“Crown Prince’s consort, a competition…?”
“It’s merely a formality. His Majesty the Emperor has already designated you as the chosen candidate.”
There was a reason for inviting me to this meal, which I normally wouldn’t even receive an invitation to.
“The royal wedding is scheduled for next year, so conduct yourself properly to ensure it proceeds without any issues. Be mindful of your behavior as well.”
It was to inform me to participate in the competition for the Crown Prince’s consort.
In the original story, Larien, who had fallen for the Crown Prince, requested an engagement first.
‘Since I didn’t express a desire to be engaged to the Crown Prince, they’re telling me to enter the competition.’
Even setting aside the existence of the baby, Erna, the female protagonist, was already the Crown Prince’s mistress.
Knowing how miserable the ending would be, I didn’t want to get involved between them.
“…I’ve heard that His Highness the Crown Prince has a mistress.”
I mentioned Erna’s existence to indicate that I didn’t want to enter the competition for Crown Prince’s consort.
“If you become the Crown Prince’s consort, she’ll be driven out soon enough. There’s no need to worry about a mere mistress who can’t even become a concubine.”
Duke Belaste’s indifferent response hardly seemed like that of a father.
‘As expected.’
Since he had never been a father to begin with, it was unnecessary to feel disappointed now.
“Father. Spring is not far off. Perhaps it would be better to postpone the competition a bit…”
“Uriel. This is not a matter for you to interfere with.”
Duke Belaste cut off Uriel’s words with a stern expression. At his decision that allowed no opposition, a sneer escaped.
‘There’s one thing you’re mistaken about.’
On her first day as Crown Prince’s consort, Larien heard from the Crown Prince about Erna’s pregnancy.
Erna, carrying the imperial heir, was not driven out.
‘Even if Jade doesn’t kill me this time, Erna will fear losing the male lead to me.’
The Crown Prince consistently pitied Erna. He protected her in everything, preventing Larien from tormenting her.
‘He’ll mistreat me, just as he did Larien.’
Even if I tried not to receive the Crown Prince’s love, I was still destined to be the villainess who would eventually have to exit.
It was useless to express my refusal to the unyielding Duke Belaste.
The only way to protect the baby and avoid becoming the Crown Prince’s consort.
Was to escape from here.
“Your Grace. May I stay in the annex until the day of the competition?”
Staying in the annex, where servants rarely ventured, would make escaping easy. The back door in the annex was also a passage I used for secret outings.
“The annex?”
“I want to stay alone quietly and prepare to become the Crown Prince’s consort.”
“Do as you wish.”
Duke Belaste gave his permission.
‘Where should I go?’
I pondered which country to flee to and settle in.
The first place that came to mind was there.
Trianon.
A small, peaceful principality I had kept in mind since first realizing I had been possessed, in case of any unforeseen situations.
With enough funds from selling the jewels I had collected, there was no need to hesitate.
“Larien. Are you really alright with this? You can still tell them you can’t do it.”
“Duchess. This is for the sake of House Belaste, isn’t it? I’m fine.”
At my words, Duke Belaste downed his wine in one gulp.
He looked pleased. As if it was worth raising me all this time.
“Larien…”
The Duchess of Belaste bit her lip and fidgeted anxiously at my refusal.
‘She probably dislikes the idea of having to use honorifics if I become the Crown Prince’s consort.’
It was amusing to see her face, unable to openly oppose but not knowing what to do.
“Your Grace. As I need to move my belongings to the annex, may I leave first?”
“Go ahead.”
Duke Belaste seemed to be in a good mood as things were going according to his wishes.
‘Has the Duke ever been this gentle before?’
“Larien!”
The Duchess of Belaste called out to me.
“I had the dessert prepared with the strawberry cake you used to like… Won’t you stay and finish eating?”
“…I’m not feeling well. I’m sorry.”
It was dangerous as I might have morning sickness again while eating cake like earlier.
Even the food smells in the dining room were making me feel unwell.
“I-I see. You may go up then.”
I exhaled the breath I had been holding as I left the dining room.
‘Now I can breathe.’
I told Mary that we would go to Trianon. She said she would follow me anywhere and packed our bags all night.
I imagined the days ahead living with the baby and Mary, just the three of us.
‘The doctor said he would come again in a week.’
I had a week ahead to say goodbye to people I would never see again.
…I also had to bid farewell to Jade.
Forever.
Once a week passes, I’ll never see him again.
‘If I had known it would be like this, I should have been a bit more affectionate with Jade.’
Even before leaving, thoughts of Jade kept me awake at night.
[This is the timeline separator]Early in the morning, I moved to the annex with Mary.
The long-vacant annex was covered in dust here and there.
It was clearly evident that no one had set foot here for a long time.
Feeling guilty about just watching Mary diligently wiping, I picked up a broom.
“Miss! You can’t!”
Mary quickly snatched away the broom and pushed me outside, telling me to stay out.
Near the annex was a greenhouse where I used to walk alone to suppress my emotions when I felt upset.
Since I would never come here again after running away, I looked around the greenhouse for the first time in a long while.
The greenhouse, kept warm even in the cold winter, was filled with various blooming flowers.
The lilacs with a white butterfly perched on them gave off an especially fragrant scent, making it feel refreshing.
