Whitney’s days had noticeably changed. Maids would come on time to assist her with dressing and etiquette lessons.
She had a mountain of historical knowledge about the kingdom of Leowen to learn.
Thankfully, some of what she had learned in her youth still remained. Not having had a proper tutor at the Orleans duchy, everything she learned at the Rubenius family felt new.
‘This is going to take time.’
Determined not to be a burden to her aunt who had helped her, Whitney put her best effort into everything. She even unexpectedly got a younger brother, making her days even busier.
“Whitney, let’s go for a walk today,” the young Leo suggested.
“Should we? Have you finished your homework already?”
Leo nodded, his cheeks rosy as ever. Whitney, having completed her lessons for the day, went for a walk with him.
The Rubenius family’s garden always left her in awe. The vast fields, beautifully arranged flowers, and trees seemed too peaceful for a territory located at the border.
‘This must mean the border count is guarding it well.’
She understood why the king would keep a check on this place. Looking at the knights, it was evident how secure the area was. Their calm yet unwavering lifestyle suggested a readiness for any eventuality.
With five months until the debutante ball in August, time seemed to pass slowly for Whitney.
“Whitney, what is this plant?”
“Very important. We can’t let others take it. So it’s a secret between us, okay?”
Whitney planted the Velonia in the garden’s inner area. She had gotten permission to plant the herb by telling her aunt it was a medicinal plant, but had not disclosed its true nature.
‘It should be safe here.’
The plant wouldn’t die in this environment and looked like a weed, making it hard to distinguish unless examined closely. Velonia had white spots at the tips of its leaves, crucial for its detoxifying properties.
Caught by Leo, Whitney had to tell him it was their secret. The word ‘secret’ sparked excitement in Leo’s eyes.
“A secret game!”
He nodded emphatically, promising not to tell. Whitney, smiling, ruffled Leo’s hair.
“Wow, Whitney, you’re pretty. Keep smiling like this!”
Leo’s cheerful face looked even more endearing. Whitney hugged him, both laughing heartily.
She found herself smiling more since coming here.
Cheston sipped his tea with a detached expression, stepping in for his mother who was summoned by the queen again.
“I came in my mother’s stead as she’s unwell.”
“A rare opportunity for a mother-son tea time. It’s been a long time since we sat down for tea, Cheston.”
A mother trying to kill her child?
As the legitimate son of Queen Adelaide, Cheston was registered as her child. Though the queen objected, the king’s coercion left her no choice but to accept. Cheston wished the king would lose interest in him.
The king’s affection was poison for both him and his mother. It was love he wished could be given to someone who wanted it.
Cheston looked away from the queen’s piercing red eyes, answering in a flat tone.
“Indeed. I regret not being able to visit more often.”
The bittersweet taste of the tea, mixed with the scent of Livinia flowers, lingered. The queen watched Cheston drink his tea with a smiling face.
“Between a parent and child, such words shouldn’t be exchanged. How about we have tea together like this more often?”
“I would like that, but this place doesn’t seem fitting for frequent visits from me.”
“I’ve watched Cheston grow up from a young age, and he has always been a quick learner. I’m proud as a mother. Enjoy the tea, there’s plenty.”
Looking at the queen’s smiling face, Cheston felt queasy inside.
“Mother, were you here?”
An unwelcome voice interrupted, causing Cheston’s brow to slightly furrow. Carl de Clifton, the queen’s beloved and only child.
“Carl, what brings you here at this time? You should be busy with lessons.”
“I finished early. But I didn’t expect to find Prince Cheston having tea with you. I would have joined if I had been invited.”
“You’re always so busy, Carl. Just as Elenia and I were going to have tea, she felt unwell, and Cheston came in her stead.”
The queen turned to call a maid to prepare tea for Carl, who poured himself some tea from an empty cup.
Cheston closely watched the queen’s reaction, curious to see how she would respond to her son drinking tea potentially laced with poison.
“What disrespectful behavior this is!”
Suddenly, the queen slapped Carl’s hand, causing him to drop the cup. It shattered on the floor, splashing the tea everywhere.
Startled, Carl’s red eyes widened. Cheston, with a faint smile, stood up.
“Now that my brother is here, I’ll take my leave. Perhaps you should also have tea time with him more often.”
Without a response, the queen just smiled. Cheston bowed and headed back to the palace.
As he approached the palace, Cheston struggled to focus his blurred vision.
‘Damn it. How much did she poison this time?’
He steadied his breathing and entered the palace, staggering.
“Are you alright? Elenia is asleep.”
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
