Ancient Gritar was used during times when ancient gods and mythical beings actively roamed the human world, lasting until the early days of the Empire’s establishment but had vanished from academia over the last millennium.
“What does it say?”
“I can’t read most of it, but… Emperor… Imperial Palace…”
Earl Corald squinted, struggling to make out words before finally speaking out the last few words into the cave.
“Starting today… two months from now…”
Seeing Timothy’s clear eyes, full of incomprehension, Earl Corald, the Empire’s top monster hunter, straightened up and slowly spoke.
“The Emperor might be in danger. We need to head to the capital.”
Resolute not to repeat the mistake of failing to protect Prince Luca, the elderly earl crumpled the note in his hand. The woman who knew ancient Gritar might hold the key to capturing the monster.
“Oh, how beautiful she is.”
“She looks so pretty dressed like that. Like a fairy.”
Surrounding Arabella, who stood awkwardly in front of the mirror, were Earl Lorel’s housekeeper and maids, lavishing praise until they were out of breath.
Though they were flattering the Emperor’s beloved lady, objectively speaking, they were genuinely in awe of Arabella’s beauty.
When she was carried into the bedroom, she was sooty, sweaty, and tear-stained, but Arabella’s skin was astonishingly beautiful – not just clean and white but translucently clear and luminous.
“How can she be so soft and tender… Is this why the Emperor is so smitten?”
The housekeeper couldn’t help but mutter to herself while assisting with the bath.
They were experienced in serving Earl Lorel and his sons, having seen countless beauties.
Arabella initially seemed unremarkable, and it was surprising that the Emperor, who usually didn’t care for ordinary ladies, brought her so protectively.
Small and slender, her face wasn’t strikingly beautiful. It was simply that her eyes, nose, and mouth all fit onto her tiny, delicate face, remarkable only for her large, clear eyes, reminiscent of a newborn deer.
She wasn’t flamboyantly beautiful, nor did she possess a sultry allure or a glamorous, enchanting figure. Yet, strangely, she drew people’s attention.
Arabella didn’t have a fiery, intense beauty that instantly captured everyone’s attention.
Instead, she had a charm that was like moonlight: soft and serene, like a calm lake. At first glance, she might not stand out, but spending a little time with her, her kind and clear energy gently and peacefully colored the surroundings.
She was the first among the nobles to display genuine politeness and gratitude without pretense. Her shy but sincere heart and actions tickled the maids’ fancy.
Although the maids were fed up with the nobility, they found themselves wanting to care for Arabella without her asking. She had a special appeal that transcended conventional notions of beauty.
“This doesn’t feel like me. Can I just wear the clothes I brought?” Arabella asked, wearing a lavender organza dress. The three women simultaneously shook their heads vigorously.
The dress, specially tailored for the earl’s son’s lover, was nearly destined to remain in a box forever after the Emperor’s visit the previous night.
“The clothes you brought are all sooty and can’t be worn.” Half-truth, half-lie. Indeed, the two old dresses Arabella brought were sooty. They weren’t unwearable after laundering, but the maids didn’t want to admit it.
Seeing Arabella in the beautiful dress, they realized it suited her far more than expected. The earl’s son’s lover was taller and fuller, but it wasn’t an issue.
Skilled hands of the three women quickly altered the dress to fit Arabella perfectly, although a fair amount of fabric ended up on the carpet.
Years of serving the extravagant and fashion-conscious countess had honed the housekeeper’s eye for detail and craftsmanship.
She expertly braided Arabella’s long brown hair on both sides, bringing it up from the nape of her neck and tying it with a purple velvet ribbon, accentuated by small pins embellished with pearls and amethysts.
They applied natural tint made from crushed rose and peony petals to her plump, adorable lips, complementing her perfectly, like a sweet fruit berry.
The maids’ lips twitched, imagining the Emperor’s pleased expression.
The dress, with its round neckline, didn’t reveal much cleavage but elegantly highlighted her fine, milky neck.
The empire waistline of the high-waisted dress covered Arabella’s petite and slender flaws, enhancing her demure and elegant qualities.
The housekeeper and maids, pleased with their work, admired their creation.
