Upon stepping outside, I could finally breathe. The crisp, cool air cleansed me of the stifling heat from inside the hall. My mind cleared.
‘The Duke and Arcadia must be waiting.’
I knew I had to go back in, but just for a moment, just a brief respite to gather my thoughts.
‘As expected, that woman Cecilia was a pawn prepared by Lahert.’
[Just as you said, that foolish girl is merely a tool to hasten the Emperor’s surrender.] Medea’s words echoed in my heart.So, you brought in a fake to drive the Emperor to despair, aiming to become his adopted granddaughter in this life too. And then to kill me again, to transform the Luchella with my blood.
Are even emperors mere puppets for your ends?
I clenched my fist involuntarily.
‘3 Nouvelle Avenue, tomorrow night at 8.’
If I brought someone along or was followed, Medea would never reveal herself.
I’m sorry, Your Grace, but I must handle this alone. Please forgive my inability to inform you in advance.
After adjusting my formal attire, I re-entered the hall.
The Duke’s gaze turned towards me as I sat down at the Northern table. I forced a calm smile.
The Duke didn’t ask about my conversation with Medea.
The next day, at 7 PM.
After dining together at the banquet hall, I returned to my room to change into the tattered clothes I wore on my first day at the manor.
As night fell, I slipped out the window and hit the streets, the Ventus recording stone safely tucked in my chest.
3 Nouvelle Avenue was a dilapidated slum.
In the desolate streets lined with low, crumbling roofs, the only light spilled from a smelly little tavern at the end of the road.
I entered cautiously, wearing my hood deep. The tavern’s few patrons were rough-looking men. I sat at a secluded table and ordered a warm butter beer.
A beverage I often sought after completing assassination orders for Medea in my past life. Its sweet butter and bitter beer soothed an inexplicable emptiness.
The cheap butter beer arrived immediately.
I brushed the warm rim of the glass, the heat sustaining my hollow heart.
‘Have I arrived too early?’
There was no sign of anyone from the North following me.
I purposely didn’t tell Arcadia, suspecting he might assign someone to me, jeopardizing tonight’s meeting.
As I pondered, someone placed a star-shaped candy on my table.
“I didn’t order this.”
“Aren’t you sophisticated, choosing butter beer as your drink of adulthood?”
A familiar voice.
I slowly looked up.
A red caterpillar, cloaked in a black hood, stood before me.
“Why are you here?”
He smiled at my question.
“Came to buy bread, didn’t you?”
“Right. But I didn’t expect you.”
“Did you really expect the lady herself to come here?”
“…Where is Lady Medea?”
“Impudent. To mention her name in such a place.”
The red caterpillar bristled with hostility.
“Right, my mistake. Red Caterpillar.”
He chuckled briefly at my concession.
Right. Thinking Medea would come herself was naive. Have I become too gullible among the Northerners?
She would never come to such a place, leaving traces or evidence. The harsh reality of my previous life struck me anew.
“There’s no lady of such a name in this empire. Mereya? What a strange name.”
The red caterpillar deliberately raised his voice, even though no one paid us any heed.
‘He’s thorough.’
I admired his meticulousness.
“Did you become the successor after the Black Worm died?”
“None of your business.”
“So, I’m gone, and you get to take over, huh?”
I deliberately provoked him, and he glared at me as if he wanted to devour me.
“……I have a name now.”
“What is it?”
“I can’t tell you. Lady Medea gave it to me, a name known only to her and me.”
I bit my lip slightly to hold back a scoff.
“I see. So, what’s this ‘bread’ you’re selling?”
“……My words are the bread.”
“Any documents?”
“None. Listen well. When you return to the North, cultivate a relationship with Julia Nugent. I’ll send a letter later.”
“Is that all?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Asking why isn’t like us, is it?”
“……Right. You’ve become quite smart, Red Caterpillar.”
“I always fit better beside her than you did. You were just too ugly.”
‘Good thing I chose to wear my old, distorted mask today.’
“Indeed.”
I casually agreed and smirked.
“You still have an awful smile. Well then.”
“Wait, Red Caterpillar.”
I stopped him. He turned to me with cold eyes.
“Do you know who assassinated the North Duke’s proxy?”
“Why? Don’t you know?”
“I have my suspicions but wanted confirmation. The Northerners keep asking, thinking I’m truly on their side.”
“In any case, the Black Worm burned to nothing. If he hadn’t, I would have killed him eventually.”
“……I see.”
Without another word, the Red Caterpillar left the tavern.
I quietly placed my hand over my chest. The recording stone in my pocket felt warm, functioning as commanded.
‘Did you record everything? Even his expressions?’
The stone seemed to answer with a faint pulse against my heart.
‘Keep recording. I’m going to follow him now.’
Leaving my butter beer, I slowly rose from my seat.
Male lead is a clingy little husband
One-line summary: The male lead is initially an arrogant, noble, love-deprived brat, later a cute, clingy, scheming little jealous one.
Introduction:
One day, Lu Yuner’s soul transmigrates into a female-dominant world. She enters the Imperial Academy and takes up the position of a doctoral instructor, teaching classes and grading schoolwork.
One day, she encounters the young prince Su Qingwan secretly skipping class from the male academy.
As a result, Su Qingwan is punished.
From then on, Su Qingwan sees Lu Yuner as a “thorn in his side”.
But before long, this “thorn” becomes the person he cherishes most, and he goes to great lengths to win Lu Yuner’s affection.
Mini scene 1:
One day, the sun is high in the sky but Su Qingwan still hasn’t gotten up for class.
Servant Xiaoyuan: “Young prince, it’s time for class. You’ll be late otherwise.”
Su Qingwan says arrogantly: “I’m not going. I am the esteemed prince, my status is so noble, why should I suffer this hardship? Besides, isn’t learning all this just to please women? Hmph, they’re not worthy!”
Mini scene 2:
After Su Qingwan falls for someone, he completely changes. He no longer skips class and diligently learns how to be a good husband and father. But he discovers that Sister Yuner is always surrounded by admirers.
Drunk and overcome with jealousy one day, he clings to Lu Yuner, crying beautifully like a pear blossom in the rain.
Su Qingwan: “Qingwan likes Sister Yuner.”
Lu Yuner: “Young prince, you’re drunk.”
Su Qingwan: “Qingwan isn’t drunk. Qingwan likes Sister Yuner, likes you so much, likes you to bits…” Before he can finish, Lu Yuner’s eyes flash with emotion and she leans in closer.
[Reading Guide]
1. The female lead is gentle, gracious, humble and polite but not weak. The male lead is initially an arrogant, noble, love-deprived brat, later a cute, clingy, scheming little jealous one.
2. 1v1, a bit torturous in the beginning but definitely sweet later on.
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