‘She’d be perfect as my partner for the autumn royal banquet.’
He had scouted noble ladies in Galdensia, but due to the unpleasant incident with Leah, it was unreasonable to bring a woman from this country to the royal banquet for a while.
Of course, that could just be an excuse.
‘Grace Visack, a hero of the war, belonging to a long-standing and reputable baron family. Not very wealthy, but still.’
Furthermore, Grace was beautiful and intelligent. He had only seen her once at Leah’s funeral, but she never left his mind.
‘There are rumors that she and Duke Courtois Terran are on the verge of breaking off their engagement… I might have to visit Rubeck myself.’
There were also rumors that Terran had an aversion to women.
Then, he must be the one to possess her. Given his temperament of never hesitating to use any means necessary to get what he wants, he couldn’t give up.
Several days had passed since returning from Bern. Terran was busy with backlogged work, and Leah continued her usual routine.
“Miss, the Duke requests your presence in the garden.”
While cutting out an article about Allen from the newspaper, Leah hurried to the garden.
She hadn’t had a chance for a personal conversation with him since returning from Bern. Her heart fluttered inexplicably at his request.
‘Don’t get excited. You shouldn’t.’
Leah steadied her wavering heart. Finally reaching the garden, she saw Terran under a white canopy, reading a newspaper.
“Miss, I’ll join you later.”
“Okay, Polin.”
Leah remembered the night she struggled with her nightmare.
She had inadvertently revealed her hidden scars to Terran. But the comfort and warmth he offered still lingered.
Just thinking about being held in his embrace throughout the night made her face warm.
“Duke Courtois.”
“Have you arrived?”
“You were reading the newspaper.”
“Grace, now call me by my name, like before.”
“Yes? Okay.”
“I’ve finished with the newspaper. You can take it later.”
“Thank you.”
Leah smiled shyly, and Terran returned the smile while looking at her.
“Why did you want to see me?”
Why indeed? It wasn’t so much that he had something specific to discuss; rather, he just wanted to see Grace.
Acknowledging the emotion sprouting and flourishing within him brought ease to his mind. Yet, he still felt awkward being completely honest.
“Oh, that… Well. I don’t think I properly thanked you for writing the letter to the Sultan of Turkey.”
‘Now?’
“It was my duty. Um, I also wanted to thank you.”
“For what?”
“You might not know what nightmare I had, but you helped me.”
Terran’s expression turned ambiguous. He seemed not to want gratitude.
‘Was your comfort as powerful as mine?’
That was when Terran felt a jolt through his body.
Despite being together with Grace for years, he had only now realized she was his sole healing. Grace was his unique remedy.
Terran held his breath. Paralyzed by the sensation of Grace entering his eyes and heart, he couldn’t move a step.
He found himself thinking of Grace even while working. He looked forward to the time they would meet, and his heart naturally reacted.
Whenever depression, like a leech, clung to his wounds, he thought of Grace.
Like magic, it lifted him from dark emotions to a place of light and good feelings.
‘I want you completely.’
This realization came in a seemingly trivial moment.
The Male lead Always Seduces Her with His Beauty (Matriarchy)
Xin Jiao Zhou is the leader of the world’s premier sect. She has just experienced betrayal from all sides, was poisoned in an assassination attempt, and faced death squad attacks while the poison was taking effect. After finally clearing out the scum from her sect, she was drugged again while trying to detoxify.
After waking up from a night of unconsciousness, she gained a “beautiful and kind-hearted” husband.
Xin Jiao Zhou: “???”
He fell ill.
She came to see him, bringing breakfast.
As she put down the breakfast and was about to leave, his hand slipped while holding the spoon. “Clank!”
She turned around upon hearing the noise.
He looked up at her, his eyebrows drooping: “My hand… has no strength.”
“Shall I… feed you?” she asked tentatively.
He opened his mouth cheerfully: “Ah—”
Thinking she was drowning, he jumped in without hesitation to save her, but nearly drowned himself. In the end, it was she who swam over to rescue him, giving him air underwater.
After emerging from the water, his ear tips turned red. He lightly brushed his cheek, tucking his sideburns behind his ear, revealing delicate, pink-tinged ear tips. He lowered his gaze, too embarrassed to look at her.
Xin Jiao Zhou: He’s truly beautiful, kind-hearted, and adorable.
A certain someone when disciplining subordinates behind the scenes: “If they don’t obey, just kill them.”
What’s that? She might already have someone she cares about in her heart? A certain someone: Find out who it is, kill them, and then there won’t be anyone.
What? She met a man by the riverside? What? That man even hurt her? A certain someone: Whichever hand hurt her, chop off his entire arm.
Love at first sight without realizing it, gradually falling in love, slowly getting closer…
Family and national grudges, schemes and desires, good and evil, crime and punishment, she and he face the future together, seeking justice with passion!
A naturally dark female lead who could accidentally destroy the world but is actually an honest person VS a weak, pitiful, and helpless but skilled fighter, beautiful white-cut black male lead
My heart is not of stone, how steadfast is your love? — Tao Yuanming “Imitating the Ancients (No. 3)”
— Reading Guide —
Cold female lead & dramatic black lotus with hidden yandere traits male lead
