Abandoned Empress's Survival Manual Beside the Male Lead - Chapter 19

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 5
There was no helping it.
The maids had apologized profusely, their faces flushed apple-red as they explained that the second-floor bedchamber wasn’t warm enough.
The vast room held only a few beds, and the maids had spread thick cloth and quilts across the floor, huddling together in tight clusters.
‘It’s a bit like those disaster shelters I saw on the news once.’
Still, the maids had given me the bed beside the brazier—the finest spot in the cavernous room.
The finest spot in this enormous space.
I lay down in the bed and pulled the quilt over myself.
‘I was planning to organize my thoughts before sleeping.’
Impossible.
All I could think was that I needed to fall asleep at once, for the sake of the fifty maids still watching my every move.
After all, I was their superior—if only a temporary one. How could they rest easily if I didn’t close my eyes?
I closed my eyes and thought.
It was the same in the original story anyway. Sherkan didn’t come home to the castle often.
How could I manage to live well in Gonnet Castle without the Grand Duke present?
Simple—win over the servants completely!
‘First I need to win the maids’ hearts. Then life here shouldn’t be too difficult.’
I tried to map out a careful strategy, but my eyelids kept growing heavy.
It had been so long.
So long since I’d lain in bed this comfortably.
Wrapped in the warm, cozy quilts, I soon drifted off to sleep.
* * *
The next morning.
‘That was a good sleep!’
I stirred in the quilts with a freshness I hadn’t felt in ages.
Then I opened my eyes in delight—
“……!”
I nearly screamed and tumbled from the bed.
It was the bright, vivid crimson eyes staring down at me from directly above.
Sherkan of Gonnet.
“Loreliana.”
He rested his chin on his hand and asked softly.
“Sleep well?”
“Yes? Yes. Y-yes…….”
“Hold still.”
Sherkan reached toward my forehead. My shoulders instinctively tensed.
In all my life, no one had ever drawn this close to me.
Even as my mind went blank, I scrambled out of bed.
This was no dream.
“Oh—when did you arrive?”
“Not long ago.”
‘……That’s a lie.’
I didn’t believe him. The warmth radiating from his body was the distinctive cozy heat of someone who had been inside for some time.
But why had he been watching me for so long?
Was he admiring his war spoils?
Or perhaps……
‘Was he wondering whether to send me back after all?’
A sudden chill ran through me.
“Cold?”
Sherkan asked bluntly, then suddenly scooped me up, quilt and all.
“Let’s go.”
“Go where?”
My voice came out frightened without meaning to.
“To the second-floor bedchamber. Why is the Grand Duchess sleeping in the servants’ quarters?”
Sherkan strode forward with me cradled in his arms, his movements perfectly steady despite the burden.
He carried me as though I weighed nothing at all.
In one fluid motion he crossed the long hallway and climbed the grand staircase, arriving at the vast second-floor bedchamber.
Behind us came the sound of breathless rushing. The maids hastily pulled the door open.
“P-please, take your time. Your Highness, Your Grace.”
The maids closed the great chamber door behind us with trembling hands.
Thud.
I couldn’t tell if it was the sound of my heart dropping or the door closing.
“Loreliana.”
“Yes?”
“This place is presentable enough, wouldn’t you say?”
A voice pulled me back to myself. Sherkan was looking down at me.
“You’ve seen the state of the castle yourself.”
He was far younger than I was.
It wasn’t without reason that people called him the “Boy Grand Duke.”
He truly was a boy.
And yet Sherkan’s gaze towered above mine, and his eyes were frightening in a way that admitted no comparison—the kind that might give a faint-hearted person nightmares just to look upon.
Yes. A tiger.
Eyes like a tiger’s. Even blood-red at that.
I cleared my throat hastily and answered with composure.
“I didn’t think it was in such a deplorable state.”
“Then what—a complete disaster?”
Sherkan smiled faintly and, after carrying me a considerable distance, set me down on a bed.
“Stay here.”
With those words, he strode toward the fireplace. He seemed intent on tending the bellows.
I examined the bedroom carefully.
It was truly vast. Empty though it was, it didn’t look as decrepit as the castle’s outer walls, so it was certainly presentable enough.
