Dismissed by him, Roselia bowed her head and left the room. Only once outside did she feel the tension release from her body, her legs shaking with relief.
She hadn’t managed to ask the question she intended, but considering she had safely navigated through a situation as perilous as facing death, she felt fortunate enough.
Opportunity came unexpectedly, as if it had been waiting for her.
The tea party at the Marquis’s estate where she was to accompany Closette as her domestic help.
Why hadn’t she thought of this earlier?
The Marquis’s estate, where Closette was scheduled to attend, was the birthplace of the Crown Princess. Moreover, the Marquis’s daughter, Ikelia, was the younger sister of Crown Princess Ivelionne.
This meant that she could approach the Crown Princess without asking the Duke for help, just by using this opportunity.
Roselia, standing behind the dozen or so young ladies gathered at the tea party, was busy watching Ikelia’s every move.
Unlike previous tea parties, this one, held at the Marquis’s, the Crown Princess’s family home, was grander. Some young ladies, like Closette, had brought their own domestic helpers.
The handsome men, waiting behind the young ladies’ tea tables, were busy eyeing each other. Most of those glances, however, were directed at Roselia.
Roselia herself wasn’t concerned with the competition among the domestics. She was busy planning how to bring up the topic of the painting to the Marquis’s daughter.
“Oh my, the domestics are quite handsome. I feel embarrassed to say this, but among them, Lady Closette’s domestic is…”
“The most handsome, right?”
Closette, not missing the opportunity, responded with a proud shrug of her shoulders.
Watching this from behind, Roselia had to restrain herself from letting out a laugh.
“Yes, he is a refined beauty, quite rare among the rough and blunt men of Rugbelzet.”
Well, that’s because I’m a woman…
Roselia thought to herself, smiling at Ikelia, who was watching her.
Then, Ikelia, her face turning red, giggled behind her hand.
“Hmph, a man should be sturdy and masculine. How can someone so delicate and feeble properly serve as a domestic?”
It was a remark from a young lady sitting opposite Closette, apparently from the Belmont Marquis family. Her name was, I think, Jucid?
Since the start, Jucid, with her unnecessary provocations, had been grating on my nerves. Closette seemed used to Jucid’s snide comments and didn’t react, but I decided to stay quiet since there was no need to intervene.
Feeling ignored, Jucid’s face flushed with a sense of humiliation.
“By the way, Lady Closette, you’ve tied your hair up today? I see a few other ladies with similar hairstyles. It looks neat and cool. Is it a new trend?”
When the Marquis’s daughter complimented Closette’s hair, she eagerly responded.
“Right? Antonio did my hair. He did a hairdo for Lady Merlin at a previous event, and it seems to have become a trend among the ladies.”
“Oh my, such finesse.”
As the Marquis’s daughter praised him, Jucid, who had been silent, scoffed.
Watching Jucid closely, Roselia approached with a smile.
“If it’s not too bold, may I offer to style your hair, Lady Jucid?”
“What?”
Building connections with influential people in social circles was always beneficial. Especially with someone of the Marquis’s daughter’s status…
Most girls at the gathering were newly debuted or about to debut, so winning them over was easier than taking candy from a baby.
“And forgive me for being forward, but your face shape would be further highlighted by an updo, Lady Jucid.”
“Really?”
People who enjoy criticizing and provoking others often crave attention or affection. Like a monkey trainer adeptly luring with treats, Roselia skillfully managed Jucid.
“Indeed. Your youthful looks would gain a more mature image with an updo.”
“Well then, maybe…”
Soon, Jucid naturally entrusted her hair to Roselia and became docile, her face flushed.
Watching this, Ikelia whispered to Closette.
“Making Lady Jucid so tame is truly amazing.”
Seeing Ikelia react positively, Closette took the chance to speak up.
“Right? My domestic is quick-witted and skilled. His aesthetic sense is so remarkable that even I get surprised sometimes.”
Closette effortlessly delivered the lines Roselia had asked her to say, even feigning astonishment. Curious, Ikelia inquired further.
“Outstanding aesthetic sense?”
“Yes, he has an exceptional eye for art. Even the Duke acknowledges it, which says it all. Plus, having been of noble origin himself once, there’s less worry about him being discourteous to the Princess.”
Upon hearing her use the name of Klaus, whom she detested, to praise him, Ikelia looked greatly intrigued.
Male lead is a Destined Young Husband (Female-dominant)
One-sentence summary: Wife-master, listen to my explanation!
Li Ruantang, a young lady from a prestigious family, stumbled and fell. When she woke up, she saw a noble and beautiful young man sitting by her bedside, wiping away tears.
The young master had slightly reddened eyes, and his every move exuded charm.
The sight made Li Ruantang’s eyes hot and her heart flutter. After all, she had made a bet with the young master Meng from the neighboring family. If she couldn’t marry a husband before the end of the year, she would have to admit defeat and give up the jade she had worked so hard to obtain.
Outside the window, the flowers were in full bloom.
Rather than losing the bet, the jade, and her face, Li Ruantang calculated that it would be better to seek marriage with the young master in front of her, killing three birds with one stone.
…
Meng Jun never thought that an accident during a spring outing would lead to them rolling down a cliff and into a river, yet still survive.
Now they were trapped in an unknown village, and Meng Jun had overheard that the family who had rescued them had their own intentions.
After all, it was Li Ruantang who had lost her mind and sought marriage first. He was only trying to protect himself!
Glancing at Li Ruantang, who was listing her own merits, the young husband’s voice softened, and he blushed as he lied, “W-wife-master, Wife-master, don’t you remember me?”
The young husband’s voice was clear and handsome, coaxing Li Ruantang’s heart to be soft and sweet, and she spared no effort to protect him.
It wasn’t until they returned to the capital that Li Ruantang suddenly remembered.
When they had fallen off the cliff, in order not to implicate Wei Yunruo, whom he secretly admired, the young husband had instead pulled her, who was slightly farther away, down the cliff with him…
Short summary by Yuushi L: Initially, the male lead (ML) liked another girl, while the female lead (FL) liked the ML. Both fell off a cliff. The FL temporarily lost her memory, and the ML, fearing others might take advantage of him, claimed FL was his wife while they were staying in a village. Later, when they returned home, the FL regained her memories and remembered that the ML liked someone else, so she kept her distance from him. However, during their time living together in the countryside, the ML’s view of the FL had completely changed. From this point, his pursuit of the FL begins.
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