Standing upright, restraining Caleb, her gaze was saying, ‘Tell me what punishment you’re going to give.’
Then River chuckled and replied,
“Caleb Miller. You will accept the punishment. You will pledge to serve as the lady’s maid until the end of your life.”
“…….”
At River’s answer, this time Caleb also stared at River with a rigid expression.
Caleb’s glaring, burning eyes met River’s cold gray eyes.
Soon, River turned her gaze back to the documents.
“Any objections?”
“N-No, I apologize. I will accept the punishment.”
“…….”
“Is this the consequence? Even Brody, filled with doubts, silently closed her mouth. Various possibilities came to mind, but for now, she couldn’t read his intentions.
“If there’s no objection, I’ll be on my way. Madam, please go as well.”
Brody nodded, grabbing Caleb’s shoulder and pulling him along. Since the incident seemed to be settled for now, the thought of sending Caleb away crossed her mind.
With a soft sound, the door closed.
River, watching the lingering sound of the closing door, sighed.
However, Idan noticed a slight upward curve at the end of River’s lips as he looked at the documents.
“You seem to be enjoying this.”
“I wouldn’t say that. Even if I’m obsessed with work, I’m not crazy enough to find pleasure in it.”
“Anyway, your lips.”
“The Duchess seemed formidable as well.”
“…….?”
Idan was surprised. Specifically, River referring to Brody as the ‘Duchess.’
River recalled the gaze Brody had directed at her just a short while ago. In the brief time since she pointed it out, Brody had eyes befitting a Duchess.
Even if River intended to impose a real punishment, it seemed that Brody eventually prevented it.
“People’s vision narrows when there’s something they need to protect. Still, she didn’t handle it emotionally until the end.”
Despite possibly being angry, she gently closed the door, holding back her emotions, and disappeared.
‘Dealing with such a person is the most difficult.’
Watching River nodding to his thoughts, Idan spoke.
“Seems like she likes her.”
“Well, who knows. Anyway, since she’s the irreversible Duchess, she should handle things well.”
“…….”
Indeed, it seems to be to their liking.
River’s attitude and decisions were consistent with that.
Everything, from showing favor to Caleb, adopting Brody as a maid, to the usual image of River known to Idan, seemed unexpectedly chosen.
In the normal course of events, he would have lightly punished Caleb and then discreetly disposed of him where he wouldn’t be seen again.
It means not keeping an unpredictable element, whether she’s a concubine or not.
In the ‘recent situation,’ River did a lot.
First, she tested Brody and tried to negotiate with her. Perhaps Brody wanted to use the debt and favor she owed for rescuing and treating her. However, since Idan intervened, it didn’t succeed.
Second, River reminded Brody of her status as a duchess. Through this incident, Brody would contemplate how to use her position as a duchess in various ways.
Explaining the advantageous points to Brody, who was opposed to River, wasn’t necessary, but doing so could be seen as a favor.
Third, by actively embracing Caleb, Brody made him more favorable. Since planning to keep Caleb as a maid, it was ultimately good for Brody.
Fourth, not getting rid of Caleb, who is from the Duke’s family, indicated there might be different intentions. Perhaps it was to test and monitor in various ways or to extract information about the Duke.
Anyway, by his words, it seemed like River had decided to get along well with Brody as the duchess.
‘Whether River looking favorably upon it is really fortunate.’
Idan felt a complex emotion.
Reading the atmosphere of Idan, River asked.
“Why is your expression like that when I say I’ll get along well with the Duchess?”
“Both you and Brody are quite good at reading my expression.”
“Huh, does the Duchess know how to read her Lord’s expression already? So soon?”
That’s true. It takes more than twenty years to be around someone to notice.
Idan sighed.
“Anyway. Your getting along well means you’ll take advantage of it, not that you genuinely like it. I don’t know if that’s something to be happy about.”
“Am I pretending to like it? Frankly, Lord, I’m disappointed in various ways. Aren’t you even a bit sorry to me, who’s been running around for months cleaning up the messes you’ve made?”
“I am sorry. But it doesn’t mean you can cross the line.”
With his mouth closed, Idan looked sharply at River.
River felt unjust, but she couldn’t say anything in response.
Idan slowly and heavily replied.
“I’m ready to do anything for the Northern territories. But not for the Duchess. If you treat her recklessly, anyone won’t just stand by.”
His command sent a chilling feeling to River’s heart.
It was rare for Idan to speak in such a way.
He was someone who dedicated everything for the Northern territories, but, in turn, never demanded anything from the North.
As if his entire body was filled only with a sense of responsibility.
Becoming a stronghold for the North and living devotedly, he seemed to lack his own will.
However, he forcefully expressed his will.
His deep, cold eyes, thick and sharp, were aimed not at an enemy but at River.
Because their opinions for the North had aligned so far, it was the first time River could directly confront his opposing will.
Indeed, it seemed like he was called the “Icewall Duke” for a reason.
A cold, thick, and seemingly unyielding will.
To keep herself from trembling, River had to bite her teeth hard. Unbeknownst to her, cold sweat was flowing down her back.
Only after Idan turned his gaze away, stood up, and walked away, River could finally speak.
“Is she really that precious to you?”
Idan responded without turning his body.
“Is she? Well, I don’t know to what extent. It’s hard for me to gauge too.”
Idan walked away with firm steps.
“After finishing work, I’ll be back. Take care of yourself.”
Saying that, he left the room.
River sighed deeply, watching the door close softly.
Male lead is a Destined Young Husband (Female-dominant)
One-sentence summary: Wife-master, listen to my explanation!
Li Ruantang, a young lady from a prestigious family, stumbled and fell. When she woke up, she saw a noble and beautiful young man sitting by her bedside, wiping away tears.
The young master had slightly reddened eyes, and his every move exuded charm.
The sight made Li Ruantang’s eyes hot and her heart flutter. After all, she had made a bet with the young master Meng from the neighboring family. If she couldn’t marry a husband before the end of the year, she would have to admit defeat and give up the jade she had worked so hard to obtain.
Outside the window, the flowers were in full bloom.
Rather than losing the bet, the jade, and her face, Li Ruantang calculated that it would be better to seek marriage with the young master in front of her, killing three birds with one stone.
…
Meng Jun never thought that an accident during a spring outing would lead to them rolling down a cliff and into a river, yet still survive.
Now they were trapped in an unknown village, and Meng Jun had overheard that the family who had rescued them had their own intentions.
After all, it was Li Ruantang who had lost her mind and sought marriage first. He was only trying to protect himself!
Glancing at Li Ruantang, who was listing her own merits, the young husband’s voice softened, and he blushed as he lied, “W-wife-master, Wife-master, don’t you remember me?”
The young husband’s voice was clear and handsome, coaxing Li Ruantang’s heart to be soft and sweet, and she spared no effort to protect him.
It wasn’t until they returned to the capital that Li Ruantang suddenly remembered.
When they had fallen off the cliff, in order not to implicate Wei Yunruo, whom he secretly admired, the young husband had instead pulled her, who was slightly farther away, down the cliff with him…
Short summary by Yuushi L: Initially, the male lead (ML) liked another girl, while the female lead (FL) liked the ML. Both fell off a cliff. The FL temporarily lost her memory, and the ML, fearing others might take advantage of him, claimed FL was his wife while they were staying in a village. Later, when they returned home, the FL regained her memories and remembered that the ML liked someone else, so she kept her distance from him. However, during their time living together in the countryside, the ML’s view of the FL had completely changed. From this point, his pursuit of the FL begins.
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