“Her Majesty can’t even control her magic at that level…”
“Has her condition worsened?”
Even if it was due to a simple burst of anger that she couldn’t control her magic, it was enough to instill caution about the Emperor in people’s minds. Most of the people here had only heard about the Emperor killing his father and conducting large-scale purges; they had never personally witnessed his magic. Therefore, the fear of the Emperor had taken root in their hearts, even though they had not directly experienced his magic.
Gradually, the gaze of the people began to mix fear with awe. If it were possible, they would have chosen to erase the memories of that day completely. If someone who appeared to be human wore a human disguise but did not look human at all, what else could they be but monsters? People chose to forget rather than remember monsters, and it would be more convenient for them to stretch out and sleep peacefully.
However, the Emperor’s image had already been etched clearly in people’s minds, and the aversion to his foreign appearance had taken root. Even he himself hadn’t realized it, but his true feelings were revealed through expressions that even those around him couldn’t detect.
Those were expressions that even he hadn’t noticed, but to one person among them, they were so clear. Peter watched the gazes of hatred and revulsion, silent rejection, and, in response to his understanding, he finally spoke.
“The gathering is over. Go back.”
With those words, Peter left the same way he had entered, disappearing into the palace.
He could feel it himself.
Peter’s magic had long since gone beyond his control. What it meant was also clear to him.
He was going mad.
But there was one thing Peter didn’t realize.
“That person was right.”
As he left the chaotic banquet, Karim Grotaire remembered the words of someone he had met in the past.
“Whatever plans Monique Monmorangsi has, they’re bound to fail. I’d rather keep away from the same ship as her.”
A man with a snake-like quality, exuding a gentlemanly demeanor and a soft smile, but for some reason, he felt dangerous. In fact, considering his background, it wasn’t surprising that such a judgment was not that shocking.
The man was Opera’s manager, René Martinek.
“We found one of Lowell Hessen’s artifacts on our side. I sent it over to my younger brother in the palace… It seems it got lost somehow. Well, the palace has more cats than any other place in the capital, right? Haha.”
“…What are you trying to say?”
“No need to be so wary. Can’t you see that my words are advice? I’ve come to help you, Karim Grotaire.”
With a slight raise of his lips, all of René’s words were elegant and charming like velvet. Perhaps if he had been an inexperienced rookie, he would have nodded easily, but Karim was not so easily swayed.
“Someone like you wouldn’t help me for no reason.”
“Ah, of course, I have my own purpose.”
“And what might that be…”
“But you don’t need to know what that is.”
At that moment, the atmosphere in the room became tense. No, it became numb. René continued to smile, but somehow Karim felt that he wasn’t smiling at all. Rather than smiling, he was staring straight at him without hiding his disdain.
“If I extend my hand as if to make a promise, all you have to do is grab it. Do you know the purpose of this hand? What might be at the end of it… Do you really need to know? Is it important? If you don’t grab it, you’ll sink immediately.”
“What… you…”
Karim tried to get up in frustration, but at that moment, there was a hand behind him that grabbed him and forced him back into his seat.
It was René’s servant, who had remained motionless the entire time in this room. He had clearly seen him standing behind René the whole time, but he had no idea when he had come behind him.
Even if a knife were pressed against his throat, it wouldn’t be this cruel. The hand holding Karim had such strength that it felt like trying to break a boulder with bare hands.
As Karim gasped for breath, trying to break free from the grip, a gloved hand reached out in front of him.
René looked at Karim with eyes full of pity.
“You seem to be in a lot of pain. Should I hold your hand?”
“What the… damn it…”
“Oh my. I always try to be kind to everyone, but they all end up being so stubborn. Isn’t that right, Lubin?”
“You’re absolutely right.”
“Haha.”
As Karim heard a muffled reply from behind him, René’s lips formed a sharp arc.
Once again, a hand reached out in front of Karim. This time, it wasn’t empty-handed; it held a vial.
“Karim Grotaire. You don’t get a second chance.”
Will you take my hand?
Male lead is a Destined Young Husband (Female-dominant)
One-sentence summary: Wife-master, listen to my explanation!
Li Ruantang, a young lady from a prestigious family, stumbled and fell. When she woke up, she saw a noble and beautiful young man sitting by her bedside, wiping away tears.
The young master had slightly reddened eyes, and his every move exuded charm.
The sight made Li Ruantang’s eyes hot and her heart flutter. After all, she had made a bet with the young master Meng from the neighboring family. If she couldn’t marry a husband before the end of the year, she would have to admit defeat and give up the jade she had worked so hard to obtain.
Outside the window, the flowers were in full bloom.
Rather than losing the bet, the jade, and her face, Li Ruantang calculated that it would be better to seek marriage with the young master in front of her, killing three birds with one stone.
…
Meng Jun never thought that an accident during a spring outing would lead to them rolling down a cliff and into a river, yet still survive.
Now they were trapped in an unknown village, and Meng Jun had overheard that the family who had rescued them had their own intentions.
After all, it was Li Ruantang who had lost her mind and sought marriage first. He was only trying to protect himself!
Glancing at Li Ruantang, who was listing her own merits, the young husband’s voice softened, and he blushed as he lied, “W-wife-master, Wife-master, don’t you remember me?”
The young husband’s voice was clear and handsome, coaxing Li Ruantang’s heart to be soft and sweet, and she spared no effort to protect him.
It wasn’t until they returned to the capital that Li Ruantang suddenly remembered.
When they had fallen off the cliff, in order not to implicate Wei Yunruo, whom he secretly admired, the young husband had instead pulled her, who was slightly farther away, down the cliff with him…
Short summary by Yuushi L: Initially, the male lead (ML) liked another girl, while the female lead (FL) liked the ML. Both fell off a cliff. The FL temporarily lost her memory, and the ML, fearing others might take advantage of him, claimed FL was his wife while they were staying in a village. Later, when they returned home, the FL regained her memories and remembered that the ML liked someone else, so she kept her distance from him. However, during their time living together in the countryside, the ML’s view of the FL had completely changed. From this point, his pursuit of the FL begins.
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