“Welcome. Miss Alicia.”
“Thank you for the invitation, Miss Kate.”
“Saying things you don’t mean.”
“Not true. That invitation was very impressive, so I wanted to come.”
“Oh? It’s rewarding to hear that. Come this way.”
With these words, Kate, speaking confidently, turned towards the reception room.
It seemed like she had no intention of being polite in front of Alicia, but that was just Kate’s way. Alicia smiled and followed her.
“It’s a splendid mansion.”
Kate’s extravagant taste seemed to be influenced by her family’s background, just like the O’Briens, the viscount family.
The wallpaper, curtains, and vibrant colors, along with the dazzling chandeliers, caught the eye.
“It was my mother’s taste. I think I inherited that taste from her.”
“Ah.”
Alicia had heard that Lady Viscountess had passed away a few years ago, although she had never met her. Still, Alicia had a feeling that Kate would resemble her.
“You suit well with Miss Kate.”
“I think so too. Not your style, I assume?”
“Unfortunately, no.”
The conversations exchanged after receiving the tea were not as courteous as those between typical young ladies. They were straightforward, but not unpleasant, probably because both knew that about each other already.
“Thank you for helping this time. Although I expressed my gratitude, it’s fortunate to be able to say it in person.”
“Well, it’s settled. I also had debts to pay. Anyway, I’m glad nothing happened. Being a victim of such a lowly act hurts one’s pride, you know?”
“That’s true.”
After Alicia casually responded, Kate glanced at her for a moment and then burst into laughter.
“Really, you’re quite different from what meets the eye.”
To say nothing of handling a stick, it seemed like she couldn’t even hold it properly. Yet, she casually made such remarks.
But Kate had witnessed Alicia defeating demons. Kate chuckled, thinking that if Alicia’s words were true, those men would have been half-dead.
“By the way, when did you learn the sword?”
“Well, I started when I was young.”
“Young? The Lancaster family isn’t a military household, right?”
Although she had inquired out of curiosity as Eric’s fiancée, Kate knew that the Lancaster Marquis’s family had no connection to swords. It was unexpected for someone who wasn’t a son or daughter to wield a sword.
“It’s an influence from my maternal grandfather. He was very interested in swords.”
“Maternal grandfather? That seems a bit far-fetched for an influence.”
“Ah, that’s…”
Just as Alicia was about to answer, a knock was heard.
Both heads turned towards the door. The person entering was Viscount O’Brien.
“Father?”
As Kate stood up in surprise, Alicia also rose to greet him.
“What’s going on? Why are you here so early?”
“Oh, Kate. I finished work a bit early because I had guests. But you also had a guest?”
“Oh, yes. I invited her.”
“Hello, Viscount. I’m Alicia Lancaster.”
“Oh, Miss Lancaster. Nice to meet you.”
Although they had briefly seen each other at the grand event, this was the first formal greeting between the Viscount and Alicia.
Alicia’s straightforward greeting without frills seemed to satisfy the Viscount, who smiled and nodded. While the Viscount was smiling, a familiar voice was heard from behind him.
“Oh, Alicia.”
“Chase?”
“What brings you here? Alicia?”
Chase approached Alicia with a welcoming smile, surprising her.
Viscount O’Brien looked alternately at Chase and Alicia with curious eyes.
“Do you know each other?”
“We’ve been friends since childhood.”
“Oh, I see. I had a feeling you might know each other since the grand event.”
“Yes, our connection runs very deep.”
As Chase finished his reply, the Viscount, standing plumply next to him, introduced Kate to Chase.
“Oh, right. This is Spencer Lieutenant. And here’s my daughter, Kate.”
“Hello, Miss Kate.”
“Hello.”
Kate’s attitude while receiving Chase’s greeting seemed awkward.
At this hour, her father brought a guest to the house without notice. Even if he had introduced them after finishing his schedule, it wouldn’t have mattered. But he insisted on introductions now.
‘Is he setting me up again?’
Kate forced herself to suppress the sigh she wanted to let out.
Recently, Viscount O’Brien, after being repeatedly declined, had started bringing guests without giving Kate any say in the matter. Even though it would have been fine to introduce them after finishing his business, he insisted on greeting them now.
“Sorry about this, Miss Lancaster. It’s [dash] for today.”
“Yes, Viscount. I was about to leave soon.”
Alicia quickly responded, sensing the atmosphere between the Viscount and Kate.
“I’m glad I could greet you, Viscount. I’ll see you again later.”
“I apologize for causing inconvenience.”
“Not at all. Well then, I’ll excuse myself.”
“Sure. Kate, see them off.”
“Yes, Father.”
Kate gave an unwilling response and, as Alicia was about to leave with her, Chase approached her and lightly tapped Alicia’s shoulder.
“See you later, Alicia.”
“Yeah, later. Chase.”
Exiting the reception room with Alicia, Kate sighed in the corridor.
Male lead is a Destined Young Husband (Female-dominant)
One-sentence summary: Wife-master, listen to my explanation!
Li Ruantang, a young lady from a prestigious family, stumbled and fell. When she woke up, she saw a noble and beautiful young man sitting by her bedside, wiping away tears.
The young master had slightly reddened eyes, and his every move exuded charm.
The sight made Li Ruantang’s eyes hot and her heart flutter. After all, she had made a bet with the young master Meng from the neighboring family. If she couldn’t marry a husband before the end of the year, she would have to admit defeat and give up the jade she had worked so hard to obtain.
Outside the window, the flowers were in full bloom.
Rather than losing the bet, the jade, and her face, Li Ruantang calculated that it would be better to seek marriage with the young master in front of her, killing three birds with one stone.
…
Meng Jun never thought that an accident during a spring outing would lead to them rolling down a cliff and into a river, yet still survive.
Now they were trapped in an unknown village, and Meng Jun had overheard that the family who had rescued them had their own intentions.
After all, it was Li Ruantang who had lost her mind and sought marriage first. He was only trying to protect himself!
Glancing at Li Ruantang, who was listing her own merits, the young husband’s voice softened, and he blushed as he lied, “W-wife-master, Wife-master, don’t you remember me?”
The young husband’s voice was clear and handsome, coaxing Li Ruantang’s heart to be soft and sweet, and she spared no effort to protect him.
It wasn’t until they returned to the capital that Li Ruantang suddenly remembered.
When they had fallen off the cliff, in order not to implicate Wei Yunruo, whom he secretly admired, the young husband had instead pulled her, who was slightly farther away, down the cliff with him…
Short summary by Yuushi L: Initially, the male lead (ML) liked another girl, while the female lead (FL) liked the ML. Both fell off a cliff. The FL temporarily lost her memory, and the ML, fearing others might take advantage of him, claimed FL was his wife while they were staying in a village. Later, when they returned home, the FL regained her memories and remembered that the ML liked someone else, so she kept her distance from him. However, during their time living together in the countryside, the ML’s view of the FL had completely changed. From this point, his pursuit of the FL begins.
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