The fact that Mei was an imperial spy had been kept a secret for her older brother.
“He eats really well.”
Delia, turning her attention elsewhere, thought of Crown Prince Alfredo.
Both her father and the commander were doing their best to release her older brother and find him.
“I went to Picherun Workshop and received a request to deliver a message to Princess.”
“What message?”
“There’s a new artist in the workshop, and he expressed a strong desire to paint a portrait of Princess.”
Before Meredith finished speaking, Delia shook her head vigorously.
“I don’t know much about the new artist. I don’t paint portraits for anyone.”
“But.”
“Meredith also knows. I’ve never accepted any artist’s request for a portrait until now.”
Delia firmly refused, approaching the birdcage cautiously.
After making sure that Mei had securely perched, Delia closed the door of the cage.
“The chief painter of the royal family, Perugino, has been requesting for over 10 years, and I’ve always refused. But I can’t accept a request from a new artist.”
Delia took off the thick gloves she had worn to protect her hands from the bird’s sharp claws and handed them to Agnes after finishing feeding Mei.
When Mei finished eating, Delia walked towards the queen and casually replied, “Tell the artist this: I’ll consider it if the painting remains in the Picherun Workshop even after 30 years.”
“Your Highness, I also said I would naturally refuse. But.”
Meredith couldn’t continue her words until the end and murmured softly.
Delia stopped her steps and turned around.
The light turn created a breeze that gently swayed the dress.
“But?”
“The artist insisted that you pass on this message. And said if Your Highness changes your mind, it might be possible.”
Delia looked at Meredith with narrowed eyes.
Today, Meredith seemed unusually stubborn.
“What message?”
Meredith approached quietly and whispered in Delia’s ear.
“He said he needs an explanation about the founding myth of Iorenti.”
As Meredith whispered, Delia momentarily stiffened.
As the fleeting moment passed for Delia to understand the words, a bright smile naturally appeared on her red lips.
It was Ioenti’s founding myth that everyone from Iorenti knew, except for one person.
And that person was him.
Just thinking about him made a gentle breeze pass through her heart.
His heartbeat, which resonated in her chest, seemed to echo in her ears.
“But.”
Delia turned her head to gaze at the queen, who was still knitting.
The slightly raised corners of her mouth slowly returned to their place.
Delia tilted her head to erase his reviving touch.
The hair, tinged with light, swayed weakly, forming gentle curves in the air.
“No, Mother would worry.”
If she had tried to leave to escape the queen’s surveillance, she could have left earlier.
But Delia couldn’t do that.
Her mother was still keeping a close guard against the commander, and that fact remained unchanged.
She was a mother who couldn’t let go of her worries about her older brother. When she thought about her mother, who held her hands tightly every night, praying for him, she couldn’t help but feel anxious herself.
“I’m sorry, but…”
To utter words she didn’t mean, she needed a lot of air. Delia, taking a deep breath, slowly expressed her profound regret.
“I’ve been told that I cannot be a model for the portrait.”
Meredith turned her body again, urgently stopping Delia, who was about to approach the queen.
“Your Highness.”
“Enough. It’s not going to happen.”
Firmly refusing to harbor any false expectations, Delia prompted a new story from Meredith.
“Soon, artists from the Picherun Workshop will be visiting the queen.”
Delia pondered Meredith’s words, blinking slowly.
“Really?”
Queen Eleanor’s love for art was exceptional. She loved not only renowned artists but also unknown ones who hadn’t been revealed to the world. She loved every bit of their souls. Whenever the opportunity arose, she shared stories with them and spared no effort in supporting them.
The evaluation that she had elevated the artistic level of Iorenti to a higher stage made Queen Eleanor love art with all her heart. The Picherun Workshop was a gathering place for artists receiving royal patronage, in other words, the love of the queen.
“This time, during the garden repairs, the queen has requested a visit to discuss the sculpture to be erected.”
“But.”
“It’s been a long time since she met them, so she will have many things to say. She needs to examine the designs brought by the sculptors and discuss what sculpture to erect, so it will take a lot of time.”
While listening to Meredith’s calm explanation, Delia fidgeted with her hands. Delia’s eyes, unable to make a decision readily, trembled thinly.
Sensing Delia’s hesitation, Meredith whispered softly.
“Even if it’s just for that moment, the queen will be happy.”
After finishing her words, Meredith glanced at the queen sitting in the pouring light through the window. Delia’s gaze followed Meredith’s and flowed towards the queen.
“Then may I leave for a while?”
“Yes. Please go. We will take care of the queen.”
