The Duchess was restless, then agreed in a small voice.
“That may be true, but…”
For a woman born into nobility, marriage was not a choice but a necessity.A woman could inherit neither wealth nor family title, save for her dowry.The value of a woman debuting in high society was judged by the quality of the man she secured as her fiancé.If a long-standing engagement were to break, the disgrace would be unspeakable.
“Even if she’s a bit out of her mind, she’s one of only two imperial princesses in the empire.Even if she goes empty-handed without a dowry, it should be considered an honor.”
“…”
“But for the sake of Valdmore’s reputation, let the dowry be a diamond mine.”
Valdmore’s diamond mine yielded a monthly income comparable to the annual budget of a decent estate.Offering such a prize was a clear sign of an unwavering resolve to marry off the daughter swiftly.A stern gaze shot toward Rosetta.
“If you fail to get engaged to anyone within a month…”
“…”
“You will be sent to take lifelong vows at the Citron Convent, so prepare yourself accordingly.”
Rosetta’s mouth fell open. The Citron Convent.Even she had heard of its notorious reputation.A massive confinement facility built by nobles to “deal with” family embarrassments.With things having come to this, there was only one path left.Rosetta clenched her fists tightly.
Fine, I’ll find a fool to trap.
And within three months, I’ll escape, no matter what.
The rumor that the Valdmore princess, awakened after three months, had gone mad swept through high society.
It was said she didn’t even recognize her own mother, the Duchess, bowing her head in her nightgown,and screamed upon seeing her reflection in a mirror.The rumor that she brazenly touched her own chest bordered on scandal,and the tale of her drinking wash water like wine was practically a ghost story.
Though the rumors were sensational, they were shocking even to the jaded members of high society,who rarely blinked at ordinary gossip.
The Imperial Princess, Lea Lenux Valdmore, had been the epitome of a perfect crown princess for nearly a decade.The reason she had attempted to take her own life was the Crown Prince’s infidelity,so public sentiment leaned more toward sympathy than scorn for the rumors of her madness.
“Still, her face was something to behold.”
A young noble, dealing cards, spoke in a sly tone.At his blatant appraisal, several young lords at the table burst into laughter.
“They say she’s completely lost her mind.”
“Could it be an act to win back His Highness the Crown Prince’s heart?”
“Given the dowry the Duke’s offering, she might really be mad.”
As the conversation was among soldiers steeped in desire, it sank to increasingly vulgar depths.
“Even if they were engaged for nearly a decade, as long as they weren’t too intimate, I wouldn’t mind.”
“She’d probably mind your face, though.”
“At that point, it’s not a broken engagement—it’s a divorce.”
“She’s just a polished second-hand good, with a defective mind to boot.”
At someone’s shrugging remark, voices of agreement erupted here and there.The man, half-intoxicated by the attention, didn’t stop and called out behind him.
“Isn’t that right, Cardier?”
In an instant, the raucous chatter fell silent.It was a tumultuous quiet, as if a predator had appeared among prey.
A man leaning back in a sunlit spot, reading a book, elegantly raised his gaze.Even in a room full of men, someone sharply inhaled.
Radiant golden hair like sunlight, a face surely crafted with divine affection, and eyes as blue as the sea.All of it was cloaked in an air of languid arrogance.
“What was the topic again?”
His demeanor made it clear he’d barely paid attention to their conversation.His lightly twisted lips carried a cool distance that was hard to breach.
Yet the man who had first called Cardier’s name didn’t back down and spoke again.
As if thrilled by the mere fact of a response, he rambled on eagerly.
“It’s about the Valdmore princess. They say she’s looking for a new fiancé.With a dowry like that, everyone’s planning to pay a visit this social season.I’m thinking of proposing myself. Are you planning to, by any chance?”
The excuse of “proposing” for so eagerly disparaging the princess’s worth was shy, but it reeked of pretense.Cardier flashed a picture-perfect smile and replied a beat late.
“I don’t think it’s something I’d be interested in.”
His attitude screamed that he was only responding out of courtesy.Even so, a few people let out amused laughs.Men, after all, were quick to recognize the top predator and bow their heads.The man, cheeks flushing, shrugged again.
“My father’s been nagging me about it.You, set to inherit the entire eastern seas, might not care for Valdmore’s mines, but…”
“…”
“And with women lining up for you, there’s no need to settle for a flawed one.”
Surprisingly, it was pure admiration, not sarcasm.And why not? Cardier was lauded as the empire’s most perfect man.
Even setting aside his breathtaking appearance, which made anyone with eyes turn twice,graduating from the military academy in two years instead of the usual six was a remarkable honor.
If his family had been modest, one might have stoked their inferiority complex,but as the sole heir to Duke Montrosa, the admiral said to make even birds fall from the sky,he was undeniably from a different world, even among the heirs of the twelve great families gathered here.Seeing no reaction from Cardier, the man gave a more obsequious smile.
“If you’d just step aside…”
“Boring topic.”
To call the Valdmore mines and its princess a boring topic.Truly a man who lived for his own grandeur…Some shot him annoyed glances, but they subsided within a minute.
Indeed. To be that handsome and still not toy with women was reason enough to bow low.If Cardier ever set his mind to it, there wouldn’t be a maiden left in high society.
“It might be to you, but…”
“Shut that mouth of yours.”
Cardier closed his book, openly showing his irritation.
“Sure, if the princess has eyes, she’d never choose you over me,so I can understand your desperate need to push me out of the way.”
“No, that’s not what I meant…”
“Sullying a lady’s honor behind her back like this is utterly despicable.”
With a face that seemed least likely to care about honor, he spoke such words so eloquently.Everyone at the card table knew it was simply because Cardier was in a foul mood.Hadn’t they seen him ignore swooning ladies at his feet dozens of times?
“Kalitsdof, Graham, Witlsey…”
Those were the names of the ones who had most eagerly slandered the princess.
In truth, they were men who had admired her since her days as the crown princess,so their intentions were clear. Likely to eliminate competition.Whatever the motive, it was base. Cardier curled his lips coldly.
“Whatever your filthy ambitions are, I’m not interested, so sort it out yourselves.”
Cardier’s icy gaze swept over them one by one.The man who had sought agreement and gained nothing shrank back into his seat.The house, which had fallen silent as if hit by a storm, soon regained its lively chatter with a new topic.
As Cardier leaned back in his chair, satisfied that attention had shifted away from him,
“Well, it seems the Duchess Montrosa has a different opinion.”
At the words tinged with faint amusement, Cardier tilted his head.
“Owen.”
Cardier narrowed his eyes, staring at his childhood friend.His perfect brow, like a sculpture, creased with suspicion.
“What do you mean?”
“I heard a marriage proposal arrived in your name.”
“…No way.”
“Yes. To the Valdmore princess, from your mother herself.”
Cardier bit back a curse.
When the male lead is punished by carrying the female lead’s child and having periods like a woman
“I’ve given birth to two children for you, yet you still think about him.
Was I nothing but his substitute to you from beginning to end?”
Synopsis:
Meng Huan, a scumbag who has dated countless girlfriends, 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 date 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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