“Bain, this is…?”
“It’s a gift for Your Highness.”
Returning from his vacation, Bain presented Litania with a bouquet of roses so large that she could bury herself in it if she embraced it.
The bright red roses were said to be a specialty of Penbroth. Litania nodded, feeling a bit dazed at Bain’s words that he had even used preservation magic to keep them from wilting.
‘Is it really just a gift…?’
Bain, dressed elegantly in an ink-black coat with his forehead neatly exposed, looked quite different from his usual appearance as a guard knight.
While she had always known he was handsome, this was the first time she had seen him so well-groomed.
With his good build, he had looked dependable in armor, but dressed so neatly like this, he exuded an air of nobility.
Perhaps because of Snow’s grumbling words earlier, Litania felt awkward looking directly at Bain and averted her gaze as she replied.
“Thank you for the gift, Bain. I’ll display it nicely.”
“If I can bring joy to Your Highness, I could ask for nothing more.”
After finishing his words, Bain looked at her with a gentle smile. Usually, he would always withdraw immediately after completing his business.
‘Should I offer him tea? Seeing how well-dressed he is, it seems he might be going somewhere else for other business.’
Litania gestured to Snow, handing over the rose bouquet to the boy, and said,
“Bain, I’ll offer you some tea if you have time to stay for a moment?”
“Tea is fine, thank you.”
So he does have other business to attend to. Litania nodded, feeling a bit relieved.
Just as she was about to say she would thank him properly next time, Bain took a step back and knelt on one knee before her.
“Bain?”
“I heard you will be attending the spring festival ball soon.”
He extended his right hand towards her. His large hand, which had held a sword for a long time, looked hard with calluses.
“Princess Litania. Would you grant me the honor of the first dance?”
Crack.
Hearing something break behind her, she turned around to see Snow holding a vase with a broken bottom, sighing.
“I’m sorry, Lady Litania. I accidentally broke the vase while arranging the flowers. I’ll clean it up right away.”
Though she didn’t know how one could break a vase with just flower stems, judging by Snow’s unnaturally trembling fist despite his bright smile, it didn’t seem to be an accident.
“Please don’t mind me and continue your conversation, Lady Litania.”
Was it just her imagination that Snow’s smiling face seemed to be growing horns?
Feeling slightly chilled, Litania turned her gaze back to Bain.
His green eyes were steadily fixed on her.
“Bain. I hear that from this spring festival, it’s changing to a masquerade ball.”
“Yes. I’m aware of that.”
Her heart fluttered greatly at his calm response.
Usually at balls, partners for the first dance are decided in advance, but that’s not necessary for a masquerade ball.
Covering one’s face was a tacit agreement to pretend not to know each other, even when they did.
So this wasn’t him volunteering to be her partner out of consideration for Litania, who might be troubled without a dance partner.
It was a clear expression of his affection for her.
‘Bain… for me?’
Her pink eyes wavered with bewilderment. While watching Litania’s gaze wander here and there, Bain patiently waited for her answer.
Watching the two from afar, Snow gripped the innocent rose stems, crushing them. Green liquid dripped into the newly prepared vase.
“Um, Bain. I wasn’t planning on choosing a partner…”
“If you need time to think, I can wait.”
“No, it’s just…”
If it were simply dancing at the ball, she could agree readily. But Litania wasn’t so naive as to not understand the intentions of a man approaching her for the first dance at a masquerade ball.
“I didn’t know. You never showed any signs…”
‘No. He showed plenty of signs.’
…Snow answered internally.
“If my feelings are burdensome to you, please say so. If you refuse, I will withdraw.”
Snow thought he’d rather refuse on her behalf so Bain would just leave.
“It’s not exactly burdensome…”
“Then may I wait for your answer?”
Bain’s eyes softened.
Litania was weak to this kind of gentle persuasion.
In the nearly two years he had served her closely, Bain must have clearly understood Litania’s personality. Snow’s eyes narrowed.
“I feel bad making you wait.”
Litania slightly shrugged her shoulders, then nodded as if she had made up her mind.
