Leus personally escorted me, not only that but also led me to the seat arranged in the banquet hall.
It wasn’t just me who thought this was uncharacteristic; the eyes of the Duke’s mansion servants followed us intently. The atmosphere was truly uncomfortable.
‘Can I even swallow food in this situation?’
However, as high-quality dishes started to appear on the table, my thoughts quickly changed.
Glossy meats and fresh vegetables. The soup, at just the right temperature, continuously whetted my appetite.
‘This looks delicious…’
It was a perfectly normal reaction for me to feel hungry in this tense situation, especially since I couldn’t even enter the dining room when my father was not around.
Just as I started to feel my appetite returning, I caught Leus’ eyes across from me. Strangely, my appetite vanished rapidly.
‘That fox-like guy. What’s he planning?’
I couldn’t figure him out.
‘Does he think I saw something I shouldn’t have?’
That would make sense. Bringing me to the Duke’s mansion with lies, without any mention of gratitude or a hint of compensation, could be for persuasion.
‘What’s in the Forest of Silence?’
That land is worthless, even with money added. Now that I think about it, the very existence of that place was suspicious.
I kept glancing at Leus as discreetly as I could when Shanet entered the banquet hall.
“I’m sorry, Miss Ivel. I was delayed talking with the butler.”
“No, it’s fine, Madame. I just arrived myself.”
Shanet, who sat down, looked at me with a content smile, just like before.
“Madame sounds too formal today. I wish you’d call me more casually. I’ll also call you by your name. Is that okay, Roel?”
“…Yes, of course, Shanet.”
Somehow, the awkwardness I felt while coming to the banquet hall returned.
But as always, I was better at hiding my emotions than anyone, and I naturally formed a smile.
Eventually, I felt nauseous. Thanks to the crazy Leus, who stubbornly stayed until dessert!
‘Why is he doing this to me…’
Recalling Leus’ consistently ill-fated expression, everything that happened today flashed through my mind.
Like Shanet’s reaction, the curious murmurs of the servants, or the crazy Leus, or the mad Leus…
Thinking of Leus again made the nausea worse.
‘Disgusting…’
Feeling like I couldn’t fall asleep, I took a lantern and went out into the hallway. Not a single ant was visible in the vast corridor.
The quiet hallway, eerily so, brought a sense of calm.
‘At least here, there’s no chance of running into him.’
I ended up staying in the Duke’s mansion for a while, but I wasn’t in the main building. According to Shanet, this building was exclusively for guests.
I couldn’t fully relax, though. Like Earl Ivel’s main and annex buildings were connected, here, too, there was a bridge to the main building, and I might accidentally run into Leus.
But if I’m careful, I shouldn’t run into Leus, right?
‘Even the crazy Leus wouldn’t bother me late in the evening.’ Thinking this, I turned around at the end of the corridor.
But that’s when it happened.
“Ack!”
Just as I turned, I bumped into someone coming down the stairs, startling me, and I dropped the lantern.
As the lantern hit the floor, a sharp sound echoed, and glass shards scattered in all directions.
I felt like the broken glass shards had grazed my ankle, but I had no time to worry about that. It was because of the person in front of me.
The very person I thought would definitely not appear just moments ago.
Leus Rocheter.
“Duke…? What brings you here…”
Leus, who had been staring intently at the floor, soon lifted his head to look out the window. It was directly opposite our building, at the upper floors.
“Your wandering around like a ghost caught my attention.”
It seemed that Leus was referring to my room in the main building. The position was such that it would have a clear view of this place, leaving me with no more questions.
Had I known this would happen, I would have called a servant and asked to be taken to a suitable place for a light walk!
“I just wanted to walk a bit… I apologize if I disturbed you.”
I bowed my head lightly. However, Leus didn’t react and continued to stare at the floor. When I followed his gaze, I saw the floor littered with glass shards.
“Ah… I’m sorry, I’ll clean this up…”
In my flustered state, Leus suddenly came down the stairs, startling me, and I stepped back. As he drew closer, I reflexively closed my eyes, and at that moment, I felt my body being lifted.
Yes, Leus had picked me up. I stiffened my body and just blinked my eyes.
‘Why is this man doing this again?’
Shortly after, Leus walked with me in his arms towards the room.
“Nobles make a fuss even over a small scratch on their bodies.”
“…….”
“You don’t seem to show such behavior, Miss Ivel.”
I was speechless.
His words didn’t sound like a simple observation about not being over-dramatic like others.
It felt more like a deeper issue was being pointed out.
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
