‘That man is…!’
A man she had encountered in the monastery and the imperial palace. The man sitting on the throne, looking at her, had dazzlingly radiant blue eyes.
“We’ve met before, haven’t we?”
Lea, with her heart pounding, scanned the Emperor. The man on the throne was the knight who had saved her when she first came to the capital.
‘That man is the Emperor.’
The man who saved her in the alley, who seemed extraordinary, was the Emperor after all.
Just as Lea was blinking in surprise at the man she encountered in an unexpected place,
Akkia’s face, which had never been distorted before, stiffened.
Akkia intervened between the two, addressing the Emperor.
“Didn’t you say you had a favor to ask of me?”
“Ah, that. It’s not a difficult favor.”
Finally, the Emperor’s gaze, which had been fixed on Lea, met Akkia’s. The Emperor squinted his eyes as he spoke.
“I’d like you to give Lea to me.”
Akkia, whose mouth had been sealed at the Emperor’s request for Lea, finally opened it.
Akkia’s eyes were unfathomable, like the deep sea.
“…What do you mean?”
“I mean what I say.”
Ilei took steps toward Lea. With every step, the distance between them closed, and Lea felt paralyzed.
An invisible tension was felt between the Emperor and Akkia.
“Maybe I’ve been pushing myself too hard lately. I haven’t been feeling well.”
Ilei approached, focusing solely on Lea.
One step, another step. Now at a distance that could no longer be narrowed, Ilei was blocked by Akkia as he approached Lea, in a stern posture indicating he should come no closer.
“We already have excellent physicians aplenty in the palace.”
Ilei’s gaze alternated between Akkia and Lea, his eyes narrowing. For a brief moment, a sense of perplexity filled his gaze. The Emperor then offered Akkia a smile.
The royal doctors couldn’t even cure your illness. It was that apothecary who saved you from the brink of death. I think she’s no worse than the royal physicians. Isn’t that so? Apothecary Lea.
The Emperor’s gaze reached Lea, who was obscured behind Akkia. Pierced by the Emperor’s sharp eyes, Lea was taken aback.
“I am…”
Lea faltered between the two men in response to the Emperor’s question. She couldn’t dare to simply agree.
‘What’s going on here?’
She found the current situation simply baffling.
It was shocking enough that a man she’d accidentally met in the capital was the Emperor, and now he wanted her to work in the royal palace.
Lea looked at Akkia cautiously.
Stiff lips and eyes swirling with coldness.
She knew what that expression meant. That man was angrier now than ever.
Feeling the tension almost choking her, Lea silently sighed.
‘I’m not sure what it is, but accepting that offer will be trouble.’
How could she delicately refuse the imperial command?
Lea’s mind was busy searching for a solution.
“I can do that much for my brother.”
Yet, whether the Count knew his condition or not, the Emperor casually patted his shoulder.
‘It’s not like I can’t grant even this simple request,’ seemed to be the message in his eyes.
A silence flowed for a long time between the three of them. The Count, who had remained silent despite the Emperor’s question, finally met eyes with Lea.
“What do you want to do?”
“…I.”
While some might consider it the honor of the family, working in the palace was a great honor for a commoner. Especially when directly requested by the Emperor.
However.
“I am grateful for Your Majesty’s offer, but…”
It was just when Lea was about to express her clear refusal. Whether he anticipated the refusal or not, Illei interrupted her.
“Well, I didn’t give you time to consider. You don’t have to answer right away; take your time to think it over.”
“Yes, thank you.”
‘Time to consider…’
In a difficult situation, Lea bowed deeply in courtesy.
.
.
.
An awkward silence flowed between the two as they left the palace and headed for the residence. The Count was the first to break it.
“You’re not considering working at the palace, are you?”
The Count’s face was full of suspicion. From his expression in front of the Emperor to this question, it was clear.
The Count disliked becoming the Emperor’s physician. Of course, Lea also found the Emperor’s sudden offer unsettling.
The Illei she encountered today was somehow different from before. Whether it was due to his confrontation with the Count, she wasn’t sure.
Lea agreed with Akkia.
“Of course. The palace is stifling. There are too many restrictions. Besides, you, Count, are my priority.”
