“Ahem.”
Feeling embarrassed, Annette cleared her throat unnecessarily as she recalled her appearance before this transformation. Even back then, her hands were not rough like Cardin’s.
‘I was born with monstrous regenerative abilities, being called the seed of a demon beast, and the Grand Duke must have divine blessings as a member of the Alkan royal family.’
The thought that their origins were different yet led to similar outcomes seemed peculiar.
But then again, that’s not more surprising than the fact that she and this man were in such a relationship now.
“Ah, so tiny…”
Overwhelmed, Cardin murmured involuntarily. He held her hand against his forehead in a gesture of respect, and even after that, he continued to hold onto her tiny hand as if fascinated by it.
Annette slightly raised her eyebrows. The Emperor and Empress pretended not to notice her transformation into a child, but Cardin was openly enjoying it a bit too much. It hurt her pride somewhat.
She couldn’t quite put her finger on it, but she was particularly bothered by Cardin’s attitude, treating her like a child.
Annette’s voice came out a bit gruff.
“I’m not usually this small.”
“Excuse me?”
“You probably know this, but I am 24 years old.”
As she spoke, she realized how childishly petulant she sounded. Yet, Annette straightened her chin, remembering that the man before her was two years younger.
“I know.”
Cardin nodded without any jest, his gaze on her serious and devoid of any mischief.
That solemn acknowledgment made Annette’s cheeks burn hotter. Even though he knew her age, his gentle demeanor seemed not just because she was in a child’s body. A strange feeling…
‘That can’t be right.’
Feeling her expression might give her away, Annette quickly withdrew her hand from Cardin’s. She spoke of what had been bothering her.
“Please stand up now.”
Only after watching Cardin unfold his knee and rise leisurely did Annette sit back down, taking a moment to catch her breath. She had felt continually overwhelmed since meeting the Grand Duke.
Calming her breath, Annette regained some composure and looked at the man sitting across from her, meeting his straightforward gaze.
‘He said we’d be together for life.’
Did he truly think so?
Annette wanted to ask, but she couldn’t muster the courage.
‘Perhaps he said that because the Emperor was there.’
More likely, that was the case.
Fear of revealing unnecessary expectations and facing embarrassment held her back. It was unlike her to shy away from confrontation.
Fortunately, Annette had a way to gauge Cardin’s intentions without asking directly. It might reveal more and be embarrassing, but…
‘It’s something I planned to discuss anyway.’
Taking a small breath, Annette spoke.
“Your Grace, I’m embarrassed to admit, I don’t know much about politics or high society. I’m clueless about managing household affairs as the head of a family. My life has been about wielding a sword.”
Even that had been deemed useless, and she was nearly discarded before Alkan’s alliance proposal came as a lifeline.
“Whether it’s fortunate or not, there’s a chance I might wield a sword again, but there’s no telling when my body will return to normal. So…”
Annette swallowed nervously.
“As things stand now, I won’t be able to fulfill any duties or roles expected of a Grand Duchess. Ah! Of course, if you, Your Grace, do not wish to, I never intended to claim any rights from the beginning.”
Annette clearly set boundaries, worried that Cardin might misunderstand her for being presumptuous.
At that moment, the atmosphere around Cardin, who had been quietly listening, shifted.
“Just a moment, Princess. What exactly are you trying to say?”
“Excuse me?”
“Are you suggesting that we dissolve our engagement now… that I would accept such a thing?”
Annette was taken aback by Cardin’s trembling voice, seemingly angry yet imploring, which made her doubt her ears.
Confused, Annette blinked slowly, and Cardin spoke more desperately.
“Princess, we’ve already signed the betrothal agreement.”
He glanced at the documents on the reception room table, left behind by the Emperor. Although not yet officially notarized by the temple, they symbolically bound him and her as one destiny.
Annette, startled by Cardin’s agitation even through the mask, hurriedly clarified.
“Your Grace, that’s not what I meant.”
“What then?”
His accusing gaze, questioning why she so elaborately belittled herself and denied her ability to be his wife, made Annette nervously explain.
“I was worried that you might want to annul the engagement. Although I’m unable to fulfill the Grand Duchess’s role right now and have many shortcomings, I wanted to ask if we could continue our engagement.”
And to persuade Cardin, who she genuinely wanted to marry, Annette put aside her pride.
“If you promise me that, I am willing to do my best in whatever you desire. Even if you tell me to live as if I were dead, or even if you have a mistress…”
“Wait a moment.”
Cardin cut her off, shocked by her words.
“Are you asking me to take a mistress?”
“Uh, not exactly suggesting…”
“That’s what you mean. That you wouldn’t mind if I had a mistress.”
His voice was sharp, almost hurt. Annette, a bit startled, calmly replied.
“Yes, I don’t mind. If you wish, I will even accept your illegitimate children as my own…”
“Stop.”
Unable to bear it any longer, Cardin raised his hand. He buried his face in his hands, as if the world was crumbling. Whether it was fortunate or not that Annette couldn’t see his distraught expression under the mask was uncertain.
“How can you say such things…”
How long I have waited for you.
Annette, of course, knew nothing about his feelings or his past struggles. Cardin knew he had no right nor reason to resent her.
Yet, it pained and shocked him that she had no expectations whatsoever from her marriage partner.
“There’s so much I want to refute…”
Raising his head after a figurative splash of water, Cardin, seeing Annette’s puzzled look, asked in a troubled tone.
“Firstly, may I ask why you think I would break off this engagement?”
“Excuse me?”
Annette found Cardin’s question truly odd.
She wondered if he was joking, but his blue eyes held no hint of jest, adding to her confusion.
Honestly, although Alcan Empire initiated this alliance, it seemed more beneficial to Heyworth Kingdom than the Empire, almost like a loss for the latter. Esther, the queen, and Brigitte seemed to believe the Empire was willing to bear this loss to secure a marriage for the disfigured Grand Duke, but Annette wasn’t sure.
Excluding his appearance, he had everything – a position second only to the Emperor, power, wealth, and honor. It wouldn’t be hard for a man like him to find a suitable bride from high-ranking nobility within the Empire, or even from other kingdoms. There were likely many eager for the opportunity.
Had it not been for her, even if Brigitte wailed and threw tantrums, the King of Heyworth would probably have tearfully sent his beloved daughter.
Thus, Grand Duke Hargento had every right to choose a bride of his liking.
With just one word from him, Annette would have to return to Heyworth.
Despite hating that prospect and humbling herself despite knowing it’s shameful, why on earth…
“Your Grace, are you really asking because you don’t know?”
“Yes. I really don’t understand why you think I would call off this engagement.”
Cardin’s words made Annette frown deeply.
“I’ve already told you. I’ve become a child, and also!”
“Also?”
“Also…”
You wouldn’t want me as your bride.
No, not just you, but no one would want someone like me, a seed of a monster.
“…”
Even though it was a fact she knew all too well, she couldn’t bring herself to say it out loud.
Biting her lip, Annette thought Cardin was being a bit cruel.
There’s no point clinging on anymore.
With a sense of resignation, Annette spoke.
“I think it’s fair for Your Grace to ask to change the betrothal to Brigitte. You must have wanted her from the start…”
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
