Bang!

Was it fortunate or unfortunate that their room was so close? Entering the room, Reynard immediately pushed Laila against the wall.

As he moved his face closer to hers, Laila tried to turn away, but he forcibly held her chin, steering her face back to him. Reynard, with a conspicuous frown on his forehead, scornfully sneered.

“Why are you resisting? Aren’t you going to be my wife anyway?”

Instead of responding submissively, Laila slapped his hand away from her chin and retorted.

“Even if you don’t like me, isn’t this too rude?”

“Who said that? That I don’t like you.”

Reynard’s reply left Laila speechless. Based on his actions so far, she naturally thought he despised her to the point of disgust. It was only logical to think that way, considering his disrespectful attitude towards her.

But apparently, that wasn’t the case.

Laila shivered as she felt his creeping hand behind her. Soon, his other hand moved up, pressing his thumb against her lips, possibly preparing for a kiss. The slightly opening fingers sent a chill down her spine.

“It’s true that I was annoyed that you’re a princess of a failing nation.”

“…”

“You’re pretty, aren’t you?”

His voice, barely above a whisper, made Laila’s eyes flutter uncontrollably.

Reynard narrowed his snake-like eyes.

“Just that alone makes you valuable enough. You’re like a painting wherever you’re placed.”

Accompanied by his derisive words, Reynard was about to lower his lips to Laila’s neck. His hand at her back was also pulling the strings of her dress.

As the strings of her dress began to loosen with a series of soft snaps, Laila, terrified, screamed.

“Reynard, stop…!”

Stop it, please leave.

Before she could complete her sentence, she was hit by an inexplicable wave of dizziness.

It seemed Reynard also felt something unusual.

“…?”

As his hand halted, Reynard looked around in confusion. Laila, pressing down the front of her dress, trembled.

But it wasn’t just her hands that were shaking. Laila noticed objects around her rattling.

The commotion seemed to be felt outside as well, as the corridor became noisy with activity.

Footsteps rushed towards them, and the servants’ urgent voices echoed.

“Your Highness, it seems to be an earthquake! You should evacuate immediately!”

“…An earthquake?”

Laila looked down at the trembling ground beneath her feet, her face awash with disbelief.

An earthquake in Damburnant Continent was rare.

Laila had never experienced one in her life, and it seemed Reynard hadn’t either, as he stood frozen until the servants pulled him out, running down the corridor that seemed about to collapse at any moment.

During this time, no one paid attention to Laila. The few who had come to evacuate the princes didn’t have her in their plans.

Alone, Laila tried to follow them into the corridor but grabbed her dress as it started to slip. Then, struggling with her high heels, she found it difficult to even take a step.

“What should I do…?”

Fearing the ceiling might crack, Laila glanced up. Oddly, despite the severe shaking, there were no visible cracks, suggesting the building wouldn’t collapse immediately.

Somewhat relieved, Laila sat down to remove her shoes.
Just as Laila managed to remove her shoes, her maid, who had been inexplicably absent until now, rushed into the building, calling out for her.

“Princess, Princess!”

“Elle…!”

Laila, about to rush barefoot into the hallway and call out to her maid, suddenly stumbled backward, pulled by an incredibly strong force.

Startled and about to scream, she felt a hand covering her mouth. A firm hold on her shoulder accompanied a calm, low voice that was incongruous with the chaos.

“Quiet.”

“…!”

Recognizing the familiar voice, Laila looked up to see the person.

“You are…”

Standing before her was Duke Milley.

She had seen him leave, so how had he returned to the palace? Had Reynard summoned him back in the meantime?

“…Laila!”

Before she could sort through her thoughts, her maid’s voice rang out nearby.

Desiring to leave, Laila flinched, but Milley held her arm and pulled her deeper inside instead.

Quickly scanning the surroundings, Milley spotted the long curtains by the window and swiftly hid behind them, dragging Laila with him.

