A Shadow Cast in Paradise (23 Chapters Left to Complete) - Chapter 8
“Everyone, get ready. We’re leaving tomorrow.”
Head Maid Caroline urged the maids.
The news had spread that the Duke would depart from this villa tomorrow.
“Finally, we’re returning to Munhe Castle!”
“The fireplaces here are so outdated—it’s been a pain to maintain them.”
The maids bustled about, packing luggage and chattering noisily.
Caroline shook her head at that.
“No. You won’t be going to Munhe Castle—you’ll be heading to Ideana instead.”
At that moment, a sharp crash echoed through the room as porcelain shards scattered loudly.
All eyes turned to where Liana stood.
“I-I’m sorry.”
Liana bowed deeply to apologize, then hurriedly began cleaning up the broken plate.
Although people gossiped about her mistake, their whispers didn’t reach Liana’s ears.
‘Ideana…?’
Her mind went blank.
She’d heard Shade Lester had been granted a new territory as a reward for his service.
But she never imagined it would be the Ideana domain.
Just then, Head Maid Caroline’s feet stopped before Liana, who was still picking up the shards.
“You’ll be going to the Ideana domain as well.”
“Yes…?”
Startled, Liana pricked her fingertip on a shard.
But there was no time to feel the pain.
“His Grace gave specific instructions—you’re to be assigned to Ideana.”
Caroline pointed to one side of the room.
There lay the pile of luggage destined for Ideana.
At the mention of ‘Ideana,’ Liana’s heart pounded like a drum.
It was her birthplace, the land of her downfall—the very place where the seeds of her bitter fate with Shade had first taken root.
She couldn’t possibly return to that place she’d barely escaped from.
“I… I already submitted my resignation.”
Liana recalled the letter she’d personally handed in just days ago.
When Shade hadn’t decided her fate, she’d resolved to quit herself.
“That was rejected.”
Caroline didn’t bother adding, ‘His Grace tore it up and burned it.’
She owed the girl no such courtesy of elaboration.
“Besides, quitting before even properly doing your work? With that attitude, you’ll never find another house willing to hire you as a maid. Be grateful.”
Caroline issued a stern warning.
Becoming a maid in a noble household had always been difficult.
It required refinement, knowledge of etiquette, and meticulousness—and without a letter of recommendation from one’s former household, continuing as a maid was nearly impossible.
Moreover, this was the Duke Lester’s household—one of the Empire’s most esteemed princely families, whose prestige and history commanded universal respect.
It was one of the most honorable households a maid could serve in; others would kill for the chance.
Yet this girl, personally brought in by His Grace himself, wanted to quit immediately?
Caroline clicked her tongue at the new maid’s foolishness.
Someone so lacking in perseverance would never accomplish anything in the future.
“Then… I’d like to go to Munhe Castle instead.”
The servants currently staying at the villa were divided into those returning to Munhe Castle and those heading to Ideana.
Liana had to avoid being sent to Ideana at all costs.
But Caroline’s expression turned icy at those words.
“How audacious. You’ve been here barely a few days, yet you dare question decisions made from above?”
Caroline had never seen such an insolent new maid.
A newcomer should be busy reading the room and humbly learning their place—not openly voicing discontent with their master’s orders from day one.
“You’re not seriously thinking of defying His Grace’s command, are you?”
In the Duke’s domain, the Duke was king and emperor. His word was law. A maid had no right to alter his decision.
Liana knew this well. Though once a noble herself, years as a maid had taught her how to behave as one—and she understood how reckless her demand was.
But still.
“I can’t go to Ideana.”
Liana clenched her skirt.
She didn’t care if they called her insolent or clueless.
“Please… grant me permission to go to Munhe Castle instead—”
*Slap!*
A sharp blow cut off her plea.
“You’re impudent and know nothing of your place.”
A burning heat flared across her cheek.
Caroline glared down at her, eyes blazing.
As head maid, Caroline deeply valued the Lester family’s reputation and honor—and she disliked the girl His Grace had personally brought in.
That Shade Lester, who’d never spared a glance for any woman, had carried this common-born maid in his own arms? Unthinkable.
Naturally, she was nothing but a thorn in Caroline’s eye.
“Even after being banished from the bedroom, you still haven’t learned your place?”
Caroline mocked her.
‘She must think His Grace favors her and is getting arrogant. Yet she was cast out without even sharing his bed.’
