“Oh, young lady. I didn’t recognize such an esteemed person…!”
The woman put down the promissory note on the desk and hurriedly bowed her head.
“In the Eastern Continent, they also use pigment-based watercolor techniques. Though I’m not from the Eastern Continent.”
“…Of course! How could someone as noble as you be from the Eastern Continent? I acted rashly. Please forgive me.”
“What on earth do you mean by that? Are you saying I wouldn’t be noble if I were from the Eastern Continent?”
“Th-that’s not what I meant…”
“All life under heaven is precious. There is no life more or less precious than another. Do I disregard you because I’m a noble? Do I shout because you don’t give me special treatment? I treated you as an equal because you too are a precious life.”
“Young lady, please calm your anger. If I had known you were the young lady, I wouldn’t have acted that way… I would have laid silk cloth in front of the shop!”
“Did you even listen to what I said? I’m not asking for special treatment. I’m saying don’t look down on people because of their skin color, eye color, or background! You’d lay out silk if you knew I was a noble?! I revealed my status because you seemed like someone who only listens to nobles. This is truly absurd…!”
“…I apologize. I have no words.”
“If you’re truly sorry, apologize to these two people here as well.”
“…I apologize. I made a mistake not knowing you work under such an esteemed person.”
The shop owner easily bowed her head to Faisar but found it humiliating to apologize to Biche, who was a Primo.
“Do better from now on…”
Diana wanted to press further but didn’t want to expend that much effort.
She’ll be pushed to the sidelines of history when the new era comes anyway.
Diana didn’t want to waste any more time and energy on such a discriminator.
Outside the workshop, Diana comforted Biche.
“Are you alright?”
“I’m sorry. I should have stepped in sooner.”
“No, it’s fine. I should have revealed I was a princess earlier. I let her act worse until then. That way, I wouldn’t look foolish when I scolded her.”
Despite her comfort, Biche couldn’t erase his gloomy expression.
“If I weren’t a Primo, and just an ordinary knight, I could have mediated the situation faster. I’ve been in charge of your escort for years, but I was complacent, trusting the monastery atmosphere… I deeply apologize for causing you trouble by being associated with me.”
“…Then I’m sorry too… If I weren’t mixed-race, you wouldn’t have suffered such insults of being lumped together.”
“Young lady. Please don’t speak with such self-deprecation. It makes me dislike myself even more.”
“Biche, you are a precious person. And you’re kind and gentle. You don’t discriminate against Raoul for being a different race. You’re someone who knows how to respect others without prejudice, which is rare in this era.”
“…Young lady.”
“And your character is so upright! You don’t rashly draw your sword and make me anxious, and you laugh it off even when the monastery children don’t treat you like a knight. Biche, you have everything I need in a person. So don’t apologize and hold your head high! Understand?”
“…Yes.”
Diana patted his back as he sniffled. It was also what she wanted to say to herself.
“Oh, right! Faisar. Do the work at the castle.”
“Pardon?”
“I told the aide yesterday, and he said he’d provide a studio. Wouldn’t the innkeeper dislike you making pigments at the inn? The furniture or bedding might get stained with paint.”
“…Is that really alright?”
“Of course. Above all, it’s my portrait. You must come.”
Faisar nodded with a dazed expression.
[This is the timeline separator]At that time, Raoul was staring at the scenery outside his bedroom like an empty doll.
Outside the window, flowers in full bloom were coloring the whole world in vibrant hues.
‘Diana…’
A small cherry blossom petal flew in on the gentle spring breeze and landed on the bridge of Raoul’s nose.
Raoul muttered as if entranced by something.
“It’s a lie.”
A death sentence fell from those pretty lips that always whispered sweet words.
Raoul’s soul felt torn to shreds on the spot.
He couldn’t believe the words that came out of Diana’s mouth.
‘When did you give up? At the dining table when we first met? Or when I pretended not to know you? If not then, when exactly…?’
He dropped his head, his face crumpling with emotion.
It felt like the world was crumbling down.
Raoul had never even thought to properly look into Diana’s heart until now.
He only focused on spending sweet holidays with the lovely Diana.
He was reassured that Diana must be feeling his love sufficiently, despite showing his face barely twice a month.
The more he thought about it, the more he couldn’t forgive himself for being so complacent and foolish.
Diana was festering without knowing Raoul’s feelings.
While he deliberately brought his face close or brushed the back of her hand to confirm Diana’s feelings, she had been thinking a thousand thoughts with her small head.
Suddenly, Raoul felt dizzy.
‘Then what did Diana think of my actions all this time?’
Raoul’s neck stiffened.
The innocent Diana might have misunderstood that Raoul treated all his friends that way.
