“The string you’re holding in your hand. If it’s okay like this…”
“Here it is.”
While tying the disheveled robe, his gaze remained fixed on her face.
Stroking his chin, he hesitated before quietly speaking.
“I have something to say to the lady. It’s about the wedding day.”
“Your Highness, I understand.”
During a brief pause, his words were cut off by Eom Sanggung calling from outside.
“Come in.”
The door opened, and Eom Sanggung entered with a table in hand.
Placing a table in front of the two, Eom Sanggung left with a satisfied smile on her lips.
As Eom Sanggung left and the surroundings became quiet, he poured drinks into the cups placed on the table.
“We can’t miss the ritual drink for the midnight ceremony. Now, let’s have a drink.”
“I can’t drink alcohol.”
“To become a true couple, you must drink the ceremonial wine at midnight. This is not just alcohol; it signifies the alliance between the lady and me. We cannot share blood, can we?”
Although the word ‘alliance’ didn’t seem suitable in this context, she already knew that they had to drink the ceremonial wine at midnight.
“It’s said that drinking the ceremonial wine ensures a harmonious and happy married life. It’s not a strong drink, so give it a try.”
At the mention of a happy married life, her gaze turned towards him.
Now, if this moment were sincere, how wonderful would it be?
She raised her glass and emptied it in one go. It felt like her throat was burning, and her entire body heated up, but it was bearable.
She had to endure it.
As he refilled the empty glass, he said, “If you have one more drink, I will continue with what I was going to say earlier.”
So, she drank again. Another glass. Without knowing why he kept urging her to drink, she drank as he offered.
Feeling a gentle buzz, she didn’t drink any more.
Even her words seemed to get tangled in her mouth.
“Now, try this too. Ah, please.”
“Are you really… Why are you doing this to me? I… I’ll eat it.”
It was awkward to the point of embarrassment that he personally put food in her mouth when she said she would eat it.
Why was he suddenly doing this?
Perhaps, he was trying to make her drink and then put her to sleep.
If that’s the case, he doesn’t need to go through this trouble. Just say it, and she would comply.
“Lady, are you okay? You’re not drunk, are you?”
“Yes. I’m fine. Please go on.”
“Then, I’ll talk about what I intended to earlier. But before that, may I ask the lady one thing?”
“…….?”
“Why don’t you ask? We both came out of the same room on the night of the ritual, the lady’s chamber. Why haven’t you questioned or asked what happened?”
Eunsul reluctantly lifted her heavy eyelids and looked at his face.
The smile that was present until a while ago disappeared from his face, and his eyes were serious.
“Do I have the right to do that? I’m already a woman who is detested. How can someone like me question and ask about such things?”
“No, that’s not it. Why would you think that way? Even if you find it repugnant, I’ve never thought that about you. And, on that day… there was nothing between me and that maid. Even if you don’t know anything else, please believe that.”
He says there was nothing with Mina.
Looking at his sincere expression, it seemed genuine.
-But here’s the thing. The butterfly, seeking the fragrance of a flower, does nothing and just sits there. Although it can be intoxicated by the fragrance. Wouldn’t it be nice for this butterfly to find out why it was attracted to the flower?
-This butterfly didn’t need the fragrance or nectar of other flowers. Aren’t you curious about the reason?
-The butterfly with a master never paid attention to anyone else. Even if its wings were gently tickled, it didn’t flutter. It was a butterfly with great dignity.
Suddenly, the words Sohyang told me earlier came to mind.
She wanted to believe.
Considering the personality of the Grand Prince that she had witnessed here, she believed it wasn’t a lie. She also believed his words that there was nothing between him and Mina. Now, she wanted to trust his words rather than the rumors.
Wanting to express gratitude for his disclosure, her head felt dizzy, and her eyes kept closing.
“Lady, wake up. There is much to discuss. How can you let your guard down like this? We still have things to do.”
“I also… I have nothing to do with that woman. My master, Kim Heegyeom, is my mentor. The one I love is… I mean… no, it’s nothing.”
As she shook her head while saying this, her body lost balance and swayed.
Eunsul, struggling to regain her composure, looked around, realizing that the Grand Prince, who had been by her side since a while ago, was nowhere to be seen.
“Your Grace… Where did you go?”
She leaned against the wall to prevent herself from collapsing.
After closing her eyes for a while without moving, she sighed with a voice mixed with exhaustion.
“Holding another woman… please don’t come to me. I don’t like it. I don’t like that Your Grace is interested in another woman or holding one… I don’t like it. I wish you only loved me… I hope. Saying such things… Ah, what am I doing? How can I dare to be greedy.”
Looking at her casually uttering words that should not be spoken, it seemed like she was quite drunk.
It’s fortunate that he’s not here.
But why are tears flowing like this?
Before he comes back, I should wipe away the tears, but my body was powerless, and I couldn’t move a single finger.
I just wanted to sleep like this.
“I shouldn’t sleep… leaving only me, Your Grace.”
Eunsul fell asleep without waiting for him.
Woon gently embraced the sleeping Eunsul, who had leaned on his chest.
He thought he might go crazy wanting to hold Eunsul, who leaned on him while making sincere confessions.
Thinking that he was the wall she leaned on, he looked down at the sleeping Eunsul, who exhaled even breaths.
His fingertips, which swept away the hair clinging to her forehead, slowly descended and stopped above her small, red lips.
He didn’t make her drink to make her fall asleep. Looking at her slightly opened lips and the rising and falling chest with each breath, he couldn’t endure it anymore.
He continued to embrace Eunsul and buried his face in the exposed white shoulders.
Then, bringing his lips to her ear, he whispered.
“Eunsul, wake up. Hm?”
It wasn’t a question expecting an answer, but unable to stand her stillness, he gently bit her earlobe.
That was the beginning of torment. With a short moan, Eunsul, whose earlobe he had bitten, plunged into his arms.
The lips touching bare skin were warm.
At the moment when the tingling sensation flowed through her back, he couldn’t bear it.
He quickly, yet carefully, pulled Eunsul away from his chest.
From his lips that parted, a sigh-like moan flowed out.
“The woman who touched my body so casually is Yoon Eunseol, it’s your first time.”
Somehow, it seemed like sleep wouldn’t come tonight.
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
