Dressed in Madame Lumiére’s latest spring creation, she looked like a blossom in spring, adorned with pearls scattered like petals.
“Would you grant me the first dance, Duke of the North?”
“Very well,” the Duke agreed, standing up.
As Medea gazed at the Duke, her eyes briefly met mine.
I nodded slightly, maintaining a nonchalant expression. She looked away without responding.
‘Alright, Medea. I’ll wait.’
The orchestra’s gentle tune transitioned into a grand symphony. The nobles began to swap dance partners, but the Duke continued dancing with Medea. No one dared to interrupt them.
Archadia commented, “Just watching them gives me goosebumps.”
“They seem quite jovial to me,” I replied, somewhat playfully.
“Do you often speak in opposites? Shall we? We should guard the Duke. In case she decides to scratch him with poisoned nails.”
Archadia pretended to shiver.
“Shall we, then? But I’m not much of a dancer… if you don’t mind being stepped on.”
“Huh? Really?”
Confusion suddenly clouded Archadia’s face.
‘What’s going on? Didn’t he suggest it?’
“Yes, really.”
Archadia abruptly stood up, rigid as starched fabric, and extended his hand to me.
I placed my hand in his. Contrary to his cool demeanor, his hand was warm. He held my hand as if it were a fragile glass.
As we moved among the dancing nobles, Medea swiftly approached and grasped my wrist.
‘It’s finally happening.’
“Shall we switch partners?”
She pulled me towards her.
In the distance, I saw the Duke dancing with another woman, his gaze fixed on me.
I followed Medea, leaving a stunned Archadia behind.
“How have you been? Bell, Ra.”
We danced slowly to the ballroom music, Medea’s voice cold as ice thinly veiled in warmth.
“Not at all, my lady.”
I replied.
Although I had never formally learned to dance, mimicking the movements of others wasn’t too difficult. Carefully, I held her waist, pushed her away, then drew her close again.
“I wanted to see you.”
“A lie, you never contacted me.”
“I needed to gain their trust. I couldn’t act carelessly, I’m sorry.”
“What about the mask? Why did you cover your real face and expose the fake one?”
Suspicion and hostility flickered in her eyes.
“The Duke insisted. He said my face was unsightly and forced me to wear a new mask. I had no choice.”
“Barbaric, that Duke of the North.”
She spoke with disbelief.
Glancing briefly towards the Emperor, where Cecilia was chatting happily with him, I asked, “But my lady, who is that green-haired woman occupying the place that should be yours?”
“Maybe the Emperor’s granddaughter?”
Medea laughed sarcastically and then asked me, “Isn’t she pretty, that girl?”
“Well, if you wish, I can abduct four or five women with similar looks from the North. Even ones with silver hair and golden eyes.”
“Why?”
She probed, testing me.
“Because none of them would actually be the granddaughter. Eventually, the Emperor himself might give up. That place belongs to you, my lady.”
“…”
At that moment, a nobleman extended his hand to Medea. Despite the ongoing partner swapping, he hesitated upon her cold response.
“You lack manners. We’re in the middle of a conversation.”
He quickly retreated, embarrassed.
We continued to whirl around the ballroom.
“Bella, how is the North? Do you like it? I feel your absence greatly. As you know, you’re my only true friend.”
Her gaze was lonesome.
“I recently became a knight-in-training of the North. I plan to climb higher.”
“Why?”
“To gain power and cause division when the time is right. Please entrust me with an important task when the time comes. I’ll return to your side as soon as I can.”
“Excellent, Bella.”
She smiled genuinely for the first time.
Carefully, I asked, “But my lady, what if Cecilia really is the Emperor’s granddaughter?”
“Ha, Bella.”
“Yes.”
“That won’t happen.”
“But we should be cautious, my lady. If by some chance she is the true granddaughter…”
“If she is?”
She shone with intrigue.
“Shall we eliminate her?”
“…Bella, my friend.”
Medea twirled under my hand and smiled softly.
“Don’t be foolish. That silly girl is just a means to hasten the Emperor’s disillusionment.”
“The Duke suspects her. He wonders if you are behind this woman.”
“Which Duke are you referring to?”
“Duke Lahert of the South.”
“Huh. And what do you think?”
“Sorry, I haven’t given it much thought.”
Medea stopped dancing. She looked genuinely pleased.
“You really are my Bella. These days, chimney-shaped chocolate curd is popular in the Capital. At a bakery in front of 3 Nouvelle Avenue, they bake this bread every evening at 8.”
“Yes.”
It was an invitation to meet at the tavern on Nouvelle Avenue at 8 PM tomorrow.
I regretted that magic couldn’t be used within the palace.
Secretly, I placed my hand on the recording stone in my pocket and bowed to her.
Medea, like cherry blossoms carried by a spring breeze, drifted away from me.
I too turned and headed out of the hall, knowing she would certainly look back to check on me.
Male lead fell into her trap — and shattered when she walked away
This is also on my reread list!
This one is a slow burn, but when it burns, it burns hard.
Definitely worth a read, y’all!
The story follows a thousand-year-old seductive spirit who, on a bet, sets out to charm the male lead—a once-promising but unfortunate cultivator.
But just when she succeeds in making him fall for her, she heartlessly leaves, driving him to madness.
Determined to find her at all costs, he captures her, keeping her by his side no matter what, even if she hates him.
I love this kind of trope—I enjoy watching the male lead suffer in agony.
The ending drags a bit with unnecessary filler, but that’s fine.
As long as I enjoy the beginning, I’m good.
Intro
As an enchantress, Su Heng possesses captivating eyes and charming beauty, easily manipulating the joys and sorrows of living beings at her fingertips.
But to enchant a god, making him taste the bitterness of love’s separation, long-lasting resentment, unattainable desires, and inability to let go…
Do you dare?
Su Heng assists a divine lord in his cultivation, aiming to make him experience all the sufferings of love, so that he can attain the Great Dao.
Only after being chased down from the heavens by the divine lord, confined and completely possessed by him, does she realize how successful she has been.
The once gentle and polite youth has transformed into someone she no longer recognizes.
[Touch the gear icon in the bottom right corner of the screen to move to the next chapter if you want.]
