Byaern had planned to pin all the blame on Jane, if things came to that. Blinded by money, that was his scheme.
Byaern looked visibly relaxed. How long had the five years he spent here to advance to the center felt?
Clenching his fist, Byaern thought about the curtain coming down on what felt like years in exile. The voice of Duke Rodrigo, whom he had encountered in the capital, echoed in his ears like tinnitus.
[If you want to come to the capital, you’ll have to prove your worth.] […W, worth?] [There are many ways to please him. You, more than anyone, should know.]‘A proof of worth’ would be sufficient with the life of the Duke. He should just end the life of that tenacious Duke before the royal family arrives.
“It’s over now. I’ll soon be going up to the capital!”
Seeing the summit right before him, Byaern burst into a maniacal laughter.
[Dash] Knockknock.A brief knock and the door opened. The one who had come into the office was Jane, responding to the summons of the butler.
“The butler was looking for you.”
Byaern placed the letter he was reading into the desk drawer upon seeing Jane, who peeked her head in. Jane bowed deeply as she approached.
“Good. Thanks to you doing your job well, things have gone smoothly. Well done.”
“…You’re too kind.”
A satisfied smile crept onto Byaern’s lips. Jane seemed more subdued than usual, but he casually brushed it off.
‘Tsk tsk. Such small ambition.’
It was quite different from when she had demanded money for her surveillance role.
After all, she was directly involved in the Duke’s conspiracy, so her anxiety was somewhat understandable.
“The Duke ate the poisoned food, right?”
His sharply lifted eyes met Jane’s. Obviously, the ailing Duke made it clear that Jane had followed his orders.
But to be absolutely sure, Byaern wanted to doublecheck.
“Yes. He ate about a third, as he usually does. I added a bit more poison than the prescribed dose.”
“…”
“So, he appears to be unconscious now… Sir, this is okay, right?”
Jane seemed close to a panic attack. Byaern had told her that the Duke would suffer if the poison was administered.
However, the Duke immediately became critical after eating the food laced with the poison. Naturally, Jane was extremely anxious.
“Well, you added more poison than prescribed. Anyway, you’ve done your duty.”
“Then my assigned task is… over?”
Jane’s quivering voice was filled with anxiety. Seeing her like that, Byaern clicked his tongue.
“Yes, your job ends today. Make sure no one gets near the Duke’s room from now on.”
The royal family was due to arrive today, in a few hours. The completion of the task was now up to Byaern.
“And also.”
The butler opened a desk drawer.
The sound of heavy metal rang out from the bag he placed on the desk.
The size of the bag extended towards Jane was different from usual. Jane, of all people, knew the value of her own life.
If she received such a large sum of money, she would know how tightlipped she would have to be.
Byaern extended the bag toward Jane.
“You’ve worked hard. This money is enough for you to settle down elsewhere. Leave the mansion without anyone knowing, as soon as the royal family arrives.”
“…Thank you.”
Jane accepted the money, bowed deeply, and left the room.
[Dash] Slam!The moment the door closed, a dreadful silence descended upon the office. Byaern, who had been staring at the door Jane exited through, muttered to himself.
“Of course, she’ll be dead before she even gets to spend that money.”
He never intended to keep Jane alive in the first place. She was a wicked woman; it was only right to eliminate the risk factor.
“Sigh.”
Bayern exhaled deeply and stood up from his seat, his face noticeably tense. He then headed for the Count’s room to put an end to all this with his own hands.
.
.
.
[Dash] Thump.Butler Bayern entered the empty hallway and went into the Count’s bedroom, where he was asleep. He then locked the door in case anyone would come in.
He approached the Count with slow steps and looked down at him.
The man, only exhaling in measured breaths, lay there with his eyes closed as if dead. It had been two days since the Count had prolonged his life just by lying in bed.
Though the maid spoonfed him and cleaned his body.
Well, if this wasn’t a deathbed, then what was it?
“Thus, Your Lordship would also think that death would be preferable?”
Bayern leaned close to the Count. His skin, already pale, had turned even whiter like parchment.
His parched skin and golden hair, which was as good as a royal mark, had lost its luster long ago. Bayern caressed the Count with a gentle touch.
“I will send you to where the Empress Mother is. You must miss your mother, too. May you become a great Emperor there…”
Yes. He was just fulfilling the Count’s wish.
Born of noble status, yet ultimately living such a miserable life.
Born as the unique enemy of the previous Emperor, but had lost his place as Crown Prince solely because he was sickly.
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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