“It doesn’t matter how dangerous the beast is or isn’t. Suddenly a monster appears, and Your Grace pulls out a sword, and then blood splatters everywhere…”
“Annette, you’re shaking.”
Darius placed his hand on my trembling shoulder. Unbeknownst to me, my body was shivering. Seeing a monstrous creature for the first time was terrifying.
“Were you scared? I’m sorry.”
He tilted his head to meet my eyes. His dark pupils reflected Annette. Now a familiar sight to me.
“It’s over now. You’re safe.”
That’s not the point!
I meant to protest, but strangely, my head wouldn’t lift, and I only managed a faint groan.
What’s happening? Really.
He hesitated and then awkwardly hugged me. It was so awkward that it was barely a hug.
The arms of the man who had just taken a life were surprisingly warm.
“I’m better at surprising people than comforting them. I wish it ended there.”
Typical of the main character, dealing with monsters and paperwork until meeting the heroine.
Even without experience, they can offer perfect consolation in front of the heroine, but until then, kindness isn’t part of their skill set.
“I didn’t ask to be comforted.”
But what’s this? His gentle tone as if soothing a frightened noble lady, troubled by a mere monster.
“Hm.”
A small cough came from behind. Startled, I saw it was Daniel and the coachman.
“Ah…”
Their faces, somewhat pleased, seemed apologetic for interrupting a good moment.
“We must leave now, or we won’t reach the castle today.”
“Ah, let’s go! Quickly!”
My face flushed immensely in an instant.
“I’m really sorry for disturbing your time.”
What’s there to be sorry for? I was just worried about the reckless Duke.
Without responding to Daniel’s words, I returned to the carriage and awkwardly turned away.
‘I couldn’t move an inch when the beast attacked.’
My heart still hurt. Was it because I was upset?
‘Will I just die without a sound if I ever meet an assassin?’
Like Annette in the original.
Laughing and chatting with the main character doesn’t solve everything. Going to the Inkheart Castle could bring me closer to death.
‘Who knows when the assassination flag from the original story will pop up?’
So, I should think of ways to ensure my safety… As I was calming down, sleepiness overcame me, and I drifted off.
I dreamt.
As I spoke, the air of the battlefield changed dramatically. The space, filled with evil magic, was swept by a clear wind. The small breeze grew, confusing the beasts.
As I changed the air of the battlefield, people behind me moved swiftly.
A person with silver blades and black pupils met my eyes.
He seemed to say something, but…
“Annette.”
“Hmm…”
“I’ve arrived.”
Someone’s touch woke me. Thump, something heavy and warm fell to the ground.
I must have fallen asleep. Reflexively, I picked up the heavy object. Thick leather, perfect for warmth.
Darius, who woke me, suddenly turned his head away, just like I had earlier.
“Did you cover me with this?”
“I warned you it would be cold here.”
Thanks to that, I slept soundly without waking.
“Thank you.”
“If you caught a cold as soon as we arrived, I would be the one suffering.”
His words were blunt, even with his ears turning red.
“Then I’m not thankful.”
Darius’s eyes narrowed, and I feigned innocence, tilting my head.
“I thought you didn’t want to accept my gratitude…?”
If he doesn’t accept the thanks, it’s his loss.
However, I soon chuckled. Darius, seemingly outplayed, spoke in a deflated tone.
“I can never quite figure you out.”
“We’ve only been married a short while; I can’t reveal all my cards just yet.”
Mystery is the essence of romance. Not that I plan to romance the main character.
‘So this is the North.’
The main stage of the novel and the territory of the male lead.
Opening the carriage window, I saw distant blue ice cliffs. A magnificent sight of the North, a symbol, and the source of monsters.
Following the Lord’s carriage were wagons carrying wheat and cotton from the South. A sight more welcome than any grand procession.
With this food and cotton, the North can survive the winter.
“Lord.”
“Your Grace.”
People doffed their hats and greeted the Lord. My future people. I watched the street curiously, pressing my nose against the carriage window.
Despite not appearing materially prosperous, there was no gloom on the people’s faces.
‘The Lord and his people are very alike.’
They live through the winter on pride alone.
Hmm. I breathed on the carriage window and drew a heart on the foggy glass.
“What are you doing?”
“Preparing myself for life ahead.”
I liked this city.
‘This is the land of the main character. I’ll develop it well and leave with a fortune when we divorce.’
After marriage, increased assets are considered joint property.
“This is the cotton seed I’m bringing to the North. I’ve been collecting it since I was very young. Roughly counted, there are about 1,200 seeds.”
Male lead is a Destined Young Husband (Female-dominant)
One-sentence summary: Wife-master, listen to my explanation!
Li Ruantang, a young lady from a prestigious family, stumbled and fell. When she woke up, she saw a noble and beautiful young man sitting by her bedside, wiping away tears.
The young master had slightly reddened eyes, and his every move exuded charm.
The sight made Li Ruantang’s eyes hot and her heart flutter. After all, she had made a bet with the young master Meng from the neighboring family. If she couldn’t marry a husband before the end of the year, she would have to admit defeat and give up the jade she had worked so hard to obtain.
Outside the window, the flowers were in full bloom.
Rather than losing the bet, the jade, and her face, Li Ruantang calculated that it would be better to seek marriage with the young master in front of her, killing three birds with one stone.
…
Meng Jun never thought that an accident during a spring outing would lead to them rolling down a cliff and into a river, yet still survive.
Now they were trapped in an unknown village, and Meng Jun had overheard that the family who had rescued them had their own intentions.
After all, it was Li Ruantang who had lost her mind and sought marriage first. He was only trying to protect himself!
Glancing at Li Ruantang, who was listing her own merits, the young husband’s voice softened, and he blushed as he lied, “W-wife-master, Wife-master, don’t you remember me?”
The young husband’s voice was clear and handsome, coaxing Li Ruantang’s heart to be soft and sweet, and she spared no effort to protect him.
It wasn’t until they returned to the capital that Li Ruantang suddenly remembered.
When they had fallen off the cliff, in order not to implicate Wei Yunruo, whom he secretly admired, the young husband had instead pulled her, who was slightly farther away, down the cliff with him…
Short summary by Yuushi L: Initially, the male lead (ML) liked another girl, while the female lead (FL) liked the ML. Both fell off a cliff. The FL temporarily lost her memory, and the ML, fearing others might take advantage of him, claimed FL was his wife while they were staying in a village. Later, when they returned home, the FL regained her memories and remembered that the ML liked someone else, so she kept her distance from him. However, during their time living together in the countryside, the ML’s view of the FL had completely changed. From this point, his pursuit of the FL begins.
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