I don’t remember in what state of mind I returned to the hideout after that.
The only thing left behind by my late birth mother who has already become a star in the sky.
The sole support of my childhood days when I longed for the warmth of family.
I returned here as if fleeing, holding the precious dress that had become a mess.
Ren, who found me barely holding back my tears, comforted me as if soothing a child.
“It’s okay, Lady Vivian. Everything’s fine, so don’t worry about anything.”
He didn’t ask what had happened, he just held me tightly.
As he patted my back, I finally burst into tears.
Perhaps because I had cried for so long, my mind gradually became hazy.
But even then, I could clearly feel the warm touch that was reassuring me.
After that, I must have fallen asleep, as I have no memory, and when I opened my eyes, I was on Ren’s bed.
‘I fell asleep here again. I feel sorry for Ren.’
I removed the blanket that was covering me up to my neck and got up from the bed.
My eyes fell on the mirror placed on one side of the desk.
Examining my face, I saw that my eyes were a bit swollen, it seemed I had cried even while sleeping.
‘Ah, how embarrassing.’
I felt awkward about the situation where I had clearly whined to Ren all night long.
In fact, although I hadn’t heard it directly from him, Ren seemed to have had an even more unfortunate childhood than me.
To the point where I felt sorry for whining about something like this.
I recalled the day I first talked with him.
It was the day I released him onto the street after keeping him confined for a month.
Ren sat down pitifully with an expression as if he had lost the world.
That appearance looked so precarious that even when I tried to ignore it and walk away, it kept bothering me.
So I finally decided to make him my subordinate.
Despite the insensitive question, Ren hesitated for a moment before answering.
Madeleine. He said the person’s name was ‘Madeleine’.
Even in Korea, if someone’s name was Kim Red Bean Bun or Park Streusel Bread, it would be considered strange, and in the Empire, it was even more so, not less.
Although it’s been abolished now, if you go back just a few centuries, there was a time when slavery was prevalent.
Masters who found it difficult to name each slave individually called them by any food name.
Because of this past, naming a child after food was interpreted as not recognizing them as an individual.
However, Ren seemed unaware of even this fact.
No, he didn’t even seem to know that the pastry I had given him countless times during his confinement was called madeleine.
I couldn’t even begin to imagine what kind of life he had lived.
So I didn’t dig deep into his past and left it buried.
And instead of the name Madeleine, I gave him the nickname ‘Ren’.
‘To think I whined to someone like that just because a dress was ruined.’
I felt embarrassed at the thought that it might have been a privileged complaint.
I even fell asleep after taking his bed, I’d have no defense if accused of being an evil employer.
Still, thankfully, thanks to Ren, I had come to my senses and felt like I could live on with renewed strength.
Before leaving Ren’s room, I tidied up the bedding once more.
Just then, I heard a knock on the door.
“Lady Vivian, are you awake?”
“Ah, yes!”
“May I come in?”
When I opened the door, Ren came in carrying a large basin filled with water.
“I thought your face might be swollen. I brought cold water. Please wash up comfortably.”
This… this kind fellow!
My heart fluttered at this touching situation.
“Making you my subordinate was probably the best thing I’ve done in my life.”
I said, ruffling his soft brown hair.
“Subordinate… I see.”
Huh? For a moment, Ren’s expression seemed to harden. Was my praise too weak?
“Yes, you’re really the best.”
“I’m also glad to be able to serve you, Lady Vivian.”
His eyes curved gently with a refreshing smile.
It seems I was mistaken about him looking displeased.
I quickly finished washing up with the water he had prepared. The sensation of cold water running down my face made me wide awake.
“That’s enough washing up, Ren! Let’s go out!”
“Go out? Where to?”
“Shopping! Let’s go buy a new dress!”
There wasn’t much time left until the banquet. If I wanted to buy a dress even just for appearance’s sake, I had to go out right away.
‘I’m not going to quietly submit to Leonie’s pranks anymore!’
I grabbed Ren’s arm and led him outside.
My heart fluttered at the thought of shopping after such a long time.
