Slyly, Antoyne shed tears, insisting she had not stolen from the lord but merely picked it up from the floor in the hallway.
So, Kain had to stoop to Antoyne’s level.
‘Yes. I accidentally dropped it there.’
Understanding his insinuation, Antoyne, pale and trembling, was dragged off to be whipped.
Public punishment would ensure she wouldn’t dare set foot in the castle again.
Meanwhile, Kain felt bitter thinking about Clodel.
“What did I do to deserve this?”
Had she tremblingly accepted the gift she never received, saying she liked it?
He was haunted by her reaction when he asked about the wedding gift in the underground crypt, her shoulders shrinking in surprise.
That night, Kain had liked Clodel.
He could have fulfilled his duty and left, but he didn’t.
He was worried about her, thin and frail, in contrast to his large and sturdy build; he feared he might hurt or break her with a slight wrong move.
Taking great pains to slowly claim her multiple times, he dismissed it as a gesture of kindness and affection for a woman from Belmont in Valmond.
“Why do you lie?”
He had even offered to fix the ring, but she responded as if she had received and kept it.
Usually a doll-like woman who answered briefly and sat silently with an indifferent face, she only showed expression when he spoke, mostly appearing nervous or scared.
It was the same last night.
Not many in the castle knew that the ceiling of the lord’s bedroom could open.
It was a secret passed only to the heads of the house, created by a Temnes eccentric interested in science and astronomy, costing a fortune.
Opening the ceiling was risky because it exposed the lord to potential assassination by arrows from outside.
When Kain tried to take the blue diamond ring from Antoyne’s finger, she instinctively curled her fingers.
“Ouch!”
However, his forceful removal was quicker, causing Antoyne to sprain her finger in the process.
Her once gracefully adorned hand, just moments before shimmering with the ring, quickly swelled up red and puffy.
“Ah…”
Staring blankly at her swollen finger, Antoyne was forcibly pulled up.
“Take her away.”
Antoyne was seized and dragged away by knights.
Kain spoke to the lady of the house, who was akin to his great-aunt.
“The crime is theft.”
Without properly explaining what or whose item was stolen, he left, but she couldn’t stop him.
“Ah, Antoyne. What have you done…”
She was overwhelmed and shocked at the sight of her daughter being dragged out of the house, collapsing on the spot.
Hanna was busily narrating Antoyne’s story to Clodel like it was an adventure tale.
“That wretched girl tried to pretend innocence, claiming she didn’t know it was a wedding night gift.”
The castle was abuzz with onlookers due to the public trial.
“And then the duke said, ‘Well, then I too accidentally dropped it there.’ ”
“She got the whipping she deserved.”
“Ah, it feels so satisfying. How dare she casually slander someone.”
In Clodel’s presence, Hanna hesitated to utter the word ‘crippled.’
Although the wound was healing well, the state of the internal muscles was uncertain.
There was a chance she might limp even after healing due to the tear not being clean.
But even when Clodel learned of this possibility, she just accepted it, leading Hanna, the doctor, and even Kain to believe she was deeply shocked and internalizing it.
“Anyway, to receive such a magnificent ring as a gift. The duke is generous indeed. Let’s discard this now.”
Hanna tried to slyly remove the controversial button decoration, but Clodel hid her hand behind her back.
“It’s fine. It wouldn’t suit me anyway.”
“What do you mean? It’s important that you received a jewel.”
Clodel smiled faintly.
Now, such talk felt like stories from a world disconnected from her.
Tales of the living that would continue even after her death.
“Am I interrupting?”
“Oh, my. The duke.”
Since hearing about Antoyne’s deed, Hanna saw Kain in a new light.
“Shall I bring some tea?”
As she hinted at leaving, Kain nodded.
“Please do.”
Once Hanna brought the tea, Kain sat opposite Clodel, with a small tea table between them.
Clodel found these moments uncomfortable.
