ladyjlb's manga / #webtoon(2451)

Ch 118 as of 12/08/22 ** Ch 77 to 80: translation is shit. - FL is reborn as Canaria Easter, daughter of a Baron who is greatly in debt. The Empress intends to use FL as a tool. - A year after FL is reborn, she is sold by her parents to the Empress. 12yo FL has an arranged marriage to ML. They live in the palace together (incl sharing a room once a mth). FL wants to divorce ML early so she doesn’t die like in the novel. - ML is 1st Prince Cesar, son of a maid. - Constantly bullied by the Empress, he had a lonely childhood. - He has a white dog called Habi. - ML secretly trains with group of mercenaries outside of the palace. He slacks off on his official lessons which are inadequate anyway. - Empress Eugenia (from the Parlam family) plots to have her own son Noah on the throne (2nd Prince, 2yrs younger than ML). - The 2 main houses that maintain the balance of power in the Empire: Parlam (military) vs Lancaster (scholar, business). - Gracie Lancaster, the female protagonist - Fast forward to when FL and ML are 17yo. They meet Gracie at a ball. Final well wishes between ML and FL are made before he leaves for war. - FL sends a msg via Raya of a traitor among their soldiers. - FL and Noah discover corruption and embezzlement of the maintenance funds for ML’s palace. FL takes over it's management. - Hunting competition: FL attends. Gracie competes. While helping FL after hurting her ankle, FL suggests to Gracie to change the law so she can inherit the duchy. - ML commands the war against the Southern border barbarians. He meets up with his mercenary friends. After many notable victories, he returns 4yrs later as a war hero. - FL embroidered a purple cape for ML to wear at the victory parade. She prepares herself mentally to leave the palace after rumours circulate of her divorce from ML. - Emperor Dietrich and Queen Lilia (ML’s mother) summon ML and Gracie to discuss their marriage after ML divorces FL. - ML doesn’t want to divorce FL. Gracie also doesn’t want to marry ML, as she wants to stand on her own feet. - Ethan is assigned as the personal guard of FL. - ML confesses his feelings to FL after she asks about the divorce again. The misunderstanding about Noah and FL is finally cleared up for ML. - Vow of the Lily: - ML, FL and Gracie meet secretly and agree on an alliance. - ML vows to become Emperor and protect those he treasures most, - Gracie vows to be head of her family and have her own power, - FL vows to forge her own path and not follow the original script. - The Empress tests FL’s loyalty by getting ML to drink poisoned wine during a temple ceremony. FL goes with ML’s knights to get the antidote. - Back stories of ML’s knights (the former mercenaries): - Klaus Miller (half-blood of the Kugares Clan), - Ethan Turner, Jack / Jax Bernard, - Raya Bayonhilt (estranged from his noble family). - Mage Blair, master to ML and his knights. - A council majority vote in favour of women inheriting titles. - This is important in order for Gracie to become heir, plus the Emperor won’t force ML and FL to divorce. - Oscar Heindell, aligned with Marquis Gerard Parlam (brother of Empress, head of Parlam family) - Ricardo Parlam, eldest son of the Parlam family. - FL spoke with Ricardo about nobles taking responsibility. She’s also trying to change her fate. - Gracie wins against her cousin with her great leadership and compassion, becoming the 1st female heir of the Empire. - ML, FL and co. attend the Parlam family banquet. ML and co. discover the Parlams have been making and supplying weapons to other countries, including the Empire’s war enemies. It’s also revealed that Gerard killed the previous Marquis. The Parlams hired a group of bandits and are using corrupt means to incite wars. - FL finally confesses her love to ML. - They make love to each other for the 1st time (ch 76). - ML is sent off to a 2nd war at the border. Ricardo relays a message that it’s a trap. Lord Stuart from the border is in hiding (not murdered) and was bribed by the Parlams. - The Emperor has collapsed after falling ill. The Empress has taken control of the palace. Stuart falsely testifies to the council that the 1st Prince committed treason by using this war to incite rebellion. - The Empress imprisons FL after FL refuses to falsely accuse ML of embezzling funds for his rebellion. FL is saved by Ethan. She runs through the forest and is saved by ML. - 2nd Prince Noah announces at council that he’s giving up his right to throne. ML is cleared of all treason charges after hearing the truth from Stuart. - ML and FL start living together in the same palace. - ML gets them a new set of wedding rings. - FL has to start to learn how to be the next Empress. - FL finds out why ML has been avoiding sex with her, all thanks to ML reading in a book about waiting 6mths when dating before doing the deed. They both make up for lost time in the bedroom. - Oscar arranged to meet FL to tell her something about the succession. Gerard finds him first and while they have a heated discussion Oscar accidentally falls off a cliff, injuring his head. Oscar has partial amnesia and only has memories up to 15yo. - Gerard takes advantage of Oscar’s condition and stops ML’s coronation by introducing Oscar as Louis, the son of the previous Emperor and rightful heir who received the Crown Prince ring. - House Parlam protects Oscar / Louis and only allow him to move into the imperial palace accompanied by the Parlam army. Oscar will be evaluated by the Elder Council alongside ML on each person’s suitability to be the Crown Prince. - Gerard tells Oscar that he has an unrequited love for FL to explain how they know each other. - Gracie hosts a ball to celebrate becoming the heir. They use this as an opportunity to network and build alliances for ML. - FL holds a fake auction for Luna Sinclair, a famous opera singer to lure her stalker, Glen Brown. He’s protected by the Parlams.

