Rather Than Be Taken, I Will Take (12 Chapters Left to Complete) - Chapter 13
The tightly pressed mask cracks.
To Kedilen, a gentleman who had walked only the path of honor and never endured such humiliating words anywhere, Aden was no different from a germ.
A disease that exposed his hidden shame and dragged out what he wished to conceal.
His grip tightened on the golf club.
He felt an impulse to swing it right now and split that man’s skull open. But even in this situation, reason held him back.
“…I’m sorry, Your Grace, but you’ve directed similarly harsh words at me before. I don’t intend to reproach Your Grace’s conduct as improper, but I do ask that you at least maintain basic decorum within my residence.”
He wished that brutish beast would understand his words.
Kedilen swallowed his anger and spoke carefully, yet Aden—the one who should have grasped his intent—responded with cold sarcasm.
“How consistent the Marquis is. You swallowed your wife’s insult before, yet reacted to mine. I don’t know what sort of grand honor makes you erupt over a single word, but from where I stand, a man who spouts nothing but hollow boasts doesn’t seem particularly impressive.”
“Your words go too far.”
“They’re meant to sound excessive, Marquis.”
At that indifferent tone, Ludmila barely suppressed a laugh that nearly burst out.
She’d heard those exact words before—they were the ones Celia had once said to her.
She never imagined Kedilen would hear them thrown back at him—especially from Aden’s mouth.
While being held, Ludmila’s mind, shaken by confusion, gradually cleared.
Though she rarely made her own decisions, Ludmila wasn’t foolish. Since returning to the past, she’d been granted three chances for help.
Moreover, Aden’s first aid—so clearly deliberate—had given her a certain conviction.
“Ask any passing servant how many would actually believe what you say. Ah, but of course they’d deny it—they’re your own employees. Still, if word of today’s incident leaks outside, Marquis…”
Aden let his sentence trail off, flashing a vile, sinister smile like a villain’s and giving a slight nod of his chin.
“Could you handle the consequences then?”
“…”
“Nyan may be barbaric, but he’s not heartless. He’s reasonable enough to accept a compromise if you show him some sense. What do you think?”
The base exchange, which dragged Kedilen’s cherished dignity and honor through the mud, was nearing its conclusion.
Somehow, a negotiation table had already been set. Aden had laid out the cards he could offer.
Kedilen now only needed to decide: accept this hand or propose a new one.
‘Damn it.’
Of course, there was always the option to overturn the table entirely.
He knew the old nobles—who held the majority of parliamentary seats—disliked him, but he had the staunch backing of the new nobility.
Even beyond that, there was nowhere he was more despised than in Havertz.
He could likely contain even the most extreme scenario.
For instance, smashing that brute’s head with this solid club.
But would his position—and the status he’d barely secured—survive intact afterward?
That was doubtful—questions hung in the air.
The masters of the Send Highlands, House Havertz, had been called Bart, the great black wolf, for generations.
The Empire had spent centuries trying to tame those savage beings.
Their ferocity surpassed even that of tigers, and their fierce claws and fangs could tear out the throat of a brown bear.
‘…What am I even thinking?’
Meeting Aden’s glaring golden eyes, Kedilen hastily shook his head.
Tame that beast? His judgment, clouded by surging anxiety, had briefly lost all reason.
Fortunately regaining his senses, Kedilen swallowed and exhaled carefully.
“What do you want?”
He couldn’t understand how things had come to this.
When he regained his composure, that despicable yet polished man—who’d dragged him down—had already led him to the negotiation table.
Kedilen, biting his lip, stared silently at Aden, who gave a thin, dry smirk.
“Compensate me for the clothes your wife ruined.”
“…Is that all?”
Surprised by the unexpectedly simple demand, Kedilen frowned in confusion.
What scheme was that enigmatic man plotting now? As if reading Kedilen’s thoughts, Aden added:
“By principle, I should’ve received compensation from your wife—or more precisely, from your dearly cherished sister-in-law. But I came today to collect it, and given how things stand, it seems unlikely I’ll get it.”