Caroline decided she needed to thoroughly crush this insolent newbie—otherwise, she’d keep overstepping her bounds.
Liana bit her lip hard against the head maid’s humiliation.
Yet soon, she straightened her posture, lifted her chin, and met Caroline’s gaze directly.
“Now that you’ve even slapped me, I’ll be perfectly clear: I won’t go to Ideana. Please dismiss me.”
Her sharp, unwavering retort left Caroline frozen in shock.
The other maids were equally stunned—
no one had ever dared speak back so brazenly before.
“You really are something else.”
Caroline sneered, letting out a hollow laugh before raising her hand again.
*Slap!* The head maid struck Liana’s cheek once more.
Her body swayed; her head snapped sideways.
But Liana quickly steadied herself and stood upright again.
The head maid stared at her, unnerved by the fierce resolve in Liana’s eyes.
Not a single tear, not even a flicker of expression—despite the stinging blows.
“Seeing you now, I understand why His Grace cast you out. Clearly, you need proper discipline to avoid causing trouble.”
Caroline rolled up her sleeves, clearly resolved.
With a glance, she signaled two nearby servants, who immediately rushed forward.
They seized Liana’s arms from both sides.
“Let go of me…!”
Liana struggled, but it was useless.
“How dare you—”
*Slap!*
“—a lowly servant like you—”
*Slap!*
“—defy His Grace’s command!”
*Slap!*
Liana’s head snapped back and forth with each strike.
The final blow landed awkwardly—her ears rang, and her cheeks went numb.
Her head had shaken so violently that it ached, and her vision blurred momentarily.
She heard the head maid shouting something, but the words were indistinct.
Liana squeezed her eyes shut, trying to clear the ringing in her ears.
Then, slowly, she moved her tongue, tasting the metallic tang of blood.
“I… won’t…”
Suddenly, another *slap!* split the air.
But this time, her cheeks felt nothing.
The sound hadn’t come from her.
Liana lifted her hazy eyes.
A broad back blocked her view.
A shadow cast over her like shelter.
‘…You.’
That familiar, longed-for silhouette.
“…Who gave you permission to do this?”
His deep voice seeped into her ringing ears.
“Shade…”
Before him, Head Maid Caroline knelt, clutching her own cheeks in both hands.
“M-Master…!”
Caroline trembled, her hands shaking as she covered her stinging face.
She was too shocked to even cry.
“I asked who ordered you to do this.”
“W-Well, this girl defied your command and threw a tantrum, so I was disciplining her—”
“My command?”
“She begged to go to Munhe Castle instead of Ideana. Since you clearly assigned her to Ideana, I—”
Caroline pointed toward Liana.
Following the direction of her finger, Shade’s gaze shifted to Liana.
Instantly, the servants holding her released her, trembling violently.
Liana’s small frame swayed as she was freed—but she quickly steadied herself on both feet.
Both her cheeks were crimson, nearly purpling from the force of the blows.
Shade’s jaw clenched, teeth grinding audibly.
“Because of my command?”
“I was only trying to obey your orders as head maid…!”
“Shut your mouth.”
At Shade’s words, Caroline sealed her lips as if stitched shut, not even daring to breathe.
Everyone else froze as well.
None had ever seen their master, Shade Lester, so furious.
“You, who claim my orders matter so much,”
His cold eyes bore down on the head maid.
“Presume to mark my belongings so freely?”
Caroline’s lips quivered.
*Thud.* Shade took another step toward her.
Before his towering frame, Caroline felt utterly crushed by his mere presence, powerless to move.
“Let me ask—did I ever give you leave to abuse my property?”
Truthfully, she’d never laid hands on a maid like this before.
She could be strict—issuing reprimands, verbal warnings, or at worst, dismissal—but never outright violence.
Yet she’d gone too far with Liana.
Because, to Caroline, Liana was an intruder—a pretty-faced girl who’d entered on the Duke’s arm, seemingly favored, only to be humiliatingly banished from his bedroom. She was nothing but a discarded doll.
And when that doll dared to shout back, ignoring her place, Caroline had seized the chance to teach her a lesson for defying orders.
But it seemed the master hadn’t intended to discard the doll completely.
“I’m sorry, Master…!”
Tears welling in her eyes, Caroline bowed her head to the floor, begging forgiveness.
Shade stared down at the head maid prostrating herself, silent. The icy stillness made the servants tremble, heads bowed low.
