Ambition or whatever, teaching the children of small nobles on the rural estate, was that the right thing to do?
There was no one to answer the empty question. He scratched the back of his head.
At that moment, a gentleman in black attire approached.
“Lord Lotharn, today’s tuition.”
“Ah… Thank you.”
He accepted the pouch handed by the butler with an indifferent look.
Although it was unexpectedly heavy, it was at most the tuition for the test lesson.
It’s money that doesn’t even leave a trace in the gap… right…
“Huh?”
What the…?!
Hildy, who opened the pouch, widened his eyes. However, the amount inside remained the same.
“Huh?”
Is this real?
Is he really giving this much money?
Hildy stared at the butler, muttering under his breath.
Then the butler, who was watching him, touched his chin and asked awkwardly.
“Are you perhaps short? I’ve paid a bit more than the basic market rate.”
“Not at all!”
Hildy quickly exclaimed, bowing his head.
“Please tell His Excellency that I will work hard! Thank you!”
Hildy Lotharn, he was a man with as much greed as ambition.
At this moment, he pledged loyalty to the Renaissance Duchy. He even prayed with his hands together, asking to be employed.
In his mind, Oliver’s request was already completely forgotten.
…Oliver’s failure to manipulate people with no money.
⭐️⭐️⭐️
While Bonita was stacking blocks with the maids in the playroom, Luke and Aria were sitting in the adjacent room, enjoying the warmth of the fire.
The conversation naturally revolved around Bonita.
“What did Bonita say?”
“Well… she seems to like it, at least. She mentioned that she intends to continue with the lessons.”
Regardless of her own complicated feelings, Aria conveyed Bonita’s words as they were. A child’s preferences could not be hidden, nor should they be hidden.
“Is that so.”
“How does it look to the Duke?”
You talked to Lord Lotharn separately. Aria added.
Luke sipped the hot milk in the bear-shaped mug. His red eyes gazed at the fire for a moment, lost in thought.
“Not bad.”
“Really?”
“Yeah.”
Hearing the short answer, Aria opened her mouth slyly.
It was because of the part that had been bothering her since earlier.
“But, Duke.”
“What is it?”
“Your taste is cute.”
Aria pointed at the mug in Luke’s hand. It was a cup with a cute bear face drawn on a white background.
It was a gift from Elodie given not long after they became a couple.
“…….”
Hearing Aria’s words, Luke looked down at the cup in his hand.
He murmured quietly.
“This isn’t an ordinary cup.”
“Is that so?”
Aria asked with a bit of anticipation. She wanted to hear a story about something precious or some such thing.
However, the answer that came back was a bit different from her expectations.
“It’s more valuable than our ducal house.”
“…What?”
Aria asked in astonishment. Then, Luke raised one eyebrow and said.
“Didn’t you hear? I said it’s our ducal house’s heirloom.”
“No, what…?”
Aria was left speechless, her face bewildered. Then Luke raised one eyebrow and continued.
“It’s a gift from our ducal house, you know?”
“Well, even if it’s a gift, it’s a bit too much.”
Even if it was a gift that she liked, it was a bit too extravagant.
As Aria thought so, a past conversation flashed through her mind.
It was eight years ago, in winter.
Elodie, with Christmas approaching, found herself in a dilemma.
“Is there any special gift?”
Both of them had plenty of money. Something that could be obtained with just money couldn’t be considered a special gift.
“Hey, Hazel, what should I give to Luke? He has too much money, so I’m worried. It’s okay even if it’s a bit modest.”
“Don’t you usually make something as a gift? Like a scarf.”
“That’s a good idea!”
However, knitting was not Elodie’s forte.
After barely weaving a scarf that a Chihuahua could use, not a human, Elodie got bored and abandoned the project.
And what she chose was drawing on empty mugs.
Sacrificing around fifty mugs, she managed to produce somewhat presentable pieces. Elodie carried a beautifully wrapped mug and rushed over to Luke.
“Look at this, Luke. I drew it myself. Isn’t it cute?”
“I’ll cherish it as a souvenir.”
“Hehe, even if it’s a joke, it feels good.”
“Feels like a joke?”
“……Huh?”
At that time, she thought it was just a serious joke.
…Surely, it was just a sincere joke.
Male lead fell into her trap — and shattered when she walked away
This is also on my reread list!
This one is a slow burn, but when it burns, it burns hard.
Definitely worth a read, y’all!
The story follows a thousand-year-old seductive spirit who, on a bet, sets out to charm the male lead—a once-promising but unfortunate cultivator.
But just when she succeeds in making him fall for her, she heartlessly leaves, driving him to madness.
Determined to find her at all costs, he captures her, keeping her by his side no matter what, even if she hates him.
I love this kind of trope—I enjoy watching the male lead suffer in agony.
The ending drags a bit with unnecessary filler, but that’s fine.
As long as I enjoy the beginning, I’m good.
Intro
As an enchantress, Su Heng possesses captivating eyes and charming beauty, easily manipulating the joys and sorrows of living beings at her fingertips.
But to enchant a god, making him taste the bitterness of love’s separation, long-lasting resentment, unattainable desires, and inability to let go…
Do you dare?
Su Heng assists a divine lord in his cultivation, aiming to make him experience all the sufferings of love, so that he can attain the Great Dao.
Only after being chased down from the heavens by the divine lord, confined and completely possessed by him, does she realize how successful she has been.
The once gentle and polite youth has transformed into someone she no longer recognizes.
[Touch the gear icon in the bottom right corner of the screen to move to the next chapter if you want.]
