Colin touched the end of the report with an anxious expression. The report had been crumpled in the short time since he had received it.
“Don’t make me wait.”
Aaron’s voice became sharp involuntarily, driven by the ominous feeling brushing against his heart.
“Well, His Highness, the nobles are saying that Her Majesty gave Lady Regina… Rose’s room.”
Upon hearing the name of the room, Aaron closed his eyes in a distant sorrow. A suppressed groan escaped from his tightly closed lips.
“Rose’s room.”
With just that name, he could predict enough. What they were gossiping about.
The atmosphere was heavy.
Dark shadows filled the surroundings.
Blue eyes, soaked in fear, scanned the surroundings.
The flickering blonde hair swayed with the rapid movements.
Where on earth is this?
Although he looked around, all that surrounded him was an indistinguishable darkness.
No sound could be heard.
Like falling into the dark depths where neither light nor sound reached.
Anxiety filled the tense heart, and as he took a deep breath to shake it off, a strange smell wafted in.
It was different from the warm and humid air.
Dry and refined.
Thus, the scent of fear became even more unsettling.
The air was different from the warm and humid atmosphere. It felt dry and refined. Therefore, a more ominous scent lingered. To dispel the fearful heart, she reached out her hand, grasping the wall. It felt like holding onto something would prevent her from vanishing in the darkness. I have to get out of here. Although she couldn’t know where it was, it was clear that she had to leave this place. While caressing the rough wall, she slowly moved forward. Through the bare feet that felt nothing, the cold and chilly sensation of the marble floor reached her heart. It was a bitterly cold and lonely place. She wanted to get out quickly. Carefully feeling the surroundings with her toes, the moment she took a step forward.
Ddaak[Dash]ttubuk.
A firm, rhythmic sound of footsteps.
From behind, an odd sound of footsteps was heard.
The place, just a moment ago, where there was no one when she looked around.
Did I hear it wrong?
She cautiously took another step forward.
Ddaak[Dash]ttubuk.
At the sound coming from behind, a shiver ran through her entire body.
In the thick darkness, heavy silence, and an empty corridor, the sound of shoes echoed distinctly.
Surely not.
She took another step forward.
Ddaak[Dash]ttubuk.
Through the bare feet, the revealed white foot quietly stepped on the marble floor.
Ddaak[Dash]ttubuk.
A spine-chilling fear surged through her spine.
The sound of footsteps was more distinct than before.
Someone was following her from behind.
Hidden in the deep darkness.
Someone was trailing her, causing a tightness in her throat.
One step, another step.
The footsteps quickened.
Ddaak[Dash]ttubuk, Ddaak[Dash]ttubuk.
The sound following her from behind also accelerated at the same speed.
Fear seized her rationality.
Fearful footsteps quickened.
As if running away, the sound from behind also started to run together.
No.
I can’t be caught.
In the darkness, nothing could be distinguished, but that was clear.
Absolutely must not be caught by whatever was chasing her.
Breathing rapidly, almost panting, she took a step forward.
Despite the jolting impact of the hard floor transmitted through the bare feet, she couldn’t stop.
Must not be caught.
In that moment.
Her body lost balance and collapsed.
Caught off guard by something unseen in the darkness, she swayed and staggered.
And the presence of the pursuing fear did not miss that moment.
Her crumbling body was tightly embraced.
There was no way to escape, and she helplessly dragged into the darkness.
The scent of darkness filled her lungs, permeating through the skin in contact.
All sensations in her body were engulfed by the darkness.
Her breath ceased.
Haaak.
Opening her closed eyes, she exhaled the blocked breath.
Where is this?
Breathing heavily, as if a newborn was forcefully breathing, harshly and ruggedly exhaled.
“Regina.”
A bright beam of light seeped into her dilated pupils.
Breathing quickly, she looked around in a hurry.
She wasn’t trapped in darkness, and no one was chasing her.
The place she opened her eyes to was a world of bright light.
The hard and cool marble floor was not there; instead, it was a warm and cozy bed.
“Miss Regina.”
Once again, a gentle voice was heard.
“Oh my, look at this sweat.”
A quiet but affectionate voice scolded Regina in surprise.
With a soft cloth, she wiped the beads of sweat on Regina’s forehead.
She also untangled the wet strands of hair stuck to Regina’s damp cheek.
“Miss Regina, it seems you had a bad dream.”
Regina.
Only then did she realize that the name meant herself.
She murmured the unfamiliar name in her ear, lowering her voice.
I am Regina.
Regina slowly closed and opened her eyes as if etching light.
Even with that small movement, it seemed like she was escaping from the darkness.
While Regina was coming to her senses, someone by her side gave an order.
“Grace, could you bring some water and a towel?”
When Olivia issued a polite command, a maid busily moved.
“Yes, miss.”
Olivia, with concern in her warm brown eyes, asked cautiously.
“Why is your complexion so pale? What kind of dream did you have?”
Regina lowered her head as if avoiding Olivia’s soft and warm gaze.
Her voice, struggling to answer, came out unimpressive.
“It’s nothing.”
Even with Regina’s response, Olivia wasn’t surprised.
“Don’t worry. You’ve woken up from the dream now.”
Olivia continued to gently caress Regina’s hand as she sat there motionless.
“We may not know what kind of dream it was. Forget it. Dreams are just dreams.”
In an attempt to reassure her, Olivia’s words made Regina close her mouth.
A sensation of someone firmly grasping, darkness flooding into the lungs, the moment when breath stops.
It was too vivid to simply dismiss as a dream.
Anxious, Regina unconsciously nibbled on her lower lip.
“You’ve been staying in the room for days; it might be weakening you.”
Looking at the increasingly pale Regina, Olivia cautiously suggested.
“How about we go for a short walk?”
“No, I don’t want to go out.”
“But your complexion looks too pale.”
Regina cautiously withdrew the hand that had been held by Olivia.
“It’s because of the dream. I’m just startled. It’s okay.”
Olivia secretly squeezed Regina’s now empty hand.
She looked at Regina with a pitying gaze.
Since entering the palace, Regina hadn’t been a very active young lady.
Once a day, she would wake up early in the morning to go to the imperial chapel for prayer.
Returning, she would take a stroll or visit the library. That was all.
Her life was monotonous.
During the day, she quietly read more than a couple of books in her room, took a bath in warm water, and went to bed early from the early evening.
When the nobles of the palace began to move around for banquets and gatherings.
Regina slept soundly as if entering a peaceful slumber.
“Is there something wrong? Lately, you haven’t even been going to the chapel.”
Olivia looked at Regina with eyes full of concern.
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.]
