After pausing for a moment, he shrugged his shoulders.
It was not yet time to reveal it.
“I’d like to tell you, but it’s going to be difficult.”
“Why?”
“Think about it from my perspective. Your Highness has only just opened your heart to me a little. Would you feel good if I whisper our conversation to Douglas?”
“Why would Douglas come up when a father is worried about his child?”
Nikolai asked sharply.
“It’s just a metaphor.”
“Enough. Stop if you’re not trying to provoke.”
“Why do you hate Douglas so much?”
“Why do you keep bringing up Douglas? You said it’s just a friendship, didn’t you?”
He couldn’t speak for a moment.
It was because of the pepper bottle that Douglas had handed over.
Although he thought he shouldn’t, his heart area tingled.
Without missing a moment, green eyes pierced me.
“Something’s up.”
“…Didn’t we agree not to touch each other’s feelings?”
“We need to go over this now. Regarding the added terms in the contract.”
Nikolai pulled out the contract from his pocket.
I couldn’t hide my astonishment.
“You carry that around all the time?”
“Me? No way.”
“You flinched just now.”
“This scrap of paper, why would I carry it?”
“I don’t know.”
“The important thing is the content. Read it slowly.”
He handed over the familiar contract.
This was added in a graceful handwriting:
Do not involve unrelated third parties in this contract.
The first additional clause was familiar.
However, the following content was incomprehensible.
Do not allow a relationship with another person of the opposite sex. Having your heart stolen is also considered a relationship.
It was as if it was written while looking at me, who was momentarily swayed by Douglas.
Feeling embarrassed, Nikolai smirked.
“You wanted one thing, I wanted one thing. We added one each. Any complaints?”
“The conditions for contract termination have changed too?”
“Isn’t it better than being sold into slavery after confiscation of all assets?”
“If you unilaterally terminate the contract or violate a clause, it’s considered a loss… Do you want to win this much?”
“I’m somewhat competitive.”
“You’re saying don’t love or date, are you okay with that?”
He glanced towards the harem.
Nikolai was nonchalant, as if to say who wasn’t a Casanova.
“I’ve never had my heart stolen by anyone.”
“Hey, don’t talk nonsense…”
“If you’re a real psychic, look into my heart.”
He looked up at the sky as if there wasn’t an inch of shame, a dignified attitude.
‘So, all those women were just physical relationships? Anyway, a beast! Good stamina too!’
I felt my face heating up for no reason.
I barely caught my runaway imagination.
Nikolai offered a handshake.
“How about it? Will you accept?”
The touch and temperature of that hand vividly came to mind.
“No cheating.”
“Of course.”
We shook hands.
A smile spread on Nikolai’s face.
Not a twisted smirk, but a sunny smile that lit up his whole face.
‘He can smile like this. He has a very pretty smiling face. I forget he’s the original villain.’
I was motionless for a while.
I would have remained so for a while longer if Nikolai hadn’t said something tempting.
“As a recontract gift, I’ll tell you about the progress of the investigation.”
“Who was it that tried to harm His Highness the Crown Prince?”
“I don’t know.”
“Didn’t the physician confess?”
“His family was threatened, so he had no choice but to poison the medicine. The poison was received through anonymous mail. Moreover, the one who used the poison on Franz was not only the physician.”
I felt stunned, as if I had been hit on the head.
Nikolai spoke with a blank expression.
“The cook and the young servants have confessed. They said they put a trace amount of poison in the meals and tea.”
“How could that be!”
“From what I see, at least two or more individuals are targeting Franz.”
“Why? He’s His Majesty’s only heir!”
“That’s exactly why.”
“!”
“Franz has neither a mother to care for him nor a prestigious family to watch his back. He’s been sickly since childhood, so there has been much talk of needing a new heir.”
“That must have been a complex issue for His Majesty.”
“If you hadn’t uncovered the truth about the poisoning, Franz would have languished and collapsed. And then……”
Nikolai bit his lower lip tightly, unable to say the words.
Suppressing his emotions, he couldn’t hide the anger seeping from his body.
But guilt seemed to torment him more than anger.
“It must have been threats and persuasion to the former education managers.”
“I never thought they would target the crown prince right under my nose. It’s all my fault.”
“It’s true, it’s all Your Majesty’s fault.”
Nikolai’s eyebrows twitched, as if he didn’t expect to hear it so bluntly.
“You left your young son alone, knowing all that?”
“Franz was uncomfortable being with me.”
“There must be a reason! Can’t you bear it, being a father?”
“……”
“You keep them close when they’re affectionate, and push them away when they’re uncomfortable? Even pets become twisted if you raise them like that.”
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!!!
