The Empress' Scandalous Paramour - Chapter 17

The procession of the emperor leaving the desert border was truly immense.

Thud!

The massive demon beast Luca-Boss, covered with thick fur pads to withstand the cold of the Nix Empire, moved with heavy steps.

Native to the south of the desert, the Luca-Boss is a demon beast with large ears, a long tail-like nose, and terrifying fangs. Despite its huge size, it has a very gentle temperament and is easy to tame.

However, while it may be easy to tame among demon beasts, it would be a mistake to regard the Luca-Boss on the same level as animals like horses or camels.

The ability to provide fresh prey, the strength to be recognized as a master by the Luca-Boss.

Taming and riding a demon beast was proof of those two things.

Therefore, the emperor of the desert empire Quan and his family always ride Luca-Bosses.

The only exception was Mereum.

“He survived and returned this time too?”

“I heard he didn’t have a single wound this time.”

“As expected, it’s ominous. Thank the heavens for the revelation. We can legally get rid of him in this country.”

“You’re right. What’s the point of having the spirit king’s blessing? Even if the river dries up, it won’t give us a single drop of rain.”

“No. Rather, the reason the water of Diawan dried up is…”

After traveling for a full day, the procession decided to camp in the border area.

The members of the imperial family rested comfortably inside the tents, but as always, Mereum was an exception.

There was no one to set up a tent for him, and he wasn’t provided with one in the first place.

His treatment was no different from that of an ordinary soldier.

Not expecting anything, Mereum took a spot farthest from the campfire and silently sharpened the blade of his kukri. Pretending not to hear the whispers behind his back.

He had never been bothered by such gossip in the first place, but now even more so.

Because he was on his way to being abandoned.

“Stay still.”

When the reason for the drying up of the river was also blamed on him, the angry water droplets trembled and splashed around like flames.

Mereum quietly warned the water droplets and finished what he was doing.

In fact, it wasn’t that he couldn’t understand the soldiers’ anger or contempt.

Eldaim, the spirit king he contracted with when he was five years old, clearly possessed tremendous power.

The problem was himself.

Eldaim was pouring all its power into suppressing the raging solar energy within his body. That’s why it couldn’t make it rain.

If Eldaim loosened its power even a little, the scorching force would crush him into ashes.

– Mereum. Will you let those ignorant fools babble like that?

“I don’t care.”

– How great is your power? They don’t even recognize that. Their eyes are like knotholes!

“I said it’s fine.”

Mereum’s conversation with the spirit king only looked like he was talking to himself. So the perception of him worsened even more.

It was believed that he survived wherever the emperor sent him not because he was a strong warrior, but because he was ominously lucky.

It was a very unreasonable perception, but it couldn’t be helped.

Because it was the emperor and his concubine who created such public opinion.

“Lord Mereum. The emperor summons you.”

That’s when it happened.

At the sound of the emperor’s summons, Mereum got up without delay.

Despite the various noises coming from inside the tent, there was no change in Mereum’s expression.

It goes without saying that it’s a great insult to summon him and make him stand outside like this. But Mereum was not ashamed.

If he doesn’t look and doesn’t listen, it’ll be fine.

Anyway, he’ll be able to leave this country soon, so all the more reason.

‘No matter how much of a hell the Nix Empire is, it can’t be worse than here. That revelation is rather a salvation for me.’

Mereum, who inwardly gave a bitter smile, raised his gaze for a moment and looked at the sky.

A golden moon hung between the tall tree branches.

For a brief moment, it seemed similar to the hair color of the person who healed him, the only one he “wanted to meet again,” and the corners of his stiff mouth softened without him realizing it.

“Hoo, you’re here.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“What’s with ‘Your Majesty’? I told you to call me elder brother.”

The emperor revealed himself as the entrance of the tent opened, seemingly finished with what he was doing.

Calik Quan, the Desert Emperor.

The previous emperor had fifteen children, and Calik was the second.

When the palace was burned down and his brothers were bound and beheaded one by one, Mereum was able to survive by contracting with the spirit king.

A sturdy wall of water rose around him, drowning anyone who approached.

After a few more attempts, Calik gave up and spared only Mereum, and thus he became the emperor’s one and only brother.

A brother he wanted to get rid of whenever the chance arose.

“You have received a revelation to go to an enemy country, but you must not forget your duty. I will send a messenger every quarter, so extract every bit of information about the enemy’s royal family and deliver it.”

“Yes.”

“Although you couldn’t bring any information this time, I inquired separately and heard that the empress of that country is quite loose. Be a good lover to her. Then you may be able to obtain top-secret information. It means that it’s possible for our desert nation to unify the entire world.”

“…Yes.”

