I can’t just tell a child who’s eating carrots to impress me not to eat them.
Still, I didn’t want to watch them force it down. What should I do about this?
“Blanche?”
I called out to the child as gently as possible.
The child looked up while wiping the potage from around their mouth.
“Do you like carrots?”
“…Yes, Shu Shu. I like carrots.”
The child answered slowly that they liked them. It was obvious they were lying.
My heart ached.
It was awkward to say here that they didn’t have to eat it if they didn’t like it.
Because I had previously taught them not to be picky eaters.
I deliberately picked out the carrots in my portion of potage.
“This is a secret, but I don’t like carrots.”
“Mother… doesn’t like carrots?”
The child asked as if hearing it for the first time.
“Yes. Until now, I endured and ate them even though I disliked them, because we shouldn’t be picky eaters.”
“I see…”
“But, I was thinking, when it’s just us, maybe it’s okay not to eat them?”
“…Hmm.”
The child rolled their eyes in contemplation at my question.
“We won’t be disappointed or think it’s strange if we don’t eat carrots.”
I carefully explained to the hesitating child.
That we wouldn’t be disappointed or think it strange if they didn’t eat carrots.
“You actually don’t like carrots either, right?”
“Umm… It’s not that I don’t like them. But I only want to eat a little.”
Then the child carefully put down the spoon they were using to eat the potage.
“What’s Blanche’s favorite food?”
“Meat! Shu Shu, I like meat the best in the whole world!”
The child’s voice was quite energetic this time. I was relieved that they seemed to understand that I wouldn’t be disappointed if they didn’t eat carrots.
‘They like meat the best?’
As it happened, there was a juicy, appetizing roasted turkey in front of me.
I cut the roasted turkey into manageable pieces and put them on a plate for the child.
“Let’s eat a lot of what you like. Tell me if it’s not enough, okay?”
“Okay!”
After hesitating for a moment, the child put the turkey in their mouth and smiled happily.
It was a markedly different expression from when they were forcing themselves to eat carrots.
Seeing the child’s happy face, my heavy heart felt much lighter.
[This is the timeline separator]The next day.
I was stacking wooden blocks with the child in the room.
“Mother, please give me one more wooden block. I want to stack it on top of this.”
“Here.”
As I was placing the wooden block in the child’s hand, I sensed someone on the balcony.
‘When did he arrive?’
When I turned my head, Jade, who had been sitting on the railing, came down.
‘Wait, why did he come through the balcony? He should come in properly.’
I hid my surprise and signaled to him with my eyes. To stay put for now and not come in.
“Blanche.”
“Yes?”
“The marquis is over there.”
As soon as I mentioned Jade, the child dropped the wooden block.
“Is it okay if I tell him to come in?”
Perhaps because I hadn’t informed them about Jade’s arrival, the child was very tense.
If I had told them in advance, they would have said they didn’t want to see him.
‘If they’re this scared, should I just send him away?’
The child looked towards the balcony.
Jade, who had made eye contact with the child, waved one hand in greeting.
The child watched quietly for a moment, then pressed their lips together and nodded.
‘I guess that means it’s okay for him to come in.’
Reassured by the child’s permission, I went to the balcony and opened the door. Jade was hiding something behind his back.
“Jade. Why did you come this way? What are you hiding back there?”
“I always came this way.”
Jade entered the room, brazenly replying. I secretly looked at what he was holding from behind.
It was an adorable rabbit doll.
‘I guess he brought it to give to Blanche.’
The rabbit doll’s eyes were made of bright red rubies.
They looked like top-quality rubies at a glance.
‘Who puts top-quality rubies in a doll for a child…’
I was speechless, but I decided to watch quietly for now.
Jade approached the child and abruptly held out the rabbit doll.
The child just stared at Jade without taking the rabbit doll.
‘He should say something, how can he just hold it out like that?’
Somehow, it seemed like the child would keep refusing to take it, and Jade looked like he would stay that way until they accepted it.
I deliberately clapped my hands loudly and stood between them.
“Oh my, this rabbit doll is so cute. Jade, is it a gift for Blanche?”
“…”
Jade gave no answer. I observed the child’s reaction.
“Blanche. It looks like the marquis brought it for you.”
“…”
Like Jade, the child remained silent.
I felt cold sweat forming in the awkward atmosphere.
Then, the child glanced at the rabbit doll, showing subtle curiosity.
“Now that I look at it, it resembles Blanche, doesn’t it?”
I nudged Jade’s waist, hinting at him.
“Don’t just stand there, say something.”
Jade hesitated for a moment before opening his mouth.
“…Blanche.”
“…”
“I’m sorry.”
I didn’t expect him to immediately apologize.
Jade wasn’t the type to admit his mistakes and apologize out loud. It was evident that he had made a lot of effort.
However, his apology was too brief.
‘I know he mustered a lot of courage, but it would be better if he kindly explained that he wasn’t sincere back then, why he acted that way, so the child could understand…’
The child was still young and might not fully grasp it.
Moreover, weren’t they afraid of him?
“…”
At that moment, the child chewed on their lips and then reached out their hand.
It meant they would accept the rabbit doll.
Jade awkwardly handed the rabbit doll to the child.
The child rubbed the ruby embedded in the rabbit doll.
‘I guess they like it.’
Of course, I know that all the hurt feelings won’t be resolved with just that doll and those few words.
Still, I was relieved that they didn’t completely reject it.
‘At least they haven’t come to hate Jade.’
I hoped that with efforts like this, things would get better someday.
“Looks like they like shiny things, just like you.”
Jade whispered softly as he watched the child examining the rabbit doll.
“…That’s ridiculous.”