Read ch 29 on WebComics as of 02/09/20 Read ch 69 here as of 05/09/20 - end?

** Rate 3.5 - Too short; needed more plot development / explanation.

Read ch 81 as of 05/10/20

** INCOMPLETE - Read ch 13 as of 27/5/20. ( 4 star rating subject to last 4 chapters yet to be uploaded )

Read ch 41 as of 08/02/21 - translation choppy, story moves slowly & needs more detail. - Mysterious bookstore that kicks out unwanted visitors after 10 mins. Two children there can transform into beasts (fox and white tiger). Bookstore owner (ML) is a goblin. He’s written many books over time. - FL is a college student who starts to work part time at the bookstore. She could be the reincarnation of a past acquaintance of ML. A dark spirit also seems to be chasing her.

Ch 115 as of 12/08/22 - Rate 3.5 so far ** some really bad translation - 16th Princess Vivian Hesse, the 18yo “forgotten princess”: lives a simple life alone and disguises herself as a maid called Lucia. She was brought into the palace when she was 12yo. - FL has had prophetic dreams since she was 12yo and wants to avoid being sold as a 19yo bride to the abusive Count Metten when the King dies. - With knights returning at end of the war, FL has an idea. - On the 5th and last day of the victory celebrations after gazing at him from afar each day (he knew), FL proposes a contract marriage to Duke Hugo Taran (ML), the great military commander. She promises never to fall in love with him and she’ll give him complete freedom in his personal life. It also helps pass on his title to his son as one must be married to do so. - FL is genuine, determined, unwavering, earnest - ML is known as inhuman, arrogant, heartless, selfish, self-centred, decisive, cold, indifferent. - ML hates to waste emotions and won’t fall in love (even though he is promiscuous). He always has yellow roses sent when breaking up with his lovers (as the FL saw). Countess Falcon yet to be sent roses (finally sent 2mths into their marriage), ML w/ her for a year but also saw other women. - Despite this there’s no divorce or breaking of an engagement in the Taran family. FL does worry about ML eventually meeting the lady he married in her dreams, and if she cut him off from his fated person. - When ML pays a surprise visit to FL at her side palace, his admiration grows slightly for her strength and perseverance while living under trying conditions alone. - FL is moved to the Rose Palace before she’s married. She refuses to see the King when summoned as she knows he only wants to see the Duke’s fiancé, not her. - FL and ML have an informal wedding, no guests. Marriage is just a formality for ML, who doesn’t enter his estate w/ his bride and FL dines alone on her wedding night. - That night, ML and FL sleep together (after she got drunk on wine and stripped off her clothes). She was a virgin. He’s pleasantly surprised at how sexually compatible they are. He can’t get enough of her. She calls him “Hugh” which is actually his real name. - FL offers to go w/ him to his territory in the North, rather than be separated by staying behind in the capital. ML expects to be there for 2yrs. He heads there 1st after receiving an urgent msg. - NB: Empire has several ancient gates used for transporting over long distances. - “Social rank doesn’t determine skill.” FL impressed the escort knights w/ her knowledge of their rules (from a dream where she had an arms workshop). - FL seen by staff as kind, firm, gracious, wise, gentle, considerate. Everyone likes her very much. - Author Norman (female): close friend who FL shared her noble experiences with to inspire her books. - ML butler Jerome and aide Fabian (twins) - Crown Prince Quaise Hesse: friend of ML - ML subordinate, Knight Roy “Mad Dog” Krotin. Left behind in the capital to guard the Crown Prince. - 8yo son and heir of ML, Damien (at boarding school). - ML sees himself as merely holding a place until Damien takes over. Damien is actually the son of ML’s brother Hugo and their half-sister who died in childbirth. - Tragedy in the West Tower: ML had a twin brother Hugo who killed himself, after killing their parents (past Duke, Duchess). ML was sold to mercenaries as a baby but was brought back as he was deemed to have stronger qualities to be heir. The original Hugo killed everyone to stop having his and ML’s lives played with. - Ancient noble magic bloodline of Tarans was half human. When 2 Tarans conceived, it would be a boy. When 1 Taran and 1 human conceived, it would be a girl. In this way the Taran house had been inter-marrying to preserve the bloodline. - The Tarans seen as “Masters of the North” - While 18yo Duke Hugo was away at war, the local lords