The carriage returned to the square they had passed on the way from Jasmine’s house.
“Wait here,” Elise told the coachman before entering a cafe on the square with Regina. It was Rose, a well-known cafe with many outdoor tables.
As Elise entered, people who recognized her began to whisper.
‘That’s the one from the gossip magazine…’
‘How shameless to show her face…’
Elise just smirked at these all-too-predictable comments, while Regina looked deeply upset.
“You should’ve invited whoever you’re meeting to our house instead.”
Elise sighed at Regina’s concern over her being badmouthed.
“I would have if I could, but the person I’m meeting can’t be invited home.”
Who could it be that couldn’t be invited home? Regina’s question was soon answered.
“Have you been well?”
A deep, resonant voice captured everyone’s attention from inside the cafe.
Emerging from the shadows, the man stole the spotlight.
He was strikingly noticeable – sharp eyes, a pronounced nose, and graceful lips caught the eye first.
Then, his healthy tanned skin, broad shoulders making the door look small, and his tall, sturdy figure followed.
Despite knowing it was rude to stare, people couldn’t help but be drawn in by his impressive appearance.
“Prince Karan.”
Those around, including Regina, who had been mesmerized by him, snapped back to reality at Elise’s call.
‘Oh my! That must be the barbarian prince I’ve heard about.’
‘Didn’t they say all barbarians look like bears? Where does he look like a bear…’
‘He does look robust like a bear, though. Maybe those stories weren’t all exaggeration.’
Their whispers couldn’t be concealed, even behind fans.
Karan ignored the ladies’ chatter and approached Elise.
He elegantly took Elise’s hand, which was just hanging by her side, and bowed to kiss the back of it.
His soft, lingering kiss stayed on her hand much longer than expected, leaving Elise’s ears flushed red.
“Your Highness, you don’t have to do this,” Elise whispered, her voice low.
It was common for a man to bow to the woman he was fond of, but not for princes or kings, unless the woman was a queen or princess.
“Have I kept too much distance? Shall I try a more lover-like greeting?”
Karan straightened up and stepped closer, a smile playing on his lips.
‘He’s teasing me.’
Elise glanced at him without annoyance and then walked back to the open-air seating area.
“Elise, are you angry?”
“Why would I be? You’re just doing what I asked,” Elise replied.
Elise and Karan had made a few promises in their letters.
First, Karan would treat Elise comfortably.
He always addressed her as ‘Miss’, which wasn’t appropriate considering his status as a prince or their newly written relationship. So, he agreed to call her by her name.
Second, Elise requested Karan to act like he was in love with her.
Given the scandal, they would attract attention, and Elise didn’t want their relationship to be doubted.
‘You were too cold at the lake last time.’
That moment had left a chill in her heart.
So, Karan’s recent gesture must be part of their agreement.
‘I thought he was only good at fighting, but his acting is top-notch too.’
Elise rubbed the back of her hand where Karan’s lips had touched, feeling its warmth.
“Alright. Come sit down.”
Elise walked ahead to take a seat in the open area, where many people were passing by. She signaled a waiter for service.
After placing their order, the passing waiter glanced at Karan.
Observing quietly, Elise noticed it wasn’t just the waiters – all the women were looking at Karan.
For some reason, Elise felt uneasy.
It was an ideal condition for the success of her plan, yet she couldn’t understand why it upset her.
‘Maybe I’m just tired.’
Blaming it on insufficient sleep, Elise lowered her head, causing her long hair to fall forward.
As her hair cascaded onto the dessert plate they had ordered, Elise moved.
She straightened up and looked at Karan.
Their eyes met immediately as he was already looking at her.
“I have a favor to ask.”
“Anything, please tell me.”
“My hair keeps falling, and it’s uncomfortable, but I don’t have a maid with me…”
Regina, who had accompanied her, had been sent out of the cafe, supposedly to shop. Elise glanced around, appearing flustered.
‘He’s acting.’
Karan played along, finding her act endearing.
“I’ll be happy to help. What can I do for you?”
Karan was eager to assist.
Elise hesitated for a moment before placing a hair clip on the table.
“Could you help fix my hair?”
Karan hummed and frowned slightly.
“Are you upset?”
It was possible. Asking a man to do a woman’s hairdressing could seem demeaning.
But Karan shook his head.
“Not upset, but…”
He touched his lips thoughtfully.
Elise’s gaze was drawn to Karan’s plump lips.
Remembering their soft, warm touch, she quickly covered the back of her hand with her other hand.
Suddenly, she thought asking him for help was a mistake.
“If it’s troublesome, never mind…”
Male lead is a Divorced Husband
She said to him: “Tell me, what makes you like me? I’ll change it!”
Liu Changning transmigrated into a female cannon fodder character in a female-dominant novel.
After reading the first half of the novel’s plot, the first thing she did upon transmigration was to divorce the Pan Jinlian-style male protagonist she had just married.
She indulged herself, pretending to be ugly and poor.
But as time passed, the way that man looked at her became more and more unusual…
Liu Changning was dumbfounded: Tell me, what makes you like me? I’ll change!
――
This lifetime, Pei Yuanshao was rejected by the same woman twice!
The first time, she drove him away. Forced by the situation, he endured the waves of anger in his heart, yielding and humbling himself.
That person lay slanted on a rocking chair, her sallow face emotionless: “If you don’t want a divorce, go cook!”
Pei Yuanshao’s face was dark and gloomy: “You!”
The second time, after the crisis in Jinling City was resolved, the new emperor sent someone to pick him up. He turned around, stammering: “I… I have to go. If you keep me…”
That person lay on the kang bed, her back to him, as if she had long anticipated this day, crisp and clear: “Goodbye!”
Pei Yuanshao was so angry his fingers trembled: “You… you!”
The mission of family and country made him restrain himself, averting his eyes and turning to leave this broken household.
Two years later, they met again. Seeing her ethereal face, his body shook like a sieve.
“She was originally a ‘she’!”
At the Qionglin Banquet, the top scholar of the imperial examination, a talented person with exceptional speech and conduct, all the unmarried young gentlemen from aristocratic families looked at her with shy and timid eyes.
The peerless imperial official Pei Yuanshao felt the anger in his heart erupt. He pointed at the woman surrounded by the crowd at the Qionglin Banquet, his thin lips slightly curled: “Little sister, I wants that person to be the wife-master of my Mingde Prince Manor.”
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