Dante, in the form of a dragon, was likely the life closest to Growen of anyone.
It occurred to her that the holy power might feel even more alien to Dante.
“It’s a power that doesn’t resonate with Growen, so that’s understandable. Still, it’s trying to help you.”
[Hmph. I still don’t like it. It feels unpleasant.]Dante burrowed deeper into her arms. Perhaps because they had entered the domain of autumn, the night air was chilly. Maybe that was why the warmth filling her embrace felt especially welcome.
“I can’t possibly show you an unhappy face, Dante. Then I suppose I’ll have to go to the party alone.”
[I’m going too!]Surprised, Dante lifted its head and climbed onto Yerpi’s shoulder, rubbing its head against her. Yerpi found Dante’s responsiveness to even small gestures utterly endearing.
‘How strange.’
Would this be what having a child felt like? At first, reaching out to it might have been out of mere pity.
But now, she desired nothing but unconditional happiness.
May Dante’s deepest wish come true. She silently prayed to a star beyond the autumn night’s window.
***
The next evening.
Carriages arrived at the manor castle. These were nobles from the autumn domain.
From the room where Yerpi was staying, the carriages could be seen lining up in a row as they entered the fortress.
A gentleman stepped out first and extended his hand, helping a lady descend gracefully.
Couples walking toward the banquet hall looked just like the social circles of Kerast.
Yerpi leaned against the window, watching the moving figures and shimmering lights. Marian approached her side.
“This is the last piece. Now you’re fully ready.”
The maid who had just finished adjusting her hair and fastening the final pearl earrings stepped back.
Yerpi’s reflection in the mirror was as lovely as a young noblewoman about to make her formal debut.
Unlike when she had first worn the dress alone, now, adorned with matching accessories, she seemed to glow even more.
‘Salmon color, huh. Someone clearly researched Kerast’s high society in advance.’
Soft hues like this were typical for young ladies making their debut in high society.
Though she was already a full-grown woman and the wife of a duke, in heart she was a girl meeting her first love.
Though she knew of the dress’s magical properties, she still instinctively checked herself, worried there might be some flaw that made her look unattractive.
Just as Yerpi slowly turned before the mirror, examining her reflection—
“Your Highness, His Grace has come to escort you.”
Marian announced Raymond’s arrival with a joyful expression. Her heart fluttered at the news.
Most of all, the fact that she no longer needed to carry guilt brought her relief.
“I’ll come out now.”
She turned away from the window—only to see Raymond right there.
He was dressed in a deep green formal suit.
The fabric, which could easily be mistaken for black, looked best when paired with the light salmon-colored dress.
He gazed at Yerpi for a moment, then murmured something.
“The summer domain’s dress was too revealing, I was worried. But this one has its own problems.”
“Problems?”
Had something gone wrong? Unfamiliar with the fabric, she couldn’t tell what the issue might be.
Seeing her flustered, he smiled. It was the gentlest expression she had seen on Raymond so far.
“You’re too beautiful. That’s the problem.”
“…It’s the dress you gave me, after all.”
They were each other’s first love and newlyweds. Could that fluttering excitement be reaching the other as well?
Raymond extended his arm, and Yerpi gently placed her hand upon it.
Just as they were about to step out the door, a small gentleman waited for them in the corridor.
It was Dante, wearing a formal suit of the same color as Raymond’s.
“Dante? Goodness.”
[How do I look?]The suit, specially made for a young dragon, had perfectly cut holes for wings and tail, allowing complete freedom of movement.
Moreover, the tie around its neck matched the color of Yerpi’s dress.
Unable to resist its cuteness, Yerpi tightly hugged Dante.
[S-Suffocating!]“You look absolutely wonderful. Dante, you’re the finest little gentleman.”
[I’m not little!]Though pouting that it wasn’t young, Dante’s face lit up with clear delight at the praise.
Earlier, it had insisted it would go ahead with the maids to eat in the banquet hall—but that had been a lie to set up this surprise.
“Did you prepare this?”
“Yes. This one’s prone to jealousy.”
