The state of achieving a suitable body through complete transformation and being able to use sword energy.
In orthodox sects, this is called the Transformation Realm or Harmonization Realm, while in demonic cults it’s called the Ultimate Demon Realm.
Among the children of the demonic cult, Dokyoung had outstanding talent and showed early promise, being regarded as the successor to the Heavenly Demon Cult Leader.
He reached the Ultimate Demon Realm at the end of his closed-door training at just twenty-two years old.
In the survival-of-the-fittest Heavenly Demon Cult, he was recognized as the successor to Yeongryeong’s father, the Cult Leader, and was already in the position of Vice Cult Leader when Yeongryeong left for marriage.
Without his help, Yeongryeong would never have reached the Ultimate Demon Realm.
Although she too had sufficient qualities and talent, enlightenment did not come to her.
Dokyoung taught her every day.
For Yeongryeong to grow step by step, to be able to protect herself. Until the day she left the Heavenly Demon Cult.
One day, when the enlightenment of the Ultimate Demon Realm came, Yeongryeong, sitting cross-legged, realized the principles of the sword and all things.
The bones throughout her body creaked and settled into place, and her body became a small universe.
However, the time she properly utilized that power was when she took revenge on the imperial palace that had been starving her to death.
Everything was swallowed up in the hellish flames.
“……”
The clothes that had been torn to shreds were burning black and smoking.
The clothes had almost melted from the heat emitted by her body as she entered the realm.
Esika lifted her closed eyelashes.
She has now regained her previous power.
In this world, she could be called a ‘Sword Master’.
Initially, she had estimated it would take up to 10 years to regain half of her previous power.
She had drastically shortened that time.
“……Refreshing.”
Esika’s lips moved slightly.
Her skin, which was already soft, looked even more fair and transparent, her eyes were clear, and her blue irises were luminous.
There are only four Sword Masters on the continent, including Resban.
In a world where female knights are rare, none of them are women.
The world would be turned upside down if they knew that the Crown Princess of Tureshian had the abilities of a Sword Master.
In the Empire, Sword Masters are called those blessed by Tameron.
Although the Empress claimed that the power of Sword Masters came from evil, many people still believe it to be a power bestowed by Tameron.
“……”
Esika stood up in her naked body.
And at that moment, the door clicked open.
The only man with the right to enter the Crown Princess’s room without knocking.
Resban stopped abruptly and looked at Esika.
“……Esika.”
The wind blew in from the open window, and Esika’s silver hair swayed gently.
The curves of the woman’s body seemed to shine particularly white.
Resban slowly moved his steps.
And he took off his cloak and draped it over her bare shoulders.
Esika’s clear blue eyes were looking up at Resban.
From the fierce aura filling the room and her gaze, Resban could tell.
That Esika had completely regained her former power.
Perhaps the driving force behind her growth was one thing.
“……She killed the children in my womb, killed my father, killed my siblings, killed my precious people.”
“……”
“Here, she killed Cella, killed my maids, killed innocent people, tried to kill me, and even at this moment…… she longs for my death.”
It was a terrible karmic connection spanning two lives.
Yeongryeong vowed.
In this life, she would take revenge and repay the grudge ruthlessly.
She would dance on that grave.
“I don’t want you to get hurt.”
Resban said softly, cupping Esika’s cheek.
“But I also don’t want your heart to suffer in flames forever.”
“……”
“In my past life, I couldn’t protect you and jumped into the hell of karma.”
Esika’s eyes wavered as she looked at Resban.
He was talking about a terribly sad and desperate story.
“In this life, as a powerful weapon of the one I love.”
He was also speaking of a new cause and effect.
Resban tilted his head and approached Esika’s lips.
His lips moved, uttering a cool voice.
“I will protect you with my life.”
But Esika smiled and shook her head.
“No more lives, ever again.”
At Esika’s words, the corners of Resban’s mouth lifted slightly.
As if exchanging eternal love and vows, his breath pushed through her lips.
An intense kiss began, drawing in each other’s breath.
As her hand lost strength, the cloak draped over her shoulders slipped to the floor with a soft sound.
**
The Empress was sunbathing on the balcony, with maids tending to her nails.
The Empress asked her maid with a light expression.
“Has news come from the Maroon Plains?”
“Yes, the child’s condition is getting worse. It seems Lady Astia is in despair. She called for me this morning to request more medicine.”
“Is that so?”
“I’ve conveyed Your Majesty’s intentions well to the apothecary, so she won’t last long.”
