In response to the voice from behind, Cheshire’s neck felt cold.
He shouldn’t have forgotten. Calyx resented Edden Creighton.
Contrary to the desperate heart, the pace of the soul didn’t rise. But I couldn’t rest. I made an effort to move my legs, heavy like rocks, and urged my steps in my own way.
I heard that I wouldn’t be able to kill the slaves due to manpower issues from my brother, but I couldn’t completely let my guard down. According to slave law, escaped slaves could be disposed of without punishment. Moreover, the enemies were well-prepared for repeated escapes. I didn’t know what variables might exist.
Especially in the mountains, the situation was uncertain. I couldn’t know if Bake had suppressed the rebellion or released people to find me. I had to consider the possibility that my disappearance might not have been conveyed.
‘You must believe me.’
I deliberately moved without covering my face, but I couldn’t be sure if the enemies knew my face. It was not an exaggeration; they might mistake me for a slave who escaped before getting close.
“Stop. Don’t move.”
As if it is now.
I quickly took a deep breath at the voice coming from behind. I didn’t feel any signs, but it was there.
“Is it an escaped slave?”
“Do I look like a slave?”
I lowered my voice, revealing the uncomfortable feeling. Then, I quickly turned my body in the direction where the voice was heard.
“What’s this all about? Get out right now.”
As soon as I turned around, my mouth dried up at the sight of the razor-sharp blade. But I couldn’t show it.
I deliberately focused on my eyes and put on a confident expression.
“I am Livianna Creighton, the mistress of Marquis Creighton.”
“Marquis Creighton’s wife?”
“Yes. So right now…”
I couldn’t continue speaking and swallowed my breath.
The tip of the sword came closer. There was more than a foot of distance between me and the sword, but that wouldn’t be a problem for the man.
Originally, I hadn’t even noticed him approaching so closely.
“Is it now that I get to see that noble face?”
“…”
He wasn’t one of Bake’s men.
The man who came out of the shadow took off the deeply pressed hat.
I looked at the unfamiliar face and instinctively frowned.
The man didn’t have the appearance of the typical Imperial. Still, I seemed to know who he was.
Looking up at the man, I recalled the words of Duke Pyern. The man in front of me strangely resembled the words of Duke Pyern, who looked as if he could chew on meat.
He was of the rumored immigrant tribe.
“Hmm, not as pretty as the rumors say, huh? Clearly not attractive with that lean body. Honestly, Pim is prettier.”
“…”
“Well, anyway, now that we’ve found you, let’s get out of here.”
The man, who had been shouting alone, lightly shook the sword as if it were a toy. His casual attitude with a dangerous weapon didn’t look good.
“…Who sent you?”
“Didn’t you already know?”
The man smirked. The story of Duke Pyern accepting the immigrant tribe as soldiers was a well-known tale.
“Still, it’s fortunate that we found you early. We were worried about the shortage of personnel.”
“What does that mean?”
“You can’t always play with fire.”
“…Is it you?”
“Searching with a predetermined number has its limits.”
Suddenly, my brother’s words came to mind. Before leaving, my brother commented that it was a bit strange to adopt the hunter’s approach rather than the formal military.
“Have you ever considered that you might be more noticeable?”
“I’ve never claimed to have started a fire. I just gave my opinion.”
“…”
“You seem to want to ask if I deceived you with my appearance, but we don’t all look like me.”
“Do you have a companion?”
“Even they are scattered due to the search, but they should be able to rejoin us soon.”
The goal has been achieved. The man gestured to me with one eye narrowed.
I clenched my fists and took a step back.
“Aren’t you going?”
“I need to buy some time. I can’t go with you.”
“Time? Do you also have companions?”
“That’s…”
I was about to speak but stopped. It was because the angry face of Duke Pyern came to mind. I couldn’t be sure if Duke Pyern would turn a blind eye to my brother.
Regardless of whether Duke Pyern would be an enemy, my brother was the only one for me.
“Could it be a hidden lover?”
“…”
“Oh my, our poor commander. In the end, you’ve been played.”
The man, misunderstanding the silence oddly, rubbed his forehead. It wasn’t like that, but I couldn’t think of another way to explain.
“Twice! With the same woman!”
Above all, the man, who folded his fingers to represent the number 2 and laughed, seemed quite pleased.
“Didn’t expect another man, but don’t worry. You know, the commander doesn’t look like a fool because of his appearance.”
“…”
“As long as we’re at it, we might as well save that lover guy too.”
The man thumped his chest as if showing off, but it didn’t instill much confidence. It was unclear whether his self-assured expression stemmed from skill or mere arrogance.
I was lost in thought for a moment before lifting my head. Looking at my figure reflected in the fidgeting man’s eyes, my mind suddenly cleared. Amid the repeated anxious situations, I had been preoccupied only with the immediate problem for some time.
That wasn’t right. I took a quick deep breath. I almost made a mistake.
I couldn’t go back to Crayton quietly.
“How many search personnel are there? Is the raid over by any chance?”
“Why are you suddenly curious about that?”
“Even if you bring in troops, there must be a limit to the number due to the vast territory. They probably can’t dig deep and are conducting a superficial search. That’s why the suggestion to start a fire was accepted.”
As I spoke quickly, my mind gradually became calm. I took a deep breath and opened my mouth again.
“I will stay here.”
“What are you talking about? You’re staying!”
“There’s a cave where we stayed over there. Lie that the search in that area is done. After that, spread rumors from a distance. Let the search direction be focused there.”
“I have no idea what my wife is talking about.”
The man openly clicked his tongue as if in disbelief. I didn’t yield and continued speaking.
“I’ve been kidnapped now.”
“Are you calling it a kidnapping when you’ve run out on your own?”
“To Felt Fawn Biden.”
“Nonsense.”
“What does the truth matter? Just make them believe that.”
The man, who had been laughing without reason, froze. I stared at him straight.
If I go back like this, nothing will be accomplished. Rather than extinguishing the carefully planted spark, my task was to fan it into a roaring flame.
Male lead fell into her trap — and shattered when she walked away
This is also on my reread list!
This one is a slow burn, but when it burns, it burns hard.
Definitely worth a read, y’all!
The story follows a thousand-year-old seductive spirit who, on a bet, sets out to charm the male lead—a once-promising but unfortunate cultivator.
But just when she succeeds in making him fall for her, she heartlessly leaves, driving him to madness.
Determined to find her at all costs, he captures her, keeping her by his side no matter what, even if she hates him.
I love this kind of trope—I enjoy watching the male lead suffer in agony.
The ending drags a bit with unnecessary filler, but that’s fine.
As long as I enjoy the beginning, I’m good.
Intro
As an enchantress, Su Heng possesses captivating eyes and charming beauty, easily manipulating the joys and sorrows of living beings at her fingertips.
But to enchant a god, making him taste the bitterness of love’s separation, long-lasting resentment, unattainable desires, and inability to let go…
Do you dare?
Su Heng assists a divine lord in his cultivation, aiming to make him experience all the sufferings of love, so that he can attain the Great Dao.
Only after being chased down from the heavens by the divine lord, confined and completely possessed by him, does she realize how successful she has been.
The once gentle and polite youth has transformed into someone she no longer recognizes.
[Touch the gear icon in the bottom right corner of the screen to move to the next chapter if you want.]
