While I was trying to summon patience from the future to understand Edan’s mental state, thankfully, Smith managed to stagger up, limping.
“Kuhh, Miss Latieana….”
“Oh! Mr. Smith! Are you okay?”
“It’s… this man.”
Smith, grimacing in pain, wobbled slightly and pointed a trembling finger at Edan.
“What… what do you mean?”
“The one who’s always been secretly watching from behind…, cough!”
“Kyaaah! Mr. Smith!”
For a moment, I thought he was about to cough up blood—I was genuinely startled.
“I-I’m fine, Miss Latieana.”
Despite his pained, contorted expression, Smith smiled warmly at me, apparently touched by my concern. Then he grabbed my wrist and pulled me toward himself.
“Miss Latieana. Quickly, get behind me.”
Since I had relaxed my posture, I unintentionally leaned forward as Smith pulled me, and he promptly stepped in front of me.
As if shielding me.
I appreciated Smith’s protective instinct, but cold sweat trickled down my spine from the nape of my neck.
Smith… does he not even know who Edan is? I screamed internally. Of course he wouldn’t.
In town, the master of this estate is rumored to be a shut-in hermit.
Ironically, I myself am the source of that rumor.
Once or twice a month, I used to go down to the village to buy clothes or aprons. Since it’s such a quiet, sleepy little town, the shopkeepers’ wives took great interest in me. So, whenever they asked curiously about the master’s identity, I told them he was a sickly person who never left his room.
Because back then, I genuinely believed he was a shut-in.
‘Even without rumors, there’s no way Smith would recognize Edan.’
Edan is indeed a famous figure in the Empire, but while his name is known, it’s perfectly normal for commoners—and even most nobles, unless they’re high-ranking nobles close to the imperial court—not to recognize his face.
He primarily operates in the North and rarely appears in high society.
If I mentioned his name, Smith would probably faint.
The man who dared confront him so boldly is actually a war maniac. And on top of that, Edan is the Emperor’s illegitimate son….
‘Still… should I tell him?’
I briefly considered it, then quickly decided against it. I didn’t feel like it.
The fact that Edan, who should be stationed in the Northern fortress, is living here in an Eastern estate clearly means he’s hiding his identity. I don’t need to shorten my own lifespan by revealing his secret. It’s better for Smith not to know, too.
“Interesting move.”
Edan chuckled, eyes crinkling with amusement, and strode forward confidently.
I could feel Smith flinch beside me.
An icy chill radiated from Edan—enough to raise goosebumps. Though he smiled pleasantly, the unmistakable aura of condescension in his downward gaze couldn’t be concealed.
Gulp.
Smith swallowed audibly, loud enough for me to hear. Only then did he seem to fully grasp the man standing before him.
In bright daylight, Edan’s delicate, handsome face had caught Smith’s attention first, so he likely hadn’t properly registered the rest.
Smith’s face tensed with anxiety as he slowly scanned Edan from head to toe.
A towering height requiring Smith to crane his neck, broad shoulders. Though dressed casually in a white shirt and light vest, Edan’s firm, muscular lines remained clearly visible.
Especially his forearms, exposed beneath rolled-up sleeves—even without flexing, thick veins stood prominently.
His physique was incomparable to that of an ordinary person.
But above all, what stood out most was his face.
While I couldn’t see the muscles hidden beneath his shirt, Edan’s face was astonishingly flawless—without a single scratch or blemish.
Even under the noon sun, his hair shimmered like flecks of gold dust—he looked like a perfectly sculpted statue.
A beautiful face paired with an intimidating body. Overwhelmed by the contrast, Smith seemed slightly intimidated—but then he glanced sideways at me and suddenly hardened his gaze.
“D-Don’t worry, Miss Latieana!”
“Mr. Smith….”
“Please be honest with me! Your sudden pallor—it’s all because of this man, isn’t it? Right? Isn’t that right?”
“…….”
Thank you, Smith. But please shut up. Edan is glaring at you.
At this rate, your ribs really will snap in two. Your organs will rupture!
“You know….”
If this continued, Smith might cross a dangerous line. As I stood awkwardly, trying to defuse the situation somehow, Edan interjected.
Surprisingly, his tone was gentle.
“What is it you like about her?”
He was addressing Smith.
“…What do you mean?”
Smith’s complexion had eased slightly as the pain in his side subsided, and he replied with evident confusion.
“There must be some reason Latieana appeals to you. Tell me. Smudie.”
“My name is Smith!”
“Right. Smudie. Go ahead, tell me.”
“It’s not Smudie—!”
“What.”
“…….”
Smith, who had boldly insisted on his name, seemed ready to retort again—but immediately backed down under Edan’s sharp glare. He then hesitated, as if debating whether to answer the question at all.
Edan’s intention behind the question must have seemed strange to him. It felt strange to me, too—even as the subject, I didn’t ask, so why was Edan pressing him?
Edan tilted his head slightly, waiting for an answer.
“Nothing? Then were you lying?”
“Lying?! My feelings are genuine!”
“Then tell me. What exactly do you find appealing?”
Under Edan’s relentless pressure, Smith glanced at me briefly, then flushed bright red across both cheeks.
“B-Because you’re always so… so beautiful when you smile….”
Hearing that, I, too, felt my cheeks grow warm.
Not because I particularly liked Smith—it was simply the pleasant surprise of being called “beautiful.” But suddenly, a thought struck me.
Wait a minute—have I perhaps been underestimating this body by comparing it to Ivy’s standards?
Am I… actually kind of pretty?
