While saying this, he actually knew the answer. Yet, he wondered whether the reason for expressing it was to gain assurance or whether it was hoping it wouldn’t be true.
“…It would have been a bit of a dilemma even if he hadn’t touched Bonita again. If the duke trusted his family, Bonita would be constantly in danger now.”
“…I see.”
Luke murmured to himself.
“And what is this person who let me hear this? Punishing Oliver with this might be possible, but if I listen to his words, you won’t be able to avoid punishment either… What if I take this to court and request your punishment?”
While saying this, he actually knew the answer. Yet, he wondered whether the reason for expressing it was to gain assurance or whether it was hoping it wouldn’t be true.
“…It would have been a bit of a dilemma even if he hadn’t touched Bonita again. If the duke trusted his family, Bonita would be constantly in danger now.”
“…I see.”
Luke murmured to himself.
This person who let Luke hear this conversation must have some intention. He could have simply reported it to the authorities. Instead, he exposed the truth to Luke, putting him in a difficult position. What could be the purpose behind it?
For Luke, every member of his family was precious. However, now that the culprit was certain, he didn’t hesitate to abandon Oliver just because he was family. Now he had a new family.
“Are you planning to submit this to the court?”
“…No.”
Luke shook his head.
“Not now.”
If he submitted this recorder to the court, Aria would also face punishment. Planned kidnapping of a child, especially if the victim was from a noble family, would undoubtedly lead to execution. Luke couldn’t let Aria face such a fate.
“…Is it because of Bonita?”
Because Bonita would be sad?
“…”
When he looked into those blue eyes, his heart fluttered. Eventually, Luke’s gaze shifted elsewhere.
“Can I take the recorder with me?”
Though he planned to take it even without permission, Aria surprisingly agreed.
“Sure, go ahead.”
With permission granted, Luke placed the recorder in his arms. Looking back at Aria, the blue marks remaining on her wrists continued to catch his eye.
“Hilton.”
“Yes?”
“That…”
He wanted to say sorry, but his lips barely moved, and no proper words came out. He stood there like an idiot for a while before turning away.
“It’s nothing.”
“…? Okay.”
Useless.
He scolded himself inwardly. He was utterly pathetic for not being able to apologize properly. However, despite his feelings, his hand was already turning the doorknob of the bedroom. As he stepped outside and headed to the study, he suddenly stopped.
“…Bonita?”
Lowering his gaze, he saw a round, pink little nose.
Bonita, who was standing right in front of the door, tilted her head gently and blinked her eyes. Luke was momentarily extremely embarrassed.
‘I told the servants not to come this way for a while when talking to Aria.’
To converse with Aria, he left the servants in place. Although the bedroom was said to have good soundproofing, in reality, if someone deliberately eavesdropped at the door, they could hear something. Unlike walls built with soundproofing materials, the wooden door allowed sounds to seep out.
However, Bonita probably didn’t receive that message. Originally, she had no authority to prevent the servants from approaching. Besides, Luke, as the duke, hadn’t expected Bonita, who was quietly resting in his room, to come all the way here.
“Since when have you been here?”
Luke asked cautiously.
Upon hearing this, Bonita, with a sweet smile, replied, “Just now. I was reading a book, and I wanted to ask Aria something, so Mary said you’d be here.”
“…Oh, really? I see.”
Squatting down, Luke petted Bonita’s head while scanning her face.
‘Cute… No, that’s not it.’
Bonita’s expression was calm.
If she had just heard the conversation, she wouldn’t be so nonchalant. Luke breathed a sigh of relief internally.
“Hilton, it seems that Bonita is looking for you.”
“Yes? …Oh my, Bonita!”
Aria peeked her head out from behind Luke.
Upon discovering Bonita, Aria promptly lifted the child into her arms. Though she was light for a seven-year-old, after coming to the duke’s residence, she had become quite heavy. Aria’s lips curled into a radiant smile.
“Is your body okay? Can you wander around like this?”
“I’m fine now. More importantly, I have something to ask.”
“Yeah, sure. Um—no, let’s go back to the room together. It’s still better to stay in bed.”
With Bonita’s bottom supported in her arms, Aria bowed to Luke.
After receiving a nod from Luke and giving another gentle pat to Bonita’s head, he headed towards his study. Bonita’s room was located in the exact opposite direction from the room where Aria was taking Bonita.
While walking with Bonita in her arms, Aria asked, “What do you want to ask?”
“Mom.”
“Huh?”
“Why did real Aria spare me?”
“…What?”
Aria’s brain came to a halt.
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
