A few days later, Adela Gilroyte was summoned by Duke Valois.
It seemed too respectful to call it a ‘summons’, but there was no other way to describe it.
Anyway, if this were considered a workplace, he was essentially her superior.
She had been laying low recently after hearing rumors that someone was investigating her background, but it was difficult to ignore Duke Valois’s call.
It would be a lie to say she had no complaints, but she was quite satisfied with the life the Duke had created for her, so she replied without hesitation that she would come.
It was a bit strange that he called her to a place other than the Duke’s residence, unlike usual, but she thought there wouldn’t be any problems.
So the place she arrived at was a small cafe in the corner of the merchant district.
It was a somewhat secluded place she hadn’t seen even when she was going around to acquire the merchant guild.
It looked similar to a secret place she already knew.
Adela was suspicious about why the Duke wanted to meet in such a place, but decided to go inside for now.
It was dark inside, and she thought she heard a squelching sound.
Just as she was about to step back due to an uneasy feeling.
“Are you coming in? Or are you leaving?”
A person suddenly appeared at the counter, as if out of nowhere.
Startled by their sudden appearance without any warning, Adela let out a silent scream and took a step back.
“W-what is this?”
“I’m the owner here. If you’re coming in, hurry up and close the door. If not, leave quickly. You’re in the way.”
For an owner who should want more customers to make money, why was he so brusque?
Not only was she displeased by his sudden ghost-like appearance, but his unfriendly and grumbling attitude didn’t sit well with her either.
Why on earth did he ask to meet in a place like this?
Thinking she should ask the Duke about it later, Adela quickly stepped inside.
It was the room on the left at the end of the corridor, right?
As she walked down the not-so-short corridor, Adela heard suspicious sounds from here and there.
Could there be more secret places in the merchant district that she didn’t know about?
It was already lucky that she had found that room cafe before, but it was surprising that there was another place like this.
Should she have someone infiltrate and observe this place too?
Somehow it felt much more secretive and mysterious than the previous room cafe.
What kind of people would frequent a place like this?
Though it’s a bit gloomy, the interior decor seems quite luxurious, so perhaps fairly high-ranking nobles visit?
If she could use such scandals as leverage, that would be perfect.
Then she might be able to live on her own without Duke Valois’s help.
Lost in these thoughts, she walked down the corridor and finally reached the end.
The room on the left at the end of the corridor. The blue door with intricate engravings was impressive.
What on earth did he want to say that he called her all the way here?
Could it be that this time he wants her to monitor this place?
Did he call her to inspect the location personally?
With a slightly nervous feeling, Adela opened the door to the appointed place.
And behind that door was…….
[This is the timeline separator]“It’s quite difficult to see your face, Lady Gilroyte.”
“…We weren’t on terms to see each other often.”
“I’m not one to keep a low profile in social circles. Despite appearances, I tend to show my face quite often due to my position.”
Adela’s face was now completely drained of color.
That was because the person sitting in front of her was not Duke Valois, but someone she really didn’t want to meet right now.
Or perhaps someone she never wanted to meet in her lifetime.
Leoprick Reinhart.
He was sitting arrogantly, accompanied by his aide Arnold.
“If you have something to say, please do so, Your Highness.”
To meet her like this after she had been running away for days.
If Zero hadn’t told him that there might be a connection between her and Duke Valois, it would have taken a few more days to face her like this.
Leoprick smirked as he looked at Adela, whose face showed she wanted to leave immediately.
“I clearly remember that you used to long for my side to the point of making my wife uncomfortable.”
“…Did Her Highness say that?”
“Of course not. My wife is a person of few words.”
Did you think I wouldn’t know what happens in my palace? Did I look that incompetent to you?
He said with a smug smile.
Well, in this life, Amelia seems to have handled things wisely, but in her previous life, Adela had really tormented her using Lloyd as an excuse.
On the surface, she acted very intelligent, confident, and carefree, but in reality, she was full of sly and malicious schemes.
As if all sorts of things weren’t already making her life difficult, this insignificant thing had to latch on and…
He knew how much Amelia had struggled back then, even though she pretended not to care.
