All sorts of news sheets and newspapers were selling like hotcakes, and people were lining up in front of the newsstand to buy news sheets featuring stories about Aser.
In particular, news sheets detailing ‘Princess Cradling Returns’ by Sir Aser and Lady Christina had long been sold out, and a notice was attached stating that additional copies would be available in the afternoon.
The shortage of goods was no exception for the news sheets issued by the temple.
Despite tripling the print run, the first issue had already sold out by midmorning,
Additional handwritten copies were released in time for the afternoon mass, and people were queuing up in front of the news distribution center to donate and buy the additional print run.
The temple was also enjoying a golden age as donations poured in several times more than usual.
The monks who were copying had a tough time.
“What! Is the additional print run already sold out?”
The lady who was intending to buy the news sheet while waiting in line showed a disappointed face as the stock ran out in front of her.
The man who had taken the last remaining news sheet wiped the sweat off his forehead with a sigh of relief.
His side was full of popular news sheets released that day, sorted by type.
The man gathered the news sheets and put them in his bag.
The lady stared at the news sheets he was carrying with a regretful look, then her eyes widened as she spotted a rare news sheet featuring a popular illustration by Lady Settledown peeking through the gap in his bag.
News sheets with illustrations were already sold at higher prices, but the news sheets containing pictures by Lady Settledown were hard to come by, even if you were willing to pay several times the price.
Above all, it was a limited edition news sheet that did not have any additional print runs.
“Excuse me! I apologize for the intrusion, but those news sheets……!”
She was quite a pretty lady, but the man rejected her with a polite smile, not blinking an eye.
“Sorry, but I can’t. I’m selling this to a ‘real collector’.”
At the words ‘selling it’, the lady’s eyes shone even brighter.
If he’s not collecting for himself but selling it, isn’t there a chance for me!
“How much does it cost! I have a lot of money! I’ll give you double!”
But by the time she was rummaging through her purse, the man was already far away.
“……Huh! Where are you going! I’ll give you double! I can even triple it!”
The man, Taylor, the son of Alvin Lorenson, the personal physician of Julius Gaius, ran away without looking back.
‘Who said it was for sale? I said I’m only selling to a real collector.’
Taylor chuckled as if it was ridiculous.
And he wore a slightly different smile, thinking of the customer who would receive this news sheet.
“…….”
Reina Astarin. His customer.
She is a ‘real collector’.
Not someone who collects news sheets because they are momentarily fashionable, doesn’t know where they put them and forgets, or throws away what they’ve collected, but a real collector.
She sincerely collected news sheets.
It seemed to have been more than three years already.
In Taylor’s opinion, precious collectibles should really go to someone who will cherish them for a long time.
Wouldn’t it be unfair if people swept up in the trend competed fiercely, preventing a person who was genuinely collecting and cherishing the news sheets from getting what they wanted?
But with a friend like me, that won’t happen.
Taylor smirked.
She’ll really like it when she gets these news sheets, right?
He knew very well how much Reina cherished that scrapbook.
He had never seen the contents because she never showed it to anyone, but he had an idea of what was in it.
Because whenever he handed her the news sheet, she would quickly glance through it and her gaze would always linger in the same place.
She must be thrilled to see the recent news sheets.
The face she made, not knowing what to do, looking at the news sheet and being happy, was vivid in his mind.
She never just takes something when he brings her something like this, so she’ll be terribly embarrassed and ask him how much it all cost.
How much should he say to let her take it without feeling burdened?
A price that doesn’t create a financial burden or a mental one. He has to find the right amount.
Humming a tune, Taylor hurried towards the Duke Julius mansion.
Reina was beautiful even when she was quiet, but when she got the news sheet she wanted, when she showed a face that hardly anyone else saw, she was really beautiful.
She had been unable to let go of the foolish act of pretending to “come and pick up” while walking around to see the face she liked.
“……”
Suddenly, Taylor’s expression darkened when he saw the illustration of ‘Christina Julius’ in the newsletter he was holding.
The story about Rayna, which he heard from the maids, naturally came to mind.
The day before Sir Arthur’s return, Rayna was called to be Miss Christina’s dedicated maid at dawn.
It was something he heard from another maid while searching for Rayna, who hadn’t been seen for two days.
…I’m worried.
Is she not suffering from being treated harshly by that picky young lady?
If she’s dedicated to the young lady, it’s hard to get away for a moment.
I wonder if she’s eating her meals on time.
“……”
…Damn.
Taylor glared at the nasty young lady comfortably nestled with Sir Arthur in the newsletter.
When will Rayna be able to come out?
[This is the time separator]Rayna was sitting on the bed, sobbing with the remnants of her tears, her nose turning red.
Arthur was sitting quietly next to her without much expression.
Just waiting quietly for Rayna to calm down.
After a considerable amount of time.
Rayna began to worry about what kind of face Arthur might be making as she stared quietly at her fingertips resting on her knees.
“……”
He must be angry, or at least, find it pathetic or absurd.
She doesn’t have the courage to look at his face.
Rayna remained despondently silent.
Arthur spoke.
“The first night was obligatory, but not the rest.”
“……”
“So if you don’t want to, you don’t have to.”
“……”
That’s not the problem.
I am not your real wife.
Don’t you know that?
“……”
There’s something about him that’s too polite and makes me confused.
Sometimes, I feel like I’ve mistaken myself for the ‘real Miss Christina’.
Stealthily, Rayna rolled her eyes to sneak a look at Arthur.
“You’re finally looking at me.”
Arthur leaned against the bedhead and laughed.
Just staring straight ahead calmly.
…He didn’t look back at her.
So Rayna was able to steal a longer look at Arthur.
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
