In Laila’s eyes, the old Ellen didn’t look pretty at all. Only the aura of a wicked witch filled the air.
Ellen used to often seat young Laila and Marboro, serving them strong black tea.
“Drink it all.”
The tea was hot and very bitter.
Laila and Marboro naturally wrinkled their noses, a common reaction.
However, Ellen, with each occurrence, clicked her tongue and sipped her tea with a severe gaze.
“Tsk tsk, knowing tea etiquette is crucial in noble life, but you can’t even drink it properly.”
“But, Mother. This tea is too…”
Ellen slammed the table. Simultaneously, she sharply cut off Laila’s words, barely uttered.
“Marboro is not my son, and you didn’t marry Marboro, so why would I be your mother?”
Surprised, Laila hunched her shoulders. Tears filled her clear and large pupils. Laila bit her lip hard, trying to suppress the tears from bursting.
But Ellen didn’t bat an eye. With even colder eyes, she looked at Marboro.
“Did you pretend to be my son, by any chance?”
Marboro, barely able to breathe, only focused on Ellen’s gaze.
“Sigh, truly shameless kids.”
Ellen began to curse Laila and Marboro in a low voice. Then she read a book or drew a picture.
With the instruction to brew a new pot when the tea cups were empty.
Then, Laila and Marboro had to sit there, drinking the worst tea, for two or three hours.
It was really boring. However, even if it was like that, Laila couldn’t attempt to talk to Marboro. That was because just exchanging glances with him would attract Ellen’s ghostly gaze.
In fact, Ellen enjoyed seeing Laila and Marboro unable to move.
Sometimes, when Philip appeared, it became a bit more comfortable.
“You can leave now.”
When he appeared, Ellen would smile brightly as if to say, “When did it become like this?” and send the two away.
“I was teaching the children tea time etiquette.”
Then, Philip would scan the tea table with his eyes and nod once.
In Philip’s view, there was nothing extraordinary. Only desserts and tea presented in beautiful dishes.
Then, Marboro would subtly come to Laila’s side and hold her hand.
As if comforting her for the hardships.
In her young heart, how warm that hand felt.
A small smile appeared on Laila’s lips as she recalled that moment.
‘Compared to him, I’m nothing now.’
At least, the tea during this tea time was very delicious. It wasn’t crazily hot or bitter.
The yellow-haired concubine suddenly spoke to Laila.
“Hey, Prince Consort, what’s so interesting for you?”
That’s when a servant appeared, presenting a rolled letter on a silver tray to Laila.
“Prince Consort, His Highness is looking for you.”
Laila quickly unfolded the letter on the silver tray.
Lavender-colored calm eyes quickly rolled and sparkled.
“Eek! Oh my goodness!”
Laila stood up lightly as if her feather-light. The concubines were puzzled by her flushed face.
“Prince Consort, what’s wrong?”
Laila, placing the letter on the silver tray, confidently spoke.
“Because Mother has arrived.”
“Mother? Is it that woman Ellen?”
Laila nodded readily at Daelina’s words.
“Yes, my mother.”
“Then, does that mean she brought the scented candles?”
Laila nodded with an excited heart.
In Marboro’s short letter, it was clearly written so. Ellen had completed the scented candles commissioned by the king. The news had awakened the king, who had been lying in bed.
“There’s no way that’s true.”
“What? What did you say?”
Laila doubted her ears. Daelina seemed to mutter something like that while covering her face with a fan.
But Daelina shook her head.
“No, it’s nothing.”
Laila felt a bit suspicious of Daelina’s behavior, but she decided to stop doubting.
Right now, she wanted to see Ellen quickly.
“Thank you for inviting me to tea time. I’ll be leaving now.”
As Laila slightly nodded her head in a gesture of courtesy, the yellow-haired concubine furrowed her eyebrows.
“You’re leaving like this?”
“Yes, a very important guest has arrived.”
“Important? Is that boutique owner more important than us?”
Where did she find the courage? Until a moment ago, Laila would endure whatever the concubines said. However, she couldn’t bear Ellen’s arrival any longer. Laila threw a meaningful warning to the yellow-haired concubine who asked with a challenging tone.
“By the way, using informal language is impolite, so please refrain.”
After finishing her words, Laila headed to the royal palace without looking back.
Sounds of murmuring continued from behind. Glancing back, she saw the three concubines and Daelina following her.
They were undoubtedly curious about Ellen’s scented candles.
“Phew.”
Once settled in the audience chamber to announce the king’s return, a sigh of relief naturally escaped me.
To ensure the safe transport of the completed scented candles commissioned by the king, I asked Philip to send a guard unit. Then, with a fully recovered Mild, I headed to the audience chamber.
The journey with the scented candle box on the carriage was rough. Even within a distance of about three hours, there were three attacks.
The Villainous Demon Lord Laid an Egg for Her (Female-Dominated)
Several months after transmigrating into a book, Yu Wu found herself facing the demon lord Li You, who could no longer conceal his dragon horns. With one hand on her aching waist and the other gripping a sharp sword, she stared at him.
The demon lord’s eyes were red with fury:
“This is all your doing! Today, I won’t rest until I kill you!”
Yu Wu rubbed her temples. Putting aside the taboo against bloodshed during pregnancy, wasn’t it this very man who willingly walked into her trap that day?!
Warnings:
- Male pregnancy.
- Height ratios are set to mirror typical male-female height proportions.
- Characters include a foot-loving demon lord and an eldest daughter from an immortal family’s concubine lineage.