Cain fidgeted all morning without drinking a single sip of water. It was to keep his promise to Joseph that he would return early.
Thanks to this, Cain was able to return home before sunset. It was his earliest return in months.
“Why is everyone out? If someone saw, they’d think I was returning from war.”
Cain spoke lightly, feeling proud of keeping his promise. Nathan, who checked outside the carriage, looked surprised.
“We must appreciate how much the people of Hastings care for Your Excellency. So please take better care of yourself.”
Nathan was becoming more like Mary, nagging at every turn these days.
The carriage soon came to a stop. Norbert’s voice was heard from outside saying, “Quickly, hurry up.”
Urgent voices, a bustling atmosphere. The mood was too serious to be a welcoming crowd.
“Is something wrong?”
Cain asked as he got out of the carriage.
Dark clouds gathered on Norbert’s face. Worry settled in every pathway created by wrinkles on his face.
“Norbert.”
When Cain asked sternly, Norbert clenched his fist.
“Young Master Joseph has gone to the imperial palace.”
“What?”
Cain thought he had misheard.
He couldn’t believe that such an important matter as his son going to the imperial palace had occurred without his permission. Norbert bit his lip tightly before explaining the situation.
“After lunch, Her Majesty personally came to Somnium House.”
Cain waved his hand. He could guess without needing an explanation.
Helena wanting to take Joseph, and Norbert and Mary blocking her way. Helena wouldn’t have stayed quiet.
Sure enough, one cheek of both Norbert and Mary was slightly swollen.
Blocking the queen’s path was risking one’s life. It was fortunate to end with just a slap on the cheek.
Cain suppressed his anger. It was not a situation to get angry.
“What did she say?”
Cain intended to go straight to the imperial palace, so he didn’t enter Somnium mansion. Norbert continued his report while standing.
“She said she wanted him for a brief companionship. She said she would show him the zoo and the palace.”
“What nonsense. And Joseph?”
“He was scared but bravely went along.”
The child must have wanted to refuse. Joseph is afraid of stern-looking adult women.
How frightened must he have been seeing Helena, who is not just stern but vicious.
It’s admirable that he didn’t cry, but I wonder what he was thinking to follow Helena.
“He didn’t intend to go from the beginning.”
As if reading Cain’s mind, Letty, who stays by Joseph’s side all day, stepped forward.
Other maids tried to stop her by grabbing her arms.
“Let her be. Letty, was there anything unusual?”
Cain approached Letty. Norbert gestured to the other servants. They slowly moved away from Letty and Cain.
Letty gulped. It was her first time talking one-on-one with Cain. She had always just watched him conversing with others, but facing him directly was incredibly intimidating.
She suddenly felt a new respect for Jane who hadn’t been intimidated in front of Cain.
“Speak comfortably.”
Cain noticed Letty’s tension and tried to speak softly, but it wasn’t easy.
He was worried about what Helena might do to Joseph.
“I couldn’t hear properly because I was far away, but the young master was very surprised to see Her Majesty. And he was… scared. Sob.”
Remembering the afternoon when she had to helplessly send Joseph away, Letty burst into tears. Cain frowned.
“I’d prefer if you cried later. Explain first, then cry.”
Cain couldn’t pretend to be kind. He urged her impatiently, not hiding his anxiety.
Letty wiped her snot and tears with her sleeve. After barely catching her breath, she continued speaking.
“So…”
Helena, who had barged into Joseph’s room, spoke to the child while casually touching things.
Those light actions seemed like great threats to others. Even Letty held her breath, so Joseph must have been even more scared.
Helena said there were even better toys at the palace, but Joseph remained silent.
Even when she suggested going to the zoo, buying nice clothes, or giving delicious food.
But the child couldn’t hold out until the end. It was because of the name that came out of Helena’s mouth.
“Ha!”
Having heard the full explanation, Cain clicked his tongue in disbelief. He was furious at Helena’s cowardice.
After driving Jane away, using her as leverage to take Joseph?
“I, I should have stopped it somehow. Will our young master be alright?”
After finishing her explanation and about to cry, Letty broke into loud sobs. Even as Nath dragged her away as she sat on the floor crying, her sobbing sounds could still be heard.
Anyone would think Joseph had been dragged to hell, given how much sorrow filled Somnium mansion.
“The atmosphere was ominous.”
Norbert said.
“She came with a large number of knights. We tried to contact you, sir, but they even prevented that. The knights were about to intervene, but I stopped them. I should not have done that.”
Cain shook his head at Norbert’s regret and patted his shoulder.
“You did well. I know that was the best you could do.”
A fight with the queen’s knights? That’s unthinkable.
“The young master will be alright, won’t he?”
Mary, with her swollen face, asked.
“We have to make sure he’s alright. No, I will make sure of it. Don’t worry. Nathan, we need to go to the palace.”
“Yes, I thought you would say that.”
Cain got into the carriage.
“Wait a moment, sir!”
