As soon as I said that, April’s pink eyes twinkled (really, they sparkled ominously. I thought she was a wild animal.) and she firmly wrapped her arms around my waist, refusing to let go.
Seeing this, Grayan gave a blatantly bitter smile. Well… it’s true that April is following me, who’s infamous as a villainess, more obediently than her own father.
I sighed softly and comforted April.
“April, children shouldn’t be around adults drinking.”
“I’m not a child. I’ll be thirteen after my next birthday…!”
As April shook her head stubbornly, she tightened her grip on my waist. Uh huh, while it’s true that you can make your social debut from the age of 13… she’s still a child! She’s still six years away from becoming an adult at 19!
Besides, there’s a world of difference between 19 and 13. I struggled to shake off April. No, how is she so strong?
‘Surely, a powerful and strong morning bunny…!’
Yes. April had been doing the miracle morning routine all this time. Morning people… no, bunnies are healthy and strong!
With my poor stamina, I could hardly shake off April. I scattered a look of desperation around me, and my eyes met Grayan’s.
“….”
He gave a awkward smile, and slowly approached us. Grayan, who had reached our side, laid his hand on April’s shoulder, and April flinched slightly.
Looking up at Grayan, April’s eyelids trembled.
“April, you shouldn’t trouble your stepmother.”
“….”
April clenched her lips, and tightened her grip on my waist. Eek. I feel like I’m going to die! I can’t breathe!
“April.”
Grayan sternly admonished April. But then…
‘Oh, no…’
Huge tears welled up in April’s eyes!
Confused, I licked my lips. April’s pink eyes, glaring at Grayan, were full of defiance. Is she already going through puberty…?
“April…?”
Just when I cautiously called out to April, her appearance suddenly changed.
In an instant, she turned into a tiny, white bunny and jumped into my arms. I had to catch April reflexively. Otherwise, the little bunny’s body would fall straight to the ground!
“Chirp…!”
April the bunny clung to me with a pathetic cry. Her strong determination to never let go was evident.
Not knowing what to do, I just laughed. This is really insane…
“April really seems to like Lady Gloria.”
Jade, who had been quiet until then, spoke in a subtle voice. One corner of his mouth lifted slightly, which was not so harmless. It felt like he was thinking something dark inside…!
“We may be minors, but wouldn’t it be okay for us to just sit at the same table? We can drink nonalcoholic beverages.”
Jade spoke as if it was the most reasonable solution. His voice was so persuasive that I almost nodded in agreement. This kid… Are you really thirteen? Are you really on your second life?
“Besides, there’s been a rise in incidents lately. The kidnapping of beastman children.”
Come to think of it… The servants at the Salisbury mansion were talking about that. The missing beastman child case. A heinous crime targeting only young beastmen was on the rise…
“I don’t doubt the security level of Duke Salisbury’s territory or the abilities of the escort knights, but it’s better to be careful, isn’t it? Wouldn’t it be better if we are all together on the first floor? And I’m curious too. What could possibly be the backstory of the inspector…”
Jade’s eyes, trailing off at the end of her sentence, were meaningful… Somehow, it looked as if she was popping popcorn, was it just my feeling? No, considering Jade’s character, there’s even more popcorn left to be popped! It’s thrilling that I’m under the spotlight, isn’t it!
‘But it’s Gloria who’s under the spotlight, not me… It’s unfair, seriously.’
Anyway, accepting Jade’s opinion and April’s stubbornness, we all ended up together on the first floor.
April, still in her rabbit form, was clinging tightly to me. Now that I look at it, she was an obsessive rabbit. She was obsessed with me. Why? April’s psychology is as difficult to understand as Grayan’s.
“April, do you want some celery?”
I offered some celery to April, which had come out as a side dish. The rabbit’s nose and cheeks were shimmering and her whiskers were twitching. I want to touch her whiskers.
But April swatted the celery with her front paw. The flying celery accurately hit Jade’s cheek and dropped onto the table.
“…!”
April flinched a little. She fidgeted her front paws, seemingly a little sorry, and sneaked a glance at Jade. Jade, who smiled faintly, said,
“It’s okay. These things can happen.”
‘You, you, you, you pretend to be generous…!’
I know how twisted your personality is…! He’s the kind of guy who would later ask, “April, do you remember when you hit my cheek with celery?” and stimulate April’s guilt.
There have been as many as 17 episodes where Jade manipulated April in such a way.
He was like the embodiment of a blackhearted, scheming obsessive! Of course, there are those who are worse than him…
‘Come to think of it, I’m more worried about him than Jade….’
The Male lead Always Seduces Her with His Beauty (Matriarchy)
Xin Jiao Zhou is the leader of the world’s premier sect. She has just experienced betrayal from all sides, was poisoned in an assassination attempt, and faced death squad attacks while the poison was taking effect. After finally clearing out the scum from her sect, she was drugged again while trying to detoxify.
After waking up from a night of unconsciousness, she gained a “beautiful and kind-hearted” husband.
Xin Jiao Zhou: “???”
He fell ill.
She came to see him, bringing breakfast.
As she put down the breakfast and was about to leave, his hand slipped while holding the spoon. “Clank!”
She turned around upon hearing the noise.
He looked up at her, his eyebrows drooping: “My hand… has no strength.”
“Shall I… feed you?” she asked tentatively.
He opened his mouth cheerfully: “Ah—”
Thinking she was drowning, he jumped in without hesitation to save her, but nearly drowned himself. In the end, it was she who swam over to rescue him, giving him air underwater.
After emerging from the water, his ear tips turned red. He lightly brushed his cheek, tucking his sideburns behind his ear, revealing delicate, pink-tinged ear tips. He lowered his gaze, too embarrassed to look at her.
Xin Jiao Zhou: He’s truly beautiful, kind-hearted, and adorable.
A certain someone when disciplining subordinates behind the scenes: “If they don’t obey, just kill them.”
What’s that? She might already have someone she cares about in her heart? A certain someone: Find out who it is, kill them, and then there won’t be anyone.
What? She met a man by the riverside? What? That man even hurt her? A certain someone: Whichever hand hurt her, chop off his entire arm.
Love at first sight without realizing it, gradually falling in love, slowly getting closer…
Family and national grudges, schemes and desires, good and evil, crime and punishment, she and he face the future together, seeking justice with passion!
A naturally dark female lead who could accidentally destroy the world but is actually an honest person VS a weak, pitiful, and helpless but skilled fighter, beautiful white-cut black male lead
My heart is not of stone, how steadfast is your love? — Tao Yuanming “Imitating the Ancients (No. 3)”
— Reading Guide —
Cold female lead & dramatic black lotus with hidden yandere traits male lead
