Sorry, the Patricidal Tyrant Seems Beastly (1 Chapters Left to Complete) - Chapter 15
Charlotte paused briefly before replying.
“By chance. I once asked about it because I liked the scent.”
“Not everything in life needs a reason. Right. I suppose I asked you something unnecessary.”
Coffee didn’t become fully established until several years later. It became popular among nobles because drinking it early in the morning cleared the mind and dispelled fatigue.
Charlotte stiffly brushed her chest.
“Are you all right?”
“Huh?”
“I wondered if your chest felt tight.”
“I’m fine. But why did you call me so early in the morning?”
“It’s not for any other reason. I heard you came home late last night…”
Was this matter serious enough to reach her maternal grandfather’s ears?
“You have family waiting at home—wouldn’t it be wise to be more careful?”
“I-I’ll be more careful next time.”
“We’re not trying to restrict you. But still, when someone’s waiting, couldn’t you at least send word?”
To some, this was obvious.
If you go out somewhere, you say you’re going out. If you’ll be late, you say you’ll be late.
But Charlotte had never experienced such ordinary things before, so even these simple truths felt unfamiliar to her.
“I’ll keep it in mind.”
“I also heard about your father. He’s always had a habit of wasting his energy on irrelevant matters.”
“Who told you that?”
“His Highness the Crown Prince himself told me. He meant for me not to scold you for being late, so don’t hold it against him.”
Leandro carefully gathered his words after a moment’s hesitation.
“Given this incident and the upcoming hunting tournament…”
Leandro took a black case from the drawer and placed it before Charlotte.
“It’s a crossbow. Instead of arrows, it loads bullets. It’s compact and light, so it should be easy to carry.”
It was small enough to fit in the palm of one’s hand.
“Why are you giving me this?”
“I thought you might enjoy trying the small game hunting grounds.”
“Will Grandfather be attending the hunting tournament?”
“At my age, where would I go? Only your uncles will attend, so keep that in mind.”
Leandro handed the crossbow to Charlotte.
Charlotte took it from the case and gripped it in her hand. It fit snugly within her palm.
It was foldable—when extended and the string pulled, the crossbow opened sideways.
It could hold up to four bullets loaded inside.
“Your uncles warned me not to give it to you, saying it’s dangerous—but you won’t be shooting people with it, so it should be fine, right?”
[This is the timeline separator]Charlotte took the crossbow and went outside late at night.
“Lord Leandro gave you something dangerous.”
As she aimed at a tree across from her, pretending it was a target,
Benjamin fiddled with the crossbow and then set up a makeshift target opposite her.
“Your arms are so slender—I’m worried you might drop the crossbow.”
Benjamin wrapped his hand around Charlotte’s forearm.
His fingers touched her thin arm, and he gently spread her shoulders wide.
His body pressed against her back felt unusually large. His fingertips were firm.
“Aren’t you going to shoot?”
Benjamin looked down at Charlotte and asked. Only then did she pull the trigger. The bullet struck dead center.
“The recoil feels good, and the accuracy is high. It seems easy to use, too.”
“I’ve never handled a weapon before.”
“Start learning now. It’s simple to operate, and it’ll come in handy someday.”
Loading the crossbow required only one hand. Hold the body with one hand, load it with the other, and pull the trigger to fire the bullet.
“Don’t let your shoulder or arm wobble.”
Benjamin steadied her shoulder and forearm from behind.
“Your aim will shake, Charlotte.”
In a brief moment, Benjamin precisely assessed the target and the crossbow. From loading to pulling the trigger and hitting the target—it all flowed smoothly.
“Keep your eyes fixed straight on the target. They’ve even reduced the weight. Why’s your hand trembling? Don’t shake your wrist. Keep it firm and pull the trigger. Keep your shoulders straight—don’t hunch them.”
Benjamin guided even the smallest movements of her fingers. The crossbow’s bullet swiftly flew and embedded itself in the target.
“It’s quite extravagant for hunting small animals.”
