Surviving as the Adopted Daughter of the Genius Duke (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 13
“May I request a dance?”
The boy who had helped me several times before was standing before me once again. Upon recognizing the owner of the hand, I was so startled that nonsense tumbled out of my mouth before I could stop myself.
“Oh! That prince.”
I instantly regretted it the moment I spoke, but it was already too late. The boy’s green eyes sparkled mischievously.
“A prince?”
“Oh—no, I misspoke…”
I must have played too hard with Olivia.
Despite my blunder, the boy didn’t withdraw his outstretched hand.
“Well, it’s true. I am Hith Kxia, the First Prince of the Kingdom of Kxia.”
Hith Kxia. I’d seen that name before in the original story—probably just Esmeralda’s number one admirer.
Merely a narrative device to highlight Esmeralda’s charm, like, “Even princes from neighboring nations fall for her, though she’s from a humble baronial family!”
But right now, instead of hovering around Esmeralda, Hith was offering his hand to me. Without thinking, I reached out and took it as he smiled brightly.
“I am Reina Istira of House Istira.”
Just as I was about to shake his hand, Hith brought it to his lips and kissed the air above it.
I tried hard not to flinch in surprise. The customs of this world really were hard to get used to.
Fortunately, I hadn’t committed any grave offense—Hith just smiled cheerfully.
“So I’ll take that as acceptance of my dance request?”
“Yes. But…”
He’d helped me before, after all, so I felt I should at least give him fair warning.
“I’m not very good at dancing—will that be alright?”
Hith gently tugged my hand like a true gentleman.
“It’s fine—I’ll lead you well.”
As we assumed our positions and began stepping to the music, the couples dancing in the center naturally parted to make way for us.
Thanks to Hith’s height—easily a head taller than me—and his skillful leading, our dance looked perfectly graceful from the outside.
Only my feet, hidden beneath my dress, told a different story.
I studied Hith carefully.
He kept a gentle smile the whole time, but the slight crinkles at the corners of his eyes suggested he was enduring some pain.
“I’m sorry—you had no idea I’d dance this badly, did you? Ugh, you really should’ve gone to another young lady when I warned you… What did your toes ever do to deserve this?”
Hith burst into laughter and shook his head.
“I specifically wanted to dance with you.”
Even at his young age, Hith had a way with words—exactly the type who’d break many hearts later in life.
“Haha, really? I suppose I do stand out a bit…”
There couldn’t possibly be another potato wrapped in such expensive packaging in the whole world.
“Actually, my mother had someone else in mind for me to ask to dance—but I chose you, Lady Reina, because you caught my eye.”
With eyes as clear as crystal, Hith delivered his pick-up line straight to the point.
“Why did I catch your eye?”
This would’ve been utterly impossible in the original story.
In the original, the duke’s daughter was shunned by everyone due to her lowly birth and violent temper. No one ever spoke to her at social gatherings.
Only Esmeralda occasionally showed her kindness, but the resentful duke’s daughter interpreted even that as condescension and ended up tormenting the heroine instead.
“I know your secret, Your Grace.”
Under the chandelier’s glow, Hith’s eyes gleamed playfully.
“My secret?”
“Dragonhide. While ordinary noble families might rarely see it, the royal house of Kxia has passed down a dragonhide vest as a treasured heirloom.”
Hith grinned.
“My father has said many times it’s the ultimate shield—impenetrable by anything. Summer downpours, battlefield arrow storms, monsters’ sharp fangs, even sticky strawberry jam.”
He leaned closer to me.
“I was quite impressed—by how skillfully you pulled off that bluff.”
His teasing made me chuckle despite myself.
“Oh dear, I’ve been caught.”
I shrugged once.
“But to say you liked my lie—that’s rather odd of you.”
“You’re the first young lady my age I’ve ever seen who can lie without changing her expression even a bit.”
It sounded like a compliment, yet I couldn’t tell whether to feel pleased or offended—it was truly ambiguous.
“That brings me to my point.”
Hith’s playful gaze grew serious.
“What do you think about an engagement to me?”
