“The ships and troops will be ready in two days. But if we miss the ‘Red Tear’ today, it’s all for naught.”
“It’s just a pretty stone, what’s the big deal?”
Duke Rocard grinned.
Public perception was amusing. A stone that happened to be red was valued enough to buy a territory, but a person who seemed to shine on their own was valued less than that stone.
And his lord ignored both gems and shining people. Owning an empire might not satisfy his yearning.
Perhaps what he should do was that—ensuring his lord did not fall into corruption from his thirst, and restraining him.
Such wisdom was something one could never learn at the academy.
The princess’s ring had sold out.
Initially, the nobles coveted anything touched by the royal hand, and the amount was just a warm-up for the assembled nobles.
As the intermission music began, I stood up.
“I’ll go get the money.”
Stepping out of the auction, someone abruptly blocked my way. Enough to block the sunlight in front of me.
‘Should I have brought Lord Rond?’
I looked up in surprise, and the man slightly lifted his hood.
“Ka…!”
Why are you here?
Duke Kaidel pressed his fingertip against my lips and spoke.
“So, you arranged this auction for Miliora.”
“I am her maid, so it’s natural, isn’t it?”
But Duke Kaidel spoke, devoid of his usual smile.
“Don’t work too hard.”
“…What do you mean?”
“I’m worried about you.”
He seemed sincere. So sincere it was almost scary.
I was angry.
“Are you threatening me now? I, being a…”
“A bastard? Let’s exclude that word from our conversations.”
I felt as if I’d been hit with a hammer. But before I could figure out what this unidentifiable feeling was, the conversation had to continue.
“It’s inappropriate for you to say not to work hard when we are in the same competition.”
“I understand your misunderstanding. But that’s not my intention. If you genuinely worry for the princess, you must maintain a balance. But I question if you can do that.”
The words were impossible not to misunderstand.
I spoke hotly.
“Who decides that balance?”
“Lord Roar.”
“Do you know how I’ve survived until now as a bastard?”
“…”
“I’ve shown that trampling on me is useless.”
“I’m telling you not to be trampled upon.”
“Even just by hearing Your Grace’s words, I can tell how much the Princess is being ignored. But if I’m going to be ignored, I might as well try my best and get ignored. At least then, I can sleep well at night.”
“…….”
Duke Kaidel furrowed his eyebrows in a peculiar manner. Yet, somehow, his scowling face seemed to harbor a faint smile.
“You always give your all, like a racehorse, don’t you?”
I couldn’t tell whether his words were a compliment or mockery, so I pursed my lips.
“It seems I’ll have to keep an eye on you. This should be quite interesting.”
He said so in a very leisurely tone and then walked away.
Caught off guard, I said nothing, and seeing him leave made my temper flare.
‘Why is he like that? What’s got into him? Watching me? He’s not the only one with eyes!’
But now was not the time to confront him.
Feeling mentally drained, I took the ring payment and returned to my seat at the auction.
“Let’s go, Lord Rond.”
Lord Rond looked at me dumbfounded as I told him we should go but made no move to stand.
I wanted to curse, but there was nothing to gain from mentioning Duke Kaidel in front of Lord Rond, so I refrained.
Eventually, I sluggishly got up and mumbled weakly,
“From now on, we have to visit about thirty orphanages. We’re busy, Lord Rond.”
The music stopped, and the auctioneer announced the start of the main auction. It was for that red diamond that had the young socialites in an uproar.
As everyone returned to their seats, we quietly exited the Riley auction house.
The Male lead Always Seduces Her with His Beauty (Matriarchy)
Xin Jiao Zhou is the leader of the world’s premier sect. She has just experienced betrayal from all sides, was poisoned in an assassination attempt, and faced death squad attacks while the poison was taking effect. After finally clearing out the scum from her sect, she was drugged again while trying to detoxify.
After waking up from a night of unconsciousness, she gained a “beautiful and kind-hearted” husband.
Xin Jiao Zhou: “???”
He fell ill.
She came to see him, bringing breakfast.
As she put down the breakfast and was about to leave, his hand slipped while holding the spoon. “Clank!”
She turned around upon hearing the noise.
He looked up at her, his eyebrows drooping: “My hand… has no strength.”
“Shall I… feed you?” she asked tentatively.
He opened his mouth cheerfully: “Ah—”
Thinking she was drowning, he jumped in without hesitation to save her, but nearly drowned himself. In the end, it was she who swam over to rescue him, giving him air underwater.
After emerging from the water, his ear tips turned red. He lightly brushed his cheek, tucking his sideburns behind his ear, revealing delicate, pink-tinged ear tips. He lowered his gaze, too embarrassed to look at her.
Xin Jiao Zhou: He’s truly beautiful, kind-hearted, and adorable.
A certain someone when disciplining subordinates behind the scenes: “If they don’t obey, just kill them.”
What’s that? She might already have someone she cares about in her heart? A certain someone: Find out who it is, kill them, and then there won’t be anyone.
What? She met a man by the riverside? What? That man even hurt her? A certain someone: Whichever hand hurt her, chop off his entire arm.
Love at first sight without realizing it, gradually falling in love, slowly getting closer…
Family and national grudges, schemes and desires, good and evil, crime and punishment, she and he face the future together, seeking justice with passion!
A naturally dark female lead who could accidentally destroy the world but is actually an honest person VS a weak, pitiful, and helpless but skilled fighter, beautiful white-cut black male lead
My heart is not of stone, how steadfast is your love? — Tao Yuanming “Imitating the Ancients (No. 3)”
— Reading Guide —
Cold female lead & dramatic black lotus with hidden yandere traits male lead
