The Tyrant’s Little Palace Maid Can Reload Her Save

[One-on-one romance, both leads are virgins. A timid, clumsy palace maid x an unpredictable emperor. The male lead is genuinely ill; the female lead is genuinely timid and cries easily, not a strong heroine. Slight angst early on.]

Youmei entered the palace at seven and spent nearly ten years in the embroidery workshop. To protect herself and secure a prosperous future, she spent all her savings bribing an old matron in the Imperial Household Department to transfer her to the emperor’s service.

On her first day, Youmei watched the emperor kill a palace maid beside him with a single stroke of his sword. Terrified and panicking, she tried to flee, only to be stabbed through the heart by a guard behind her.

When she opened her eyes again, the slaughter in the hall began all over.

The second time a guard came at her with a sword, she opened her eyes once more and finally realized she could return from the dead.

The emperor was an unpredictable tyrant, and serving at his side was like being in purgatory. Because she had secured her transfer by underhanded means, Youmei was branded a spy and went about her duties in constant fear.

In the end, one moment of carelessness brought her before the emperor.

The moon sank like water, and blood stained the tip of his sword.

She saw the emperor’s pale face and the cold, mocking intent to kill in his eyes.

Trembling, she managed to say, “As long as you don’t kill me, I’ll do anything.”

And so she became the emperor’s personal maid, as well as the woman in his bed.

-

The empire was on the brink of collapse. On the day she finally escaped the palace, Youmei thought she would be free for the rest of her life. But she was caught after all.

Looking at the familiar yet cold face of the emperor she hadn’t seen in so long, she tried the same trick again. Before she could finish speaking, she saw him smile.

“Anything? Then become my empress.”