It’s true that they like shiny things, but.
To say it’s because they take after me.
‘Well, it’s not wrong.’
For some reason, I found it hard to suppress a laugh that was about to escape.
Knock knock.
Mary, who had been knocking softly, entered the room.
“Young lady. Lady Ler has sent a letter.”
I opened and read the letter Mary handed to me.
I didn’t expect her to say she would come to the tea party, but the content expressed joy at being able to attend.
It said she was looking forward to meeting at the tea party.
‘She’s quite thoughtful. I should send a reply.’
Jade took the letter from my hand.
“Why the Ler baronial family?”
“It’s Diane’s sorority gathering. There are children around Blanche’s age there, so I thought I’d take them along.”
Jade’s brow gradually furrowed as he looked puzzled.
‘Why is he acting like that?’
The child looked at him uneasily, seeming to sense something.
“Blanche. How about asking Mary to make clothes for the rabbit doll?”
I suggested, intending to ask separately when the child wasn’t around.
“Young Blanche, shall we go make it together?”
Mary also understood my intention and gestured towards Blanche.
Fortunately, the child took Mary’s hand and left the room.
“Jade. What’s wrong?”
“…Do you know that Sharlin Winst is included in this sorority?”
I belatedly realized why his face had crumpled.
‘I didn’t know Sharlin Winst was in the same sorority as Diane.’
I should have looked into it properly before agreeing to attend.
“You might not have known since you lost your memories, but don’t go.”
Jade disliked me going to this tea party.
It was troublesome.
I had already sent a reply saying I would attend, and they would be expecting me to come.
‘I can’t say I’m not going at this point…’
The child rarely had opportunities to meet and play with peers. Above all, it pained my heart every time I saw the child unable to speak to anyone except me.
They would keep growing, and it was hard to just watch them remain in that state.
I hoped they would recover soon with the treatment method suggested by Viscountess Asitan.
“Jade. Where is Sharlin Winst staying now?”
“…I thought she had returned to her territory, but apparently she went to the Winst count’s wife’s maiden home.”
I recalled Sharlin’s pregnant belly at Jade’s words.
‘I guess she went to give birth at the Winst count’s wife’s maiden home.’
Sharlin’s belly was full-term, just before giving birth. In the first place, she had been staying in Rowe’s territory to hide.
She wouldn’t have the leisure to attend a sorority gathering tea party.
“She’s full-term now and having difficulty moving, so she might not attend this tea party.”
Jade took a deep breath and pressed his forehead.
“So, you’re going? Even though it’s not certain?”
“Even if she comes, I have no reason to avoid her. It’s not like I did anything wrong.”
Jade still looked displeased.
“It’s for Blanche’s sake. Since I’m not sure when my memories will return, we need to help the child speak as soon as possible.”
“…Alright. But let me know if anything happens at the tea party.”
When I mentioned the child, Jade didn’t object further.
“I’ll be going now.”
Jade stroked my hair before jumping off the balcony.
‘Why did he suddenly touch my hair…’
A breeze came through the slightly open door. Along with the wind, a citrus scent wafted in, and for some reason, my cheeks felt hot.
My Arch-enemy Sealed My Memory and Said That He is My Husband
This is an incredibly captivating story that you absolutely shouldn’t miss! I’ll give a brief introduction here, and below you’ll find a detailed synopsis of the plot.
The female lead is a fierce and powerful demon king. The male lead is a once-in-a-millennium celestial lord, admired by the entire cultivation world.
They are equally matched, legendary rivals who have battled for centuries.
In the final duel, the female lead is gravely injured. The male lead saves her, seals her memories, and hides her true identity. He tells her that he is her fiancé. His entire life has been flawless—except for the one thing he never expected, never controlled, and never wanted to control: falling for his greatest enemy. She is his inner demon, his obsession.
When the female lead regains her memories, she is furious at his deception.
She makes his life a living hell.
And somehow, the male lead—possibly a total masochist—doesn’t mind at all. In fact, he’s happy she’s paying attention to him.
Yep, we’re back to my favorite trope: male lead suffering. If you love this kind of story, jump into the pit with me now!!!
Intro
Dong Xia lost her memory.
Her handsome and extremely powerful fiancé Li Qing comforted her: “It’s okay if you can’t remember. I’ll always be with you.”
Everyone thought Dong Xia’s ancestors must have burned incense to get such a perfect fiancé. He was the number one person in the immortal realm, yet he remained chaste and only loved her.
…
The day before marrying her fiancé, Dong Xia finally remembered everything.
She wasn’t suffering from memory loss at all.
Her arch-enemy had made her fake her death, destroyed her cultivation, replaced her memories, and pretended to be her deeply in love fiancé.
No wonder he said, “It’s okay if you can’t remember”!
Dong Xia laughed coldly as she pulled out her long knife: Li Qing, prepare to die 🙂
*
Li Qing, as the supreme being of the immortal realm, was the people’s shining beacon.
The only unknown stain in his life was his affection for Dong Xia, the ruler of the demon realm.
In the final battle of the war between immortals and demons, the sky collapsed and the earth shattered. The ruler of the demon realm was finally slain under the sword of the supreme being of the immortal realm, and everyone in the immortal realm applauded.
The cultivation world lost a ruler of the demon realm.
And in the back mountain of Li Qing’s cave dwelling, he secretly hid away a fiancée.
Notes:
1. The female lead is white on the outside, black on the inside, and the queen of flattery; the male lead repeatedly tests the edge of darkness, a VIP guest at the crematorium.
2. Fantasy cultivation world setting.
[Touch the gear icon in the bottom right corner of the screen to move to the next chapter if you want.]
