“Accepting a woman from the Jupiter Empire as a companion. It’s a good idea.”
The unexpected reaction once again made the first prince’s eyes narrow.
In contrast, the second prince showed interest in an entirely different aspect, shifting in his seat.
“What’s this? Since you visited Jupiter… did you meet a woman there? I’ve heard that the women there have such fair and beautiful skin; is it true?”
The second prince looked eager, as if he wanted to visit the Jupiter Empire right away.
The first prince, driven by greed, and the second prince, driven by lust…
At the usual boring banquet with his halfbrothers, Reynion laughed aloud for the first time.
“We’ll see.”
He had already found her, but he had no intention of letting anyone know.
Reynion’s eyes deepened as he slightly clenched his fist. Despite having lived without desires, he didn’t want the jewel he had found this time to be taken by anyone.
He was unaware at the time that someone else had already discovered and securely claimed that jewel.
[This is the time separator]After the stormy first night passed, the next day,
As per the Duke’s orders, Idel rested in her room all day.
Leaning against the bed’s headboard and looking outside as it darkened, she slightly bit her lower lip.
Knock knock.
Startled by the knock, Idel flinched. The person who entered the room wasn’t who she had been thinking of.
“Your Highness, did you rest well? I’ve finished preparations for your departure tomorrow.”
It was Marlin, who had returned after preparing the Duchess’s luggage for the honeymoon. She immediately checked Idel’s complexion.
The Duchess, pale from the ordeal of the previous night, fortunately looked better than she had in the morning.
However, there was a hint of tension in her slightly stiff expression.
“Is there anything bothering you?”
“No, I’ve rested comfortably.”
She hesitated, fidgeting with the blanket on her lap, and then cautiously asked,
“Has the Duke…?”
Recalling the ‘duty of the Duchess’ the Duke had mentioned in the morning, she clenched the blanket tightly.
Her skin tightened, and every place he had touched on her body throbbed.
The memory of their first night together kept replaying in her mind, making her body and spirit sway uncontrollably.
No matter how much she tried to regain her composure, she couldn’t find a way to cope.
As time went on, her memories of him became clearer, and as the hour of his return approached, a strange tension enveloped her.
“His Highness will be returning late after finishing his work before the holiday. He said you should rest first.”
Ah… She sighed softly.
If he were to visit again tonight, the concerns she had about how to handle it faded, leaving her feeling a bit empty.
“You will board the train heading to the Duchy of Elyos tomorrow morning. Please get some rest early tonight.”
Looking at the Duchess’s face where relief and disappointment mysteriously coexisted, Marlin faintly smiled.
Indeed, the Duke, who was taking a vacation after a long time, had been busy wrapping up his external affairs.
The particular emphasis on not waiting up for his late return was the Duke’s consideration, hoping the weary Duchess would rest peacefully tonight.
However, Marlin believed this was the last respite he was giving her.
Upon hearing the honeymoon destination instructed by the Duke through Gregory, Marlin was shocked and certain.
‘If they go on a honeymoon, there won’t be much time for sleep…’
She was also confident it would be a time when they could fully focus on each other.
Marlin’s eyes sparkled with anticipation.
Nothing supported the solidity of the Ducal family like the good rapport between the Duke and Duchess, and nothing made the servants happier.
After their honeymoon, the Duke and Duchess would probably return even closer than before.
Indeed… The room that was conveniently close to the Duchess’s would be best, right? Marlin remembered a room intended for a young Duke or Duchess and nodded.
“I’m visiting the Duchy of Elyos for the first time.”
“It’s the largest territory of the empire, extending from the vicinity of the capital to the easternmost sea. It will take about a day by train to reach the sea.”
The Duchy was especially active in trade through its ports. Railways played a central role in connecting traded goods. The Duke recognized the value of this railway early on.
With aggressive investment in railway projects, a fast train route connecting the capital and the Duchy of Elyos was established.
This improved accessibility to the Duchy of Elyos, and it was needless to say the territory became more prosperous.
“The Duchy of Elyos is beautiful and robust. You will probably like it.”
Not only was the Duchy affluent, but it also boasted beautiful landscapes, including emeraldcolored seas.
It seemed the territory truly resembled its master.
“Especially, the sea is beautiful.”
“I’ve been wanting to see the sea.”
“You’ll get plenty of opportunities this time.”
The place the Duke had prepared for the Duchess was surrounded entirely by the sea.
From the moment she opened her eyes till she closed them, she could listen to the gentle sound of waves and watch the beautiful changing reflections of the sea.
Called the ‘Paradise of Elyos,’ that place had special significance to the Duke.
Seeing him go to such a meaningful place with the Duchess made it evident how deep his feelings were for her.
‘May they have a blissful time in their private paradise…’
Gently covering the Duchess lying in bed with a blanket, Marlin wished with all her heart.
The Male lead Always Seduces Her with His Beauty (Matriarchy)
Xin Jiao Zhou is the leader of the world’s premier sect. She has just experienced betrayal from all sides, was poisoned in an assassination attempt, and faced death squad attacks while the poison was taking effect. After finally clearing out the scum from her sect, she was drugged again while trying to detoxify.
After waking up from a night of unconsciousness, she gained a “beautiful and kind-hearted” husband.
Xin Jiao Zhou: “???”
He fell ill.
She came to see him, bringing breakfast.
As she put down the breakfast and was about to leave, his hand slipped while holding the spoon. “Clank!”
She turned around upon hearing the noise.
He looked up at her, his eyebrows drooping: “My hand… has no strength.”
“Shall I… feed you?” she asked tentatively.
He opened his mouth cheerfully: “Ah—”
Thinking she was drowning, he jumped in without hesitation to save her, but nearly drowned himself. In the end, it was she who swam over to rescue him, giving him air underwater.
After emerging from the water, his ear tips turned red. He lightly brushed his cheek, tucking his sideburns behind his ear, revealing delicate, pink-tinged ear tips. He lowered his gaze, too embarrassed to look at her.
Xin Jiao Zhou: He’s truly beautiful, kind-hearted, and adorable.
A certain someone when disciplining subordinates behind the scenes: “If they don’t obey, just kill them.”
What’s that? She might already have someone she cares about in her heart? A certain someone: Find out who it is, kill them, and then there won’t be anyone.
What? She met a man by the riverside? What? That man even hurt her? A certain someone: Whichever hand hurt her, chop off his entire arm.
Love at first sight without realizing it, gradually falling in love, slowly getting closer…
Family and national grudges, schemes and desires, good and evil, crime and punishment, she and he face the future together, seeking justice with passion!
A naturally dark female lead who could accidentally destroy the world but is actually an honest person VS a weak, pitiful, and helpless but skilled fighter, beautiful white-cut black male lead
My heart is not of stone, how steadfast is your love? — Tao Yuanming “Imitating the Ancients (No. 3)”
— Reading Guide —
Cold female lead & dramatic black lotus with hidden yandere traits male lead
