It wasn’t that he had gotten used to it, it had become chronic.
“You shouldn’t be used to this. Do you have any medicine? Something to apply or to take orally?”
“No. Medicines are too expensive for people like us….”
Kinder, who was faltering, quickly opened his mouth.
“It’s not just me, it happens frequently to gardeners. So don’t worry.”
At his words, Lamein’s face grew darker.
It didn’t seem like it was just him.
“Do the other people who work in the garden also suffer from this?”
“Yes. It can’t be helped since we’re exposed to a lot of sunlight.”
“You could wear long sleeves or gloves.”
“But then we sweat a lot, it’s uncomfortable, and it’s hard to finish work on time.”
There are several gardens inside the spacious mansion.
“I have never neglected to manage the garden a single day in over 30 years of working here.”
Kinder’s face was full of pride as he spat out those words.
“The Duke and Duchess will be returning soon, and I want to welcome them with a welltended garden.”
Only for a moment, there was admiration for the loyalty of the elderly servant.
‘What’s the use of being so loyal? They just leave you to get into this state.’
They must be too busy caring for themselves to see those who work for them.
‘Why are these people so loyal?’
Do they just accept the destiny given to them?
‘I was being naive.’
I feel pathetic for expressing my boredom with leisurely aristocratic life a while ago.
I forced a smile on my face to hide my bitter heart.
“The Duke and Duchess Roger will be very pleased when they return. I’ve always felt this, but I’ve never seen such a wellmaintained garden in any mansion.”
Since I couldn’t directly treat his pain, I wished at least his heart would be happy.
“Madame, thank you.”
A humble smile spread over Kinder’s face as he replied in a humble voice.
Just then, as Lamein watched Kinder with a deeper smile.
“Madame! How about going to your room now?”
Jane approached.
“Alright. Let’s go. Kinder. You’ve worked hard.”
“Yes, Madame.”
She watched Kinder climb up the ladder to continue working on the garden for a moment, then walked away.
.
.
.
“Jane, go and rest.”
“Yes, Madame. Call me if you need anything.”
Jane left the room.
“Ah, it’s hot.”
Lamein flopped onto the bed, her body sticky with sweat.
It was suffocating to walk around in a dress she had never worn before.
“I’m like this, so how must the people working outside be?”
She looked out the window, remembering Kinder from a while ago.
She gazed silently at the scorching sun moving slowly towards the middle of the sky, then rose from her seat.
And she approached the window and examined the garden carefully.
She could still see Kinder and other gardeners hard at work.
“Can they work in such clothes in this heat?”
A white shirt and dark brown trousers with braces.
It seemed to be the work clothes of the gardeners here.
It wasn’t that she didn’t understand.
Although the mansion has been empty recently due to the Duke and Duchess being away and the bridge construction preventing visitors, usually many nobles would visit.
Like the neatly trimmed garden, everything that was visible had to be clean to uphold the dignity of the Duke.
“But what will they do if they collapse from the heat, being so old? They should at least wear hats…”
Lamein, who had been mumbling with her eyes filled with pity, moved her eyes quickly.
And looked at the parasol she had left on the table earlier.
She stared at the parasol with a serious expression, as if she was going to burn it with her gaze, then Lamein widened her eyes.
“But people are more important. Should I give it a try?”
Her round eyes sparkled as if they had swallowed all the light in the world.
.
.
.
“The Duke and Duchess are expected to arrive soon.”
At Roberto’s words, Cedric, who had been sitting in front of the desk in the study, slowly rose.
“Where is Lamein now?”
Gently lowering his gaze at the questioning master, Roberto slowly opened his mouth.
“Since finishing her walk in the morning, she has stayed in her room.”
“Is that so? Let’s go down with Lamein.”
“…Pardon?”
“Deliver it as such.”
Although slightly flustered by the words of a man who had never cared for his wife once.
“Yes, I understand.”
Swiftly responding, Roberto left the room.
Shortly after, Cedric left his room.
As he saw the door to Lamein’s room, the heavy footsteps echoing in the hallway gradually became distant.
This was the first time he would properly meet her since starting the knight order’s training.
From what he heard from Sylvia, she showed a monotonous lifestyle of reading in her room or enjoying walks.
Of course, he also heard the useless report that she was still prone to falling asleep while reading a book.
She used to enjoy going out a lot.
‘Well, she couldn’t help but behave because of the bridge construction.’
He assumed that the bridge construction probably kept her at home.
His slowly moving feet came to a complete stop in front of Lamein’s room.
‘Is she ready?’
A situation where he had announced his arrival in advance.
Knock, knock.
He finished knocking and slowly opened the door.
As he stuck his gaze through the gradually opening door, Cedric momentarily furrowed his brows.
“What the hell…”
A sense of confusion began to seep into the roaming blue eyes as they frantically moved around Lamein’s room.
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
