“I did you no favors. Saving you was merely an impulse, a whim.”
I wasn’t that virtuous.
I didn’t even want to live purely virtuous.
If Nisa hadn’t accused Rose, whatever happened to Rose’s maid would have been none of my business.
But Nisa wouldn’t bend her will.
“Nobles ruin people’s lives for trivial reasons. But your whim, Lady Elizabeth, saved my life.”
I sighed, looking at Nisa who stood upright with sparkling eyes.
“Ah… Have you considered finding another job? You graduated at the top of your academy class, didn’t you?”
“I have resolved to serve Lady Elizabeth for my entire life.”
“What if people find out that you, a noblewoman, are serving a commoner? You might not even get married.”
“If I don’t get married, so be it. If not for you, my life would have ended that day.”
“Her Majesty is not that cruel.”
“Would Her Majesty have fully forgiven me, a close aide to Queen Rose?”
“…….”
“Life might have been spared, but my family would’ve been stripped of our nobility and thrown into poverty.”
Nisa answered with a snapped tone.
‘Being loyal to a banished superior means Nisa’s future is also in jeopardy. She needs to actively find a way to survive.’
Despite the possibility of finding other jobs, Nisa chose me.
It was as if she had gambled on her future.
As if reading my thoughts, Nisa smiled.
“I heard from the Crown Prince’s palace servants. Lady Elizabeth may appear cold, but you are warmer than anyone.”
“Ah, now I see why you caught Rose’s eye.”
“I was acknowledged even with feigned loyalty. I will give my true loyalty to Lady Elizabeth. I am confident I can be of help.”
“Is that all? That’s the reason you bet your life?”
As if pierced by the point, Nisa’s face flushed.
“Because Lady Elizabeth is bound to succeed. Being a close maid would mean I will also have my moment, it’s true. If I have hurt your feelings, I apologize.”
Nisa bowed slightly.
I burst into cheerful laughter looking at her.
“Why so nervous? It’s even better this way.”
“….Yes?”
“If you were acting out of sheer gratitude, it would have been more suspicious. Human emotions change.”
“Lady Elizabeth…!”
“But if it’s a calculated decision involving your benefits and future, then I’m reassured. Just as you said, I plan on doing better!”
Nisa was a smart girl.
Moreover, she knew when to be honest.
The more Nisa learned of my capabilities, the stronger her loyalty would become.
‘I needed a source of information in the royal palace anyway. I should thank Rose.’
For a moment, Nisa, who had been silent, asked with an emotional tone.
“Aren’t you scared, Lady Elizabeth? Duke Brendon won’t just sit back.”
“No need to worry. I have plans.”
“Lady Elizabeth is truly special. No wonder His Majesty is so captivated.”
Even clever Nisa was convinced that I was ‘the Emperor’s lover’.
Well, he did kneel before me.
‘But it’s all an act. He plans to use me to reshape the empire’s power dynamics. A commoner, not a queen or a noble. I’m the perfect puppet for Nikolai.’
You said I could be the protagonist of your scripted play.
Feel free to use me.
This was how our relationship began.
Sometimes, I’d get caught up.
‘Doesn’t he really like me? This gaze can’t be fake, right? He really cherishes me…’
I bit my lip and lowered my head.
Holding hope only resulted in bitter disappointment.
Every gesture, every breath of his made my heart sway like a sailboat in a storm.
But in the moment of the kiss, Nikolai avoided me.
Why?
Because of his honeycolored first love?
Because I am merely an object of utility, a contractual partner?
I couldn’t be sure of anything.
Each time he acted affectionate, illusions gave birth to more illusions.
Doubts grew exponentially.
Anxiety tightened its grip around my throat, so I burned myself in surrender.
To avoid getting hurt anymore.
To stop begging for his love.
“If he’s just using me… why does he bother playing this game of temptation? It can’t just be competitive spirit…”
Nisa spoke to me, lost in thought.
“Duke Brendon will use any means necessary.”
“Good. I’m the same kind of person.”
I shrugged, indifferent.
And then I asked,
“Why is everyone so quiet about Queen Rose being framed?”
“Maybe it’s because many people, like me, consider Duke Brendon an enemy?”
Nisa replied, swallowing invisible rage.
I nodded, leaning back in the armchair.
“It could be that, but they’re also trying to restrain the Duke’s growing power. They would want to cut at least one candidate for Empress.”
“It is strange, all the other family heads are also quiet.”
“A one in three chance is better than a one in four, isn’t it?”
Even if Rose had a notorious character.
Even if Nikolai truly loved me.
It was unimaginable for a queen of noble birth to be imprisoned for hitting a commoner.
Knowing this, Nikolai still imposed an extreme punishment.
“Nikolai is poking at the nobles. He’s testing whether they will collectively rebel or simply watch.”
Nikolai was not a playboy wrapped in flowers.
He was calculating and meticulous.
Although few people knew this.
Male lead is reincarnated to save his wife
I’ve also read this one twice already. The female lead is kinda soft and gets embarrassed easily—not really my type, but the plot is definitely worth reading. Hurry up and read it, y’all!
Intro
When Shen Yuan encountered Su Jin again in his previous life, she had already become the Prime Minister of the current dynasty. As for him, the former top young master of the capital, he had long since fallen into the abyss, becoming a singer on a pleasure boat.
After a song ended, he was redeemed and sent to the Su Residence.
Su Jin respected and cherished him, gave him a roof over his head, and bestowed him with warmth. Shen Yuan fell deeper and deeper, but before he could express his feelings, Su Jin passed away.
Shen Yuan died to follow her in death, but instead, he returned to when he was fifteen years old.
At that time, he was not yet engaged, and Su Jin was just a poor scholar.
Shen Yuan gritted his teeth, casting aside all his pride, and thought of ways to coax and entice her every day.
The colder and more indifferent Su Jin was towards him, the more proactive Shen Yuan became.
He was not afraid of being mocked by the world, only wanting to marry his Wife-master early, to hold her hand and never let go for a lifetime.
[Note: This story will not specifically point out the male lead’s reincarnation time point; it’s all in the details. Whenever you feel that the male lead is acting strangely, he has most likely been reincarnated.]
[Touch the gear icon in the bottom right corner of the screen to move to the next chapter if you want.]
