The afternoon sun slanted through the gaps in the classroom windows. In a lecture hall within the Imperial College, Professor Nichen’s introductory course on administrative studies was in full swing.
Unlike Idel, who was sitting upright and focusing on the lecture, someone diagonally across from her was lost in thought, unable to concentrate on the class.
Then it happened. Nichen called out the name of a student who wasn’t focusing.
“Reinien.”
“…Ah, yes, Professor Nichen.”
“As I mentioned, teamwork is important for this assignment. Identify common issues with your assigned partner, and bring out logically opposing viewpoints from each other.”
Assignment…? Reinien, who had been paying attention elsewhere, had not heard Nichen’s words properly.
It seemed like a collaborative assignment from the context… but he didn’t even know who the assigned partner was.
Just as a slightly flustered Reinien was about to ask Nichen to repeat, a clear and calm female voice rang out.
“I understand. I’ll complete the assignment well with Reinien.”
Stunned by Idel answering for him, Reinien was momentarily lost for words. His eyes met Idel’s as she turned her head.
Idel subtly blinked at a stunned Reinien and turned her head back, as if stepping up for him since he had failed to comprehend Professor Nichen’s words.
Reinien pressed his flushed cheeks with his hand. His heartbeat accelerated much more than usual.
Part of it was embarrassment for being so lost in thought about her, but it was also a reaction to the anticipation of doing an assignment with her. Also, he was touched by her considerate nature.
He lowered the hand that had been cupping his cheek and discreetly covered his mouth. How ridiculous and pitiful he must look, smiling foolishly with a flushed face…
He didn’t want to reveal such a foolish appearance, yet his eyes brimmed with irrepressible joy.
.
.
.
Just as Idel was about to get up from her seat after the lecture ended,
“Idel!”
“Ah… Reinien.”
Seeing the man approach her, squinting his eyes and smiling, Idel attempted to reciprocate but hesitated.
Do you think it’s possible to be complete friends without any romantic feelings between a man and a woman?
Caeron’s harsh words seemed to echo in her ears. For some reason, her feelings towards Reinien were no longer comfortable.
Reinien, sensing the hesitation in Idel’s gaze, also looked cloudy.
Ever since he left the royal banquet with the Duke, he had been worrying about her. His inability to concentrate in class and constant daydreaming about her were the result.
He felt uneasy about the Duke, who clearly set boundaries between himself and Idel. Even though he hid it in front of her under the guise of friendship… the Duke, who was observing sharply like a knife, would have probably noticed.
His feelings for her.
In a moment that felt like eternity, Reinien broke the silence.
“…Are you okay?”
“What do you mean?”
“About our relationship. The Duke seems to disapprove.”
The direct approach was what Reinien, who didn’t want any awkwardness between them, chose. Without beating around the bush, he asked for her opinion.
Seeing Reinien’s tense face, Idel pondered for a moment before replying with a calm expression.
“Reinien and I are friends, aren’t we? And that won’t change.”
That won’t change… His eyes wavered at Idel’s firm words, but he managed to reply with a calm voice.
“…Of course.”
“Then it’s fine.”
Finally, after receiving confirmation from Reinien, Idel seemed to relax. Her smile was radiant, yet his heart felt heavy.
Unaware of the man’s sadness, Idel briefly pondered before asking Laynion with a determined look.
“Laynion, are you free tomorrow?”
“Tomorrow… you say?”
As Idel inquired about his availability, Laynion’s previously shadowed face instantly brightened. He would make time if she wanted him to.
“Yes, I can.”
“How about we go to the city center tomorrow to complete the assignment Professor Nichen gave us today?”
Today, Professor Nichen had assigned a task at the end of the class to explore the daily life in the city and propose administrative improvements.
It was a collaborative assignment to be done with a designated partner. Although they had to identify the same points for improvement, their solutions had to come from opposite perspectives.
Certainly, administration could be a doubleedged sword. While it would be great if there was a way to satisfy everyone, gains for some inevitably led to losses for others.
Idel thought Professor Nichen’s current assignment provided a good opportunity for students to consider these aspects.
Already planning to go to the city center, Idel suggested going together to fulfill the assignment and to receive Laynion’s assistance for what she was preparing.
If Laynion, another man, accompanied her, the task might go more smoothly.
‘If Laynion helps me this time…’
He would naturally come to understand her feelings for Caeron.
Though she left no room for misunderstanding, the oblivious Laynion was thrilled at the prospect of spending time with her.
Male lead is a Destined Young Husband (Female-dominant)
One-sentence summary: Wife-master, listen to my explanation!
Li Ruantang, a young lady from a prestigious family, stumbled and fell. When she woke up, she saw a noble and beautiful young man sitting by her bedside, wiping away tears.
The young master had slightly reddened eyes, and his every move exuded charm.
The sight made Li Ruantang’s eyes hot and her heart flutter. After all, she had made a bet with the young master Meng from the neighboring family. If she couldn’t marry a husband before the end of the year, she would have to admit defeat and give up the jade she had worked so hard to obtain.
Outside the window, the flowers were in full bloom.
Rather than losing the bet, the jade, and her face, Li Ruantang calculated that it would be better to seek marriage with the young master in front of her, killing three birds with one stone.
…
Meng Jun never thought that an accident during a spring outing would lead to them rolling down a cliff and into a river, yet still survive.
Now they were trapped in an unknown village, and Meng Jun had overheard that the family who had rescued them had their own intentions.
After all, it was Li Ruantang who had lost her mind and sought marriage first. He was only trying to protect himself!
Glancing at Li Ruantang, who was listing her own merits, the young husband’s voice softened, and he blushed as he lied, “W-wife-master, Wife-master, don’t you remember me?”
The young husband’s voice was clear and handsome, coaxing Li Ruantang’s heart to be soft and sweet, and she spared no effort to protect him.
It wasn’t until they returned to the capital that Li Ruantang suddenly remembered.
When they had fallen off the cliff, in order not to implicate Wei Yunruo, whom he secretly admired, the young husband had instead pulled her, who was slightly farther away, down the cliff with him…
Short summary by Yuushi L: Initially, the male lead (ML) liked another girl, while the female lead (FL) liked the ML. Both fell off a cliff. The FL temporarily lost her memory, and the ML, fearing others might take advantage of him, claimed FL was his wife while they were staying in a village. Later, when they returned home, the FL regained her memories and remembered that the ML liked someone else, so she kept her distance from him. However, during their time living together in the countryside, the ML’s view of the FL had completely changed. From this point, his pursuit of the FL begins.
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