arranged a petition to the King to overthrow the Tarans. ML returned and purged the rebellion. - ML hates the Taran blood in his veins but has to live with it as he can’t bring himself to die. - ML returns early after a month away purging rebels (it was meant to be for 6 mths). He can’t stop thinking about FL. After he’s cleaned up, ML finds FL in library where they kiss. Then they spend the night together. They spend their nights together this way for a mth. (Eventually ML told by doctor to limit to 5 nights to allow FL to rest for her health). - FL is given responsibility for a provisional internal budget (separate to managing the employees and the running the castle), so initially she wants to use it to improve the garden. She also says she’d like to learn what she can and can’t do as the Duchess. - Countess Corzan (Madam Michelle), known as the Godmother of high society in the North was procured by ML as a teacher for FL. - As Madam deems FL fine on etiquette, she suggests social activities next and aim for holding 2 parties per mth. - FL is introduced as friends w/ her niece, Kate Milton who likes to give advice on love. She visits often and they become close quickly. Kate suggests going horse riding w/ FL. - FL hosts her 1st tea party, Jerome sends flowers as gifts on behalf of ML. FL and ML have sex on the terrace where the tea party was held. - FL’s infertility is due to her taking mugwort for long time. She didn’t know what her menstrual period was and ate mugwort to stop the bleeding. In her dreams, a wandering doctor (Dr Phillip) prescribed a cure to FL which was the method used for human women to conceive a Taran daughter. This doctor was also the family doctor of the Tarans for a long time. - Dr Phillip and ML are only ones still alive who know the truth of what happened at the West Tower. The tragedy is related to Taran House existing solely for the preservation of the noble Taran bloodline. - Dr Anna, FL’s doctor, has been researching a cure for FL’s infertility and comes to know Dr Phillip. She visits him regularly to share knowledge but she’s forbidden from involving FL with him. - FL and ML have an argument that started with her infertility and health then blew out from there. Neither can be honest with the other. So ML avoids FL instead and she blames herself. - They eventually make up with each other but can’t admit they love each other yet. - ML is away to defend the borders from intruders. - He has a very tall and mature 8yo Damien visit the estate in the meantime. At first Damien is wary and suspicious of FL. - FL is charmed by how much ML and Damien are alike. - Kate Milton visits FL and gifts her a baby fox. FL introduces Damien to her and they go horse riding together. Later Damien helps FL by giving the name Aisha to the fox. - On the way back in the carriage, Damien asks FL why she doesn’t hate him. FL tells him that she knew about him before she married ML and recognising Damien as the heir was one of the conditions. Damien says he respects ML because he’s strong. FL assured him that he’ll become strong just like ML one day. - ML returns and FL wants the three of them to get along. - Garden party: held by FL to introduce Damien to the noble ladies of the North. Countess Wales, an influential figure in northern society who doesn’t get on well with Countess Courzan, loudly disapproved of Damien’s inclusion in a ladies only event. Because of her, most of the ladies remained silent and turned the party into a ruined event. - FL refused to give in and left the party in anger while Damien remained outside observing everything. At the end, FL issued a warning to all of the ladies that they’d insulted the future Duke and their children and grandchildren would pay the consequences. - Later Damien apologised to FL and she said he had nothing to apologise for. She cried and said sorry to him for going ahead with an event without thinking it might hurt him. He was happy she called herself his mother and it was the 1st time anyone had cried for him. - At dinner, ML noticed FL’s swollen eyes and found out what happened from Jerome. He took FL away to their room and comforted her while she cried her eyes out. She was letting out all of the pain and suffering she’d endured since her mother died. - Damien is officially naturalised on the Taran family register, with ML listed as his father and FL listed as his mother. - Damien decides to return to the Ixium Academy earlier. He wants greater power to protect the people he cares about, like FL and what happened at the garden party. - He tells ML that he’ll become Sita, the leader of the Association which holds much influence at the Academy.