“See? We didn’t do much, yet she looks so beautiful. This is her true charm,” the housekeeper said sincerely, causing Arabella’s face to flush.
Her reflection in the mirror felt unfamiliar and awkward, yet she felt a flutter of excitement, especially thinking about showing this to him.
‘Surely, he’ll tease me,’ thought Arabella, her neck turning pink at the thought.
Knock, knock.
As a maid opened the door, there stood the Emperor.
The sun streaming in through the opposite window illuminated the Emperor’s stunning beauty, making it almost too dazzling to look directly at him. Dressed in a simple deep navy uniform, he was breathtakingly handsome.
His classical good looks, laced with a touch of decadence, caused the three middle-aged women to silently gulp.
“I’ve come to have breakfast with you.”
Despite not needing to come personally, the Emperor’s presence indicated the trio’s astuteness. They bowed to the Emperor and quickly exited the bedroom, making sure to firmly close the door behind them.
“I hope you slept well last ni…”
The Emperor’s stride halted abruptly as he approached Arabella by the mirror. His eyes, fixing on her, rendered him speechless mid-sentence.
Arabella swiftly turned, clutching the hem of her dress and curtsying. The Emperor’s expression morphed into a curious one as she did so.
“Thanks to you, I slept well. And you, Your Majesty?”
Her cheeks flushed rose-red as she spoke, unable to meet his gaze directly. Arabella felt his eyes on her, making her heart flutter like hundreds of butterflies inside.
The sound of his approaching footsteps grew closer. She saw his grey boots enter her line of vision. His long, firm fingers tilted her chin up to face him.
His crimson eyes, with a hint of gold, looked down at her as he spoke.
“Are you planning to go down to the garden for breakfast like this? In the company of local nobles gathered to welcome me?”
His deep, husky voice sent a tremor through Arabella. Confusion swirled in her eyes.
‘Does he dislike how I look? Maybe he’s displeased.’
She must look rustic compared to the noble ladies of the capital.
Realizing that even as a fake Empress candidate, she might be an embarrassment to him, Arabella’s eyes fell in disappointment. But then, the hand on her chin folded, the thumb resting on her lower lip.
The thick thumb smudged the rosy tint on her lips, creating a messy look. Arabella stepped back in surprise, but his other hand caught her waist.
He drew her close, preventing her slender frame from escaping. The bedroom’s silence was profound, with only their breathing audible. The Emperor’s dark red eyes fixed intensely on her blushing lips.
His thumb, which had been rubbing her lip, paused at its center, exerting a gentle pressure. Her lips parted slightly, creating a small gap. The Emperor leaned in closer, their eyes at the same level. His red gaze locked with her innocent ones, entrapping them.
He tilted his head slightly, his breath warm as he whispered,
“Looks like your lips are too messy to eat outside. I guess we’ll have to have breakfast here in the bedroom and then set off.”
His voice was soft, his eyes never leaving her face, filled with an unreadable intensity.
When scheming men desperately battle for her favor in the male harem
This one’s also on my reread list! The rivalry, scheming between the men in the imperial harem are just as intense and thrilling as in classic palace drama novels, where concubines fight to the death. Give it a read, girls! I promise you won’t be disappointed.
Synopsis:
“I am not worthy of her… but I still want to be by her side, even if only as a loyal dog…”
Those were the painful whispers of Yue Guanyi – the proud Crown Prince of the Great Qi, who was torn between deep love and a guilty conscience. Despite holding the supreme power of the Imperial Guard, he still could not forget the dark past when he was sold into a brothel.
Fate played a cruel twist when Qiu Shuzhi – a young female official who had just passed the imperial examinations with top honors – stepped into his life. She did not know that she was the one who had saved him from a tragic fate many years ago. And now, her heart was the target of pursuit for both Yue Guanyi and the powerful Empress Dowager Qin Qing.
While Yue Guanyi only dared to silently care for and protect the one he loved from afar, the Empress Dowager Qin Qing openly expressed his feelings and did not hesitate to take advantage of his power to approach Qiu Shuzhi. The covert struggle between the two most powerful forces in the imperial court began…
Trigger warning: All men in this novel are yandere style.
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