The atmosphere changed like a frozen pond in an instant. Zen was the first to speak, feeling Ascan’s intense aura that made it hard to breathe.
“The author’s words are true. Lady Tanashia is in the palace, but her condition is strange. I confirmed that she can’t move or say a word.”
Ascan, with a sense of suspicion, lit up his eyes. Then, in a deeply resonant voice, he replied.
“It seems the Emperor is up to something dirty.”
“Yes. It appears so. To safely rescue the lady from Kalua Palace, we need your help.”
Zen came to Ascan first with an urgent feeling.
It was true that communication with Olland was cut off, making it difficult to receive support. Even if communication were restored, it would be of no use now. Time was of the essence. Since Helcyon and Tanashia were supposed to spend their first night tonight, there wasn’t much time left.
Ascan, who saw through Zen’s inner thoughts, replied solemnly.
“Hey, bodyguard. No need to ask for my help. I’ll step in without you saying anything.”
Bill and Kaltun, hearing this, opened their eyes in surprise.
Ascan rescuing Tanashia meant opposing Helcyon’s will. There couldn’t be a bodyguard opposing the Emperor’s will.
“Brother, this is absurd. If we rescue Breloph Young One, all the trust we’ve hard-earned from the Emperor will crumble.”
“So?”
“Just… Can’t we just give up on Breloph Young One?”
Ascan looked at Bill with darkened eyes and then turned his head without feeling the worth to answer Bill’s question.
“Kaltun.”
“Yes, Commander.”
“Summon the personnel to rescue Tanashia immediately. Those who follow me tonight won’t be able to live as bodyguards in the Kalua Empire anymore. Gather only those who are prepared.”
Initially surprised, Kaltun, banging his chest with a pot-like hand, confidently replied.
“I’ll be the first to follow. Didn’t I say before? If there’s anything I can help with regarding the Commander and Breloph Young One, let me know.”
Previously, Kaltun had given Ascan a book titled “11 Ways to Capture a Woman’s Heart,” expressing support for Ascan and Tanashia.
─This is the first time seeing the Commander like this, and it’s quite impressive. If I can be of help, please let me know. I wanted to inform you that many members of the bodyguards are supporting you.
Kaltun’s deep loyalty was felt. It was not an easy decision to step forward in a moment like this.
Ascan prepared himself to leave the bodyguards to rescue Tanashia. Not only that, but he also needed to leave the Kalua Empire.
Here, it was inevitable to escape Helcyon’s influence. Currently, the safest way was to escape to another empire. This was also true for the bodyguards following Ascan.
Ascan said, “With that word alone, I’ll overlook the past mistakes.”
“What?”
Kaltun questioned as if he didn’t understand English.
Soon, there was a memory passing through Kaltun’s mind.
─Love me more.
─…What?
─Very much. I hope you fall for me right now.
While Ascan was seriously saying such words to Tanashia, Kaltun had once burst into laughter without catching the meaning.
─Pfft!
Kaltun’s complexion turned pale. Could it be that he had been thinking about that incident all along?
Lately, it seemed that Ascan had been assigning all the troublesome tasks to Kaltun.
When Kaltun seemed about to leave in a hurry after bowing, Bill, who had been silently observing, intervened as if saying it couldn’t go on any longer.
“Kaltun, aren’t you staying here right now?”
Suddenly stopping at the order of Bill, the deputy commander of the bodyguards, Kaltun, looked urgent.
Ascan frowned and said with an even more lowered voice.
“Go.”
“Yes, Commander.”
As Kaltun answered and moved again, Bill, grabbing Kaltun, spoke again.
“Kaltun, are you going against my order right now?”
Grabbing Kaltun again, Bill showed signs of anger. But Ascan, not caring, looked at Zen and said.
“Go gather others and report.”
“Ah, understood.”
When Kaltun bowed and was about to leave in a hurry, Bill, who had been silently observing, intervened as if saying it couldn’t go on any longer.
“Kaltun, aren’t you staying here right now?”
Suddenly stopping at the order of Bill, the deputy commander of the bodyguards, Kaltun, looked urgent.
Ascan frowned and said with an even more lowered voice.
“Go.”
“Yes, Commander.”
As Kaltun answered and moved again, Bill, grabbing Kaltun, spoke again.
“Kaltun, are you going against my order right now?”
Grabbing Kaltun again, Bill showed signs of anger. But Ascan, not caring, looked at Zen and said.
“Go gather others and report.”
“Ah, understood.”
For now, moving according to Ascan’s orders was the best option. Without his help, rescuing Tanashia and leaving the Kalua Empire were impossible.
But it wasn’t just for that reason. Zen had erased the doubts he had about Ascan and genuinely trusted him.
The sacrifice Ascan made to rescue Tanashia was not small. It was like abandoning all the power and strength he had gained so far by turning his back on Helcyon.
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
