After that night, an unspoken secret developed between Esella and Olivia. Late at night, Olivia would sneak down the stairs unnoticed, and Esella would rub her sleepy eyes and wait for her sister to come and fetch her.
As if reminiscing about old times, Esella smiled faintly. And when her eyes met with Veronica’s, she wore a secretive smile, one shared between those who hold a common secret, and slowly confessed her secret.
“I was a really bad child.”
“What?”
Veronica’s eyes widened at the sudden confession. Lady Esella being a bad child? It was an unbelievable story.
Everyone loved Lady Esella. As bright as the sun, as lovely and kind as a fully bloomed tulip. But Esella shook her head.
“In truth…”
Veronica held her breath at Esella’s deepening voice. Esella, pausing for a moment to catch her breath, spoke slowly.
“I knew my sister was being scolded the day after she played with me.”
At first, it felt like a vague form. Her sister’s dark expression, the sound of her father’s sharp tongue, things like that.
But what felt as faint as fog became clearer. She heard the sharp voice calling her sister’s name, saw the maid hiding her sister’s book, and saw her sister standing alone, far from the warm family gathering at dinner.
In between, Esella noticed. Such things repeated the day after she played with her sister.
“…… But still, I didn’t give up playing with my sister because of my selfishness.”
Esella’s voice, pretending to be bright, gradually turned sorrowful. Veronica’s face became bitter as well.
“My sister always told me to sleep well at night. Even though I forcibly went to play with her.”
Veronica disliked the elder princess.
The Duke always warned the elder princess not to poison Lady Esella. Someday the elder princess might hurt Lady Esella.
“My sister never said anything and took the scolding alone.”
But suddenly, Veronica thought.
“I couldn’t say it back then. Not thank you, not sorry. Because I was young.”
“Esella must never know.”
Even knowing everything, the lady loves her sister like this.
“But now I’ve grown up. I have.”
What more should I watch for?
Veronica’s eyes trembled. Esella looked up. Her face, marred by tears, looked at Veronica desperately.
“Now I have to tell my sister. Veronica.”
Her voice, tearful but firm, was strong. It was just like Lady Esella. Veronica thought her suspicion was right. She shouldn’t have heard the story at all. She grumbled to herself, but Veronica’s heart was already leaning.
“So. Help me just this once.”
In fact, the stifflooking Veronica never truly beat Esella. Veronica always ended up unhesitatingly taking Esella’s side.
So it was the same this time.
“…… Finish your soup. And then, let’s go.”
As if she couldn’t bear it, Veronica turned her head. Esella smiled brightly with a tearstreaked face.
Inside the carriage returning to the Duke’s residence from the imperial palace.
Olivia quickly looked out the changing window. Her tension quickly eased as she realized that she had left the palace. Her body was tired, but she didn’t want to lean on the carriage. Rather, she wanted to straighten her posture even more.
“If you’re tired, lean a little and rest.”
It was because of Edwin, who was sitting right in front of her. Looking into his worried face, Olivia shrugged as if it were no big deal.
“I’m not tired anymore.”
“Really? Your face seems paler than usual.”
Edwin mumbled to himself. His languid voice somehow sounded even more pleasant than usual.
“It might be because of the dress.”
“The dress?”
Olivia said, looking at her deep purple dress.
“Yes. The deep purple color might make my face look paler than usual.”
“You always choose darkcolored dresses, don’t you? So that’s why, right now, you look pale rather than white.”
Why did the criticism she heard at a boutique before her debutante ball come to mind? At that time, it had hurt quite a bit since she couldn’t ignore others’ words.
She thought she would feel hurt again, but it was strange.
What had been hurtful words then, had now merely transformed into a great response, without causing any hurt or pain.
It was a curious feeling. Had she heard it too often that it could no longer hurt her? Or else…
Olivia naturally raised her head. If not that, then…
“…then the dress must have done wrong.”
“Yes. Yes?”
Olivia’s eyes widened at the thoughtless response. The dress had done wrong? What nonsensical words were those? But Edwin nonchalantly shrugged.
“Let’s blame the dress for continually asking if you’re tired.”
Olivia chuckled and cleared her throat. The fact that such words amused her was a blow to her pride.
“…You must like to joke.”
“I do like it. But this was serious, you know?”
“The dress did wrong, you say?”
When she looked at him incredulously, Edwin nodded, as if it were obvious.
“Yes. In that case, is it okay to stop by Lurheiren? Fortunately, you’re not tired, and the dress did wrong. Let’s take this opportunity to get you a few new dresses.”
