“That’s good. Then get up immediately.”
As the Duke stood up, Gregory handed him his coat. Idel, surprised by the Duke’s sudden words, also stood up.
“Wwhat do you mean? Are you now…”
Seeing the Duke as if he was about to leave the Count’s house with Idel, the Countess asked with a shocked face. Roselin, too, cringed as if she couldn’t understand this situation.
“I’ll happily take her in if she’s being kicked out.”
“Nno way! She is to become the Countess…”
As the Count who was despondent at the news of taking Idel away, regained his senses and shouted. Interrupting the Count’s words, the Duke spoke with a cool tone.
“Count Shale. Do you want me to take interest in the deaths of all the previous Countesses in your house?”
“……!”
“I have no particular interest in the Count. But, only if you do not go against my will.”
Like a cornered rat, Count Shale was shivering. The Duke’s deep blue eyes seemed to already know everything, pressuring him.
“Even if you are the Duke… you have no right to take Idel away…”
The Countess said with a crawling voice, as if she couldn’t let go. The Duke was scary, but by what right was he going to take Idel, who he met for the first time today?
“I have the right. Because she will become ‘my’ Duchess.”
“Du, Duchess!”
The Countess and Roselin’s eyes were filled with astonishment. Even Count Shale, who couldn’t speak because he was overwhelmed by the Duke’s spirit, was the same.
There was another person who was surprised here. It was Gregory, the adjutant. His mouth gaped at the Duke’s unexpected announcement that he had never heard before.
‘How did the adjutant suddenly become a Duchess?’
The original purpose of visiting the Earl’s house was to deliver Idel’s acceptance letter to the Empire University and scout her as an adjutant to the Duke’s house.
Gregory, who was sharp, quickly understood the situation Idel was in. He also knew that the Duke was helping her get out of an unwanted marriage.
Of course, he thought she would be brought in as an adjutant to the Duke’s house, but he couldn’t hide his surprise at Caeron’s words about bringing her in as a Duchess. However, he managed to quickly regain his composure as a capable adjutant.
“Sister, suddenly becoming a Duchess… is this real?”
From becoming a plaything of a perverted Count to becoming the only noble Duchess in the empire. Roselin couldn’t accept this fact. Roselin glared at Idel with eyes that were turning blue with jealousy and envy.
“It’s true. I promised to marry the Duke.”
At Idel’s reply, Roselin couldn’t stand properly as if she would collapse. The Countess also mumbled, “It can’t be,” with a lost look. Seeing their reactions, Idel felt somewhat relieved.
“Let’s go.”
The Duke wrapped the coat he was holding around her shoulders. It was a consideration for the still chilly outside air. His large coat wrapping around her felt somehow like a solid protective barrier.
Caeron extended a hand for her escort. A small, pale hand hesitated for a moment before gently coming down. The soft touch of her hand in his brought a satisfied smile to his lips.
“The prospective Duchess will be taken to the Duke’s house first. I will personally speak to the Count Fleur about the marriage arrangements. You should be aware of that.”
It was a pointed remark about the improper progression of their betrothal in the absence of the Count. The Countess was taken aback, unable to utter a word, and she could only watch their retreating figures as they left the dining room.
“Miss Idel!”
As Idel was about to step out of the front door with the Duke, Bien, her maid, ran over hurriedly with a bag.
She had no lingering attachments to the Count’s house, but the one thing that troubled her was Bien. The girl from a fallen family had ties with the Count’s house. She had intended to make a clean break and leave her…
“Take this. I’ve packed your favorite books and some clothes.”
“Bien…”
“Miss, you must be happy.”
“Thank you, Bien.”
It was a short exchange, but their feelings could be understood by just looking into each other’s eyes.
Watching this, Gregory received the bag Bien had prepared. He then guided them to where the Duke’s carriage was parked.
“Let’s go. This way.”
As Idel exited the Count’s house, her feelings mixed. She stumbled momentarily, as if the tension had loosened upon escaping the suffocating space. Sensing this, Caeron firmly wrapped an arm around her shoulder.
“Are you alright?”
“Ah… Thank you, Your Grace.”
Clasping onto the hem of his coat, Idel felt a slow wave of emotion spreading from the depths of her heart. It was a feeling she had never experienced before, a sense of stability that came from another’s presence, even knowing his actions were borne out of a ‘contract’.
You passed this year’s imperial university entrance exam. As the top student in political science.
Really?
It’s too early to be happy. Even if you graduate from the imperial university, according to the law, only divorced women can have a job to make a living.
What? Is that true? I didn’t know about that law…
It’s understandable. It’s a law established at the founding of the Eupiter Empire. However, nobility still exists and this law is still valid. It will be hard for you to have a job, even if you have a degree, unless you are a divorced woman.
How can it be…!
I will provide you with the divorce papers you need. If you become the Duchess for three years while you graduate from the imperial university.
Duchess! Are you… talking about me?
Yes. I highly value your scholarship. If you take care of the administration of the Duke’s house during the contract period, I will support you to go to the imperial university, and after graduation, I will divorce you as you wish.
The only way for a noble woman to have a job and become independent is divorce… It felt like she had hit a dead end aiming just for graduation. The offer of the Duchess contract was too tempting to refuse.
Her keen senses warned her. She noticed the deep blue of his eyes flickering as he looked at her during their conversation. She didn’t yet know what the meaning of his hot gaze, like blue lava, was.
Knowing that, she had no choice but to take his hand. A flower that had been exhausted by the storm entrusted itself to the firm hand that held it.
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.]
