“How did she get here?”
“She must have followed the Count like a chick.”
“Poor thing. Does she want to live like that?”
“I couldn’t live like that. She must have no selfrespect.”
Rosé, who was standing alone, looked around the banquet hall, considering who to talk to. But they not only avoided Rosé’s gaze, but when their eyes met, they turned their heads as if they saw something they shouldn’t have.
‘It’s not easy to strike up a conversation, is it?’
Rosé, who had tried to approach them, physically felt that the social world wasn’t that easy.
‘It’s embarrassing to just stand here, should I eat something?’
Rosé went to the table where finger foods and alcohol were prepared, picked up a cocktail and some food.
Because it was like her debut, Rosé, who had been quite nervous, hadn’t been able to eat properly until this time.
‘This is delicious.’
She savored the food in her mouth, a satisfied smile on her face. She had been tense and stressed all day, so she felt like she was craving sweet food.
Rosé, who had decided to naturally explore the surroundings while eating, picked up a few more types of desserts in front of her.
She then lifted the glass she had been drinking from to moisten her throat,
“It’s all gone.”
The glass was empty. Rosé put the empty glass down on the table and reached out to pick up a cocktail glass.
As Rosé was about to pick up the glass, someone handed her a cocktail glass.
“Thank you.”
As she thanked the person who offered her the glass and lifted her head, Rosé could not help but stiffen upon recognizing the man’s face.
She tried to casually strike up a conversation while expressing her gratitude……
‘Why is he here again?’
The person who had offered her the glass was the Grand Duke Artem.
Rosé was uncomfortable with the Grand Duke. He was intimidating, and she simply didn’t want to get involved with him.
The Grand Duke seemed completely oblivious to Rosé’s feelings and had no intention of leaving.
“Whose preference is that?”
“Mine? Ah, are you talking about this cocktail?”
Rosé slightly shook the cocktail in her hand and looked at the Grand Duke.
“No. Not the glass.”
The Grand Duke tapped Rosé’s left wrist as he spoke. Her wrist, noticeably swollen, was stared at by the Grand Duke.
‘Did he know I was hurt?’
Was he really trying to help me earlier?
Rosé put the cocktail glass down and touched her wrist. She had been unsure about the situation, but it really seemed like he had helped her.
Caught off guard by the unexpected kindness from the Grand Duke, Rosé made a surprised face and expressed her gratitude.
“Thank you for earlier. You caught me when I fell from the carriage……”
And for getting me out of my husband’s clutches.
Rosé trailed off and looked at the Grand Duke. She didn’t feel the need to reveal her family history in detail.
The Grand Duke didn’t hear the rest of Rosé’s words, but he seemed to understand what she wanted to say. He did not probe further and smoothly moved the conversation along.
“How did you know that Luna’s Tear was a fake?”
Caught off guard by the Grand Duke’s sudden question, Rosé was momentarily flustered. She only knew it from reading the novel, after all. As her eyes darted around, Rosé spat out whatever words she could.
“Um… the real Luna’s Tear, when it reflects light, it shimmers red. Uh, I didn’t see that very well.”
What was she even babbling about? As Rosé rambled, she became increasingly conscious of the Grand Duke’s gaze.
“A red shimmer?”
He stared at Rosé as if he couldn’t believe it. Her heart began to pound uncontrollably under the Duke’s meaningful gaze.
She had just blurted out a phrase that had faintly come to mind, and he was looking at her with such an expression.
‘Did I possibly say something wrong?’
Rosé’s heart felt as if it would shrink at any moment. Her awkward smile caused her eyelashes to flutter tremulously.
The Duke gazed at Rosé with a troubled look. She wanted to leave this place immediately.
It was because she felt that the impact of one lie to escape a momentary crisis was somehow a bit too big.
‘…I want to be alone.’
Please.
She wished the Duke would leave, but he didn’t seem to have any thoughts of going. Rosé trembled like a baby bird, eyeing a chance to get away from him.
Then, coincidentally, music announcing a waltz began to play. Seeing her chance, Rosé politely greeted the Duke.
“Then, I’ll be leaving.”
Finally thinking she could escape from the Duke, Rosé noticed his hand holding onto her.
That’s when she realized the world didn’t go as easily as she wanted.
The Villainous Demon Lord Laid an Egg for Her (Female-Dominated)
Several months after transmigrating into a book, Yu Wu found herself facing the demon lord Li You, who could no longer conceal his dragon horns. With one hand on her aching waist and the other gripping a sharp sword, she stared at him.
The demon lord’s eyes were red with fury:
“This is all your doing! Today, I won’t rest until I kill you!”
Yu Wu rubbed her temples. Putting aside the taboo against bloodshed during pregnancy, wasn’t it this very man who willingly walked into her trap that day?!
Warnings:
- Male pregnancy.
- Height ratios are set to mirror typical male-female height proportions.
- Characters include a foot-loving demon lord and an eldest daughter from an immortal family’s concubine lineage.
