Spent the First Night with the Male Lead, Thinking I Was Terminal (10 Chapters Left to Complete) - Chapter 9
“Lloyd, explain to me why you barged into my office without permission.”
Admon sat with crossed legs in the seat of honor.
He was not at all pleased with the current situation.
It wasn’t simply because an acquaintance had shown up unannounced that his mood had soured so deeply.
Indeed, just moments ago, Admon had been in a perfectly agreeable mood.
After all, what had happened with Obern the previous night was nothing more than a minor mishap that could easily be brushed aside.
In fact, Admon had been feeling quite content—knowing Clea was still resting in his palace.
At least, that had been the case until Lloyd Persy appeared.
“Help me, Admon.”
Seeing Lloyd, who had come without warning and was now asking for his aid, Admon clicked his tongue inwardly.
He thought to himself,
‘I wish you wouldn’t utter Clea’s name with that shameless face of yours. At least, not if you have even a shred of conscience.’
Admon recalled Lloyd’s past behavior.
Though engaged to Clea, Lloyd had consistently appeared at balls and parties accompanied by other women instead of her.
In an engagement, one rarely partners with anyone else unless under extraordinary circumstances.
Thus, Clea had always attended such events alone.
Alone at these gatherings, she became easy prey for vultures.
Occasionally, he’d caught sight of her standing in a corner, watching others dance with envious eyes whenever dancing became unavoidable.
Remembering those images, Admon’s blood boiled.
He desperately hoped Lloyd wouldn’t bring up anything related to Clea.
“My fiancée has disappeared.”
But Admon couldn’t help his expression hardening.
He now fully realized that the man he’d once called his close friend possessed not even a trace of conscience.
“Please, help me. You’ve got the power in the Empire to find someone.”
“Lloyd Persy.”
“Admon?”
Hearing his full name spoken, Lloyd finally looked up at him with a startled expression.
Anyone could see Admon’s face was filled with cold, unmistakable anger.
At first, Lloyd couldn’t understand why Admon was angry, but after a brief pause, he reached a conclusion.
“I’m sorry for bothering you over something as trivial as my fiancée.”
At those words, Admon let out a humorless laugh.
Lloyd, interpreting Admon’s laughter as confirmation of his own assumption, felt relieved.
He believed the rumors about Clea and Admon were mere exaggerations.
In society, Clea—his own fiancée—had become nothing more than fodder for gossip wherever she went.
Even her status as a princess couldn’t shield her.
Lloyd himself openly mocked her, always prioritizing Aria over Clea, leaving her sidelined.
Even her own family had done nothing beyond maintaining superficial relations, leaving her utterly unprotected in high society.
Admon bit his lip.
Lloyd was the very reason she’d been hurt so deeply.
He had been the only one who could have shown her care and consideration.
If Lloyd had shown even the slightest consideration and stayed by her side—even briefly—Clea wouldn’t now be left with nowhere to go.
In that moment, Admon bitterly regretted ever having considered such a man his friend.
With eyes full of contempt and disgust, he spoke to Lloyd.
“Lloyd Persy, it seems you’ve misunderstood something.”
“Admon, this is urgent. Just hear me out first—once I’ve gotten your help, I’ll return the favor however you ask…”
“Then will you break off your engagement with her?”
Hearing Admon’s words, Lloyd widened his eyes and repeated in disbelief,
“Why are you saying this? Are you also telling me she’s not fit to be with me?”
Again, that dismissive remark about Clea made Admon frown.
She might even now be wandering the Imperial Palace, awake.
Or someone might overhear this conversation and repeat it to her.
Either way, Admon didn’t want her hurt any further.
He never wanted to see her again standing on that bridge, troubled because of this trash he’d once mistaken for a friend.
Thus, Admon smiled—resolute in severing ties—and said,
“Yes, you truly aren’t suited for each other.”
“Admon!”
Was Lloyd finally realizing he’d crossed a line?
But the one who’d truly overstepped was him, not Admon.
Just as Admon was about to speak again, someone knocked on the door.
He assumed it was a servant bringing refreshments—but upon hearing the reply, his body went rigid.
Because the voice from outside was unmistakably Clea’s.
[This is the timeline separator]‘Did he run away out of embarrassment?’
Clea pondered.
He was unexpectedly shy.
Whenever she reached out even slightly toward him, his flustered expression was plain to see.
She quite liked seeing Admon, usually so composed, thrown into complete disarray because of her.
The man who seemed unshakable to everyone else—
brought utterly undone by a mere gesture or glance from her.
‘Or maybe he ran because he was afraid I’d devour him.’
Last night had been truly strange.
Though she hadn’t meant to, Clea had felt like a wild beast.
She’d pushed Admon relentlessly, almost savagely.
To him, it might have felt like nothing—but Clea couldn’t help smiling, knowing she’d given it her all.
