Arriving at the audience room with a polite greeting, Karaf calmly spoke to him.
“I heard that beautiful swallowtail flowers bloom every year in the Violet family.”
“Yes, that’s correct. I was planning to present flowers to Lady Bannet soon.”
At that remark, Karaf let out a bitter smile.
“That’s quite a grateful thing to say. The reason I called you is also for the same purpose.”
With those words, Viscount Violet raised his head in slight surprise.
“From now on, send the freshest swallowtail flowers grown in your mansion to the Hwanghugung every day. The empress really likes purple flowers. I’ll give you a reward befitting your efforts. You won’t find it lacking either.”
The viscount exclaimed with great gratitude, “Thank you very much, Your Majesty! I will dedicate the freshest flowers of my family with honor!”
“Yes, I’m counting on you.”
When the viscount first arrived, his face was tense, but when he left, he wore a greatly excited expression.
Seeing his innocent-looking back that seemed foolishly pure, Karaf sighed again with guilt.
Could this somewhat settle my past mistakes?
If Asha’s mood could be somewhat relieved, there seemed to be nothing more to wish for.
Having learned about this only now, Asha, with a gentle expression, said, “Thanks to the viscount, I can see fresh flowers in the morning sunshine every day, making my eyes happy.”
At her words, the viscount genuinely showed an expression of gratitude.
As the two conversed, nobles around them began to pay attention, observing them with interest or pretending to do something else.
Since the flower arrangement event was practically chosen by Bannet, everyone was sensitively reacting to her every word and action.
The women who had behaved rudely to Asha at the tea party last time hadn’t felt any remorse, but the onlookers seemed to be taking the opportunity to strike up a conversation with her to become friends.
Although Asha graciously thanked some noblewomen who were presenting thick history books, she stifled her laughter inwardly.
It seemed that Nia was executing the plan well.
Because so many authors were presenting books, stacks of thick books were piling up next to the chair.
They smiled at Asha but exchanged cautious glances with each other, eyes that were suddenly inquisitive as if asking, “You insulted Bannet, and now you’re changing your stance?”
Getting gifts, winning favor, choosing nobles to be close to, and making themselves wary of each other—It was a threefold strategy.
While carrying out Asha’s orders, Nia was secretly surprised and impressed by the way she controlled the nobles with unexpected methods.
Even Asha, who was constantly receiving and responding to greetings, was finding it increasingly difficult to smile with paralysis slowly spreading across her face.
Worried that Karaf would be tired, it turned out that the social activities were indeed several times more exhausting than usual, especially since he had never experienced such favorable attention and interest before.
However, at that moment, Karaf approached her to protect her.
“…I’d like to request a dance from the most beautiful lady at this ball.”
Karaf gently smiled and kissed the back of her hand.
At his cheeky words, the noblewomen around them buzzed and chatted excitedly among themselves.
Asha responded with a playful smile, “Sure, Your Majesty.”
Viscount Violet politely greeted Karaf and left his place.
As Asha and Karaf took their positions in the center of the dance floor, nobles around them also stood with their partners a little apart, facing each other.
Soon, the music played, and the two began to dance slowly.
Despite their poker faces, Asha, noticing how tense and focused he was, asked teasingly, “Your Majesty, are you nervous?”
“No.”
“Right now, you’re dancing very formally and stiffly.”
“…”
Karaf’s ears reddened slightly, but he continued to move resolutely, as if determined to lead, and Asha followed suit.
She didn’t forget to praise him, knowing he liked compliments.
“Your Majesty, you seem to dance very well.”
“Well, there’s nothing I can’t do in this world.”
Asha burst into genuine laughter.
After one dance, partners exchanged polite farewells.
Sweating a bit from the dance, Asha, holding champagne, headed to the balcony to catch some fresh air.
While gazing at the night sky for a moment, someone pulled the curtain and approached.
“Lady Bannet.”
Under the fluttering pink hair beneath the beautiful night sky, Asha spoke.
“Viscount Blossom.”
It was the man Nia suggested to keep a distance from.
He placed one hand on his chest and slightly bowed.
“I dared to follow you as I desired to have a private conversation with you, Lady Bannet. Please forgive my rudeness.”
“Do you have something to say to me?”
Asha asked gracefully, but she was genuinely curious inside.
He seemed very interested in her from the first time he saw her.
Despite openly showing favor, Asha didn’t trust the nobles.
Seeing that, Sihan smiled, raising one hand to his chest and slightly bowing.
“I have followed you with the desire to serve and assist Your Majesty. Having me by your side will likely be a great help. Please forgive my impudence.”
“Do you have such confidence?”
“I believe that you seem to be seeing Your Majesty with thorns, but you must be looking at the queen. I have come to ask for a favor.”
Asha felt a bit embarrassed internally.
Sihan chuckled and said, “Since you seem to be wielding thorns, it seems like you are indeed watching Your Majesty.”
Asha felt a bit ashamed inside.
Sihan continued with a relaxed smile, “I’ve come to ask for a favor, Lady Bannet. I think I can be a great support if you keep me by your side.”
Asha was a bit surprised by his directness, unlike other nobles who usually concealed their intentions.
“Why are you so sure?”
“I am someone who has sailed in the same boat with Your Majesty and Lady Bannet. So, I believe I can be of significant help.”
“I don’t quite understand what you’re saying.”
Sihan carefully looked beyond the terrace curtain, checking if there were any nobles eavesdropping and making sure there were no spies hiding below the terrace. Afterward, he turned his gaze back to Asha. Gradually, his expression became serious.
“I am someone who knows that Lady Bannet, like Your Majesty, has returned.”
Asha’s eyes widened.
Male lead is a Love-Obsessed Merman
When he discovers she has gone, he risks everything to pursue her on land, enduring agonizing pain to transform his tail into human legs…
One-line summary: Male lead chases female lead. The male lead’s love is a bit sick, an invincible love brain.
Synopsis
During a voyage at sea, Jiang Yang accidentally captures a merman.
Servant: I heard that mermen are fierce and brutal.
Jiang Yang looks at the merman obediently rubbing her palm like a puppy: “You call this fierce and brutal?”
Servant: I heard that mermen have no human nature.
Jiang Yang looks at the merman with wet puppy eyes, obsessively calling her ‘A Yang’ like a childish infant: “You call this having no human nature?”
With great difficulty, she releases the merman back into the sea and returns to shore.
Who would have thought that in less than half a month, the merman, who should have been freely wandering in the South China Sea, would shed his scales, endure the pain of losing his tail, transform into human legs, and come ashore to find her?
He kneels at her feet, rubbing her palm, with merman tears rolling down: “A Yang, don’t abandon me.”
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