Mereum, who stood with his hands behind his back like a subordinate rather than a younger brother, did not object to the emperor’s words and simply said he understood.

Having personally experienced the emperor of Nix, he wanted to tell him that unifying the continent was a futile dream, but there was no need to unnecessarily provoke anger by saying useless things.

But he couldn’t help but clench his hidden fists at the words telling him to be the empress’s lover.

He had no intention of becoming the plaything of some unknown woman.

No, he was sick and tired of women.

As Mereum’s thighs thickened and he grew taller, more and more girls started revealing their feelings for him.

Among them were daughters of noble families, and they even came to Mereum and blatantly said they would “save him.”

Rather than being treated like this in the palace, they told him to come to their family.

If he refused, they should have understood and left, but they persistently harassed him, saying their pride was hurt.

If the daughters of noble families acted like that, the daughters of wealthy merchant-class families outright tried to grope his body.

When he reached the age to be recognized as a warrior, there was even someone who brought a box filled with gold, placed it in front of him, and told him to strip.

When it went beyond one or two and became several, Mereum now shuddered at the thought of women.

“You must be tired, so go and rest. I need to spend more time with Bi.”

“Have a peaceful night.”

“It’ll be a passionate night.”

Calik disappeared back into the tent, laughing heartily.

Mereum, who stood for a moment to compose himself, hurriedly turned his steps when he heard a sound like kissing.

‘Damn it.’

Why did that come to mind?

For a moment, what had happened in the Nix Empire filled his head.

The woman who was sleeping vulnerably, snoring softly. The lush golden hair that flowed down to her waist. The long eyelashes and plump lips.

She looked so fragile, so noble that he couldn’t even lay a finger on her.

Her skin was so soft.

“Ugh.”

When he remembered kissing her forehead as payment for her treatment, Mereum stopped abruptly and roughly rubbed his lips.

If he goes to Nix, he will be able to meet her again.

Then he should properly thank her.

‘Yes, I want to meet her again to express my gratitude.’

That’s all.

Mereum thought so and clenched his teeth.

His body was so stiff that it was difficult to move.

‘Why did you let me know affection…’

He didn’t know what kindness was, what affection was.

But now he knows, even if only vaguely.

The memory of her carefully wiping his forehead whenever he regained consciousness still dominated Mereum’s inner self.

She must have been a skilled doctor, as she flawlessly sutured his serious wound and healed all his other injuries.

It was a tenderness he had never experienced even once in his life.

‘Besides, even with Eldaim’s power, sometimes my body felt so hot that I thought I would die, but after that day, the flames seemed to subside a bit.’

To be precise, it felt like she had taken some of the flames that were burning his insides.

It’s a nonsensical expression, but that’s how it felt anyway.

‘Since I gave her my mother’s bracelet, we’ll meet again someday.’

Even if he becomes the empress’s pet, he will have the freedom to find her at least.

Feeling somehow hot, Mereum wiped his forehead.

As he crossed the desert, a cool breeze was blowing from somewhere.

‘I have too few allies within the palace.’

Meanwhile, at that moment, in the Nix Imperial Palace.

I was heading somewhere with Derek.

‘The palace people have come over to my side to some extent, but not the knights yet.’

At a grand banquet like this, you never know what might happen, so the knights have to stand guard.

But when I sent a letter implying that I wanted them to bring in personnel, the answer I received was very unsatisfactory.

Of course, it was polite, but that was about it.

I couldn’t find any enthusiasm in the letter.

‘Even if the reason public opinion is still not good is that I haven’t shown results… they are being excessively uncooperative.’

There were a total of three knight orders affiliated with the imperial palace of the Nix Empire.

The emperor’s personal

The holy knight order

The royal knight order

Among them, I sent a letter to the Imperial Guard, whose skills were certain, as a priority, but a very lukewarm response came back.

I couldn’t assign the holy knights as security for the banquet either, because the Crusade was basically not in the palace.

They were out and about in various parts of the empire, dealing with demon beasts.

‘The reason the Imperial Guard doesn’t want to help me is obvious.’

Because of Helene.

‘I didn’t know the Imperial Guard was so smitten with Helene.’

Why She Is Still Unmoved (Female-dominant)

One-line summary: He uses various methods to seek her affection, but she remains unmoved.

Synopsis:

Si Qingyu is a doctor who has saved countless lives and enjoys tranquility.

Luo Shaoxuan is ruthless, deeply scheming, and the top young master in the capital. He admires Si Qingyu.

Luo Shaoxuan: I want to be the only one in your eyes and heart.

Features a cold and calm female lead vs A noble and scheming male lead.

There will be both sweetness and torture towards the male after their marriage.