Blackening the Affectionate Male Lead (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 14
Whitney’s days had changed noticeably. Handmaidens entered her room on time to assist her with dressing and taught her the necessary etiquette.
There was a mountain of things to learn, starting from historical knowledge of the Kingdom of Lewen.
It was fortunate that she still remembered some of what she’d learned as a child. Since no proper teacher had ever been assigned to Whitney, everything she was now learning from House Rubernus felt entirely new.
‘It’ll take time to learn.’
Whitney did her best not to burden her aunt, who had helped her. On top of that, she’d unexpectedly gained a younger sibling, leaving her quite flustered.
“Nuna, shall we take a walk together and have some tea today?”
“Is that so? Have you already finished all your homework?”
Leo nodded. His flushed cheeks remained as endearing as ever. After finishing her lessons for the day, Whitney went for a walk with Leo.
The gardens of House Rubernus never failed to draw gasps of admiration. Lush, meticulously arranged flowers and trees graced the vast meadows—so peaceful it was hard to believe this land bordered a frontier territory.
‘That must mean the Margrave is guarding it well.’
She could almost understand why His Majesty the King felt the need to keep watch. Just from observing the knights, one could tell how secure this place was. They lived calmly yet resolutely, exuding confidence that they could handle any crisis.
There were still five months until the debutante ball in August. To Whitney, time seemed to drag unbearably slowly.
“Nuna, but what is this plant?”
“Something very important. It must never be taken by others. So it’s a secret from everyone else.”
Whitney planted Bellonia in a secluded corner of the garden. She’d told her aunt it was merely a medicinal herb to gain permission to plant it, but hadn’t revealed its true nature.
‘It should be safe planted here.’
Given this environment, it would surely survive and thrive. Besides being an unknown herb, it resembled an ordinary weed—without close inspection, it was hard to distinguish. Bellonia had regularly spaced white spots at the tips of its leaves, which played a crucial role in its antidotal properties.
Unfortunately, Leo had discovered it, so she’d had no choice but to declare it their secret. At the word “secret,” Leo’s eyes sparkled with delight.
“A game! A secret game!”
Leo nodded repeatedly, as if swearing never to tell anyone. Whitney chuckled and ruffled his hair.
“Waaah! Nuna is so pretty. I wish you’d keep smiling like this!”
Leo’s smiling face looked even more adorable as he spoke. Whitney laughed heartily as she watched him beam while hugging her tightly.
Somehow, since coming here, she’d been smiling far more often.
[This is the timeline separator]Chester sipped his tea with an impassive expression. He’d finally stepped forward, unable to watch any longer as his mother was once again summoned by the Queen.
“Mother isn’t feeling well, so I’ve come in her place.”
“How delightful—a rare mother-and-son tea time. It’s been far too long since we last sat face to face over a cup of tea, Chester.”
Mother and son. Where in the world could there be a mother who wished her own child dead?
Chester was now officially recognized as the Queen’s child. As Queen Adelaide was the King’s lawful wife, tradition dictated that Chester be registered as her son.
Of course, the Queen hadn’t wanted this—but faced with the King’s insistence, or rather coercion, she’d had no choice but to accept. Chester only wished the King would finally stop concerning himself with him.
The King’s affection was poison—for him and for his mother alike. Since it was an unwanted love, he simply wished it would be given to someone who actually desired it.
Chester met the Queen’s piercing red gaze for a moment before turning his eyes away. His voice remained flat as he replied.
“…That’s correct. I deeply regret not visiting more often.”
The bitter taste of the tea mingled with the faint scent of Libenia blossoms. The Queen watched Chester drink his tea with a gentle smile.
“One shouldn’t speak so formally between parent and child. Let us often share moments like this over tea.”
“I would like that, but this place doesn’t seem suited for my frequent visits.”
“I’ve known Chester since childhood, and you truly are a quick learner. As a mother, I’m proud. There’s plenty of tea—please enjoy it to your heart’s content.”
Watching the Queen smile made his stomach churn.
“Mother, were you here?”
An unwelcome voice made Chester’s brow twitch slightly. Karl de Clifton—the Queen’s only beloved child.
“Karl, what brings you here at this hour? Shouldn’t you still be in lessons?”
“I finished early. I didn’t expect to find Prince Chester sharing tea with you. It would’ve been nice if I’d been invited too.”
“You’re always busy. I was feeling a bit lonely, so I invited Elenia for a chat over tea, but she wasn’t feeling well, so Chester came instead.”
The Queen turned to call a handmaiden to prepare tea for him, and Karl reached for the empty teacup to pour himself some.
Chester watched Karl’s actions closely, curious how the Queen would react if her own son drank tea laced with poison.
“What impertinence is this!”
In an instant, the Queen slapped his hand away, and Karl dropped the teacup. It shattered on the floor, spilling tea everywhere.
Startled, Karl’s wide red eyes grew even larger. Chester rose from his seat with a faint smile playing at his lips.
“Now that my elder brother is here, I shall take my leave. Perhaps you should hold tea times with him more often.”
The Queen didn’t reply—she merely smiled faintly. Chester bowed and headed toward the palace annex.
