Gwen’s back was suddenly soaked with cold sweat.
With trembling hands, he lifted the monocle.
“Yes, may I help you?”
Gwen’s response quivered.
“Then, I entrust it to you, Gwen.”
The Grand Duke slowly stood up from his seat and walked towards Gwen.
With each step he took, Gwen’s heart also thumped.
The Grand Duke, who had unknowingly approached Gwen, extended his hand.
“Stay at the mansion for a while. Neither you nor your family can leave my sight.”
Gwen swallowed dry saliva and shook hands with the Grand Duke.
‘Contrary to rumors, I thought he was a person with mild emotions…’
Not at all.
He was someone with an atmosphere so eerie that one could not afford to be relaxed. Well, with such suspicion all along, it’s understandable that he survived until now. If he were a weak person, he wouldn’t have withstood the numerous pressures from the Imperial Faction.
Even at a young age, Gwen, despite everything, was a resilient person who protected himself.
While feeling fear, Gwen could still understand the Grand Duke’s actions.
To survive, there was nothing wrong with the changed Grand Duke.
“I entrust you with this, Your Grace.”
The Grand Duke’s lips curled satisfactorily at Gwen’s response.
Meanwhile, Rose was anxiously waiting for the Grand Duke.
“He’s doing well, right?”
His expression did not look good, causing her continuous worry.
Deliberately not returning to the Star Palace, she roamed around.
After a while, Rose, who had been wandering, saw the dining room door open.
She hurriedly walked towards it.
Gwen, pale, with cold sweat streaming, and the expressionless Grand Duke came into view.
“Your Grace.”
Upon hearing Rose’s voice, the Grand Duke instinctively turned his head.
Upon seeing Rose approaching him, an uncontrollable smile appeared.
“Is the conversation over?”
Rose cautiously asked, alternating her gaze between Gwen and the Grand Duke.
“Yeah. I decided to stay with Gwen.”
“Thank you for accepting Gwen without prejudice.”
“Also, Gwen and his family will stay at my mansion for a while.”
“What? Really?”
Upon the Grand Duke’s voice, Gwen flinched.
Rose widened her worried eyes and looked at the Grand Duke.
‘Did the Grand Duke hear about Gwen’s situation and decide to help?’
She was surprised at the unexpected concern from the Grand Duke. Rose looked at the Grand Duke with admiring eyes.
“You heard that Gwen is being pursued by Cedric.”
At Rose’s words, both the Grand Duke and Gwen flinched.
The Grand Duke avoided Rose’s admiring gaze with a touched expression.
He glanced at Rose and eventually agreed with her words.
“Yes.”
“As expected, Your Grace is truly kind.”
Rose’s sparkling eyes were burdensome. Rose’s appearance, unexpectedly portraying herself positively, pricked the Grand Duke’s conscience.
However, I didn’t want to tell the truth here.
If I did, Rose would be disappointed in me.
“Gwen, it worked out really well.”
Rose smiled brightly at Gwen.
It was an obvious fact that this place was safer than any other.
When Rose’s gaze turned to Gwen, the Grand Duke also looked at Gwen.
However, unlike Rose, his eyes were incredibly ominous.
If I tell the truth, he won’t let it go. Under the threatening gaze of the Grand Duke, Gwen swallowed dry saliva.
“Yes, I’m truly grateful.”
In the trembling eyes of the Grand Duke, Gwen forced a smile and spoke.
“Well then, I should go to my family now.”
With these words, Gwen quickly left the place. The Grand Duke stared silently at Gwen’s retreating figure and then turned his gaze to Rose.
“Gwen seems to view your business very positively.”
Rose nodded, seemingly embarrassed.
“Fortunately. Actually, at first, we didn’t agree on purchasing the department store site. But eventually, Gwen followed my opinion. So, my shoulders feel a bit heavy now.”
Gwen, the best expert of the time, along with the 10 billion Res borrowed from Duke Artemis.
It was a combination that would be difficult to fail.
If the business fails, it will be entirely Rose’s fault.
A worried expression appeared on Rose’s face, and the Grand Duke’s hand rested on her head.
He gently swept Rose’s hair with a soft touch.
“I believe in your choice.”
The Grand Duke’s words felt very warm.
Rose nodded with a shy smile.
“And Gwen is quite confident too.”
He seemed to be encouraging Rose’s confidence with his words.
“When I asked him how long it would take for you to repay the 10 billion Res you borrowed from me, he answered confidently that a year would be enough. But…”
“A, a year?”
The answer of the Grand Duke made Rose shout unconsciously.
A sense of pressure, like boulders on her shoulders, was felt.
The subsequent answer shocked Rose even more.
“Gwen said just a week would be enough.”
“A, a week!?”
Rose unknowingly made an exclamation.
100 billion Res in a week…!
She was confident that she could make the business a success, but repaying the money in just a week was beyond her capability.
Drops of sweat had formed on Rose’s forehead.
‘Gwen… What on earth did you say!’
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
