Feeling a bit embarrassed from her initial surprise, Bianca gave a bright smile to the knight she had just run into.
The knight once again wore an impassive expression.
They had collided in front of Gillian’s office before, and now she had screamed out of surprise.
There was no way he could get a good impression of her.
Understanding his feelings, Bianca intended to pass by with a light nod.
That would have been the case if he hadn’t spoken up.
“Duchess. I am Elizabeth Swan, the captain of the Sixth Estate. Greetings.”
For a woman, her voice was quite deep and powerful.
As expected, quite fitting for a captain.
Having been about to pass her by, Bianca stopped when Elizabeth Swan properly introduced herself.
“It’s nice to meet you, Captain Elizabeth. So this is how we meet.”
“Would you have a moment to talk, if it’s not too inconvenient?”
Since Elizabeth was heading in the direction of Gillian’s office, Bianca tilted her head.
Wasn’t she going to meet Gillian right now?
“If it’s just for a moment.”
“Thank you. I also have pressing matters, so I’ll be brief. Please take care of yourself.”
“What do you mean?”
Taken aback by the unexpected grave tone, her head felt dizzy.
Feelings of humiliation and faint anger surged, but above all, Bianca was more curious about why this knight was acting this way.
“Sir, I would like a proper explanation for what you mean.”
Bianca straightened her posture and did her best to compose her expression.
After meeting Gillian, she had felt quite relaxed, but remembering that this was a corner of the salon where a ball was taking place, she snapped to attention.
The discarded princess.
The bothersome noble bloodline.
Thinking that she was being scrutinized with malice and semivigilance from all sides, even her relaxed expression instantly stiffened.
Elizabeth too must have sensed the change in Bianca’s demeanor, as her expression also became colder.
“Currently, the Barlock domain is in a state of emergency. The situation is akin to wartime.”
“……”
Instead of responding, Bianca clicked her chin.
Externally, Bianca was the Duchess of Barlock, another ruler of the Barlock domain.
No matter how remarkable the captain of the estate was, she was still under Gillian.
And as Gillian’s wife and another ruler, Bianca could not be looked down upon by a ‘captain’.
After reminding herself of this countless times, Bianca managed to speak calmly.
“Are you implying there’s a problem with my current behavior?”
“Yes.”
“Could you specify what about my behavior does not suit the current state of emergency, in the ‘captain’s’ eyes?”
“You invited in the Duke who is leading the Wave.”
“……”
“Letting your guard down at a point when you should be alert, and allowing your emotions to be swayed.”
“Sir.”
“Would you please inform me of the whereabouts of Duke Barlock? Historically, duchesses have not ventured out of their bedrooms at this time.”
His eyes, straight and blue, shone with a ruthless light.
Chilling and severe.
A gaze so sharp it gave one goosebumps.
She felt a sinking sensation in her chest at the thought that she might have become a burden to Gillian with her unfitting comments for the occasion.
However, upon reflection, it seemed strange.
It was just a cup of tea.
It was a problem to become lethargic during an expedition, but to be scolded for having tea at home?
Was even a moment’s respite at home too much of a luxury?
If one were human…
“Ah…”
Suddenly remembering Barlock’s alias, Bianca let out a small moan.
‘Inhuman Barlock’
Considering how naturally she had come to accept Gillian’s action of confronting a wyvern alone, his current reaction as a commander of the Sixth Fortress was expected.
However, her current attitude was not justified.
So…
Bianca gave Elizabeth a smile.
The fierce gaze was so intense that she felt like fainting, but she reminded herself that she couldn’t let Gillian be treated this way and mustered courage.
He should be able to rest too.
At least at home.
“Sir.”
Bianca softly called out to him.
“What does that smile mean?”
She was accustomed to that kind of look.
‘Princess, can’t you even stand up straight?’
Hadn’t she faced this countless times since her childhood?
‘Ordinary noble children master basic posture by the age of four. If an eightyearold princess struggles, what am I to tell His Majesty?’
If one listens to such logically structured arguments, they can’t help but be demoralized.
Her failure was a fact, and with such clear examples to compare, there was nothing to argue.
It only made her feel useless.
However, Bianca now knew what was wrong with this kind of dialogue.
Again, because she was used to it.
Her childhood etiquette teacher had not informed her that he had only set up ‘four hours’ for himself.
It was because emotions needed to be crushed and controlled, which could only be done from a position of overwhelming superiority.
The commander of the Sixth Fortress was no different.
The wave had passed, and Gillian was now back ‘home,’ a fact conveniently omitted as he confronted Bianca.
Bianca whispered back to the blue eyes that were shooting at her.
“Have you forgotten how to converse politely and elegantly, sir?”
“Do not jest.”
“You should not be insolent either. I am another master of Barlock. Do not dare to command me.”
Bianca, taller than the knight by a halffoot, commanded in a clear voice.
“Mind your manners.”
“….”
“What I look like in your eyes is not important.”
Taking a step forward, closing the distance between herself and the knight, Bianca shot back at the woman looking down on her.
“Rather, what is important is this: I am the other master of Barlock and the one and only wife of Gillian Barlock.”
An Indifferent Woman is the One Men Desire the Most
One-line summary: The female lead is actually cold-hearted and extremely rational. She has stage-by-stage relationships and won’t two-time, but there will always be someone who secretly likes her.
This novel has the following triggers, so if you’re sensitive to these, please don’t read:
1. The female lead has had many relationships, but she treated each one seriously and broke up properly.
It’s just that the men unilaterally pestered her incessantly. For the female lead, when she doesn’t like someone anymore, she simply doesn’t like them.
(This applies to her relationships with Male Lead 1, 2, 3, and 4 as well, but she’s loyal in each 1-on-1 relationship!)
2. In this novel, Male Lead 2 and the female lead kiss in a car, and Male Lead 1 sees it and beats up Male Lead 2.
The female lead calls the police and sends both Male Lead 1 and 2 to the police station! Male Lead 1 begs the female lead not to break up with him.
3. Male Lead 1 has a gentle appearance but an obsessive personality.
Male Lead 2 has a delicate and soft appearance, slightly green tea-like (two-faced).
Male Lead 3 is a youthful college student and a smart person who has secretly liked the female lead for a long time.
Male Lead 4 is the female lead’s father’s special assistant, a business elite with deep, hidden thoughts.
4. At the beginning of this novel, the female lead has already broken up with Male Lead 1 (Chapter 4) and gotten back together with Male Lead 2 (ex-boyfriend).
5. Enter with caution if you have triggers!!!