Or worse, she might have really thought he was playing with her, as Biche said. Either way was terrible.
He reviewed the atrocities he had committed so far.
He enjoyed the moments when Diana was filled with love.
So, he deliberately provoked her at times.
Each time, Diana would watch his reactions.
Her eyelashes would flutter rapidly like wings, and she would gently bite her lower lip with her prominent front teeth, trying not to show her nervousness.
Whenever he saw her blushing as if it were the first time, his heart would swell with the constancy of her love.
What did you think each time…?
Did you think you shouldn’t misunderstand because I don’t like you?
Raoul wanted to rush over and kiss Diana’s feet right away.
He wanted to make her realize how precious she was.
He never meant to make Diana sad.
There was only one reason he postponed his confession.
‘I wanted to do it properly someday. When it wouldn’t be lacking for you to come to me. In a grand and splendid way.’
But his selfishness had left a scar on Diana’s heart.
Raoul sprang to his feet.
He had no intention of giving up on Diana like this.
‘Even if your heart has changed, I can turn it back.’
Raoul dashed out into the hallway to find Diana.
He needed to meet Diana right now and explain the situation.
He had to confess his feelings and ask her to wait. He had to beg her not to give up.
‘Diana…’
However, the corner window seat in the library, permeated with a sweet scent, was completely empty.
He searched everywhere – the bedroom, dining room, near the annex by the cherry blossom trees – but Diana was nowhere to be found.
‘Where did she go?’
He sharpened all his senses to find Diana.
He tracked the place with the soft scent of wildflowers. He didn’t care if he looked like a beast to others.
Finding Diana was the urgent priority now.
Then, he sensed her presence in an unfamiliar space that was usually different.
It was the studio that was usually tightly closed.
Diana’s scent was definitely coming from there, but he could hear Diana’s voice and that of an unfamiliar man from inside.
“Could you tilt your head a bit more towards your chin?”
“Like this…?”
“Yes. But this time your shoulder is slanted.”
“…I’m sorry. I’m clumsy at anything physical.”
“If it’s not rude, may I help you a bit?”
“Of course.”
There was the sound of a chair being dragged, and through the gap in the door, the figure of a man standing up could be seen.
The delicate man with a vague impression had a pretty face that Diana liked, unpleasantly so.
As the man’s figure disappeared, Raoul’s brow furrowed sharply.
Though unseen, the voice of the man, presumably approaching Diana, could be heard.
“Just a little lower with your shoulders.”
“Like this?”
“…Too low. A bit higher please.”
“…Like this?”
“If it’s not uncomfortable, may I help you…?”
“Ah, sure. If you set the pose, I’ll try to hold it.”
“Like this…”
His mind drifted far away at the intimate conversation happening out of sight.
“I apologize. I’ll just place my hand on your shoulder for a moment.”
“Okay.”
Creak- As the door opened slightly, the back of the man blocking Diana came into view.
“Ah, please wait a moment. I’ll just close the door!”
As the man stepped aside, Diana’s figure appeared.
She was wearing a pure white muslin dress and fixing a strand of hair that had fallen.
As her clear nape was perfectly tidied, Raoul’s reason flew away with it.
“What are you intending by closing the door?”
Faisar, who was facing Raoul with his hand on the doorknob, opened his eyes wide like a fool.
“Who are you…?”
Just then, a familiar and affectionate voice called his name.
“Raoul?”
Diana, visible through the gap in the door, was nothing short of an angel descended from heaven.
Diana, who looked at his face with an affectionate expression untainted by the world, smiled so beautifully it made his heart sink.
Raoul was struck speechless by that radiant face and flung the door wide open.
[Touch the gear icon in the bottom right corner of the screen to move to the next chapter if you want.]
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Daily Life of a Scumbag Man Giving Birth (Female-dominant)
One-line summary: The way for a promiscuous scumbag man to atone for his sins is to let him get… pregnant.
Synopsis:
Meng Huan, a scumbag who has dated countless girlfriends, scammed countless women, transmigrates to a female-dominated country.
Day 1: Whether it’s female dominance or not doesn’t matter. The beauties here are passionate and amorous. Isn’t it easier to scam them than in modern times?
Day 2: After a night, Meng Huan discovers the differences in the female-dominated world. Men here actually have chastity locks and menstrual cycles. This hinders his ability to perform, damn it!
Day 3: What’s wrong with sleeping around? I don’t want you to marry me. I’m meant to be a playboy. I don’t care about male virtues… What? You want to drown me in a pig cage? Marry, I’ll marry!
Day N: Meng Huan inexplicably vomits and receives the shocking news of his life… He’s pregnant.
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