao was rejected by the same woman twice!
The first time, she drove him away. Forced by the situation, he endured the waves of anger in his heart, yielding and humbling himself.
That person lay slanted on a rocking chair, her sallow face emotionless: “If you don’t want a divorce, go cook!”
Pei Yuanshao’s face was dark and gloomy: “You!”
The second time, after the crisis in Jinling City was resolved, the new emperor sent someone to pick him up. He turned around, stammering: “I… I have to go. If you keep me…”
That person lay on the kang bed, her back to him, as if she had long anticipated this day, crisp and clear: “Goodbye!”
Pei Yuanshao was so angry his fingers trembled: “You… you!”
The mission of family and country made him restrain himself, averting his eyes and turning to leave this broken household.
Two years later, they met again. Seeing her ethereal face, his body shook like a sieve.
“She was originally a ‘she’!”
At the Qionglin Banquet, the top scholar of the imperial examination, a talented person with exceptional speech and conduct, all the unmarried young gentlemen from aristocratic families looked at her with shy and timid eyes.
The peerless imperial official Pei Yuanshao felt the anger in his heart erupt. He pointed at the woman surrounded by the crowd at the Qionglin Banquet, his thin lips slightly curled: “Little sister, I wants that person to be the wife-master of my Mingde Prince Manor.”
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Leonarda really said “I’m done” and meant it 💀 queen finally clocked in and chose violence. Enrique only interested now?? too late bro.
Meriem down BAD already and bro hasn’t even met her again 😭 meanwhile Leonarda fighting the whole empire solo… yeah this banquet bout to be chaos fr.
She really said “fix yourselves or I will” 😭🔥 empress about to run bootcamp fr, Valkyrie redemption arc loading…