A smile briefly flickered across the Empress’s lips before disappearing.
The weather was nice, and a butterfly flew in and landed on the edge of the railing.
“But something is strange.”
“What do you mean, Your Majesty?”
“Isn’t it too easy? Things are going too well.”
The Empress had good intuition.
The maid looked puzzled, not understanding the Empress’s words.
“Well…… I suppose there are days when everything goes entirely according to my will. There have been so many unusual occurrences since that woman came in, I’m suspicious of everything.”
“I apologize, Your Majesty.”
“For the time being, there’s no need to worry about Breighton either.”
Breighton had left for Eunibes.
Eunibes has soil and rocks that are sacred raw materials for Henemos.
That wasn’t the only reason Breighton was sent to Eunibes.
Now that he’s married to the niece of Duke Hillis, we can’t let him repeat the disgrace of when he broke off his engagement with the Grand Duchess of Heinz.
The Empress knew better than anyone that Breighton’s womanizing tendencies wouldn’t be fixed just by having a legal wife.
It would be better for Breighton to stay away from the capital to quell the swirling rumors, although he’d surely be up to something in Eunibes as well.
There was no reason to keep a weakness around while dealing with Esika, who was targeting her vulnerabilities.
He could be brought back after disposing of her.
Her eyes gleamed.
“Bring me Henemos.”
The Empress said with a languid smile.
The maid flinched and said to the Empress.
“But you took some this morning……”
“What did you just say?”
The Empress suddenly opened her eyes like a snake and glared at the maid, shouting.
Her eyes were murky and scorched, like rotten firewood burning in a brazier.
“……I will obey your command.”
“No, no.”
The maid hesitated at the Empress’s words.
The Empress rolled her eyes and covered her ears with both hands.
She muttered for a moment and then shook her eyes.
“I just received a revelation from Tameron. I hear His whispering voice……”
The Empress’s expression boiled with ecstasy.
Then, in a voice like a thunderbolt, she ordered the other maids.
“This woman has insulted Tameron in her heart. Seize her at once.”
“Your… Your Majesty. Your Majesty…… Why me……!”
The maid was grabbed by both arms by the other maids.
And the fate of women singled out like this in front of the Empress was well known to all the women who had disposed of them.
Fear bubbled in the maid’s eyes, but madness swirled in the Empress’s eyes.
“Throw her outside.”
The maids then began to drag her towards the balcony railing with force.
The Empress’s room is four stories high, so falling from here means either death or disability.
“Aha, ahahaha!”
The Empress’s joyful laughter rang out.
Soon there was a thud— sound of something falling in the garden, but the Empress didn’t even look back.
Now she could see visions as if bestowed by God without even eating Henemos, and she began to giggle.
It was time for an encounter with Tameron, whom the Empress loved.
After Being Cheated On, She Picked Up a Treasure (Female-dominant)
One-line summary: The husband I married on a whim had been secretly in love with me for a long time.
On the day when Jun Shao finally obtained the imperial decree for her marriage, Lan Qu, the person she had admired for six years, defied the decree and ran away.
Her gentleness and devotion, her promise of a lifetime together, were all disregarded by him. Instead, he dreamed of entering the palace to serve the Emperor’s sister as a sixth-rank attendant.
News of this incident spread throughout the capital, and the alleys in front of and behind the Lan mansion were crowded with people who came to watch the commotion.
Jun Shao should have been embarrassed and angry.
But someone stepped in to protect her dignity.
The figure was in a miserable state, yet still possessed an undeniable elegance and handsomeness.
The young lord struggled to climb the wall of the Lan mansion and shouted to her, “If he won’t marry you, I will!”
So, Jun Shao took advantage of the situation and married the person.
She thought the young lord did it to save the Lan family from the crime of defying the imperial decree, but never imagined that from beginning to end, what he coveted was her.
*
After the wedding, Jun Shao felt like she was living in a dream.
Her Wife-master was as beautiful as a fairy in a painting, skilled in the six arts, well-versed in poetry and literature, capable of being gentle and attentive, and also grand and dignified. Most importantly, she was the only one in his heart and eyes.
Jun Shao didn’t know how Lan Shiwu, as a illegitimate son without a father and blessed with beauty, had managed to preserve his purity, recklessly escape, and use his last ounce of strength to ruin his own reputation, all because of his love for her, just to stand before her.
She could only see him gazing at her with eyes full of love, and when she bestowed a name upon him, his eyes shone like stars.
“You have come to me like a weary bird perching on a branch. I shall call you A Qi.”
