Common flowers or weeds were not things that would attract Ellen’s attention.
The Ellen who liked even the moss trapped on a rotting log and the ants crawling on it was all the stranger.
Moreover, she would usually complain of sore legs after about ten minutes of walking and attempt to get Philip to carry her or hug her, but she didn’t do that.
Philip occasionally glanced at Ellen as they walked. Ellen was walking well, engaged in trivial conversation with Philip.
Thanks to that, Philip felt peaceful, but a part of him also felt a bit disappointed.
‘I think I could carry you today. My lady, when will you say your legs hurt? Perhaps when you’re thirsty?’
“Ah, I’m thirsty.”
As if his thoughts had been conveyed, Ellen’s words startled Philip, causing him to perk up his ears.
Shall we go back for some water? Are you not tired? These words were on the tip of Philip’s tongue when,
“Just a moment.”
Ellen, asking Philip’s permission, went to the riverside to drink water. She scooped it up with both hands.
The scattering droplets of water reflected in the sunlight were beautiful. Her red lips, exhaling a cool breath, glistened moistly.
“……?”
For a moment, Philip was entranced by Ellen’s appearance, then felt something strange. Ellen drank water from a clean cup when she was thirsty. She was not a woman who would scoop river water with her hands to drink, no matter how clear it was.
“Let’s go.”
Ellen’s cheerful words left Philip with no choice but to nod and continue walking with her.
“I’m a bit hungry.”
At Ellen’s words after some time, Philip perked up his ears again.
‘My lady. If you’re hungry, you must be tired… Aren’t your legs sore?’
Just as the words came up to his chin, two small stones were handed to Philip.
“My lady, what is this?”
Ellen, with fascinated eyes, pointed at a pear tree.
“Try again.”
“…What?”
“You can’t do it twice?”
“That’s not it, but you just ate a pear……”
“It’s okay. I can eat again.”
“……?”
Having lost his words, he was filled with questions.
‘My lady eats the same food twice in a row? That’s unlikely.’
Even though the person in front of him was definitely his wife, she felt strange.
‘Why is she so different?’
After a slight taste, Philip plucked the pear as Ellen had requested.
“Wow.”
Ellen, with sparkling eyes, clapped her hands softly. With that reaction, Philip’s strange feeling was momentarily forgotten, and he felt a sense of pride.
Once again by the stream, sitting side by side with Ellen, Philip began to peel the pear with his knife.
“…….”
With each movement of the knife, the distinctive resistance of the pear was felt at his fingertips. Focusing only on the small pear, Philip’s mind began to clear.
‘The reason my lady is different today……’
Philip recalled Ellen stamping the finalized divorce papers.
He couldn’t believe it and had even called Mild Duke to confirm it as soon as the day broke.
Even Mild Duke, who was closest to her, couldn’t fully confirm Ellen’s claims.
That’s why Philip found it hard to fully trust her.
‘So then……. Is this an act to prevent the divorce?’
Thinking that it was all a lie made some sense. No, there was no other explanation for Ellen’s strange changes.
‘Ha, using the finalized divorce to let my guard down, then trying to shake my heart?’
Having reached his own conclusion, Philip regained his composure.
‘Heh, will that work? Anyway, I was bound to notice…’
The feelings he had felt towards Ellen during their walk were mere illusions created by falling for her scheme.
He handed the wellpeeled pear to Ellen and deliberately asked,
“My lady, you seem to enjoy today’s walk very much.”
“There’s so much to see everywhere; it’s fun.”
With gratitude towards Philip, Ellen took the pear and responded with a bright smile.
Had she always smiled so beautifully? Ellen’s dazzling smile left Philip momentarily dazed.
Even though he realized this might be a scheme, he felt as if it made no difference.
Soon, the sound of crunchy chewing brought her to her senses, and she gave a slight shake of her head.
[This is the time separator]The last course of the walk was the kennel, of which Philip had said there were many fine breeds of dogs.
An elderlylooking kennel manager guided us with an arrogant attitude.
The kennel, divided into sections, was spacious and pleasant, and several breeds of dogs wagged their tails at Philip.
Border Collies, Welsh Corgis, Fox Terriers, Beagles, Fox Hounds, Labrador Retrievers, etc., there were various breeds and many in number.
Soon, the kennel manager explained the situation to Philip.
Three Border Collies are out working in the sheep pasture, and two Welsh Corgis are out in the cattle pasture.
The rest were used for hunting small animals or elephants.
As he guided us, the kennel manager, pointing to a particularly large black Labrador Retriever, reported various things.
“Blank’s injury has healed, but the left front leg is slightly bent.”
“Is it uncomfortable to live?”
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
