When I woke up in the morning, Hadal had already finished showering and was toweling off his hair. I yawned widely.
‘Geez, how can he be so diligent.’
I hadn’t noticed at first, but it was impossible not to see after a while. Hadal would return from swinging his sword early in the morning.
‘Practicing alone can’t be easy. It must be hard to stay focused.’
His daily routine was impressive. Rubbing my eyes with my front paws, I had a somewhat old-fashioned thought.
‘He’s capable of anything.’
Doesn’t he feel like waking up early too? Well, no, he doesn’t.
‘What would a stoat do waking up early anyway?’
As I got to know Hadal, I was becoming more accustomed to a stoat’s life. Escaping the lifestyle of catching bugs for food was a relief.
‘But today, my body feels unusually warm.’
Usually, I don’t feel cold when sticking close to Hadal, but away from him, I shiver instantly. However, today I didn’t feel that coldness.
‘Wait! When did I climb onto Hadal’s bed again?!’
That warmth is dangerous. Before I know it, I find myself crawling over to him.
As I tapped my head with my front paws, Hadal turned to look at me.
“Awake?”
I had been sulking, but maybe that seemed a bit narrow-minded. I responded in a small voice.
Hadal came over, pressing my head with his palm. Unlike usual, where he only transferred warmth, today he also touched the tips of my ears and tail with his fingers.
“Pink…”
‘What? Is there a problem with my tail being tinged with pink?’
It’s pretty, isn’t it? I flicked my tail proudly. As Hadal gently stroked me, I blissfully zoned out. Soon, as always, the butler came up with a cart carrying breakfast.
“Please have your breakfast.”
“Thank you.”
As the butler was removing the lids from the dishes, he asked,
“Shouldn’t we start bringing a dining table into the room?”
“Hmm.”
Hadal seemed to contemplate the suggestion. I thumped the bed with my tail vigorously.
‘Yeah! How long are we going to eat on the bed with dishes on a cart?’
Bring in a desk too. And a big sofa where I can lie down and lounge!
As Hadal pondered, the butler tentatively spoke up.
“If necessary, we could have everything made of metal…”
Hadal shook his head at that.
“No need for that. I don’t have as much trouble controlling my flames as before.”
“That’s wonderful!”
The butler seemed elated to hear Hadal had better control over his flames. I tilted my head, puzzled.
‘But why can he suddenly control his flames better?’
There hadn’t been any noticeable changes in Hadal’s life.
‘I was just about to find an excuse for his uncontrolled flames because I felt guilty for freeloading! Am I unnecessary?’
Should I just be a freeloader, or do I need to find another use? Deep in thought, I groaned. Hadal then picked me up and placed me in front of a bread plate.
“Eat.”
“Quee?”
Can I really eat even though I’m not contributing?
Not that Hadal would understand, but I asked anyway. A wrinkle formed on Hadal’s forehead.
“…Don’t you like this bread?”
“Quee!”
No, that’s not it!
‘Alright, I’ll just focus on eating. A mere stoat shouldn’t worry about paying for its meals.’
Worried that Hadal might take the bread away, I quickly latched onto it. Today, it was even tastier with a thin layer of strawberry jam.
‘Oh dear, this is serious. My taste buds are getting too good. I shouldn’t gain weight, but why does the food keep getting tastier?’
While I was busily nibbling on bread, I felt a piercing gaze on my side profile. Thinking it was Hadal, I turned around, but it was the butler.
“Quee!?”
Why are you still here? You usually leave after setting the meal.
The butler stared at me for a long while before pushing up his glasses and muttering,
“Really eating bread? Could it be that you’re not a stoat?”
“……Quee.”
I’m not sure about that myself.
With someone watching, I couldn’t help but eat slower. Every bite I took was followed by a cautious glance at the butler. While I was nibbling and watching, Hadal, who was eating salad across from me, spoke up.
“Also, you can now roam outside the room, Queequeg.”
“Quee?”
Why suddenly? Is he permitting me to go out now?
Confused, I perked up my ears. Hadal explained again,
“Everyone in the castle now knows who you are, so it’s okay for you to roam around.”
‘What kind of being am I?’
As I tilted my head, the butler, readjusting his glasses, added,
“The other servants are also curious about the stoat that eats cake.”
‘What’s wrong with a stoat eating cake!’
I recalled the cake I had eaten the night before and proudly raised my chin.
‘Hmph! That cake was too sweet. Honestly, not my taste.’
No sooner had I thought this than Hadal said sternly,
“And cake is forbidden for a while. I was worried you might drown in the cream diving into it.”
“Quee!”
I take it back! It was too delicious. So, don’t ban it!
I tapped Hadal’s hand in protest. At that moment, Hadal pressed my head with his palm.
The butler, while filling Hadal’s cup with tea, mentioned,
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
