It always happened around this time.
‘Another year has passed…’
She wished she could sleep through the previous night and not wake up until the next day.
At just 13 years old, the death of her parents was something she couldn’t come to terms with.
Moreover, she wasn’t given enough time to mourn.
Everything was a blur—she went through the funeral, watched her uncle’s reactions, awakened as a saintess, and moved to the temple.
‘You must act maturely, Hestia.’
Yes, Uncle.
‘Saintess, your expression is gloomy. Did we fail to attend to you properly and cause you worry?’
No, I’m comfortable. Thank you for your concern.
She wasn’t allowed any expression other than a smile.
No matter how noble her status, it didn’t help her.
Hestia was a 13-year-old girl without any adult to protect her.
A being with more responsibilities than privileges.
She felt oppressed every day.
Struggling to survive for fear of being abandoned, but on days like the anniversary of her parents’ death, her emotions sank without her control.
‘I want to cry today.’
But she couldn’t.
Even a somber expression was the limit of what was allowed for her.
A crying child is troublesome.
So, instead of consoling and comforting, they turn their backs.
It’s easier that way.
Hestia swallowed her tears several times.
She was only uncomfortable here.
Even though it was the second anniversary, there were only a few who genuinely mourned her parents, and most were busy forming factions and networking among themselves.
During the reception, Hestia gripped her hands so tightly they turned white.
She wanted to escape this world of pretense.
‘But… where to?’
At the end of her resigned question, the face of a blunt boy came to mind.
Hestia took a trembling breath.
‘I want to see the Prince.’
He probably won’t say anything.
He might not even share her sorrow.
‘…Still.’
Still, it would be better than here, than these people.
The moment she realized where her most comfortable sanctuary was, she sighed.
If she could, she would immediately leave this place and run to that palace.
After barely finishing the memorial prayer, she excused herself for a walk, naturally heading towards the palace where Aslan now resided, which she once used.
She briefly greeted Aslan, but he didn’t respond.
However, the concern in his eyes was so apparent that Hestia didn’t feel slighted.
Only…
She felt like her pent-up tears were about to burst.
‘If I cry here, the Prince will be troubled.’
Several times, Hestia swallowed hard, trying to suppress her emotions.
“Just for a moment… I’ll take a walk.”
She quickly turned around and, as always, moved to the bridge in the middle of the garden pond.
Realizing no one was watching her anymore, tears streamed down her cheeks uncontrollably.
She lowered her head, leaning on the railing to stifle her sobs.
Then, a familiar face appeared on the water’s surface.
“Father… Mother…”
Her voice was definitely tearful, but why did it feel so dry?
Hestia tried hard to suppress her overwhelming emotions while continuously staring at the water’s surface.
The faces of her deceased parents seemed to overlap with her own reflection.
It was possible because Hestia resembled both her parents.
Her hair color from her mother, her eye color from her father.
Her high nose bridge from her father, her neat eyebrows from her mother.
But she could only glimpse their features in her face and never truly face them again.
Feeling an intense longing for her parents today, Hestia couldn’t easily compose herself.
A feeble sob that she couldn’t hold back slipped through her tightly closed lips.
“Why… did you leave me alone?”
Driven by longing, Hestia impulsively reached out her hand and, losing her balance, fell into the water.
Splash!
The slightly dazed feeling, as if intoxicated, disappeared as the cold enveloped her entire body.
‘I’m such a fool.’
Regaining her senses, Hestia struggled, extending her arms.
However, the long drapery of her dress was cumbersome.
Oddly quickly, a sense of resignation crept into her mind.
‘I can’t even swim anyway.’
Foolishly, that thought entered her mind.
Soon, the strength drained from her arms.
Unlike the world above water, no sound reached her here, and soon her body and mind felt at ease.
The water, although a bit cold, enveloped her body with just the right pressure.
It felt almost like being held by someone.
‘It’s like being wrapped in a curtain.’
It was peaceful and comfortable.
Her violet pupils slowly closed beneath her eyelids.
‘After all… there’s no reason to live anymore.’
With her parents’ death, the only absolute allies she had in this world were gone.
There was no one left to anchor her to this world, to make her want to live.
As resignation consumed her mind, all her senses quickly dulled.
It was then, as she tried to shut herself off from the world.
Splash.
A strong impact spread through the water, and the current became slightly stronger.
‘What… is happening?’
My Ex-Girlfriend Is The Regent In The Female-dominant World (Male lead transmigrates to the matriarchal world)
Two years ago, Gu Sui picked up a homeless woman in ancient costume from the street.
Apart from occasionally claiming to be a princess from a female-dominant country due to illness, her figure, appearance, intelligence, and martial arts skills were impeccable.
Naturally evolving from roommates to girlfriends, as time went on, Gu Sui found it increasingly difficult to tolerate her queen syndrome.
“Mu Jiulu, can you stop controlling me inside and out? Let’s break up.”
Gu Sui made a breakup call, and since then, he couldn’t find any trace of her.
A year later, Gu Sui, who was planning to move, woke up the next day and found himself in a different place.
“Young Master, today is the day you choose your Wife-master through martial arts competition at Jade Dew Pavilion. Please get up quickly.”
Gu Sui: Who am I? Where am I? What am I doing?
As the only son of a general’s mansion in a female-dominant dynasty, the young empress personally issued a decree allowing Gu Sui to select his Wife-master through martial arts competition. Whoever could defeat him could marry him.
Gu Sui: “……”
He didn’t inherit the original owner’s martial prowess, so anyone could defeat him! And what the hell is a Wife-master?
Forced to come to Jade Dew Pavilion, the densely packed women below made Gu Sui’s agoraphobia act up, and his face was full of resistance.
Until he saw the Regent sitting on the second floor, with a smile on the corner of her lips, her eyes wicked and nonchalant.
Hmm… she looked a little familiar.
It turned out that the Regent also found him a little familiar.
Mu Jiulu fiddled with her bone clasp, her deep gaze locked on the man who was out of place in this world.
“Finally, I found you.”
Male transmigrates into female-dominant world
One-sentence summary: What goes around comes around, taking turns in the crematorium
