Since I couldn’t use the name “Muselle,” I decided to use a different one.
“My name is Jin. I’m not a noble.”
“Ah, I see. Miss Jin.”
Although he seemed to have misunderstood ‘Jin’ as ‘Gini,’ I decided not to correct him.
Anton, the editor-in-chief, took out a notebook and pen, preparing to take notes.
“Now, shall we hear what information you’d like to provide?”
“Well, first, take a look at this.”
I handed him a note. It was the short letter Lumi had recently sent to me.
Anton slightly furrowed his brow and read the note.
“The heroine visited the slums, will we stay still?”
He raised his head to look at me.
“Who is this ‘heroine’? And who are ‘we’ in this context?”
“This note is part of a secret exchange of letters between Lady Elfriede and her friend. I’m sorry, but I can’t disclose information about that friend. Nevertheless, I do know who the ‘heroine’ referred to here is. It’s none other than Miss Evangelin, the daughter of Viscount Foyerbah.”
I responded with the prepared answer without lifting the veil.
Anton looked displeased.
“With just this, I can’t understand what the content is.”
Of course, he wouldn’t. I grinned.
“A few days ago, do you happen to know that Lady Elfriede hastily organized a party?”
“Yes, I heard about it just a while ago. It was mentioned by Miss Jin about the ‘1,000 crowns’ story. I also got the information from my source.”
He seemed to dislike ringing alarms. Well, I should get to the point quickly.
“This note directly reveals the motive behind the 1,000 crowns distribution. However, there’s a deeper intention hidden within it.”
“Hmm…”
Anton carefully examined Lumi’s note once again.
“Why did they refer to Evangelin as the ‘heroine’?”
“It’s a kind of code, meaning ‘main character.’ Lady Elfriede is very wary of Evangelin.”
“That’s strange. As far as I know, Evangelin is not a significant figure in the social circle. Using the code ‘main character’… it’s peculiar.”
Anton raised an eyebrow.
I kindly explained his doubt.
“Because Lady Elfriede knows very well. The ideal type of the Crown Prince is closer to Evangelin than to Lady Elfriede herself.”
As if realizing something, Anton’s eyes widened.
“Then the ‘male lead’ is the Crown Prince…!”
“Yes, that’s right. So, Lady Elfriede is quite frustrated. Just before the party, Evangelin volunteered in the slums.”
“Hmm.”
Nevertheless, Anton still wore an unrefreshed expression.
“But it seems you didn’t come all the way here just to report this, Miss Jin.”
He shook his head slowly.
“Frankly speaking, there are many simpler reasons why nobles visit the slums. It’s not only to make a good impression on someone, but also to uphold the family’s dignity and sometimes to cover up their own mistakes with a little charity.”
“That’s why I mentioned earlier. There is something deeper hidden in Lady Elfriede’s 1,000 crowns project.”
It shouldn’t waver with just one counterargument. I firmly prepared my heart and continued.
“Think about it. What would be the direct effect of giving cash to people with no money right away? Moreover, Lady Elfriede said she would put the names of nobles in the money envelopes to be distributed to the poor.”
“……!”
“The royal family is providing the nobles with the foundation of their livelihood through taxes. However, if the nobles start giving out cash, how do you think it would appear to the people in the slums? This won’t simply be perceived as an unusual relief effort.”
Fortunately, Anton was quite a sharp-minded person.
“I see. There won’t be many who would disdain freely given cash. Relatively, the efforts of the royal family may not shine brightly.”
“That is precisely the result most nobles, including Duke Mecklinger, would desire. It means the hearts of the people turning away from the royal family and favoring them instead.”
Anton leaned back in his chair. His expression was somewhat serious.
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