As he reached the annex, Chester struggled to steady his blurred vision.
“Damn it. Just how much was in that tea this time?”
He took a deep breath and entered the annex. At that moment, his balance faltered.
“Are you alright? Lady Elenia has fallen asleep.”
“Good…”
Chester leaned on Aaron’s support as they walked to his room. If even his body—which had built up immunity and normally resisted most poisons—was struggling this badly, perhaps the Queen had truly meant to kill him this time.
“Just how far does that mad queen intend to go?”
“Aaron, watch your words. Ears are everywhere. Calm down and check the drawer—there should be some of the herbs Lady Orleans gave us left.”
“…Understood.”
He sank onto the sofa, leaning back with a weary sigh. He was utterly exhausted. The uncertainty of how much longer he’d have to endure this life made everything even harder.
“Rest.”
At Aaron’s words, Chester closed his eyes and tried to sleep.
[This is the timeline separator]Whitney received a letter from Leberom. Her dress was nearly finished, and her heart leapt with excitement.
House Rubernus provided everything Whitney needed—her clothes, her meals, all of it. Every day was a whirlwind of wearing new dresses and learning things she’d never been taught before.
Until recently, she’d been locked away in an attic, unable to properly interact with anyone. Life in the Rubernus domain was utterly unimaginable for her. Everyone treated her kindly and with proper respect.
Occasionally, hazy childhood memories she couldn’t quite place surfaced, leaving a bitter taste—but clinging to the past wouldn’t help her now.
Whitney lightly slapped her cheeks and opened her eyes wide. Only four months remained—not much time at all. Before then, she had to master everything and be perfectly prepared.
‘By the way… I should send word to His Highness the Prince that I’ve left the Ducal Mansion…’
But there was no way. Sending a letter to the royal palace would undoubtedly reach someone else’s ears. Whitney racked her brain for a solution, but none came to mind.
Deciding it best to focus on her immediate tasks, she turned her attention back to her books.
Knock knock knock.
“Your Highness Princess Whitney, my lady is asking for you.”
At Sonia’s words, Whitney followed her out of the room. After greeting Lady Rubernus, the woman showed her a small bird perched on her finger.
“I’m not sure if it’s luck or fate, but good tidings have come your way.”
The little bird tilted its head and looked directly at Whitney. Not understanding her aunt’s meaning, Whitney stood quietly and stared at the bird.
“The bird seems quite fond of you, Aunt.”
“Whitney, this isn’t just any ordinary bird. It’s used for sending secret messages to the royal court.”
“Secret messages?”
Wait—did she just say “royal court”?
Whitney’s eyes finally dropped to the bird’s leg. Spotting a tiny rolled-up note tied there, she carefully approached.
She gently untied the paper from the bird’s leg but didn’t take it, waiting patiently instead.
“The Queen has sent an invitation. Word must have reached her that House Rubernus has welcomed a new member. What will you do?”
“…Does this mean I can go to the palace?”
“Yes—it’s not something granted to just anyone. But I cannot accompany you. You’d have to go alone. Will you be alright?”
Whitney hesitated for a moment. But if she went to the palace, she might also get to see His Highness Prince Chester.
She gave a careful nod.
Perhaps this was her chance to discover who was taking Libenia—and why she’d smelled its scent on him.
“I’ll go. I’ll manage on my own.”
“I knew you’d say that. But always be cautious—the Queen sees through people’s intentions far more clearly than one might expect.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
Whitney gazed up once more at the bird soaring into the sky.
Male lead is a Love-Obsessed Merman
When he discovers she has gone, he risks everything to pursue her on land, enduring agonizing pain to transform his tail into human legs…
One-line summary: Male lead chases female lead. The male lead’s love is a bit sick, an invincible love brain.
Synopsis
During a voyage at sea, Jiang Yang accidentally captures a merman.
Servant: I heard that mermen are fierce and brutal.
Jiang Yang looks at the merman obediently rubbing her palm like a puppy: “You call this fierce and brutal?”
Servant: I heard that mermen have no human nature.
Jiang Yang looks at the merman with wet puppy eyes, obsessively calling her ‘A Yang’ like a childish infant: “You call this having no human nature?”
With great difficulty, she releases the merman back into the sea and returns to shore.
Who would have thought that in less than half a month, the merman, who should have been freely wandering in the South China Sea, would shed his scales, endure the pain of losing his tail, transform into human legs, and come ashore to find her?
He kneels at her feet, rubbing her palm, with merman tears rolling down: “A Yang, don’t abandon me.”
_____
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Chapter Comments (1)
Inline Comments (9)
Cecilia hosted parties every two weeks, inviting guests to the Ducal Mansion—lik
What if it was Prince Carl? Or the man who brought them from the countryside and helped them?
“Meeting someone privately?”
I think she dyes her hair, or that she’s an illegitimate daughter of another man.
Mother would surely be furious, so it remained to be seen how she’d react. Judgi
I hope Cecile gets a very gentle punishment that cuts her down 🙂🔪
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This is the first time I’ve seen a good aunt help the heroine; I think this novel is different.