There's a Snake in the Empress' Bedroom (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 15
Canaria trembled violently.
“My lord! Didn’t I clearly say the dress code was blue?”
Her sharp voice bristled with thorns.
Cassius looked at Canaria with an impassive face.
Irritation flickered in his eyes.
“Canaria. To Lord Cassius—or rather, is he a duke now? His Majesty has publicly declared his intention to bestow a ducal title upon Lord Cassius. Isn’t it rather impolite to address Duke Cassius so rudely?”
Renisha spoke in a gentle voice.
Canaria gritted her teeth, her face flushed red.
“Since the official decree hasn’t been issued yet, ‘my lord’ remains the proper form of address. Moreover, your birth rank is beneath mine. Therefore, it wouldn’t matter even if I spoke to you informally. Yet, out of respect, I am still using polite speech toward you.”
“If that’s how you see it, there’s nothing I can do. Ah, and don’t worry so much about the dress code—it was I who set it, after all.”
A faint smile lingered at the corners of Renisha’s lips.
The nobles’ gazes turned toward Renisha.
“I suppose I must have mistakenly issued the wrong request.”
As if it could be a mistake!
Canaria’s eyes sharpened.
“…Lady Canaria, you are one of His Majesty’s people, aren’t you?”
Cassius spoke in a heavy tone.
“Since someone from His Majesty sent me that invitation, I merely assumed it reflected His Majesty’s wishes and accepted accordingly. And as for this gift, I responded only because Her Majesty the Empress was the one who sent it.”
“I see, Canaria. Don’t read too much into it.”
Cassius pulled Canaria’s hand away and sat down in the empty seat.
The invisible scheming was giving him a headache.
This was precisely why he never wanted to get involved in noble quarrels—yet somehow, he’d been dragged right into one.
Cassius gritted his teeth and drank cold water.
‘They’re toying with me.’
He glanced sideways at Renisha—her face smiling gently toward him…
‘Damn it.’
Cassius bit his lip hard.
He still couldn’t understand Rexus, who brazenly brought his own concubine into the palace and openly insulted his wife.
Moreover, Rexus had done the unforgivable to Renisha, trampling her life into the dust.
Renisha was now alone, and the protective barrier around her had crumbled.
Who would protect Renisha now?
Thus, he could understand Renisha’s desire to humiliate Canaria—even if it meant using Cassius.
He couldn’t help but understand the situation that made that woman so pitiful…
What remained incomprehensible was Canaria.
What connection did she think she had with Cassius that made her try to use him?
Renisha silently mouthed something toward Cassius.
‘You suit each other well, Lord Cassius.’
Cassius swallowed a hollow laugh.
For some reason, he’d felt as though he’d been waiting for that compliment all along.
He felt foolishly pleased.
Meanwhile, a melody flowed in to fill the silence.
Canaria’s tense breathing sounded behind him.
“…My lord seems unfamiliar with the etiquette of high society. At such gatherings, one must always accompany their partner—”
“It’s because I’ve spent the last eight years on the battlefield. Please understand.”
Cassius cut off Canaria’s words flatly and pulled the chair beside him closer.
“Please sit down, Lady Canaria. Surely I don’t need to seat you myself?”
Canaria rolled her eyes and glanced around.
She absolutely refused to become the laughingstock of this gathering any longer.
With a rough motion, Canaria sat down.
Cassius was just as unlucky as Renisha.
Since entering the Emperor’s private chambers, he was the first person—aside from Renisha!—to humiliate Canaria so brazenly.
“Now that everyone is seated, let us begin the tea party. Thank you all for accepting my invitation today. His Majesty recently hosted you for a banquet, so as mistress of the Imperial Palace, it’s only proper that I offer you refreshments.”
Renisha’s voice was like a swaying flower—yet also like a tree with a firmly rooted core.
Cassius’s gaze never once left Renisha.
‘There’s something I need to tell her.’