They couldn’t leave each other until the side effects that could manifest at any time were cured.
The Count turned his head swiftly at the sound of Lea’s soft voice echoing in the carriage.
‘My priority.’
How could she still not understand that saying such things with such an innocent face could lead to misunderstandings?
Yet, it was a pleasant thing to hear. Enough to wash away the bad mood caused by Illei.
The corners of Akkia’s lips twitched all the way back to the residence.
“Don’t change your mind.”
Then a faint smile crept onto the Count’s lips as he looked out the window.
Male lead Asks for a Divorce Every Day
It’s not often you come across a plot like this in the female-dominant genre — make sure to check it out!
This is a novel I’m planning to reread as well.
The male lead is strong, skilled in martial arts, and not the usual fragile type you often see in matriarchal novels.
Meanwhile, the female lead is a scientist—rational and logical. Even when she falls for the male lead, she doesn’t let her emotions cloud her decisions.
If you push through the first few chapters, you’ll gradually find the story really intriguing.
It has a mix of mystery, detective elements, and romance.
The author’s writing style is like crafting a puzzle—except they deliberately leave out a few pieces, making it hard to predict what happens next, yet keeping you hooked.
In the end, everything will come together and be explained.
One-sentence summary: Wife, stop playing with beakers and look at me!
In a laboratory accident, research scientist Zhu Wansheng accidentally travels to a matriarchal world. The original owner of the body is an eighteen-year-old only daughter of a wealthy rouge merchant, already married with a handsome young man.
Zhu Wansheng grins: Nice! She always said she was heaven’s favorite granddaughter. After a life of toil in her previous life, she can enjoy blessings in this one.
However, her joy lasts no more than three seconds as bad news arrives: the original owner’s family is about to go bankrupt, and her husband wants a divorce.
Even worse, she’s stuck with a research system full of restrictions.
Zhu Wansheng: ? Is this the destiny of a research dog?
——
Faced with this mess, Zhu Wansheng pours herself a bowl of wine to drown her sorrows. In her drunken haze, her husband arrives.
His figure is imposing, holding a long sword, with a dignified air that captivates Zhu Wansheng.
Gu Yingqing, however, looks at the alcohol-reeking Zhu Wansheng with undisguised disgust and coldly asks, “Divorce or not?” The intoxicated Zhu Wansheng mumbles vaguely, “I think… it’s not… it’s not… impossible!”
——
The next day, after sobering up, Zhu Wansheng is full of energy, rolling up her sleeves ready to make a big move. As for yesterday? She has no memory of it.
Zhu Wansheng is ambitious; a research dog fears nothing!
Upgrading rouge, extracting fragrances, producing perfumes, researching lipsticks… all shall bow to the power of modern technology!
The original owner’s dying rouge shop is revitalized. Her mother is pleased and with a wave of her hand, passes on the family business to her. As she takes control and her experimental results gain popularity, it’s the pinnacle of her life…
——
But there are always those who can’t stand to see her doing well. Jealousy, scheming, assassination attempts – they want nothing less than her life.
The person who has always kept his distance from her suddenly holds her tightly in his arms, eyes full of concern.
She is unharmed, but he falls into a pool of blood…
Zhu Wansheng feels guilty, “I can grant you one wish.”
Gu Yingqing tentatively circles his arms around her, carefully resting his head in the crook of her neck, pleading softly, “I regret it. Can we not divorce?”
Zhu Wansheng: ? When did I agree to a divorce?
[Small Theater]
The newly developed rouge is beautifully packaged, and Zhu Wansheng is eager to try it.
Gu Yingqing suddenly appears: “My lady, may I apply it for you?”
Cool fingertips lightly brush her lips. His Adam’s apple bobs as he leans in for a light bite.
Zhu Wansheng: ?
Gu Yingqing: It smells so good, I wanted to taste it…
On a warm spring day, Zhu Wansheng tries a new perfume: “Spring Night.” Gu Yingqing corners her against a wall.
Warm breath lingers on her neck.
“My lady, from now on, may I test the fragrances for you?”
[Humorous female scientist vs scheming live-in son-in-law male lead]
[Touch the gear icon in the bottom right corner of the screen to move to the next chapter if you want.]