Because of that perfectionist tendency that made her try to finish her tasks to the end, even while being troubled by Lloyd.
And because of those who wouldn’t leave her alone for a moment.
Amelia had to struggle alone without anyone to help her.
Even he, at that time, wasn’t in a position to help her.
All he could do was gradually suppress the malicious rumors floating around in social circles.
He couldn’t hold Amelia’s hand then, but now he was holding it tightly.
So Amelia would probably forgive this level of interference.
Moreover, this would also serve as a way to settle the rebellion.
So Leoprick looked at Adela, who was showing her displeasure, and his eyes gleamed coldly.
“So, there’s something I want to ask you.”
“Please speak.”
That appearance of trying to look confident even in this situation was pathetic.
He opened his mouth in a thoroughly cynical tone.
“The reason why you decided to participate in the rebellion.”
The moment those words were uttered.
Leoprick felt the temperature in the room drop sharply.
And the color draining from Adela Gilroyte’s face.
And that, was unbearably delightful.
“Don’t tell me, you still had the delusion that you could occupy the position beside me?”
The words uttered in a tone suggesting it was utterly ridiculous seemed to mercilessly cut through the space.
Arnold gave him a look as if to say ‘take it easy’, and Adela Gilroyte froze on the spot.
Ah, yes. This is it.
He should have said this earlier.
He should have trampled that greedy and arrogant face flat earlier.
Leoprick felt an irresistible euphoria at the words he was finally able to say after crossing lifetimes, and twisted the corners of his mouth.
“I’m sorry, Lady. But as of today, that delusion ends.”
Your reputation, and your life. Because they will be shattered as of today.
At the curse whispered out, Adela rose from her seat.
As if she could no longer endure, her face was now flushed red.
Whether it was because of the insult she had never received before in her life, or from the despair that everything was over.
“I’ll be leaving now. It seems there’s no reason for me to stay here any longer.”
“I’m not finished speaking yet.”
“Did you have more to say?”
When he said he wasn’t done talking, Adela retorted sharply.
Her attitude suggested she would storm out of the room at any moment, even if he said he had more to say.
It seemed like an excessively disrespectful attitude towards the crown prince of a country, but.
He decided to slightly assuage his future regrets with today’s pleasure.
“Aren’t you curious about how I’m going to bring you down?”
“I don’t know about anything else, but I can see that Your Highness has used petty tricks befitting women.”
“Whether that’s petty or not remains to be seen.”
As Leoprick grinned as if truly enjoying himself, Adela glared at him before turning her head abruptly and trying to leave the room.
He made sure to throw one last remark at her back.
“So be careful. You might end up being abandoned by your father too.”
At the word ‘father’, Adela’s body flinched greatly, but she immediately turned her back and left the room.
She left behind a snort of confidence that her father would never abandon her.
Is she confident that her father won’t abandon a talent like her who has even received training as the next head of the family, or.
“Did you deliver it to Marquis Gilroyte?”
“Yes, Your Highness. As you instructed, I sent a list of everything the young lady has done so far.”
“What did he say?”
“He didn’t say anything specifically, but his expression wasn’t good.”
Either way, it was Adela Gilroyte’s arrogance.
Marquis Gilroyte was a person who valued the family above all else.
It’s not like he only has one child to inherit the family, and after a few years of hardship, that son could become a much more excellent heir than Adela. There’s no reason to forgive someone who has brought harm to the family.
“I imagine the young lady’s expression will be worth seeing when she returns to the mansion.”
“Worth seeing? Adela Gilroyte is ruined anyway.”
Arnold looked at the door through which Adela had left with an expressionless comment.
True words indeed, she would have no occasion to show her face in social circles from now on.
From today, Adela Gilroyte would be branded as an unparalleled liar in the world.
“We’ll be hearing from Marquis Gilroyte soon.”
“We will. He’s a man who considers the family’s welfare most important.”
Leoprick smiled happily as he looked at the closed door.
As if just thinking about what would happen from now on was enjoyable.
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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