Despite feeling upset, Lady Carter couldn’t abruptly stop Patricia, the Empress’s errand, as she pleased.
“Her Highness wishes for you to serve as her lady-in-waiting.”
“…!”
To Edit’s surprise, her eyes flickered at the unexpected proposition. Although she could handle Lady Carter roughly, Patricia was already recognized as a member of the imperial family.
Lady Carter, while feeling uncomfortable, couldn’t simply quit the errand entrusted to her by Patricia.
Lady Carter chuckled as she observed her struggling to answer easily.
“Do you not know how honorable it is to become the lady-in-waiting for Her Highness Patricia?”
“…”
“Or perhaps… Is there a disqualification that prevents you from serving as a lady-in-waiting?”
Lady Carter approached Edit even closer, trying to pressure her.
“Madam, please step back.”
Anticipating that Balter might step forward, Cassius quickly intervened, pretending to check Lady Carter’s safety, and interrupted the conversation.
Just as Lady Carter adjusted her posture to renew the pressure on Edit, another interruption occurred.
“Lady Carter.”
Duke Lexion, adorned in a conquering outfit, walked over from a distance. His predatory gaze, more piercing than the fluttering cape, revealed his authority.
Born at the pinnacle of power, someone who never wavered. Lady Carter was wary of this type of person, considering them the most fearsome.
“I was about to pass by, but I became curious as to why you are pressing someone who has come to the palace on the Emperor’s orders.”
“…”
Under the unspoken pressure to explain, Lady Carter forced out her voice.
“Her Highness Patricia wishes Lady Portrian to serve as her lady-in-waiting.”
Franz found her response quite irritating, evident from the shallow furrowing of his brow.
“Lady Portrian seemed not to have the time to acknowledge Her Highness.”
In the faint mockery accompanying the address “Her Highness,” Duke Lexion revealed his lack of respect for Patricia.
In fact, he had figured out Patricia’s intentions for approaching Edit.
“Go and tell her. Since the assassins from Gerturk were found at my mansion, it would not be a wise move to touch someone under strict protection to restrain Lexion.”
“…”
“If you are curious about how Lexion will handle it, you can crawl up further.”
‘Why is he suddenly taking Lexion’s side?’
Lady Carter’s face was full of questions, but her fear of the Duke was even stronger than that.
“…Excuse me.”
After she withdrew, Duke Lexion looked at Edit with a changed gaze, as if he had become a different person.
“Madam. How about having tea at the Duke’s residence after finishing the audience?”
“…Tea?”
When Edit seemed startled at the mention of tea, Franz realized his mistake. After separating from his wife and daughters, it wasn’t about accumulating tea and pottery.
“It’s okay; we received a good batch of rosemary tea.”
Although rosemary herbal tea was not fitting for Duke Lexion’s dignity, Franz chose a safe path, deciding not to serve expensive tea that could lead to a similar incident as last time.
“If you don’t mind, it would be good to have the escort along.”
His suggestion carried a sense of urgency. Balter and Edit could both sense that something had suddenly changed in the Duke’s mood.
After exchanging glances for a moment, Edit responded with a formal smile.
“It was a difficult situation, and I appreciate your help.”
“…”
“However, I’m afraid it might be challenging to have tea at the Duke’s residence. If it’s to return the necklace, you can send someone through a messenger.”
Although sensitive about his daughter, Edit still remembered when he revealed his magic and threatened. The fear from that time had not faded.
Because of that, she was not eager to engage in casual conversations with the Duke or have private discussions. Balter, too, had no intention of dealing casually with the Duke, and he had no desire to spend time with him.
Franz’s facial muscles froze in confusion at the unexpectedly firm rejection.
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