A sense of anxiety slowly crept up from behind. She had already seen the dresses in his wardrobe, and she knew what ‘a few’ meant to this sweetsmiling man.
But before Olivia could protest, Edwin knocked on the coachman’s seat.
“Go to Lurheiren Street.”
“Yes!”
The lively response from the coachman followed. Edwin smiled brightly.
“Sobel wanted to decorate a new dress room next to your room anyway. This worked out really well.”
Staring incredulously at Edwin, Olivia’s lips slowly began to curl upward.
“I’ll choose only the best, you know?”
“That’s exactly what I want, you know?”
Olivia laughed softly. Just being beside this man, who confidently made playful remarks, made even sharp glares and venomous words feel soft and inconsequential.
That must be why. Why Conrad’s words didn’t hurt me today.
Suddenly, her fatigue seemed to have flown away. Olivia enjoyed this pleasant thrill fully, smiling.
Male lead Asks for a Divorce Every Day
It’s not often you come across a plot like this in the female-dominant genre — make sure to check it out!
This is a novel I’m planning to reread as well.
The male lead is strong, skilled in martial arts, and not the usual fragile type you often see in matriarchal novels.
Meanwhile, the female lead is a scientist—rational and logical. Even when she falls for the male lead, she doesn’t let her emotions cloud her decisions.
If you push through the first few chapters, you’ll gradually find the story really intriguing.
It has a mix of mystery, detective elements, and romance.
The author’s writing style is like crafting a puzzle—except they deliberately leave out a few pieces, making it hard to predict what happens next, yet keeping you hooked.
In the end, everything will come together and be explained.
One-sentence summary: Wife, stop playing with beakers and look at me!
In a laboratory accident, research scientist Zhu Wansheng accidentally travels to a matriarchal world. The original owner of the body is an eighteen-year-old only daughter of a wealthy rouge merchant, already married with a handsome young man.
Zhu Wansheng grins: Nice! She always said she was heaven’s favorite granddaughter. After a life of toil in her previous life, she can enjoy blessings in this one.
However, her joy lasts no more than three seconds as bad news arrives: the original owner’s family is about to go bankrupt, and her husband wants a divorce.
Even worse, she’s stuck with a research system full of restrictions.
Zhu Wansheng: ? Is this the destiny of a research dog?
——
Faced with this mess, Zhu Wansheng pours herself a bowl of wine to drown her sorrows. In her drunken haze, her husband arrives.
His figure is imposing, holding a long sword, with a dignified air that captivates Zhu Wansheng.
Gu Yingqing, however, looks at the alcohol-reeking Zhu Wansheng with undisguised disgust and coldly asks, “Divorce or not?” The intoxicated Zhu Wansheng mumbles vaguely, “I think… it’s not… it’s not… impossible!”
——
The next day, after sobering up, Zhu Wansheng is full of energy, rolling up her sleeves ready to make a big move. As for yesterday? She has no memory of it.
Zhu Wansheng is ambitious; a research dog fears nothing!
Upgrading rouge, extracting fragrances, producing perfumes, researching lipsticks… all shall bow to the power of modern technology!
The original owner’s dying rouge shop is revitalized. Her mother is pleased and with a wave of her hand, passes on the family business to her. As she takes control and her experimental results gain popularity, it’s the pinnacle of her life…
——
But there are always those who can’t stand to see her doing well. Jealousy, scheming, assassination attempts – they want nothing less than her life.
The person who has always kept his distance from her suddenly holds her tightly in his arms, eyes full of concern.
She is unharmed, but he falls into a pool of blood…
Zhu Wansheng feels guilty, “I can grant you one wish.”
Gu Yingqing tentatively circles his arms around her, carefully resting his head in the crook of her neck, pleading softly, “I regret it. Can we not divorce?”
Zhu Wansheng: ? When did I agree to a divorce?
[Small Theater]
The newly developed rouge is beautifully packaged, and Zhu Wansheng is eager to try it.
Gu Yingqing suddenly appears: “My lady, may I apply it for you?”
Cool fingertips lightly brush her lips. His Adam’s apple bobs as he leans in for a light bite.
Zhu Wansheng: ?
Gu Yingqing: It smells so good, I wanted to taste it…
On a warm spring day, Zhu Wansheng tries a new perfume: “Spring Night.” Gu Yingqing corners her against a wall.
Warm breath lingers on her neck.
“My lady, from now on, may I test the fragrances for you?”
[Humorous female scientist vs scheming live-in son-in-law male lead]
[Touch the gear icon in the bottom right corner of the screen to move to the next chapter if you want.]
