He strode confidently over the red carpet previously stepped upon by the Emperor, his fluttering cloak and, as he drew near, his increasingly clear silver hair.
Ariana stared breathlessly at the man entering. The same went for everyone else.
His tall stature, broad shoulders, moonlike shining silver hair, a face as pale and beautiful as sculpted marble, intense eyes beneath dark grey eyebrows, and irises red as blood.
Most people in the room could guess the identity of the man possessing such a beautiful, godlike form.
Finally, standing before the Emperor, he spoke.
“Northern Emperor Cyrus Karha is thankful for Your Majesty’s indulgence in hearing this inconvenient request.”
The room was silent.
They all watched the scene unfold as if it were an exceptional play.
The Emperor and the Northern Emperor.
While the Eastern Empress, who had fallen out of the Emperor’s favor, was a spectacle, the Northern Emperor had outdone her.
Invited personally by the Emperor, and never responding to the visits requested by numerous nobles, the dignified king of the northern country was present. It made them doubt their eyes.
But their astonishment was nothing compared to Ariana’s.
Ariana thought she was dreaming.
The Emperor said, “Witness, give your testimony.”
Facing the Western Empress who had been glaring at him, Cyrus spoke.
“I visited the West last March. After a brief stay at the Western Empress’s Rosen Castle, I set out for the North.”
Out of respect for the Emperor, Cyrus’s tone was formal.
“Not long after entering the Weipun Mountains, I heard a woman’s cry for help. Leading my subordinates, we rushed to find several armed men attempting to kill a woman. After fighting off the armed men and saving the woman, I asked the survivor why they were attacking her. He answered.”
They were paid to kill that young girl.
Upon hearing that, some people in the audience gasped, while others leaned forward in interest.
“So I asked, ‘Who paid you and who is this young girl?’ He replied that they were hired by the Duchess of Bronthe to kill the second daughter of Bronthe.”
“My goodness!”
“How awful!”
The weight of the words from Cyrus’s lips was heavier than any witness’s testimony.
Screams and lamenting voices echoed everywhere. Rachel and Seo Je-Hoo’s faces turned pale. Seo Je-Hoo tried to rise, but the Emperor raised a hand to silence him.
Trembling, Seo Je-Hoo had no choice but to sit back down. Rachel gasped as if she was about to faint.
“I may not know much about the affairs of the Bronthe family, but I couldn’t stand by when a young girl was in such a perilous situation. So, I temporarily postponed my trip north to escort the girl to the eastern region. Both Ariana and I accompanied her, a fact that can be verified by asking the innkeepers in each city we stayed in.”
Cyrus looked back at Rachel.
“Moreover, to preclude any misinterpretation that Lady Ariana’s honor was compromised by our journey, let me clarify that the convoy was led not by me but by the Black Knights’ Commander Luiana Chebeni.”
Having said that, Cyrus looked at Tuvesson, who was sitting on the judge’s bench.
“Chief Justice, you made an interesting verdict yesterday. Do you not feel a shred of shame about it?”
Caught off guard, Tuvesson swallowed dryly and lowered his head.
“W-what do you mean?”
“I am asking if you know nothing about gold, gems, and ten young slaves.”
“T—that is…”
Tuvesson’s face turned ashen. He looked as if he might keel over at any moment.
Cyrus produced a document from his robe with a cold smile.
“I picked this up on the street. It has your signature and that of Seo Je-Hoo Rodian Oblen, so I thought it might be something important you lost.”
The Emperor gestured for the document. Cyrus stepped forward and politely handed it over.
As the Emperor read, his expression hardened, and so did the faces of Seo Je-Hoo and Tuvesson. Tuvesson blinked repeatedly and shifted uncomfortably, while Seo Je-Hoo’s lips quivered.
From their reactions, the audience guessed what the document meant.
A bribe for a favorable verdict.
That meant yesterday’s result was influenced by bribery. The fact that bribery was used indicated clearly who was telling the truth and who was lying.
The Emperor spoke sternly after reading the document.
“Decree.”
The noisy courtroom instantly fell silent. Everyone leaned in to hear the royal edict.
“From this moment on, Ariana Bronthe will be known as Ariana White, and no one may infringe upon that right. Furthermore, Rachel Bronthe, who has continuously abused her young child and tried to obstruct even her chance at life through false testimony, will be severely punished. She will be fined 30 million gold and sentenced to six months in prison. Seo Je-Hoo Rodian Oblen, who tried to influence the verdict unjustly with a bribe, will be fined 10 million gold.”
The Emperor added coldly,
“Is there anyone who wishes to object?”
There could be none.
Male lead fell into her trap — and shattered when she walked away
This is also on my reread list!
This one is a slow burn, but when it burns, it burns hard.
Definitely worth a read, y’all!
The story follows a thousand-year-old seductive spirit who, on a bet, sets out to charm the male lead—a once-promising but unfortunate cultivator.
But just when she succeeds in making him fall for her, she heartlessly leaves, driving him to madness.
Determined to find her at all costs, he captures her, keeping her by his side no matter what, even if she hates him.
I love this kind of trope—I enjoy watching the male lead suffer in agony.
The ending drags a bit with unnecessary filler, but that’s fine.
As long as I enjoy the beginning, I’m good.
Intro
As an enchantress, Su Heng possesses captivating eyes and charming beauty, easily manipulating the joys and sorrows of living beings at her fingertips.
But to enchant a god, making him taste the bitterness of love’s separation, long-lasting resentment, unattainable desires, and inability to let go…
Do you dare?
Su Heng assists a divine lord in his cultivation, aiming to make him experience all the sufferings of love, so that he can attain the Great Dao.
Only after being chased down from the heavens by the divine lord, confined and completely possessed by him, does she realize how successful she has been.
The once gentle and polite youth has transformed into someone she no longer recognizes.
[Touch the gear icon in the bottom right corner of the screen to move to the next chapter if you want.]
