“You’ve been elegant all day and garnered a lot of attention.”
“If I keep my mouth shut, I do tend to look that way.”
What am I saying? I must be babbling anything that comes to mind.
Lu put a foolish smile on her lips. Today was a total failure. If he knew about her desperate and tear-inducing efforts as a subject, he would have cleared his excessively—no, the most handsome face she had ever seen.
Yet, he showed no sign of stepping back. No, it seemed he had entirely forgotten about it.
“……You look the same even when you speak.”
Hayden, who had been looking at her for a while with his thick, long eyelashes, responded a bit late.
“You flatter me.”
A terse response, nothing more. No, was that all? She was the first to avert her eyes.
“Shall we go?”
Without changing her expression, Lu briefly replied, “Yes.”
Hayden smiled and extended his hand. She paused for a moment before that hand.
Just a day ago, she had internally cursed at the owner of that hand, recalling the offense. She wasn’t angry about it anymore.
Was it because she realized that his ultimate goal had been to protect her from Kaletta Construction all day and to break the curse? She laid her hand on Hayden’s.
‘……I shouldn’t.’
Even a cursory glance at the news would tell you, getting involved privately with an Emperor who has no influence could be a one-sided ruin for a woman, especially one who’s a daughter of a new noble family from Kaletta.
If they had a relationship where they loved moderately and parted ways after securing a fair share, it would be somewhat fine. However, Lu didn’t wish for such a relationship.
The most loving couple she had ever seen were her parents. She had no plans to marry, but if she did meet someone, she’d want a relationship like her parents’.
“Why the face, Your Highness?”
“What expression did I make?”
Hayden looked at Lu, who was looking back naturally, and clicked his tongue inwardly. Now he understood why the insufferable Carlos Arthur Ingram had insisted on placing her in the Kaletta Embassy.
Of course, she was a puppet and he had a tight grip on her lifeline, but Lou was especially skilled at controlling her facial expressions.
“My interest in you causes you discomfort and strain.”
However, Hayden had barely brought her to Perseta and reunited her with her family; he couldn’t give her up now.
There had been too many reasons for him not to abandon Lou for a long time. Thus, he caught even her subtle expressions quickly.
“If you’re uncomfortable and don’t like it, say so.”
“So, will you stop?”
The emperor’s face instantly soured.
“No, I’ll do my best to make sure you’re not uncomfortable or displeased.”
At his deadpan tone, Lou chuckled briefly.
“I’m not sure if it’s appropriate to discuss this on the day of a funeral, but I don’t understand why Your Majesty is so interested in me.”
If Lou wasn’t from Kaleta, if she was just some ordinary eastern noble, things would have been different. Maybe, just maybe, she could have been the empress.
But Lou wasn’t. She’d been here for only a short time, and it was clear Hayden needed to form marital alliances with the eastern nobles. Above all, the newly-formed House of Plache was in no position to dare associate with the royal family that had been around for 430 years.
“I find it very natural. Aren’t you familiar with it? Men have been pursuing you aside from me.”
That was not a conjecture but a strong assertion.
“Don’t feel pressured, it’s only natural you’d feel burdened by me given my position. But take it lightly. You have many men to choose from, and I’m just one of them.”
Hayden spoke very casually. “Many men to choose from?” Lou didn’t think so.
“Take your time and choose wisely. I can wait, so don’t rush. You’ll have to scrutinize how well I treat you. Of course, you’ll do fine even if I don’t say it.”
Lou eventually stopped walking.
“Is that okay?”
“Isn’t it obvious?”
Hayden looked as if he couldn’t understand why she was asking.
“I don’t want to marry like this, pressuring you to accommodate my unfavorable position.”
Hayden had nailed it, bringing up not just the empress but now even marriage.
Lou was left speechless, her mouth agape. Her thoughts, which she’d only considered about the emperor’s secretive governance, had completely flown away.
“Of course, I’m not proposing right now. Just consider our meeting. I haven’t lost my mind enough to propose to you when you have many things you want to do.”
He clearly drew the line and, soothing the flustered Lou, began to walk again. Why did the short distance feel so long? She finally spoke up.
