After Gustaf left, Claude sat in the rocking chair with his eyes closed for a long time, tuning in to the tender voices coming from outside.
“Wouldn’t it be great if every day were like today?”
“Since the lady arrived, the atmosphere in the mansion has definitely changed. This is why a house needs a mistress.”
“Right, look at Hille. He used to grumble about feeling useless or becoming a painkiller-making machine, but ever since treating the lady, he’s revitalized.”
“She really enjoys working, huh. Giggle.”
Yooan smiled gently, quietly listening to the young maids’ chatter.
The maids giggled among themselves, creating stories until the dirt floor began to redden with the setting sun, urging them to hurry.
“Is it already this late?”
“Lady, please don’t touch the bedding tomorrow morning?”
“Right. The butler warned us, and we prefer to do our work peacefully.”
Yooan promised to check the garden more and quickly disappeared into the mansion, bidding farewell to the maids.
Everyone vanished into their rooms as the sun set.
It was a rule in this mansion.
Yooan yearned to meet and appeal to the mansion’s owner, Claude.
To let her stay in this vast mansion, even if just in a corner.
She wanted to express her gratitude.
If he had acted as his notorious reputation suggested, he would have killed her or thrown her out regardless of her condition.
She waited in her room, hoping he might call, but he remained unresponsive.
Disturbed, Yooan wandered the garden when she heard the sound of a window creaking open overhead.
It was from the second floor, near Claude’s bedroom.
Yooan stiffened and slowly turned, looking up.
Slightly faded blond hair fluttered in the wind.
Carefully stepping back to see his face, Yooan greeted the man looking down at her.
“Hello.”
The man, with only his eyes shining in the darkness, held an unreadable, impassive gaze.
“Um…”
“You seem fine. Time to leave, isn’t it?”
Yooan stiffened her smile and stood looking up at him.
The barely exposed half of Claude’s face was still pale and shadowed. Despite his wan appearance, his words were harsh.
“Don’t try any tricks.”
Tricks! Such a rude word.
Yooan was momentarily taken aback by the much fiercer than imagined response from Claude, but she mustered her courage to reply.
“I am your wife.”
It sounded ridiculous even to her ears. It had been so long since she’d been told to return to her family.
She felt as if she was being mocked, hearing scornful laughter as if it were an auditory hallucination.
“I don’t need a wife.”
Despite her heartfelt and courageous response, Claude was merciless.
Yooan clenched the hem of her dress, crumpling it like paper.
No, I can’t be sent away.
“I’m sure I can be useful. I’m good at cleaning, preparing meals. I can do laundry well once my hands heal. I don’t have to be a wife, just let me stay here, please…”
“We don’t need another maid.”
Only then did Claude’s icy face crack a twisted, shadowed smile.
“Cleaning. Laundry. Preparing meals… Ha.”
The window closed as if it had never been open.
Yooan, who had been looking up in shock, was frozen, unable to do anything.
She didn’t think she was asking for much.
In the past few days, she had naturally learned of Claude’s reclusive nature.
She thought it wouldn’t be bad to secretly annul the marriage and live in this isolated mansion as a maid.
If she were sent back to the Pellesse household, she would be caught by her uncle and suffer another terrible hell.
Not to mention that Louise’s body, temporarily entrusted to the chapel, would have to be returned there.
If the Duke of Companie checked, she might even have to burn it.
‘This can’t be happening.’
She needed a solution.
Somehow, she had to become more useful.
Yooan bit her lower lip hard as she stared at the firmly shut window.
An unexpected solution came the next morning from outside.
After breakfast, as the maids started clearing the meal, there was a sound at the open door.
“May I come in?”
Standing in the doorway was the dark-faced butler, Gustaf.
“Doctor Hille said Lady’s condition has improved greatly. I’m sorry to say this to someone still ill, but…”
Is this a hint that she must leave soon?
Yooan listened tensely, not yet ready in her heart.
“The royal family sent a message to confirm the consummation of the marriage and to quickly establish the bonds of a couple.”
Hena, who was clearing the table, froze, and Yooan couldn’t hide her shock either.
“Has the Pellesse household mentioned anything about this? This is the first time for such a case.”
Gustaf himself seemed bewildered as he scratched his neck.
A noble’s marriage is primarily for producing heirs, so it’s right to confirm consummation and recognize a true marriage.
Yooan had known this since she was very young from reading books.
The royal family’s request wasn’t unreasonable.
Butler Gustaf continued.
“Technically, without consummation, the marriage is invalid. Anyway, it’s my duty to inform you… don’t worry too much.”
The royal family is pushing, but you won’t be able to consummate, and you’ll be sent back to your family, so don’t worry.
That’s how it sounded to Yooan.
She wiped the brief panic from her face and responded.
“What if we consummate?”
Gustaf, who was about to turn away, froze.
“If we consummate, can His Highness not send me away?”
He looked at her with wide eyes, as if wondering how she could think such a thing.
Male lead is reincarnated to save his wife
I’ve also read this one twice already. The female lead is kinda soft and gets embarrassed easily—not really my type, but the plot is definitely worth reading. Hurry up and read it, y’all!
Intro
When Shen Yuan encountered Su Jin again in his previous life, she had already become the Prime Minister of the current dynasty. As for him, the former top young master of the capital, he had long since fallen into the abyss, becoming a singer on a pleasure boat.
After a song ended, he was redeemed and sent to the Su Residence.
Su Jin respected and cherished him, gave him a roof over his head, and bestowed him with warmth. Shen Yuan fell deeper and deeper, but before he could express his feelings, Su Jin passed away.
Shen Yuan died to follow her in death, but instead, he returned to when he was fifteen years old.
At that time, he was not yet engaged, and Su Jin was just a poor scholar.
Shen Yuan gritted his teeth, casting aside all his pride, and thought of ways to coax and entice her every day.
The colder and more indifferent Su Jin was towards him, the more proactive Shen Yuan became.
He was not afraid of being mocked by the world, only wanting to marry his Wife-master early, to hold her hand and never let go for a lifetime.
[Note: This story will not specifically point out the male lead’s reincarnation time point; it’s all in the details. Whenever you feel that the male lead is acting strangely, he has most likely been reincarnated.]
[Touch the gear icon in the bottom right corner of the screen to move to the next chapter if you want.]
