Narrowing his eyes, he focused on Claudia’s lips.
“Mor… Mork… Mark? Douglas… why didn’t you call him?”
Claudia frowned, scanning the area left and right.
Seeing no sign of Douglas, she glared at me again.
“You should have called Douglas.”
Why is she looking for Douglas right before the duel?
I struck my knee, pondering.
“Want to show him the moment of victory? Because you’ll definitely win?”
My heart twinged at Claudia’s confidence and her innocent affection for Douglas.
No one knew, but as a reader of the original work, I knew all too well.
That Claudia had a crush on Douglas.
That she’d been suffering for a long time because of an unexpressed love.
“I hope they both find happiness…”
At first, I tried to lay a stepping stone of love between them.
But then I realized.
It was deceit and insult.
Their feelings belonged only to them.
I had no right to interfere.
Claudia had noticed I was not the Elizabeth of the past.
She would soon realize that I wouldn’t harm Douglas either.
“I hope I’m not enemies with Claudia. Who knows? We might become friends…”
Hope I dared not dream of began to swell.
“Claudia is relaxed. Simon seems very tense.”
Nikolai spoke with an interested tone.
I ridiculed Simon, who was clad in leather armor and various protective gear.
The same red string was tied around his neck as Claudia’s.
“Overdressed for a match where fatal strikes aren’t allowed, isn’t he? Gauntlets, shin guards… and such a big sword?”
“Simon is a master of the bastard sword, endowed with excellent strength.”
“Can he even catch up to Claudia?”
“If he believes in his speed. A direct hit from that sword could be fatal for the petite Claudia.”
“Doesn’t that go against the rules? Isn’t victory declared by accepting surrender or cutting the opponent’s red string?”
I turned to Nikolai, startled.
Nikolai remained unfazed.
“Claim it was unintentional. Fatal accidents are not uncommon in friendly matches.”
“That’s absurd…”
“That’s how duels are. If you’re afraid, don’t draw a sword. Both of them have likely forgotten the original purpose of the duel.”
“They’re only thinking of victory? Even when they could get hurt or die?”
I hadn’t thought someone could die.
If I had, I wouldn’t have instigated this.
“I thought it was like Nikolai dueling with knights, or Franz hitting straw dummies. Just a game…!”
The blue blade before me felt eerie.
What had I done?
Blinded by guilt and anxiety, I was lost.
That’s when Nikolai took my hand.
“Don’t regret it, Elizabeth. The duel has already begun.”
“I didn’t know it was dangerous.”
“The knights accepted. Your duty is to watch their fight to the end.”
An eerie silence surrounded Claudia.
It seemed even the breeze and the flow of time avoided her.
No resolve to crush her opponent, no brimming will to win was visible.
In the absolute silence, her blue eyes shone like stars at dawn.
“In the name of the Emperor, let the duel begin!”
(This is a time marker.)
Franz kept glancing out the window, unable to focus on the literature class.
It seemed the duel between the knights was more intriguing.
Douglas closed the thick book.
“Shall we take a break?”
As if he had been waiting, Franz grimaced.
“What’s the point? Can’t run to the dueling ground anyway.”
“Shall we continue the lesson then?”
“You really are inflexible!”
“My apologies.”
Douglas smiled gently.
The servant brought tea and cookies.
Munching cookies, Franz asked.
“Friends with Duke Roseroyce? Why didn’t you invite him?”
“I don’t want to see a friend bleeding in battle.”
“Elizabeth must be resentful, wouldn’t she?”
“Hardly.”
“It was Elizabeth who proposed the duel, and chose Duke Roseroyce as her representative, wasn’t it?”
“There must be a good reason for it.”
“Quite understanding, you are.”
Franz took a gulp of milk as if drained.
A white milk mustache formed around his lips.
Remembering Susan’s childhood, Douglas wiped Franz’s lips with a handkerchief.
“Life makes you regret and feel sorry for choices you’ve made. It’s even more so for a woman living a hard life, like Elizabeth.”
“But Elizabeth is always out, gallivanting beyond the palace. She has a lot of money too.”
“Affluence doesn’t guarantee happiness. You know that, right?”
Owing to the noble name of a crown prince, Franz suffered threats.
The poisoner was still at large.
Almost no nobles believed that Franz, who had no mother and was isolated, would inherit the throne.
Except for a few servants, Franz was alone.
Franz’s expression darkened.
Douglas regretted his idle words.
But only for a moment, as Franz shrugged his shoulders.
“Just eat well, play well, and pay attention in class, Elizabeth said.”
“A fine teacher, Elizabeth is.”
“You think just anyone becomes my education officer?”
“Is that so?”
“Although she’s strict and has a blunt personality, Elizabeth is a good woman.”
“A good woman, you say?”
Douglas blinked at the unexpected phrase.
Franz lifted his chin as if saying, “Don’t you even know that?”
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.]
