“A ring?”
Whitney tilted her head as she looked at the diamond ring brought by a bird, resting on her palm. It was undoubtedly sent by Prince Cheston.
She unraveled a note tied to the bird’s leg.
[If you agree to the terms I sent, wear this ring on the day of your debutante ball. Understand that I cannot put it on you myself.]Mesmerized by the sparkling ring in the sunlight, Whitney carefully picked it up, marveling at its iridescent glow.
‘I’ve never received something like this before.’
She felt as if she had received a confession from a man, leaving her in a daze. Of course, it wasn’t meant in that way. It was merely a visible sign of their relationship, nothing more.
Still, Whitney felt delighted. She shyly tried on the ring. Although slightly large, it fit well enough.
Continuously glancing at the ring on her finger, Whitney shook her head.
“Ugh. My heart feels like it’s floating, fluffy like cotton candy.”
The feeling was transient, but even when it disappeared, she wouldn’t cry like a child. She knew it wasn’t really hers, so she harbored no greed.
Whitney propped her chin as she gazed at the clear sky, her desk piled with documents about the ducal house, its finances, and papers on Cecilia and Melissa.
“How shall I oust them once I return to the ducal house?”
Simply sending them away would cause too much talk. She sighed and drummed her fingers on the table, then shook her head determinedly.
“I’ll think of a better way.”
For now, she placed the ring safely in a drawer, fearing she might lose it. Sonia brought breakfast, replacing the cold tea cup with hot tea and laying out a soft omelet beside fluffy bread.
Spreading strawberry jam on the bread and popping the fluffy egg into her mouth brought a smile to Whitney’s face.
“How does Emon make such delicious food every day?”
Sonia chuckled and handed her an encrusted soup. Emon had been working hard on it, she said, placing the soup with a pie-like crust on top. Tearing the crust gently with a fork revealed the warm soup inside.
“Wow! This is so fun.”
“You’d like it, I thought,” Sonia said, refilling her tea.
“Take it easy. Don’t get sick.”
“I’m fine. I’ve been eating a lot lately, and my physical strength has improved.”
“Your mother worries you’re overexerting yourself.”
Whitney shook her head and told Sonia.
“Tell her everything is going well as planned. After the debutante ball, there might be a surprise.”
“Your mother will be delighted.”
“Don’t you ask what it might be?”
Sonia nodded.
“There’s a time for everything. You’ll tell me when it’s right. Are you visiting the informant again today?”
“No, today I’m thinking of attending the tea party hosted by Lady Helene.”
“Alright. I’ll prepare the dress sent by Lebelom.”
Whitney nodded. Every time she wore one of his dresses, she became the center of attention. Despite closing his shop, Lebelom continued to receive requests, thanking Whitney profusely, yet strangely refusing to accept others’ orders until after her debutante ball.
‘Come to think of it, that’s strange. Where does he get the money to make those dresses?’
She had paid a generous sum, but it wasn’t enough to cover the cost of several dresses. Lebelom remained tight-lipped, and Whitney eventually gave up inquiring further.
She shook off her complicated thoughts and focused on the food in front of her.
“Why didn’t you hold back?”
“…You’re making it sound like it’s something trivial.”
“You’ve always been so restrained, why suddenly…?”
Aaron sighed deeply. Cheston recalled the disheveled Carl lying at his feet and chuckled.
“It was just a sparring match.”
“You know it wasn’t just any sparring match.”
“Well, I let him win in the end.”
Cheston shrugged as if there was no issue, appearing indifferent even to his sword-inflicted wound.
“Please take care of yourself.”
He closed his eyes, swirling his cup, a silent indication for Aaron to leave. But Aaron stood his ground.
“I’ll leave after making sure you rest.”
“Go ahead. The king will summon me soon anyway.”
As Cheston predicted, a maid from the main palace soon arrived, announcing the king’s summons. Cheston, tired, got up and followed the maid, taking a back route to avoid others’ gazes.
It had been a while since he’d been called to the main palace. He walked to the office, aware that the queen’s influence could easily keep him away, but his father kept summoning him. The king’s affection felt burdensome, especially considering the love that was driving him to an early grave.
Cheston entered the study, bowed, and greeted.
“May the light of the Kingdom of Léowen shine brightly. I heard you summoned me.”
“Come in. I need your opinion on something.”
The king, with his symbolic golden hair and red eyes different from Cheston’s, would have denied their blood relation if not for his blond locks.
“Please, take a seat.”
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
