Helena gently caressed Basil’s name engraved on the tombstone, hoping that her touch could reach him in his eternal sleep.
The young child, too young to be left alone, had clutched her hand with his pale fingers, wheezing out his words.
“Basil.”
“Just promise me one thing. When I die before you… bury me in Pretorita’s communal cemetery.”
“…Basil.”
The little boy who used to comfort her when she cried.
“Grandma Magoo from the house behind, the butcher’s little one, and mom are all there. Promise to bury me there, okay?”
“…Okay, I promise.”
“Thank you, sister. You must be happy, always.”
The warmth of his small embrace was now unknown to her; no one was left to remind her of its tenderness.
An empty family, a lifelong lover, mother, Basil – no one remained.
As much as she missed them, she resented them. As much as she resented them, she missed them.
“Why can’t I die too, if you all left so soon?”
Why? Why did you all leave me behind?
I don’t want to be here alone. I’m tired of waiting. Take me with you, mom. Please, please…
Helena hunched over as if embracing invisible figures, her fingers tearing at the dry grass.
Why insist on such a painful life, repeating over and over?
She remained curled up, motionless, for a long time. It was only after an hour that she forced her stiff body to stand. She hoped her departing figure didn’t look too desolate. But she knew the truth.
She was utterly alone.
The hallway, adorned with old-fashioned, brownish arches and softly shining ivory marble, exuded the pristine atmosphere characteristic of Evergale.
The rhythmic footsteps added a sense of gravity to the ambience.
The staff, noticing the owner of the footsteps, paused their work and respectfully greeted him.
Eugene returned from his duties and passed through the bustling corridor. The butler, standing by the entrance, took his coat and waited by his side.
Eugene asked, handing over his coat, “Helena?”
“No news yet, sir,” the butler replied, bowing slightly. A faint sneer escaped Eugene’s lips.
“She sure knows how to wander around.”
Without further instruction, Eugene resumed his stride.
Despite just returning from an early morning departure, there was no sign of fatigue on his face. Instead, he headed straight to the training ground, finding physical exertion the best way to vent the day’s frustration.
Once accustomed to avoiding weapons due to the battlefields’ iron smell, he recently found himself frequently irked, struggling to maintain composure even in trivial matters.
Upon reaching the training ground, Eugene unbuttoned his cuffs and rolled up his sleeves, glancing aside.
An old, stalwart knight stood guard – a loyal vassal who had served the Evergale family since his father’s time.
“You’re as steadfast as ever.”
Turning his head forward, Eugene selected two swords, casually tossing one to the middle-aged knight.
“Do you know Helena?” he asked nonchalantly.
“……”
“Knight Argyle.”
“…First time.”
Eugene hadn’t expected a meaningful response, but he also didn’t anticipate an answer devoid of context.
Frowning, Eugene prompted further explanation from the knight.
“Your Highness asking about the lady, it’s the first time.”
Eugene cut the conversation short, his hand pausing as he was about to draw his sword.
Was it really the first time?
It could be. There was no need to try and know more.
To Eugene Evergale, Helena Evergale was enough as herself.
Always, unchangingly so.
That’s why he didn’t believe her words of farewell. He trusted the persistently monotonous Helena instead.
Even if he placed her next to the stuffed deer head in the hallway, he was confident she would outlast it.
“A husband asking about his wife is strange, isn’t it? It sounds like a relationship lacking trust.”
Moving to a spacious area, Eugene remarked, his voice deceptively calm but edged.
“So, how much do you think you know about Helena?”
The knight pondered for a moment before replying softly, “My answer may not mean much. After all, the only one who should truly know the lady is Your Highness.”
“Right. That’s the obvious truth.”
Eugene held his sword comfortably, exhaling lightly.
“Yet, separate from what I know, sometimes… I find myself unable to understand Helena.”
“Is that so?”
The conversation ended with a quiet response. The knight bowed and assumed his stance.
Full concentration was needed now. Any lapse could lead to an instant defeat.
Sensing the growing tension, Eugene slightly lowered his stance.
“I might be a bit harsh today, Knight. The morning meeting didn’t go well, and I’m not in the best mood.”
“I understand.”
Eugene moved first.
The sound of clashing metal filled the training ground continuously.
Eugene stormed back into his office irritably. He forced himself into the chair, despite feeling slightly suffocated by the closed space.
He tried to immerse himself in work to soothe his disquiet. It wasn’t easy.
Knock, knock.
Lost in unproductive paperwork, Eugene was interrupted by Butler Gordon’s knock.
“Come in.”
My Ex-Girlfriend Is The Regent In The Female-dominant World (Male lead transmigrates to the matriarchal world)
Two years ago, Gu Sui picked up a homeless woman in ancient costume from the street.
Apart from occasionally claiming to be a princess from a female-dominant country due to illness, her figure, appearance, intelligence, and martial arts skills were impeccable.
Naturally evolving from roommates to girlfriends, as time went on, Gu Sui found it increasingly difficult to tolerate her queen syndrome.
“Mu Jiulu, can you stop controlling me inside and out? Let’s break up.”
Gu Sui made a breakup call, and since then, he couldn’t find any trace of her.
A year later, Gu Sui, who was planning to move, woke up the next day and found himself in a different place.
“Young Master, today is the day you choose your Wife-master through martial arts competition at Jade Dew Pavilion. Please get up quickly.”
Gu Sui: Who am I? Where am I? What am I doing?
As the only son of a general’s mansion in a female-dominant dynasty, the young empress personally issued a decree allowing Gu Sui to select his Wife-master through martial arts competition. Whoever could defeat him could marry him.
Gu Sui: “……”
He didn’t inherit the original owner’s martial prowess, so anyone could defeat him! And what the hell is a Wife-master?
Forced to come to Jade Dew Pavilion, the densely packed women below made Gu Sui’s agoraphobia act up, and his face was full of resistance.
Until he saw the Regent sitting on the second floor, with a smile on the corner of her lips, her eyes wicked and nonchalant.
Hmm… she looked a little familiar.
It turned out that the Regent also found him a little familiar.
Mu Jiulu fiddled with her bone clasp, her deep gaze locked on the man who was out of place in this world.
“Finally, I found you.”
Male transmigrates into female-dominant world
One-sentence summary: What goes around comes around, taking turns in the crematorium
