The next morning, when I opened the door, I was speechless.

Riccardo had wounded himself and used his blood for painting.

The smell of blood overwhelmed me when I opened the door, causing nausea, but that was it. Once again, I was captivated by the drawing he had created.

So, I took the foamy brush again and carefully erased the painting. By now, I could almost memorize the labyrinth map.

That’s when I devised this dreadful plan.

Holding back my weakening heart, I went out to lure Riccardo.

“Ricca, what are you doing?”

He was sitting on a bench in front of the East Wing, reading a book I had lent him, looking like a painting. Fortunately, he wasn’t drawing.

“Don’t call me that.”

Despite his protests, I persistently called him Ricca, a nickname I used only when we were alone. It was a small reward for my efforts, a kind of self-compensation.

“Why not try swordplay if you’re not busy?”

His eyes narrowed at my sudden suggestion.

“Swordplay, all of a sudden?”

“Everything starts suddenly. Let’s go. The weather is perfect for swordplay today.”

I laughed awkwardly, glancing at the sky filled with dark clouds about to rain.

Riccardo clicked his tongue and scowled but obediently followed. Then he suddenly stopped.

“Why?”

His gaze was on my hand holding his.

“Do you dislike me holding your hand? I’ve been holding it often lately.”

“…No, it’s fine.”

He hesitated for a moment but then shook his head. It was a great concession from someone who had previously called me a slave and wouldn’t allow me close.

“Thanks.”

If he disliked even holding hands after all I had done for him, then he really would have had no conscience. But he seemed uncomfortable, turning his head away as I smiled broadly.

As we appeared at the training ground, Harold approached us.
At Harold’s words, Riccardo smirked and raised his sword forward in a stance. Even to me, who knew nothing about swordsmanship, the posture seemed quite impressive.

Harold, sensing something extraordinary, leaned forward to observe Riccardo’s movements more closely. But at that moment, Riccardo, readjusting his grip, launched the first attack.

“Ugh!”

Taken aback by the sudden strike, Harold embarrassingly yelped and stepped back three paces. Even though the knights of the Fennel family weren’t outstanding, I doubted it was appropriate for a fifteen-year-old boy to pose such a challenge.

Harold couldn’t regain his composure under the continuous onslaught. I gritted my teeth, urging him with my eyes to execute the order I had given earlier.

Hesitating at first, Harold finally resolved to target only Riccardo’s wrist.

Despite Riccardo’s exceptional swordsmanship for a child, he couldn’t overcome a knight exerting full effort. As Harold’s relentless attacks threw off Riccardo’s steps, Harold seized the opportunity and sharply struck Riccardo’s raised right wrist.

‘Success!’

Riccardo grimaced and clutched his wrist. Harold, looking more pained than Riccardo, threw down his sword and rushed over.

Meanwhile, I managed a triumphant smile, unnoticed by Riccardo.

Riccardo, who had just expressed trust in me, glared with a sense of betrayal. But this was a necessary choice.

“Are you okay?”

As I forced a worried expression, barely keeping my lips from curling up, Riccardo unexpectedly smiled as if he had never been angry. This clever boy must have realized I had instigated it and Harold had carried it out.

I shamelessly approached Riccardo, who lay on the ground, and extended my hand. However, he didn’t take it and instead stood up on his own, walking towards the fallen sword.

He picked up the sword with his uninjured left hand, and his movement was surprisingly natural. The sun, shining from behind, transformed into a halo around Riccardo.

“What are you doing now?”

“The sword training isn’t over yet.”

An Indifferent Woman is the One Men Desire the Most

One-line summary: The female lead is actually cold-hearted and extremely rational. She has stage-by-stage relationships and won’t two-time, but there will always be someone who secretly likes her.

This novel has the following triggers, so if you’re sensitive to these, please don’t read:

1. The female lead has had many relationships, but she treated each one seriously and broke up properly.

It’s just that the men unilaterally pestered her incessantly. For the female lead, when she doesn’t like someone anymore, she simply doesn’t like them.

(This applies to her relationships with Male Lead 1, 2, 3, and 4 as well, but she’s loyal in each 1-on-1 relationship!)

2. In this novel, Male Lead 2 and the female lead kiss in a car, and Male Lead 1 sees it and beats up Male Lead 2.

The female lead calls the police and sends both Male Lead 1 and 2 to the police station! Male Lead 1 begs the female lead not to break up with him.

3. Male Lead 1 has a gentle appearance but an obsessive personality.

Male Lead 2 has a delicate and soft appearance, slightly green tea-like (two-faced).

Male Lead 3 is a youthful college student and a smart person who has secretly liked the female lead for a long time.

Male Lead 4 is the female lead’s father’s special assistant, a business elite with deep, hidden thoughts.

4. At the beginning of this novel, the female lead has already broken up with Male Lead 1 (Chapter 4) and gotten back together with Male Lead 2 (ex-boyfriend).

5. Enter with caution if you have triggers!!!