“Marriage?”
“I didn’t say proposal.”
“Yes, but you mentioned marriage.”
At Lou’s clear point, Hayden suddenly shut his mouth. His ears seemed a little red. Was he embarrassed now? Shy? For once, he seemed younger than her.
“All meetings should be serious.”
“What are you seeing in me to even think about marriage… Your Majesty, you shouldn’t.”
Male lead Asks for a Divorce Every Day
It’s not often you come across a plot like this in the female-dominant genre — make sure to check it out!
This is a novel I’m planning to reread as well.
The male lead is strong, skilled in martial arts, and not the usual fragile type you often see in matriarchal novels.
Meanwhile, the female lead is a scientist—rational and logical. Even when she falls for the male lead, she doesn’t let her emotions cloud her decisions.
If you push through the first few chapters, you’ll gradually find the story really intriguing.
It has a mix of mystery, detective elements, and romance.
The author’s writing style is like crafting a puzzle—except they deliberately leave out a few pieces, making it hard to predict what happens next, yet keeping you hooked.
In the end, everything will come together and be explained.
One-sentence summary: Wife, stop playing with beakers and look at me!
In a laboratory accident, research scientist Zhu Wansheng accidentally travels to a matriarchal world. The original owner of the body is an eighteen-year-old only daughter of a wealthy rouge merchant, already married with a handsome young man.
Zhu Wansheng grins: Nice! She always said she was heaven’s favorite granddaughter. After a life of toil in her previous life, she can enjoy blessings in this one.
However, her joy lasts no more than three seconds as bad news arrives: the original owner’s family is about to go bankrupt, and her husband wants a divorce.
Even worse, she’s stuck with a research system full of restrictions.
Zhu Wansheng: ? Is this the destiny of a research dog?
——
Faced with this mess, Zhu Wansheng pours herself a bowl of wine to drown her sorrows. In her drunken haze, her husband arrives.
His figure is imposing, holding a long sword, with a dignified air that captivates Zhu Wansheng.
Gu Yingqing, however, looks at the alcohol-reeking Zhu Wansheng with undisguised disgust and coldly asks, “Divorce or not?” The intoxicated Zhu Wansheng mumbles vaguely, “I think… it’s not… it’s not… impossible!”
——
The next day, after sobering up, Zhu Wansheng is full of energy, rolling up her sleeves ready to make a big move. As for yesterday? She has no memory of it.
Zhu Wansheng is ambitious; a research dog fears nothing!
Upgrading rouge, extracting fragrances, producing perfumes, researching lipsticks… all shall bow to the power of modern technology!
The original owner’s dying rouge shop is revitalized. Her mother is pleased and with a wave of her hand, passes on the family business to her. As she takes control and her experimental results gain popularity, it’s the pinnacle of her life…
——
But there are always those who can’t stand to see her doing well. Jealousy, scheming, assassination attempts – they want nothing less than her life.
The person who has always kept his distance from her suddenly holds her tightly in his arms, eyes full of concern.
She is unharmed, but he falls into a pool of blood…
Zhu Wansheng feels guilty, “I can grant you one wish.”
Gu Yingqing tentatively circles his arms around her, carefully resting his head in the crook of her neck, pleading softly, “I regret it. Can we not divorce?”
Zhu Wansheng: ? When did I agree to a divorce?
[Small Theater]
The newly developed rouge is beautifully packaged, and Zhu Wansheng is eager to try it.
Gu Yingqing suddenly appears: “My lady, may I apply it for you?”
Cool fingertips lightly brush her lips. His Adam’s apple bobs as he leans in for a light bite.
Zhu Wansheng: ?
Gu Yingqing: It smells so good, I wanted to taste it…
On a warm spring day, Zhu Wansheng tries a new perfume: “Spring Night.” Gu Yingqing corners her against a wall.
Warm breath lingers on her neck.
“My lady, from now on, may I test the fragrances for you?”
[Humorous female scientist vs scheming live-in son-in-law male lead]
[Touch the gear icon in the bottom right corner of the screen to move to the next chapter if you want.]
