“If it’s okay, could you spare a moment? I have something to tell you.”
Behind the friendly tone, there was a subtle sharpness.
It wouldn’t be Rozé’s misconception that Nervan’s youthful face revealed a hidden resentment.
‘He’s usually like this, but… today, he seems strangely hostile.’
Rozé glanced at Nervan’s face, then nodded her head.
“Yes, I’ll get ready to go.”
As Rozé responded, Nervan, as always, made a concise farewell and left the room.
Observing Nervan’s departure, Rozé muttered to herself.
“Something’s up…”
Nervan initiating the conversation first was unexpected.
Until now, Nervan and Rozé had never mixed words unnecessarily.
As the steward of the Artem Duchy, Nervan had treated Rozé, who was a guest, with proper hospitality. He would inquire meticulously about her comfort and whether she needed anything beyond necessities, but there was no personal communication beyond that.
Rozé only knew two things about Nervan: he was a noble from another country, and he disliked her.
“I wonder what he wants to talk about.”
Judging by the atmosphere, it didn’t seem like it was for a good reason.
Although she knew he didn’t like her, there was no need to avoid him.
Receiving the maids’ assistance, Rozé changed into a dress. The glamorous dress she wore to the palace was suitable for formal occasions, but it was too ostentatious for wearing inside the mansion. It was so heavy that her shoulders were on the verge of stiffening.
“The Duke seemed to prefer that I wear these dresses more often, but they’re quite uncomfortable.”
Rozé thought about the Duke, who praised her appearance and seemed genuinely proud.
“Well, it’s uncomfortable, but I should wear them occasionally when going out. I can’t ignore the Duke’s sincerity.”
She removed the bulky accessories, opting for a more comfortable attire.
As she left the room, a servant was waiting for her. He bowed and said, “The steward is waiting in the flower garden.”
“Alright, lead the way.”
Following the servant’s guidance, Rozé walked towards the flower garden where Nervan awaited.
As she strolled down the long corridor, the garden came into view.
The once vibrant leaves were gradually changing colors, one by one.
“It’s autumn.”
The weather had become quite chilly. The pleasantly breezy wind now felt rather cold.
“Did I dress too lightly?”
Rozé rubbed her arms. Despite wearing a dress with long sleeves, the chill was seeping in.
“It’s definitely colder than when I was in the capital.”
The cool weather was still something she hadn’t fully adapted to, but she knew she would get used to it.
Rozé crossed the garden and saw Nervan seated at a table in the center of the flower garden.
On the table, Rozé’s favorite snacks were prepared.
As Nervan saw Rozé approaching, he stood up from his seat. Then, naturally, he pulled back Rozé’s chair.
“Please have a seat.”
Despite the sharp expression, he maintained his courtesy after calling her with a stern face.
Rozé hesitated for a moment as she observed Nervan’s actions.
He was truly a person with contrasting exteriors and interiors.
Especially, the rebellious gaze contradicted the polite demeanor.
It would be better if he outright expressed his dislike. It would make things easier to deal with.
In response to his invitation to sit, Rozé slowly replied, “Thank you. Have you been waiting long?”
“No.”
Nervan, as Rozé sat down, pushed her chair in. Then, he took a seat across from her.
Nervan asked the servants around. Besides Rozé and Nervan, there was no one in the garden.
“By the way, it’s unexpected.”
Rozé was the first to speak.
“That you would call me.”
It was a message urging him to get straight to the point without beating around the bush.
She showed no signs of intimidation in front of Nervan. On the contrary, she seemed audacious.
Nervan raised an eyebrow at Rozé’s attitude, took a sip of tea, and calmly began to speak.
“Is your business going well? You seemed quite busy.”
“With the various assistance from the Duke… it’s progressing well.”
As Rozé mentioned the ‘Duke,’ Nervan’s face stiffened coldly.
“Progressing well, you say…”
Nervan blurred the end of his words meaningfully and looked at Rozé.
“From what I see, aren’t you more focused on a business other than the department store?”
Sharp words flew at Rozé.
Rozé pondered Nervan’s words.
‘What does he mean by a different business? I haven’t touched any business other than the department store.’
“I’m not sure what you’re talking about.”
Nervan, as if expecting Rozé’s response, gave a shallow smile.
“I thought you’d say that.”
After wearing a faint smile, Nervan coldly fixed his expression. Then, he attacked aggressively.
“Miss Rozé, you are truly shameless.”
“What?”
“Instead of a department store business, are you not focusing on a ‘man’s business’?”
What an absurd statement.
Rozé frowned at Nervan’s words.
It was hard to understand what he was talking about.
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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