‘I’ll wait for you.’
The ringing voice of Gillian startled Bianca, and she sprang from her seat.
“Gillian!”
Her white forehead was soaked with cold sweat.
Panting.
Bianca looked around with a pale face.
Only after seeing the lamp illuminating the spacious bedroom and the roaring stove did reality set in.
It seemed she had unknowingly fallen asleep, thinking she was dreaming.
Perhaps because of that, the image of him holding her leaving hand, whispering, was vividly portrayed in an instant, as if it was real.
‘I’ll wait for you.’
The thought of sending Gillian to that terrible place still made her uneasy, but perhaps because of the dream, she felt sure that all she had to do was wait.
“You just have to wait.”
The faint anxiety vanished like smoke the moment she said it aloud.
Bianca immediately summoned Julie to serve her in the morning.
She thought her eyes might be swollen from crying several times yesterday, but surprisingly, she looked quite well.
If her eyes had been swollen, everyone would surely have fussed, so it was a fortunate thing.
“Julie, where is Sir Gillian?”
“He went out with the captain of the second estate last night. He planned to leave this morning… probably because of the Wave. He said he couldn’t tell you and that he was sorry, and to please convey that.”
Bianca faintly smiled at Julie, who hastily explained, perhaps fearing she might feel slighted.
How could he say such a thing?
Crying at the news of the Wave departure.
Pouting and insisting that he’ll give her an answer to the proposal when he returns safely.
How could that gentle man say he must leave her again?
The one who silenced Gillian’s words was none other than herself.
Bianca clasped her hands, looking at Julie rubbing her own, and spoke in a brisk voice.
“Don’t worry, I don’t misunderstand. Since Sir Gillian won’t be here, just prepare a simple breakfast here, will you?”
I’ll be busy today too.
“When breakfast is over, tell Hailey I’d like to see her.”
“Yes, My Lady.”
[Star icon] [Star icon] [Star icon]“Good morning, Duchess. I heard you were looking for me.”
Hailey appeared as if she had been waiting, right after Bianca finished breakfast.
Bianca welcomed Hailey warmly.
“Come on in. It’s early, thank you for coming.”
“It’s early? I usually get up around 4:30, so call me anytime.”
“4:30? You wake up quite early, don’t you?”
“Early? Knights should naturally…”
Hailey abruptly closed her mouth.
Perhaps worrying that it sounded as if 4:30 was a given, Bianca nodded and smiled.
“Ah, the Barlock morning is early.”
Hailey’s expression, as she chimed in, ‘That’s right,’ to Bianca’s blatant cover, was quite enjoyable to watch.
“I can’t say I’ll do the same. But I will try to be a little more diligent.”
“Yes?”
“Soon, Sir Gillian will be leaving the castle, so shouldn’t I fill his place?”
Please sit down.
Bianca, who sat and looked at the stillstanding Hailey, called Julie and ordered tea.
“The reason I called Hailey today is for that. I think it’s time for me to take over the management of the main estate.”
“The management of the main estate means…”
“The documents containing the budget and execution, the fixed expenses spent monthly, and a contingency fund for irregular and sudden expenses like the Wave, as well as the accounting books for the past three years. I want to see them.”
Bianca spoke her desires without hesitation.
There was no reason to hesitate now that she had made up her mind.
She no longer wanted to doubt whether Gillian’s intentions were genuine or a trap.
She had been rightfully exploited all her life.
That was the sin of her birth.
If she was destined to be exploited and oppressed all her life, what was the problem if he was added to it?
No, even if this was a trap laid by Gillian Barlock for Bianca Termina, it was fine.
‘This is your house, isn’t it.’
‘Yes, ma’am.’
He had already paid more than enough.
Gillian was the first stranger to offer Bianca a warmth she had never felt in her entire life.
‘I’m fine.’
Instead of fearing this favor that she didn’t know when would end, Bianca decided to fully enjoy it.
Until everything came to an end.
Fully.
“I am, after all, the Duchess.”
But Bianca had forgotten something.
That her determination was not that important.
“That will be difficult, ma’am.”
Hailey, who had always been obedient, refused for the first time with a stern expression.
‘Not only the Barlock territory, but Gillian is also managing the operation of the estate.’
‘Why? Even if the Lord takes care of the territory and the knights, isn’t it originally the hostess’s part to handle internal affairs?’
‘It’s because the absence of the hostess is widely known here.’
Ah…
It was a reason that had to be accepted at once.
If one knew what a ‘monster’ was, standing in the forefront every time and facing them while guarding the Duke’s side would be hell.
Who could force her to endure that?
Bianca tapped her chest as if to calm her irritated heart.
When scheming men desperately battle for her favor in the male harem
This one’s also on my reread list! The rivalry, scheming between the men in the imperial harem are just as intense and thrilling as in classic palace drama novels, where concubines fight to the death. Give it a read, girls! I promise you won’t be disappointed.
Synopsis:
“I am not worthy of her… but I still want to be by her side, even if only as a loyal dog…”
Those were the painful whispers of Yue Guanyi – the proud Crown Prince of the Great Qi, who was torn between deep love and a guilty conscience. Despite holding the supreme power of the Imperial Guard, he still could not forget the dark past when he was sold into a brothel.
Fate played a cruel twist when Qiu Shuzhi – a young female official who had just passed the imperial examinations with top honors – stepped into his life. She did not know that she was the one who had saved him from a tragic fate many years ago. And now, her heart was the target of pursuit for both Yue Guanyi and the powerful Empress Dowager Qin Qing.
While Yue Guanyi only dared to silently care for and protect the one he loved from afar, the Empress Dowager Qin Qing openly expressed his feelings and did not hesitate to take advantage of his power to approach Qiu Shuzhi. The covert struggle between the two most powerful forces in the imperial court began…
Trigger warning: All men in this novel are yandere style.
_____
Please help me, I want to bring you the best possible things.
If you find any chapter or novel with poor translation and editing quality, let me know by commenting directly under that novel or chapter. I will retranslate it as soon as possible.
[Touch the gear icon in the bottom right corner of the screen to move to the next chapter if you want.]
