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 80
Chapter 80:
Lucretius had his lips on the back of his hand, which was holding my hand. I got closer to my hand and kissed the back of my own hand.
At that moment, our lips were apart only by our own hands.
An indirect kiss.
Suddenly, I realized what I had done. I became red.
Why? Why did I do it?
I tried to look calm as I said to him, “Well, there. Now I don’t have to feel sorry.”
He seemed to be genuinely surprised. He opened his mouth to say something. I needed to escape this situation, so I pulled my hand and turned around.
I tried to run, but I realized I was in my own bedroom!
Within a few seconds, he grabbed me from behind.
“I got you!”
“Gyaaa!”
He pulled me back to the bed and laughed in delight.
“But… I can’t help feeling disappointed. This was a good chance to get rid of the dowager empress.”
He tried to console me gently. He was so sweet. A few months ago, if someone told me Lucretius could be like this, I wouldn’t have believed it.
“Don’t feel bad. It would have been nice if we could implicate the dowager empress, but there was never a guarantee this could bring her down. She is not an easy enemy.”
“I… I guess.”
I had to agree with him. Even if we were able to implicate her in an attempted murder of the emperor and me, the dowager empress wasn’t someone who would go down easily.
Lucretius added, “I always considered the possibility of something not going according to our plan.”
“But still…”
When I seemed upset, he asked me, “Are you afraid of her?”
“…”
I couldn’t say no. I couldn’t even lie about it. He would know the truth anyway.
He kissed my forehead lightly and tried to make me feel safer.
“Don’t worry. That woman has been trying to kill me for the past 20 years, and I haven’t died yet. I will protect you no matter what.”
“…”
I almost fell for him then.
I must have been feeling more anxious than I realized. Small kind gestures seemed to affect me much more than usual.
I added quietly, “I am also worried whether the baby will be a prince or a princess.”
“Now that I think about it, her due date is very soon.
“Really?”
“If I remembered correctly, it was supposed to be at the beginning of the ball, so it has to be either today or tomorrow.” He added ominously, “It would be best if it is stillborn.”
“…”
It was an atrocious thing to wish for one’s step-sibling, but I couldn’t say anything because I felt the same way.
I also had little feelings toward Lisbeth and her family’s death.
I liked to think it was because of my situation, but it was a poor excuse.
I realized the way I think and feel was changing since I arrived in this world.
***
Only ashes remained of the Bonafit family. I didn’t want to go see to confirm.
It was considered an embarrassment to have an unfortunate accident right before such a big international event. To have important guests see the remnants of the fire was unacceptable.
At least from the outside, the castle had to look intact.
Every able-bodied men were called to clean up the place. Any burnt structures were removed and cleaned. New trees and flowers were planted around the area. Thankfully, by the time the guests arrived, there was no obvious evidence of the recent fire.
It was a relief not to have to see the burned wing anymore. It was a constant reminder of the dead Bonafit family. I hated them, but I didn’t wish them to burn to death.
I felt bitter. I knew who did this terrible thing.
Dowager empress Katleyanira.
She killed Marquis Toruka and the Aeal family to protect herself.
In doing so, she killed so many others, but I was sure she didn’t care.
She still stayed in Girand getting ready for the birth.
I was scared. Could we really defeat this woman? Would I be able to survive this?
***
It was finally the time for the ball.
The first day started early in the morning. Even before the sun rose, I woke up and took a bath with help from my maids. The bath water was covered with white rose petals.
It was heavenly and over-the-top. I could sense that my maids wanted to make me look my best. They also seemed to want to cheer me up.
After the bath, my whole body smelled like a rose. On top of that, the maids put on a luxurious body facial made of honey, butter, and essential oil over me. It felt funny putting honey butter on myself like a piece of bread.
I remembered the honey butter chips from Korea. It was very popular it sold out in most stores. My older sister was able to get a few bags for me, and I remembered eating them.
Perhaps when I went back home, it would be easier to buy them.
Afterward, the maids cleaned my body with a warm cloth. My skin felt so soft and shiny.
“Please take a deeper breath, your highness.”
“Just a little bit more…”
“…!”
Samantha and Agnes tightened my corset much tighter than usual. It was so uncomfortable I worried my ribs would fracture.
Thankfully, it was over soon. Samantha let me go.
“It’s done.”
When I panted, Yulia complimented me smoothly.
“Your highness will have the narrowest waist at the ball.”
Elza added.
“Exactly, and your skin and hair look extra shiny today. Everyone will be awed by your beauty, your highness.”
“…”
I felt embarrassed… But it still felt nice to be complimented. I was a woman after all, so I couldn’t help but like being dolled up.
Luis soon brought in the new dress made especially for this ball. It was an elegant beautiful dress.
“Oh my! It’s lovely!”
“Please try it on!”
It was a deep violet dress. When I was on earth, I heard this kind of purple color was made from crushing certain insects. I wondered if they did the same here.
I put on the gorgeous dress ordered by Lucretius. He made sure a dress fit for a Cransian royalty was made for me. This was why the royal color was used.
The top part was a silver silk shirt decorated with pearls. It gradually darkened into violet as it went down to the skirt portion. Multiple violet silk layers made up the skirt, making it look almost black. The skirt was huge with pearl and diamonds placed in-between layers.
On the top layer were depictions of four seasons, stars, and the moon.
No matter how you looked at it, this was a dress made for an empress.
“…”
When I realized this, I didn’t know how to feel about it.
Only an empress could wear such a dress, so why did Lucretius order it for me?
I was doing things an empress would usually do, but I definitely was not his empress. This was why during his coronation, my dress was purposely made not to have this purple color and designs that symbolized the empress.
When people saw me in this dress at the ball, they would make two possible assumptions.
Either I was designated to become the next empress, or I had the ambition to become the empress.
I didn’t like either of them because I wasn’t consulted on the design, I had no idea the final product would look like this. It was Lucretius who made all the decisions.
I contemplated for a second. I felt like the right thing was to not wear this dress, but I didn’t have enough time to get another dress ready.
I had no choice.
“It is really beautiful. I don’t think we have much time left, so could you help me?”
The maids gathered around me and continued to prepare me.
I looked at the mirror. It was so strange to see me like this. It didn’t even look like me.
My maids started to put on my makeup. My face and neck were covered with a foundation made with pearl powder. My eyebrows were drawn with coal and oil mixture. Purple eyeshadows and gold power were placed lightly above my eyes.
Yulia exclaimed that I looked seductive.
My lips were reddened with a mixture of honey and pink flower powder.
My hair was minimally decorated as my dress was extravagant. A diamond tiara was all I wore on my head.
“You are ready, your highness.”
Now, the last thing I needed was my partner to escort me to the ball.
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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