“Oh, what’s that.”
Logan Redford’s brow furrowed at the words that slipped out unintentionally. He added, as if reproaching such a foolish question.
“It’s natural to be interested in my woman, the person who will become my wife.”
Even the most indifferent man would to his wife. Yes, because she would be his wife.
Sidney nodded repeatedly while looking down at her teacup, convincing herself. Then she voiced a question that suddenly occurred to her.
“We were just talking about Justin Owello a moment ago.”
“Yes.”
It was an answer without properly acknowledging the question, lacking even minimal sincerity. Sidney carefully called out to Logan, who seemed to be deep in thought.
“Logan?”
“If we go out now, we can see the winter sea at dusk. Shall we look from the second-floor terrace? Or walk on the beach?”
This wasn’t like him. Such abrupt and spontaneous speech was not at all like Logan Redford. But compared to his recent words and actions, it wasn’t particularly unusual.
Half out of curiosity, and half out of a mind to see how far this would go, she chose one of the options he offered.
“The second floor.”
“Go up first.”
“Alright.”
Sidney swallowed the laughter that was about to escape in disbelief and silently set her teacup down on the counter.
[This is the timeline separator]Gathering up the skirt of her dress, she climbed the stairs one by one until a large window overlooking the sea came into view.
Crackle crackle, Sidney moved her feet to the rhythm of the burning logs in the fireplace, slowly looking around the interior.
Next to the fireplace was a bookshelf filled with books and a long sofa perfect for lying down and reading.
Under the sofa was a red carpet with intricate patterns, and there was also a small table with a chessboard laid out and a rocking chair that looked comfortable just by looking at it.
She started to guess the owner of the red shawl draped over the rocking chair, but stopped.
With the attitude of “who cares,” she withdrew her gaze and turned her head to follow the ticking sound of the clock.
The antique clock sitting on the black fireplace showed 4:54.
Sidney approached the fireplace as if entranced and stood in front of a small frame.
It was a portrait of a blonde woman holding a boy about three years old, and a young officer looking down at them with a faint smile.
Sidney’s eyes widened and she covered her mouth with her hand as she confirmed the young man’s face up close.
Logan Redford was standing there proudly next to his wife and son.
Unable to believe what she was seeing, she closed and opened her eyes several times. When the surprise and shock subsided somewhat, she felt puzzled.
Despite having formed a seemingly perfect family for all to see, what was his intention in proposing marriage to her? She wondered if perhaps the woman’s status was humble and he had hidden the fact of his marriage, but then thought that Logan Redford, who had said he didn’t care if Marien was a commoner, wouldn’t have done that.
Then why? No, more than that…
Sidney tilted her head and muttered to herself.
“When.”
When did he form such a family? Three years on the battlefield, and one year after returning to the mainland, she, who had been Logan Redford’s aide during that time, couldn’t have not known.
If they had been close enough to leave such a portrait, they would have exchanged letters almost daily.
Then was it before she joined Logan’s unit?
Sidney, who had been carefully examining the man in the portrait, opened her eyes wide and then smiled wryly.
“It must be his father, since it’s an old uniform…”
“Yes, my father.”
Startled, she looked up to find Logan looking down at her with a stern face.
For peeking into his private life without permission… she felt sorry and embarrassed.
“I didn’t mean to look on purpose…”
“I put it there to be seen.”
She accepted his nonchalant answer. After all, he had placed the frame so conspicuously in a space where people come and go.
Nodding unconsciously, her eyes met Logan’s. Avoiding his staring gaze, she murmured while looking at the frame.
“You look a lot like your father.”
“I thought I took after my mother’s side.”
“No way. Your father’s sculptured features, manly jawline, and intense eyes are exactly the same as yours, Logan. Looking at it this way, the atmosphere is… more like your mother, who looks delicate and sensitive, rather than your father, who looks genial and cheerful…”
“Sidney, that… Did you look so carefully because you thought I might have secretly gotten married?”
“…!”
Startled by the direct hit, Logan Redford grinned as if something was very amusing.
It was too late to deny it here, and it would only make her look more foolish.
“As your fiancée, I was reasonably suspicious of my fiancé. I also tend to observe habitually.”
“And?”
“Well, I found out it wasn’t true.”
She retorted as if it was just that. At the same time, she naturally moved her right foot to the side, slightly widening the distance between them.
Logan put his foot between the fireplace and her, extending his hand towards the terrace. His other hand was behind his back as if hiding something.
What is it? As she was about to lean in to check, Logan drew her attention with an unexpected sound.
“That’s a shame.”
“What’s a shame?”
“I became curious about how you would react if you had continued to misunderstand.”
What a shame indeed. Logan was savoring this moment with a mischievous expression.
How annoyingly charming it was. Sidney glared at him sharply and snapped back.
“Which side did that mischievous personality come from?”
Logan Redford whispered ‘Mother’s side.’ as he pushed open the window leading to the terrace.
“…!”
With the whooshing sound of the wind, she narrowed her eyes and held her breath against the icy sea breeze that enveloped her entire body.
