The Duke Stole Everything - Chapter 39
They say people get tongue-tied when they’re too flustered.
Sharti put her hand to her head.
‘Husband? Newlyweds?’
Sharti, who had never even recognized others as potential romantic partners, let alone had a proper relationship until she turned 20, felt dizzy and feverish from the sudden misunderstanding.
“I’d appreciate it if you were more careful with your words from now on.”
While Sharti was in shock, Ren quickly finished giving a silent affirmation. Then he casually approached Sharti and stood behind her.
Standing behind her protectively made them look even more like a happily married couple.
“I’m sorry for suddenly barging in and interrupting your quality time together. I’ll be on my way now.”
With Ren shirtless as if he’d just showered, the merchant’s misunderstanding only deepened.
The merchant gathered his things and stood up.
“So that’s why you young newlyweds are living out here in the mountains.”
The misunderstanding was unintentionally growing deeper.
‘No! He’s not my husband!’
Sharti quickly waved her hands, but to the merchant it only looked like she was being shy.
Sharti alone struggled with the frustration.
“That’s not it.”
At that moment, Ren finally denied it.
His calm voice started to settle Sharti, but then Ren turned his head to look at her. His gaze, hidden by the towel, was conveyed clearly.
As Sharti flinched, Ren opened his mouth again.
“It’s because we’re passionate about our work.”
“…?”
“An environment where one can pursue knowledge and focus on research is important.”
“Ah, I see!”
“…?”
What exactly did he see?
Sharti just blinked, unable to follow the conversation between the two.
“No wonder the lady is so skilled, with such an understanding and supportive husband.”
“I’m trying my best to be of help.”
The merchant gave an admiring look at the seemingly warm newlywed couple.
‘No…’
Sharti, who had been watching Ren and the merchant’s exchange, made a sour expression.
Though he wasn’t intentionally deceiving, Ren’s words were being misinterpreted contrary to his intentions.
Meanwhile, the merchant’s eyes sparkled as he sidled up to Ren.
“As a merchant, I’m sure you know, but the medicines your wife makes are very popular.”
“She’s a skilled doctor. Good at treating and making effective medicines.”
“Yes, yes. That’s why I wanted to request a special medicine, but I gave up.”
“Why’s that?”
Ren’s voice held a note of curiosity.
The merchant chuckled.
“It seemed too much for your wife.”
“There’s no medicine she can’t make.”
Ren took pride in Sharti’s skills.
At his confident trust, Sharti reflexively looked up at Ren.
“Alone, it’s still… The medicine-making process is incredibly difficult, isn’t it?”
The merchant explained the medicine-making process in a subtle tone. Ren nodded at the mention of needing to test for side effects, efficacy, and duration.
And inwardly, he marveled.
Sharti must have been handling all of this alone until now.
“Of course, it would be possible if you helped her, sir.”
“…!”
Sharti finally noticed the merchant’s intention in telling Ren about the request she had declined. Ren was naively getting caught up in the merchant’s snake-like rhetoric.
As Sharti frowned and reached for a note to write on, it happened.
“I’ll help.”
Ren said, grabbing Sharti’s robe sleeve.
At his resolute voice, Sharti quickly shook her head.
‘Do you even know what you’re offering to help with?’
Urgently, Sharti grabbed Ren’s palm.
But Ren, noticing Sharti’s refusal, instead took her hand and leaned in to whisper in her ear.
“I’ll help with my body and soul, mistress.”
“…!”
“Without any lack.”
Sharti immediately covered her ear, tickled by his whisper, and moved away from him.
In her surprise, Sharti’s feet got tangled and she stumbled.
Ren quickly caught her body.
“Are you alright?”
For a moment, it seemed like there was a hint of laughter in his voice.
Sharti felt waves of embarrassment beyond confusion washing over her.
As Sharti struggled, asking to be let go, the corners of Ren’s mouth loosened into a smile.
“Then I’ll take that as accepting the request and be on my way, madam.”
Mistakenly thinking the newlyweds’ nauseating display of affection was about to begin in earnest, the merchant left the log cabin faster than the wind.
Sharti stared blankly at the spot where the merchant had disappeared, then finally covered her face weakly.
‘I… I don’t know anymore…’
Sharti had lost all motivation at this point.
Then Sharti came to her senses and checked her own appearance.
Ren was still holding her waist, not letting go.
‘He’s gone. Let go now.’
Tap tap. Sharti pressed on his forearm and gestured with her chin.
“…”
But Ren only removed the towel covering his head, not taking his hand off her.
“Sha-. I’m sorry.”
“…”
Sharti looked up at his dejected voice.
His blue-green eyes were shining sadly.
“My selfish good intentions scared you, and my stupid actions hurt you.”
Each word uttered slowly was heavy.
His eyes, focused solely on Sharti, were infinitely deep.
Sharti recalled the previous evening. Though it was she who had suffered from trauma and convulsions, he looked even more hurt.
[It’s okay. I’m here. I, I did wrong. Don’t cry. Don’t cry. Please, it’s alright, because I’m by your side.]His desperate, pleading whispers. His hands holding her even tighter than now. And her, crying in his arms.
These were memories that had comforted the anxiety she felt as soon as she opened her eyes today.
“And I really didn’t see your face.”
“…”
“So please, won’t you look at me now?”
The ends of his dark eyebrows drooped downwards.
Sharti opened and closed her mouth repeatedly.
She felt like an emotion, whether laughter or tears she couldn’t tell, was about to burst out of her mouth.
Sharti bit her trembling lips.
“…Sha?”
Ren watched her cautiously as he loosened his grip.
The moment she moved slightly away from him, Sharti poked him between the eyebrows.
“…?”