“Still, it’s more than enough to blow off a small animal’s head.”
Benjamin calmly adjusted Charlotte’s posture again.
“Raise your arm and look at the target once more.”
She needed to become familiar with the mechanism beforehand. Benjamin explained the operation in meticulous detail.
“Learn it well.”
Benjamin murmured briefly and smiled faintly.
“If anyone bothers you from now on, just shoot them in the head.”
“You’ve become awfully aggressive.”
“It’s light and easy to handle—you’ll hit your mark easily, Charlotte.”
At Benjamin’s whisper, Charlotte gently pushed his shoulder away without hurting him.
“It’s a hunting tournament, Charlotte.”
Benjamin patted Charlotte’s shoulder. Then, telling her to try it alone now, he let go of the crossbow.
“Want to try by yourself?”
“I’ll give it a shot first.”
“Smart Charlotte will adapt quickly.”
Benjamin released his hold and practiced alone this time.
Afterward, Benjamin smiled contentedly and said, “Excellent. You’ll hit the head in one shot.”
[This is the timeline separator]Charlotte had her outfit tailored for the hunting tournament and matched it with appropriate accessories.
It was a sky-blue brooch. She also bought a handkerchief to match the brooch’s color—intending to give it to Benjamin.
“I’m not confident in my embroidery… Would a sun motif be all right?”
Becky clapped her hands in enthusiastic agreement.
“It’s the imperial emblem, isn’t it? Perfect embroidery for His Highness the Crown Prince!”
She deliberately chose a variety of handkerchief colors. Would embroidering just the family crest and name be enough?
“I’m worried my clumsy stitching might invite ridicule.”
“The Windsors will all be delighted.”
At the maid and Becky’s matter-of-fact replies, Charlotte awkwardly trailed off.
She wouldn’t worry about her maternal relatives.
“I was just wondering if Benjamin would laugh…”
“Surely, His Highness’s character isn’t that poor!”
It was the night before the hunting tournament. Charlotte took the handkerchief and went to Leandro’s study.
The area outside the study was dark, as the lights had been turned off. Yet, the study itself remained lit.
*Knock knock.*
When Charlotte knocked on the door, she received permission from inside to enter.
Leandro set aside the documents he’d been working on and gave her a quiet glance.
“What brings you here so late at night?”
“The hunting tournament is tomorrow.”
Charlotte placed the handkerchief on Leandro’s desk.
“I’m not going to the hunting tournament. Haven’t you heard yet?”
“Grandfather told me himself the other night. I remember.”
Leandro was to guard the family, while Aster and Caesar were assigned to accompany her to the hunting grounds.
“Grandfather isn’t attending the tournament, but it wouldn’t be right to give gifts to everyone else and leave him out.”
Leandro wordlessly took the handkerchief.
“Is this for me?”
“I’ll give them to the other two as well.”
Leandro’s fingertips trembled slightly at the soft texture of the handkerchief. Though his hand was hidden beneath the fabric, a faint tremor could be felt through the cloth.
“Don’t go off alone in the hunting grounds. Stay with Katarina wherever you go.”
“Don’t worry. I won’t do anything reckless.”
At Charlotte’s smooth reply, Leandro closed his eyes.
“Thank you.”
At Leandro’s single word, Charlotte quietly nodded.
“Have a good night.”
“You too—be careful out there.”
Leandro gripped the handkerchief tightly in his fist.
Charlotte quietly took in his expression before silently leaving the study.
[This is the timeline separator]They traveled to the hunting grounds in the Windsor family carriage.
Fontria Forest was named after the imperial-owned Fontria lands where it was situated.
“Even your usually indifferent expression lights up on certain days.”
As Charlotte gazed out the carriage window, Aster folded his newspaper and spoke from across the seat.
“Your maternal grandfather couldn’t come due to family matters.”
“I knew—he told me the night before. We seem almost at the hunting grounds; are we there yet?”
Tall coniferous trees lined the path. Just then, the coachman halted the carriage.
