The Duke's Flower is Precarious (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 15
Jefferson, the dean of Jupiter Imperial University, adjusted the folds of his clothing. He respectfully greeted the tall man who had just entered the dean’s office.
“It is an honor to meet you in person.”
“Please treat me casually. After all, I’ve come here as a student.”
The man smiled faintly at the corners of his mouth as he offered his hand in greeting. With chestnut-brown hair and pale sky-blue eyes, he gave off an intelligent and gentle impression—more than enough for anyone to feel an immediate fondness upon first sight.
“You must have had a long journey, Your Highness Rainian.”
“Just call me Rainian. Isn’t everyone equal here at the Imperial University, without regard to rank?”
“Then… I shall address you as Lord Rainian.”
Leaning slightly forward in his seat, Jefferson focused intently on his conversation with the prince of a neighboring empire.
“I received the letter in advance from the imperial court of the Lisandro Empire—stating that you would be coming to study at our university.”
“The reputation of Jupiter Imperial University is renowned across the continent. I look forward to learning much from you.”
His tone was refreshingly humble and modest—completely devoid of the arrogance typically associated with royalty.
Suddenly, Jefferson recalled what a close friend had once told him during an academic conference held in the Lisandro Empire. That friend, a noble and scholar of the Lisandro court, had expressed frustration while discussing the empire’s political climate.
—“It’s truly a pity.”
—“What do you mean?”
—“His Royal Highness, the Third Prince Rainian. A man of exceptional character and intellect… yet utterly uninterested in the imperial succession.”
—“Isn’t the faction backed by Her Majesty the Empress exceptionally powerful in Lisandro?”
—“Precisely. If only he had been born of Her Majesty’s own blood…”
Just as his friend had described, the man sitting before him now possessed a generous grace that effortlessly put others at ease.
‘He truly is too remarkable a person to be exiled like this.’
Jefferson silently lamented inwardly as he glanced at Rainian’s enrollment documents resting on the table.
“I heard you’ve decided to join the Department of Administration.”
“That’s correct. Given how rapidly our society is changing, I found that field particularly compelling.”
“The Department of Administration will surely have many outstanding students this year.”
Jefferson’s eyes brightened with anticipation as he thought of the soon-to-be Grand Duchess, who was also about to enroll. He never imagined the top-ranked student in administration would be none other than the future Grand Duchess…
He had been utterly flustered when he read the news in the newspaper. Only now did he understand why the Grand Duke himself had taken her acceptance letter on the day of the entrance exam.
Between Jupiter’s future Grand Duchess and Lisandro’s prince… since both prominent figures would be enrolling together and drawing public attention, he decided he must specially instruct Professor Nichen of the Department of Administration to give them extra attention.
Come to think of it, Nichen was probably meeting with the future Grand Duchess right about now—she was supposed to visit personally to discuss the content of her speech as the student representative for the opening ceremony.
“If you have time, I’d be happy to show you around the university grounds. It must feel unfamiliar to you at first.”
“I appreciate your kindness, but it’s quite all right. I enjoy walking, so I’d rather take my time exploring alone.”
Rainian politely declined the offer and rose from his seat, concluding his conversation with Jefferson.
“Then please take care as you go.”
“I look forward to seeing you again.”
Accompanied by Jefferson’s farewell, Rainian leisurely walked down the long corridor.
The university buildings, with their history spanning several centuries, were cultural treasures in their own right. As he admired the classical architectural style and quietly enjoyed the serene charm of the campus grounds, his steps were suddenly halted by a woman’s clear, unwavering voice.
“You, Professor, surely know that although industrialization—led by capitalists—has advanced society, it has also intensified the poverty of laborers.”
Around the corner of the corridor, in a lounge, a woman wearing a bonnet was engaged in conversation with a middle-aged man.
“There’s also the argument that capitalist industrialization actually improved the lives of tenant farmers previously bound to landowners by drawing them into cities.”
The man, who appeared to be a professor, countered her point. The woman quietly shook her head.
“Wages and working conditions in the industrial cities near the capital are extremely poor. On top of that, housing costs have skyrocketed, expanding impoverished districts. Hardship in daily life, along with issues in public health, child education, and crime, are all widening as serious social problems.”
“So that’s why you presented such an argument in your entrance exam—saying that poverty brought on by industrialization is not an individual issue, but a structural one in society, and that the state must actively intervene to resolve it.”
“Exactly. Social issues cannot be solved by leaving them to a free-market economy. Doing so will only widen the gap further. The root of poverty lies in unfair distribution—people not receiving proper compensation for their labor. It’s the state’s role to correct this injustice.”
Rainian’s eyes widened with interest as the woman clearly and persuasively articulated her stance.
He lightly brushed his fingertips along his chin, intently staring at the woman’s profile, partially hidden beneath her bonnet.
‘Just who could she be…?’
He was genuinely curious about her identity. Judging from the professor’s mention of the entrance exam, she must be a new student.
“Haha, that was a delightful discussion. To be honest, after reading your exam answers, I wanted to hear your thoughts from you directly, Lady Aidel. I’m glad I had this opportunity today.”