Just then, Nath stopped Cain. She handed him a rabbit doll.
“This is the doll the young master always sleeps with. Maybe he’ll feel less lonely if he has this?”
Cain took the rabbit doll that was so ill-suited to him. And he placed it on his knee so he wouldn’t forget it.
The rabbit doll smelled of Joseph. The warm and cozy scent of the child.
* * *
“Duke Hastings has arrived.”
Helena, who was arranging flowers, put down her scissors.
“Tell him to come in.”
At her command, the maids hurriedly cleared the table.
As a clean tablecloth was spread on the table and a cigar was placed between Helena’s fingers, Cain appeared.
Helena’s eyes narrowed as she glanced at Cain. In his hand was a rabbit doll that didn’t suit him at all.
Helena took a deep drag of her cigar.
“It’s been a while, Lord Cain.”
“Have you been well, Your Majesty?”
“Very well indeed. Thanks to your concern, my face has become this radiant. Please, sit.”
“I didn’t come to see Your Majesty today. I came to find my son.”
Helena blew out cigar smoke.
“You.”
She crossed her legs and tapped the armrest.
“You’re really insolent. Too insolent.”
“Didn’t you know?”
“I do. That’s why I get annoyed sometimes.”
Cain’s jaw tightened firmly. Helena was beating around the bush.
If she would quickly say what she wanted, then he could offer something suitable in exchange and take Joseph back.
It seemed it would be a difficult tug of war. Cain’s head was already aching.
“Your Majesty, where is Joseph?”
“He’s touring the zoo. He really likes animals, doesn’t he?”
“When the child returns, I will take him home.”
“Why? Do you think I’m going to eat the child? It’s an honor for a family to have their child stay at the palace. Oh, not for Hastings? Do you think your family is above the royal family?”
“Your Majesty, please don’t say such things. Hastings is a servant of Strain.”
“You speak well of things you don’t mean. For a child without a drop of your blood.”
“Your Majesty!”
The anger he had been suppressing finally burst out. Helena burst into laughter seeing Cain’s fiery eyes.
“How interesting. Your face looks like you want to kill me. How about it, want to try?”
Helena put down her cigar and took out a jeweled dagger from the side table.
It was decorative, but a knife is still a knife. If one decided to stab or slash with it, it could be a deadly weapon.
Cain fixed his gaze on the dagger.
“Your Majesty, why are you doing this?”
Helena smirked.
“I heard an interesting rumor. That you’re collecting weapons.”
“The hunting festival is coming soon. It’s just preparation for that. I’m not only Your Majesty’s loyal servant but also a merchant running a company.”
“I agree. I hope so.”
Cain took a moment to breathe.
Had Helena noticed the plan between Cain and Cedric?
It couldn’t be said for certain. If she had known, she would have overthrown Hastings instead of taking Joseph.
‘For now, she’s just suspicious.’
But how and where did the information leak from?
“I’ll be keeping Joseph for a while.”
So Joseph was a hostage.
“Your Majesty, the child is very young.”
“Young? Weren’t you at that age when you entered the academy and dominated children older than you?”
“Joseph is different from me.”
“How is he different? Isn’t Joseph also a Hastings? A brief separation from parents won’t cause any problems.”
Directly refuting that statement would be like saying Joseph wasn’t a Hastings.
“Your Majesty.”
Helena seemed to have firmly made up her mind to keep Joseph.
Cain racked his brain.
Not only would Helena not give Joseph back if he insisted, but he also had no justification to take the child back.
In a broad sense, Helena was the mother of all citizens of the kingdom.
Suddenly, he felt sorry for the citizens of the kingdom who had such a mother as Helena. Including himself.
Cain decided to concede for now. It was time to find out who had leaked information to Helena and to lay low so she wouldn’t become more suspicious. If he made a wrong move, everything could fall apart.
“Your Majesty, please let me see Joseph. I beg you.”
Cain bowed his head, feeling as if his intestines were being torn out.
“Anyone would think he was your real son.”
Helena mocked Cain.
Cain gritted his teeth.
Male lead first thought she played hard to get, only to realize she
really disliked him
Short intro:
What she can’t stand the most is the streets full of effeminate men, especially that so-called top beauty whom she avoids at all costs.
Shen Yaoxing looks at Jiang Mingyue, who keeps approaching her with coy shyness.
Shen Yaoxing: Bro, don’t be like this, I’m really about to throw up!
She fears nothing in heaven or earth, except for him getting close to her.
*
At first he thought she was just using the trick of feigning indifference to attract his attention. Later, he learned that she truly despised him.
This dealt a heavy blow to Jiang Mingyue, and he vowed to make her, like everyone else, fall at his feet in worship!
***
Synopsis:
Before transmigrating, Shen Yaoxing only wanted to find a reliable man to spend her life with. Who knew that after transmigrating, she would become a reliable woman herself…
A forced misandrist, highly skilled, and reliable female lead
vs.
An initially aloof and arrogant, later morbid, obsessed male lead
_____
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