“What?”
“Just kidding.”
Even though William said that, he suddenly hardened his expression. Larisa, smiling, asked cautiously,
“What? What do you mean?”
“It was just a random remark. No meaning behind it.”
As if. Larisa, who was trying to guess the meaning of William’s words in silence, felt her head spinning. William’s expression remained stiff.
Suddenly, Larisa, who had been the subject of gossip in society, smiled and said,
“I won’t do it.”
William sighed. At the same time, their dance had also come to an end. It felt like some kind of magic had been lifted.
Releasing Larisa’s hand, William splashed water on his face.
“Phew. Lara, I’m sorry. I spoke without thinking. I don’t care if you meet anyone, just as you said.”
Larisa felt a sense of discomfort at William’s words. However, she couldn’t figure out why she felt bad. Larisa retorted,
“Are you worried I’ll meet someone strange? Worried that my marriage partner might not be suitable for the Rodante family estate?”
“What?”
“Or maybe, worried that I’ll marry, and the mansion will pass to someone else? Because of the dowry?”
“I told you it’s not like that.”
William frowned and said. Larisa didn’t back down either.
“Then, William, decide for me. My marriage partner.”
“What?”
“Just decide. You can choose someone who satisfies you, and preferably someone who can help you. Then, I’ll be happy.”
William didn’t say anything. Looking at Larisa in silence, he chuckled and said,
“You’re still young.”
“What?”
Feeling uncomfortable with being treated like a child again, Larisa glared at William.
“Later… Lara, when you truly fall in love, you’ll regret what you just said. So, let’s pretend you didn’t hear it.”
“I won’t regret it. I really need help for Rodante…”
“You don’t need any help.”
Larisa choked up and closed her mouth. She knew very well that she was someone inconspicuous, without any extraordinary talent or special abilities. Even her innate lineage was unremarkable.
However, Larisa sincerely wanted to be of help to Grenavier and William. She resented William for not recognizing her sincerity. Larisa asked sharply,
“Between James Dylan and Alexander Belvero, who is better?”
“Stop it.”
In an unexpectedly cold tone, Larisa tightly shut her mouth. Finally, the dance music ended. Larisa said with a disappointed tone,
“It’s over.”
William reached out his hand.
“It’s time to go home now.”
Since the carriage had already left, and there was no way to return to the mansion, Larisa had no choice but to take his hand.
“Oh, saying something like that at that moment…”
Siod sighed. Grenaevier, who was quietly observing, asked,
“Why? What’s the problem?”
“Both of their expressions aren’t good.”
“But they did dance, didn’t they?”
Grenaevier and Siod were currently using concealment magic on the roof of the ballroom, observing Larisa and William.
It was just after William had said to Larisa, “You shouldn’t avoid things like marriage, right?” Siod, feeling frustrated, remarked,
“Is dancing all there is to it? Men are straightforward. Human life is so short, where is the time to indulge in such aesthetics? If it were me, I’d have an engagement ceremony when I was young and get married as soon as I became an adult.”
“William is a delicate child. A naive dragon.”
“Naive?”
Siod, who had never heard the term “naive” in his entire life, choked up.
“He’ll regret it when Larisa gets old and dies. That’s what he said.”
While staring at Siod in silence, Grenaevier asked,
“How do you know so well? Have you experienced it?”
Suddenly curious, considering Siod’s dragon life of 5,000 years.
“Huh?”
“Well.”
“I only have you.”
Siod said automatically, but Grenaevier’s suspicious gaze remained. Smirking, Siod said,
“Why? Are you jealous?”
“…….”
“Really. I only have you. I just know how other dragons crumble. That’s all.”
Siod smiled bitterly.
“Do you know? The most common advice we hear when we first set foot in the human world is to not fall in love with humans.”
Siod sighed.
“I vowed it would never happen to me. Until I met you…”
“Don’t kill the mood.”
“Can you ease up a bit?”
“No.”
“Why?”
Grenaevier furrowed his brows.
“Just let it go.”
William and Larisa disappeared through teleportation. Irritated, Grenaevier muttered,
“Because of you, I couldn’t hear what the kids were talking about.”
“Is that important right now?”
Siod complained.
“At least be accommodating. Why do you always have to bounce back like that?”
Ignoring Siod’s words, Grenaevier stood up from the roof. Brushing off his clothes, Grenaevier stated what he wanted to say.
“Before the Emperor’s restraint becomes even more severe, it seems necessary to pass on the title and step back.”
“Another nonsense…”
“If I disappear altogether, the restraint might be lessened.”
“It’s not urgent yet. Wait until William’s foundation becomes more stable.”
Siod advised seriously.
“Your mere existence is pressuring people. In other words, if you disappear, William and Larisa will just seem like easy prey.”
This time, Grenaevier sighed.
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
