A cowardly and selfish human.
Cain opened his eyes, summarizing himself in one sentence. He got out of bed and stretched his neck, holding his shoulders. His movements were too smooth for someone who had been bedridden for a long time.
“Are you awake?”
Nathan, who opened the door and entered, hesitated when he saw the empty bed and approached the window.
It was a natural action, as if he knew Cain would be up.
Cain nodded indifferently and sat on the windowsill.
His face, looking at the garden engulfed in pitch-black darkness, was just expressionless.
“Jane?”
Cain asked the same question as he did three days ago when he first woke up.
Nathan thought about how consistent he was and recalled the night three days ago.
A test run schedule was set for a train with a new engine. It was thanks to Lloyd’s efforts on the front lines.
They were going to postpone the test run considering Cain’s absence, but it was difficult to ignore the wishes of those who had long wished for a faster train.
Nathan confirmed the test run date through a senior meeting and came to Cain’s room late at night to find Cain’s seal to be stamped on the final documents.
That’s when Cain woke up.
Nathan was about to jump up and call people right away, but Cain stopped him.
Cain’s jaw tightened, but he didn’t withdraw his opinion.
Nathan couldn’t understand Cain.
But how could a servant dissuade his master if that’s what he wanted?
Above all, seeing the complicated expression on his sharpened face made it difficult to refuse his will.
From then on, Nathan secretly visited Cain at night when everyone was asleep. Cain only left the bed when it was time for Nathan to come.
“I met Mr. Phil today and came back. And you went to the palace.”
“Put someone on Phil’s side. Who did Jane meet at the palace?”
“It’s Miss Scarlet.”
Cain’s face crumpled mercilessly as he recalled what Scarlet had said before Jane was kidnapped. He tapped on the windowsill, lost in thought.
With Jexie dead, only Scarlet remained to use Joseph’s background as a weakness for the Hastings.
What if she disappears too?
Joseph and the Hastings would be safe.
The more he thought about it, the more he leaned towards dealing with Scarlet. However, the conclusion was ‘wait and see for now’.
Even for Cain, it wasn’t easy to easily remove the young lady of the Carelina Count family, who had the queen’s trust.
It wasn’t a matter of possibility, but the weariness of the aftermath.
But he had no intention of leaving Scarlet alone. He had a way to tie her hands and feet.
If he couldn’t actually kill her, he could isolate her socially.
Cain’s hand tapping on the window stopped. He turned to Nathan.
“Release all the investigations we had on Count Carelina.”
“All of it, sir? Even the part where he profited from selling old raccoons?”
“Including the part about capturing Rose faction children and selling them as slaves.”
Count Carelina was a much more despicable person than was known.
Of course, knowing this and pretending it wasn’t his business, he himself wasn’t innocent either.
The reason Cain left the Carelina Count family alone was purely because it was troublesome. The queen’s attention and trust that would be directed at him if he took down the Carelina Count family, that is.
‘It’s not like I’ve been a coward for just a day or two.’
Cain emphasized once again with self-deprecation.
“Send it directly to the old raccoon. Make it clear that I sent it.”
“Understood. But how long are you going to stay in bed? It’s about time you returned, sir. Stop worrying everyone. Your absence is significant, Your Grace.”
Cain knows. Not only is the financial loss severe, but it’s also troubling many people.
But he couldn’t face Jane with a clear conscience. And he wanted to feel her affectionate gaze of concern for him a little longer.
Knowing it was a time that wouldn’t come again, Cain indulged, saying just a little more, just a little more.
“Soon.”
Cain, who didn’t give a definite answer again today, headed to bed before Nathan left.
It’s time to walk back into the dream. Cain earnestly prayed that he could be happy with Jane, if only in his dreams, today as well.
* * *
Crash!
The teacups and vases on the table spilled onto the floor with a clatter.
“Young lady! Be careful!”
Ken hurriedly approached Scarlet, who was panting after sweeping everything off.
“Don’t come, you idiot!”
Scarlet screamed, filled with anger. Ken froze like a statue, one foot forward.
“Y-young lady?”
“Young lady? Why am I your young lady? Call me master. You’re my dog, aren’t you!”
Ken lost his words and just moved his lips. Scarlet had changed.
She who always smiled and only said kind words was now cursing and criticizing with her eyes rolled back.
“Young lady, what’s wrong?”
“What’s wrong? You’re asking me what’s wrong? You call that a question? It’s because of you!”
Scarlet picked up a teaspoon she hadn’t swept away and threw it at Ken. The teaspoon hit Ken’s chest and fell.
“Because of me……”
“Didn’t I tell you to watch Jexie well? What were you thinking letting her go!”
“There was someone helping that woman. That person……”
“You’re saying with your own mouth that you’re more incompetent than that person. Aren’t you ashamed? After all I’ve done for you, you can’t even do this one little thing properly?”
Scarlet had completely lost her mind. It was because the weapon to pressure Jane and get Cain in her hands had disappeared.
On top of that, Helena was pressuring Scarlet about when she would reveal the source of the rumors.
In this situation, there was nothing Scarlet could do.
Even if she told Helena about Joseph, there was a high chance she wouldn’t believe it.
Even though Cain acted arrogantly, Helena trusted the Hastings Duke family more than the Carelina Count family.
Scarlet sat down in the chair with a thud and bit her nails. For a while, only the sound of nail-biting could be heard in her bedroom.
“Young lady, I’ll try to find, find her somehow. So please, young lady, calm down……”
“Get out, you idiot. Get out and don’t show your disgusting face!”