My complicated thoughts seemed to clear up.
“Lady Larien!”
I came out of the greenhouse at the sound of the butler calling me from outside.
“His Highness the Crown Prince has arrived.”
“He’s here now?”
“Yes. I’ve shown him to the reception room in the main building for now.”
I was appalled at his rudeness in visiting without an appointment.
It was awkward to turn him away since he was the Crown Prince.
I arrived at the main building very slowly and entered the reception room where he was, paying my respects.
“I greet Your Highness Oscar, the small sun of Langrangsha.”
“You’re late, Lady.”
Crown Prince Oscar put down his teacup with a smirk upon seeing me.
“I apologize. I was delayed in preparations as I didn’t know Your Highness would be coming.”
Oscar cleared his throat at my pointed remark about his sudden visit.
“Ahem. Anyway, Lady, I assume you’ve heard about the Crown Prince’s consort competition from the Duke.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
Seeming to know his fault was great, he didn’t mention the situation of my lateness further.
“I don’t want to become unnecessarily close even if we become husband and wife. It would be better for you to give up any feelings for me as well.”
“……”
I was at a loss for words seeing Oscar’s serious misunderstanding.
‘I didn’t even act like in the original story, how ridiculous.’
Had I ever said I loved him?
“I already have a woman I love. But that doesn’t mean I won’t consider your reputation. If you need a partner, I’m willing to escort you.”
The sad thing was, Larien had been happy to hear these words in a similar situation.
‘He offered to be Larien’s partner for the New Year’s ball.’
But Oscar ended up appearing at the New Year’s ball with Erna.
Larien, who had no friends due to her sharp personality, became isolated alone inside the party venue.
‘She heard whispers calling her a wallflower.’
The naive Larien endured, thinking she would win his heart once she became the Crown Prince’s consort.
Not knowing that she was destined to die as a villainess for Erna’s happiness.
“Your Highness. I’m sorry, but there’s no need for you to be my partner as you just offered.”
“You’re refusing?”
Oscar retorted with a dumbfounded expression.
“You’re saying it’s fine if I enter with another woman?”
“By that other woman, do you perhaps mean Your Highness’s mistress?”
“…Lady.”
I deliberately mentioned Erna while smiling brightly. So that Oscar couldn’t get angry.
“I don’t mind that Your Highness has a mistress. I also wanted to maintain an appropriate distance from Your Highness, so this works out well.”
“…What?”
“Your Highness. I hope you remember that the successor to Langrangsha must be of legitimate birth.”
If I run away, one of the other candidates participating in the competition will be selected as the Crown Prince’s consort.
I don’t know who that will be, but I couldn’t leave them to be ruined like Larien.
“Even if Your Highness’s mistress bears an imperial child, they cannot become the heir.”
Oscar was unable to give Erna the position of bin, a high-ranking concubine.
Because Erna was a commoner, even after Oscar became Emperor, she only became Empress due to opposition from the Senate.
“Lady, don’t think of touching Erna. I won’t leave you be either.”
Oscar threatening and warning me was indeed foolish. He was the one putting Erna in danger.
“Your Highness, if you want to protect your mistress, you should have persuaded me instead of threatening me.”
“Trying to teach me, the Crown Prince of Langrangsha! How insolent!”
Oscar’s face turned red starting from his neck as he grabbed the teacup in front of him and threw it to the floor.
Along with the sharp sound of the teacup breaking, someone entered.
‘…How long has Duke Belaste been outside?’
It was Duke Belaste.
“Your Highness, are you hurt anywhere?”
He examined Oscar while ordering the butler who followed to clean up the teacup.
“Your Highness. You seem displeased. May I ask what happened?”
“You’d better ask the Lady, not me.”
Oscar left the study with a frown.
“…Your Highness the Crown Prince!”
Duke Belaste glanced at me once before chasing after Oscar.
‘He’ll take a bit of a detour, but that’s better than running into him.’
As I came out of the reception room, I encountered the Duchess of Belaste.
“Larien.”
“…Duchess.”
“You weren’t in the annex, so you were here.”
“Did you… have something to say to me?”
“Larien. Take this.”
The Duchess of Belaste hesitantly handed me a key.
“…What is this?”
[Touch the gear icon in the bottom right corner of the screen to move to the next chapter if you want.]
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Daily Life of a Scumbag Man Giving Birth (Female-dominant)
One-line summary: The way for a promiscuous scumbag man to atone for his sins is to let him get… pregnant.
Synopsis:
Meng Huan, a scumbag who has dated countless girlfriends, scammed countless women, transmigrates to a female-dominated country.
Day 1: Whether it’s female dominance or not doesn’t matter. The beauties here are passionate and amorous. Isn’t it easier to scam them than in modern times?
Day 2: After a night, Meng Huan discovers the differences in the female-dominated world. Men here actually have chastity locks and menstrual cycles. This hinders his ability to perform, damn it!
Day 3: What’s wrong with sleeping around? I don’t want you to marry me. I’m meant to be a playboy. I don’t care about male virtues… What? You want to drown me in a pig cage? Marry, I’ll marry!
Day N: Meng Huan inexplicably vomits and receives the shocking news of his life… He’s pregnant.