He still hadn’t delivered the promise he’d made to Duke Rotera—
the message the Duke had left for Renisha before his death.
It weighed on his mind, and since she was the only familiar face here, his eyes kept drifting to her.
Additionally, she was simply someone who drew his attention.
Even while conversing with the nobles, Renisha occasionally glanced toward Cassius.
Her soft lips were lifted in a pleased smile.
“Ahem!”
Until Canaria cleared her throat uncomfortably, the tea party had been proceeding smoothly.
Canaria clinked her teacup noisily.
People’s eyes inevitably turned toward her.
“Your Majesty, have you heard the rumors circulating lately?”
“Rumors?”
Renisha asked elegantly. The noblewomen fanned themselves faster.
“Yes. Goodness, I overheard the palace servants gossiping… His Majesty is apparently arranging a marriage for Lord Cassius.”
Hearing this for the first time, Cassius frowned.
The tea he’d been drinking without tasting suddenly caught in his throat.
“Cough!”
After clearing his throat with difficulty, Cassius spoke.
“What on earth are you talking about?”
The Emperor was planning something the very person involved knew nothing about.
“Oh dear, you didn’t know? Lord Cassius, His Majesty shows such thoughtful concern for the Empire’s hero. Your Majesty, do you know who the intended bride is?”
The faces of those seated turned pale.
Those who had presumed to guess the Emperor’s intentions now eyed Cassius cautiously.
Canaria deliberately said those words here precisely to inform everyone present:
the Empress would leave, and Canaria would remain.
Renisha let a smile slip.
“So such rumors are going around. Canaria knows more than I do. Perhaps the servants feel more at ease with you than with me? Do tell me anytime you hear such gossip.”
Canaria pressed her lips tightly shut.
Renisha’s unnerving calmness pricked her temper.
‘What? Why is she acting so composed?’
Canaria pouted.
Regardless, Renisha soothed Cassius as if simply doing what she must.
“Lord Cassius, don’t trouble yourself over it. His Majesty surely has his reasons. If anything becomes certain, you’ll hear of it too.”
Renisha gracefully concluded the gathering.
“We should probably end here for today. I hope this tea time was enjoyable for everyone.”
The nobles unanimously praised the tea party.
Canaria sat apart from the group, arms crossed, while Cassius kept his lips sealed, his eyes fixed only on Renisha.
“Lord Cassius, stay a moment. If you’re curious about what Canaria said, I’ll tell you what I can.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Cassius replied slowly.
Everyone filed out.
Canaria glanced back curiously, wondering what Renisha and Cassius would discuss, but ultimately had no choice but to leave the greenhouse.
Renisha held her breath, waiting until everyone had gone.
She slowly emptied her teacup.
Canaria was exactly as expected.
And the others must have noticed it too—
the difference in dignity between those who stayed and those who left.
Renisha sighed deeply.
She almost resented Rexus for presenting someone like Canaria as her rival.
Renisha lifted her head to meet Cassius’s eyes.
“Lord Cassius.”
“…Your Majesty.”
“How did you find today’s gathering?”
“It was utterly incomprehensible. What did Canaria mean by that? My marriage? What is the Emperor thinking?”
Cassius voiced his frustration.
Out of habit, he tugged at his tie and let out a long sigh.
His hand roughly ran through his hair, as if he’d been waiting only for this moment alone together.
Renisha rose slowly from her seat.
Softly, softly.
Renisha, who had been seated in the place of highest honor, pulled out the chair beside Cassius and sat down.
Only then did Cassius realize that even the servants attending the greenhouse had left.
“Are you referring to your marriage?”
Renisha asked, her voice nearly a whisper as she drew closer.
“Yes.”
Cassius inhaled deeply at her nearness.
In this greenhouse, no flower was as vivid as Renisha.
At least, not to Cassius.
Being beside her made him feel tongue-tied—as if he’d become the world’s biggest fool.
Without answering, Renisha slowly looked around the space.
