Crying. It was unbelievable. That was not an emotion allowed for her.
“I’m sorry, haha.”
Mercedes squirmed and escaped from Nadia’s embrace as quickly as possible.
There was no time to indulge in emotions right now.
Rather than blaming herself for not being perfect, she needed to take advantage of the situation and quickly achieve her goal.
Mercedes lowered her eyes and continued speaking.
“Anyway, I only feel sorry towards Father. He had to endure unnecessary hardships because of me. I want to give him something. Father really liked the items from the Stag Horn Company. He always boasted about how difficult it was to obtain them.”
She was able to utter lies indifferently once again.
It was thanks to the ruins left behind where emotions had passed.
The ruins helped her put on the mask again. After all, a wretched heart with nothing was no different from Mercedes’ true nature.
“So Nadia. May I ask you a favor? I want to be forgiven by Father.”
Mercedes had to faithfully carry out her purpose.
Nadia patted her back and nodded.
“Of course.”
Mercedes smiled faintly as she met Nadia’s reddish-brown eyes. Then, with a troubled expression, she fiddled with her hair and continued.
“…Hmm. But Nadia. There’s one problem. Actually, I don’t really know what Father’s tastes are, what he likes… I was a really bad daughter.”
“Oh. Don’t worry about Count Cromwell’s preferences.”
Nadia was someone who took more pride in her excellent memory than in being the owner of the largest company in the East.
To the point where she believed it was the secret to growing the size of the company.
“I remember the tastes of most of my customers.”
“Really? Then can you recommend something?”
“Of course. It just so happens that the social season is the peak season for the company, so I brought a lot of nice items. Among them, there are a few things Count Cromwell would like.”
“That’s such a relief…!”
Mercedes covered her mouth and showed a moved expression. Nadia smiled.
“Meeting Nadia must be God giving me a chance to beg for Father’s forgiveness. I’m happy to have met you, Nadia.”
“I’m glad you think that way, Mel.”
Regardless of feeling sorry for the other person, Nadia had a slightly strategic thought as a merchant.
“Mel. While I’m staying at the townhouse in the capital, invite me over from time to time. As a friend.”
“Really?! I’d love that! To be honest, I’ve been quite bored since coming to the room… Although His Majesty treats me very well, he’s busy.”
Actually, Nadia had come today to receive the pearl request and also to slightly probe whether she was really a ‘murderer’.
And with the sense of a merchant who had overcome many hardships, she became convinced that people would accept Mercedes’ innocence.
She also had a feeling that the future of being revered as the ‘Emperor’s Woman’ was not far off.
‘The Emperor didn’t let Mercedes loose at the banquet for no reason.’
Mercedes had a strangely captivating charm. And above all, she was very beautiful. Beautiful people steal people’s attention.
Once people believe in her innocence, they will gradually follow her without minding the Empress Dowager.
‘Soon, there will be a big new axis in high society.’
Nadia’s mind as a merchant was spinning rapidly.
Investing in the seat next to her.
This was a very important crossroads.
* * *
On the first day she met Mercedes.
It took less than a day for Rhonda and Patricia, who were terrified to the point of fainting upon being informed that they had to serve a murderer, to come to pity Mercedes.
The Mercedes they actually faced was too frail. A murderer? She didn’t even look like she had the strength to hold a sword. There was nothing to fear at all. Rather, they felt compassion for her prickly face.
Moreover, they clearly saw it on the first night while bathing Mercedes. There was a noticeable faint scar on her lower back.
It was a scar that would not be visible without looking closely, but it naturally caught their eyes while bathing her.
A scar they occasionally saw on whipped livestock.
It was a scar that should not exist on a noble young lady. Whatever the story was, it looked like it must have been very painful when she was hit.
“Lady Mercedes! You went to bed late again, didn’t you!”
Perhaps that was why. Rhonda and Patricia came to pity Mercedes a little. And that compassion was slowly turning into affection.
“Sorry, Rhonda.”
“Sorry? You should be scolding me. Saying who do you think you are to raise your voice at your master!”
“I’m just grateful for your kindness.”
Mercedes smiled and took a few more bites of her meal. It was for the sake of Rhonda, who always worried about her.
“Ah. And His Majesty said to tell you that he wants to have tea time.”
“It seems he has some free time.”
“Yes. The weather is nice, and since you haven’t used the garden even once, he said to have it in the garden.”
Come to think of it.
Partly because she had moved to the villa so quickly, but she had never gone to the garden because she was obsessed with studying and only faced her desk.
In the past, when sleepless nights came, she used to go for walks, but now she was rather glad for the insomnia. She could sit at her desk and concentrate.
“…I’m a bit sorry.”
He had considerately arranged a garden that only Mercedes could enter, but she had never gone.
Mercedes finished her meal and stretched.
The weather was nice.
About ten days had passed since the day she invited Nadia.
During that time, Nadia had visited her three more times. As if she really wanted to become friends.
And yesterday was a bit surprising.
Because Nadia actually brought luxury goods that Count Cromwell would likely enjoy. To the point where she said, “I’ll decide on this,” on the spot.
