The news of a mysterious landslide near Viscount Humphrey’s mine spread through the day’s announcements and was extensively covered in the newspapers in the following days.
Rather than the landslide itself, the focus was on the fact that Viscount Humphrey’s mine was causing significant injuries to Duke Lexion. According to reports, Duke Lexion, who had come to assist in the winter beast hunt, ended up with broken arms and legs, rendering him unable to walk. The newspapers emphasized that he had to shed much blood and needed a period of absolute rest at the mansion.
Whenever Viscount Humphrey read the detailed accounts in the newspapers about how severely injured Duke Lexion was, he couldn’t help but snort.
“What a fuss about a minor injury. The Duke didn’t even graze his skin.”
Viscount Humphrey vividly recalled the moment when rocks rolled down with dust. Duke Lexion, seemingly aware of everything, laughed leisurely, effortlessly avoiding the trap prepared by Gilbert. Yet, he manipulated public opinion, portraying himself as heavily injured due to the landslide.
If he had deceived people only to take a quiet break, it wouldn’t have been so bewildering. However, he used the landslide as an opportunity to approach the mining area of Viscount Humphrey secretly.
“He seems to be sending his subordinates to investigate the cause of the landslide as if we are unaware.”
Using the trap Gilbert prepared to escape death, Duke Lexion not only avoided it but also began operating covertly, pretending to be injured.
“I never thought about finding out what the sorcerers from the capital are doing in the magic stone mine, Viscount.”
“Please believe me, Your Excellency, the Duke.”
“It seems like Viscount trusted Gilbert quite a bit.”
“It’s not that… Since we don’t have any sorcerers on our side, trying to figure out their actions would only expose us, and we’d undoubtedly end up in a dangerous situation.”
Viscount Humphrey spoke sincerely, once again lowering his gaze below. Quickly setting aside his meager pride, he found it convenient to bow his head. When facing Gilbert or the Earl and Countess of Gauturk, there was a need for minimal dignity, but the man in front of him exuded a different atmosphere. How could such a man have lived as the stablekeeper of the mansion for several years?
The Viscount leaned back on the sofa, crossing his long legs, and looked at Duke Lexion, seemingly asking him to trust him with the overwhelming power difference.
“Even if he’s acting like this, he’s still a lord. Can a lord be this foolish?”
While observing Viscount Humphrey lying flat on the ground, Balter felt a genuine curiosity taking hold of him.
When it came to being unhelpful to the territory, Portrion Earl’s daughter kidnapped the child of a duke in pursuit of her own interests, and Balter’s head was spinning. Whether it was due to suddenly inheriting the title after the previous viscount’s death or not, Viscount Humphrey seemed oblivious to how Gauturk was meddling with his belongings, staring blankly without knowing what Gauturk was doing with his property.
“Only immature kids or pathetic idiots act like that,” Balter thought to himself, clicking his tongue. He stood up, relieved that he had found Viscount’s weakness. Now, all that was left was to personally investigate what Hwabye was planning with the magic stones.
The plot between Gauturk and Hwabye unfolded discreetly while the snow melted away with the spring sunshine.
“Time seems to have flown by since the last time we did anything. It’s already a different season.”
Casius, feeling the slightly cool weather even in his thin spring clothes, briskly moved his steps.
As he entered the study attached to the Lexion Mansion, Balter, who was usually relaxed, was now seen sitting with a stiff posture.
“It seems you’re getting nervous as the Lady’s expected delivery date approaches.”
When Balter heard the question mixed with laughter, he tried to act fine. However, even concealing his anxiety from Casius, with whom he had spent a long time, proved impossible.
“Darn it, why haven’t the doctors who left Lexion shown their faces yet?”
“I believe they received a letter saying the civil engineering work in the adjacent territory is delaying them.”
“There’s not only one place in that direction.”
Balter grumbled with a rough voice, pressing his temples. It seemed prudent to quickly finish the work before his conscience became too strong, spend time with Edith, and find out what Hwabye intended to do with the magic stones.
Seeing a slight relaxation in his expression, Casius, realizing what he was thinking, spoke up.
“Our side’s sorcerers have finally deciphered the magic code that was afflicting the magic stone mine.”
“We also found out why Hwabye’s sorcerers used encrypted characters to hide something.”
Casius handed a report to Balter.
“They’ve researched how to efficiently amplify magic momentarily using magic stones.”
“If they hired sorcerers with money, were they planning some kind of military action?”
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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