Raymond firmly pressed down on Dante’s head. Dante had fluffed up the tufts of fur by its ears to look stylish, but Raymond’s hand ruffled them all haphazardly, making Dante squirm.
[Don’t press my head, Uncle!]Unfortunately, the young dragon’s short arms couldn’t reach its own head. Raymond kept teasing it with a mischievous smile.
Their playful bickering was heartwarming. Despite their words, Raymond clearly didn’t want Dante to feel left out.
Watching the two, Yerpi felt full—despite not having eaten dinner.
Perhaps, she thought, her heart was simply brimming to the edges.
The reflection of the three in the window as they left the chamber looked just like a happy family.
The light from the crystal chandeliers brilliantly illuminated the vast banquet hall.
If the summer domain’s gathering had a festival atmosphere, the autumn domain’s party resembled a dazzling high society event.
The servant assisting the nobles’ entrance confirmed the arrival of the duke and duchess and announced it to the hall.
“Duke Raymond Growen and Duchess Yerpi Growen have arrived.”
Soon, every eye in the banquet hall turned toward the named couple.
There had been a time when she dreamed of her own debut ball. In her imagination, no one paid her any mind, and no one protected her.
She had thought reality would be even harsher. Yet now, family stood by her on both sides.
“What a close-knit family.”
“I feel so pleased just looking at them.”
The autumn nobles filling the hall murmured in approval. The nobles of Clodier were as colorful as autumn leaves.
Among them were familiar faces—those she had seen in the summer domain.
People from each domain sometimes vacationed in others, enjoying the different seasons.
Yerpi scanned through the crowd. Charlotte was nowhere to be seen.
‘Charlotte… didn’t come after all.’
Perhaps Raymond’s earlier advice had finally been heeded. But the fact that she wasn’t here still made Yerpi uneasy.
Yet the dazzling chandelier light and the lively quintet played by the orchestra eased her worries.
‘Maybe I can enjoy myself a little, just until we head to the Heart Tree.’
Dancing with him and receiving applause from the nobles felt like a dream. She strongly felt, at last, that she was truly recognized as his wife.
They were in the midst of enjoying the banquet.
She was in the middle of stopping Dante, who had become utterly obsessed with the autumn domain’s famous cinnamon apple pie and was about to eat a third slice in a row.
“Excuse me, I have a word to share.”
“What is it?”
The lord had come to find Raymond and Yerpi. Raymond, who had just taken the apple pie away from Dante, asked in return. Lord Dyson maintained a polite smile as he lowered his voice.
“It’s regarding the Heart Tree.”
The words immediately caught Yerpi’s attention. She exchanged a glance with Raymond and nodded.
The two followed the lord’s guidance, quietly leaving the noisy banquet hall.
The room the lord led them to was a reception chamber not far from the banquet hall.
Inside waited a man who had clearly been anticipating the arrival of the duke and duchess.
The maple leaf insignia engraved on the armor he wore was distinct. He was a knight of Clodier, guardian of the autumn domain.
“He is one of the knights guarding the borderlands of Croteria. He returned to the estate just now and brought urgent news.”
“My name is Dade Roskman.”
The stern knight bowed respectfully to the duke and duchess.
Since leaving the banquet hall, Dyson’s expression had turned grim. The lord, having introduced the knight, sighed deeply.
“I wanted you to fully enjoy the banquet, but I felt I must inform you immediately upon receiving this news.”
“Has something happened there?”
“More precisely, we’ve discovered the reason why Langrosa has been acting up.”
At first, it seemed like good news—until it wasn’t.
“The Heart Tree is withering.”
The farthest-reaching root of the Heart Tree in Croteria had begun to rot.
Langrosa’s territory extended only to the exposed roots, but the reach of Croteria’s roots spanned an immense area.
The decayed section had been discovered at the border between the summer and autumn domains. A summer domain scout who had been surveying the area had reported the finding to the autumn domain.
Upon learning this, Croteria’s knights investigated the vicinity and found that the rot was gradually spreading inward toward the core.
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
