Initially, he intended to take only me, but after my fierce resistance, he helped the rest of my family too and took us to a house that seemed to have been prepared in advance.
“So, you mean I had some memory of you until then?”
I just shrugged. Was it correct to say he remembered me?
“I wasn’t remembering you. But I felt I had to save you.”
“Look me in the eye.”
He stared intently into my eyes, as if trying to discern the truth.
Rochesters, who possess the power to encompass all the forces of the world, also have the ability to gauge truth, perhaps as a divine arrangement to ensure they’re not swayed by deceit.
The emotions Rochesters must reveal as a consequence of wielding their power are basic ones like joy, sadness, curiosity, and anger. However, for a duke who must conceal his intentions, this is fatal.
His emotions are momentarily reflected in the wick of his black eyes as colors. For instance, red for anger, yellow for interest.
Thus, Rochesters spend their lives training to quickly conceal their emotions, which often vanish before they can be discerned.
“Was it just… some feeling then?”
Asking me about your feelings, Riccardo? There’s no way for me to know.
I gently pushed away the hand holding my chin. It was still too overwhelming to look into his eyes, especially those devoid of any recognition.
“It might have been, or it might not have been. Either way, it was you who brought us to the house we’re living in now.”
He looked confused for a while, not continuing the conversation. Of course, it wasn’t my confusion to deal with. He was now a person from a completely different world to me.
“Are you taking me because I helped with your awakening?”
“Yes.”
There was a pause before he confirmed.
I closed my eyes tightly and then opened them again. His oblique gaze was fixed on me. Feeling a slight chill on my shoulders, my body instinctively shrank.
The depth of his gaze, so intense and yet so calm, made it impossible to guess what lay beneath. His eyes slowly drifted past my ear, lingering in the empty space behind me before returning to rest on my face. I felt as if even the smallest breath I took was amplified in the heavy silence.
Those emotionless eyes filled me with an inexplicable fear.
‘Am I destined to become a witch pretending to be a saint?’
Shaking my head vigorously, I dismissed the thought as too hasty.
“Thinking something else again?”
“Huh?”
“Miss Fenell.”
Riccardo called me tenderly, his gaze softly brushing over my hair. Even without touching, a chill ran down my spine.
“But you know…”
“Uh, yes?”
His eyes, deep and captivating like darkness itself, had never failed to muddle my mind.
“There’s something really strange since a while ago.”
His voice, thick and lingering, made my throat tighten, making it hard to swallow.
“You… like me?”
“Ah…”
Suddenly, a memory from ten years ago flashed through my mind. A 12-year-old Riccardo had asked me the same question with the same expression.
“Do you… like me?”
There was no wind inside the carriage, yet I could almost smell the fresh, tangy scent of grass, just like that day. Then, as now, I couldn’t give a proper answer, painfully aware of my enduring affection for him each time our eyes met.
“How is that even possible? After all these years…”
“That’s… true.”
I had no intention of hiding anything from him, especially not in front of those eyes that could discern truth. Before his awakening, he might have been guessing, but now, Riccardo could see the raw truth in everyone.
“Ah, but it’s like looking at delicious food when you’re hungry.”
My awkward analogy caused a slight crease to form between his brows.
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
