Conny grabbed Brody’s hand and shook it eagerly.
“I didn’t know how much I was worried. You did such a big thing and even went away after causing a nuisance, saying you were being chased by the Empire. I was worried that something big happened.”
“…Thank you, Conny. Thanks to you, I came back safely.”
“Oh my? You remember my name too. It’s an honor!”
“Of course, I remember.”
Conny’s face was brighter than before.
Her once fair face was sunburned, and her rough hands had become coarser.
She looked healthy and full of vitality.
“Ah, Madam, you look very tired.”
“Well, do I?”
Does it show that I didn’t sleep well yesterday? Considering the continuous forced march from the south, it was understandable that I would look fatigued.
In an environment where she couldn’t properly see herself in a mirror, Brody didn’t pay much attention to her appearance. No, she almost forgot about it.
“I must look quite haggard.”
Brody wiped under her eyes, where dark circles seemed to have settled, with her hand.
Her skin felt rough, and it seemed like her complexion was far from ideal.
Conny urged Brody, “Let me guide you to the lodging. Freshening up? Meal? Sleep? What would you like to do first?”
“I want to wash and lie down. But, is there a separate accommodation?”
“Yes, yes. It seems that distinguished guests might visit, so we’ve prepared a separate private lodging.”
“Impressive in such a short time.”
“All thanks to you, Madam.”
“Huh? Why would it be thanks to me?”
Was Conny trying to divert the attention to Brody, now that she was the Duchess, to look good? No, it didn’t seem so. Conny genuinely looked excited and proud.
Conny enthusiastically led Brody to the accommodation.
“Wait a moment. Let’s go in together.”
As they were about to move to the lodging, Aiden stopped them.
Aiden seemed to be interacting with the soldiers or, now, the residents who were stationed here. Conny and Brody moved slightly away to continue their conversation.
Conny replied, “Madam gave us a potato field as a gift. It’s all thanks to you.”
She smiled warmly, placing one hand on her chest.
“That’s just a gift of a potato field. Of course, you all worked for it.”
It felt awkward for Brody to say it was her merit, but Conny seemed genuinely pleased and proud.
Conny slowly, but firmly, nodded her head.
“When we were captives, we didn’t know what lay ahead. We thought it would be better to die, but we didn’t have the courage to die. So, trembling in that dark barracks, all we could do was look forward to the dark future approaching.”
Brody nodded her head. She also had brief memories of living in that barracks.
The air that seemed to suffocate people with despair and gloom.
As if recalling those times, Conny continued with a deepened expression.
“We were quite well-off maids or servants of the lords. Not valuable enough to be hostages like the noble ladies, but not ignorant women from the countryside either.”
She lowered her voice and whispered, covering her mouth with her hand.
“When we heard the rumors about Duke Bingvek, we thought we would die anyway, and it would be difficult to die gracefully. So, we figured, hearing the rumors about Duke Bingvek, we’d probably die anyway, and it would be hard to die gracefully.”
Brody couldn’t help but smirk at the slightly exaggerated tone. Well, that was true.
The cruel Duke Bingvek reportedly treats women brutally, killing one each day among the prisoners. Such rumors circulated among the captives.
Certainly, Aiden’s reputation in the central-southern region was extraordinarily odd.
Looking back now, it seemed like the Empire had painted that image to isolate the north, but who knows.
The Duke Bingvek’s appearance might be somewhat intimidating, but it was probably due to his constant grimace caused by his headaches. His actions were impeccable, almost monk-like, not to mention knightly.
“Not only does she not enjoy women but also avoids alcohol, games, or any entertainment.”
Without any desires or ambitions, she was a person without crookedness. Brody couldn’t understand why the Empire hated the north so much to bring it to this point.
As Brody unconsciously looked at Aiden, Conny suddenly spoke to her.
“Duke, may I show the Lady and you around the potato field? It’s within sight.”
Brody and Aiden, of course, were surprised.
Conny had never directly approached him or demanded anything before.
Certainly, something different was seen in Conny’s attitude compared to before.
Although Brody didn’t know exactly what it was.
After glancing around, Aiden nodded his head, indicating permission to Conny.
The castle wasn’t very large, and the potato field was clearly visible from where Aiden was.
“Thank you. Madam, would you like to come along if you’re okay?”
Brody nodded, and she took Conny’s extended hand.
The road wasn’t slippery, even though there was a lot of snow. Despite being piled thick on the roofs and near the walls, the paths people walked on were neatly maintained. Even though it hadn’t stopped snowing for long, she could feel how diligently things were running inside.
After a short walk, the familiar potato field came into view.
The field, which was in winter rest when Brody left, was now even more neatly organized.
“As Madam mentioned, we divided and organized the sections. We also planned to turn the soil for recovery. Ah, the building right next to it is a storage house. It’s amazing to have crops that store so well. I’m always impressed, calling it a miracle every time.”
Conny opened the storage to show it, saying, “The storage conditions are excellent. With this amount, it should be enough for the winter.”
“Is it just for me, or can it be shared around?”
Conny’s eyes widened slightly, and with a thin smile, she covered her mouth and whispered to Brody.
Her lips were raised high towards the sky.
“You are sharp, Madam. You mentioned you can supply only a small amount directly through the Duke, but you said we could sell the rest next year. Hoho.”
“Oh, my.”
Brody responded with a similar smile, her eyes gently curved.
Brody was beginning to understand more.
Why is Conny in such a good mood? Why is she so lively?
“You’ve worked hard. It must be unfamiliar work for everyone. Isn’t it tough?”
“Oh, it’s not that hard, Madam. Well, of course, when we receive ladies who are different from the usual, the way we use our bodies may be different, and there might be some grumbling. But, no matter what work it is, there’s always some grumbling. Actually, I really enjoy it. The body might suffer, but in many ways, it’s quite pleasant.”
“As expected.”
Brody nodded with confidence, as if confirming her own guess. Conny seemed to notice that Brody understood.
It was the self-esteem emanating from someone who stood on their own two feet.
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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