There's a Snake in the Empress' Bedroom (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 11
If Renisha held hope regarding Hiloshain, there must be a reason.
Cassius trusted the daughter of Rotera—because Duke Rotera had trusted her.
‘Renisha is the child most like me. If anyone can protect Rotera, it’s her.’
Duke Rotera used to say this like a mantra.
Though he didn’t yet know Renisha well, Cassius trusted Duke Rotera.
The lord Cassius had served for the past eight years was precisely the sort of person worthy of such trust.
‘I believe in you all. You must believe in me. I am Rotera, who has never once been defeated! If you cannot trust me, then trust that I am a descendant of Rotera! Only light awaits us at the end of this path! I, Beriton Rotera, shall lead you!’
Cassius would carry Duke Rotera in his heart forever.
He had been a knight stronger and more beautiful than anyone else.
He was also the lord who, during retreats, remained until the very last moment, grabbing the nape of the sole surviving knight and dragging him from the battlefield.
That knight was Terrion.
Beriton had pulled Terrion—whose legs were broken and who barely clung to life—from the battlefield and saved him.
Terrion, too, held immense admiration for Rotera.
“The Empress said something.”
“What was it?”
It was at the very end, as the Empress passed by Cassius.
Renisha had left one final remark.
“‘Hiloshain is a land of hope, Sir Cassius,’ she said.”
“…The Empress herself?”
“Yes.”
Terrion stopped speaking. Cassius, too, halted and turned to look at Terrion.
Terrion’s expression had eased of its worry.
“Then she’s trustworthy.”
“Huh?”
“To be honest, Sir Cassius, being sent to Hiloshain felt like a death sentence. What can we possibly do in that wasteland, known as the land of death? We barely survived the battlefield only to starve to death, I thought.”
Terrion spoke frankly.
Yet Cassius could find no words to defend himself.
Terrion was right.
Cassius had been born as Hisham, but he hadn’t grown up as one.
He might possess the innate leadership of his bloodline to guide others, but if asked whether he could survive in such a barren land…
The truth was, it felt utterly hopeless.
Terrion subtly avoided Cassius’s gaze, which was fixed on him with tightly shut lips.
“But if the Empress herself said that, I believe it. She’s Renisha of Rotera! The prodigy Duke Rotera personally taught while seated on his knee! This is truly promising. She must have a plan—that’s why she said those words. Go learn her methods, Your Majesty. At the very least, we won’t go hungry.”
Look at that.
No matter how much he pretended otherwise, Terrion’s blind faith in the name ‘Rotera’ was plain to see.
Renisha sank her weary body into hot water.
Returning after dealing with Rexus always left her mentally drained.
Today was the first time she’d had a proper conversation with Cassius.
Cassius was even more…
‘Steadfast.’
Renisha gave a soft chuckle.
She had been born and raised as the daughter of a knight skilled with the sword.
As a child, she’d thought Duke Rotera’s embrace the firmest and warmest of all.
That belief remained unchanged even now.
Yet Cassius had been remarkably warm and solid.
The heat, heartbeat, and even the movement of muscles she’d felt beneath her palm.
Renisha lifted her hand. It still seemed as though the sensation lingered on her palm, which had covered the ceiling.
That was how intense it had been.
‘His eyes were alive.’
He was someone who’d spent eight years on the battlefield.
Despite having spent his boyhood there, he showed no trace of filth, negativity, or wounds.
He burned with the sharp clarity of a torch.
Now she finally understood the impression Cassius had made on Duke Rotera.
Renisha slowly clenched her fist.
She sought to grasp that strength—to hold Cassius in her hand.
She intended to draw Cassius into her destiny.
Her vow to kill him, now that he couldn’t die, remained unchanged.
Asking him to find Isabella and the minor duke’s household was a gamble.
If Cassius spread this tale elsewhere, Renisha would be in danger.
If he failed to find them, it would mean his abilities ended there.
But Renisha trusted her father’s judgment.
She might not trust Cassius, whom she barely knew, but she trusted the parents who’d raised her all her life.
“Cassius… I look forward to our next meeting.”
What answer would he bring?
Renisha fiddled with her fingernails.
She hadn’t placed her cards only with Cassius.
She’d also given new orders to Turiel.
If one assembles the pieces one by one, starting from the smallest, one will eventually complete the grand picture.
Renisha’s painting had only just begun.
Last night, people confirmed the Emperor’s intentions.
Not only had he paired Cassius with the Empress, but he’d even granted Cassius the Rotera name.
After staying awake all night debating the matter, they reached a single conclusion.
The mad Emperor intends to send the Empress to Cassius!
“The Emperor must have gone mad.”
“…As if that’s news. Still, this is truly shocking. What will become of us once the Empress leaves the Imperial Palace? No—what will become of this empire?”
“We cannot stop the Emperor, so we cannot stop the Empress from leaving the palace. But we must ensure she doesn’t leave the empire.”
A nation is built by people coming together.
Most of those who upheld the Hientry Empire were commoners.
The Duke Rotera they respected and followed had died in an absurdly effortless manner.
Amidst the unrest, the Emperor now sought to accuse the Empress of crimes and depose her.
And on top of that, the Empress would leave the empire?
“This could spark a riot. People aren’t fools. They know the Emperor has gone mad. They trust the Empress, not the Emperor.”
“And you…?”
All eyes turned toward the voice—petulant and catlike.
The one who’d boldly spoken the unspoken truth was Madame Turiel.
Viscount Turiel.
