“Yes, Northern Regent. Of course, I must repay. The Northern Regent will have a lot to deal with, so now, stop worrying about my affairs and focus on what the Northern Regent should do. I will also do what I must to repay my debt.”
+++
The next day, Cyrus parted ways with Ariana’s group in the city.
Throughout the farewell, Ariana wore a perfect smile.
Ariana’s group left first in a carriage. Watching the departing carriage, Isaac asked.
“Hey, Cyrus. I have something I want to ask.”
Cyrus ignored Isaac’s words and mounted his horse. Isaac hastily mounted his horse and chased after Cyrus, asking,
“Did something bad happen with the Northern Regent while you were strolling yesterday?”
“Why do you think so?”
“Don’t you know? The Northern Regent’s smile is as cold as ice!”
“Hmm.”
“What on earth did you do? Don’t tell me… you didn’t do something terrible, right?”
“Would I do something terrible to a valuable person?”
“Again, again, again with that talk!”
Cyrus narrowed his eyes.
“Keep making remarks about using me, manipulating me, and you’ll regret it.”
“It’s useless advice. I haven’t regretted it so far.”
“Surely, Cyrus, you didn’t imply that the Northern Regent was worth using last night?”
“…….”
“You did!”
Ignoring him, Cyrus spurred his horse, increasing its speed.
“Come with me!”
Although Isaac screamed like a banshee, Cyrus pretended not to hear.
“Do you think I will regret it?”
Ariana displayed various expressions in front of Cyrus, including frowning, being surprised, and looking confused. However, since the perfect smile she wore since last night, she had only displayed that smile all the time.
Unpleasant and annoying to his nerves, but it wasn’t enough to cause regret. What could be there to regret? He only offered appropriate advice.
Cyrus’s gaze turned cold.
‘If she doesn’t accept that advice, Ariana White will end there.’
+++
A cold wind blew through the chest.
Ariana sat upright in the carriage, staring out the window.
Despite the large sofa in the carriage emitting a pleasant fragrance and being soft enough to lie down, her frozen heart didn’t thaw.
‘I’m such a fool.’
She knew Cyrus approached her with a purpose. She also knew that all his kindness and consideration were for that purpose.
Even though she knew, she didn’t know.
Even saying she understood, she unconsciously showed him her true self in front of him.
Forgetting that everyone has a purpose and treats her well because of it.
‘It was the same during the third prince.’
Harold was sweet.
In the royal party, where she couldn’t fit in anywhere and watched with a lonely heart, Harold was exceptionally kind and affectionate.
He greeted her, who never initiated conversations, and asked for a dance, making her heart flutter. After the party, he sent flowers and letters to the mansion, making Ariana’s heart tremble.
To Ariana, who had a wealthy husband but couldn’t have anything of her own, Harold gave many gifts. Earrings that would suit her, necklaces that would make her shine…
There was always one condition attached.
[Harold] “If you make an effort for me.”That’s all.
Everyone was the same.
Cyrus, like Harold, knew from the beginning that he would discover and use Ariana’s value. The difference between Cyrus and Harold was that Cyrus didn’t hide that fact.
“Yeah, the Northern Regent never hid the fact that he would use me.”
But why does it feel so cold-hearted? Why does realizing the known fact once again make him feel like he has lost so much?
“Ariana, are you feeling unwell?”
Caradin, who was sitting across from her, asked cautiously.
Lost in self-awareness, she had forgotten about being with her.
“No, I’m just a bit tired.”
“Well, no matter how good the medicine is, you won’t recover quickly.”
It wasn’t like that.
Isaac’s medicine was effective. Just by taking it consistently for a few days, she gained a bit of weight, and her previously labored breathing stabilized even with a little walking.
She felt sorry for Isaac, who made the good medicine, but Ariana nodded.
“Yes, but I’ve definitely improved a lot from before, so I’ll get better in the future.”
“Sure, you’ll definitely get better.”
“After about ten days, we should arrive in Dongryung, right?”
“Yeah, that’s right. Since we’re in a hurry, we might arrive a bit earlier than that. When we get to Dongryung, is there something you want to do?”
“I’m not sure. Grandma, what should I do?”
Caradin’s eyes widened at the title “grandma.” Blinking, Caradin asked cautiously,
“Ariana, now…?”
“Oh, I’m sorry. Without permission, I called you grandma…”
“No, no. What’s that about? Why do you need permission to call me grandma? Huh? Don’t say such things. Don’t say that.”
Sensing the trembling in the noblewoman’s voice, Ariana’s heart ached.
Calling her grandma wasn’t because they had accepted them as family as Caradin thought. It was to follow Cyrus’s advice.
As Cyrus attempted to use Ariana, Ariana also planned to use him. The Northern Regent had immense power, was intelligent, and considered Ariana valuable. There was no better pawn to use than him. Although they would avoid just being used and dying, they agreed as long as it was a relationship where they could use each other.
To achieve that, they both needed to become more valuable figures than they currently were.
Male lead is reincarnated to save his wife
I’ve also read this one twice already. The female lead is kinda soft and gets embarrassed easily—not really my type, but the plot is definitely worth reading. Hurry up and read it, y’all!
Intro
When Shen Yuan encountered Su Jin again in his previous life, she had already become the Prime Minister of the current dynasty. As for him, the former top young master of the capital, he had long since fallen into the abyss, becoming a singer on a pleasure boat.
After a song ended, he was redeemed and sent to the Su Residence.
Su Jin respected and cherished him, gave him a roof over his head, and bestowed him with warmth. Shen Yuan fell deeper and deeper, but before he could express his feelings, Su Jin passed away.
Shen Yuan died to follow her in death, but instead, he returned to when he was fifteen years old.
At that time, he was not yet engaged, and Su Jin was just a poor scholar.
Shen Yuan gritted his teeth, casting aside all his pride, and thought of ways to coax and entice her every day.
The colder and more indifferent Su Jin was towards him, the more proactive Shen Yuan became.
He was not afraid of being mocked by the world, only wanting to marry his Wife-master early, to hold her hand and never let go for a lifetime.
[Note: This story will not specifically point out the male lead’s reincarnation time point; it’s all in the details. Whenever you feel that the male lead is acting strangely, he has most likely been reincarnated.]
[Touch the gear icon in the bottom right corner of the screen to move to the next chapter if you want.]
