“He was right there a moment ago, why…”
But then it happened.
Mechanical applause rang out, and Iris lit the candle.
Creeeeak-
‘No…!’
What use was there in tensing up and clenching my fists?
As expected, the accident occurred. The wooden stage emitted a strange creaking sound, then tilted sharply and collapsed in an instant.
Splash-! The sound of Iris falling into the lake reached even where I was.
The banquet hall, which had been filled with odd emotions all day, now echoed only with the shocked cries of people, the applause and murmuring gone.
And, as expected, among the spectators watching the ripples on the lake, no one stepped forward to save Iris.
Their expressions were of pity, but that was all.
It wasn’t just the nobles. The servants merely shuffled their feet, and most of the knights either closed their eyes as if the moment was torture or turned their heads away completely.
So where on earth had Casien gone at a time like this…!
I had felt something was terribly wrong since the middle of the banquet and thought maybe it wouldn’t follow the original, but I desperately hoped Casien would appear to save Iris.
“What should I do…?”
As I couldn’t take my eyes off the lake, someone came to mind.
Dewin. Dewin was there!
Just then, I heard the door open behind me and reflexively turned around.
“Dewin…! Outside right now…”
I was ashamed but intended to ask Dewin to save Iris. However, the person I locked eyes with wasn’t Dewin.
“You were here, Roel.”
There stood Casien, who, if I hadn’t altered the original, would have been at the banquet hall without hesitation to save Iris.
“…Why are you here?”
“Why? Because I came looking for you.”
“That’s why, why would you…?”
“I have something to say, Roel. Let’s talk for a moment.”
That tiresome talk. We’ve been over for a while now.
Only for a moment, I frowned at Casien, unable to guess what he was thinking.
The sound of urgent footsteps running down the corridor towards the lounge interrupted us. Dewin, having fetched a dress, desperately wedged himself between Casien and the door.
“I couldn’t explain properly last time… That’s why you… don’t understand and made this decision…”
“You can’t go in!”
“Sigh…….”
Casien rolled his eyes in annoyance. Despite his intimidating gaze, Dewin stood firm, not flinching. Casien then aggressively threatened Dewin, trying to push past him into the room.
“Come out.”
“You absolutely cannot…! Please leave! Don’t trouble Her Highness.”
“Get lost.”
Of course, Dewin didn’t blink an eye.
After all, the person he serves… is Reus.
Realizing that arguing with Dewin would be fruitless, Casien then ignored Dewin and fixed his gaze on me.
“Roel. Just for a moment. Really, just a short time….”
“I have nothing to say to you, Casien.”
“You heard that, Lord Ersian. Then, I will close the door.”
It was just when Dewin was about to pull Casien out completely. Suddenly, a splash sounded from behind, and the commotion outside the window grew louder.
Someone had jumped into the lake to save Iris. Who could it be?
‘There shouldn’t be anyone willing to jump in?’
Startled, I rushed back to the window, leaving Casien and everything else behind. Before the ripples could even settle, the person who had dived into the water surfaced.
‘…Reus?’
Unexpectedly, the person emerging from the lake with Iris in his arms was Reus.
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