“We’ve arrived.”
The carriage had reached the forest’s entrance. The door opened, revealing a wide clearing.
The royal guard patrolled near the forest, and we headed toward the Windsor family’s tent.
“You’re here?”
“Sorry for being late.”
“No, I’ve only just arrived at the tent myself.”
Caesar, who’d arrived earlier, greeted us from inside the tent. Charlotte sat down directly on the cot inside.
“Both uncles are attending the hunting tournament, right?”
“It’s hosted directly by the imperial court—we must show our respect by attending. We’ll be heading out soon, so rest inside the tent for now.”
Her two uncles left, saying they’d stay outside, leaving only Katarina behind. Charlotte carefully surveyed the interior of the tent.
A spacious tent, carpeted, with a table and sofa placed upon it. Even a cot had been brought in—it felt as if an entire guest room had been transported here.
“May I go outside?”
Katarina silently nodded.
“Is it really all right?”
Katarina then pulled back the tent flap and gestured toward the outside.
As far as Charlotte remembered, Katarina had been the knight standing beside Benjamin when he ascended the throne as emperor.
Strictly speaking, she belonged to the Crown Prince’s direct faction. In her past life, Charlotte had only glimpsed her portrait briefly in a newsletter…
“Charlotte?”
At the familiar call, Charlotte smiled brightly.
The entrance to the hunting grounds was a wide clearing. Many knights participating in the tournament had already gathered there. She spotted the Windsor family’s knights—and Aster and Caesar were among them.
“Uncle.”
Aster strode over quickly.
“Why are you out here? Weren’t you told to rest inside the tent?”
Charlotte handed handkerchiefs embroidered with the Windsor crest to both Aster and Caesar.
“I almost forgot. Please return safely.”
“You made this yourself…?”
The handkerchiefs for her uncles had been finished the previous night. Though her stitching was unskilled, adding their names in cursive script along with the family crest made them look decent enough.
“My stitching may be lacking, but please accept it as a token of my sincerity. Due to personal circumstances, my fingers aren’t as sensitive as they should be.”
Caesar held the handkerchief out toward Charlotte again.
“You keep it yourself.”
Male lead is a Divorced Husband
She said to him: “Tell me, what makes you like me? I’ll change it!”
Liu Changning transmigrated into a female cannon fodder character in a female-dominant novel.
After reading the first half of the novel’s plot, the first thing she did upon transmigration was to divorce the Pan Jinlian-style male protagonist she had just married.
She indulged herself, pretending to be ugly and poor.
But as time passed, the way that man looked at her became more and more unusual…
Liu Changning was dumbfounded: Tell me, what makes you like me? I’ll change!
――
This lifetime, Pei Yuanshao was rejected by the same woman twice!
The first time, she drove him away. Forced by the situation, he endured the waves of anger in his heart, yielding and humbling himself.
That person lay slanted on a rocking chair, her sallow face emotionless: “If you don’t want a divorce, go cook!”
Pei Yuanshao’s face was dark and gloomy: “You!”
The second time, after the crisis in Jinling City was resolved, the new emperor sent someone to pick him up. He turned around, stammering: “I… I have to go. If you keep me…”
That person lay on the kang bed, her back to him, as if she had long anticipated this day, crisp and clear: “Goodbye!”
Pei Yuanshao was so angry his fingers trembled: “You… you!”
The mission of family and country made him restrain himself, averting his eyes and turning to leave this broken household.
Two years later, they met again. Seeing her ethereal face, his body shook like a sieve.
“She was originally a ‘she’!”
At the Qionglin Banquet, the top scholar of the imperial examination, a talented person with exceptional speech and conduct, all the unmarried young gentlemen from aristocratic families looked at her with shy and timid eyes.
The peerless imperial official Pei Yuanshao felt the anger in his heart erupt. He pointed at the woman surrounded by the crowd at the Qionglin Banquet, his thin lips slightly curled: “Little sister, I wants that person to be the wife-master of my Mingde Prince Manor.”
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