‘Last time, there was a big fuss when I collapsed in front of everyone.’
Since I knew that my family was really worried about me, I tried to endure the compensation as much as possible when I was alone in my room.
However, I didn’t know when the compensation would come.
So sometimes, I would collapse, stagger, or suddenly have a fever in front of my family.
Because of that, the aspects that were already disadvantageous became even stronger. Now, Dad and my brothers seemed to think that I could be a fragile doll.
‘That’s all because of the compensation, not because I’m weak!’
Moreover, even if I called it compensation, it wasn’t something particularly impressive. Unlike the intimidating threats from the silver snake, it was quite bearable.
Of course, I couldn’t honestly spill all the details.
Instead, today’s decision to start a hunger strike had this meaning.
I won’t starve for a few days.
‘I am very sturdy!’
I’ll prove that through this hunger strike.
An emergency family meeting was held. The meeting room was filled with heavy silence.
Filen, who took on the role of secretary for this occasion, rolled only her eyes.
‘Where is this… Who am I…’
Despite being called an emergency meeting, Filen seemed to have forgotten about it, and hurriedly brought the meeting record.
As she entered, she realized that there were only two family members present, the lord, Master Clemens, and the twin young masters.
“Uh, um, Miss…”
“This meeting is a secret to Diane.”
“Absolutely, do not disclose it.”
“Yes.”
The Duke and Clemens emphasized to Filen sternly. Filen thought it was probably because of the rumors about the young lady circulating!
“The content of the meeting is about ending Diane’s hunger strike.”
“Miss is on a hunger strike?!”
Although the expected scenario was artfully avoided, it was still a serious issue.
Moreover, holding an emergency meeting like this undoubtedly meant that some days had already passed since the young lady started her hunger strike.
‘I didn’t know that!’
Filen recorded it diligently in the meeting record and continued speaking.
“What on earth is happening?! Miss is on a hunger strike! You’re at the age of growing up! When did you start fasting?!”
“Since this morning.”
“How can that…! Huh? What?”
“Diane started fasting from this morning.”
“…Ah.”
It wasn’t even lunchtime yet. It had been less than an hour since the young lady started fasting.
At that level, it was natural for her not to know.
‘An emergency meeting like this…?’
Although it was bewildering, it wasn’t that shocking, as I had vividly witnessed their absurd aspects up close for the past five years.
To faithfully fulfill her role, Filen decided to focus on writing. The meeting started soon.
“The reason Diane is fasting is to protest and demand to be sent to the capital. However, we cannot take her to the capital right away. So, come up with your own ideas to stop the hunger strike.”
“There’s the mansion in the capital. How about building a new mansion in Hesera, exactly like the one in the capital? That way, she can’t go to the capital, but at least she can go there and stay.”
Clemens casually suggested a project with a budget that would be terrifying. Filen, who was recording, froze for a moment.
Of course, with the Duke’s wealth, it wouldn’t be a significant blow, but building another mansion in Hesera just for that reason…
“Not a bad idea. Any other opinions?”
The Duke signaled Filen to jot down the ideas. With tearful eyes, Filen forcibly squeezed in another schedule into her crowded mind.
“Recreating all the shops in the capital here? Wouldn’t that give the feeling of being in the capital?”
Davian also opposed Clemens’ opinion and presented an enormous suggestion.
Filen’s jaw dropped.
It was none other than the capital of the Bias Empire, the largest empire known on the continent. Although not as large as Hesera, the capital was still a sizable city within the empire.
‘Recreate all the shops in the capital…?’
This time, she would probably flatly refuse, deeming it absurd. With faint hope, Filen earnestly looked at the Duke.
“It makes sense. If we decorate it exactly like the capital, Diane will probably prefer being in Hesera rather than the capital.”
As if instructing her to record it just like before, the Duke’s hands moved swiftly.
Upon second thought, it wasn’t the astronomical budget that made her feel like crying. I emphasize again; compared to the Duke’s wealth, it wasn’t a significant amount.
What pained Filen’s heart was a more profound and different issue.
‘I have to plan all of that…’
Filen felt the future darkening before her eyes.
“Father, rather than that, it might be good to consider why Diane wants to go to the capital first.”
All eyes turned to Micael. To Filen, it felt like the last ray of hope.
“Diane hasn’t been to the capital. It’s not just because she prefers the mansions and shops in the capital over Hesera. She wants to go to the capital for some other reason.”
Micael meticulously explained, pointing out the flaws in the previous opinions. Filen silently cheered inside, and the others remained silent.
A quiet silence filled the meeting room.
Everyone resonated with Micael’s words.
The reason no one else had pointed out that simple and obvious fact, besides Micael, was that Diane was starving right now.
If they didn’t address this issue immediately, the girl could go hungry for several more hours. Everyone felt an urgent need to solve the problem at hand.
The only one among them who seemed capable of making a rational judgment was Micael, and the Duke, who had previously judged that, asked again.
“So, what do you think? Why do you think Diane wants to go to the capital?”
Male lead is a Divorced Husband
She said to him: “Tell me, what makes you like me? I’ll change it!”
Liu Changning transmigrated into a female cannon fodder character in a female-dominant novel.
After reading the first half of the novel’s plot, the first thing she did upon transmigration was to divorce the Pan Jinlian-style male protagonist she had just married.
She indulged herself, pretending to be ugly and poor.
But as time passed, the way that man looked at her became more and more unusual…
Liu Changning was dumbfounded: Tell me, what makes you like me? I’ll change!
――
This lifetime, Pei Yuanshao was rejected by the same woman twice!
The first time, she drove him away. Forced by the situation, he endured the waves of anger in his heart, yielding and humbling himself.
That person lay slanted on a rocking chair, her sallow face emotionless: “If you don’t want a divorce, go cook!”
Pei Yuanshao’s face was dark and gloomy: “You!”
The second time, after the crisis in Jinling City was resolved, the new emperor sent someone to pick him up. He turned around, stammering: “I… I have to go. If you keep me…”
That person lay on the kang bed, her back to him, as if she had long anticipated this day, crisp and clear: “Goodbye!”
Pei Yuanshao was so angry his fingers trembled: “You… you!”
The mission of family and country made him restrain himself, averting his eyes and turning to leave this broken household.
Two years later, they met again. Seeing her ethereal face, his body shook like a sieve.
“She was originally a ‘she’!”
At the Qionglin Banquet, the top scholar of the imperial examination, a talented person with exceptional speech and conduct, all the unmarried young gentlemen from aristocratic families looked at her with shy and timid eyes.
The peerless imperial official Pei Yuanshao felt the anger in his heart erupt. He pointed at the woman surrounded by the crowd at the Qionglin Banquet, his thin lips slightly curled: “Little sister, I wants that person to be the wife-master of my Mingde Prince Manor.”
[Touch the gear icon in the bottom right corner of the screen to move to the next chapter if you want.]
