The oppressive sadness tightened La Maine’s chest, leaving her unable to say anything.
“The reality that you can only live if you save someone else is cruel.”
Who was it that said healing abilities were a blessing?
Anger doesn’t subside whenever he recalls the cruelty hidden behind it.
“But you probably wouldn’t want that.”
La Maine nodded at the voice that forcibly swallowed emotions.
“Cedric.”
And she called her husband with a calm voice.
Instead of an answer, she moved her lips slowly while looking at her husband straight in the eyes.
“Do you remember what I said?”
“…….”
“That even without you saying, I would do my best to protect you.”
“Of course, I remember.”
A faint smile spread over La Maine’s small, red lips.
“That was sincere.”
“…….”
“Although I couldn’t tell you about my death, I tried to be by your side. And I found a way.”
“Developing medicine, you mean?”
La Maine smiled a bit more and nodded with a slightly thicker smile.
“The cruel decision of the former king is already in the past. But when I reveal myself, the kingdom will become noisy.”
Cedric furrowed his straightened brows slowly.
“The king will have to think about how to dispose of me.”
“…….”
“If he keeps me alive, it will damage the reputation of the former king, my father. But if he kills me, it will not align with the urgent needs of the kingdom that requires healing, just as my father did, causing resistance from the people.”
La Maine’s face, where the smile disappeared, became calmer than ever in that moment.
“But if I develop an alternative to healing powers, it might change the king’s mind.”
“…….”
“The king has already ordered scholars to gather and start developing medicine. But they haven’t produced any results yet.”
She knows better than anyone that it’s not something that can be done in a short time.
“It’s also for the people, but behind that, there’s a desire to appease the anger and resentment of the people caused by my father’s choice.”
“…….”
“If I, the one who hates the former king the most, achieve that and gain recognition from the king and the kingdom, they won’t be able to harm me easily.”
After finishing speaking, La Maine sighed lightly and met Cedric’s eyes.
“It may be my wish, but I hope it turns out that way.”
“…….”
“So, I want to live a normal life like others. I want to live as an ordinary wife, loving one person.”
For someone, it may be natural and easy to live that way, but for herself, she has to risk everything.
“Anyway, we need to hurry if we want that. We have to prove the efficacy of the medicine, not just end with its development.”
La Maine, who erased her short contemplation, spoke in a straight voice.
“Do you mean to prove the efficacy of the medicine?”
“Yes, if we don’t prove it, they won’t believe it.”
Cedric nodded heavily.
“I don’t know when Heter Calypso will try to kill me.”
Cedric’s scrutinizing gaze became wrinkled.
“After obtaining what she wants, she will immediately remove the thorn in her side.”
She met the angry eyes of her husband.
“I’ll reveal everything before it happens.”
“What are you talking about?”
“I am a person from the Myers family.”
She had agonized over it countless times.
“If I don’t reveal my identity, I won’t be able to survive either.”
The conclusion reached at the end was,
“Heter and Zion won’t be punished or killed either.”
It was revealing all the truths.
Cedric, who had been silently listening, shook his eyes.
Cedric, lost in thought, continued the silent pause and slowly swallowed his breath.
“If there’s a world without you, I won’t be able to survive either.”
With a smile on his pale lips, he met her eyes.
“And seeing Heter’s damn child living without any harm, I can’t live quietly either.”
I’ll go and kill her.
With a quietly added remark, the eyes that had contained life soon found their light.
“I will follow your decision. But before that, please tell me one thing.”
“…….”
“How much time do you have left?”
La Maine slowly closed and opened her eyes.
Even she couldn’t be sure how much time was left.
Looking at the face of her worried husband, she gently smiled at the corners of her mouth.
“I won’t leave you alone.”
Cedric’s stiffened eyes flickered.
“The Duchess of Haribo’s mother had healing powers.”
“Ben’s mother?”
“Yes.”
Cedric widened his eyes at the new fact.
“She hid her abilities from everyone around her, fearing that her family would be harmed, and returned without using her powers, hiding the fact that she would die if she didn’t.”
“I didn’t know at all.”
“Marquis Haribo still resents his mother but misses her at the same time.”
A sigh of regret with Cedric’s subdued breath passed.
“The moment I heard that story, your face came to my mind.”
“…….”
“And all I could think of was wanting to live. Right by your side.”
Honestly, there was no certainty that everything would go according to plan.
What trials, what cruel situations would come upon them was unpredictable.
But now.
“I will think of that one thing and do everything I can.”
Knowing that being afraid and avoiding won’t change anything.
Even if it’s just a belief that may seem insignificant to someone’s eyes.
“I believe. That everything will work out as intended.”
In a moment, that belief might become a beam of light for someone’s earnestness, and a miracle could happen.
“So, please believe in me too.”
Her eyes, devoid of any suspicion, sparkled.
‘Can that earnestness change someone’s life and the world?’
‘It may be a common saying, but this old man believes in that.’
Thinking of Evans’s words, Cedric laughed silently.
Earnestness. And miracles.
A life lived never placing meaning in those two words.
Until he met her.
“Didn’t I always say?”
The miracle of you staying by my side.
“There’s no way I can refuse my wife’s request.”
Only one thought filled his mind.
“Please believe in me too.”
“I will be your miracle.”
As La Maine’s face, adorned with a faint smile, was quietly gazed upon by Cedric, his eyes slowly dropped.
Passing through the straight neckline, the lowered gaze traveled over the shoulders and arms in sequence before returning to its original position.
“Can you show the traces on your body?”
La Maine, who had been staring for a moment, immediately nodded her head.
Then, sitting in the chair, she slightly turned her body, slowly lifting the hem of the dress.
The dress hem, moving slowly up from the slender ankles to the knees, came to a slow halt.
At that moment, Cedric’s eyes shook intensely.
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