Turiel smiled sweetly and set down the cigar she’d been holding.
Her coquettish features, previously veiled in hazy smoke, were now revealed.
“It’s Turiel. It’s been a while.”
Turiel straightened her back.
Those who’d been with her all night yet failed to notice her presence looked flustered.
“Viscount Turiel, is your presence here by Her Majesty the Empress’s will?”
At someone’s cautious question, Turiel smiled sweetly again.
She gave no answer—but that silence was answer enough.
The room fell into silence.
Truly, the Empress was no one who would fall so easily.
Even under such persecution from the Emperor, she’d firmly secured her position within the empire.
Renisha was still Renisha—and they realized once more they couldn’t dismiss her as a discarded card or treat her lightly.
Look how she’d sent Turiel to quell the unease people had begun to feel toward her.
Clearly, Renisha had a plan.
“Her Majesty the Empress always complies with His Majesty the Emperor’s wishes while simultaneously working for the good of the Hientry Empire. I am merely her humble servant.”
“…I heard Viscount Turiel crafted Lord Cassius’s attire this time. Was that also by Her Majesty’s will?”
“I merely made the clothes as commissioned.”
Turiel extinguished her cigar and took a delicate sip of black tea.
Renisha’s presence emanated from that calm composure.
The Empress was still strong.
“It’s a foregone conclusion that the Empress will leave the Imperial Palace. No one in this empire can overturn the Emperor’s will.”
“You speak as though Hientry were confined to that tiny speck of land called the capital. How odd. Before the vastness of Hientry, the capital is but a small stain.”
Turiel smiled sweetly again.
What that meant was for each to interpret as they wished.
Thus, Turiel’s mission ended.
To steady the wavering nobles.
As Renisha’s voice, Turiel had performed her duty splendidly.
It was truly fortunate to belong within Renisha’s grand design.
Since the Emperor had held a banquet, custom dictated that the Empress host a tea time to invite and entertain noblewomen.
Renisha selected the guests for this tea time.
“Are we excluding Canaria again this time?”
Lindey asked with a worried expression.
Even Lindey, who had served Renisha for so long, couldn’t guess what she was thinking.
Renisha turned her head and gave a sweet smile.
As she chose invitation designs, Renisha spoke in a gentle voice.
“This time, I intend to invite Canaria, Lindey.”
I knew it! That’s why I felt uneasy!
“Canaria isn’t of a status suitable for such an occasion. The noblewomen will be uncomfortable.”
“That’s precisely why I’m inviting her, Lindey. Shouldn’t I know who will remain in the Imperial Palace after I leave?”
Renisha’s face held a mischievous smile.
“They must decide whom they’ll choose to replace me. Change has already begun, Lindey. When I depart the Imperial Palace, I must sort those who will follow me from those who won’t.”
Understanding Renisha’s intent, Lindey let out a soft sigh.
“Ah…”
Indeed, Renisha was never one to act without purpose.
Renisha and Canaria were people whose differences stood out as starkly as black and white when standing side by side.
If Renisha was a refined and elegant white rose, Canaria was a vivid red one.
Renisha was hailed as a born Empress, a natural ruler, while Canaria symbolized a coquettish beauty.
Canaria was undeniably beautiful to all who saw her—but she was no fit Empress.
That contrast would surely be even more pronounced when Canaria and Renisha appeared together.
A mad Emperor and an empty-headed Canaria.
It was obvious which side would draw more interest—no need to even look.
Of course, that wasn’t all.
“For this tea party, guests must bring a partner.”
“Pardon? A partner…? Then His Majesty the Emperor will also…?”
“The host need not follow such rules. Isn’t the host’s purpose in making rules to shine herself? On that day, I shall wear a dress of red fabric embroidered with golden thread, Lindey. And set the dress code to blue. Keep the interior decor primarily white.”
“Why require partners to attend?”
Renisha curved her lips upward.
Rexus is frantic because he couldn’t force me onto Cassius—he’ll send him here by any means necessary.
Why go through the trouble of secretly meeting Cassius
When I have a husband who works so hard for me?
Renisha whispered languidly,
“Because there’s someone I wish to see.”
“…You’ve seemed happy lately, Your Majesty.”
Lindey spoke as though relieved.
“It can’t be helped. Something has come along to stir my heart.”
The hope Cassius had awakened was making Renisha’s heart flutter.
Male lead first thought she played hard to get, only to realize she
really disliked him
Short intro:
What she can’t stand the most is the streets full of effeminate men, especially that so-called top beauty whom she avoids at all costs.
Shen Yaoxing looks at Jiang Mingyue, who keeps approaching her with coy shyness.
Shen Yaoxing: Bro, don’t be like this, I’m really about to throw up!
She fears nothing in heaven or earth, except for him getting close to her.
*
At first he thought she was just using the trick of feigning indifference to attract his attention. Later, he learned that she truly despised him.
This dealt a heavy blow to Jiang Mingyue, and he vowed to make her, like everyone else, fall at his feet in worship!
***
Synopsis:
Before transmigrating, Shen Yaoxing only wanted to find a reliable man to spend her life with. Who knew that after transmigrating, she would become a reliable woman herself…
A forced misandrist, highly skilled, and reliable female lead
vs.
An initially aloof and arrogant, later morbid, obsessed male lead
_____
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Why suddenly you want to hold her. Doesn’t it you the one who want to give her to Cassius
Who want to have a mad person as a husband. Everyone will run away if they could
So Cassius still have plan on reviving his clan. Terrion is part of his clan?