‘So this is the seat.’
Renisha gave a bitter smile.
She’d wanted to sit here once, but never found the courage to do so alone.
This was the seat Renisha would occupy from now on.
The tension in her shoulders melted away.
‘It’s nothing, Renisha.’
Now that she’d actually sat, it was fine.
Renisha turned to face Cassius.
Cassius’s face was twisted in helpless frustration.
“Don’t try to understand it. Whatever the Emperor does, just ignore it. He’s not like ordinary people.”
“Do you mean you know nothing about it?”
“Even if I did know, I couldn’t tell you now. Those who speak carelessly of the Emperor’s intentions don’t live long.”
Renisha spoke softly.
No matter how much she wanted to, Renisha couldn’t possibly say, “I’m the one meant to be your bride.”
Thinking about it, such a marriage would be far too lopsided.
Renisha had once been married to Rexus, while Cassius was unmarried.
Renisha chose to change the subject.
“…You mentioned before you had something to tell me. Go ahead and say it.”
Renisha lowered her eyes languidly, resting her arm on the adjacent table and leaning her head against it.
Her hair spilled over her small face resting on her palm.
“…I haven’t found the news you hoped for yet.”
“Don’t rush. I know it’s a secret matter and won’t be easy. Aside from that—what was it you wanted to tell me?”
Cassius’s lips twitched.
Just uttering Duke Rotera’s name felt as heavy as if an anchor had been tied to his words.
Cassius mumbled loudly before speaking.
“…Duke Rotera left a message before his death that he wished conveyed to Your Majesty.”
Renisha blinked.
It was something she’d never even considered.
“My father?”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
Renisha lifted her head.
Cassius clearly witnessed the veil surrounding Renisha shatter.
Her expression crumbled.
The lips that had been forcing a smile trembled faintly.
“Tell me. What did my father ask you to convey to me?”
Renisha seized Cassius’s arm.
Renisha’s warmth, touching him in an instant, seemed to set Cassius ablaze.
The skin where her hand rested burned hotly.
“My lord!”
Renisha urged him. Cassius’s lips parted.
Male lead is a Divorced Husband
She said to him: “Tell me, what makes you like me? I’ll change it!”
Liu Changning transmigrated into a female cannon fodder character in a female-dominant novel.
After reading the first half of the novel’s plot, the first thing she did upon transmigration was to divorce the Pan Jinlian-style male protagonist she had just married.
She indulged herself, pretending to be ugly and poor.
But as time passed, the way that man looked at her became more and more unusual…
Liu Changning was dumbfounded: Tell me, what makes you like me? I’ll change!
――
This lifetime, Pei Yuanshao was rejected by the same woman twice!
The first time, she drove him away. Forced by the situation, he endured the waves of anger in his heart, yielding and humbling himself.
That person lay slanted on a rocking chair, her sallow face emotionless: “If you don’t want a divorce, go cook!”
Pei Yuanshao’s face was dark and gloomy: “You!”
The second time, after the crisis in Jinling City was resolved, the new emperor sent someone to pick him up. He turned around, stammering: “I… I have to go. If you keep me…”
That person lay on the kang bed, her back to him, as if she had long anticipated this day, crisp and clear: “Goodbye!”
Pei Yuanshao was so angry his fingers trembled: “You… you!”
The mission of family and country made him restrain himself, averting his eyes and turning to leave this broken household.
Two years later, they met again. Seeing her ethereal face, his body shook like a sieve.
“She was originally a ‘she’!”
At the Qionglin Banquet, the top scholar of the imperial examination, a talented person with exceptional speech and conduct, all the unmarried young gentlemen from aristocratic families looked at her with shy and timid eyes.
The peerless imperial official Pei Yuanshao felt the anger in his heart erupt. He pointed at the woman surrounded by the crowd at the Qionglin Banquet, his thin lips slightly curled: “Little sister, I wants that person to be the wife-master of my Mingde Prince Manor.”
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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?