As Sherkan returned, it seemed the servants had hastened to prepare things—candlesticks now burned with lively flames.
“Your Highness.”
“Mm.”
“The war—has it ended?”
“Not yet. There are stragglers. But it won’t be long now. And…”
Sherkan stared into empty space for a moment, then spoke.
“Once Pasa is settled, I’ll need to head to the Reclamation Zone. I’ve left it vacant for far too long.”
“The Reclamation Zone.”
“Do you know of it?”
“Of course. Is there anyone on the continent who doesn’t know of the Reclamation Zone?”
Sherkan let out a soft laugh.
“True. You escaped during the war with a map clutched in your teeth, didn’t you? You’d have no reason not to know.”
……
Was he mocking me?
Or was he not?
Doubt flickered through me, but I decided not to ask.
Besides, we were leaving for the Reclamation Zone so soon.
The Reclamation Zone was the term for a cursed land where monsters flooded in wholesale.
There, monsters continually and sporadically erupted forth, devouring people.
As the corruption from monsters spread and the territories of royalty and nobility dwindled, they all—without exception—put up enormous bounties and war spoils.
This was why so many knight orders and mercenary companies had established their own bases in the Reclamation Zone and remained garrisoned there.
In the original work, this very Reclamation Zone was where Sherkan spent most of his time.
“Then how did you arrive so quickly?”
“I wanted to see you.”
“What?”
“I’m joking. You look as if you’re about to freeze to death.”
Sherkan smirked.
“You’re the most expensive war spoil I gained from this entire conflict. I was naturally concerned about you.”
“My value was that high?”
“Rather substantial.”
……
I couldn’t make sense of it.
I was merely a low-ranking concubine of the Pasa Empire.
Perhaps my worth was somewhat elevated because I’d never borne the Emperor’s child.
But the Pasa Emperor had thousands of concubines, and countless beauties never even granted an audience with him.
Could it be…?
I must have agonized over the question a thousand times in my mind. As I glanced sideways at Sherkan, he spoke abruptly.
“Say what you want to say. Stop fishing for my thoughts.”
My shoulders trembled slightly. I swallowed hard and asked.
“Is my price so high because of the Grand Divine Hall?”
“Sharp. Must be the bloodline.”
……
A faint smile crossed Sherkan’s lips.
“Right. They’re scrambling, offering me more for you. Driving up the stakes.”
He said nothing more, turning his attention back to the fire.
The flames grew higher, as though a handful of sunset had spilled into the bedroom.
Watching the burning light, my thoughts scattered into haze.
It was like setting fire to all the many thoughts I carried — there was something soothing about that clarity of mind, something I almost……
‘No. Don’t.’
The moment I saw Sherkan rise from the fireplace and walk toward me, my thoughts flipped like a switch.
He sat beside me.
Right beside me.
Sherkan was quiet for a moment. I glanced at him sidelong, then looked away. It was hopelessly awkward.
“Loreliana.”
“Yes?”
“What about my cloak?”
I nearly jumped to my feet on instinct, barely catching myself.
The cloak.
The great Fur Cloak that Sherkan had wrapped around me — placed over my head, really — instead of a veil and wedding dress at the Pasa Imperial Palace.
“Did you throw it away?”
“Of course not. How could I?”
I shook my head in surprise. Just how much nerve did Sherkan think I had?
“I put it under the bed before sleeping. Wearing it all the time felt a bit……”
“A bit what?”
Cold sweat beaded on my skin with each word Sherkan spoke.
What did I mean, a bit much?
Was I supposed to keep wearing that enormous cloak everywhere?
Strutting about like that!
“Your Highness.”
Against my true feelings, I bowed with perfect deference, eyes lowered.
“Should I go fetch it now?”
“Never mind. Thinking about it, I wore it outside — it’s probably filthy.”
It wasn’t filthy at all.
But before I could open my mouth, Sherkan rose from his seat.
I straightened up reflexively. He took long strides toward the bellpull and yanked it.
An attendant appeared from outside moments later.
“Your Highness. You called?”
Sherkan spoke.
“My cloak is in the servants’ quarters. Fetch it, care for it. It’s under the widest bed near the fireplace.”
