Caidel Gongja, with a proud face, nodded slightly.
I should have felt regret for today’s defeat, but my heart felt at ease when I was full. Besides, he seemed satisfied with my gratitude, and the atmosphere between us unintentionally softened.
When the plates were cleared and dessert came out, he took out a ring box from his arms and placed it on the table.
“It’s a present.”
“……?”
A ring. I wondered if the ring I knew and the one he knew were the same.
I had a gut feeling that I shouldn’t even touch that box, but inside, I felt confused.
His purpose was to undermine the trust the princess had in me, not to marry me, right?
However, as his lacking instructor, the swordsmanship instructor, came to mind, a chill ran down my spine.
Caidel Gongja, looking at me eyeing the ring box, seemed to be unable to wait any longer and opened it himself.
Inside was a brilliantly shining emerald ring.
“G… Gong-nim?”
“I bought it at the Riley auction. Isn’t this the emerald ring of the princess that you were accused of stealing?”
How much trouble did I go through because of this ring? I looked at the beautiful ring sparkling in a clear green color and said fatuously,
“Are you giving me my blood-soaked memories as a gift now?”
“I thought it would be fun to give it back to you after seeing it at the auction. Break it, throw it away, do whatever you want to feel better.”
“Don’t make such a joke with such an expensive thing. I can’t accept it.”
“At least take a look. Haven’t you tried it on?”
“No. I practically handed it over to the auctioneer as is…”
At that moment, I remembered the time when I was unjustly accused and wished that the ring I stole would fit my finger. When I absentmindedly took out the ring and tried it on, it fit perfectly as if it were mine.
Good grief…
Memories of being unjustly accused by Shinyang flashed back vividly.
Ugh.
After taking a quick look at my chubby face, I put the ring back into the box and pushed it toward him.
Then, small exclamations and sighs like “Oh my,” “Wow,” “Unbelievable!” erupted around us.
…?
Looking around, many women, including the Tea Party members, were staring at me with shocked faces without bothering to hide it.
Eyes as if saying, ‘You’re not even human.’
I wanted to check if there was a head cut off in my hand.
Why, again?
I turned my head and looked at Caidel Gongja. He was smiling in circles. A sense of foreboding came over me.
Eventually, he gestured to the ring with his eyes.
“Ah!”
I barely managed to hold onto my thumping heart and said,
“P-people, um, they seem to misunderstand that Gong-nim proposed to me! But I didn’t…!”
“Oh. I see.”
His answer was so indifferent that I couldn’t even curse.
“Gong-nim, seriously…!”
He continued to answer dryly.
“While the heartache is significant, I am Tarq’s war hero. I won’t give up that easily. I know you’ll keep pushing forward after today’s rejection. My Lorissha.”
“Ha…”
I was afraid my soul would escape through my gaping jaw, but I had no strength to move my hands.
The waiter, who brought the tea, sent a nod to Caidel Gongja, wondering if I was okay.
After the waiter left, I finally spoke.
“Is this really amusing?”
“Lorissha, this is different from any fight I’ve learned and experienced so far. Fun? I don’t really know. But getting excited to the core like this hasn’t happened in a long time. I appreciate that about you.”
At this point, I could barely hear his words.
I admit it too. As he said, we communicate quite well.
However, just because we communicate well doesn’t mean I’m okay with his twisted mindset.
I delicately picked up the napkin and placed it on the table.
“I’ll take my leave now, Gongja-nim.”
“Allow me to guide you to a nice walking course. I swear, there’s no woman who dislikes a sweet post-meal stroll with my instructor.”
“You can take a walk with your instructor; I need to return to the palace immediately and report this situation to Princess Millio-ra before she misunderstands!”
I couldn’t hold back any longer and blurted out, “Before the princess gets any strange misunderstandings!”
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