As Milley pulled the curtain, it enveloped them, casting a deep shadow. Laila’s maid entered the room, calling out desperately.

However, receiving no response, she seemed to move on. Laila, worried that her maid might head into danger, felt torn, but Milley cornered her against the wall, physically barring her from moving.

Amid the surrounding tumult, the two remained frozen, staring into each other’s eyes. Their close proximity allowed them to feel each other’s breath and even the slightest movements.

Laila clutched her dress tighter, creating a small gap between them. Her voice came out tense.

“Why are we hiding?”

“Maybe because I don’t want anyone to see the princess in disarray.”

Laila swallowed dryly. Milley gazed at her intently, then reached behind to tie the loosened strings of her dress.

Noticing Laila’s flinch, he reassured her gently.

“It’s okay. I’m just tying the strings.”

“Thank you.”

Milley carefully adjusted the strings without touching her directly. Although not perfectly done, the dress was secured enough to stay up, relieving Laila of the need to hold it.

He then took off his jacket and draped it over her. Looking at her bare feet, he chuckled.

“No shoes, I see.”

Laila pulled her feet back under her dress, embarrassed even though it was just her feet exposed and not her entire body.

“It’s just that I couldn’t walk in them…”

Milley seemed amused by her cuteness, smiling with his eyes.

Laila fidgeted with her toes, looking down.

“Shouldn’t we go out now?”

She was worried about her maid, Alice, still frantically searching for her. But instead of moving away, Milley stepped closer and softly called her.

“Princess of Wessex.”

“Yes?”

“Should we run away, or should we kill?”

Although vague about the specific target, Laila understood enough to be startled by his words.

Yet she couldn’t easily choose between the two options.

As Laila gaped, Milley slightly twisted his eyes and lifted her chin.

Then, gently pressing her lips with his thumb, he slightly parted them.
As if he had witnessed all of Reynard’s misdeeds.

“Even after nearly facing a disaster just now, do you still wish to stay here?”

“…”

“Why do you throw yourself into danger for the sake of a country that can’t protect you? I can’t understand why you act for the benefit of your nation at the expense of yourself.”

His voice was cruelly cold, yet filled with concern.

Why was this man, a complete stranger, looking out for her? And why did he seem to know everything already?

“The Duke is…”

Laila was about to ask him something, but Milley interrupted her before she could speak.

“It seems that bastard has told you I am a duke.”

It appeared to be a roundabout request not to ask any questions. Laila, suppressing her curiosity, followed the flow of the conversation.

“Am I mistaken?”

“No, you’re right. I did receive such a title about six years ago.”

So, Milley was indeed a newly risen noble.

Although she didn’t know what feats he had achieved in the Thakin Empire, receiving a dukedom in times other than war certainly indicated he was a remarkable individual.

Then Laila realized.

The trembling that had shaken the building had finally stopped.

But curiously, the hand of Milley that touched Laila was trembling uncontrollably, as if affected by the aftermath of the earthquake.

Male lead first thought she played hard to get, only to realize she

really disliked him

Short intro:

What she can’t stand the most is the streets full of effeminate men, especially that so-called top beauty whom she avoids at all costs.

Shen Yaoxing looks at Jiang Mingyue, who keeps approaching her with coy shyness.

Shen Yaoxing: Bro, don’t be like this, I’m really about to throw up!

She fears nothing in heaven or earth, except for him getting close to her.

*

At first he thought she was just using the trick of feigning indifference to attract his attention. Later, he learned that she truly despised him.

This dealt a heavy blow to Jiang Mingyue, and he vowed to make her, like everyone else, fall at his feet in worship!

***

Synopsis:

Before transmigrating, Shen Yaoxing only wanted to find a reliable man to spend her life with. Who knew that after transmigrating, she would become a reliable woman herself…

A forced misandrist, highly skilled, and reliable female lead

vs.

An initially aloof and arrogant, later morbid, obsessed male lead

_____

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