“I thought it was strawberry, but it’s blueberry jam.”
Had there been no food in front of Bonita, she might have quickly noticed the odd tension between Luke and Aria.
However, Bonita, preoccupied with her bread and juice, missed their subtle conversation and reactions, which Aria found somewhat relieving.
“Hmph, what’s so great about that?”
Catherine grumbled, watching Bonita eagerly devour the bread.
“There are far more delicious things in the world than such simple jam. There’s no need to be amazed by it.”
Despite her curt tone, Bonita astutely sensed that Catherine harbored no real ill will towards her.
Bonita turned to Catherine, her eyes sparkling with curiosity.
“More than this?”
“Of course. This kind of, I mean, such things don’t even make the list of delicious food you can have in the Duke’s residence.”
Hearing this, Bonita looked at her bread with a serious expression.
Although the sandwiches she had yesterday and other meals had been really delicious, the bread and jam she was eating now were no less delightful.
‘More than this?’
What could possibly be more delicious?
While Bonita pondered deeply, Catherine smugly gestured towards Luke.
“See! How could you neglect her so much that she’s amazed by such simple food? And she’s all skin and bones, tsk.”
“I have never neglected her. I’ve been very much involved in…”
“Anyway! We’re eating out tonight. I must show her how much more delicious things are out there in the world, it’s so frustrating.”
Luke looked at his mother incredulously.
He whispered just low enough for Bonita not to hear.
“Mother, you said you couldn’t acknowledge her as your granddaughter.”
“What acknowledgment?! I haven’t done it yet! Not until the test results come out!”
“Ah, yes.”
I should speed this up.
Determined to hasten the process, he couldn’t bear seeing his mother in such a state any longer.
“By the way, Bonita. There’s something I need to tell you.”
“Yes?”
“Today, a cleric will be visiting the Duke’s residence.”
“A cleric…?”
“Yes.”
Luke nodded kindly.
“……”
He then hesitated for a moment.
Should he really tell Bonita about this now?
His intention was solely to create evidence to show to the outside world, but there was the risk of Bonita misinterpreting his feelings.
Even if he explained, it was uncertain whether the child would fully understand.
“Here is the main dish.”
At that moment, sunny-side-up eggs and bacon, along with steaming soup, were brought out on a tray.
Bonita’s gaze was drawn to the crispy croutons in the soup.
“Bonita, shall I cut the bacon for you?”
“Um, yes, please.”
While Bonita scooped up her soup, Aria quickly and perfectly sliced the bacon. Due to this, Luke missed the opportunity to speak.
After breakfast, Bonita, holding Aria’s hand, stepped out into the garden in front of the mansion. The garden was endlessly adorned with pink flowers in full bloom, welcoming spring.
The mansion exuded a fragrance utterly different from the dirty, ragged slums where the poor lived.
“Mother, can we go there?”
“Of course. Just be careful not to prick yourself.”
With Aria’s permission, Bonita moved closer to a pink rose bush.
“Ah!”
Whoosh.
Suddenly, a gust of wind blew.
Bonita’s dress fluttered in the strong wind, causing petals from the cherry trees beyond the rose bush to fall.
Reacting instinctively, Bonita stretched out her hand, and a petal fluttered gently into her palm.
The last tea party had been held in a place filled only with green grass, but this part of the mansion, awash in waves of pink, had a completely different atmosphere.
‘Does the Duke like pink?’
The image of Duke Lysianthus surrounded by cherry blossoms appeared in Bonita’s mind.
Not black or blood-red, but this gentle pink. Bonita wondered if the Duke might not be as terrifying as the rumors suggested.
Indeed, his behavior over the past few days suggested the same.
Deep in thought, Bonita tightly gripped the petal in her hand.
It was then.
“Damn it. Talk about bad luck, having to come here with you.”
“Can’t help it! I really didn’t want to come to the Duke’s estate either. The atmosphere inside is so gloomy, and especially the Duke, he gives me the creeps.”
“True, better watch our necks. If that daughter turns out to be a fake, we might be accused of mocking him and end up beheaded.”
Thunk.
At the distant sound of the two men’s conversation, Bonita dropped the petal she was holding.
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
