“What did you say, beetle? I can tolerate up to cockroaches, but I really can’t stand the word ‘beetle’! Do you know how disgusting it is? Even though you’ve never seen a beetle!”
Ariante retaliated fiercely.
“Why not! I have! I’ve seen a beetle!”
Maiana sighed briefly, as if the spoon in Ariante’s hand might fly away at any moment, taking it away from her.
“Milady, please stop fighting with Bainti and finish your meal. Bridget is nice, so milady will like her. And after finishing dinner, there’s a place I need to go with you.”
Ariante, who was about to put soup into her mouth, looked up. The soup spilled from the tilted spoon, streaming down.
“Where are we going? Are we going for a walk?”
Maiana smiled and gently tucked Ariante’s hair behind her ear.
“No, not for a walk. His Grace has called for milady. He said he has something important to discuss.”
“Father…? What could it be?”
Along with joy, a tense expression appeared on the child’s face. It was an emotion that Ariante couldn’t control herself. Maybe she didn’t even realize that she was revealing her tense expression.
Is it really okay? Maiana wondered. Shouldn’t she have opposed more strongly when she heard that the Swan boy was accepted into the Vaulterminster family?
‘No, that’s an issue I can’t interfere with… And the fact that the Swan boy is pitiable is also true.’
This had been her repeated thoughts since leaving Cediloy’s reception room. It felt like she was holding a card that was about to lose, enduring it at the bridge game table.
The only way for Ariante not to get hurt, or at least to maintain the current level of peace, was for Cediloy not to adopt that Swan boy.
But Cediloy held that card, and there was nothing Maiana could do to touch it… unless she decided to overturn the table. And overturning the table wouldn’t necessarily turn the situation in her favor.
‘It’s inevitable. I can only leave it to His Grace… Of course, there will be my part after that.’
Maiana deliberately didn’t mention Swan to Ariante. In fact, throughout the dinner, she had been thinking about how to reduce the shock Ariante would receive.
Milady, what if you have siblings? How would you feel about having an older sister or brother or younger sibling? Of course, His Grace will still love milady as the first…
No. Maiana slowly shook her head and sighed. It was a pointless thought.
Would asking about an unexpected topic like that really get a proper answer? Ariante might immediately say ‘I don’t like it,’ or she might think of it as just ‘someone to play with’ and say ‘I like it.’
But what if that becomes a reality? If someone who can stand on an equal footing, not a playmate like Marshal, suddenly enters the life of the child who has been alone? Would Ariante still say ‘I like it’ then?
“Maiana.”
“Yes, milady.”
“What is Father trying to say? Don’t you know either?”
Maiana stared at Ariante without making a sound for a moment. Then she nodded, lips moistened by raindrops.
“Yes, milady. I don’t know either.”
“Why do you keep frowning? Does your head hurt?”
Ariante asked. Maiana smiled awkwardly and shook her head slightly.
“No, milady. I’m fine. Have you finished your meal? Today’s dessert is pudding with cream and dried plums. Shall I bring it to you?”
“Yeah, bring it.”
Ariante, who put down the spoon, leaned back on the chair, swaying her toes like a bird. It was a habit that occasionally appeared when lost in thought, making Ariante look about twelve instead of seven. As if she had suddenly grown up, as if she had taken in several years’ worth of worries all at once…
Maiana turned her back and went outside. At that moment, Bainti followed her quietly.
“Hey, is there something going on? Is there?”
“There’s nothing going on. There’s nothing at all, so go in and see milady.”
“But she’s done with her meal, why would I…!”
Before Bainti could finish her sentence, there was a loud crashing sound, like something breaking. When Maiana and Bainti rushed into the room at the same time, Ariante, with a strange expression, had tightly closed the door and was giving them a cautious look.
“This was heavy, and I slipped.”
One plate was broken, and the remaining food that was still on it was scattered around. As if urging them to go in quickly, Maiana lightly touched Bainti’s shoulder and turned around.
From behind, Bainti’s muttering could be heard. It seemed like she was saying not to come down from the chair because it might hurt. Hearing that, Maiana lowered her head and smiled briefly.
Yes, maybe it will be okay. Ariante had herself, and now there was Bainti too. Bridget would be of help as well. Maybe even the new maid who was coming tomorrow…
Milady will be fine. Maiana thought. No matter who comes here or how many, no one should be able to encroach on milady’s position.
That’s how it had to be.
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
