The voices were from several people, at least three or four. They all shared a common trait – a sneering hostility permeated each voice.
“Black hair, see? Must be a bastard child.”
“Even if she’s a bastard of noble blood, black hair shouldn’t appear.”
“Then she must have dyed it. What wouldn’t someone do to get closer to His Majesty?”
At one person’s remark, the others burst into laughter.
“I don’t get it. Martinec isn’t exactly lacking.”
“Why? I get it. It’s Operetta, you know? Haven’t you heard the rumors about that place?”
Operetta was the underworld of the Belphegor Empire. Naturally, the rumors there were not pleasant. The conversations overheard beyond the wall were no different.
“Jumping from one man to another, she’d eventually want to try her luck with His Majesty too.”
“Ugh, how vulgar. To think we have to call such a woman a ‘lady.'”
“Just being called ‘lady’ is lucky enough. Helen even got slapped. Acting so high and mighty when she could be beheaded at His Majesty’s whim.”
When the name Helen came up, Simonen was certain that these were the maids who had served Annet at Cheyenne Palace.
‘The maid who got slapped was named Helen.’
Maids in the palace, especially those serving royal personnel, are usually from noble families. Mabel also became a maid for the same reason. Young noble ladies serving as maids is seen as a way to build connections and career.
So, a story of a maid getting slapped would only tarnish her own reputation. Only someone present at the event or involved could casually talk about someone getting slapped.
‘But this is too much.’
Martinec might be a bit isolated from other noble families, but it’s still a ducal family. The maids’ gossip was hostile enough to make even Simonen, who wasn’t fond of Annet, frown.
“Really shameless. To think she came here pretending to be a dead person.”
When this topic came up, Simonen’s patience reached its limit. The maids deserved to pay for their loose talk.
Simonen was about to reach for his sword when,
“What are you doing?”
He was stopped.
Annet, who had been beside him until a moment ago, was now in front of him, placing her hand over his on the hilt.
“They’re not wrong, are they?”
“……Are you serious?”
To endure such insults in front of her? Simonen frowned skeptically, but Annet’s expression remained unchanged.
“So, are you saying your opinion differs from theirs?”
No, it was even colder. Despite her not intentionally sharpening her gaze, the indifference was enough to shake him.
“You also think I’m shameless and thick-faced, imitating a dead person.”
“……I,”
Simonen’s lips parted, and a suppressed voice burst out, but he couldn’t form a complete sentence. He always lost his words in front of Annet. Her words were invariably accurate.
Annet, having observed Simonen’s struggle, slowly withdrew her hand.
“If they must be punished, that’s my job, not for someone who shares their opinion. Leave them be.”
“But it doesn’t change the fact that they are mocking Lady Annet. And it is my duty to punish such people.”
Annet’s response to Simonen’s concern was clear and cold, reflecting her stoic acceptance of her situation and the gossip surrounding her.
Simonen, even as he continued speaking, couldn’t understand why he was saying these things. Just as Annet had pointed out, his opinion was the same as the snickering maids. He disliked Annet, and that hadn’t changed.
So, surely, if it had been just a few days ago, or even a few hours earlier, he wouldn’t have felt this stifled. If only he hadn’t locked eyes with Annet, who was smiling while showing him the shortcut. At least, if Annet had shown even the slightest anger at those words…
“I’m too tired to punish everyone, Sir Lindell.”
…If he hadn’t seen the candid side of Annet, whom he thought was inscrutable.
“You judged me solely based on my black hair, without any doubt. Why wouldn’t they do the same?”
“……I’m truly sorry about that.”
“No need to apologize. Everyone thinks the same.”
Saying this, Annet turned her head towards the setting sun. Time had passed during their conversation, and now the sky was crimson, and the surroundings bathed in the glow of twilight. The light shades of Simonen’s gray hair also caught the hues of the sunset.
But Annet remained alone in her darkness.
The blackness that devoured all colors left her untouched by the sunset. It seemed to have no effect on her at all.
Except for one thing: Annet, gazing at the setting sun, appeared to be yearning for something.
Standing before Simonen, she was like a swaying reed, a reed by the riverbank.
Straight yet gracefully curved, solid in her stance.
Her voice fell like autumn leaves against the backdrop of the twilight.
“I’m really tired. I just want to go back.”
Her voice, murmuring like a soliloquy, was muted and heavy.
“Seeing you, I feel it even more. You’re such a good brother. Mabel really likes you.”
I have a brother too.
Male lead is reincarnated to save his wife
I’ve also read this one twice already. The female lead is kinda soft and gets embarrassed easily—not really my type, but the plot is definitely worth reading. Hurry up and read it, y’all!
Intro
When Shen Yuan encountered Su Jin again in his previous life, she had already become the Prime Minister of the current dynasty. As for him, the former top young master of the capital, he had long since fallen into the abyss, becoming a singer on a pleasure boat.
After a song ended, he was redeemed and sent to the Su Residence.
Su Jin respected and cherished him, gave him a roof over his head, and bestowed him with warmth. Shen Yuan fell deeper and deeper, but before he could express his feelings, Su Jin passed away.
Shen Yuan died to follow her in death, but instead, he returned to when he was fifteen years old.
At that time, he was not yet engaged, and Su Jin was just a poor scholar.
Shen Yuan gritted his teeth, casting aside all his pride, and thought of ways to coax and entice her every day.
The colder and more indifferent Su Jin was towards him, the more proactive Shen Yuan became.
He was not afraid of being mocked by the world, only wanting to marry his Wife-master early, to hold her hand and never let go for a lifetime.
[Note: This story will not specifically point out the male lead’s reincarnation time point; it’s all in the details. Whenever you feel that the male lead is acting strangely, he has most likely been reincarnated.]
[Touch the gear icon in the bottom right corner of the screen to move to the next chapter if you want.]