Surprisingly, matters appeared to be resolving smoothly.
Though still wary, Kedilen suddenly recalled reviewing the recent budget proposals.
He’d also read reports that Havertz’s domain was sinking deeper into debt with each passing year.
‘So he’s not a wolf at all—but a cunning fox.’
To pass the budget bill, he needed the signature of the Minister of Commerce—Kedilen himself.
It wasn’t just one life at stake, but the entire clan’s.
That’s why this man had crawled all the way from the Send Highlands and stayed here for months. He surely didn’t want to leave empty-handed.
In truth, it wasn’t Kedilen who’d been placed on the negotiation table—it was Aden all along.
Had he taken such an aggressive stance just to engineer this situation?
It was an unbelievable negotiation tactic for a brute like him—but it didn’t matter.
Kedilen only needed to defuse this situation and retrieve Ludmila. He planned to re-educate her once they returned.
He couldn’t possibly overlook her deception of his family and the danger she’d brought upon him.
Of course, he also intended to vent his own humiliation and resentment.
Quickly catching on, Kedilen pulled at the corner of his mouth, signaling his acceptance of the offer.
“Fine.”
Securing an explicit promise would be icing on the cake. The negotiation was over.
Both sides had accepted each other’s terms—it was time to get Ludmila back. Kedilen extended his arm toward his wife once more, smiling gently.
“I have a designer I frequently use—allow me to commission them.”
“Not a bad decision. However…”
Kedilen’s hand, reaching to reclaim what was his, halted midway.
Aden’s arm, still supporting Ludmila, pulled her body closer to himself, widening the distance between them.
Wasn’t the negotiation already concluded? Frowning at Aden’s added stipulation, Kedilen asked:
“Your Grace?”
“No matter how important compensation is, shouldn’t your wife’s health come first?”
“Of course. I fully intended to take appropriate measures.”
What nonsense was he spouting now? At this point, irritation had given way to creeping unease.
Noticing Kedilen’s reaction, Aden let out a faint chuckle.
“You didn’t understand me. I’m saying we must take your wife to the hospital immediately.”
“What? Suddenly, that’s…”
“You can’t seriously intend to leave your frail wife—felled by fever and shock—unattended in your mansion until a physician arrives? Taking her to a proper hospital for examination, diagnosis, and treatment would speed her recovery.”
“…”
Statements wrapped in reason and propriety were always difficult to counter.
Watching Kedilen’s lips move soundlessly, Aden took a step back.
“Set aside the clothing compensation for now. Take your wife to the hospital first. We’ll discuss the rest afterward.”
“But this is…”
“Or…”
Aden cut himself short, flashing an eerie smile and a chilling glint in his eyes.
“Do you want me to take her instead?”
“…”
That was the one outcome he dreaded most. Kedilen glanced quickly at Ludmila, bit his lip, and nodded.
No choice. He’d have to settle for this. Prolonging the conversation would only bring more headaches.
Rumors always rose like smoke from a chimney. Kedilen signaled his butler to make preparations and then helped Ludmila up.
Though he could have carried her, the man—prioritizing his own dignity—allowed his wife’s feet to touch the ground. His pettiness was laughable, but Aden had no choice but to accept this much.
Aden, stepping out of the mansion first, watched as Ludmila climbed into the carriage.
Once the door closed, he turned around; his movement felt so final, so cold—it was as if his role had ended.
The carriage, moving in the opposite direction from Aden, quickly widened the distance between them.
From inside, Ludmila watched the streets blur past until Aden’s back disappeared from view. She bit her lip and tightly closed her eyes.
[This is the timeline separator]“You call that saying anything…?!”
“Sister, sister!”
Kedilen quickly clamped a hand over Celia’s mouth as she burst out.
They’d been speaking in the lounge adjacent to the hospital room. Kedilen glanced sideways.
It wouldn’t have mattered if Ludmila overheard, but after what just happened, things were awkward.
Fortunately, she’d taken medicine and fallen asleep—she wouldn’t hear them—but caution never hurt.
