After Linking the Villainess and Male Lead (5 Chapters Left to Complete) - Chapter 13
“There’s absolutely no chance of that happening, so please don’t worry about it.”
With those words, I gently smiled to reassure him.
At the same time, I once again steeled my resolve.
I told myself I would do whatever I truly could for him—right now—for someone who cared about me this much.
A person burdened with duty and responsibility surely needed someone to lean on and rest beside at the end of a weary day.
And if Kaern was to become that person for me, I had to act.
As I reaffirmed my resolve, silence lingered between us.
Then, the sudden realization that we were utterly alone here made my heart start pounding again, just as it had before.
‘No.’
Please, calm down.
Yet instead of calming, my heart began steadily increasing its pace, as if preparing for a full-on race.
It seemed I’d have to leave this place to avoid being alone with Kaern.
Just as I was about to suggest we leave the terrace, the music that had filled the large space beyond the curtain abruptly cut off.
Simultaneously, a steward’s loud voice announced the Emperor’s departure from the banquet.
Relieved, I quickly returned indoors with him.
I kept my head bowed until the Emperor passed through the doorway, then raised my gaze again as the music resumed.
Just then, I noticed people gradually approaching us—or rather, approaching Kaern.
Among them, a middle-aged man moved the quickest, calling out to Kaern.
“Your Grace, Duke of Lavellion.”
The man was someone I knew.
He was none other than Marquess Benjamin Arta.
The Arta family was the lineage of Kaern and Adelia’s late mother, the former Duchess of Lavellion.
Thus, the Marquess Benjamin Arta before us now was the Duke’s maternal uncle—the brother of the late Duchess and uncle to the Lavellion siblings.
“It’s been far too long.”
“Marquess Arta.”
Kaern, who had been looking at me until now, turned his head toward Marquess Arta.
Only then, freed from his gaze, could I finally relax my tension a little.
“I kept hoping you might come this time. It fills me with joy to see you here.”
“Have you been well?”
Perhaps because he was their mother’s brother, Kaern spoke to Marquess Arta with unusual warmth.
“Yes, I’ve always been well. Haha.”
Laughing heartily, Marquess Arta soon turned his attention toward me.
“Lady Rosentia.”
“Marquess Arta. It’s been a long time.”
Grateful to him for dispelling the awkward tension, I greeted him warmly.
“Adelia—ah, my apologies, I shouldn’t call her by her given name so casually anymore. She’s now the Viscountess of the esteemed Crayton house, after all. You’re her closest friend, aren’t you?”
Marquess Arta mentioned Adelia as he asked me.
“Yes, that’s correct, Your Grace.”
“It seems the Viscountess isn’t attending this banquet, then.”
“Yes, I received word in advance that she wouldn’t be able to join this time.”
“I see. That’s truly unfortunate. Whenever the Viscountess attended balls or banquets, her uniquely bright presence always filled the room with warmth.”
“Even she said she’d be terribly sorry to miss it, since a banquet without her wouldn’t be any fun.”
“Come to think of it, Duke Lavellion and Lady Rosentia are betrothed, are you not?”
“Huh? Ah—yes, that’s right.”
Caught off guard by his sudden mention of our engagement, I barely managed to compose my expression before answering.
“Now that your younger sister, the Viscountess Crayton, has married, we can surely expect good news from you soon, yes?”
His words, unmistakably alluding to marriage, left me speechless. I avoided giving a reply.
I could have easily given a vague answer, but I simply couldn’t affirm something that was destined to end in a broken engagement.
Yet denying it outright would have seemed terribly odd, too.
After all, betrothal naturally led to marriage—it was the expected course of things.
‘What should I say?’
I couldn’t keep staying silent like this.
I had to say something, so I scrambled for words in my mind.
Still drawing a blank, I was just about to utter some evasive reply when—
“That is…”
“We were actually planning to hold the wedding soon. You might receive an invitation from us before long, so if you intend to attend, I suggest keeping your schedule free.”
His calm, utterly unexpected words slipped from Kaern’s lips.
What did he just say?
‘Get married?’
Who?
Kaern and me?
Stunned, I looked up at him.
After holding my gaze for a moment, he turned back to Marquess Arta and emphasized firmly,
“I feel I’ve left my fiancée alone far longer than necessary.”
“Oh, I see! At last, Your Grace is to be married—what a splendid occasion for your house. I shall instruct my wife to prepare a wedding gift. Ah, speaking of time—it’s already this late. I must take my leave now.”
“Please travel safely.”
“…Have a safe journey, Marquess Arta.”
“Until we meet again.”
Like a stone tossed into still water, Marquess Arta departed, leaving ripples behind as he slowly walked away.
“You seemed unwell today, so let’s not overexert ourselves any further. Let’s head inside.”
Kaern spoke to me as I stood there, blankly watching the marquess’s retreating figure.
“Yes, all right.”
His words were the most welcome thing I’d heard all evening, and I nodded quickly in reply.
I wanted to return home as soon as possible.
I desperately needed to sort through the tangled situation and my own thoughts.