He continued, furrowing his brow.
“What fragrant oils do we have left? Choose whichever remains most — ambergris, sandalwood, or musk — and treat the cloak with it. Make it spotless and bring it back.”
“Understood, Your Highness.”
Sherkan dismissed the attendant with a gesture and spoke.
“That’s the finest fur we have in the castle right now. I’ll have better brought in later, but whenever you need to go out, wear that one.”
My eyes widened.
I couldn’t have said what fur that great grey cloak was made from. But it truly felt magnificent to the touch, and above all, it held remarkable warmth.
It was like trading one season for another.
Whatever it cost, it must have been considerable……
I rose at once and bowed deeply.
“I’ll cherish it. Thank you.”
“Hah.”
Sherkan let out a mocking laugh and suddenly stepped closer.
‘Younger than me, yet somehow so tall.’
I felt the weight of his presence. Without thinking, I stepped back.
Clear irritation flickered in Sherkan’s eyes.
Had I misspoken? The thought barely formed when——
“Loreliana.”
His voice dropped low, striking something in my chest.
“What are you, a servant? Don’t grovel over trifles like you’re on death’s door. It’s unpleasant.”
“What?”
“The look on your face says you don’t trust me. Even though I’m telling you I’ll buy you something better.”
At the same moment, Sherkan’s hands closed around both my shoulders.
He didn’t seem to be gripping very hard, yet the pain that shot through my shoulders was quite sharp.
But I was flabbergasted, desperate to protest.
“That’s not what I meant at all. I was truly grateful. I don’t know much about furs, but it’s a fine thing, isn’t it? That’s why…….”
Cold sweat began to bead on my forehead even as I spoke. My shoulders throbbed with increasing pain.
Sherkan stared at me, then bit at his lip.
“Well, you’re an abandoned princess and a lowly concubine at that—of course you’d be awed by such an item.”
In that instant, my heart went cold.
And yet, at the same time, I couldn’t understand.
He was the one spilling out cruel words.
So why did Sherkan look like he was the one wounded?
“……Could you please let go?”
Sherkan seemed to realize only then that he was gripping my shoulders so forcefully.
He yanked his hands away as though burned.
Yet his voice that followed remained ice-cold and merciless.
“From now on, I’ll keep bringing you finer things, so stay put in your castle. As I said, you’re the most expensive spoil of war I’ve obtained from this conflict.”
“…….”
I knew I shouldn’t feel this way, yet emotion welled up in my chest.
“Your Majesty.”
It felt sorrowful, and it felt sad.
“Just how much did you pay for me?”
Royal blood from a fallen kingdom were typically treated as significant spoils of war.
As a concubine of the Pasa Emperor, I too must have had a price on my head.
But I was the lowest of concubines, one who had never received the Emperor’s favor.
I’d vaguely assumed my value couldn’t possibly be high…….
Sherkan’s inscrutable eyes fixed upon me.
“Are you curious about the sum?”
“Yes.”
Sherkan laughed coldly.
“One hundred thousand Ribe.”
My brow furrowed without my meaning to.
“You’re lying.”
In this place, gold coins were called Ribe, and one Ribe was worth roughly a million won in Korean currency.
A hundred thousand Ribe meant a hundred billion won.
I wasn’t even a favored concubine—let alone a high-ranking empress—so what earthly reason could there be for such a price?
Sherkan turned the question back on me.
“Does it sound like a lie?”
“…….”
“Truth is, I’m curious too. Why did the Grand Divine Hall make such a fuss trying to claim you?”
“……Do you mean the Grand Divine Hall really did offer that much money to take me away?”
“First time for me.”
Sherkan continued, watching me turn rigid.
“First time I’ve ever seen anyone grab a man by the collar to buy a prisoner, even at a higher price.”
“…….”
Sherkan stared into my eyes, then let out a soft laugh.
“If you’re going to be shocked, why ask?”
“…….”
“You’ve learned something valuable today. Don’t go digging into things you can’t handle.”
His coldly beautiful face wore a sharp edge of mockery.
Without waiting for my answer, Sherkan pulled me onto the bed and then left.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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