The Grand Duke removed my mask.
“Your… Highness?”
“It was you who started it.”
It began with his hot breath. Then, something cold and soft touched my lips.
His lips enveloped mine as if they were always meant to be together.
Our lips fit together perfectly, like two matching pieces.
His lips tenderly caressed mine. A tingling sensation that words couldn’t describe pierced through my body.
Gradually, his lips became more intense, pushing mine aside.
I couldn’t speak. I couldn’t even breathe. He gently invaded my mouth, filling me completely.
‘Ah…!’
The sound of rain hitting the ceiling came through.
Rain falls from the dark sky.
I wondered if there were stars in the dark sky above me now.
If not, maybe all those stars had fallen inside me.
Stars that had been submerged in my veins became a Milky Way swirling inside me.
The constellation moved through my fingertips touching his shoulder, through my trembling toes, through my cheek caressed by his hand, and into my stomach, stirring restlessly.
Our mixed breaths swallowed the sound of rain.
For a moment, he pulled his lips away from mine.
I looked at him. He looked back at me with an intense, longing gaze.
“Your Highness.”
He spoke.
“Esdel. I have dared… to fall in love with you.”
He looked down at me with sad eyes.
‘Love… he loves me?’
Sion Belfast loves me?
I couldn’t believe it.
‘Is this real?’
His hot breath touched my cheek. His hand gently held mine.
His large hand completely enveloped my small one.
Ah… I’m beneath him.
He had risen above me.
The Grand Duke’s other hand cradled my cheek.
‘Why do you speak of love with such sad eyes?’
My heart felt like it would burst.
Was I misunderstanding his words due to our heavy breathing filling the space?
Love. He loves me?
His deep blue eyes examined my expression, my breathing, my trembling.
What did I look like in his eyes now?
“Esdel.”
He called my name again.
His hot, rough breath trembled as he uttered my name.
“I love you.”
He said it once more.
My heart sank with a thud.
Why does his declaration of love hurt so much?
Do I deserve to receive his feelings?
‘This must be a dream, or maybe an illusion.’
The stars turned into a Milky Way, pounding against my heart.
“Are you alright? Me loving you…”
His eyes wavered with uncertainty.
I instinctively reached out, brushing his damp hair. He shivered under my touch.
Suddenly, he swallowed a low moan and pressed his lips against mine again.
More passionately than before. Softer, warmer, more intense.
I accepted him.
His long fingers delved into my hair. His other hand caressed my cheek and moved down to my neck.
Even though I had never experienced such gestures, I instinctively understood their meaning, the shared breath, the significance of these breaths.
He intruded into my mouth, left, and returned.
The sound of rain grew distant.
‘Your Highness.’
His arms wrapped around my waist. A tingling sensation ran up my spine, numbing my mind.
His lips, which had been exploring mine, slowly moved down to my neck.
I nearly let out an embarrassed sigh but managed to suppress it.
I opened my eyes and looked at his face above me.
I kissed his forehead, where light sweat had formed. I couldn’t resist because he looked so beautiful in his focus.
Then, without giving me a chance to breathe, he pressed his lips back onto mine.
Breathing became difficult.
Then, he withdrew his lips from mine. In the brief moment we were apart, he spoke.
“Ah… Esdel. My white butterfly.”
‘!’
White… butterfly?
I froze.
The distant rain sound, which had seemed so far away, suddenly struck my ears sharply.
It was as if cold water had been poured over me, jolting me back to reality.
‘White butterfly?’
The name of the assassin from my past life, who brought down the North and led him to his death. How does he know that name?
The White Butterfly of the South, a character who doesn’t exist in this life.
The foolish assassin who didn’t know who she was until she met her end at the hands of Luciella. That was me.
Why is the Grand Duke mentioning that name now?
I never told him that name.
When we reunited at the Southern Grand Duke’s castle, I introduced myself as a ‘bug’. I never added ‘white.’
But why… why is he saying that name now!
The Grand Duke’s movements ceased.
Did he feel my body stiffen? He raised his head from below my neck and looked at me.
“…Esdel?”
I looked up at him.
His hand, which had been in my hair, stopped its gentle movement.
…What should I say?
Should I ask if he remembers what he just said? Should I ask if calling me ‘white butterfly’ was a mistake?
Ah… I…
I just shrank back. Startled, he pulled away from me.
“Esdel? Are you alright?”
I stood up. His arms, which had been wrapped around me, fell away.
I couldn’t look at him.
I walked toward the closed door of the shed.
“Esdel!?”
The Grand Duke stood up and came after me. But I couldn’t face him.
He called my name again.
“Esdel.”
His voice mixed with worry and fear.
“…”
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.]
