I still hated the Duke. I hated him for changing my escort at will and venting his anger on Yan, even though I was fine with it.
‘…But the name is so pretty.’
It sounded like the name of a child who had been loved and raised by a family all her life.
‘My original name was the name of a stupid bird.’
Lil, that was my original name. It had the same pronunciation as the bird known as the stupidest bird in the East.
Since the name was like that, it was natural to be teased by the alley kids every day.
‘Why is your name a bird name?’
‘Isn’t it because her head is like a bird’s?’
Making fun of a name is childish and petty. Also, just because the name is a stupid bird’s name doesn’t mean I’m really stupid.
I knew, but all that came back when I tried to refute with this small body was violence, contempt, and ridicule.
Still, I don’t think I hated my name that much until then.
I began to hate my own name when I accidentally heard the origin of the name from Rebecca when she was drunk.
‘When I picked you up, a bird was crying loudly outside. It was really earpiercing.’
That bird probably wasn’t Lil.
The habitat of Lil, known for its large size and not being smart, was in the East, and this was far away in the North.
Rebecca probably named it that way because Lil was the bestknown bird she knew.
Knowing that my name was the meaningless name of a stupid bird was sadder than I thought.
“Why aren’t you saying anything?”
This villainous Duke, who vented his anger on Yan at will.
Named me arbitrarily and notified me arbitrarily.
…But well, the name’s not bad.
“It’s nothing.”
I replied shortly, but I couldn’t take my eyes off the part where my name was written.
Then, I felt my lips twitching, so I strained them with effort.
“But where have you been wandering around lately?”
Just as I was starting to feel good, the Duke suddenly asked a strange question.
I felt like I had become a child who couldn’t be still for a moment. I was very aggrieved.
Because the escort changed to a stranger, it was noticeable when I was wandering around on my own.
The new escort, unlike Yan, showed clear signs of annoyance whenever I tried to be outside a little more.
“I haven’t been wandering around much.”
“No way.”
“It’s true!”
“Or are you saying you never left your room?”
That was not true at all either. I shook my head. The Duke slightly furrowed his brow.
“Then why aren’t you so noticeable?”
Now it was my turn to frown. I couldn’t understand the point of the question.
Once again, an awkward silence flowed. The Duke opened his mouth again.
“Are you intentionally avoiding me?”
…I can’t deny that.
“It seems I’m right.”
The Duke glared at me sharply. As I subtly avoided his gaze, he let out a faint sigh.
“About that escort at the time.”
“…”
“Yan was in the wrong. He admitted it himself. He should have stopped the Count from laying a hand on you beforehand.”
I don’t understand why he’s bringing this up now. We’ve already replaced the escort.
“The Count was unarmed at the time, but it would have been a dangerous situation if he had a weapon in hand.”
His words seemed to keep missing the point. It felt like he had something to say but was beating around the bush.
“So, Your Grace, what do you want to say?”
Unable to bear it, I asked.
The Duke did not answer immediately. The Duke bent his upper body and rested his elbow on his knee.
His gaze, wandering awkwardly around, seemed somehow deep in thought.
His voice, always sharp, came in an uncertain tone.
“…I’ll change.”
I didn’t understand a word.
“I didn’t hear you.”
“…I will change your escort again.”
I was momentarily stunned by the unexpected words, then involuntarily broke into a broad smile.
“Really?!”
“There’s a condition, though.”
Well, of course. He wouldn’t grant my request for nothing.
I waited for his words, pursing my lips, and the Duke spoke seriously.
[This is a time separator.]Having said what he wanted to say, Kailius returned to his office contentedly.
He recalled the conversation he had with the child a little while ago.
He had been puzzled for a few days as to why it was so difficult to see that child’s face, but he never expected that the child was really avoiding him.
That point made him feel spiteful, so he offered to change the escort, which wasn’t planned, in exchange for one condition.
‘Well, it wasn’t a bad deal.’
Although the child made an unhappy face at the condition, the deal was made.
The child had no choice but to accept the deal. The child had always disliked changing his escort.
Although it was an impulsive act, the result was quite satisfying.
After some time had passed, someone knocked on the door.
“Come in.”
Yan opened the door and entered, bowing his head.
“I heard you had something to say.”
I had made a promise with the child, and I had made a deal based on that, so I had to say it. But now that I saw his face, I didn’t feel like saying it.
I even suddenly thought about dismissing it as if it never happened.
‘Should have sent someone else.’
When I asked to bring the child on the first day, Yan was the first to volunteer.
Yan, who has three younger siblings, I believed he could calm the child better and bring him.
But I didn’t know that the child would like this guy so much.
Thinking that far, Kailius’s expression hardened even more.
Again, I had made a promise, so I would say it.
Trust is life in a deal.
…I would say it, but my mouth just wouldn’t open.
As the silence lengthened, an icy chill seemed to settle around the room.
Yan waited for the Duke’s words, tense and rigid.
“I didn’t know, Diane liked you that much.”
“That’s not true. The young lady,”
“She liked you.”
The sharp voice cut off the words. Yan wisely shut his mouth.
The Male lead Always Seduces Her with His Beauty (Matriarchy)
Xin Jiao Zhou is the leader of the world’s premier sect. She has just experienced betrayal from all sides, was poisoned in an assassination attempt, and faced death squad attacks while the poison was taking effect. After finally clearing out the scum from her sect, she was drugged again while trying to detoxify.
After waking up from a night of unconsciousness, she gained a “beautiful and kind-hearted” husband.
Xin Jiao Zhou: “???”
He fell ill.
She came to see him, bringing breakfast.
As she put down the breakfast and was about to leave, his hand slipped while holding the spoon. “Clank!”
She turned around upon hearing the noise.
He looked up at her, his eyebrows drooping: “My hand… has no strength.”
“Shall I… feed you?” she asked tentatively.
He opened his mouth cheerfully: “Ah—”
Thinking she was drowning, he jumped in without hesitation to save her, but nearly drowned himself. In the end, it was she who swam over to rescue him, giving him air underwater.
After emerging from the water, his ear tips turned red. He lightly brushed his cheek, tucking his sideburns behind his ear, revealing delicate, pink-tinged ear tips. He lowered his gaze, too embarrassed to look at her.
Xin Jiao Zhou: He’s truly beautiful, kind-hearted, and adorable.
A certain someone when disciplining subordinates behind the scenes: “If they don’t obey, just kill them.”
What’s that? She might already have someone she cares about in her heart? A certain someone: Find out who it is, kill them, and then there won’t be anyone.
What? She met a man by the riverside? What? That man even hurt her? A certain someone: Whichever hand hurt her, chop off his entire arm.
Love at first sight without realizing it, gradually falling in love, slowly getting closer…
Family and national grudges, schemes and desires, good and evil, crime and punishment, she and he face the future together, seeking justice with passion!
A naturally dark female lead who could accidentally destroy the world but is actually an honest person VS a weak, pitiful, and helpless but skilled fighter, beautiful white-cut black male lead
My heart is not of stone, how steadfast is your love? — Tao Yuanming “Imitating the Ancients (No. 3)”
— Reading Guide —
Cold female lead & dramatic black lotus with hidden yandere traits male lead
