Beside a white table laid with various high-end cotton fabrics, a red dress, light as a veil fluttering in the air with a scooped neckline, hung on a mannequin.
The dress, resembling blazing firewood, had no distinct patterns, yet this very simplicity drew the eye even more.
Around the waist, a pitch-black ribbon, like the dark aurora of early dawn, was wrapped as a focal accent.
The dress, where black and red blended perfectly, reminded Gabriel of a certain man.
‘Dietrich!’
It was a dress that resembled Dietrich, whom she had once encountered by chance on the capital’s streets.
Gabriel shifted her gaze from the dress to the boutique owner, who was skillfully responding to Hariel’s words.
“How much is this dress?”
At Gabriel’s question, the owner hurriedly rushed toward her.
“This one is custom-made for a regular customer arriving today, so it’s not for sale.”
“…….”
Gabriel could absolutely not let go of this dress that had caught her eye.
“Never mind the custom order—I want this dress.”
“My lady, this isn’t for sale. The customer will arrive soon.”
“Then, how about selling me the entire boutique?”
Gabriel pulled out a blank check and handed it to the owner.
“Write whatever price you want.”
The owner nibbled her lips.
“I can’t. My lady, I can’t just hand over a boutique I’ve devoted my entire life to…”
“Then at least give me the dress. If the regular customer comes asking, just say there’s been an issue—production will take longer than expected.”
The owner was on the verge of going mad.
Her most loyal and demanding customer was about to arrive, and suddenly this noblewoman appeared, waving a blank check and demanding the dress.
“I don’t need the whole boutique—just give me the dress. I can cover any amount you name.”
“I can’t… I just can’t. If the customer finds out, it’ll be absolutely unacceptable. Please leave quickly.”
“Why? Who exactly is this regular customer who ordered the dress?”
Ding—
The moment the owner dropped the blank check to the floor, a bell rang.
A slender noblewoman wearing a pure white bonnet stepped gracefully into the boutique.
Removing the bonnet revealed wavy pink hair cascading in soft curls down her back, unveiling her face.
A woman with delicate, finely arranged features beneath pale skin had a sweet, charming appearance.
Beneath her fine eyelashes, a pair of icy blue eyes coldly stared at Gabriel.
The owner, visibly flustered, hurried toward her.
“Lady Reina!”
Reina?
At that name, Gabriel’s pupils trembled.
Lady Reina was Ileon’s only younger sister.
She was also the one who had boldly flirted with Dietrich in the palace, only to be harshly rejected.
“Reina Gredrick?”
Gabriel, unable to believe her eyes, involuntarily spoke the woman’s full name aloud.
Reina approached Gabriel and violently slapped her right across the cheek.
Slap!
A sharp sound ruthlessly echoed through the boutique.
“Gabriel!”
Hariel, startled, stepped forward to shield Gabriel, who had just been struck.
Gabriel clutched her left cheek with trembling hands.
“Eclairean has really fallen in class. How dare you let someone like this inside as a customer? How dare you casually utter the name of a high-ranking noble?”
A cold, mocking voice flowed from Reina’s lips.
“I apologize. I misspoke, my lady.”
Gabriel quickly bowed deeply in apology. But Reina didn’t even acknowledge it, merely flicking her chin.
“If you’re truly sorry, kneel on the floor and beg.”
Hariel’s and Gabriel’s faces turned deathly pale.
Reina twisted her lips into a sneer.
“What? Can’t do it? Should I hand you over to the guard immediately for the crime of disrespect?”
“My daughter was entirely at fault. I’m deeply sorry, my lady. Please forgive her just this once.”
Hariel knelt on the floor and pleaded desperately on Gabriel’s behalf.
Gabriel inwardly ground her teeth in rage.
Born lucky as a noble lady, yet treating people like dogs.
Her pride was wounded beyond measure.
Seeing Hariel groveling like a dog, Reina seemed slightly more satisfied and turned her gaze to the owner.
“Isn’t it your rule to only accept reserved customers? Why provoke me by doing something you never normally do?”
“My lady, they came here on their own, without permission…”
“Hmph.”
Reina exhaled sharply.
Her blue eyes slowly rolled before settling on one spot.
“Is this the dress?”
“Yes.”
“Hmm.”
Reina reached out and touched the red dress hanging on the mannequin.
Apparently pleased with the soft, veil-like texture beneath her fingers, a satisfied smile curved her lips.
“I’ll let this go this once because I like the dress. But if this ever happens again, I won’t be so lenient.”
“My lady, such a thing will never happen again.”
The owner frantically rubbed her hands together, trying to appease Reina.
The owner placed the dress into an elegant box and handed it to Reina.
Reina passed the box to a waiting maid, then slightly turned her head to ask the owner.
“By the way, what family are those people from?”
“They said they’re from the Brillion family, my lady. You’ve surely heard of them—the Angels of Brillion…”
“Hmph.”
Reina snorted, then mercilessly stomped the blank check lying on the floor with her shoe.
“As expected, a family not worth noticing.”
With those words, Reina left the boutique.
“Now leave. Don’t ever come here again.”
The owner harshly chased Hariel and Gabriel away, as if shooing off flies.
Humiliated before her eyes, and robbed of the dress.
Gabriel vowed never to forget this disgrace.
[This is the timeline separator]Celia changed into the satin dress given by Dietrich.
The white satin dress, which didn’t reveal her figure and completely covered her collarbone, suited Celia perfectly.
‘How is it that, though it’s the same white dress, I feel respected as a person?’
Celia looked down at the white mermaid dress she had taken off with a disgusted expression.
