Rumors about a duel between Duke Elyos and the 1st Prince spread quickly. Furthermore, the news of a duel where they staked their lives without proxies greatly unsettled the social circles of Lisandro.
“It’s said that the Duke challenged the 1st Prince to a duel first!”
“They say they’re dueling to protect the honor of the Grand Duchess and the 2nd Prince… I wonder if that rumor is true.”
“Rumors say that the 2nd Prince was caught trying to force the Grand Duchess. It’s plausible for the 2nd Prince to do such a thing, and since it’s true, the Duke wouldn’t go this far without reason, right?”
Severely beaten, the 2nd Prince, who was on the verge of death, still remained in a coma and hadn’t awakened. As a result, the unfortunate incident between the 2nd Prince and the Grand Duchess had not yet been subject to trial.
Empress Lisandro tried to hush things up as much as possible, but judging from the unfolding situation, perceptive nobles were already catching on to the details of the incident.
“Moreover… it’s said that the 2nd Prince tried to pin it on the 3rd Prince.”
“I wonder if the 3rd Prince will stay quiet again this time.”
Among those who gained attention due to this incident was Rainian. Despite facing invisible intrigues and opposition all this time, Rainian endured and remained silent against the unreasonable treatment he received.
However, Rainian changed this time. There was only one reason for Rainian’s transformation.
“…It’s because of me. What Lady Idel went through was because of me. I could only watch her in crisis without being able to do anything.”
Rainian’s composed face in front of the reception table crumpled with despair. Unable to contain his grief, he clenched both fists tightly. Despite his displeasure, Rainian’s opponent, Kairon, was silently cleaning his firearm.
“It’s all because of my incompetence and powerlessness.”
“You realize that only now.”
After Rainian’s self-blaming words, Kairon finally spoke.
“Prince Rainian, you’ve been enduring their oppression and enduring it. With such a weak attitude and soft thoughts, things can only turn out like this. Eventually, you’ll be ruthlessly victimized and have everything taken away.”
At Kairon’s cold words, Rainian’s shoulders trembled.
“If you want to protect something precious, strengthen yourself.”
Something precious… Rainian’s lake-like eyes quivered significantly in response to Kairon’s advice that seemed to awaken him.
One by one, the faces of those who cherished him flashed through his mind. Lastly, even the kind Imperial citizens…
“If the 1st Prince becomes the Emperor… they will all become unhappy.”
The vivid scene of the 1st Prince becoming Emperor played out in Rainian’s mind. Ophelia, along with those who supported him, would be ousted, and due to the foolish rule, the Imperial citizens would suffer.
Having already confirmed the incompetence of the 1st Prince in the past envoy meeting, Rainian, thinking about the future of his homeland, felt a darkening of his expression.
“No more… I won’t just stand by and watch. I will protect it myself.”
Rainian reasserted his commitment made during this incident. He didn’t want to experience the painful regret of not being able to protect what he wanted to protect.
The once crouching beast finally stood up. Looking at Rainian in that state, Kairon chuckled and finished handling the gun, placing it inside his coat.
“Yeah. If you want to protect it… stake your life.”
With a short but meaningful statement towards Rainian, Kairon passed by him, heading towards the door. As he walked past Rainian, who was looking at him, Kairon asked in a low voice.
“…Duke, are you staking your life?”
Although he heard the news late due to receiving treatment yesterday, the Duke, who challenged the 1st Prince to a duel, was scheduled to hold the duel at noon today.
As Rainian observed Kairon, who was about to face the imminent duel, a faint worry and restlessness appeared on Rainian’s face.
“To take the opponent’s life, I must stake my own.”
“…Make sure to win.”
In response to the indifferent and dry reply from the stoic Duke, Rainian earnestly appealed with a serious expression.
“If the Duke doesn’t come out unscathed… Lady Idel will be saddened.”
At Rainian’s mention of Idel, Kairon, who had gripped the door handle, paused for a moment. After a brief silence, without turning his head, Kairon spoke in a low voice.
“If there comes a situation where I can’t protect Idel… then, at that time, protect her in my place.”
“…!”
“Well, such a situation probably won’t arise.”
Whether it was a joke or a sincere remark, Rainian’s face froze in surprise. Stepping out of the room, Kairon’s footsteps were directed toward a door from which sobbing sounds emanated.
“Heuk… Grand Duchess…”
With tearful eyes, Vienne brought a cold towel to Idel’s face as she lay sleeping. The white cheek that had been struck by 2nd Prince’s slap was bruised with a purplish tint. The cracked lips, stained with blood, appeared pale without vitality.
Male lead is a Divorced Husband
She said to him: “Tell me, what makes you like me? I’ll change it!”
Liu Changning transmigrated into a female cannon fodder character in a female-dominant novel.
After reading the first half of the novel’s plot, the first thing she did upon transmigration was to divorce the Pan Jinlian-style male protagonist she had just married.
She indulged herself, pretending to be ugly and poor.
But as time passed, the way that man looked at her became more and more unusual…
Liu Changning was dumbfounded: Tell me, what makes you like me? I’ll change!
――
This lifetime, Pei Yuanshao was rejected by the same woman twice!
The first time, she drove him away. Forced by the situation, he endured the waves of anger in his heart, yielding and humbling himself.
That person lay slanted on a rocking chair, her sallow face emotionless: “If you don’t want a divorce, go cook!”
Pei Yuanshao’s face was dark and gloomy: “You!”
The second time, after the crisis in Jinling City was resolved, the new emperor sent someone to pick him up. He turned around, stammering: “I… I have to go. If you keep me…”
That person lay on the kang bed, her back to him, as if she had long anticipated this day, crisp and clear: “Goodbye!”
Pei Yuanshao was so angry his fingers trembled: “You… you!”
The mission of family and country made him restrain himself, averting his eyes and turning to leave this broken household.
Two years later, they met again. Seeing her ethereal face, his body shook like a sieve.
“She was originally a ‘she’!”
At the Qionglin Banquet, the top scholar of the imperial examination, a talented person with exceptional speech and conduct, all the unmarried young gentlemen from aristocratic families looked at her with shy and timid eyes.
The peerless imperial official Pei Yuanshao felt the anger in his heart erupt. He pointed at the woman surrounded by the crowd at the Qionglin Banquet, his thin lips slightly curled: “Little sister, I wants that person to be the wife-master of my Mingde Prince Manor.”
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