“No, it’s something a bit different.”
At first glance, it seemed that way. However, in my eyes, meeting Nathaniel’s face every day, there was something different.
A subtly youthful expression, or hands moving busily more than usual.
“I should ask later what they talked about.”
So, the bustling mealtime came to an end.
Despite it being the last day of the festival, Teresa and Maximilian chose to stay at the cottage.
Putting aside regrets, I left with Nathaniel to attend the lantern event, the finale of the festival.”
“We headed towards the river flowing on the outskirts of Hiera.
Besides us, many people had come for a visit.
“So many have come.”
“Winters Duchy is famous for festivals almost on the level of New Year’s. Come, it’s this way.”
I held Nathaniel’s hand as we looked around and headed to the lantern shop.
Various lanterns of different shapes were displayed on a long wooden shelf.
From ordinary round ones to flowers, crowns, and animal shapes, the variety was considerable.
Among them, the most popular was undoubtedly the dragon.
From a large dragon that seemed to be about 1 meter long to small baby dragons.
“At this point, isn’t it practically the Empire’s mascot?”
I glanced at Nathaniel to see if he might feel uncomfortable.
Unexpectedly, he was casually looking at cat-shaped lanterns, contrary to my expectations.
“Do you find this cute?”
“Yeah.”
The one Nathaniel chose was a lantern shaped like a round cat with a cheese-like body.
He brought the lantern to my side and said, “It strangely resembles you.”
“……”
Should I like this or be angry?
I also took the baby dragon lantern next to me. Nathaniel’s eyebrows raised, but I decided to pretend not to notice.
“Please calculate this.”
“Yes, yes. You’ve chosen the most popular one.”
The charming man chuckled and handed me the change.
“Where do we make our wishes?”
“It’s prepared over here.”
Following the owner’s guidance, we entered the store.
Inside, residents and tourists gathered to write down their wishes.
I started writing my wish with a red pen on the baby dragon’s side.
‘May our entire family live healthily and happily.’
I felt a happy heart for a moment because Teresa could enter our family even if only briefly.
On the opposite side, while contemplating what wish to write, Nathaniel was found staring at the lantern with a serious expression.
“Why is that?”
“What should I wish for?”
His question momentarily left me speechless.
“Well, something like hoping for things to go well or anything like that?”
“Hmm.”
Nathaniel confessed honestly with a serious expression.
“I’ve never failed to get what I wanted so far.”
“……”
I had forgotten that this person is ranked second in the Empire.
I bit back my irritation and showed him what I had written.
“Then, how about something like ‘I hope whoever comes next stays healthy’? What do you think?”
“Jaina, you seem robust.”
Unable to strike back, I proceeded with this.
As we deliberated with pens in hand for quite some time, the expressions of the people waiting behind us started to turn grim.
I forced a smile and nudged his side.
“Then, just write whatever comes to mind now.”
Nathaniel, as if resigned, slowly wrote down the words while looking at what I had written. When he nodded, it meant he had finished writing it all.”
“We came out of the shop and headed to the pier.
While contemplating our wishes, the line was shorter than expected, indicating that many had already boarded the boats.
“Can we rent a boat now?”
“Yes, you can board here.”
The elegant black boat was painted in red, making it look splendid. A small lantern hung at one end of the boat.
“The gentleman can row.”
Before I could decline, the boat owner gently pushed our boat into the river.
Sailing through the calm waters, the boat moved towards the center of the river.
Not knowing what to do, Nathaniel looked around and then grabbed an oar.
“How about just using magic to go?”
“But everyone else is rowing.”
After saying that, he slowly started rowing. Fortunately, it moved properly, similar to the others.
Gradually, the sun was setting.
The twilight descended on the sparkling surface of the water.
The river, mingling with orange and blue hues, began to be dyed by the approaching darkness.
“Now let’s stop here.”
Finding a suitable spot, we stopped the boat. I carefully moved, holding the lantern to prevent the boat from tipping over.
“You just need to light it here.”
We took out candles from a lantern hanging in front of the boat and lit the lantern.
As the brightly shining lantern was released, it gently floated up into the sky.
Various lanterns of different shapes began to rise into the jet-black sky.
Against the faint starlight in the night sky, the hundreds of lanterns shone more beautifully than the stars.
‘May everyone I’ve met here be happy.’
While watching the lanterns rising, I offered a prayer.
People from the stories I loved were now my family and friends.
They were also people I hadn’t cherished in my past life.
After finishing the prayer and opening my eyes, Nathaniel was looking at me curiously.
“What did you pray for?”
“Um, for Nathaniel, myself, and the people I know to live happily.”
Nathaniel looked at my face for a moment, then suddenly closed his eyes and began whispering something.
I couldn’t hear what he was saying well.
After a while, Nathaniel opened his eyes and stared at me as if asking what I prayed for.
“What did you pray for?”
Nathaniel remained silent for a moment. After contemplating a bit, he lowered his body and brought his lips to my ear.
A sweeter fragrance than usual enveloped me entirely.
“I prayed for you to make me the only one you love.”
I stiffened at the unexpected confession.
The Male lead Always Seduces Her with His Beauty (Matriarchy)
Xin Jiao Zhou is the leader of the world’s premier sect. She has just experienced betrayal from all sides, was poisoned in an assassination attempt, and faced death squad attacks while the poison was taking effect. After finally clearing out the scum from her sect, she was drugged again while trying to detoxify.
After waking up from a night of unconsciousness, she gained a “beautiful and kind-hearted” husband.
Xin Jiao Zhou: “???”
He fell ill.
She came to see him, bringing breakfast.
As she put down the breakfast and was about to leave, his hand slipped while holding the spoon. “Clank!”
She turned around upon hearing the noise.
He looked up at her, his eyebrows drooping: “My hand… has no strength.”
“Shall I… feed you?” she asked tentatively.
He opened his mouth cheerfully: “Ah—”
Thinking she was drowning, he jumped in without hesitation to save her, but nearly drowned himself. In the end, it was she who swam over to rescue him, giving him air underwater.
After emerging from the water, his ear tips turned red. He lightly brushed his cheek, tucking his sideburns behind his ear, revealing delicate, pink-tinged ear tips. He lowered his gaze, too embarrassed to look at her.
Xin Jiao Zhou: He’s truly beautiful, kind-hearted, and adorable.
A certain someone when disciplining subordinates behind the scenes: “If they don’t obey, just kill them.”
What’s that? She might already have someone she cares about in her heart? A certain someone: Find out who it is, kill them, and then there won’t be anyone.
What? She met a man by the riverside? What? That man even hurt her? A certain someone: Whichever hand hurt her, chop off his entire arm.
Love at first sight without realizing it, gradually falling in love, slowly getting closer…
Family and national grudges, schemes and desires, good and evil, crime and punishment, she and he face the future together, seeking justice with passion!
A naturally dark female lead who could accidentally destroy the world but is actually an honest person VS a weak, pitiful, and helpless but skilled fighter, beautiful white-cut black male lead
My heart is not of stone, how steadfast is your love? — Tao Yuanming “Imitating the Ancients (No. 3)”
— Reading Guide —
Cold female lead & dramatic black lotus with hidden yandere traits male lead
