“Rumors will spread throughout the capital by tomorrow. Even Raul will find it difficult to get out.”
“But we should move more safely next time.”
Velia gently rested her head on Khaled’s shoulder.
“We did well today.”
Khaled briefly looked at Velia and chuckled, then pulled her into an embrace.
(This is a time divider.)
A knight of the Emperor’s direct guard recited the Emperor’s command.
Raul questioned with a low, sharp voice.
“What did you just say?”
The knight, slightly uncomfortable, repeated the Emperor’s command.
“……His Majesty has summoned you for an audience.”
“Ha!”
Annoyed, Raul brushed his hair back and stood up.
“I will go see His Majesty.”
“Your Highness.”
The knight blocked Raul who was about to leave the room.
Raul suppressed his anger and spoke in a low voice.
“Move. I have something to explain to His Majesty.”
Raul pushed the knight’s shoulder and left the room.
The knight couldn’t fully block Raul. It was a reluctant command from the Emperor, to begin with.
Raul strode down the long corridor, grinding his teeth.
‘Khaled! What the hell did you do…!’
No evidence could be found linking Khaled to this.
That deeply frustrated Raul, and he clenched his fists.
The corridor, laid with red carpet, was silent.
Only the sound of Raul’s footsteps filled the space.
Soon, he reached the Emperor’s office.
Facing the door, Raul signaled to the eunuch beside it.
“His Majesty, the First Prince requests an audience.”
No response came from beyond the ornate, large door.
After a while standing there,
“Let him in.”
The Emperor’s permission arrived.
As soon as the words ended, even before the eunuch could open the door, Raul himself opened it and entered the office.
The Emperor, staring out the window, spoke in an annoyed tone without even glancing at Raul.
“Why did you come here when I had called you for an audience?”
“Father.”
“This matter won’t be excused by any explanation. I had praised you so much…!”
Raul had been boasting everywhere about how flawlessly he had conducted the search of the illegal facility, but ironically, he himself was caught there.
The emperor was so embarrassed that he couldn’t lift his face.
“I apologize.”
“Mmm. It’s done. What’s spilled is spilled. Go back to your palace and reflect.”
The emperor waved his hand as if he had nothing more to say.
Raul bit his lip hard.
“…I know saying this will only make me look more foolish. But I’m sure this was orchestrated by Prince Khaled.”
“How did he manage that? Did Prince Khaled lure you there?”
The emperor asked.
“I assume you’ve received the situation report.”
Raul explained the day’s events.
The guards were searching the casino just when Prince Khaled and Velia happened to visit.
It was suspicious that they had come there, just then, at that very moment.
“So, do you have evidence?”
“…”
“You incompetent fool! What are you planning to do without evidence!”
Raul found that most irritating.
Why hadn’t any evidence emerged?
“…Did you check who reported this?”
The emperor asked in a somewhat softer voice.
“She has a daughter, and has been working in the casino for a few months.”
“Has she met Prince Khaled?”
“…That’s what’s strange.”
Raul had thought that when Prince Khaled appeared at the casino, there would be some sign of him meeting someone or giving orders. But Prince Khaled had only played with Velia.
He didn’t meet anyone else; he spent time in open spaces and then just left. He didn’t even mingle with the nobles.
No unusual activity was noted in the reports from those who were watching Prince Khaled.
Raul couldn’t even guess when Prince Khaled had schemed this.
“What’s so strange about it!”
The emperor exclaimed impatiently.
“By the time you started your investigation, he had already been employed there. He was a hardworking father, trying to bring his child back from foster care.”
The emperor, who had already completed his investigation into the reporter, knew all the circumstances.
“But still…!”
“Tsk, tsk. Are you suggesting Prince Khaled manipulated this man?”
“The situation is not straightforward!”
Raul exclaimed, looking aggrieved.
But the emperor was utterly cold.
“Bring evidence to prove your suspicions. Your reputation has already hit rock bottom! This is not a situation to just bluff your way through.”
His clenched fist trembled.
The reporter lived and worked in the casino building and had never gone outside.
According to the testimony of the people who worked there, she was desperately working to save money to bring her daughter back.
She did sometimes hear about her daughter from others, but inside the casino, she was a person who had no time to meet anyone and was only focused on work.
‘Then how in the world…!’
The guards were under Raul’s command. They too had rushed over after receiving the report, and they were visibly stunned to find their superior there.
‘If it wasn’t the reporter or the guards, then who…!’
He simply couldn’t figure it out.
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
