“It’s something that can never be changed. What is destined to happen, will happen.”
The words tumbled out of her mouth as if on their own.
‘Again?’
It felt as if the words weren’t her own, but were leaping out because Elishia, the master of her body, thought so.
“Then it must have been fate that I met you. Lucky me.”
Illeon laughed casually.
Seeing his face, bright with neither worry nor concern, made the unknown shadow in her heart melt away. Suddenly, Elishia wanted to hold him. She wanted to rest her head on Illeon’s sturdy chest.
‘What are you talking about? Your daily routine is nothing but eating and sleeping.’
Objectively, that was true, but she felt the need to rest. Where did this vague fatigue come from? Was it something that Elishia originally had? She sighed without realizing, feeling frustrated.
“Something troubling you?”
“No, what could possibly trouble me?”
“Hmm. Perhaps not receiving a single engagement proposal after your debut?”
“How did you know?”
It had been a headache, not having the inclination to parade men around the unfamiliar social scene to appease the scolding of Lady Oje, even though she was already annoyed by it.
“I happened to find out. For now, I’m the only one who sets foot in this house, aren’t I?”
“You must be happy to be the only one.”
“If Your Grace wishes, I can bring one tomorrow.”
“Then please do. Just because I receive it doesn’t mean I have to marry.”
Illeon looked at Elishia seriously.
“There is a condition.”
“What is it?”
“I wish you would think of me sincerely. Just as I have taken you to my heart.”
For a moment, the chirping of insects and all other sounds disappeared.
She could no longer feel the coolness of the tree shade, or the gentle breeze.
Elishia’s heart was pounding.
“I’m not asking you to like me as much as I like you. Even one hundredth is fine, but I wish you were sincere to me.”
At that moment, she knew without words.
This person knows who I am.
…He knows I’m Lona.
That’s why he said he found half, and came to me.
The surging emotions were so strange they could not be described. Among the people who knew Elishia, only he did not know her. She considered herself closer to Lona, wearing the shell of Elishia.
Illeon knows Lona.
The fact that he knew Elishia was Lona was a tremendous comfort to her.
“…Your Highness.”
Illeon’s eyes found Lady Oje. Without a trace, she had disappeared from sight.
“It seems I have passed in the eyes of the Lady.”
Illeon gently squeezed Elishia’s shoulders with his large hand. He lowered his head towards her, his eyes narrowed slightly. Was he nervous too? His long eyelashes that partially hid his red eyes seemed to tremble a bit.
Elishia closed her eyes.
Illeon’s lips touched her forehead and then withdrew.
‘Sigh.’
As the light contact passed and she was about to open her eyes.
His breath touched Elishia again.
On her closed eyelids.
On the tip of her nose where she had been holding her breath.
And on her modest lips below.
He lingered on her lips a little longer. The scent of sandalwood lingered as their lips parted.
“I wish for the real kiss to be initiated by you.”
Elishia blushed at Illeon’s words, and he looked pleased.
“Now do you know why I come here every day?”
Elishia nodded her head without hesitation.
(This is a time separator.)
Constance Avignon’s busiest street, Blanc Avenue.
With a wide road leading directly to the palace, carriages drove down the middle, and people walked on the separated sidewalk. Neatly arranged roadside trees and flower decorations boasted brightness.
Alongside, there were numerous shops with dazzling signs. All of them were highend stores with transparent glass windows. Beyond the clear glass, incredibly extravagant luxury items that even the nobles would covet flaunted their beauty.
In the midst of those starlit places, the shop with a sign that clearly read ‘Auge’ in golden letters on a black background was taking the top spot among the luxury shops.
Illeon left his horse to the groom and strode into the shop. Seeing him, the manager quickly guided him inside with a respectful attitude.
The shop’s owner, Madame Oje, greeted him with a bow and a smile.
“Your Highness the Archduke.”
“Sit down.”
Illeon’s informal attitude, omitting any greetings, was a sign of trust and intimacy. Madame Oje’s fondness for Illeon grew deeper. It was a courtesy to her that he, at the pinnacle of power and conversation, treated her with such familiarity.
Illeon laid an envelope of documents in front of the lady.
“Your Highness. What is this?”
“Let’s check.”
What came out of the envelope was a contract to supply Madame Oje’s jewelry store with a year’s worth of mining output from the highgrade diamond mine owned by the Clévent family, exclusively and in bulk.
“Ththis to me.”
“You worked hard, so I was able to hold Her Majesty’s hand once.”
“Ththank you.”
Madame Oje hastily bowed her head.
“Is the Duchess still so stubborn?”
“Yes.”
Madame Oje looked troubled.
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
