Therefore, Walter’s mention of the spring social season was an indirect reference to marriage.
“It seems the Duke is in a hurry to see his greatgrandson.”
“He’s getting old, so he’s getting anxious every day.”
“Funny, very funny. Not just the victorious report brought by the Duke, but the fact that the spring season is blooming with appropriate stories brings me boundless joy.”
Everyone played along with the emperor’s words, creating a cheerful atmosphere, and light conversation flowed back and forth.
In the midst of this, only Odette was frozen stiff.
She was trying hard to turn her head away, but the talk of marriage and rumors that flicked back and forth could be a harpoon that could throw Odette to the surface at any time.
Murmurs from all around stung Odette’s ears again.
“The main characters of the rumors are all gathered.”
“We might hear some interesting stories.”
Maybe they could find out if the ‘rumor’ was real or fake. Odette, mixed with anticipation, involuntarily turned her head to look at Walter.
And then.
‘…Ah.’
Their eyes met at that moment.
Surprised, Odette’s body stiffened reflexively, but Walter’s green eyes didn’t move a bit.
As if he had been looking at her all along, even before she turned her head.
Suddenly, the conversation from the victory celebration popped up.
“Do you need a reason for a proposal? I want you.”
“From the top of your head to the tips of your toes. I want it all to be mine.”
A voice that was brazen and blunt, without knowing shame.
When he spoke those words, Walter had those eyes too.
Struggling with emotion, slightly frowning.
‘Just…’
As if the words he had spat out were sincere.
Was that why? Or was it because she was too surprised when their eyes met?
Thump. Her heart sank.
Just as Odette involuntarily licked her lips.
“I didn’t believe it, but it looks real.”
Suddenly, a teasing voice came to her ears, and Odette’s shoulders twitched.
When she turned her head, Lizaina, dressed more gorgeously than ever, was standing there.
“Uh, sister?”
“Look at that expression. He must really hate you? I’ve never seen Duke Ertman make that face.”
Although she was covering her mouth with a fan so that it wouldn’t be seen outside, Odette, standing right next to her, saw the malicious smile on her red lips.
Seeing that smile, and looking back at Walter, his expression had subtly changed as well.
At a glance, his slightly furrowed appearance was exactly the same as before, but now his face was clearly showing a strong sense of displeasure.
At that sight, Odette was involuntarily a little taken aback.
‘Was that face like that from the beginning, why did I mistake it?’
Though fleeting, she thought that the words Walter had said might have been sincere.
But that’s highly unlikely.
‘Perhaps I mistook Duke Ertman’s scowling face as handsome.’
I thought I had understood the subject quite well.
Embarrassed, her face turned redhot.
But one fortunate thing was that seeing Walter’s attitude, Lizaina’s mood had improved considerably.
“When you said that you had nothing to do with Duke Ertman, I honestly didn’t believe you, but now I’ll trust you. You seem to have incurred the Duke’s hatred, somehow? Otherwise, why would you so blatantly show that you dislike him?”
Laughing, Lizaina admitted the rumor that Walter had an affair with Odette, suggesting it was because he disliked seeing her.
And then she coldly whispered, as if she had never laughed,
“Stay as still as possible. If you interrupt again today, I won’t leave you alone.”
With a warning, Lizaina tapped Odette’s shoulder and moved forward.
Meanwhile, the conversation around the Emperor seemed to be winding down, and people began to scatter, looking for their designated places for the tea party.
Only then did Odette come to her senses, a beat too late.
‘…Well, it’s better this way.’
Whether Walter dislikes her or not, according to Lizaina’s words, it doesn’t matter.
The tea party had people sitting in threes and fives at tables, depending on their ranks, with only the royal family members sitting at the main table.
‘I won’t have to worry about Duke Ertman anymore.’
Odette took her place at the main table with a much lighter heart.
And at that moment.
“Ah, Duke Ertman. Come over here and sit. Since Cedric is not here, there’s a vacant seat, you can sit.”
“If Your Majesty says so, I won’t refuse. It’s an honor, Your Majesty.”
Walter, who was about to follow the servant, bowed his head lightly and sat down at the round table.
Right across from Odette, next to Lizaina.
Lizaina was seen talking to Walter with a pale smile.
“I said last time that it would be nice to have tea time together again, Duke Ertman, but I didn’t think we’d be together like this.”
“It’s a fortuitous coincidence, as Your Highness says.”
Walter replied in a tidy manner, his gaze briefly turning towards Odette.
“I’m glad we can be together again, Your Highness.”
Their eyes met, and the same thought dominated Odette’s mind once more.
That statement, it feels like
‘It’s… directed at me.’
Could it be her imagination?
Confused, Odette quickly averted her gaze, and at that moment, the servants filled the table with fragrant and sweet things.
The Emperor’s tea party, a rare occasion, had extraordinary food.
There were exclamations from the table and the clinking of dishes, but Odette merely touched her teacup.
Barely touching the halfcold tea to her lips, she set it down.
A bored Emperor’s voice was heard.
“Having all my dear ones gathered reminds me of a recent rumor.”
“A rumor…?”
“My daughters are of marriageable age, and there’s talk of men. I think it’s the right age, so I don’t plan to object, but I believe that such noise should not damage the dignity of the royal family.”
The Emperor’s face was smiling but not smiling.
“In my time, there was ‘that incident’, so I think we should be even more careful… don’t you think?”
At those following words, the air at the table froze awkwardly.
Male lead is a Love-Obsessed Merman
When he discovers she has gone, he risks everything to pursue her on land, enduring agonizing pain to transform his tail into human legs…
One-line summary: Male lead chases female lead. The male lead’s love is a bit sick, an invincible love brain.
Synopsis
During a voyage at sea, Jiang Yang accidentally captures a merman.
Servant: I heard that mermen are fierce and brutal.
Jiang Yang looks at the merman obediently rubbing her palm like a puppy: “You call this fierce and brutal?”
Servant: I heard that mermen have no human nature.
Jiang Yang looks at the merman with wet puppy eyes, obsessively calling her ‘A Yang’ like a childish infant: “You call this having no human nature?”
With great difficulty, she releases the merman back into the sea and returns to shore.
Who would have thought that in less than half a month, the merman, who should have been freely wandering in the South China Sea, would shed his scales, endure the pain of losing his tail, transform into human legs, and come ashore to find her?
He kneels at her feet, rubbing her palm, with merman tears rolling down: “A Yang, don’t abandon me.”
_____
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