Since it seemed like quite a bit of money would be needed, including delivery, she felt like she had to ask Carlos right away anyway.
‘What should I do to repay the money?’
Although she couldn’t fully trust him, she felt compelled to repay the only lifeline she had for receiving money.
Mercedes prepared for tea time while thinking about what she could do for Carlos in exchange for repaying the money.
As always, she wore a comfortable and lovely dress, and a cute hat to block the sunlight.
And so the afternoon came.
“It feels like it’s been a while.”
Carlos, in a shirt with the buttons undone, came to her room. He was such a beautiful man today as well.
The two of them went out through the only door connected to her room.
The garden, which was beautiful even just looking out the window, was even more beautiful when they went out and sat down. The fragrance of budding flowers that bloom in early spring was subtly spreading.
The two of them sat in front of a splendidly set tea table, and the maids adjusted the canopy and quickly disappeared.
“It’s been a while? We saw each other at dinner last night.”
Mercedes answered with a faint smile. Carlos shook his head.
“Don’t they say in romance plays that when you fall in love and wait for your loved one, an hour feels like a year? I thought it was all a lie, but it turned out to be true.”
“Haha. Your Majesty always says interesting things.”
It was always this kind of conversation. Carlos showed his affection without hesitation, and Mercedes took a step back and smiled at him.
It could be tiresome and annoying, but Carlos liked that the one who previously had no reaction at all now showed a faint smile.
She couldn’t understand it or believe it.
But sometimes, it felt nice that he liked her smile.
“Did you have some free time today? You were always busy during the day. I was surprised when you requested tea time.”
“The work that had piled up while I was away from the room was roughly finished as of yesterday. From now on, the adjutants will work harder, and I think I’ll relax a bit.”
“I can imagine Leo’s disgruntled face.”
Moreover, Carlos was the only one Mercedes could talk to with a bit of ease.
It was thanks to Carlos’ unique playful and relaxed attitude and his unstinting affection.
“That friend can suffer a little. He’s young. Hmm, so about that. Would you be willing to keep your leisurely emperor company? I’m bored because I have no friends.”
“It would be an honor.”
Mercedes nodded and picked up her teacup. After finding some peace of mind like that, she opened her mouth.
“Hmm. Um, Your Majesty. I… have a favor to ask.”
“You, asking, me, first, for a favor?”
Carlos asked back, emphasizing each word as if he had heard something extraordinary. Mercedes felt a little embarrassed.
“A favor from the amazing woman who stole the heart of the Stag Horn Company owner. I’m getting curious?”
“…That… Could you lend me some money?”
Mercedes unintentionally made the request in a stiff tone.
Carlos, who had been quietly looking at her, suddenly burst into laughter.
“Pfft. Hahahaha… Is that your favor to me right now?”
Carlos was clearly enjoying this.
At times like this, seeing him made Mercedes feel like she was a great wit.
“Hmm, yes. I thought it would be difficult to repay with money… If there’s anything I can do for you, could I repay it by doing that instead?”
“Mercedes. You’ve gained confidence. Confidence that you can do the tasks I order you to do.”
“…A little, yes.”
“That’s good. But, Mercedes.”
Carlos suddenly leaned forward from his relaxed position in the chair.
“What if I ask for you?”
The handsome man with black hair and eyes, in contrast to the clear blue sky and beautiful green garden, calmly asked. His low voice cracked slightly, creating a strange atmosphere.
“……”
Mercedes couldn’t answer for a moment. Because the scents that always emanated from him felt too strong.
It felt like her gaze was captivated and frozen in place. He wrapped himself in a slightly dangerous atmosphere and said clearly,
“I told you last time. I don’t like stiff prices… Nevertheless, if you’re thinking of wanting to give a ‘price’ every time you ask me for a favor.”
It was really strange. She couldn’t take her eyes off Carlos at times like this.
“You should be a little more careful. Mercedes.”
When yandere male lead believes she loves him — but she never did
“How dare you!”
“How dare you make me love you, only to cast me aside as nothing more than a friend?!?
“I will never accept that.”
“I will never let you return to him.”
“Even if I have to burn myself to ashes.”
“Even if I must shatter my purity, my dignity, my very soul.”
“I will never let you escape me!”
This was the first novel that introduced me to the matriarchal genre. I’ve read it three times already!
At first, the male lead despised the female lead. Later, he misunderstood that she liked him, so he condescendingly and reluctantly reciprocated her feelings.
Then, he suddenly discovered that she was kind to everyone in the same way, and there was already someone she cherished in her heart, and that person was not him.
The male lead couldn’t believe it, he became angry and crazy. He was determined to capture her body and heart by any means necessary.
Synopsis:
Want to see how a green tea bitch male lead falls in love with the female lead?
Want to see how he flirtatiously pursues the female lead?
Want to see how he gets slapped in the face repeatedly?
The male lead is a green tea bitch, a poisonous lotus, jealous, ruthless, unscrupulous, with a venomous heart, and he’s also a delusional maniac.
The female lead is righteous, positive energy-filled, kind, a holy mother.
Let’s see how two people with extreme personalities come together~
_____
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