“You know, is this called a snakestrawberry?”
“Yes, as far as I know.”
The tiny and pale forehead was deeply furrowed. Ariante, who seemed to be in deep thought, stretched her short legs as if to go out into the bushes.
“Why is it called a snakestrawberry?”
“Well, maybe snakes eat it?”
“Snakes eat strawberries?”
“Maybe as a snack?”
“I don’t think so.”
“I’ll ask a snake later. If I ever meet one, that is.”
Ariante stared at Mayana with an incredulous expression, sighed softly, and shook her little head. Mayana barely held back a laugh at the attitude that said, ‘I know you’re lying, but I’ll pretend to believe you.’
“Princess, did you pick a lot of wild strawberries?”
Changing the subject, Ariante quickly brightened up and proudly showed off her basket. It was quite full. More than half of it was squashed, but…
Mayana said,
“You picked so many! We can make two jars of jam!”
“We’ll eat it at breakfast. And at dinner too!”
“Why not at lunch?”
“I can’t at lunch. I’ll have lemon jam then.”
Although she didn’t know what the criteria were, it seemed to be Ariante’s own rule. Mayana nodded in agreement, took Ariante’s hand, and moved to the shade of a tree.
“Let’s sit here and have a snack.”
Mayana laid out a cloth she had prepared and made a place for Ariante to sit. But when she looked up, Ariante was gone.
“Princess? Where… Ahhh, Princess! Come down! What are you doing up there?”
Ariante was back in the tree in no time. She must have been a squirrel in her previous life, Mayana thought, frantically looking up.
“Princess!”
“I’m coming down!”
Ariante, who had been peering through the branches, came down even faster than she had gone up.
Her gloves, clothes, and hair were a mess, but fortunately, Ariante was unhurt. While cleaning the dust and small twigs stuck to Ariante’s curly blonde hair, Mayana noticed that Ariante was tightly holding something in one hand.
“Princess, what are you holding in your hand?”
Ariante then slowly turned her hand behind her back and began to backpedal. Mayana felt an uneasy hunch, even though she didn’t know what Ariante was up to.
“You didn’t catch a strange insect, did you? Some summer insects are poisonous.”
“It’s okay, it’s not an insect.”
“You didn’t pick a strange fruit either?”
Mayana reflexively raised her head to check the tree species. It seemed to be oak or something similar, and although the leaves were wide, no fruit was visible.
What on earth was she holding in that tiny hand? She wanted to know, but forcibly taking it could ruin the good mood from picking strawberries. There was no need for that…….
“Alright, if you want to keep it a secret, do so. However, tell me in advance when you climb a tree. Also when you go elsewhere.”
“Why? I climb trees well.”
“I worry you might fall, though. Speaking of which, who taught you to climb trees?”
Ariante carefully put what she was holding into her pocket, then suddenly grinned and laughed like a mischievous child.
“It’s a secret. I won’t teach you.”
When Mayana rolled her eyes, Ariante laughed louder, seeming to find the reaction amusing.
(This is a time separator.)
“Will you really leave her be?”
Jocelyn’s displeased voice flew into Sedilloy, who was standing by the window. Gazing down at the garden with his arms folded, Sedilloy wore a subtle expression, neither smiling nor frowning.
At the end of his gaze were Mayana and Ariante, running across the garden each holding a basket. They were giggling and jostling as if in a race, and it seemed worrying they might topple the baskets any moment.
“Duke Your Highness.”
When Jocelyn called him again, Sedilloy finally turned his head towards her. Though his eyes held little emotion, upon seeing his face, Jocelyn momentarily looked taken aback and bowed her head.
“Jocelyn, there’s no need to worry so much. Mayana isn’t teaching Ariante anything bad, they’re just playing.”
“Your Highness, ignoring the princess’s inappropriate behavior is a clear problem. Thankfully, she is just overlooking it, but that child is rather influencing the princess….”
Jocelyn, catching her breath for a moment, took a step towards Sedilloy, lowering her head.
“It’s not a bad deed, but it’s having a bad influence.”
“Jocelyn, as I said before, Ariante is still young. Mayana says children need to play, and I agree with that.”
“That applies only to the dishonorable commoners!”
An Indifferent Woman is the One Men Desire the Most
One-line summary: The female lead is actually cold-hearted and extremely rational. She has stage-by-stage relationships and won’t two-time, but there will always be someone who secretly likes her.
This novel has the following triggers, so if you’re sensitive to these, please don’t read:
1. The female lead has had many relationships, but she treated each one seriously and broke up properly.
It’s just that the men unilaterally pestered her incessantly. For the female lead, when she doesn’t like someone anymore, she simply doesn’t like them.
(This applies to her relationships with Male Lead 1, 2, 3, and 4 as well, but she’s loyal in each 1-on-1 relationship!)
2. In this novel, Male Lead 2 and the female lead kiss in a car, and Male Lead 1 sees it and beats up Male Lead 2.
The female lead calls the police and sends both Male Lead 1 and 2 to the police station! Male Lead 1 begs the female lead not to break up with him.
3. Male Lead 1 has a gentle appearance but an obsessive personality.
Male Lead 2 has a delicate and soft appearance, slightly green tea-like (two-faced).
Male Lead 3 is a youthful college student and a smart person who has secretly liked the female lead for a long time.
Male Lead 4 is the female lead’s father’s special assistant, a business elite with deep, hidden thoughts.
4. At the beginning of this novel, the female lead has already broken up with Male Lead 1 (Chapter 4) and gotten back together with Male Lead 2 (ex-boyfriend).
5. Enter with caution if you have triggers!!!