I almost laughed, but seeing his earnest expression, I swallowed it down. This clearly wasn’t a joke.
I let out a deep sigh.
To receive a proposal I’d never gotten in my past life—twice within just a few days in this one.
It should’ve been flattering to be confessed to, but coming from little kids, all I could do was sigh heavily. I bit back the urge to say, “Sweetheart, you’re at least ten years too young,” and instead declined gently.
“A sudden engagement… it’s a bit overwhelming.”
Despite my reluctance, Hith didn’t lose his smile.
“I’m not proposing a real engagement.”
“You don’t mean…”
“A contractual engagement.”
In the end, my steps faltered.
As if someone had declared this wasn’t a romance fantasy novel.
Hith was offering me the most clichéd of clichés—but that sort of thing was meant for the female lead, not me. I couldn’t fathom why he’d chosen me.
Even with my clumsy steps, Hith smoothly continued the dance.
“When I introduced myself earlier, I mentioned I’m the First Prince of the Kingdom of Kxia.”
I began to understand.
“So you’re not the crown prince.”
Hith smiled faintly at my words.
“Exactly—so it seems my choice wasn’t mistaken after all.”
Here’s the gist of it:
Because Hith’s mother had been deposed, the royal succession had grown uncertain between him and the new queen’s son. He wanted to secure his precarious position by forging a bond with House Istira.
I looked at Hith with mixed feelings.
Though he stood a head taller than me, in my eyes he was still just a child.
It was heartbreaking to see a boy whose biggest worry should’ve been saving up enough pocket money to buy cup-bap after school casually discussing “succession politics” and “contractual engagements.”
But this was simply the reality of this world—and my own situation wasn’t exactly enviable either.
“So, what’s in it for me?”
Hith nodded.
“Good question. For starters, I’ll fully support all your social activities. Though House Istira is prestigious, your family rarely participates in society, leaving your standing rather ambiguous. I’ll help solidify your position.”
Seeing my dubious expression, Hith quickly added,
“Is there anything else you’d particularly like, Your Grace?”
“Money. Anything as long as it’s money.”
Hith’s smile momentarily cracked—it was the look one gives a monster birthed by capitalism. But he quickly composed himself and nodded.
“I can arrange money for you.”
“Not just any money. It must be easily convertible assets or cash deposited directly into an account under my name at a reputable bank.”
Once I started living as a commoner, I couldn’t very well walk into the market carrying gold coins.
Though the ducal household did give me gold and various expensive items, converting them to cash remained an issue.
Without caution, I’d end up getting swindled—losing both my nose and my eyes wide open.
“And if there’s an allowance for fiancés, that’d be even better.”
Hith choked and began coughing violently. After a long fit, he finally calmed down and nodded weakly.
“Yes. The exact amount will need discussion, but I can certainly provide that much.”
His easy agreement surprised me. I felt oddly uneasy, as if I’d just extorted pocket change from a child.
“Are you really sure about this?”
My conscience finally got the better of me.
“You seem to have chosen me based on my connection to House Istira… But as you saw today, there’s a bit of a discrepancy in calling me a true Istira. Honestly, given my background, I’m not sure how I could possibly help you.”
“No—seeing what happened today only strengthened my resolve. I truly believe we can be partners who benefit each other.”
“Well then.”
I beamed and gave a firm nod.
That was where my conscience drew the line. I’d given fair warning—if he willingly signed an unfair contract, it wasn’t my fault.
Just then, Esmeralda passed by us, dancing with some nameless young man. She kept laughing at whatever he said, yet her gaze subtly drifted toward Kirian, who was squirming in the duchess’s arms.
Suddenly curious, I asked,
“The young lady your mother wanted you to ask to dance—could it be…”
“The one who seemed familiar with Lady Reina? Was she Esmeralda Magine, daughter of Duke Magine?”
A strange sense of déjà vu washed over me.
The current Hith, who sought out Esmeralda. The original Hith, who appeared as Esmeralda’s devoted admirer.
It aligned perfectly with the original story, yet differed in subtle ways. I couldn’t tell where the original ended and this version began.
“Mother, Mother! Let go, please let go!”
