To calm her nerves, Olivia habitually clasped her hands together. Watching her trembling hands, Edwin mumbled with an ambiguous expression.
“If you don’t eat it properly now, you might never get the chance.”
“What?”
Olivia asked, and it was precisely when Edwin grinned without a clear answer.
“Your Highness, I greet you.”
A bold voice approached. A knight with chestnut-colored hair, seen for the first time, looked at Olivia and Edwin with a courteous manner. The unfamiliar presence of a well-groomed mustache felt strange. Edwin chuckled at the knight.
“Long time no see, Sir Drown. Your mustache is still there.”
“Hahaha. A splendid mustache must be my symbol, isn’t it?”
The laughing knight glanced at Olivia for a moment. Olivia blinked her eyes at the kindness in his gaze.
“Your Highness, may I briefly greet the lady?”
Naturally, the sight of Edwin granting permission was once again unfamiliar. Come to think of it, I had never seen permission granted by Edwin for anything, even in the Grand Duchy’s capital or in Vykander.
While Olivia glanced at the knights for a moment, Edwin’s handsome forehead wrinkled slightly. Suddenly, an immense pressure, as if an invisible force were pressing down on the shoulders, enveloped the banquet hall.
As if doused in cold water, the banquet hall fell silent. Both knights and guests looked at the Grand Duke with cautious swallowing sounds. The Grand Duke, who overwhelmed every corner of the banquet hall with his fiery gaze alone, spoke solemnly.
“……’As always,’ as Olivia wishes.”
At those words, Howard glared at Brock with fierce eyes.
Only now did the lady manage to express what she wanted. Accordingly, in Vykander, the most important thing was Lady Olivia’s own will.
Although His Highness emphasized that he was the first to swear loyalty, it seemed that the loyal fool had forgotten about it.
“Pleased to meet you, Sir Drown.”
Olivia said something strange under a weird atmosphere. The knight, who had been frozen for a while, lowered his body and gave a salute.
“…Nice to meet you, my lady. I am Brock Drown, the deputy commander of the Fourth Knights, who went on the beast expedition to the border of the Grand Duchy this time, swearing allegiance to His Highness.”
It was quite a friendly greeting.
Olivia, who had been smiling brightly in response to the warmth, paused for a moment.
The Fourth Knights. Olivia didn’t know that the Vykander Knights were divided into several units.
Perhaps noticing Olivia’s confusion, Edwin explained further.
“For convenience, the Vykander Knights are divided into four units. The deputy commander of the First Knights is Sir Interfield, the Second Knights is Sir Kalter, the Third Knights is Sir Sjellin, and the Fourth Knights is Sir Drown here.”
Edwin’s eyes, looking at Brock, were subtly tinged with mischief. Then he brought his body close to Olivia. Startled, Olivia widened her eyes, and suddenly, a howling-like cheer erupted from one corner of the banquet hall.
“Wow, really, Your Highness. It’s too much to change like that!”
Olivia seemed like she would blush. Whether she said anything or not, Edwin whispered an amusing story to her.
“In Vykander, we don’t assign separate ranks to knights, but Sir Drown really likes to have a title.”
Ah. Only then did Olivia nod her head. Brock nodded his head with a proud face and added.
“Of course, all unit commanders swear allegiance to His Highness.”
“That’s right. I’m such a person.”
Edwin winked at Olivia. Olivia, with a face full of pride and a shrugging posture, couldn’t help but burst into laughter.
Olivia, with neatly combed eyebrows and a clear smile, looked incredibly beautiful. The Grand Duke also smiled brightly as he faced her.
Even those watching the happy scene couldn’t help but smile at the newly returned knights. However, the knights who had been observing the lady’s demeanor from the beginning knew that now was their chance.
“Um, Lady. If it’s okay, I would also like to greet you.”
“Me too! It would be an honor to greet you, Lady!”
Experienced knights who had been through countless wars promptly seized the opportunity and jumped forward with proper etiquette.
Olivia’s face brightened even more with the greetings from numerous knights.
Everyone continued to enjoy the pleasant banquet.
“…It seems my lady is too popular.”
Let me correct that.
Except for the grumbling Edwin, everyone continued to enjoy the pleasant banquet.
“I intentionally separated Berni to play with you alone today. If I knew this would happen, it would have been better to have only one Berni.”
The Grand Duke’s sigh followed. It was true. Just now, knights lining up to greet Olivia.
Howard, who was guarding Edwin’s side, asked inquisitively, “Wasn’t that what you wanted?”
“Me?”
“Yes.”
“When did I?”
The Grand Duke raised his eyebrows as if unfairly treated. A while ago, he had sent Winster to Olivia as an excuse, saying that if she wanted to become the Grand Duchy’s destination, she should choose Winster.
Edwin sighed heavily at the undeniable truth.
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