A man, not part of her routine life, seemed to be carving out a space for himself, intruding into the calm interstices of her time.
They hardly knew each other.
So, there was little to talk about.
The silence grew longer until Kain finally asked.
“Why did you save me?”
Male lead Asks for a Divorce Every Day
It’s not often you come across a plot like this in the female-dominant genre — make sure to check it out!
This is a novel I’m planning to reread as well.
The male lead is strong, skilled in martial arts, and not the usual fragile type you often see in matriarchal novels.
Meanwhile, the female lead is a scientist—rational and logical. Even when she falls for the male lead, she doesn’t let her emotions cloud her decisions.
If you push through the first few chapters, you’ll gradually find the story really intriguing.
It has a mix of mystery, detective elements, and romance.
The author’s writing style is like crafting a puzzle—except they deliberately leave out a few pieces, making it hard to predict what happens next, yet keeping you hooked.
In the end, everything will come together and be explained.
One-sentence summary: Wife, stop playing with beakers and look at me!
In a laboratory accident, research scientist Zhu Wansheng accidentally travels to a matriarchal world. The original owner of the body is an eighteen-year-old only daughter of a wealthy rouge merchant, already married with a handsome young man.
Zhu Wansheng grins: Nice! She always said she was heaven’s favorite granddaughter. After a life of toil in her previous life, she can enjoy blessings in this one.
However, her joy lasts no more than three seconds as bad news arrives: the original owner’s family is about to go bankrupt, and her husband wants a divorce.
Even worse, she’s stuck with a research system full of restrictions.
Zhu Wansheng: ? Is this the destiny of a research dog?
——
Faced with this mess, Zhu Wansheng pours herself a bowl of wine to drown her sorrows. In her drunken haze, her husband arrives.
His figure is imposing, holding a long sword, with a dignified air that captivates Zhu Wansheng.
Gu Yingqing, however, looks at the alcohol-reeking Zhu Wansheng with undisguised disgust and coldly asks, “Divorce or not?” The intoxicated Zhu Wansheng mumbles vaguely, “I think… it’s not… it’s not… impossible!”
——
The next day, after sobering up, Zhu Wansheng is full of energy, rolling up her sleeves ready to make a big move. As for yesterday? She has no memory of it.
Zhu Wansheng is ambitious; a research dog fears nothing!
Upgrading rouge, extracting fragrances, producing perfumes, researching lipsticks… all shall bow to the power of modern technology!
The original owner’s dying rouge shop is revitalized. Her mother is pleased and with a wave of her hand, passes on the family business to her. As she takes control and her experimental results gain popularity, it’s the pinnacle of her life…
——
But there are always those who can’t stand to see her doing well. Jealousy, scheming, assassination attempts – they want nothing less than her life.
The person who has always kept his distance from her suddenly holds her tightly in his arms, eyes full of concern.
She is unharmed, but he falls into a pool of blood…
Zhu Wansheng feels guilty, “I can grant you one wish.”
Gu Yingqing tentatively circles his arms around her, carefully resting his head in the crook of her neck, pleading softly, “I regret it. Can we not divorce?”
Zhu Wansheng: ? When did I agree to a divorce?
[Small Theater]
The newly developed rouge is beautifully packaged, and Zhu Wansheng is eager to try it.
Gu Yingqing suddenly appears: “My lady, may I apply it for you?”
Cool fingertips lightly brush her lips. His Adam’s apple bobs as he leans in for a light bite.
Zhu Wansheng: ?
Gu Yingqing: It smells so good, I wanted to taste it…
On a warm spring day, Zhu Wansheng tries a new perfume: “Spring Night.” Gu Yingqing corners her against a wall.
Warm breath lingers on her neck.
“My lady, from now on, may I test the fragrances for you?”
[Humorous female scientist vs scheming live-in son-in-law male lead]
[Touch the gear icon in the bottom right corner of the screen to move to the next chapter if you want.]
