She wasn’t asking because she didn’t know.
Gazing intently, the butler seemed to read her thoughts and explained.
“The Duke ordered it due to the severe cold of the estate.”
The winter had been unbearably cold more than once or twice.
But she had never seen such a thing in all her frequent visits.
Why all of a sudden now?
“……”
Suddenly, Elizabeth’s gaze drifted somewhere above the stairs.
The sensation of something winding around her toes was abhorrent, as if she had stepped into a swamp.
After how long had they walked?
At the end of the stairs on the second floor, the quiet butler who had led the way spoke.
“If I may briefly explain, there was an incident in the estate today.”
“What.”
Her steps followed his lead, but she felt like she was floating.
“A villager was devoured by a monster.”
“What? How?”
“Several villagers who were moving snow to the reservoir fell victim. It seems they were creatures that had migrated after the fall of the Seventh Castle.”
“That’s…”
“Since the Duke has just dealt with the matter, please consider his fatigue tonight.”
His tone was earnest but not servile.
It was the skilled demeanor of someone who had been a butler for decades.
Elizabeth looked directly at the butler who was watching her.
“Here we are.”
“Thank you.”
“The bath is prepared. If you need anything, pull the bell rope at any time. Do you require assistance with your bath?”
“No, I’m good.”
“Then, I shall see you tomorrow.”
Mixing appropriate pleasantries and withdrawing at the right moment.
As she watched the back of the butler exiting, Elizabeth’s expression was complicated.
More than competent, it was excessive.
What exactly is going on?
The estate felt unfamiliar, having changed too much since her last visit a few days ago.
By dawn, word of the altercation at the estate’s entrance between the commander of the Sixth Castle and the butler had spread, and there was no one who hadn’t heard.
Except for Henry, who lived separately on the third floor.
“Young Master, did you sleep well?”
As Henry headed to the first floor for lunch, Shane approached and slung an arm around his shoulder.
“Take off your arm. Can’t you see I’m going to have lunch?”
“Judging by your energetic demeanor, you must’ve slept well last night?”
His voice was teasing as usual.
O’Henry was just about to take a slice of the thick steak in front of him when Shane, whose arm had been draped over his shoulder, spoke up.
“Sir, you should flee.”
Shane’s voice was so eerily calm that O’Henry stared at him in disbelief.
“…What?”
The normally frivolous Shane had spoken in a tone so grim that O’Henry almost dropped the fork he was holding.
There was no trace of humor on Shane’s face, making it impossible for O’Henry to reprimand him for making stupid comments as usual.
“The duchess must be wrong.”
“What?”
“You’re here as a guard for the duchess, aren’t you?”
Correct.
To minimize risk, only one liaison was allowed—assigned to Barlock as a ‘favor’ to Cazelgar, who had offered his eldest child.
But what did this mean?
“Last night, the captain of the 6th stronghold came. The steward prevented him from reporting about the wave, saying the duke and duchess were asleep.”
“…What?”
“You know the recent wave wasn’t normal, right? Yet they refused to hear the report. They told the steward they’re ‘receiving guests.'”
The duke, who had always prioritized the wave, was sleeping?
Just sleeping?
Though Shane had a clear voice that made it easy to understand, O’Henry couldn’t grasp what he was saying.
“So, the captain of the 6th stronghold was quite angry.”
“Then, uh…”
“The duke has neglected his duties and incurred the captain’s wrath. Can the duchess truly establish her position in Barlock without incident?”
“Huh?”
“Can the duke, who ignored the wave, truly protect this Barlock?”
Isn’t it frightening?
As Shane whispered into his ear, O’Henry’s grip on his fork loosened.
Clink.
The piece of meat, oozing with juices, fell to the floor, leaving a red stain.
“What happened?”
“Oh, my hand slipped.”
O’Henry stared blankly at Shane, who had hesitated before bringing over a new fork.
What should he do?
‘You won’t be removed. So, go to Barlock and win over the duchess’ heart.’
Yet he had done nothing, and the situation was taking a strange turn.
[Star Icon] [Star Icon] [Star Icon]“…You don’t look well.”
After being away on estate matters, Gillian, whom I met a few days later, looked awful.
He was a man who always shone brighter than anyone, especially in this winter.
Yet he looked as if winter itself had consumed him, his normally radiant complexion now turning blue.
“Are you okay…”
“Haven’t you said you have a report on the wave?”
Elizabeth felt her face harden without realizing it.
‘I have been entrusted with receiving the captain of the 6th stronghold.’
‘The duke and duchess have gone to bed.’
Perhaps it was remembering the steward’s smooth words last night.
Although she was familiar with his unbending demeanor, for the first time, it hurt.
So Elizabeth blurted it out without any consideration.
“The monsters are evolving.”
All color drained from Gillian’s face.
Male lead is a Love-Obsessed Merman
When he discovers she has gone, he risks everything to pursue her on land, enduring agonizing pain to transform his tail into human legs…
One-line summary: Male lead chases female lead. The male lead’s love is a bit sick, an invincible love brain.
Synopsis
During a voyage at sea, Jiang Yang accidentally captures a merman.
Servant: I heard that mermen are fierce and brutal.
Jiang Yang looks at the merman obediently rubbing her palm like a puppy: “You call this fierce and brutal?”
Servant: I heard that mermen have no human nature.
Jiang Yang looks at the merman with wet puppy eyes, obsessively calling her ‘A Yang’ like a childish infant: “You call this having no human nature?”
With great difficulty, she releases the merman back into the sea and returns to shore.
Who would have thought that in less than half a month, the merman, who should have been freely wandering in the South China Sea, would shed his scales, endure the pain of losing his tail, transform into human legs, and come ashore to find her?
He kneels at her feet, rubbing her palm, with merman tears rolling down: “A Yang, don’t abandon me.”
_____
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