No, we can’t. We won’t change our plan. We won’t go back empty-handed after coming all this way.
“You, Nadia, who was rescued, shouldn’t be saying that.”
“Um…”
Seeing the obviously awkward Nadia, Benedict’s brown eyes twinkled.
“I’d like this to serve as the punishment.”
“W-What?”
“Apologizing directly to the young masters and mistresses of Duke Daymon and Count Celest whom Nadia Rutri had troubled.”
“I don’t want to…”
“Don’t want to? So you’ll pay with your life? Fine by me.”
Benedict grinned and cracked his knuckles loudly, making Nadia turn pale white.
At the crossroads of choice, Nadia closed her eyes tightly.
“I’ll go… I’ll go and apologize…”
Having grown up pampered as the only daughter of the Rutri Count House, and with her dependable parents now gone, she had no other choice.
For Nadia, who had lived without regrets, sincerely apologizing would be a heavy burden.
Even Benedict seemed to understand that, smiling ambiguously.
“Like Duke Keaton, apologize sincerely for tormenting Siena’s friends. Then, I’ll overlook the audacious act of kidnapping and detaining me.”
‘A rather generous penalty.’
‘You got it.’
Compared to ripping apart someone treated as an archenemy, this was extremely lenient.
Nadia, too, realized this and made a promise.
“I understand… I promise to apologize to Duke Daymon’s daughter and Count Celest’s young mistress.”
“Don’t break it. If you do, snap.”
Benedict mimed slitting a throat.
“Don’t forget that your life is in my hands.”
“…I understand.”
“Hmph. Know that you’re lucky.”
With a curt reply, Benedict stood up.
“But where are my bow and quiver that you took? Can’t you bring them right away?”
“I-I apologize! I’ll go get them right away!”
Quickly, disregarding any dignity or appearance, Nadia rushed away. Looking at her retreating figure, I thought,
‘Is this combination okay?’
Each individual’s capabilities seemed okay, but it felt more and more like too many cooks spoil the broth.
‘Your role is to manage that well.’
‘Yup.’
Fatigue was already setting in.
The notification sounded, as if rewarding the hard work.
“Take the reward and work harder.”
‘Is there a choice?’
I will work like a dog, woof-woof!
Even if Sheri Damon and Jacqueline Celeste’s favorability towards ‘Elizabeth Keaton’ had hit rock bottom, they would at least listen to me now.
‘Hmm. They should.’
It would be sad to be shunned even in isolation.
I anxiously took out the pocket watch I had brought with me from my bag.
I had planned to allocate only two or three hours, but the ticking hand was already screaming that it wasn’t enough.
‘Rina must be worried.’
I had left the duke’s mansion making the excuse that I wanted a break, but I had left a note so they wouldn’t recklessly come looking for us.
“But if you go back, you’ll have to listen to the servants’ nagging about where you’ve been.”
‘Ah, I know. Me too.’
Muttering, I packed my things again. Ruth and Michael asked me,
“Where do you plan to go now?”
“The nearby Duchess of Celeste? Or the Duke of Damon. Please tell us your destination.”
“Um….”
Both were families I’d rather not encounter.
“Since the closest one is the Duchess of Celeste, let’s stop by there first and then head to the Duke of Damon through a secret passage.”
Looking at it in terms of the route, that was the most efficient choice.
Benedict also nodded in agreement to my suggestion.
“I’ll provide rear cover.”
“We can just quietly use magic to move like before, right?”
“Yes.”
“Understood. By now, the servants at the duke’s mansion would have realized that we’ve snuck out, so let’s hurry.”
Just then, Nadia arrived with Benedict’s bow, quiver, and clothes. She wasn’t alone; she was with a wet nurse who was still remaining at the count’s mansion.
“Here, I brought it!”
“Good job, Nadia. Let’s get ready to leave.”
“We’ve already packed.”
A well-prepared leather bag was tied to Nadia’s back. Judging from the packed belongings of the other servants, it seemed no one had any regrets about staying here.
“Alright. Let’s go!”
‘Now, what should I say to get Sheri and Jacqueline to open the door?’
That was my concern.
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