[This is the timeline separator]“How does this one look?”
“Of course, it would suit you well, but the emphasized shoulders might hide your strengths. Lady Vivian, you have graceful lines, so how about that one instead?”
On the streets of the capital lined with boutiques.
Ren and I, walking along streets filled with noble ladies, were carefully examining the glass display cases.
Unlike me, whose eyes were spinning at the sight of beautiful dresses in the display cases, Ren calmly listed the pros and cons of each, evaluating them coolly.
It was his first time coming to a place like this, so I was glad I brought Ren along.
After looking around a few more places, we finally approached the boutique Ren had pointed out.
Two dresses were placed in the glass display case in front of the store.
Both designs revealed the shoulders and neckline but weren’t too deeply cut, so they could be worn without much burden.
Unlike other dresses, they had few jewel decorations, so the price also seemed relatively reasonable and good.
Of course, if I used my hidden assets, I could buy all the dresses here, but that wouldn’t do.
It’s already an established fact that the handsome kidnapper is rich.
Of course, no matter what I wear, no one except my family would recognize me, but…
There was no need to outwardly show first that I had enough wealth to buy such lavish dresses.
“This place looks good.”
I nodded as I looked at the dresses in the display case. Ren then led me, saying we should go in.
However, I soon stopped at a voice I heard.
“Vivian?”
“Huh? No way…”
I turned around at the familiar voice.
As expected, the owner of the voice was Melphis.
“Melphis? Why are you here?”
“Why are you here, Vivian? Did you come out to buy something?”
“Yeah, well. I have something to buy.”
It had been a while since I’d seen him in his true appearance, as I’d only seen his disguised form recently.
The sky-blue bridge visible between his pink cotton candy-like hair that seemed to melt softly.
His appearance was so unique that I could easily recognize him.
“Wow, I must be lucky. To run into Vivian like this by chance.”
“Haha, lucky, you say…”
“Can’t I join you? Since we’ve met like this.”
Melphis winked at me with a sly smile.
“Hmm… I don’t mind. Ren, is that okay?”
“…If Lady Vivian is fine with it, then it’s okay.”
Ah, did I make a mistake? Ren’s lips were clearly upturned, but I could sense a subtle hint of discomfort.
‘Come to think of it, Ren didn’t seem to like Melphis very much.’
I was about to refuse Melphis, feeling sorry for him. That’s when it happened.
Before I could open my mouth, he naturally pushed me into the boutique.
He didn’t even give me time to refuse.
A staff member from inside came out to greet us at the customer’s arrival.
“Welcome. Do you have a specific design in mind?”
“No, could we see what you have in detail?”
The staff member guided us to the reception room inside and handed us a catalog.
We huddled around the table, examining the dresses in the catalog.
“I think this dress would suit you well, Vivian. How about trying it on?”
The one Melphis pointed to was a deep purple dress.
It had a generally calm design and a decent shape overall.
However, Ren began to firmly object.
“Of course it would suit her, but this one is better. That color is too cold.”
“What? What are you talking about? Vivian’s hair color is unique, so to emphasize that, this color is the right choice.”
“No. Melphis, you lack sense. If she wears that color, it’s obvious that her hair color won’t stand out.”
“Um, guys? Ren? Melphis?”
The two of them fell into a deep debate over the dress I would wear.
They nitpicked about each other’s chosen clothes, saying this design suits me, that color is prettier, and all sorts of things.
‘This really isn’t something to argue about…’
While it would be nice to choose something that suits me well, it didn’t really matter.
After all, I’m attending the banquet not to stand out, but to follow the imperial order.
I tried to stop their debate that wasn’t really a debate, but they wouldn’t listen to me.
The scene of two noticeably handsome men having a heated discussion over a single dress.
Not wanting to miss this rare spectacle, even other staff members came to peek around the reception room.
‘I swear I’ll never go shopping with these two again.’
My face flushed with embarrassment as I became conscious of the staff’s gazes.
Finally, I snatched the catalog from between them and shouted.
