“Uh, nice painting.”
Near the beginning of the potato field, there appeared the silhouette of a modest man.
Brody couldn’t immediately recognize who he was, but Aiden could.
From the moment of consciousness until the recent war, he had almost lived every day together in the same unit. It would be more accurate to say he couldn’t be unrecognizable because of the face and voice that had been with him all that time.
A man with tightly tied dark brown hair, snake-like sharp eyes.
The one who devoted his entire life to the North, the person who elevated Brody to the goddess of the North.
Aiden’s Chief of Staff, River Reed.
Approaching the two with quick steps, he muttered, “Duke Aiden and Duchess Aiden of the midnight potato field.”
He made a square with his fingers, framing the scenery and the Duke and Duchess inside.
A man and a woman holding hands under the moonlit snowy field would undoubtedly look like affectionate lovers.
“I should have the painter make a poster. A Duke and Duchess surveying the snow-covered potato field on an ambitious night when everyone is asleep. People would love it.”
Hearing River’s muttering from a distance, Aiden shook his head with reluctance.
As expected. What River thought about when looking at the two was neither aesthetic nor literary appreciation.
He was merely thinking about how to give a good impression to the people of the North, drawing a propaganda picture. That was River.
“Before the intense affectionate actions take place, it’s reasonable to signal in advance when you’re approaching. Please understand.”
As River approached close enough, Brody finally recognized him.
Upon seeing him, Brody smiled widely, even shaking hands as if meeting a long-lost friend.
“Oh my, River! It’s been a while! Chief of Staff!”
So, what unexpectedly froze was River’s side.
He thought she might either apologize, express gratitude, or show an impudent attitude. One of the three.
He didn’t expect a welcome.
Moreover, it was a strange…? Did he just lower his voice…?
With a mix of disdain, River replied, “Ah, yes. It’s been a long time. Should I call you Madam now?”
“Um, haha. Come to think of it, right. If I’m the Duchess, am I the higher-ranking person? Okay, call me Madam, Chief of Staff. Oh no. Not Chief of Staff, but just Chief, right?”
Madam…? The word passed by so naturally that it was confusing now… Madam… Chief of Staff? River frowned, wondering if he heard correctly.
No matter how you looked at it, she used to be unexpressive and sparing with her words, right? Wasn’t she not the type to speak straightforwardly without passing through her brain?
River looked at Aiden with a puzzled expression.
Idan was only seen nodding behind her.
River twisted her lips and said, “Really, both of you have unexpected reactions. Madam, let’s assume that’s the case, but I’m sure you have something to say to me, right?”
“I apologize. You’ve worked hard.”
“It seems like there’s not much sincerity, though.”
River’s observation was accurate.
Idan felt a sense of apology for River taking on the responsibility she had abandoned, and yet, she was thankful for him handling the aftermath well.
However, she didn’t like that Brody was used in the public opinion battle.
River looked at Idan as if piercing through her feelings.
“Oh, what are you doing?”
However, River’s uncomfortable gaze scattered abruptly due to a sudden uproar.
“Chief of Staff. Do better for our lord!”
“…….”
“…….”
This time, both River and Idan had awkward expressions.
“The person closest to our lord is living so miserably. Our lord is struggling alone like this.”
It was a tone as if scolding a child.
“Oh, but the public opinion battle was great. Truly fitting for the rumored competent chief of staff.”
Having finished speaking like that, she smiled again.
And reaching out her hand, she continued her words.
“Well then, please take care. Let’s work hard for the prosperity of the North.”
River’s face, looking at the hand extended, twisted in a way that couldn’t be expressed. A mix of embarrassment, laughter, and awkwardness.
“Prosperity… of the North…”
What on earth. While River grumbled inwardly, unable to embarrass the lord with a refusal, he reluctantly shook the hand she offered with a determined handshake.
At the same time, he looked at Idan. Then, he nodded with a displeased expression.
‘Perhaps… are you drunk?’
‘Yes.’
The two exchanged unspoken questions and answers with their eyes.
After shaking hands like that, the three people, or rather, two people and one person, quietly parted ways.
Since serious conversation seemed to be reserved for tomorrow.
That way, the seemingly peaceful post-war period came to an end.
River looked at Idan, who was moving away and carrying Brody, with a strange gaze.
“Ugh, my head hurts too much.”
Brody, who hadn’t opened her eyes properly in the morning sun, groaned.
She barely raised her upper body from the bed.
‘Hangover, is this what a hangover feels like?’
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
