Victor greeted the Duke and Duchess as they returned on horseback.
“Did you enjoy your ride? I couldn’t take my eyes off of you from afar.”
Victor admired the elegant Duchess, Elizabeth, who sat gracefully atop the majestic black horse, and the robust Duke, Caeron, who seemed to envelop her protectively.
‘Truly a perfect match.’
The Duke dismounted first, assisting the Duchess so she could descend. Victor felt a renewed sentiment, watching the Duke gaze softly at the Duchess. It was touching to see Caeron, whom he had known since his young prince days, finally welcoming his companion.
‘If the late Empress could have seen this, she would have been delighted…’
In his past memories, Caeron had been a beautiful prince, but his disposition was ever so cold, like a piece of ice.
Even when riding, not a trace of a smile—that he could make such an expression now…
‘He has finally met his match.’
Furthermore, the noble black horse Keiden, who was very much like the Duke in disposition, willingly allowed the Duchess to ride him. Victor chuckled seeing Keiden nuzzling Idel, who had just dismounted, in an affectionate manner.
‘Our Duchess is quite the horsetamer!’
To have tamed the most difficult man and the most difficult horse in the world she knew of.
Inwardly expressing his respect for the Duchess, Victor approached the Duke and Duchess.
“Keiden will be led by me to the stables. Your Highnesses should go to the clubhouse and rest.”
At Victor’s words, Idel looked intently at Keiden. Somehow, parting felt regrettable. From the first sight, this horse had captured her heart.
The majestic black horse seemed to remind her of someone.
Idel’s eyes unknowingly moved to Caeron who stood next to her, their eyes met. Hiding her slightly flustered face, Idel spoke to Caeron.
“Though it’s been a short time, I’ve become attached to Keiden. May I accompany him to the stables?”
Upon Idel expressing her regret, Keiden also seemed to feel the same as he nuzzled towards her. Idel gently stroked his nose.
“If you wish, we can bring the horse to the dukedom.”
“No… Horses have a homing instinct. Keiden belongs here. This wide meadow would make him happier than being in the estate.”
Idel gently turned down Caeron’s offer while petting Keiden’s neck.
“However… may we return for horseback riding like this often?”
“Of course. Next time, I’ll teach you to gallop.”
At his promising words, a blush spread across Idel’s face. A heartwarming thump spread through her chest. She slightly bowed her head to hide her flushed face.
Caeron’s eyes moved to Keiden, who seemed to enjoy Idel’s touch.
“If he takes after his mother, he’ll run faster than anyone.”
As if understanding Caeron’s words, Keiden neighed loudly right after he spoke. Caeron chuckled looking at the black horse.
“Give me the reins.”
Caeron himself took Keiden’s reins, considering the possibly tired Duchess. Victor looked on with a content expression.
Idel, alternating her gaze between Caeron and Keiden walking side by side toward the stables, wore a bright smile as well.
They really do resemble each other.
Idel breathed deeply as if savoring this peaceful moment, as though she wanted to feel it fully.
(This is a time marker.)
Bien’s tense eyes cautiously scanned the interior of the duke’s reception room. The scale alone was different from the Count Fleur house.
Overwhelmed by the grand atmosphere, Bien clasped her hands under the table. Moist sweat seeped from her palms.
“You’re from the House of Count Fleur.”
Sitting across from her, Marlin discreetly studied Bien’s face as he served her tea. She appeared to be a young lady of the same age as the Duchess, with a cute and youthful face.
“Yes, I am Bien from the House of Inggrid. I have been with Lady Idel, or Her Grace the Duchess, since she was at the House of Count Fleur.”
Marlin looked at the recommendation letter Bien had brought from the House of Count Fleur. The letter stated that Bien had been a close maid to Idel since childhood, and she was being sent to the Ducal House to help care for the Duchess.
Doubt briefly crossed Marlin’s eyes as he examined the recommendation letter. If they were thinking about sending a maid for the Duchess, why only now?
“The visit is sudden… I was actually surprised.”
“I apologize for not informing you in advance. As soon as I received the family’s permission to serve Her Grace, I hurried here with joy.”
Bien blushed and lowered her head. Seeing her innocent eyes filled with emotion, Marlin let go of the caution he had momentarily felt.
Being from the House of Count Delphe, which was a vassal family to the Roman Ducal House, Marlin understood Bien’s situation, where she wasn’t free to make her own decisions.
“The final decision about the maid’s employment and accommodation will be made by Her Grace, who is currently out. Is it okay for you to wait until her return?”
“Of course. I can wait as long as needed.”
Bien smiled brightly and eagerly nodded her head. Seeing Bien’s kind impression, Marlin thought of Idel.
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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