Slowly, Shade turned and called to the knight trailing behind him.
“Kael.”
“Yes, my lord.”
“Take her away.”
With a nod toward the head maid, Kael bowed, accepted the order, and seized Caroline.
“M-Master!”
As Caroline was dragged away by Kael’s iron grip, no one dared utter a word. The air weighed down like cold iron upon their chests.
While the servants stood frozen, Shade turned his eyes to Liana. Her cheeks a wreck, she looked up at him.
Meeting her gaze, Shade’s jaw tightened.
“Follow me.”
He pushed past the servants and strode out.
When Liana hesitated, Shade halted and glanced back.
“Don’t make me repeat myself.”
His voice dripped with warning.
After giving her that look, he resumed walking.
Male lead Asks for a Divorce Every Day
It’s not often you come across a plot like this in the female-dominant genre — make sure to check it out!
This is a novel I’m planning to reread as well.
The male lead is strong, skilled in martial arts, and not the usual fragile type you often see in matriarchal novels.
Meanwhile, the female lead is a scientist—rational and logical. Even when she falls for the male lead, she doesn’t let her emotions cloud her decisions.
If you push through the first few chapters, you’ll gradually find the story really intriguing.
It has a mix of mystery, detective elements, and romance.
The author’s writing style is like crafting a puzzle—except they deliberately leave out a few pieces, making it hard to predict what happens next, yet keeping you hooked.
In the end, everything will come together and be explained.
One-sentence summary: Wife, stop playing with beakers and look at me!
In a laboratory accident, research scientist Zhu Wansheng accidentally travels to a matriarchal world. The original owner of the body is an eighteen-year-old only daughter of a wealthy rouge merchant, already married with a handsome young man.
Zhu Wansheng grins: Nice! She always said she was heaven’s favorite granddaughter. After a life of toil in her previous life, she can enjoy blessings in this one.
However, her joy lasts no more than three seconds as bad news arrives: the original owner’s family is about to go bankrupt, and her husband wants a divorce.
Even worse, she’s stuck with a research system full of restrictions.
Zhu Wansheng: ? Is this the destiny of a research dog?
——
Faced with this mess, Zhu Wansheng pours herself a bowl of wine to drown her sorrows. In her drunken haze, her husband arrives.
His figure is imposing, holding a long sword, with a dignified air that captivates Zhu Wansheng.
Gu Yingqing, however, looks at the alcohol-reeking Zhu Wansheng with undisguised disgust and coldly asks, “Divorce or not?” The intoxicated Zhu Wansheng mumbles vaguely, “I think… it’s not… it’s not… impossible!”
——
The next day, after sobering up, Zhu Wansheng is full of energy, rolling up her sleeves ready to make a big move. As for yesterday? She has no memory of it.
Zhu Wansheng is ambitious; a research dog fears nothing!
Upgrading rouge, extracting fragrances, producing perfumes, researching lipsticks… all shall bow to the power of modern technology!
The original owner’s dying rouge shop is revitalized. Her mother is pleased and with a wave of her hand, passes on the family business to her. As she takes control and her experimental results gain popularity, it’s the pinnacle of her life…
——
But there are always those who can’t stand to see her doing well. Jealousy, scheming, assassination attempts – they want nothing less than her life.
The person who has always kept his distance from her suddenly holds her tightly in his arms, eyes full of concern.
She is unharmed, but he falls into a pool of blood…
Zhu Wansheng feels guilty, “I can grant you one wish.”
Gu Yingqing tentatively circles his arms around her, carefully resting his head in the crook of her neck, pleading softly, “I regret it. Can we not divorce?”
Zhu Wansheng: ? When did I agree to a divorce?
[Small Theater]
The newly developed rouge is beautifully packaged, and Zhu Wansheng is eager to try it.
Gu Yingqing suddenly appears: “My lady, may I apply it for you?”
Cool fingertips lightly brush her lips. His Adam’s apple bobs as he leans in for a light bite.
Zhu Wansheng: ?
Gu Yingqing: It smells so good, I wanted to taste it…
On a warm spring day, Zhu Wansheng tries a new perfume: “Spring Night.” Gu Yingqing corners her against a wall.
Warm breath lingers on her neck.
“My lady, from now on, may I test the fragrances for you?”
[Humorous female scientist vs scheming live-in son-in-law male lead]
[Touch the gear icon in the bottom right corner of the screen to move to the next chapter if you want.]
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