The flow of magic had changed.
The magic that had gathered in the Dragon Valley was rapidly dispersing. Guinevere guessed that the dragons had left for their own territories.
‘There’s no time.’
She was staring intently at the sphere of magic when she heard it again.
Knock, knock.
The sound of knocking signaled that Larisa had arrived. Guinevere sighed. It was bothersome, but considering the girl was tied to her son’s lifeline, she couldn’t ignore her.
“Why.”
Upon opening the door, Larisa looked up at her with bright, hopeful eyes.
“Lady Guinevere, can I accompany William for his entrance exam?”
“What?”
“I want to support William!”
‘Ah, the entrance exam. Isn’t it coming up soon?’
Guinevere rubbed her forehead tiredly.
“Go ahead.”
She expected Larisa to leave as usual after getting permission. But Larisa was staring at her with a peculiar expression. Guinevere paused her attempt to close the door.
“What’s wrong?”
“Um…”
Not liking hesitation, Guinevere frowned, causing Larisa to flinch noticeably and quickly speak.
“You’re going with him, right?”
“What?”
Guinevere was truly busy. She glanced at the golden sphere and replied.
“I don’t have time for that.”
“What? But…”
But Guinevere was really busy. Just the thought that someone might harm William tomorrow made her dizzy.
She could accommodate anything else, but not at the expense of her time.
“I’m busy, so leave now.”
Guinevere shut the door. Larisa, who hadn’t even had a chance to properly persuade her, stared blankly at the closed door.
As she walked down the stairs, she saw William practicing swordsmanship outside the window. Larisa headed towards him.
William asked, seeing Larisa’s gloomy face.
“What’s wrong? Something happen?”
Larisa hesitated, wondering if she should talk about what had just happened. If she did, William would be disappointed. But it seemed better to disappoint him sooner than later.
“Lady Guinevere is too busy to support you.”
“What?”
“She’s very busy. So, I might have to go alone…”
Realization dawned on William.
“You mean, for the entrance exam?”
“Yes.”
William frowned just like Guinevere.
“No.”
“Why?”
“You’d have to return alone on a public carriage. It’s dangerous.”
Larisa blinked in confusion. A public carriage? It was a common means of transportation in the capital, accessible to anyone, but no nobility she knew of used it.
“…No carriage?”
She asked, though she knew it might be rude. Shocked, Larisa couldn’t help but ask. William nonchalantly replied.
“Yeah.”
“Why?”
“Lady Guinevere has teleportation magic, so she doesn’t need a carriage.”
“But William needs one.”
William didn’t respond. Reading resignation in his expressionless face, Larisa bit her lip.
‘This isn’t right.’
She felt sorry for William, even though it seemed absurd for her, a slum girl, to pity the son of Lady Rodante. And she couldn’t believe it.
‘She cried while calling William’s name…’
How could she treat her beloved son with such neglect? Larisa was incredulous and determined.
‘Lady Guinevere is a fool.’
A fool who didn’t know what was important. Larisa didn’t want Guinevere to regret it later.
Firmly clenching her fists, Larisa resolved herself and marched back up the stairs. Standing in front of Guinevere’s laboratory at the top floor, she knocked on the door again.
Knock, knock, knock.
The door opened a bit late this time. Guinevere, exhausted from lack of sleep, spoke while wiping her face.
“Why have you come again?”
“Lady, I have a request.”
Larisa spoke with determination in her eyes. Guinevere hesitated for a moment before responding.
“……What is it?”
“If you grant my request, I’ll consider having a baby with William.”
The condition was unexpected. Guinevere, slightly overpowered by the audacity of the 7-year-old child, stepped back.
“……What’s the request?”
“But if you don’t agree…”
“If I don’t?”
Larisa knew Guinevere’s weakness. She knew Guinevere hated the idea of her leaving. Larisa smiled mischievously.
“I’ll go to the orphanage.”
It was an astonishing statement.
Guinevere paused, wondering if she had heard correctly. A 7-year-old girl was saying she would go to the orphanage by herself. It seemed unbelievable.
Meanwhile, Larisa remained calm. Being the daughter of Marina, like other children from the slums, she was not registered in the family registry. So, she technically couldn’t go to the orphanage. However, since Guinevere had vouched for Marina and Larisa to arrange Marina’s funeral, Larisa was now eligible. She had already confirmed this with the priest during her mother’s funeral.
Larisa boldly puffed out her chest.
“Will you grant my request?”
“……To the orphanage?”
“Yes.”
Guinevere felt dizzy. She grasped her head, throbbing with pain.
“Do you understand what you’re saying? How hard life is in the orphanage…”
“It’s okay. I’ve always been envious of orphanage kids!”
Guinevere bit her lip at that statement. She herself, also from the slums, had once envied the orphans. At least they got two meals a day.
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