“If it’s just this once, it’s okay.”
Litania had no intention of falling in love with anyone anymore. Especially not with Bain, who had always been by her side and for whom she was grateful.
She wasn’t accepting Bain’s affection, but she didn’t want to break their relationship either.
She also felt sorry for not having noticed his feelings for her at all until now.
“Thank you for granting me this honor, Princess Litania.”
As Litania extended her hand towards Bain, he carefully took her hand and kissed the back of it.
“I, Bain, consider it a great joy to serve Your Highness.”
His face, smiling gently with crinkled eyes, was captivating.
It was then that Litania realized.
The mild defensive gesture she had offered was only fueling the determination of the man before her.
[This is the timeline separator]The flower carriage announcing the start of the spring festival departed from the imperial palace. The fragrance of brilliant flowers danced and spread under the sun.
Despite the cheers of citizens heard from outside, Litania felt uneasy.
“Lady Litania, you look beautiful!”
Worried that Snow might be very upset about her accepting Bain’s dance invitation, Litania was surprised to find that as soon as Bain left the room, Snow returned to his usual self and took great care of her.
〈I am Lady Litania’s attendant, after all.〉
While he might offer advice before Litania makes a choice, he doesn’t criticize decisions she has already made.
Although Snow didn’t like Bain, he didn’t want to upset his precious mistress because of it. Litania was the most important thing to the boy.
Snow blinked his rabbit-like red eyes as he helped Litania prepare her outfit.
“Since it’s a masquerade ball, I thought something more flashy and bold would be good, so I prepared black.”
“Yes. Thank you, Snow.”
The dress Snow prepared for Litania was a black dress with a blue tinge reminiscent of the night sky.
The delicately embroidered golden flowers, combined with her black butterfly mask, evoked the image of a butterfly flying through a flower garden under a starry night sky.
Behind the mask, long, thin white ribbons were hung, with tiny golden bells attached at the ends, creating a melodious sound with her every movement.
‘Somehow, this combination reminds me of Raven’s design.’
Perhaps because Raven’s dresses received tremendous praise at last spring’s ball and autumn banquet, similar designs have become popular and flooded the market.
‘Still, the ones Raven made are the best.’
Litania looked at herself in the mirror wearing the dress, imagining how Raven would have made it, then quickly shook her head to dismiss the thought.
[This is the timeline separator]As the sun set and the sky began to darken, lights brighter than stars gathered at the Crystal Palace where the ball was to be held.
Elegant string instruments and beautiful melodies intertwined, filling the ballroom’s air with excitement-laden music.
Countless crystal chandeliers sparkled from the ceiling, casting light that made the people wearing colorful and diverse masks shine even brighter.
People wearing masks with vibrant colors and complex patterns, masks decorated with gold and jewels, masks in solid colors that were simple yet sophisticated… Although the attendees of a royal ball were predetermined and everyone likely knew who was who, the simple act of covering faces with masks changed the atmosphere of the ball entirely.
The space filled with diverse colors, various people, and dance and music seemed somewhat disorderly and chaotic.
“Your Highness, are you alright?”
“Bain, you shouldn’t call me ‘Your Highness’ here.”
“Ah, I made a mistake.”
Bain, who had received a title and was formally qualified to attend the ball, skillfully escorted her to her seat despite this likely being his first ball.
Although they wore masks, it wasn’t difficult to recognize who was who, and Litania could feel the gazes of people looking at her and Bain.
‘I wonder if they find it strange.’
How would they view a princess attending a ball with her guard knight less than half a year after divorcing the dragon god? Litania felt a bit anxious, but she quickly calmed down thanks to Bain firmly holding her hand.
‘Well, what does it matter. Orbis isn’t even here.’
The dragon god Orbis had only participated in the spring festival twice, last year and the year before. He wouldn’t be attending this year.
Now, both he and she need to live their own lives.
With that thought, Litania looked around with a slightly lighter expression.
It was then that her eyes met those of a crow staring intently through the window from outside.
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
