Louis Clovis.
And Walter Ertman.
‘What is the relationship between these two?’
After the emperor’s tea party had ended and Walter had taken Odette to the palace and left.
Odette had been unable to escape the thought deep into the night.
The conversation she had with Walter during the day would not leave her mind.
‘Ertman Duke must be misunderstanding that I like Count Clovis.’
Where on earth did that misunderstanding come from?
Odette recalled the day’s conversation.
…
…
…
“Is it because you love Louis Clovis?”
Walter had said after that.
Odette was momentarily at a loss for words.
She was flustered by the sudden mention of Louis’s name.
“……Why does Count Clovis come up here? This has nothing to do with Count Clovis.”
“Your Highness, if you wanted him enough to propose to him, can you really say it’s irrelevant?”
“I am [dash].”
Odette, who was about to spit out that she didn’t intend to propose because she loved Louis, paused for a moment.
Walter’s face, briefly glanced at, seemed to be flushed as if soaked in deep water.
It was really strange.
‘Surely he must like Lizaina to try to seduce me.’
Why does he seem so tormented every time Louis is mentioned?
Isn’t that confusing even to herself?
If this is also an intentional act, Walter must be a villain among villains.
‘Pull yourself together, Odette.’
This man doesn’t like you.
His first meeting was to sabotage your plans at the victory celebration, how could he like you?
You’ve decided to give up the romantic dream that someone will someday like you purely.
‘……Right, I did.’
It was a decision made after a very painful experience, but she had already forgotten it.
Odette lowered her eyes with a bitter taste in her mouth.
And she told a lie for the first time in a very long time.
“……Yes, I love Louis Clovis.”
“…….”
Perhaps it was just her feeling, but Walter’s hand seemed to tense up the moment she uttered those words.
‘My conscience hurts a bit.’
But she needed this level of falsehood to protect herself from a man trying to use her seduction.
“But apart from my feelings now, there will be no reason for me to love you.”
“……I regret it.”
The somewhat cold and sinking reply of Walter pricked Odette’s conscience, and she took a light breath, lowering her eyes.
“I feel the same way. So now stop trying to pull me in [dash].”
“You’ll have a husband you don’t love, after all.”
“Rather, another ……. No, what did you say?”
Odette’s eyes, which had been lowered, widened in astonishment.
But Walter’s face, when she looked up, was as calm as ever.
From the angle looking down at Odette, he even looked more arrogant.
“No matter how much you dislike it, you’ll have to see your husband’s face every day …… Are you okay with that? You’d be more comfortable loving me.”
“What, what are you talking about? I already rejected the proposal!”
“I told you too. I intend to marry Your Highness no matter what.”
Odette’s mouth gaped open.
“Do you intend to force me into marriage?”
“Well, I intend to seduce you. That way, you’ll choose me.”
My goodness.
“Even if I love someone else?”
“Yes.”
“Even if I want to marry someone else?”
“Louis Clovis won’t do.”
“No, I want Count Clovis!”
“You do that. I will stop you.”
Is this man sane?
Whatever she said, Walter’s unyielding response left Odette speechless.
Walter’s actions were by no means rational.
She had already refused the proposal [dash] it probably wasn’t sincere anyway [dash], and she even said she loved someone else!
‘It’s more suspicious now that it’s come to this.’
Even if Walter’s words are true, and he wants Odette.
But usually, isn’t that more reason to respect the other person’s wishes?
Odette asked, baffled.
“Ertman Duke, do you not care what becomes of me?”
“……I would rather that were the case. Then I would not have to put up with this unnecessary quarrel.”
Walter’s face was slightly wrinkled as he spoke.
“I know it’s hard to believe, but I sincerely care for Your Highness…….”
“……?”
Odette waited for what he would say next, but no matter how long she waited, there was no answer.
Even looking at Walter, there was only a very uncomfortable expression.
Finally, he spoke after an unnatural silence.
“……At any rate, Louis Clovis is out of the question. Please give it up.”
As if that was the best Walter could offer.
.
.
.
‘……Thinking back, it’s the worst.’
If one thing was certain about today’s events, it’s that Walter Ertman was the worst man Odette had ever met.
She had thought that after dealing with so many terrible men, there would be no more who could rank among the top.
But the world was vast indeed.
“……What is Duke Ertman up to?”
“Are you talking about Duke Ertman again? Ah, stop thinking about it.”
Eli, who was preparing for bed, grumbled at Odette’s mumbling.
It was because she had heard what Odette and Walter had talked about today.
“I really don’t know what’s wrong with that man! Why is he so restless and can’t leave Your Highness alone?”
“He must have something to gain through me.”
Male lead is a Destined Young Husband (Female-dominant)
One-sentence summary: Wife-master, listen to my explanation!
Li Ruantang, a young lady from a prestigious family, stumbled and fell. When she woke up, she saw a noble and beautiful young man sitting by her bedside, wiping away tears.
The young master had slightly reddened eyes, and his every move exuded charm.
The sight made Li Ruantang’s eyes hot and her heart flutter. After all, she had made a bet with the young master Meng from the neighboring family. If she couldn’t marry a husband before the end of the year, she would have to admit defeat and give up the jade she had worked so hard to obtain.
Outside the window, the flowers were in full bloom.
Rather than losing the bet, the jade, and her face, Li Ruantang calculated that it would be better to seek marriage with the young master in front of her, killing three birds with one stone.
…
Meng Jun never thought that an accident during a spring outing would lead to them rolling down a cliff and into a river, yet still survive.
Now they were trapped in an unknown village, and Meng Jun had overheard that the family who had rescued them had their own intentions.
After all, it was Li Ruantang who had lost her mind and sought marriage first. He was only trying to protect himself!
Glancing at Li Ruantang, who was listing her own merits, the young husband’s voice softened, and he blushed as he lied, “W-wife-master, Wife-master, don’t you remember me?”
The young husband’s voice was clear and handsome, coaxing Li Ruantang’s heart to be soft and sweet, and she spared no effort to protect him.
It wasn’t until they returned to the capital that Li Ruantang suddenly remembered.
When they had fallen off the cliff, in order not to implicate Wei Yunruo, whom he secretly admired, the young husband had instead pulled her, who was slightly farther away, down the cliff with him…
Short summary by Yuushi L: Initially, the male lead (ML) liked another girl, while the female lead (FL) liked the ML. Both fell off a cliff. The FL temporarily lost her memory, and the ML, fearing others might take advantage of him, claimed FL was his wife while they were staying in a village. Later, when they returned home, the FL regained her memories and remembered that the ML liked someone else, so she kept her distance from him. However, during their time living together in the countryside, the ML’s view of the FL had completely changed. From this point, his pursuit of the FL begins.
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