“Why are you staring at me?”
“Huh?”
As Eric’s eyes met Alicia’s, he covered his mouth with his hand to hide his embarrassed expression.
He was definitely crazy, no doubt about it.
Had Alicia not asked, he would have caused a major accident, violating the special agreement and the contract.
“Well, you kind of looked like a duck just now.”
“A duck?”
Alicia was so astonished that she glared at Eric, but his mouth blurted out regardless of his will.
“Like, your lips pouted out like this. Like a duckling.”
“A duckling?”
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She was truly flabbergasted.
He had pondered all day and seriously talked about what was left, but the reaction was not as refreshing as he thought, and all of a sudden, he looked like a duck.
“Well, it’s cute. I like it.”
“……”
Knowing that it wasn’t about her, Alicia tried to hide her embarrassed expression and firmly said,
“Get down, now.”
“Huh?”
“We have to go home. I’ve said all I need to.”
“Ah, right. We should go.”
Eric got up halfway in surprise, then sat back down.
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“Alicia.”
“Hmm?”
Eric hesitated, not knowing what to say.
“Be careful on your way home.”
Eventually, he awkwardly smiled and greeted her casually.
“Okay, see you tomorrow.”
“Mmhm.”
As soon as Eric got off, the door closed and the carriage departed.
He stood there until the carriage disappeared from his sight, then Eric covered his eyes with one hand.
“A duck, really. Have I gone mad, this damn fool?”
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He felt so embarrassed he could die.
He felt so embarrassed he thought it would be better to violate the contract and face termination.
He was sure to kick his blanket in frustration tonight.
[Star Icon][Star Icon][Star Icon]After showing off at the royal palace tea party, the duke and his wife did not call Alicia and Eric to official events for a while.
Thanks to this, Alicia and Eric were able to enjoy themselves, immersing themselves in work, reading books of similar taste, and drinking tea. Just like today.
Eric stretched out widely after closing his book.
“Shall we have some tea?”
“Should we?”
While Eric called for the butler to bring tea, Alicia also closed her book with a bookmark.
ads
“But how do you get such a nickname by being rude?”
“Huh?”
“Like, the misfit from the underworld or the gatekeeper of hell.”
“I’ve never heard of the gatekeeper of hell before.”
“Oh. Right.”
“Didn’t you say you don’t care about rumors?”
“Just curious. I can’t imagine you being rude. It’s not the you I know.”
“Hm. Is that so? So what am I like, according to you?”
Eric asked with a smile. His face held a touch of anticipation.
“Hmm.”
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Alicia momentarily recalled the story that Kate had told at the tea party.
“Well, you seem to speak a bit harshly and your impression is not particularly good.”
“Ugh.”
“But rather than being harsh, your words are direct.”
“Mmhm.”
“And when you’re not making a face, you’re actually handsome.”
“Hmm?”
Eric stared at Alicia and grinned.
“Really? I didn’t know you thought that way.”
“I have eyes, you know. I try to be objective.”
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“Objective? So what about subjective?”
“You mean taste? That’s a different matter.”
“Different matter?”
Eric made a face, as if he didn’t like the sound of that.
“So, what is your taste?”
“My taste? Hmm.”
Alicia thought for a moment and then made a serious face.
“I don’t want to talk about it. It doesn’t seem like something to tell my fiancé.”
“It’s okay to say that I’m not your taste to your fiancé?”
At Eric’s bewildered gaze, Alicia evasively shifted her gaze.
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“Enough, enough. I’ll stop before I get more hurt.”
Grumbling, Eric picked up his teacup.
Alicia mumbled under her breath as she looked at Eric.
“I never said no.”
“What?”
“I didn’t say anything.”
When Eric turned his head again, Alicia quickly added,
“Relax your face. That’s why I said you don’t look good earlier.”
At that, Eric immediately smiled. His face was full of mischief.
“So, do I still look handsome in your eyes?”
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“Ah, now you’re just annoying.”
“……It’s hard.”
“What is?”
“To get into your good books.”
“……”
Seeing Eric’s smiling face, Alicia squinted her eyes and slightly scrunched up her face.
“Why?”
“No, as Eric said, this mansion has good light.”
“Suddenly?”
Sitting back against the window, Alicia feigned ignorance and was drinking tea when she seemed to remember and asked.
“This orange silhouette production line is being managed at the Clayton Baron’s house, right? Tell me about the Baron’s house.”
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“Was our visit scheduled for next week?”
“Yes. Is there anything I should know in advance?”
“Nothing special. The Baron is good at business, so the sales are steadily increasing. The luxury strategy was also planned by the Baron.”
“There were no special issues in the appreciation report either.”
“Uhhuh. It was hard to manage because it’s far away, but it’s reliable enough to trust. At least for now.”
“I see.”
“Go and be comfortable. You’ll get through it soon.”
“?”
Alicia showed a momentarily suspicious expression, but Eric just chuckled and smiled.
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When scheming men desperately battle for her favor in the male harem
This one’s also on my reread list! The rivalry, scheming between the men in the imperial harem are just as intense and thrilling as in classic palace drama novels, where concubines fight to the death. Give it a read, girls! I promise you won’t be disappointed.
Synopsis:
“I am not worthy of her… but I still want to be by her side, even if only as a loyal dog…”
Those were the painful whispers of Yue Guanyi – the proud Crown Prince of the Great Qi, who was torn between deep love and a guilty conscience. Despite holding the supreme power of the Imperial Guard, he still could not forget the dark past when he was sold into a brothel.
Fate played a cruel twist when Qiu Shuzhi – a young female official who had just passed the imperial examinations with top honors – stepped into his life. She did not know that she was the one who had saved him from a tragic fate many years ago. And now, her heart was the target of pursuit for both Yue Guanyi and the powerful Empress Dowager Qin Qing.
While Yue Guanyi only dared to silently care for and protect the one he loved from afar, the Empress Dowager Qin Qing openly expressed his feelings and did not hesitate to take advantage of his power to approach Qiu Shuzhi. The covert struggle between the two most powerful forces in the imperial court began…
Trigger warning: All men in this novel are yandere style.
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