The vicious hand that had been holding the child’s wrist lost its strength and slackened.
The child, quickly escaping, hid in a corner even more than before.
With a heavy heart, Lucia, watching the child sob, was worried that if she didn’t take the child today, the situation would get worse.
The information about the child at the temple had been erased, but it was because the smugglers involved here would not stay quiet.
‘I have to take her anyway…’
If she had been her usual indifferent self, it would have been simple.
It was not difficult for an adult to take this powerless child without any sympathy.
But she seemed to instinctively sense that this was different from those times, the Lucia staring with blank eyes.
She stood like that for a while, listening to the sobbing sound that resonated in her ears.
It was a strange sound that she had never heard before in her surroundings, even when there were no children.
She recalled her own childhood as if comparing it to that sound.
In Lucia’s childhood, she was entirely different from the young saint now.
She rarely sobbed, hid, or responded to anyone.
The reason was certainly her disposition, but perhaps it was also due to the influence of her birth and environment.
Her mother died giving birth to Lucia.
And even her living father never saw Lucia until she became an adult.
The nannies and maids who were like parents to the young Lucia were particularly taciturn, and she grew up in such a dry environment that she became insensitive to everything like a doll.
She thought it was her own fault when she began to live as a knight with her colleagues after becoming an adult.
But even though she realized her loneliness, she could do nothing, as she had already grown as much as she could.
Her loneliness had become a habit, and wielding a sword was the only stimulation that made her feel alive.
So she gave up everything and waited for death alone in a place where there was no one, even in her nineties.
The child, who grew up without parents, is similar yet different from her.
Lucia thought that the child still had expectations of her parents enough to call her Mom.
Then does that mean there is still a chance for her to grow up as an ordinary child, unlike her lonely self?
‘An ordinary child…’
But the child is a saint.
It’s realistically difficult for a saint to become an ordinary child under normal parents.
Because there are many temptations in the world that can make even a real family give up family.
She frowned, recalling the many ugly things she had experienced in the war regarding her family.
But then, it was then.
Lucia, who had been standing for a while, noticed the child’s hair trembling slightly.
‘…Rare black hair. Training period 5 years. 5 years old…’
She thought of something as she looked at the hair that was the same color as hers.
And with that one thought, the noise in her mind vanished, and she began to speak on her own.
“I, too, am like you.”
After a long silence, Lucia spoke, and the child, whose face was hidden, flinched in surprise.
“I grew up without parents. So I don’t know. What it’s like to have parents.”
At her confession, the child peeked at Lucia through the hidden hair.
“And I probably won’t know in the future either. But unfortunately, there’s only one way to protect you.”
If the child is special, the parents must also be special, or else they cannot protect the child.
“It’s for you and me to become family.”
“…Family?”
The young saint blinked her eyes.
“So I mean, I have to be your mom.”
In her thoughts, if she was a saint capable of purifying the black contamination that would destroy the world, she would have to be the strongest woman on the continent to protect it.
Lucia, just like her.
She reached out to the child.
An unreasonable, almost nonsensical proposal.
No, it might be more like coercion or a threat.
But strangely, did her clumsy suggestion reach the child?
The child with a dark face began to sparkle again as it touched her snowwhite gloves.
But only for a moment.
The child, who had been looking at Lucia’s hand with sparkling eyes for a while, looked around at the birds and the debris on the floor, and darkened again.
“…This is where I belong.”
The child had the look of a pitiable beast that could not escape from that place even with a loose leash.
Lucia let out a small sigh.
Then.
“Hey! The lock!”
“What’s this? The lock is broken?”
A rough man’s voice was heard at the warehouse entrance.
The child quickly changed to an anxious face. It seemed to be a man he knew.
Lucia soon recalled the graffitiladen wall and scowled.
But if she eliminated them now for petty revenge, the child might fear her.
She suppressed her rising anger with all her might and anticipated what would happen next.
As the men were about to enter, the birds fluttered noisily in their cages.
The child embraced the flapping cages as if to protect them.
Perhaps if the birds were not still, the men would have taken some unfavorable action.
And watching that, an interesting picture came to Lucia’s mind.
“Child. Will you open all the doors of the cages?”
“…?”
“When they open the door, the birds will fly wherever they want.”
The child blinked his eyes, not understanding.
Lucia, showing the child, quickly began to open the cage doors.
And as she shook the cages, the birds started to come out one by one, making a loud noise.
As the last cage door opened and the bird flew out, the wooden barrier that had blocked the warehouse almost broke.
Lucia reached out to the bewildered child amidst the flapping birds.
This time, Lucia’s firm hand, filled with the conviction that she would never let go.
The child stared intently at the hand offered again.
The child’s eyes were hesitating, as if a forbidden apple that should not be eaten was in front of her.
“Let’s go. Together.”
She said, pointing to the birds preparing to fly.
Then.
The warehouse door opened with a loud noise.
Then many birds began to fly through the open door, and two burly men fluttered, their vision obscured by falling feathers.
Meanwhile, Lucia put on her hood to hide her face.
“What is this…!! There! Who’s there!!”
“What are you doing! Hurry up and catch them!! They are expensive ones!”
The child hesitated as if uneasy at the men’s shouts, finally tightly grasping Lucia’s hand.
“……!”
Having gone a long way around, it was Lucia who finally grasped the small hand that must not be missed.
Only then did a refreshing smile hang on her lips for the first time in a long while.
And she lightly lifted the child she had grasped and held them in her arms.
The child blinked in surprise at the unfamiliar warmth.
And before that surprised face could settle, Lucia summoned a blade in her hand and, as if venting her anger, hurled it towards the scribbled wall of the warehouse.
“Ugh! What, what is this!”
The ground shook as if there had been an earthquake, and the men crouched down, losing even the birds they were grabbing.
And Lucia, who lightly climbed up the roof through the hole in the wall.
Behind the child and her, a breathtaking view unfolded as beautiful birds freely flew towards the sky.
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.]