‘How absurd. I never thought I’d become so passionate about anything.’
It had been so long since she’d poured such passion into anything—Clea could hardly believe it.
Yet, at the same time, she felt that if it were Admon, such intensity was entirely justified.
She pictured Admon in her mind.
A man with black hair and red eyes—unlike any imperial heir before him.
Some claimed his red eyes were the color of blood, warning that once he ascended the throne, he’d surely become a tyrant.
But Clea had never cared.
It was just baseless slander—and besides, who was she to judge others when her own situation was far from perfect?
Yet there was an even greater reason why she dismissed those rumors.
Because no matter what was said, Admon always remained silent, never reacting.
“Is Admon in his office?”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
Hearing Anne’s reply, Clea nodded.
Though lunchtime was approaching, she assumed he’d be alone—and so decided to visit his office.
Anne tried to stop her. Seeing Anne approach, Clea gave her a gentle smile and said,
“I’m sorry, but I’m not a princess anymore.”
“Your Highness?”
“So there’s no need to call me that anymore.”
Hearing Clea’s words, Anne froze—taken aback by the sudden declaration.
She completely forgot what she’d meant to say and stood still for a moment before finally coming to her senses.
Only then did she recall her intended message.
“Oh—I should’ve mentioned that Lord Grand Duke Lloyd is in the office right now.”
Anne had wanted to stop Clea precisely because she feared a confrontation with Lloyd would go badly.
Watching Clea disappear into the distance, Anne hesitated briefly.
[This is the timeline separator]Admon had no intention of telling Clea that Lloyd had come.
He didn’t want her to hear that Lloyd was here.
The thought that Clea might be unsettled upon learning of Lloyd’s visit soured Admon’s mood instantly.
‘But you know she wouldn’t react that way.’
Admon recalled everything he’d seen of her. Now that he understood Clea’s true feelings, he knew his worry was unfounded and shook his head.
She wouldn’t have come to his office in person if she cared even slightly about public opinion.
Right after so many had witnessed her entering his chambers,
if she were still lingering in the palace, who knew what scandals might erupt?
Yet moments later, Admon had to admit—he’d never truly understood Clea at all.
“Your Highness, I’ve come to see you.”
At the familiar voice from the doorway, both men inside the office froze.
One doubted his own ears; the other silently prayed the person beyond the door wasn’t her.
But she didn’t hesitate—persistently knocking and calling out for the one she wished to meet.
Someone rose and opened the door.
Yet the person who appeared wasn’t the one she’d hoped for.
“Why are you here?”
“What business is it of yours that I’m here?”
“Of course it’s my business! Because—!”
Until just moments ago, Clea had been in an excellent mood.
She was experiencing the same mistaken feeling she’d had before.
That familiar ache in her chest seemed slightly lessened.
The sensation of having escaped her pain—even briefly—and the resulting calm had lifted her spirits.
Perhaps, she’d thought, it was simply being with Admon that made her feel so at ease.
But the moment she faced both men at once, a new thought struck her.
‘Maybe it isn’t a delusion after all.’
Lloyd stared down at her with arrogant, resentful eyes, while Admon gazed at her with clear concern.
Perhaps it was only because of Admon that she’d found even small moments of happiness in this cursed world.
With that thought, Clea looked up at the man standing before her.
“Let’s go back, Clea.”
Lloyd seized Clea’s wrist without warning.
His expression revealed his intent—to take her home immediately and lock her away so she could never escape again.
He gripped her so tightly that Clea winced in pain.
She instantly slapped his hand away.
“Clea?”
“Where to?”
Lloyd stared at her in disbelief—unable to fathom that she’d actually struck his hand away.
Turns Out He’s Been Secretly in Love with Me
One-line summary: He acts like he doesn’t like her but is actually playing hard to get.
Synopsis:
Xu Muzhou like her. He has liked her for a very long time, and through repeated schemes, he finally closed the distance with her.
But this is still far from enough.
He wants to be the one who stands out among her many suitors, to fight for her attention, and to make her take the initiative to pursue him.
_____
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Chapter Comments (17)
Inline Comments (209)
“Your Highness’s lips, perhaps.”
Oooh girl…😏 She wants something else for dinner i see 🙈
At this rate, heading straight to the bedroom instead of dining was only a matte
….😏🙈 You perverts sitting in a tree k.I.S.S.I.N.G😆
He desperately wanted to shout right then and there, grab Clea’s wrist, and drag
These brute losers ….how can their duchy even functioning properly…? That’s what I wanna know
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I wonder if subconciously he knows that she is sick.
Its quite weird that his aide calls her a close friend when its quite clear that Admon barely registers her presence 🤣
Urgh …i love this …she ain’t no damsel in distress, she’s fierce….i think I’m in love