But since I’d arrived in the same carriage as him, I had no other means of returning alone.
Thus, reluctantly, I climbed into the Lavellion family carriage.
The entire ride was silent.
For some reason, Kaern seemed withdrawn, and my mind was too overwhelmed to muster the energy for conversation.
‘First, I need to sort out my thoughts.’
I needed to understand clearly why he’d said that—and what exactly was happening.
“May I open the window a little?”
I felt stifled and needed some fresh air.
When I asked Kaern, he slowly nodded.
“The night air is cool, so don’t leave it open too long.”
With his permission, I threw the carriage window wide open.
A cool breeze, laden with the night air, rushed in.
The wind helped ease the tightness in my chest—at least a little.
Though a weighty dilemma now lay before me, I didn’t want to think about anything just yet.
So I closed my eyes and quietly let the breeze wash over me.
How long had we traveled like this?
The carriage gradually slowed to a stop.
Opening my eyes and looking outside, I recognized the familiar mansion.
Kaern rose first and stepped out of the carriage, then extended his hand to me.
I quietly stared at his large, long fingers before gently taking his hand and stepping down.
“Thank you for seeing me home.”
I thanked him and tried to let go of his hand.
But just like before, he held onto mine firmly, preventing me from pulling away.
“Your Grace?”
When I called his name awkwardly, he finally released my hand.
“Thanks to you, I was able to return home comfortably today. I truly appreciate your care for my well-being.”
Though my heart had pounded fiercely all evening and the day had been exhausting, I had spent every moment with him.
Because of that, those moments felt incredibly precious and dear to me.
“I’ll be away from the capital for a while—I have somewhere to go.”
“Oh? Ah, I see.”
“Even without Adelia and me, everyone at the ducal estate holds you in high regard… You’re welcome anytime.”
“Yes, I understand. Thank you.”
Though he’d just given me a massive dilemma to wrestle with, I couldn’t help but feel deeply fond of him for such thoughtful consideration.
Smiling brightly at him, I added,
“Please travel safely, Your Grace.”
He stared at me for another long moment before finally turning away.
“If anything happens—no matter how trivial—be sure to contact me immediately, especially since your health is delicate.”
With that earnest reminder, he climbed back into the carriage.
“Yes, I will.”
Moments later, the carriage door closed, and with a resonant neigh from the horses, it began to fade into the distance.
Bitterness filled me at the thought of his departure again, and I watched until the carriage vanished from sight.
Then, overwhelmed by a wave of exhaustion, I turned and walked into the mansion.
Male lead is a clingy little husband
One-line summary: The male lead is initially an arrogant, noble, love-deprived brat, later a cute, clingy, scheming little jealous one.
Introduction:
One day, Lu Yuner’s soul transmigrates into a female-dominant world. She enters the Imperial Academy and takes up the position of a doctoral instructor, teaching classes and grading schoolwork.
One day, she encounters the young prince Su Qingwan secretly skipping class from the male academy.
As a result, Su Qingwan is punished.
From then on, Su Qingwan sees Lu Yuner as a “thorn in his side”.
But before long, this “thorn” becomes the person he cherishes most, and he goes to great lengths to win Lu Yuner’s affection.
Mini scene 1:
One day, the sun is high in the sky but Su Qingwan still hasn’t gotten up for class.
Servant Xiaoyuan: “Young prince, it’s time for class. You’ll be late otherwise.”
Su Qingwan says arrogantly: “I’m not going. I am the esteemed prince, my status is so noble, why should I suffer this hardship? Besides, isn’t learning all this just to please women? Hmph, they’re not worthy!”
Mini scene 2:
After Su Qingwan falls for someone, he completely changes. He no longer skips class and diligently learns how to be a good husband and father. But he discovers that Sister Yuner is always surrounded by admirers.
Drunk and overcome with jealousy one day, he clings to Lu Yuner, crying beautifully like a pear blossom in the rain.
Su Qingwan: “Qingwan likes Sister Yuner.”
Lu Yuner: “Young prince, you’re drunk.”
Su Qingwan: “Qingwan isn’t drunk. Qingwan likes Sister Yuner, likes you so much, likes you to bits…” Before he can finish, Lu Yuner’s eyes flash with emotion and she leans in closer.
[Reading Guide]
1. The female lead is gentle, gracious, humble and polite but not weak. The male lead is initially an arrogant, noble, love-deprived brat, later a cute, clingy, scheming little jealous one.
2. 1v1, a bit torturous in the beginning but definitely sweet later on.
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If there is a person checking these comments. Can you please add a word/letter count to the bottom. Also sometimes the comments don’t stay within the chapter you read but throughout the whole book, please fix that glitch. Another, per book- hour limited to how many comments can earn cookies – it’s better you write that somewhere or give a notification to the commenter about that. The notification about the 3/3 free reads glitch too, sometimes it says 3/1,1/3,1/1 or not work. The cookies glitch sometimes too, id have 10 but when I try to unlock chapter it keeps saying I have none. Love yalls work!
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