As Ren paused in surprise, his furrowed brow smoothed out.
Sharti smiled silently and opened her palm.
“I’m sorry.”
Hearing she was in pain, Ren immediately withdrew his hands.
“I…”
“…”
Ren stared at Sharti’s palm with his mouth tightly shut.
“But if it weren’t for me, you wouldn’t have cried.”
Sharti couldn’t immediately refute his guilt-ridden words.
His blue-green eyes shone painfully.
“So you’ve been wanting me to leave right away, even today.”
“…?”
Misunderstandings were piling up here too.
But since it was true that she had been avoiding Ren all day, Sharti felt remorseful.
She needed to quickly admit her mistake and clear up the misunderstanding.
“…It’s not?”
Sharti nodded her head vigorously.
Ren looked at her with skeptical eyes.
“If it’s not, then why… did you give me clothes?”
At Ren’s hesitant question, Sharti blinked.
Then Sharti lowered her gaze to check the pants he was wearing.
They were pants she had made for Ren.
“…”
Ren blinked in surprise.
An awkward silence briefly passed.
‘Is the misunderstanding cleared up?’
Then Ren tilted his head back and covered his face.
“Haaa…”
His sigh, pressed out tightly, and his red ears betrayed his state of mind.
It seemed the misunderstanding was cleared.
Sharti cocked her head as she watched Ren’s reaction.
‘But I’m sure I left both top and bottom at the door?’
She couldn’t understand why he had come out wearing only the pants.
And with nothing on top, at that.
Wasn’t that why the merchant’s misunderstanding had deepened?
‘…Right! The request!’
There was still a misunderstanding that needed to be corrected.
The thought of having to explain to Ren the contents of the unintentionally accepted request made her head spin.
As Sharti looked at Ren with troubled eyes, she suddenly recalled his whispered words.
[I’ll help with my body and soul, mistress.]Sharti shuddered.
Seeing Ren’s well-toned muscles right in front of her made her face heat up in an instant.
Belatedly conscious of the embarrassment, Sharti searched for somewhere to look.
“I thought I’d have nothing to say even if I was kicked out.”
Ren mumbled, still covering his face.
Sharti pressed her lips tightly together.
Unable to deny it, her mouth felt bitter.
‘Maybe I even wished Ren would be gone.’
She didn’t want to explain to Ren the cause of her seizures, and she didn’t want to face the fear of having shown her face.
Perhaps that’s why she had avoided him, using the excuse that her body ached as if beaten after every seizure.
“…”
Sharti rubbed her throat.
Enduring the pain in her throat that still stung as if burned, she strained her voice.
“Am I really not strange?”
“…What?”
“I have so many suspicious, hideous, terrible secrets.”
It was unnecessary to say.
What good would come from putting herself down like this.
Nevertheless, Sharti spoke following her heart rather than her head.
“You should be the one avoiding me, not the other way around.”
She was harboring vain hopes right now.
It was no different from testing Ren, and a wry smile escaped her.
Sharti stared steadily at the silent Ren.
“So why do you keep trying to get involved with me? Every time you do, I feel uncomfortable and scared.”
“…”
“Every word you say, every action you take makes me anxious.”
“Why?”
At his toneless voice, Sharti’s fingertips trembled.
Under his gaze that pierced through her cowardly inner thoughts, Sharti clutched at her clothes.
“Didn’t you already conclude that I’m someone who will leave you tomorrow? You weren’t too concerned about revealing secrets, so why the sudden change?”
Sharti couldn’t refute his words that struck at the truth.
Using her stinging throat as an excuse, Sharti was about to close her mouth when:
“Let me say one thing too. Yes, Sha, I find you strange.”
“…!”
“Why are you so nice to me? Did you pity me as an injured patient? Did it feel like raising a pet?”
Sharti was taken aback by the sudden sarcastic tone.
“And then why are you trying to send me away when I haven’t even recovered my memories? Did you forget your promise? And! What makes you feel safe sending me away when I’ve discovered your secrets?”
“Ah, no… Grandma Bireta will take care of you, so…”
“It’s not like that old lady will watch me day and night, how do you plan to keep someone’s mouth shut?”
“…”
Sharti’s mouth hung open, at a loss for words in the face of his relentless questioning.
But Ren paid no mind.
Rather, as if his feelings were hurt, he began to voice his disappointment.
“Being nice then ignoring, being careful then reckless, getting close then distant. I’m the one who’s been anxious about your every word and action, Sha.”
At the end, as if choked up, Ren turned his head away sharply.
As if holding back overwhelming emotions, Ren gritted his teeth, and Sharti fidgeted, not knowing what to do.
Faced with Ren’s unprecedented near-tantrum, she didn’t even feel the pain in her throat.
“B-but you clearly received an offer from Grandma Bireta…”
“It was just an offer, as I said. I haven’t given an answer yet.”
Sharti blinked, not understanding.
Wasn’t the answer already decided?
There was no reason not to go with Bireta.
“I… don’t want to leave this place.”
However, Ren’s chosen answer was different.
The sincerity wavering in his firm gaze was directed at Sharti.
“I like being with you.”
“…”
“Won’t you keep taking care of me?”
The heightened emotions from earlier were nowhere to be seen. His calm face was hiding his tension.
Captivated by Ren’s gaze, Sharti opened her mouth blankly.
“…But you need to find your memories.”
“…”
“There might be people waiting for you. You might have a place to return to.”
“That might be true.”
Ren shrugged and replied lightly.
His expression, which had been frozen and expressionless, softened considerably.
“But right now, your secrets are more important to me than my memories, Sha.”
A deep smile had already settled on Ren’s lips.
“I want to stay here and keep your secrets with you until your anxiety is covered by trust in me. That’s my decision right now.”
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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