Morris recently developed a symptom where his heart sank every time a sparrow flew in from Litten. “Sparrow” was a codename for a spy of the Leopold family.
“This could kill me,” he thought. “I might die without ever experiencing love, let alone marriage, something everyone gets to try at least once.”
The latest sparrow, arriving late in the evening, dropped another bomb in the eerily calm storm that was Johann’s office.
“So, they were together…”
His low murmuring voice, along with his expression, was devoid of any emotion. Yet, Morris felt Johann’s displeasure in his bones, sending shivers down his spine.
“They were in the same room.”
“Lancelot stayed in the room for exactly thirty-six minutes. We couldn’t ascertain the content of their conversation.”
Johann’s eyes were cold and sunken. His gaze, illuminated by the lamp light, carried a deeper betrayal than fatigue.
Since when?
Since when had they become so close, to enter a hotel room without hesitation?
Johann slowly pulled his neatly tied tie.
Was it before the divorce?
Yes, that must be why she boldly spoke of divorce.
A profound rage surged within him. He felt utterly fooled.
Strictly speaking, it shouldn’t have mattered who the woman was with; Olivia herself had several affairs. But this kind of betrayal was different.
Stealing company secrets was an unforgivable criminal act.
“Please, divorce me.”
As his wife’s echoing plea invaded his eardrums, he was swallowed by uncontrollable emotions. After sending Morris away, Johann remained motionless, staring into the void.
Three years ago, at the season’s first ball, Olivia Blanchett was undeniably the star. Her beauty was unprecedented, warranting the attention.
Disguised as a distant relative of the Blanchett earls, her market value skyrocketed as soon as she was thrown into the marriage market.
But her beauty was the problem.
The woman, who garnered attention from her debut due to her unrealistic appearance, attracted a drunken fool. That fool, Crown Prince Christian, unfortunately fell into the trap set by Earl Blanchett to clear his debts.
“Isn’t that, the Crown Prince?”
Photos of them intertwined on a sofa, published in Londen’s newspapers and magazines, spread rapidly beyond national borders.
In the photo taken from above the living room, only the woman’s face was clear, while the man’s back was visible, which was fortunate for the prince.
Engaged to the Princess of Agent, the prince sought Johann’s help, similar in physique and satisfactory to Earl Blanchett. Johann, the third son of the Edinburgh duchy, became the scandal’s protagonist in exchange for a dukedom and extensive lands.
Thus, Johann’s full title became Duke Johann Leopold of Edinburgh.
A clear trade-off.
But now he thought, “I didn’t mean it. Really. I knew nothing. Believe me.”
The memory of the woman shedding tearful diamonds haunted him.
In retrospect, perhaps she wasn’t a victim of the earl, but an accomplice, given her immorality and being seduced by a friend’s husband.
He was a fool.
A bitter sneer escaped as he contemplated his twisted hatred.
Johann meticulously placed his gold fountain pen down and stood up. He walked to the liquor cabinet, grabbed a bottle and a glass, and sank into a sofa facing the large balcony window.
Like the day Olivia regained consciousness, it was raining outside.
Just a loss of a mere ten million francs due to his wife’s betrayal. Something he could forget.
The undiluted strong vodka burned down his throat, dredging up the past.
“Why are you like this?”
It was the day Olivia cut her wrist for the second time.
“I do this because I love you. I want you to love me,” she had said, her face looking as if it would crumble at any moment with dried tear tracks.
Such words from her.
A liar.
Only now did he realize, his wife was an excellent liar.
The clock tower, usually lined with a long queue, was oddly quiet today. Puzzled, Olivia and Ann exchanged glances with widened eyes before turning back.
“Looks like it’s closed today. We came all the way from Briar,” a tourist couple informed them as they turned away.
“Ah! Thank you.”
After the couple left, Ann asked, “What should we do now?”
Their plan to climb the clock tower and make a wish was dashed.
Their next destination was a garden café famous for its seasonal fruit pancakes and black coffee. However, they weren’t hungry yet.
“Let’s go to the art museum.”
“Alright, Miss.”
Fortunately, the Royal Art Museum was a thirty-minute walk away.
Located on the west side of Royal Square, the museum, with its grand golden dome and columns, shone brilliantly in the morning sunlight.
Dozens of stairs leading to the building were bustling with visitors eager to enter.
Their pace quickened, their steps as light and playful as girls on a picnic. Olivia’s light apricot skirt brushed against Ann’s brown hem, rippling softly.
A banner fluttering on the luxurious stone building’s exterior caught Ann’s attention as they approached.
“…”
My Ex-Girlfriend Is The Regent In The Female-dominant World (Male lead transmigrates to the matriarchal world)
Two years ago, Gu Sui picked up a homeless woman in ancient costume from the street.
Apart from occasionally claiming to be a princess from a female-dominant country due to illness, her figure, appearance, intelligence, and martial arts skills were impeccable.
Naturally evolving from roommates to girlfriends, as time went on, Gu Sui found it increasingly difficult to tolerate her queen syndrome.
“Mu Jiulu, can you stop controlling me inside and out? Let’s break up.”
Gu Sui made a breakup call, and since then, he couldn’t find any trace of her.
A year later, Gu Sui, who was planning to move, woke up the next day and found himself in a different place.
“Young Master, today is the day you choose your Wife-master through martial arts competition at Jade Dew Pavilion. Please get up quickly.”
Gu Sui: Who am I? Where am I? What am I doing?
As the only son of a general’s mansion in a female-dominant dynasty, the young empress personally issued a decree allowing Gu Sui to select his Wife-master through martial arts competition. Whoever could defeat him could marry him.
Gu Sui: “……”
He didn’t inherit the original owner’s martial prowess, so anyone could defeat him! And what the hell is a Wife-master?
Forced to come to Jade Dew Pavilion, the densely packed women below made Gu Sui’s agoraphobia act up, and his face was full of resistance.
Until he saw the Regent sitting on the second floor, with a smile on the corner of her lips, her eyes wicked and nonchalant.
Hmm… she looked a little familiar.
It turned out that the Regent also found him a little familiar.
Mu Jiulu fiddled with her bone clasp, her deep gaze locked on the man who was out of place in this world.
“Finally, I found you.”
Male transmigrates into female-dominant world
One-sentence summary: What goes around comes around, taking turns in the crematorium