“No way.”
The moment I thought it, Edan demolished my delusion in 0.1 seconds.
I glared sideways at him, my previously flushed cheeks now cold and stiff.
Edan, hands casually tucked into his pants pockets, lightly tapped Smith’s shins with his toes, nudging him backward.
“Ah! That hurts! H-Hey!”
Unable to resist, Smith stumbled back, naturally separating from me—leaving Edan standing right beside me.
Stopping at a suitable distance, Edan stood with one leg slightly askew and addressed Smith.
“I don’t believe such a flimsy excuse. Find something specific and tell me.”
“Wh-What should I say?”
“About ten thousand beautiful features?”
“…Huh?”
“What? Too many? Fine, I’ll generously lower it to one thousand.”
“W-Why should I tell you such things?!”
“So you were lying after all. You can’t even name a thousand beautiful features of the woman you claim to love? I could name a hundred million.”
You’re the one lying!
Unless Smith is an idiot, he wouldn’t fall for such a childish taunt….
“O-Of course I can find them! First, the eyes! Nose! Lips!”
…He fell for it immediately.
“Skin! Face shape! Hands! Feet! Legs! Toes! Ears! Belly button! Fingernails! Toenails!”
“…….”
Smith began enthusiastically praising every single part of my body—even parts he’d never seen.
He even went on to compliment my internal organs, stomach, and blood vessels.
But naturally, reaching a thousand was impossible, and soon enough, Smith’s words dried up.
“S-So, Miss Latieana… my feelings are still genuine! I truly think you’re beautiful, and I really, really ad… like you a lot….”
Smith’s voice, noticeably smaller and more timid than before, dripped with defeat.
Edan looked down at the dejected Smith with evident satisfaction, then turned his head toward me.
“So. What’s your answer?”
At Edan’s words, Smith, who had been slumped in despair, suddenly lifted his head.
Both their gazes pinned me in place.
Slowly, but without hesitation, I opened my mouth.
Because my answer had been decided from the very beginning.
“Thank you, but I’m sorry. I’m engaged.”
“What?!”
Smith’s face registered even greater shock than when Edan had hit him.
Yes. I am engaged.
My fiancé’s name is Jenald Johan. Jenald treated me when I was injured after falling from a carriage.
We promised to marry within three months, and Jenald, who even planned to emigrate for my sake, is currently working in the capital.
He’s not strikingly handsome, but he’s kind and gentle—and together, we planned to save money and leave the Empire.
That was the original reason I took this job here.
“I… I thought you were single….”
Smith’s lips trembled.
“T-Traitor….”
Did you really believe so confidently I was single, Smith? That stings a little.
“I hate you, Miss Latieana!”
Bang! Smith let out a heartbroken cry and bolted out through the gate.
Only Edan and I remained in the garden.
But… something felt off. Somehow, I couldn’t bring myself to look at him.
Even without looking, I could feel it. For some reason, Edan seemed extremely irritated.
I gathered the grocery bags that had fallen to the ground and cradled them in my arms.
“Sh-Should we go inside?”
I felt an urgent need to escape this situation quickly.
But Edan stepped forward, blocking my path with the sun at his back.
“You… had a fiancé?”
“Yes….”
“Since when?”
“I’ve had one from the very beginning….”
The moment my words ended, Edan’s beautiful face hardened into an icy expression.
Is he angry because I didn’t tell him? But the employment contract didn’t even have a field asking about engagement status.
I simply didn’t mention it because no one asked….
Edan stared at me with an expression of unmistakable displeasure.
A faint vein seemed to pulse slightly on his forehead, visible through the parted strands of his bangs.
No matter how I thought about it, I hadn’t done anything wrong—but I still felt like a criminal as I nervously watched Edan’s reaction.
His crimson eyes, gleaming fiercely even with the sun behind him, instantly reminded me of his blood-drenched appearance when we first met.
A chill ran down my spine, and I forced an awkward smile onto my lips.
Then Edan spoke.
“For someone so ugly, you’ve got quite the nerve, huh?”
“…….”
This man just spat on a smiling face!
Edan pressed his large hand firmly down on my head, then turned and walked off first.
I quickly turned to follow him.
His back, hands once again tucked into his pants pockets as he walked toward the front door, looked utterly satisfied and relaxed.
After making a comment that completely shattered my self-esteem, no less.
When scheming men desperately battle for her favor in the male harem
This one’s also on my reread list! The rivalry, scheming between the men in the imperial harem are just as intense and thrilling as in classic palace drama novels, where concubines fight to the death. Give it a read, girls! I promise you won’t be disappointed.
Synopsis:
“I am not worthy of her… but I still want to be by her side, even if only as a loyal dog…”
Those were the painful whispers of Yue Guanyi – the proud Crown Prince of the Great Qi, who was torn between deep love and a guilty conscience. Despite holding the supreme power of the Imperial Guard, he still could not forget the dark past when he was sold into a brothel.
Fate played a cruel twist when Qiu Shuzhi – a young female official who had just passed the imperial examinations with top honors – stepped into his life. She did not know that she was the one who had saved him from a tragic fate many years ago. And now, her heart was the target of pursuit for both Yue Guanyi and the powerful Empress Dowager Qin Qing.
While Yue Guanyi only dared to silently care for and protect the one he loved from afar, the Empress Dowager Qin Qing openly expressed his feelings and did not hesitate to take advantage of his power to approach Qiu Shuzhi. The covert struggle between the two most powerful forces in the imperial court began…
Trigger warning: All men in this novel are yandere style.
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