Kirian wriggled violently, so the duchess simply hoisted him over her shoulder.
“How about some tasty treats, my Kirian?”
“I don’t wanna!”
All eyes in the room turned to Kirian. The nobles, accustomed to his usual prickly but well-behaved demeanor, were utterly shocked.
But Kirian had no time to care about their stares.
“I have to stop her!”
Undeterred, the duchess walked toward the snack table on the opposite side of the banquet hall.
Passing servants diligently cleaning up spilled food, she headed for the section displaying light finger foods, mindful that Kirian disliked sweets.
“Stop her? Your sister’s making a new friend—you should cheer her on.”
“No way!”
“Any particular reason why not?”
The duchess offered Kirian a thin cracker topped with salmon, but he shook his head.
“No way! Nuna’s my friend, my friend!”
The duchess gently smoothed Kirian’s hair.
“Having more friends is always a good thing.”
He’d been so difficult that he’d never made a single friend, which probably made him cling harder to his sister—but she didn’t find it particularly pitiful.
A little fussiness was understandable. Compared to the countless children who’d tearfully fled the ducal mansion, this seemed like karma.
“Nuna’s my friend! I don’t need anyone else!”
Seeing her son bury his face completely into her shoulder, the duchess’s heart softened—just a tiny bit.
“You can be best friends with Nuna. The closest among all your many friends.”
She held out the thin cracker.
“Now, stop fussing and eat this.”
When the music ended, Hith finished the dance with an elegant flourish.
“Then I’ll consider our contract settled.”
I shook my head.
“No—not yet.”
Hith raised an eyebrow.
“Already having second thoughts?”
I shook my head again, my eyes following the duchess, who had drifted far away by now.
“You seem to have forgotten—we’re not even ten years old yet. Your mother may have already given her consent, but I’m not in a position to just declare I want to get engaged.”
I pointed to the duke, who was speaking with the emperor, and the duchess, who was feeding Kirian a cracker.
“We need our parents’ permission first.”
Male lead is a clingy little husband
One-line summary: The male lead is initially an arrogant, noble, love-deprived brat, later a cute, clingy, scheming little jealous one.
Introduction:
One day, Lu Yuner’s soul transmigrates into a female-dominant world. She enters the Imperial Academy and takes up the position of a doctoral instructor, teaching classes and grading schoolwork.
One day, she encounters the young prince Su Qingwan secretly skipping class from the male academy.
As a result, Su Qingwan is punished.
From then on, Su Qingwan sees Lu Yuner as a “thorn in his side”.
But before long, this “thorn” becomes the person he cherishes most, and he goes to great lengths to win Lu Yuner’s affection.
Mini scene 1:
One day, the sun is high in the sky but Su Qingwan still hasn’t gotten up for class.
Servant Xiaoyuan: “Young prince, it’s time for class. You’ll be late otherwise.”
Su Qingwan says arrogantly: “I’m not going. I am the esteemed prince, my status is so noble, why should I suffer this hardship? Besides, isn’t learning all this just to please women? Hmph, they’re not worthy!”
Mini scene 2:
After Su Qingwan falls for someone, he completely changes. He no longer skips class and diligently learns how to be a good husband and father. But he discovers that Sister Yuner is always surrounded by admirers.
Drunk and overcome with jealousy one day, he clings to Lu Yuner, crying beautifully like a pear blossom in the rain.
Su Qingwan: “Qingwan likes Sister Yuner.”
Lu Yuner: “Young prince, you’re drunk.”
Su Qingwan: “Qingwan isn’t drunk. Qingwan likes Sister Yuner, likes you so much, likes you to bits…” Before he can finish, Lu Yuner’s eyes flash with emotion and she leans in closer.
[Reading Guide]
1. The female lead is gentle, gracious, humble and polite but not weak. The male lead is initially an arrogant, noble, love-deprived brat, later a cute, clingy, scheming little jealous one.
2. 1v1, a bit torturous in the beginning but definitely sweet later on.
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BWAHAHAHAH if only we all had a buff in life 🫡🫡it should be tha easy 😩