The training proceeded without any issues. The skills of the three men had now improved to an astonishing level. To prepare for any unforeseen circumstances, Papyerre arranged private tutoring sessions whenever she appeared. So, all preparations for the competition were complete. Sitting in the study, Prodia sighed with relief as she reviewed the results of the three men’s final mock exams. ‘At least no one seems to be failing. Good.’ Time passed, and before they knew it, it was the day before the selection round. After finishing their last training session, the three men headed down to the dining hall for dinner. However, what awaited them there was a luxurious banquet of a completely different level than before. The three men were well aware of the circumstances of the Earl’s situation. It must have been quite a challenge to prepare such a splendid banquet. Nevertheless, even though it was the last day, she went out of her way to treat us.
But even on the last day, she went out of her way for us.
At that moment, suddenly, Prodia’s voice was heard from behind.
“Have you come?”
The three men turned around.
There, Prodia was standing with a different look than usual.
She, who used to wear only monotonous one-piece dresses in neutral colors every day, was wearing a beautiful dress today.
The violet color, similar to her eye color, suited her extremely well.
Moreover, she had lifted her hair, exposing her white neckline.
Seeing her in this state made everyone’s hearts pound.
However, whether a storm occurred in their hearts or not, Prodia didn’t notice at all.
“Everyone, thank you for your hard work so far. Since there’s no etiquette training today, please enjoy yourselves to your heart’s content.”
Upon hearing this, everyone snapped to attention.
She had deliberately prepared this place. So, we should enjoy it with gratitude.
Soon, everyone forgot all their hardships and began to eat and drink joyfully.
Even during the banquet, as they enjoyed their meal, their posture remained impeccable thanks to the etiquette they had learned.
As the atmosphere relaxed, Prodia stood up from her seat and lightly tapped her glass.
“You’ve all done remarkably well following my training process, which couldn’t have been easy. Even if you were to become a Bumaga right now, it wouldn’t be awkward at all. Oh, of course, there’s only one winner.”
Saying that, Prodia looked at Irtis.
Only then did Irtis realize.
What am I doing sitting here?
‘…Right, that’s it. I have to win.’
He slowly raised his glass.
“I entrust myself to you all.”
Upon hearing this, Ed and Luka also raised their glasses.
“Don’t worry, Grand Mage. No matter what happens, this Ed Freeh will make sure you win!”
“For Irtis, who will become a Bumaga, cheers!”
The four clinked their glasses.
The drink Prodia prepared was a low-alcohol and sweet aperitif.
Just in case someone ended up drinking too much and it affected the exam tomorrow.
But that slightly sweet alcohol felt different to Irtis.
‘Why does the taste of alcohol feel bitter?’
It wasn’t like he was usually weak with alcohol.
No matter how much he thought about it, no suitable reason came to mind.
Perhaps the training so far had been too demanding.
Thinking that he should go to bed early today, Irtis wrinkled his face and quickly emptied his glass.
After the meal.
When the three men arrived in front of their dormitory, they were surprised.
A beautiful portrait of Princess Arlene was hanging prominently across from their lodgings.
Prodia, who had approached unnoticed, explained the reason for hanging the portrait here.
“It’s like mental training. From tomorrow, you should become participants who secretly love the princess.”
“It’s like mental training. Starting tomorrow, you should become participants secretly in love with the princess.”
If Luca really falls in love with the princess, it would be even better.
With such thoughts in her mind, Prodia smiled at the three men.
“Well then, I hope you all have sweet dreams. I’ll come wake you up tomorrow morning.”
With that, Prodia disappeared into her room.
Irtis and Ed, looking at the portrait, went straight into their rooms.
But Luca stayed there, gazing intently at the princess’s portrait.
For some reason, he found the situation amusing.
Prodia’s intentions were crystal clear to him.
‘What she’s doing is really cute.’
How many more times do I have to say it for you to believe?
In my eyes, you’re the most beautiful.
Luca knew that Prodia had been particularly hard on him during training.
Of course, his skills were the lowest among the three, but that wasn’t the main reason.
It was probably to detach affection from Prodia.
Every time, Luca couldn’t help but laugh.
Torturing me like this is useless.
Even if you bring the continent’s most beautiful woman, it’s the same.
‘I’ll strive to stay by your side from tomorrow.’
Wait and see how cool I become.
What I want is not the princess, but you.
Luca turned his head away from the portrait and entered the dormitory.
Male lead is a Divorced Husband
She said to him: “Tell me, what makes you like me? I’ll change it!”
Liu Changning transmigrated into a female cannon fodder character in a female-dominant novel.
After reading the first half of the novel’s plot, the first thing she did upon transmigration was to divorce the Pan Jinlian-style male protagonist she had just married.
She indulged herself, pretending to be ugly and poor.
But as time passed, the way that man looked at her became more and more unusual…
Liu Changning was dumbfounded: Tell me, what makes you like me? I’ll change!
――
This lifetime, Pei Yuanshao was rejected by the same woman twice!
The first time, she drove him away. Forced by the situation, he endured the waves of anger in his heart, yielding and humbling himself.
That person lay slanted on a rocking chair, her sallow face emotionless: “If you don’t want a divorce, go cook!”
Pei Yuanshao’s face was dark and gloomy: “You!”
The second time, after the crisis in Jinling City was resolved, the new emperor sent someone to pick him up. He turned around, stammering: “I… I have to go. If you keep me…”
That person lay on the kang bed, her back to him, as if she had long anticipated this day, crisp and clear: “Goodbye!”
Pei Yuanshao was so angry his fingers trembled: “You… you!”
The mission of family and country made him restrain himself, averting his eyes and turning to leave this broken household.
Two years later, they met again. Seeing her ethereal face, his body shook like a sieve.
“She was originally a ‘she’!”
At the Qionglin Banquet, the top scholar of the imperial examination, a talented person with exceptional speech and conduct, all the unmarried young gentlemen from aristocratic families looked at her with shy and timid eyes.
The peerless imperial official Pei Yuanshao felt the anger in his heart erupt. He pointed at the woman surrounded by the crowd at the Qionglin Banquet, his thin lips slightly curled: “Little sister, I wants that person to be the wife-master of my Mingde Prince Manor.”
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