At Meredith’s softly spoken words, Delia’s face bloomed with a relieved expression. Her face flushed with a rosy glow, and her clear pupils sparkled with anticipation. Meredith nodded slightly, gazing at the appearance of the peace of Iorenti blooming on Delia’s face.
“Thank you. I’ll be back soon.”
The moment Delia tried to move hastily to grab her cloak.
“Instead.”
Suddenly, Meredith stiffened her face and leaned towards Delia, who was excited. Warning her with a quiet voice.
“Don’t leave any traces. Especially in visible places.”
“Oh.”
Suddenly, Meredith stiffened her face and leaned towards Delia. Warning the excited Delia in a low voice, she said, “Don’t leave any traces. Especially in visible places.”
“Oh.”
Meredith’s lips approached Delia’s ear, and her cheeks turned crimson in an instant.
Male lead Asks for a Divorce Every Day
It’s not often you come across a plot like this in the female-dominant genre — make sure to check it out!
This is a novel I’m planning to reread as well.
The male lead is strong, skilled in martial arts, and not the usual fragile type you often see in matriarchal novels.
Meanwhile, the female lead is a scientist—rational and logical. Even when she falls for the male lead, she doesn’t let her emotions cloud her decisions.
If you push through the first few chapters, you’ll gradually find the story really intriguing.
It has a mix of mystery, detective elements, and romance.
The author’s writing style is like crafting a puzzle—except they deliberately leave out a few pieces, making it hard to predict what happens next, yet keeping you hooked.
In the end, everything will come together and be explained.
One-sentence summary: Wife, stop playing with beakers and look at me!
In a laboratory accident, research scientist Zhu Wansheng accidentally travels to a matriarchal world. The original owner of the body is an eighteen-year-old only daughter of a wealthy rouge merchant, already married with a handsome young man.
Zhu Wansheng grins: Nice! She always said she was heaven’s favorite granddaughter. After a life of toil in her previous life, she can enjoy blessings in this one.
However, her joy lasts no more than three seconds as bad news arrives: the original owner’s family is about to go bankrupt, and her husband wants a divorce.
Even worse, she’s stuck with a research system full of restrictions.
Zhu Wansheng: ? Is this the destiny of a research dog?
——
Faced with this mess, Zhu Wansheng pours herself a bowl of wine to drown her sorrows. In her drunken haze, her husband arrives.
His figure is imposing, holding a long sword, with a dignified air that captivates Zhu Wansheng.
Gu Yingqing, however, looks at the alcohol-reeking Zhu Wansheng with undisguised disgust and coldly asks, “Divorce or not?” The intoxicated Zhu Wansheng mumbles vaguely, “I think… it’s not… it’s not… impossible!”
——
The next day, after sobering up, Zhu Wansheng is full of energy, rolling up her sleeves ready to make a big move. As for yesterday? She has no memory of it.
Zhu Wansheng is ambitious; a research dog fears nothing!
Upgrading rouge, extracting fragrances, producing perfumes, researching lipsticks… all shall bow to the power of modern technology!
The original owner’s dying rouge shop is revitalized. Her mother is pleased and with a wave of her hand, passes on the family business to her. As she takes control and her experimental results gain popularity, it’s the pinnacle of her life…
——
But there are always those who can’t stand to see her doing well. Jealousy, scheming, assassination attempts – they want nothing less than her life.
The person who has always kept his distance from her suddenly holds her tightly in his arms, eyes full of concern.
She is unharmed, but he falls into a pool of blood…
Zhu Wansheng feels guilty, “I can grant you one wish.”
Gu Yingqing tentatively circles his arms around her, carefully resting his head in the crook of her neck, pleading softly, “I regret it. Can we not divorce?”
Zhu Wansheng: ? When did I agree to a divorce?
[Small Theater]
The newly developed rouge is beautifully packaged, and Zhu Wansheng is eager to try it.
Gu Yingqing suddenly appears: “My lady, may I apply it for you?”
Cool fingertips lightly brush her lips. His Adam’s apple bobs as he leans in for a light bite.
Zhu Wansheng: ?
Gu Yingqing: It smells so good, I wanted to taste it…
On a warm spring day, Zhu Wansheng tries a new perfume: “Spring Night.” Gu Yingqing corners her against a wall.
Warm breath lingers on her neck.
“My lady, from now on, may I test the fragrances for you?”
[Humorous female scientist vs scheming live-in son-in-law male lead]
[Touch the gear icon in the bottom right corner of the screen to move to the next chapter if you want.]
