chapter 22 Act 4 – White and Black As the “Welcoming Spring” ball, nominally, ended, the capital began to warm up significantly. In high society, picnics and hunts were slowly beginning to take place. It was also the time when the gardeners became busy, preparing for the increasingly beautiful gardens. The new gardener at the…
chapter 21 Catching sight of Albert slipping away, Juju barely managed to suppress a sharp exhale. When she had greeted him as the guest of honor at the ball, Albert had seemed momentarily flustered. She couldn’t precisely read his thoughts. Was he surprised by the beauty of this body, or had his uncanny insight reminded…
chapter 20 As the ball progressed, the atmosphere in the Crystal Hall grew increasingly lively. True to its name, the white rock crystal that paved the floor constantly emitted light. The guests’ extravagant attire, surrounded by reflected light, appeared even more luxurious. Among them, Count Keitel and his party truly captivated everyone’s attention. In the…
chapter 19 Two carriages were deployed for their entry into the Imperial Palace. Ruslan and Juju rode in the first, with Nadia and the other servants in the second. As Juju boarded the carriage, she turned to look back at Angela. In the meantime, Angela had smoothly acquired the position of house physician and blended…
chapter 18 The patrons of the tea house all eyed each other warily. Nadia was right; this was no elegant salon. Laborers and those who toiled at the roughest jobs were its main clientele, seeking cheap meals or gathering for card games. Or perhaps to use the bed chambers upstairs. Juju subtly glanced upward through…
chapter 17 An audience with the Emperor is no simple matter. One schedules it far in advance. Yet, there’s no guarantee it will happen precisely on time. Affairs of state are unpredictable; priorities shift, often leaving one waiting indefinitely, only to be turned away empty-handed. Ruslan understood this principle well and didn’t get his hopes…
chapter 16 Act 3 – A Land of Mice As the rumors suggested, Duke Richt’s mansion in Zehd was bustling with activity day after day. Architects, job seekers, and social climbers hoping to ingratiate themselves with the new power behind the ducal throne flocked to the estate. During her lifetime, Annelise had rarely visited Zehd….
Chapter 15 Ruslan’s lips were pressed into a firm line. The young woman before him was frighteningly composed. An ordinary eighteen-year-old maid wouldn’t possess such an expression. It held the air of someone who had personally navigated a battlefield. Though he had never encountered such a gaze before, Ruslan understood its essence. It was a…
Chapter 14 Southeast of the central region. Land shouldering the Great Mountains, where a tributary of the Yangtze River meanders. A backwater where barley and wheat are the territory’s only source of income. Moden was exactly as Joozoo remembered. Even though the current Emperor had spent his days as a prince there. Far from developing,…
Chapter 13 From that day on, the problematic merchant guild was raided. The results were shocking. Not only were there exotic poisonous herbs, but also unquarantined animals and tea sets whose import was restricted to only suppliers directly under the Imperial Palace. All these items were goods intended to be sold secretly to nobles and…
Chapter 12 Despite the relentless sound of crashing waves, the place was strangely serene. According to Angela, this was a secret base for an organization that illegally imported exotic poisonous plants. Though they posed as a merchant guild, they didn’t operate their own ships directly. Instead, they leased their vessels to smaller, struggling guilds, using…
Chapter 11 The apothecary was tucked away in a gloomy back alley of the market. Oddly, it was sandwiched right in the middle of a row of taverns, making its location strange from the start. Pushing aside the beaded curtain, which was strung with imitation jewels, a pungent smell of bitter herbs hit them. The…
Chapter 10 Act 2 – The Young Man with Enamel Eyes Juju had dreamt of Albert. She couldn’t quite recall the details, but the vivid memory of Albert being present was clear. The thought of killing him made her head throb, and she woke up with a start. Juju felt a pang of disappointment. Her…
Chapter 9 “Lotte is dead.” The moment the Emperor’s words fell, the secret meeting room froze. It was unbelievable. The shock was so profound that not even the sound of swallowing could be heard, let alone the rustle of breath. The four individuals shifted their gazes, meeting each other’s eyes. After a moment of searching,…
Chapter 8 That evening, Juju was having dinner in the Duke’s dining hall. Ruslan was with her. Ruslan, as the acting Duke, sat at the head of the table, and Juju, by his side, diligently played the part of his beloved mistress. It didn’t require much effort. Dressing in pretty clothes, eating delicious food, and…
Chapter 7 Count Ruslan of Kaitel was lost in old memories in his study. Perhaps the fatigue from his solitary carriage ride through the night was finally catching up to him. The memories he’d been unconsciously immersed in had become vivid before his eyes, almost like a dream. He, just fourteen years old at…