Celine, having reached her conclusion, glanced at Duke Adrian standing behind the children. He nodded slightly, indicating there was no problem.
Relieved, Celine inquired, “Joseph Oser’s sister?”
Melody’s eyes widened in surprise.
“You know my brother?”
“Of course.”
Celine’s eyes sparkled with a different meaning this time.
“But what brings this adorable little lady to me?”
Like Rosette, who had yet to fully harness her mana, Melody was also exuding mana.
Though she was not as naturally gifted as Rosette, if nurtured properly, she could become a quite capable magician.
“Right. Let’s see if she has any talent for magic.”
“There’s no need to look. She’s exceptionally talented.”
“Really?”
“Still, we should check properly. Melody, was it? Can this sister hold your hand?”
Celine crouched and extended her hand. Melody, with a frightened face, glanced at Rosette for reassurance.
“It’s okay. She’s a nice sister.”
Only after Rosette confirmed it, did Melody take Celine’s hand.
Immediately, a bright light seeped from Celine’s hand to Melody’s. Melody’s eyes widened in awe. Celine smiled broadly and focused again.
Soon, the light shone brightly from Melody’s entire body before gradually fading away. An excited Celine exclaimed,
“Indeed, she’s extraordinarily talented!”
“How talented are we talking about?”
Celine exclaimed excitedly.
“I’d like to teach her myself if possible!”
Realizing belatedly that the girl was Joseph Oser’s sister, Celine corrected herself.
“Although, that may not be necessary.”
Duke Adrian looked alternately at Rosette and Melody with an inscrutable face.
Melody hid behind Rosette’s back, while Rosette looked up at the duke with a pleading face.
After a moment of silence, the duke came to a conclusion.
“Let’s resolve the case completely first. If we decide to sponsor this child in the Adrian family, would you be willing to teach her?”
Celine responded in surprise, “Sponsor her? But she’s…”
“Yes. Originally, before all this happened, there were plans to sponsor this child and send her to the academy.”
“If that’s the case, I welcome it. Nurturing a talented protégé is a magician’s dream. It’s also good for her to take lessons with Miss Rosette, as they seem to be of similar age. Having a friend to study with can improve learning efficiency.”
“Alright. We’ll be in touch about this later.”
“Understood.”
“Now Rosette, go rest in your room for now. Melody, was it? You’ll be shown to a room to rest as well.”
“What about my brother?”
“When Joseph returns, you’ll be allowed to see him.”
“Okay.”
Duke Adrian watched as the two little ones left the lab and then headed back to the underground dungeon.
“What’s happened, Your Grace?”
Joseph, who had been anxiously waiting, rushed to the bars as Duke Adrian walked into the dungeon.
“My sister, Melody, is she alright?”
“Yes, Melody is safe.”
Hearing this, Joseph burst into tears he had been holding back, crying like a child.
“Thank you… thank you, Your Grace.”
“Thank Rosette later. If not for her, this wouldn’t have ended so well.”
“I will definitely thank the young lady.”
“Now, we need to decide what to do with you.”
Duke Adrian’s voice was cool. Joseph wiped his tear-streaked face and looked determined.
“I’ll accept any punishment. Even death if required.”
“…”
“However, please, my sister Melody is innocent. Spare her, please. I know it’s selfish, but please, Your Grace, don’t punish Melody.”
Duke Adrian looked down at him expressionlessly.
“Joseph Oser. You indeed planned to betray the Adrian family. Though your sister was held hostage, the fact that you intended to betray me doesn’t change.”
“…”
“However, you chose to save my life at the risk of your own and your sister’s. I’ve been contemplating which aspect to weigh more heavily.”
The duke signaled to a knight who was waiting. The knight entered the cell and unlocked the shackles binding Joseph’s wrists and ankles.
Duke Adrian helped a bewildered Joseph to his feet.
“The Adrian family doesn’t forget a debt. I’ve decided to appreciate that you ultimately chose the Adrian family.”
“!”
“However, you’ll be under surveillance for a while. Melody will also be kept in the Adrian family. Whether it becomes a sponsorship or hostage situation depends on your actions.”
“So…”
“Yes. Now you can go and meet Melody.”
With those words, Joseph, assisted by the knight, left the underground dungeon.
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
