Although most of them were meeting him for the first time, Duke Rocard Kaidel answered sincerely and without hesitation, and the students automatically uttered exclamations such as ‘Ah!’ or ‘Oh my, really.’
He had no intention of boasting and was captivating and astonishing those listening just by speaking the bare minimum of facts.
He shone not only for his eloquence but also for the humble attitude he displayed even after achieving great feats.
The light and beauty he emitted were genuine and absolute.
Misha was stunned in shock. Then Duke Rocard, who sensed the persistent gaze on him from afar, turned his eyes towards her.
Misha hid her body behind the entrance pillar and fled. Peeping at a man, she couldn’t believe she had committed such a shameful act.
And that night, she tossed and turned. At the time when the students were studying through the night, she could not sleep in the dark room, thinking of Duke Rocard Kaidel.
The next day, when the date for the next examination was announced, Misha returned to her room and opened her book. She now had a definite reason to stay at the academy.
(This is a time separator.)
Soon after, when she was alone in the library, borrowing a book and going back, someone called her.
“Miss Roar.”
Thump, or bang.
His soft voice struck Misha Roar’s heart in that way.
Considering it was in front of the library, Duke Rocard called her in a quiet voice and quickly came before her.
Thanks to his long legs, it looked effortless.
“I am Rocard of the Kaidel family.”
Misha greeted him slightly, hoping that the low lighting in the corridor, where there were not many windows, would hide her blushing face.
“Misha… How do you know me…”
“I’ve greeted most of my fellow students, but it seems I didn’t exchange greetings with Miss Misha. Aren’t you the daughter of the third lion?”
“Thank you.”
Misha was unhappy that her voice was so small.
But she did not think it bad. Her flushed face, seemingly flustered attitude, and small voice could emphasize her femininity, she knew.
“You, you look good in the uniform.”
“Thank you.”
This man, who had come from fighting a war in the mountains, knew how to fold his eyes playfully and smile.
That fact surprised Misha. Her heart responded again, thumping.
“Can I, um, ask you something since I’ve been absent?”
“Yes. Anything!”
Unintentionally raising her voice, Misha looked down as her face got even redder.
“Could you tell me about the foreign trade routes? About Smairlan or the sea information?”
“Foreign trade routes? Well, I’m not good at trade… I don’t even remember hearing it in class.”
“Oh, is that so? It seems I heard it roughly. It would be better to go to the academic office and check.”
“Yes… That would be a good idea. I’m sorry I couldn’t help you.”
“I’m the one who’s sorry to bother you, Miss Roar.”
After bowing politely and turning around, Duke Rocard’s face was stiff.
Issues related to the trade routes of neighboring countries, including Smairlan, are not covered in the academy’s first and secondyear student classes. Practical and directly related problems were studied intensively by thirdyear students in preparation for debates.
In fact, Duke Rocard had prepared for early admission to the academy before joining the war. Since he had already completed his education to the level of passing half the academy’s course, he knew the content of the trade route classes.
So what Duke Rocard Kaidel wanted to know was not about the progress of the class.
It was Misha Roar’s intellect.
If his father, the first Lion Teran Kaidel Duke, stood by Emperor Muro’s side, the third Lion Helriden Roar, the Count, was the one who assisted the Emperor with the door.
Count Roar’s intelligence and problemsolving ability were unmatched. He was receiving the refined respect of the nobles with his flexible behavior, not constrained by factionalism.
Duke Rocard was genuinely curious.
If the mere illegitimate child of Count Roar was smart enough to attract the attention of the second prince, then how smart would enemy daughter Misha Roar be?
If Misha was as smart as Lorisha, she fit perfectly into the ‘flawless and competent talent’ position that second Prince Greyan wanted.
The parents’ position might be a problem, but he intended to break through it somehow with his ability. Was it not unnecessary for the children’s generation to unconditionally follow the merits and demerits of their ancestors?
But he did not see any trace of Count Roar in Misha, whom he had just met.
Even if she did not know about the trade routes, the issue of pirates of the coastal areas was an area covered at the level of the academy entrance exam.
Nevertheless, Misha Roar only showed a purely ignorant response to his question.
Her eyes as she looked at him shone quite beautifully. But that light was not the kind he would remember.
As Duke Rocard walked down the hallway and moved away, he muttered nervously.
“Siblings, even though they are stepsiblings, what the heck!”
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
