Synopsis and Starting Chapter Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Chapter 39
Chapter 40
Chapter 41
Chapter 42
Chapter 43
Chapter 44
Chapter 45
Chapter 46
Chapter 47
Chapter 48
Chapter 49
Chapter 50
Chapter 51
Chapter 52
Chapter 53
Chapter 54
Chapter 55
Chapter 56
Chapter 57
Chapter 58
Chapter 59
Chapter 60
Chapter 61
Chapter 62
Chapter 63
Chapter 64
Chapter 65
Chapter 66
Chapter 67
Chapter 68
Chapter 69
Chapter 70
Chapter 71
Chapter 72
Chapter 73
Chapter 74
Chapter 75
Chapter 76
Chapter 77
Chapter 78
Chapter 79
Chapter 80
Chapter 81
Chapter 82
Chapter 83
Chapter 84
Chapter 85
Chapter 86
Chapter 87
Chapter 88
Chapter 89
Chapter 90 - Light And Shadow>
Chapter 91
Chapter 92
Chapter 93
Chapter 94
Chapter 95
Chapter 96
Chapter 97
Chapter 98
Chapter 99
Chapter 100
Chapter 101
Chapter 102
Chapter 103
Chapter 104
Chapter 105
Chapter 106
Chapter 107
Chapter 108
Chapter 109
Chapter 110
Chapter 111
Chapter 112 - The Morning Comes>
Chapter 113
Chapter 114
Chapter 115
Chapter 116
Chapter 117
Chapter 118 - After The Storm
Chapter 119
Chapter 120
Chapter 121
Chapter 122
Chapter 123
Chapter 124
Chapter 125
Chapter 126
Chapter 127
Chapter 128
Chapter 129
Chapter 130
Chapter 131
Chapter 132 -
Chapter 133
Chapter 134 - Epilogue 1.3
Chapter 135 - Epilogue 2.1: Traces Of Life
Chapter 136
Chapter 137 - Epilogue 2.3
Chapter 138
Chapter 139
Chapter 140
Chapter 141 - Epilogue 4.1: Ever After>
Chapter 142 - Epilogue 4.2
Chapter 143 - Epilogue 4.3
Chapter 144 - Epilogue 5.1>
Chapter 145 - Epilogue 5.2
Chapter 146 - The Most Romantic Weekend>
Chapter 147 - Short Stories 1.2
Chapter 148 -
Chapter 149 -
Chapter 150 -
Chapter 151 -
Chapter 152 -
Chapter 153 -
Chapter 154 - Short Stories 3.1: Unexpected Things Happen>
Chapter 155 - Short Stories 3.2>
Chapter 156 -
Chapter 157 -
Chapter 158 -
Chapter 159 -
Chapter 160 -
Chapter 161 - Short Stories 5.1: The Man Behind The Mask>
Chapter 162
Chapter 163
Chapter 164 -
Chapter 165 -
Chapter 166
Chapter 167 - Short Stories 6.2
Chapter 168 - Short Stories 6.3
Chapter 169
Chapter 170
Chapter 171
Chapter 172
Chapter 173
Chapter 174
Chapter 175
Chapter 176
Chapter 177
Chapter 178
Chapter 179
Chapter 180
Chapter 181
Chapter 182
Chapter 183
Chapter 184
Chapter 185
Chapter 186
Chapter 187
Chapter 188
Chapter 189 (End)
Categories Genre: All, Completed, Fantasy Status: Completed ______
Total Chapters in book: 189
Estimated words: 290059 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1450(@200wpm)___ 1160(@250wpm)___ 967(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 290059 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1450(@200wpm)___ 1160(@250wpm)___ 967(@300wpm)
______
LIST OF LAST 10 CHAPTERS:
Page No. 189 Page No. 188 Page No. 187 Page No. 186 Page No. 185 Page No. 184 Page No. 183 Page No. 182 Page No. 181 Page No. 180 Page No. 179 Chapter 60
Chapter 60:
“Greetings to your highness, the emperor.”
“Greetings to your highness, the emperor.”
All of my maids and I bowed deeply as Lucretius entered my room.
Lucretius and his servants all looked oddly at one person.
It was Lisbeth.
I wasn’t a look of surprise or annoyance. It was an expected reaction. I planed this situation myself.
Lisbeth looked like a blooming rose. She was the most beautiful woman in this room.
Unlike her, I was not wearing any makeup and was only wearing a simple gown.
Other than Lisbeth, all the other maids and servants were also dressed simply. Lisbeth stood out with her gorgeous outfit. She looked like she was ready to attend a grand ball.
She was blushing with excitement. It was clear she could feel Lucretius’ eyes on her.
Lucretius stared at her for a few seconds before turning to me.
He said coolly, “What an odd situation.”
I smiled and took Lisbeth’s hand. I escorted her to him.
“Doesn’t this girl look beautiful tonight?”
I pushed her towards him. Lisbeth looked pleased and shy at the same time.
I smiled and studied Lucretius’s face.
He continued to look blank as he answered, “Yes.”
I could feel Lisbeth’s hand trembling excitedly. I became curious. What will he do? What will he say?
I wanted to say to Lucretius.
‘Show me what you got. Show me you meant what you said. Show me your true feelings.’
I knew I created an absurd situation, but I didn’t care. I needed to see what happens. I needed to see what he would do.
Lucretius turned back to Lisbeth again.
Sky blue eyes, golden blond hair, and luscious pink lips. Even I found her attractive.
“…”
“…”
After a long silence, Lucretius finally opened his mouth.