She hadn’t been shocked upon seeing the hideously distorted face of Crown Prince Jeremy, because she already knew his inner self was even more twisted than his appearance.
How utterly unpleasant it had been when he had desired her and left bite marks on her collarbone.
In contrast, when Dietrich unexpectedly buried his face against her collarbone, it had been the opposite.
‘Is it possible, through magic, to erase scars?’
Celia genuinely wondered.
What exactly was Dietrich’s true nature?
Would the day ever come when she fully understood everything he was hiding from her?
‘Judging from how he’s gradually revealing bits, it seems Dietrich is opening up to me at least somewhat.’
Celia sighed in frustration, unable to pry into Dietrich’s inner world.
The fleeting, predator-like gaze refused to leave her memory.
A man who looked as if he would devour her flesh completely, yet was the one erasing the scar on her collarbone.
‘A strange man.’
Dietrich was strange.
He claimed she was a nuisance, yet kept handling troublesome matters for her.
—I’ll depose the Crown Prince myself.
And when Dietrich said something, it felt as if it truly would come to pass.
“I hope grasping your hand was the right choice after all.”
Celia murmured softly to herself.
The twilight glow filtering through the tall arched window softly enveloped Dietrich, standing alone in the corridor.
Dietrich, standing in the hallway, remained motionless for a long while upon hearing Celia’s quiet murmur from behind the closed door.
He finally stepped forward when the sight of armored knights gathering around his estate entered his vision.
The sound of Dietrich’s footsteps echoed quietly through the deserted corridor.
He didn’t want to disappoint Celia.
—Tell me. That way, I can help you.
Even knowing she would be used, she had still walked into his estate of her own will.
—Do you also wish for Abelon’s destruction, like me?
She had asked, her voice calm yet brimming with sincerity.
A voice that looked straight into his eyes, as if the foolish act of hiding her intentions had never happened.
He had been infuriated by how she had stolen his lips, stolen his breath, accepted his saliva, and then casually pulled away.
So, just as she had done, he had seized her lips in return.
Again and again, he had pushed her away as she gasped for breath, struggling to free herself.
Celia might have already realized long ago that he possessed a healing ability.
Yet even knowing that.
Instead of feeling disgust, she had said she would offer her ability whenever needed.
—That’s why I’m on borrowed time.
There was no trace of self-pity on Celia’s face as she said this.
Her sincere gaze, the faint bite mark still lingering on her collarbone—both irritated him beyond endurance.
Celia, who had burst into a refreshing laugh in the Emperor’s blood-soaked chamber, had seemed relieved, as if she had shed all her burdens.
Perhaps it would have been better to kill her then.
If he hadn’t known she used the hyacinth-scented ability, he never would have brought her into his estate like this.
Because that ability was…
Dietrich shook his head, dismissing the thought.
First, he needed to deal with the nuisances standing before him.
“Government lackeys.”
To search his estate just to capture one girl—Jeremy must truly be desperate.
Having finally found a master worth serving, he couldn’t allow himself to become the servant of such a lowly wretch.
Dietrich grasped his sword. The blade in his hand sparkled in the twilight.
As he stepped outside with the sword, the knights startled and recoiled.
“What business do you have at my estate?”
At Dietrich’s deep voice, the knights swallowed hard and replied.
“His Highness the Crown Prince ordered us to bring Celia Brillion. We were told she was at your grace’s estate.”
“She’s not here.”
“…Huh?”
“I said she’s not here. Report back that there is no one in my estate.”
At Dietrich’s words, the knights exchanged glances. One of them, lips trembling, finally spoke.
“The Duke Gredrick stated he saw Celia Brillion heading toward the estate of His Grace Calypso.”
Dietrich brushed his tousled hair upward and faintly smirked.
“The Duke Gredrick claims he saw her?”
“Yes.”
“So that’s why you came here.”
“…Yes, Your Grace.”
Dietrich slowly scanned the bewildered faces of the knights and said.
“Isn’t it strange from the start—to search my estate for the Prince’s concubine?”
“…”
“You just checked and found nothing. Now you’re searching again?”
Faced with such perfectly logical words, the knights could offer no reply.
“Go tell His Highness. There is no concubine of his in my estate.”
Male lead fell into her trap — and shattered when she walked away
This is also on my reread list!
This one is a slow burn, but when it burns, it burns hard.
Definitely worth a read, y’all!
The story follows a thousand-year-old seductive spirit who, on a bet, sets out to charm the male lead—a once-promising but unfortunate cultivator.
But just when she succeeds in making him fall for her, she heartlessly leaves, driving him to madness.
Determined to find her at all costs, he captures her, keeping her by his side no matter what, even if she hates him.
I love this kind of trope—I enjoy watching the male lead suffer in agony.
The ending drags a bit with unnecessary filler, but that’s fine.
As long as I enjoy the beginning, I’m good.
Intro
As an enchantress, Su Heng possesses captivating eyes and charming beauty, easily manipulating the joys and sorrows of living beings at her fingertips.
But to enchant a god, making him taste the bitterness of love’s separation, long-lasting resentment, unattainable desires, and inability to let go…
Do you dare?
Su Heng assists a divine lord in his cultivation, aiming to make him experience all the sufferings of love, so that he can attain the Great Dao.
Only after being chased down from the heavens by the divine lord, confined and completely possessed by him, does she realize how successful she has been.
The once gentle and polite youth has transformed into someone she no longer recognizes.
[Touch the gear icon in the bottom right corner of the screen to move to the next chapter if you want.]
