“He doesn’t care about family. He’s obsessed with work and money.”

Her words were more tinged with disappointment and sorrow than anger.

Roselia felt heavy-hearted. It was incomprehensible.

In the original story, Duke Balthazar was depicted as treating the heroine, the Crown Princess, almost like a sister, later developing a bizarre, possessive affection after her marriage.

How could he be so indifferent to his own sister yet so attentive to a virtual stranger?

Remembering the Duke’s cold dismissal at the tavern, Roselia felt a surge of annoyance.

Then, impulsively, she spoke out.

“I’ll talk to him about it.”

“What?”

Surprised as Closet, Roselia regretted her words.

Crazy! What was she thinking? Dodging the Duke only to approach him?

“It’s okay… Don’t bother…”

Despite her inner thoughts, Roselia sighed upon seeing Closet’s downcast face.

If only Closet were a little less endearing…

“I’ll just mention it. Maybe he’s already planning to attend.”

Closet didn’t argue further, perhaps secretly holding onto hope.

Despite her casual demeanor, Closet looked deflated. Roselia, determined, walked off.

Knocking on the office door, Roselia immediately regretted her decision. It was like walking into a tiger’s den.

Filled with regret, she heard a voice from inside.
“Who is it?”

Roselia swallowed hard, her voice tense as she answered, “It’s Antonio.”

Silence ensued.

The brief moment of stillness seemed to drag on endlessly for Roselia.

Then, Duke Klaus’s cold voice broke the silence, “Come in.”

Roselia entered the office cautiously, observing him. Klaus seemed too preoccupied with signing documents on his desk to notice her presence.

As she hesitated, he finally set down the papers and looked at her quizzically.

“Is there something you wanted to say?”

Her words stalled, surprisingly. She had prepared herself, expecting him to mention their encounter at the tavern.

She was ready to fend off any suspicions about her identity or about abducting his sister, but his indifferent reaction left her momentarily deflated.

“Are you just going to stand there?”

Startled, Roselia blurted out, “Do you know that in a week is Lady Closet’s debutante ball?”

Klaus, seemingly finding the question irrelevant, replied without looking up, “It’s the event that takes the largest chunk of the Balthazar estate’s budget this year. How could I not know?”

Emboldened by his calm voice, Roselia continued, “You’re aware it’s also her birthday, right?”

His gaze shifted from the documents to her.

“What are you trying to say?”

Roselia nervously spoke up, “It’s her only sister’s birthday and debutante ball… Surely, you’ll be attending?”

At her question, Klaus put down the papers and looked at her with a chilling gaze.

“Can’t you see all these documents? I understand I’m very busy, but… it’s your only sister’s birthday…”

Despite her reservations, Roselia pushed on. Klaus ran his fingers through his hair, visibly irritated.

“I’ve always brought the most expensive gifts for Closet’s birthdays. Do you know where the money for that comes from?”

“But Lady Closet would rather have…”

“Antonio.”

Klaus’s voice, low and growling, forced Roselia to clam up.

He stared at her with his deep blue eyes, icy and piercing.

“I told you before, don’t meddle in things that don’t concern you, especially for your own good.”

Roselia’s temper flared at his authoritative tone, setting clear boundaries in their hierarchy.

“If you showed even half the attention to Lady Closet that you show to the Crown Princess, perhaps you two wouldn’t be so estranged.”

When scheming men desperately battle for her favor in the male harem

This one’s also on my reread list! The rivalry, scheming between the men in the imperial harem are just as intense and thrilling as in classic palace drama novels, where concubines fight to the death. Give it a read, girls! I promise you won’t be disappointed.

Synopsis:

“I am not worthy of her… but I still want to be by her side, even if only as a loyal dog…”

Those were the painful whispers of Yue Guanyi – the proud Crown Prince of the Great Qi, who was torn between deep love and a guilty conscience. Despite holding the supreme power of the Imperial Guard, he still could not forget the dark past when he was sold into a brothel.

Fate played a cruel twist when Qiu Shuzhi – a young female official who had just passed the imperial examinations with top honors – stepped into his life. She did not know that she was the one who had saved him from a tragic fate many years ago. And now, her heart was the target of pursuit for both Yue Guanyi and the powerful Empress Dowager Qin Qing.

While Yue Guanyi only dared to silently care for and protect the one he loved from afar, the  Empress Dowager Qin Qing openly expressed his feelings and did not hesitate to take advantage of his power to approach Qiu Shuzhi. The covert struggle between the two most powerful forces in the imperial court began…

Trigger warning: All men in this novel are yandere style.

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