“I agree that she is beautiful.”
“…!”
Lisbeth’s hand trembled with pleasure. Her eyes glanced at me triumphantly.
“…”
I had no time to feel anything at his comment because Lucretius approached me quickly and grabbed my waist. He hugged me and smelled my hair deeply.
“Did you use violet in your bath today?”
He had an amazing sense of smell.
I nodded and answered, “Yes. Samantha placed violet petals in my bath water.”
“Good. It smells wonderful.”
He continued to hug me and walked towards my bedroom.
He said to me, “You are too generous.”
“What do you mean?”
He was looking only at me. His green eyes narrowed as if he could see right through me.
Gosh, he already knew exactly what was happening here. He knew what I was doing.
How annoying.
“I realize all women like to look beautiful but aren’t that too much? There are times and places for dressing up, and to try to outshine your own lady you serve…”
He emphasized the next words, which were clearly directed at Lisbeth.
“Is outrageously unattractive.”
I answered innocently, “As you say.”
I turned around and my eyes locked with Lisbeth.
She was shaking with humiliation.
With that, the door to my bedroom closed.
***
I felt like I was walking on the clouds.
“…”
I didn’t know why, but I felt excited and happy.
Why?
As soon as he spoke, my happiness disappeared.
“How was that? Are you satisfied?”
I replied coldly, “About what?”
He laughed quietly. To me, it sounded like an animal growling.
“What I did to that girl. I am asking if my reaction to her was enough to make you forgive me for what I did yesterday.”
So he really did know what was going on. When I glared at him, he was looking down at me as if he was waiting for me to praise him.
“Hmm…”
“You are so hard to please.”
He complained and continued to hug me as he got closer to the bed.
Huh? Not so fast!
I got away from his embrace and glared at him.
He looked a little different today. He came to my room often, but today, he looked like he dressed up a little.
I criticized him coldly.
“You are wearing too much perfume, even more than me. Why would you put so much on? It’s too strong.”
“… Alright. I will make sure not to do it again in the future.”
He was being unusually agreeable. He must have realized that I was very angry.
This made me feel happy. I was in a very good mood, which was lucky for him.
He persisted.
“So, did I pass your test today? Are you satisfied?”
“…”
I couldn’t continue to be difficult. I answered slowly, “You didn’t do too bad.”
Lucretius smiled broadly. His smile was infuriating.
“So it was good. I did well.”
“There is a big difference between not bad and good.”
He shook his head.
“No. It’s either good or bad. There are only two options.”
I laughed at him.
“Nope. The world isn’t always black and white. There is a huge array of greys in-between.”
“…”
He walked towards me until his face was close to mine.
“Then am I standing near the white or black in your book?”
“…”
He was asking me to tell him how I feel about him. I didn’t expect him to ask me outright like this so soon. He was putting me on the spot.
When I looked uncomfortable, he smiled as if to make me relax, but I didn’t feel relieved at all.
I had to say something, so instead of answering his question, I asked my own, “… Did you really mean what you said?”
“Ever since we first met, I meant everything I said to you.”
I knew for sure this was not true.
“Liar.”
He frowned and exclaimed, “I really did!”
He sounded desperate like a child. I was a bit surprised, but I continued, “There is no way you felt that way about me when we first met. You meant to use me for your plan!”
He nodded.
“That’s right. I did, and I meant what I said at that time, but I started to feel different after a while, and I told you how I felt.”
“You are so good with words.”
He smiled smoothly.
“Thank you for the compliment.”
“…”
He was still so confident that it was annoying.
When he saw my unimpressed expression, he continued to explain, “Samantha and Agnes aren’t spying on you for me. They don’t come to me to tell me about you. This was the only time when Agnes overreacted and asked me to stop you. I didn’t ask her any questions either.”
“Hmm…”
Was this really true?
To be honest, I couldn’t trust him.
He kissed the back of my hand and continued to whisper sweet words, “Remember what I said? I want you to choose me on your own. I admit that in the beginning, I chose you because you would be useful to me. I still feel the same way; I believe in your intelligence and willpower. But now…”
He grabbed my chin and pulled me towards him.
“I want you more than anything in the world.”
“…”
… too much! How could anyone say such corny words! Why couldn’t he speak like a normal person?!
I felt uncomfortable. When I looked at Lucretius, he smiled at me like a child waiting to be praised.
He continued, “I am not asking for an answer right now. I don’t expect you to choose me immediately. I know enough about you that you aren’t the type who would give herself up that easily. All I ask of you at this point is for you to enjoy my beauty and be impressed by my thoughtfulness. I will allow it.”
“…”
I wanted to hit him.
Lucretius changed the subject.
“By the way, it was hilarious to see her expression.”
I couldn’t hide my grin.
“I agree. It was funny.”
He smiled as well.
“She must have really made you mad.”
“She did.”
Lisbeth did go too far. I haven’t felt that kind of anger in a long time.
Suddenly, I realized I was laying on the bed.
How did this happen?
Lucretius and I were on the bed together. He was hugging me from behind, and I haven’t realized it until now.
This was too dangerous. I was getting too used to the feel of him.
I felt nervous. I licked my lips and opened my mouth.
“Um… Your highness.”
“Nope, wrong.”
“Pardon?”
He whispered to my ear, “You’re supposed to call me Luc.”
Total Chapters in book: 189
Estimated words: 290059 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1450(@200wpm)___ 1160(@250wpm)___ 967(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 290059 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1450(@200wpm)___ 1160(@250wpm)___ 967(@300wpm)
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