Darkholm Translation

CHAPTER 065 The secluded residence of Princess Lilibet. “What nonsense are you talking about?” The Empress Dowager's eyes flashed fiercely at her niece, who stood with clenched fists. “I’m giving up. I’m voluntarily withdrawing from the Empress candidacy.” Princess Lilibet’s beautiful face twisted in an ugly expression as she shook her head and shouted. As soon as the Emperor took Arabelle on a boat trip, two of the six candidates voluntarily withdrew. Now, with only two rounds left in the Empress selection contest, only four candidates remained. If Arabelle won even one more round, she would emerge victorious overall, having already won three of the five competitions.  Even if different candidates won the remaining two competitions, Arabelle, who had won twice so far, would still become Empress. However, if one candidate won both of the remaining contests, they would tie with Arabelle, leading to a final showdown between the two. But the contest itself was becoming meaningless. Th...

CHAPTER 064 Maxwell dismounted from the horse and opened his arms toward Arabelle. As she leaned into the Emperor's embrace, his large hands wrapped around her slender waist and pulled her close to him. His arms encircled her back and waist, holding her tightly yet gently against his body, causing her small feet to dangle in the air. Their eyes met at the same level, gazing into each other. Her clear eyes captured the intense ruby red of his, sensing his thirst, while his sharp gaze held her moist, soft brown eyes, tasting her excitement. It was as if they were the only two people in the world, surrounded by a serene and almost silent lake, which felt cozy and warm. The Emperor's eyes traced an arc as he leaned closer to Arabelle's face, his sharp nose gently brushing against her rounded one, his warm breath touching her lips. As the Emperor tilted his head slightly more, his long eyelashes softly fell, casting shadows on his cheeks. The Emperor carefully captured her lips,...

CHAPTER 063 Lake Innis was formed by a volcanic eruption thousands of years ago. The birthplace of the Heltred tribe, founded by a golden lion hatched from the egg of a red dragon at the deepest, fiery part of the lake, marking the beginning of the Heltred founding myth. As time passed, the traces left by the volcano vanished, and the cold waters of the northern continent's glaciers took their place. Now, Lake Innis is commonly known as Glacier Lake. On this late autumn afternoon, the lake's color leaned more towards a pale white than blue, embracing the cold sky overhead. The vast expanse of the lake stirred the imagination, making one think of a sea they had never seen before. Arabelle's light brown, clear eyes captured the sight of the Emperor rowing on the opposite side. As the sun slowly set behind Arabelle, casting shadows over the Emperor's face, his expression played a game of hide and seek, appearing and disappearing. Every time she blinked, the Emperor's e...

CHAPTER 062 "......." "......Belle....." A faint voice echoed distantly, barely audible. Arabelle's closed eyes tightened, and her pink lips parted slightly as if to speak, but only shallow breaths escaped. "......Arabelle......" The voice, which had been distant in the thick dawn mist, grew closer. "......Arabelle...!" Someone urgently called Arabelle's name. It was a clear, youthful male voice on the verge of maturity. The darkness around her began to brighten as the voice's owner approached. It was as if a gentle light followed him, illuminating the surroundings. His long lavender hair, which fell to his waist, was damp with sweat, and his large, pale pink eyes quivered with anxiety. His snow-white skin, like the snow on mountaintops, shimmered subtly as if dusted with diamond powder. Perhaps his bright skin was why he was visible even in the darkness. Between his fine strands of hair, his pointed ears were only partially concealed...

CHAPTER 061 “Whoa……!” “Gasp…… Oh, my!” “Huh……!” Exclamations and voices filled with awe and horror erupted from all around. In the vast training grounds of the Imperial Guard, carved out of the hill behind the Imperial Palace, a tense showdown was unfolding. Beneath the fluttering imperial flags, those reenacting a fierce scene that could rival a real battlefield were not the famed Imperial Guard knights of the continent, but the six candidates for Empress. This was the third Empress selection contest. It was a competition to evaluate the martial skills of the Empress candidates. The coveted position of the Empire's Empress was fraught with danger. The number of assassins who had attempted to take the Empress's life by breaking through the Imperial Guard's ironclad defenses was not small. Most attempts had fortunately ended in failure, but sadly, the fifth Empress was kidnapped, and the twelfth Empress lost her life. The eighteenth Empress and her newborn Crown Prince were ...