Upon hearing what had transpired, Celia reacted as if she herself had suffered the humiliation, her emotions flaring violently.
She looked ready to storm into the room and slap Ludmila across the face to feel satisfied.
“Please calm down, sister. Fortunately, the situation was resolved well.”
“Are you in your right mind? Calling this ‘resolved well’? Because of that foolish woman, both you and I—and by extension, the Erdi family’s honor—have been dragged through the mud, and you say ‘fortunately’?”
“Calm down. There was nothing else I could do.”
“So you’re just going to excuse her negligence?!”
“Of course not. Even without your words, I intend to properly educate her this time.”
Celia swept her hair back in frustration—her younger brother’s attempt to persuade her did nothing to quell her anger.
It felt as if the humiliation she’d endured at the café that day was being relived.
Sensing his sister’s mood, Kedilen smiled gently with an expression of pure kindness.
“Don’t worry too much. Everything will turn out fine.”
“Kedilen. You’re too gentle and kind—you don’t seem to understand. People will keep climbing over you if you’re too nice. Especially lowly ones like her. When you see the sprout, you must cut out the root entirely. Do you understand?”
“No need to worry. I’ve already taken all necessary measures.”
Kedilen’s eyes, fixed on the closed door, held a clear purpose as they glinted coldly in the dim lamplight.
“As soon as the examination ends, I’ll take Ludmila to the Marquisate of Erdi.
I’ll accompany her under the pretense of a vacation for her convalescence—no one will suspect a thing.
“My intention is to thoroughly re-educate her there. By the time we return, she won’t dare show her fangs again. Until the day I no longer need her, she’ll live obediently like a doll—exactly as I command. So please, don’t worry, sister. Next time you see her, she’ll be as docile as a well-trained dog.”
Seeing his sister’s satisfied expression, Kedilen also softened his lips into a gentle smile.
The two of them savored this moment of harmony—shared only between them.
Unbeknownst to either, Ludmila on the other side of the door had heard every word.
Male lead is a clingy little husband
One-line summary: The male lead is initially an arrogant, noble, love-deprived brat, later a cute, clingy, scheming little jealous one.
Introduction:
One day, Lu Yuner’s soul transmigrates into a female-dominant world. She enters the Imperial Academy and takes up the position of a doctoral instructor, teaching classes and grading schoolwork.
One day, she encounters the young prince Su Qingwan secretly skipping class from the male academy.
As a result, Su Qingwan is punished.
From then on, Su Qingwan sees Lu Yuner as a “thorn in his side”.
But before long, this “thorn” becomes the person he cherishes most, and he goes to great lengths to win Lu Yuner’s affection.
Mini scene 1:
One day, the sun is high in the sky but Su Qingwan still hasn’t gotten up for class.
Servant Xiaoyuan: “Young prince, it’s time for class. You’ll be late otherwise.”
Su Qingwan says arrogantly: “I’m not going. I am the esteemed prince, my status is so noble, why should I suffer this hardship? Besides, isn’t learning all this just to please women? Hmph, they’re not worthy!”
Mini scene 2:
After Su Qingwan falls for someone, he completely changes. He no longer skips class and diligently learns how to be a good husband and father. But he discovers that Sister Yuner is always surrounded by admirers.
Drunk and overcome with jealousy one day, he clings to Lu Yuner, crying beautifully like a pear blossom in the rain.
Su Qingwan: “Qingwan likes Sister Yuner.”
Lu Yuner: “Young prince, you’re drunk.”
Su Qingwan: “Qingwan isn’t drunk. Qingwan likes Sister Yuner, likes you so much, likes you to bits…” Before he can finish, Lu Yuner’s eyes flash with emotion and she leans in closer.
[Reading Guide]
1. The female lead is gentle, gracious, humble and polite but not weak. The male lead is initially an arrogant, noble, love-deprived brat, later a cute, clingy, scheming little jealous one.
2. 1v1, a bit torturous in the beginning but definitely sweet later on.
_____
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