“Enough! I’ll choose! Let’s end this conversation now!”
Just looking at Melphis and Ren’s faces made me feel hot, so I quickly took the catalog and approached the staff member.
“Just give me this one, please!”
The dress I had been eyeing since entering the boutique.
It was characterized by a simple design with nothing special, but that’s precisely why I liked it.
“Are you sure you don’t want to try it on?”
“No, it’s fine. I’ll just take that one.”
I was already dreading what they might say if I tried on the dress in front of those two men.
“Alright, I understand. Before I give you the order form, we need to take your measurements first. Would you come this way?”
Only after following the staff member who took out a measuring tape from their pocket could I finally receive the order form.
‘But where did everyone go?’
The men who were inside were nowhere to be seen.
As I turned my head this way and that looking for them, I saw a familiar pink hair through the store’s glass window.
However, when I opened the door and went out, contrary to my expectations, only Melphis was there, without Ren.
“What’s this, why are you alone? Where did Ren go?”
Melphis pointed his finger inside the boutique.
“He said he had something to say to the staff. It looked like it would take a while, so let’s chat while we wait, Vivian.”
“Shall we?”
“Wow, you always refused when I asked to talk before. But you’re allowing it today.”
“If you don’t want to, forget it.”
“No, I don’t dislike it. I love it. Can’t you see my expression? It feels like a date, just the two of us, even if it’s brief. I’m excited.”
Melphis’s eyes narrowed. His characteristic sly smile hung on his lips.
“Is there anything you’re curious about me? I’m in a good mood, so I’ll answer anything.”
This was welcome news. To me, Melphis had always been a man full of questions.
Seizing the opportunity, I asked with shining eyes.
“Really, anything?”
“Yes, anything.”
To Melphis, who was smiling confidently, I decided to ask what I had been most curious about all this time.
“What exactly is your true identity?”
His eyebrows curved as if intrigued.
Male lead is a Destined Young Husband (Female-dominant)
One-sentence summary: Wife-master, listen to my explanation!
Li Ruantang, a young lady from a prestigious family, stumbled and fell. When she woke up, she saw a noble and beautiful young man sitting by her bedside, wiping away tears.
The young master had slightly reddened eyes, and his every move exuded charm.
The sight made Li Ruantang’s eyes hot and her heart flutter. After all, she had made a bet with the young master Meng from the neighboring family. If she couldn’t marry a husband before the end of the year, she would have to admit defeat and give up the jade she had worked so hard to obtain.
Outside the window, the flowers were in full bloom.
Rather than losing the bet, the jade, and her face, Li Ruantang calculated that it would be better to seek marriage with the young master in front of her, killing three birds with one stone.
…
Meng Jun never thought that an accident during a spring outing would lead to them rolling down a cliff and into a river, yet still survive.
Now they were trapped in an unknown village, and Meng Jun had overheard that the family who had rescued them had their own intentions.
After all, it was Li Ruantang who had lost her mind and sought marriage first. He was only trying to protect himself!
Glancing at Li Ruantang, who was listing her own merits, the young husband’s voice softened, and he blushed as he lied, “W-wife-master, Wife-master, don’t you remember me?”
The young husband’s voice was clear and handsome, coaxing Li Ruantang’s heart to be soft and sweet, and she spared no effort to protect him.
It wasn’t until they returned to the capital that Li Ruantang suddenly remembered.
When they had fallen off the cliff, in order not to implicate Wei Yunruo, whom he secretly admired, the young husband had instead pulled her, who was slightly farther away, down the cliff with him…
Short summary by Yuushi L: Initially, the male lead (ML) liked another girl, while the female lead (FL) liked the ML. Both fell off a cliff. The FL temporarily lost her memory, and the ML, fearing others might take advantage of him, claimed FL was his wife while they were staying in a village. Later, when they returned home, the FL regained her memories and remembered that the ML liked someone else, so she kept her distance from him. However, during their time living together in the countryside, the ML’s view of the FL had completely changed. From this point, his pursuit of the FL begins.
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