Claude pressed the dark shadows under his eyes and pulled the blanket over his head, annoyed by the uninvited guest that barged in that morning.
The cheerful voice of Lancelot Lev, his cousin and the second son of the Duke of Lev, poured over his turned back. “Your eyes are totally shrouded in darkness. Did you have a nightmare?”
Yes, he did. A damn nightmare.
Claude ruffled his bird’s nest of golden hair and turned his back further away.
“This is troublesome. You knew I was coming today.”
“Get lost.”
The blanket that could have given him even a moment’s respite was snatched away. Claude, frowning with his eyes closed, suddenly opened them wide.
“…Lancelot Lev.”
“What’s wrong, Claude Yufreis? Calling someone over and treating them like this?”
Lancelot, known for his sly demeanor, smirked at him. Claude, annoyed, turned his eyes to glare at Lancelot.
He always wanted to hit that shiny face, but after a night tormented by nightmares and lacking sleep, he felt like hitting it twice as hard.
“I never called you. Don’t barge in here without permission.”
“You should’ve expected me to come if you took a new wife. I always clean up after you.”
Lancelot, having thrown the blanket onto a chair, half-lay on it. He rested his long arms behind his head and began to recall.
“Father’s not impressed. Thinks she looks weaker than the eighth wife. And Eddie, needless to say.”
“What are you going to do about it?”
The usual callous response.
Lancelot shrugged, accustomed to Claude’s sensitivity.
“There’s talk of finding the tenth wife from our Lev family instead of the royal family. So I came to ask your opinion, but what do you know? The ninth wife is still here in your house?”
“Wife? Don’t make me laugh.”
Claude coldly muttered as he got up and sat in a rocking chair.
His cousin watched his lifeless movements intently.
“Moreover, I peeked through the door, and she’s stunningly beautiful. How should I interpret this?”
“I just didn’t want to watch someone die in my house. I saved her from death and stuck her in a corner. I’ll send her away soon.”
“What? That’s a shame. I should have wooed her before you two locked eyes.”
Lancelot, smiling enough to show his dimple, seemed to be gauging the reaction. Claude, who had his eyes closed, chuckled.
“Shame? Take her if you want. A sickly crow of a woman.”
“Really?”
Lancelot raised his eyebrows and grinned.
“Maybe I will.”
“She’ll probably die before that.”
“…”
“She will. Again. In my house.”
“She’s still alive, isn’t she? Hasn’t run away. The servants seem thrilled to finally have some proper work. But Eddie is worried sick.”
Lancelot shuddered, recalling his brother who became sensitive at the news of Claude bringing a woman home.
Claude scoffed. “As if he has any right to worry.”
“The woman now is your sister-in-law, right? The younger sister of the eighth wife. Another living sacrifice offered to you. How could she want to stay? Unlike her sister, the Peliesse family seemed reluctant to send her. They readily sent the sister, but this time they kicked up a fuss and even lied. Eddie has every reason to be concerned.”
“Then tell them to take her back.”
“I’ve heard they’re grinding their teeth, waiting for an opportunity to take her back. It’s funny, isn’t it? The royal family is desperate to attach a woman to you. And that lackey, Garett Peliesse, is causing a fuss not to send her… Frankly, the Peliesse family could have mingled with a pretty decent house in the capital. Your wife must have hated marrying you so much. Who would expect anything from a brute like you who treats his own wife like a f*ck buddy?”
Without even opening his eyes, Claude rode the rocking chair, enduring Lancelot’s unabashed criticism.
“If I were a woman, I’d run away too.”
Though each word was true, Claude’s lips twisted mercilessly. He frowned, recalling the day he brought the woman home, eyes still closed.
“Hate being married to me? She’s the one who begged not to be sent back to her family, determined to stay. Stop talking nonsense.”
“What? So, the rumor that she didn’t run away even after seeing you is true? Then, the rumor that you personally went out to bring her in must be completely true as well?”
“Get lost if you’re going to fantasize. Better yet, disappear from my house along with that woman. She’s so adamant about not going home, she’d rather die here. Perfect for you to take.”
“Harsh!”
Lancelot chided Claude but still maintained a suitable smile. After all, he was speaking out of spite because Claude wouldn’t even open his eyes to look at him.
“Anyway, think positively. Isn’t she a better nurse than your constantly ailing physician? I’m taking it as a good sign, especially since you finally went outside after so long. Eddie’s worried that she’s from the royal family, sent to look after you.”
Claude had been changing his personal physician every few months for the past ten years. They were sent by the royal family, so naturally, Claude couldn’t trust them, nor did he want to.
The Villainous Demon Lord Laid an Egg for Her (Female-Dominated)
Several months after transmigrating into a book, Yu Wu found herself facing the demon lord Li You, who could no longer conceal his dragon horns. With one hand on her aching waist and the other gripping a sharp sword, she stared at him.
The demon lord’s eyes were red with fury:
“This is all your doing! Today, I won’t rest until I kill you!”
Yu Wu rubbed her temples. Putting aside the taboo against bloodshed during pregnancy, wasn’t it this very man who willingly walked into her trap that day?!
Warnings:
- Male pregnancy.
- Height ratios are set to mirror typical male-female height proportions.
- Characters include a foot-loving demon lord and an eldest daughter from an immortal family’s concubine lineage.
