“There’s etiquette about the types of hats as well. At gatherings, you wear big hats, and when visiting someone’s house, you wear small hats. This culture was created so that you don’t necessarily have to take off your hat even indoors.”
“That’s a great development. I always worried that my hair might get messed up every time I took off my hat. But big hats are out of fashion…”
“If you have the etiquette book, what’s there to worry about? Confidently wear big hats and say that in Elab, they don’t discriminate between big and small hats but choose according to the situation.”
“Besides hats and gloves, is there anything else new in fashion? Tell us…”
As the young lady was pressing for more information, suddenly, low-flowing music interrupted and an announcement echoed from the royal stage.
“The King and Queen are entering.”
Everyone split into two lines to create a path for the royal couple to pass.
Kite, Rafael, and even Mitchell, who were standing apart, approached her, lowering their heads in preparation to greet the King and Queen.
“Why aren’t they coming in? What’s taking so long?”
Rafael, irritated because he had to bow to the King, muttered as he glanced toward the entrance.
“Hush! They are coming.”
Everyone bowed as the King and Queen slowly walked down the path.
“Ugh, what’s this smell?”
As the two passed by, Rafael couldn’t help but mutter a curse.
“Is it that bad?”
Kite also blocked his nose slightly and spoke in a low voice.
Ruela could clearly identify the smell.
It was the same smell she had encountered in the demon habitat. With her waist still bowed, she turned her head to look at the back of the King.
The King and the Queen, walking slowly with the King’s tall, hunched figure and the Queen walking with her head held high, came into view.
Watching them, Ruela murmured.
“Which one of them could it be?”
“Maybe both. Whoever they are, it’s certain they have a direct connection with demons.”
Ruela also agreed with Kite’s opinion.
The smell was not just from hunting somewhere; moreover, the King and Queen would never directly participate in demon hunting, so it was certain.
“Do it now!”
Seated on the chair prepared on the dais, the King commanded in a loud voice.
As people rose, the herald shouted.
“The members of the Pheroz Guild, step forward.”
It seemed they would get straight to the point without any congratulatory remarks or the beginning of the party.
In response to the King’s order, Kite stepped forward, followed by the others.
“Are these all the guild members?”
The herald asked, and Kite answered.
“The others are ordinary citizens from our households and didn’t come with us.”
“Are you Duke Ferimont of Pheromont?”
While listening to Kite’s answer, the King, who had been watching him carefully, asked.
“Yes, Your Majesty. I am Martin Ferimont, the 1st Duke of Elab.”
The King, seemingly courteous, snorted as if he found the attitude of the proud Duke inappropriate.
“Aren’t you offering the generic greetings expected when meeting an Imperial Duke?”
“It’s an honor to meet you.”
In a parrot-like, emotionless voice, the Duke responded to the greetings, making the King’s expression fierce.
“My love, let’s finish the inaugural ceremony quickly. Isn’t that why you attended the party on purpose? Enjoy the boring party on your own and return to our quarters.”
Whether it was a pacifying or mocking comment, it was unclear, but the Queen’s words made the King burst into a sarcastic laugh.
“My love, Claire. If it’s your words, then I should listen right away. Now that I’ve seen who they are, I’ll step back. The rest is up to the Queen to handle.”
Getting up from the throne, the King staggered through the crowd like a drunk person.
As he passed, everyone’s impression distorted involuntarily due to the stench.
“Can you smell the alcohol a bit? You usually don’t drink this much, but I guess the Royal Ball tonight got you excited.”
They seemed to think the grimace was due to the smell of alcohol. However, what they smelled was not the scent of alcohol but the stench of demons.
Seeing that the smell no longer lingered after the king disappeared, it seemed that the demons were associated with the king.
The queen stamped her seal on the permit handed over by the herald and said, extending it.
“The cumbersome procedures are over, so enjoy the party. Negotiations will be arranged separately soon.”
“Yes, Your Majesty! We will take our leave.”
“I didn’t permit you to leave; I said to enjoy the party. I’ve put a lot of effort into reopening the Royal Ball of Vossen, so make sure to enjoy it thoroughly before leaving.”
After exchanging formalities with her colleagues and turning away, Ruela noticed a woman staring at her intently.
Even when their eyes met, the woman did not avert her gaze. It was as Ruela was about to return to her original position after giving the woman a disdainful look.
“Lominin? I remember you.”
The woman who had been staring at Ruela approached and spoke.
Naturally, not knowing who she was, Ruela responded with a vague smile instead of answering.
Thinking of challenging her, Ruela gave her a stern look, but when the woman approached and spoke, it became awkward. However, the woman, seemingly indifferent to her awkward reaction, declared arrogantly with a cold expression.
“I’m going to be engaged to Lord Valder.”
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