Click, hearing the terrace window close behind her, she took a step. In front of the terrace railing, she slowly turned her head and body towards the direction of the wind.
Thin golden rays of light stretched out between the gray cloud masses covering the sky, and silver scales sparkled here and there on the blue sea.
Despite the fierce sea wind whipping around, how calm and peaceful the sea looked.
On the other hand, she thought that the sea’s inner feelings might not be so peaceful, being battered here and there by the waves rushing from afar and the sea wind slapping against its face.
“What are you thinking about?”
“…Just that it seems that way.”
“That’s random.”
“So were the things Logan said today.”
She spoke as if reciting, watching the clouds turn pink like spreading paint. There was no particular response, and she let this pass as well.
As the blazing sun that had turned the gray sky pink slowly sank below the clouds, the blue sea was also dyed red.
While she was staring blankly at this spectacular sight she had never seen before, a bouquet of lilies blocked her view. As surprising as the sudden appearance of flowers was, it was even more surprising that it was Logan Redford who offered them.
His platinum blonde hair, tinted by the sunset, was flying wildly, while his blue eyes and expression were so serious.
“Do you dislike flowers?”
Sidney’s body reacted instinctively to Logan’s usual curt tone as a superior.
She politely accepted the bouquet and showed respect.
“It’s not that.”
As the strong scent of flowers wafted up, she realized her mistake. The moment her eyes met Logan’s, who seemed as flustered as she was, she couldn’t help but chuckle at the absurdity of it all.
He also smiled awkwardly.
Feeling both ridiculous and embarrassed by the current situation, she was quietly looking down at the flowers when he spoke, taking a small box out of his coat pocket.
“Grandfather is very suspicious.”
“Ah, is it a ring?”
“I chose a design that’s modest enough to wear regularly.”
Inside the box was a platinum ring that was not just modest, but almost crude.
Sidney took out the ring and examined it from various angles. It was an ordinary plain ring with nothing particularly special about it. Nevertheless, the more she looked at it, the more certain she felt that it was hers.
Sidney frowned, trying to hide her true feelings, and grumbled.
“…Marquis Redford will be even more suspicious.”
Just as she was about to put the ring back in the box, Logan quickly snatched it and said,
“Give me your hand.”
“I can do it myself later…”
Before she could finish speaking, the ring was slipped onto her ring finger. Logan put his lips on it and murmured in a low voice.
“It’s okay if you lose it. But don’t deliberately take off your wedding ring.”
Blue eyes stared intently at her through the disheveled bangs that had fallen due to the wind.
She couldn’t move, captivated by those eyes that resembled a predator crouching in the bushes, waiting to catch its prey.
It felt strange. Was it because the sky, the sea, the whole world was dyed red? Had her reason flown away with the fierce wind that wrapped around her entire body?
She felt like she could tame this arrogant man. Just imagining it made her blood surge and her body tremble with an indescribable thrill.
Sidney tilted her head slightly and asked back.
“What if I lose it?”
“Then buy a new one.”
Again and again. Logan Redford slowly straightened up and added in a husky voice.
As if enchanted, her head lifted following his gaze, and his arm wrapped around her waist like a snake.
The scent of crushed lilies intensified, mixed with Logan’s body odor.
Her mind turned white like a thick fog settling in as she gazed at his intense stare looking down at her.
Far from taming him, she had offered her neck to be devoured. The belated regret was very brief. Her mouth, out of control, prattled on, provoking him.
“What if I take it off on purpose? What happens then?”
“If you’re that curious…”
With a grinding sound of teeth, sparks flew from his eyes.
Her breath caught at that fierce gaze and the pressure squeezing her waist. Instinctively, she tried to push against his chest and retreat, but Logan pushed back, trapping her between him and the railing.
Sidney tried her best to keep her voice calm.
“Logan.”
Calling his name meant he would stop. It was a promise Logan Redford had made himself.
But he twisted one corner of his mouth up as if mocking that, firmly grasping Sidney’s chin.
The sound of waves that had been faintly heard suddenly became very loud as Logan whispered in a husky voice.
For a moment, Sidney’s eyes widened in disbelief at what she heard.
__________
Men In The Royal Harem All Yearn For Her (Female-dominant)
One-line summary: The men (young empress, young empress dowager, crown prince) in the harem all yearn to become her consort.
Synopsis:
The female protagonist is a wildly popular heartthrob with a natural halo.
The male protagonist is a crazily obsessed and self-abasing loyal dog.
Qiu Shu, the top scholar’s daughter, is pure, elegant and incomparably enchanting, captivating countless admirers.
Being favored by the eldest prince, the most handsome man in the capital, and becoming his wife in a single move is truly the pride of a poor student.
However, what they don’t know is that the seemingly bright and splendid female protagonist lives in a battlefield of jealousy every day.
The cute and adorable young empress is unusually attached to her.
The gentlemanly and upright young empress dowager has an ambiguous relationship with her.
Even her aloof and proud eldest prince is actually a gloomy and petty jealous husband.
Trigger warning: All men in this novel are yandere style.