“I also appreciate the chance to organize my thoughts through our conversation. Thank you for making time.”
“Not at all. I believe I can draft the opening ceremony speech based on what we’ve discussed.”
“Understood. I’ll see you again at the opening ceremony.”
“Lady Aidel, please take care on your way back.”
‘Aidel…’
Rainian silently repeated the name of the woman who had just finished speaking with the professor and stood up, as if trying to engrave it into his memory. For some reason, he felt a gentle breeze rustling in his heart, like the first winds of spring.
Leaning against the wall as he had been, he quickly straightened up upon seeing her walk away in the opposite direction.
Without conscious thought, his legs moved to follow her. There was no time to consider why he was trailing after her.
He simply felt that if he let this woman go without speaking even a single word, he would regret it for the rest of his life.
Her argument aligned perfectly with his own long-held beliefs. It wasn’t easy to meet someone who shared his views so closely.
Her gait was dignified, the hem of her dress barely swaying as she walked.
The wheat-colored strands of her hair, spilling out from under her bonnet, fluttered gently in the wind—elusively, as if teasing him by being just out of reach.
On an arched bridge connecting two buildings, Rainian came to a halt. Though his long strides had nearly closed the distance between them, he hesitated for a moment.
Should he call out to her? His mind raced, trying to decide what reason he could possibly give if he did.
Suddenly, a short but strong gust of wind blew past.
“Oh…!”
Startled, the woman let out a small gasp as the wind hit her directly. The loosely tied ribbon of her bonnet came undone, and the hat lifted off her head, carried away by the breeze.
She reached out hastily to catch it but missed. Aidel turned around in alarm, following the path her bonnet had flown.
“…!”
Her eyes met those of a man standing just two steps away, holding her bonnet. Surprised by his sudden appearance, Aidel’s eyes widened.
Rainian, who had instinctively caught the bonnet as it flew toward him, was momentarily stunned as well—his lips parting slightly at the unexpected sight before him.
The image of her—holding back her wind-blown hair, gazing at him—was imprinted sharply onto his retina like a photograph. Rainian stared at her, unblinking, as if trying to burn her into his memory.
“…Thank you for catching my hat.”
Aidel broke the brief silence first. Her pupils trembled faintly, still startled by this unfamiliar man.
“Not at all. Here you are, my lady.”
By now, fresh green buds had begun to sprout vividly on the trees lining the campus. He thought her pale green eyes mirrored that very sight.
Rainian smiled transparently, as if welcoming the arrival of spring, and Aidel let out a quiet sigh of admiration at his gentle, angelic expression as she accepted the bonnet back.
“Oh, my name is…”
Rainian began to introduce himself with his full name, but abruptly stopped himself. The surname “Lisandro” was an unmistakable mark of his royal status.
If this young woman—about to enter the Imperial University—were of common birth, revealing his true identity would surely burden her.
He didn’t want their relationship to begin under such weight. Not even if she eventually discovered his identity later.
“My name is Rainian. May I ask for your name, my lady?”
Having concealed his surname and revealed only his given name, Rainian bowed gracefully and extended his hand.
She hesitated briefly, gazing at his outstretched hand, before carefully placing hers into his.
“I’m Aidel.”
From his innate elegance and the impeccably tailored, high-quality suit he wore, she guessed he must be of noble birth.
Yet, since he hadn’t stated his surname, she assumed he was respecting the university’s principle of equality among students—so she, too, chose not to mention hers.
Rainian’s lips brushed lightly against the back of Aidel’s hand. After the chaste kiss, he looked at her steadily.
“A pleasure to meet you, Lady Aidel.”
Beneath the arched bridge where they stood was a lake cutting across the campus grounds.
Rainian’s pale blue eyes were as clear and calm as that lake—gazing into them brought an inexplicable sense of peace.
‘Ah…!’
Unaware she had been lost in his gaze, Aidel suddenly snapped back to her senses, flustered. Seeing her cheeks flush faintly, Rainian’s eyes softened.
“I’m in the Department of Administration.”
“The Department of Administration? So am I.”
“Is that so?”
Surprised by this unexpected coincidence, Aidel nodded. Rainian’s eyes widened slightly before he broke into a bright smile.
“Well then… this must be fate.”
His eyes shimmered and rippled like the lake’s surface kissed by the afternoon sun.
‘Chance meetings become fated encounters, and fated encounters become inevitabilities.’
That line from a book he’d once read now resonated deeply within Rainian’s heart.
Gently curling the palm where her hand had rested—like a butterfly alighting softly—he made a silent vow: he would ensure the chance meeting with her became his undeniable destiny.
The breeze, now stirring gently, seeped softly into his heart. Spring had truly arrived.
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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Can’t wait for second prince to die . How dare he touch grand Duchess with his filthy hand.
I hope Kareon kills first prince . But maybe that’s not going to happen because of diplomatic relations between kingdoms. If at that moment aidel would have remained unconscious ,second prince definitely would have died .It’s unfortunate , that bastard should have died on spot.
I am blushing even though I don’t know what withdrawal symptoms is.