Scarlet shuddered at the sight of Ken approaching. Her expression was as if she had seen a snake.
It’s been a week already. If Ken hadn’t found her by now, Jexie was likely already dead or in Cain’s hands.
“Can’t you hear me telling you to get out! How can you not understand words in one go? When you got burned, was it your head that burned instead of your ear holes?”
Realizing Ken was useless, Scarlet criticized him mercilessly. Her words became daggers piercing Ken’s heart.
“Don’t ever appear in front of me again! No, just die while you’re at it.”
The blood drained from Ken’s face. His eyes, which had been worried about Scarlet, became empty. His steps backing away slowly were very unsteady.
“Ah, the young lady isn’t like this, the young lady is a kind person, the young lady cares for me……”
“Ken, listen well. I’m only nice to people. You’re a dog now, aren’t you? A stupid dog that can’t even protect its own food bowl. If you don’t want to be beaten to death, leave. Live quietly where no one knows. Oh, is it because you have no money? Then lick my feet like a dog or something.”
Scarlet vented all the stress that had built up on Ken.
No matter how harshly she spoke, Ken wouldn’t dare open his mouth carelessly.
Even if he went around telling her story, would people believe the words of such a hideous person?
‘They’ll believe my words.’
Scarlet sneered as she looked at Ken.
Tears welled up in Ken’s empty eyes. Scarlet turned away even from his tears.
Scarlet was so worried about taking care of herself that she didn’t notice his wounds.
Ken realized that all the smiles and kindness Scarlet had shown until now were all lies.
The words that made him live, the smile that made him laugh, the warmth that pushed his back to move forward, all disappeared.
He let go of everything he had received from her.
“Be happy.”
Ken bid farewell with all the gratitude he had and left.
“Pretending to be there until the end. When there’s nothing at all.”
Scarlet mocked even his last greeting.
And shortly after, Count Carelina came looking for Scarlet.
“You vermin!”
As soon as he entered the room, he grabbed Scarlet’s hair. And he returned all the harsh words Scarlet had said to Ken.
“I fed you, clothed you, educated you, and you should earn your keep!”
“Ahh, father, why, why are you doing this!”
The rough hand shook Scarlet. Feeling like her hair would all be pulled out, Scarlet firmly grasped Count Carelina’s hand. This made Count Carelina’s actions even more violent.
“You’re asking because you don’t know? What on earth did you do to Duke Hastings!”
“Ahh! Father! What, sob, what did I do for you to do this, father. Please, please let go and talk.”
Scarlet pleaded, tears streaming down her face.
“Master, oh my, master. You’ll kill the young lady at this rate.”
Scarlet’s maid, who followed in, also tried to stop Count Carelina. Count Carelina looked at the wide open door and threw Scarlet away.
Scarlet crashed to the floor like trash. Scarlet, who had hit the wall hard, held her shoulder and looked up at Count Carelina.
Her eyes were full of resentment, bewilderment, and burning desire for revenge.
“How dare you look at me with those impudent eyes!”
That insolent gaze turned Count Carelina’s insides upside down. Count Carelina slapped Scarlet’s cheek. Stars flashed and disappeared before Scarlet’s eyes.
“Ugh.”
Scarlet lay face down on the floor. Her cheek throbbed and her head rang.
Why was Count Carelina so angry? He didn’t love Scarlet, but at least he considered her a valuable commodity.
So he would starve her, but not hit her. Sometimes when Scarlet rebelled, he would use physical force, but not since she became an adult. Also, no matter how angry he was, he never hit her where it would show.
But today he was swinging his hand recklessly. Scarlet’s lip split and her cheek swelled.
“Why are you doing this to me, please tell me the reason……”
“You really don’t know? You don’t know anything?”
Count Carelina’s eyes rolled back once again.
My Ex-Girlfriend Is The Regent In The Female-dominant World (Male lead transmigrates to the matriarchal world)
Two years ago, Gu Sui picked up a homeless woman in ancient costume from the street.
Apart from occasionally claiming to be a princess from a female-dominant country due to illness, her figure, appearance, intelligence, and martial arts skills were impeccable.
Naturally evolving from roommates to girlfriends, as time went on, Gu Sui found it increasingly difficult to tolerate her queen syndrome.
“Mu Jiulu, can you stop controlling me inside and out? Let’s break up.”
Gu Sui made a breakup call, and since then, he couldn’t find any trace of her.
A year later, Gu Sui, who was planning to move, woke up the next day and found himself in a different place.
“Young Master, today is the day you choose your Wife-master through martial arts competition at Jade Dew Pavilion. Please get up quickly.”
Gu Sui: Who am I? Where am I? What am I doing?
As the only son of a general’s mansion in a female-dominant dynasty, the young empress personally issued a decree allowing Gu Sui to select his Wife-master through martial arts competition. Whoever could defeat him could marry him.
Gu Sui: “……”
He didn’t inherit the original owner’s martial prowess, so anyone could defeat him! And what the hell is a Wife-master?
Forced to come to Jade Dew Pavilion, the densely packed women below made Gu Sui’s agoraphobia act up, and his face was full of resistance.
Until he saw the Regent sitting on the second floor, with a smile on the corner of her lips, her eyes wicked and nonchalant.
Hmm… she looked a little familiar.
It turned out that the Regent also found him a little familiar.
Mu Jiulu fiddled with her bone clasp, her deep gaze locked on the man who was out of place in this world.
“Finally, I found you.”
Male transmigrates into female-dominant world
One-sentence summary: What goes around comes around, taking turns in the crematorium
