“I didn’t think I said anything wrong, but you’re picking at it,” Aslan remarked.
“I’m advising you to mind your manners!” Angela raised her voice again, agitating Aslan.
Concerned her maid might get hurt, Hestia quickly intervened, “Enough, Angela.”
“But Princess…”
Hestia was firm, “Enough, Angela.”
She knew well the loyalty of her maid and was always grateful, but in this situation, Angela was only being a hindrance.
“I have something to discuss with Duke Calati. Please give us some space.”
Angela looked at Hestia with surprise, not expecting such a command. Hesitating and fidgeting, Hestia had to sternly repeat, “Go on.”
“Alright, Princess. I’ll be outside, just in case…”
Angela hesitated to continue, glancing towards Aslan. Hestia sighed and shook her head, “That won’t be necessary. Duke Calati is not such a person.”
Hestia cut her off midway to prevent any further faux pas.
Eventually, Angela reluctantly left the audience room.
Aslan signalled his followers with a nod, “You guys, wait outside.”
“Yes, sir.”
Unlike Angela, Aslan’s men left without a word, simply nodding and turning towards the entrance. They all glanced at Hestia once, their looks as unfriendly as their master’s, making Hestia bite the inside of her cheek each time their gaze touched her.
Finally, Hestia and Aslan were alone.
Hestia spoke first, “I wish you wouldn’t be so prickly. I just wanted to ask how you’ve been.”
But Aslan’s demeanor didn’t soften, “Suddenly curious about my well-being?”
He scoffed as if hearing a funny joke, “Am I to believe that obvious lie? Or are you trying to play with me again?”
Hestia stopped breathing and closed her eyes tightly at his words.
〈Was it fun? Playing with me.〉
She felt the overlap with the words she had heard from him in the past.
Barely opening her eyes, she shuddered.
His demeanor felt threatening, causing her to instinctively step back.
Seeing her reaction, Aslan’s gaze sharpened, “Just be honest. There’s no one else here to listen.”
He smirked.
The man, usually devoid of laughter, wore a sharp smile that seemed to slash through her heart.
“Six years of avoiding me and now you have something to say? I’m curious.”
His biting words seemed almost magical, silencing Hestia, who had been anxious to start a conversation.
Her violet eyes trembled as she looked up at Aslan.
He stared down at her with the same cynical face as before.
His attitude, as if enduring even this brief face-to-face interaction, was painful.
Hestia knew in her mind that she should be the one to concede.
But was it necessary to be so cold just because she was talking to him?
Emotions welled up inside her, “Will this man ever seriously listen to my story?”
But without even starting a proper conversation, was it necessary for him to become this cold just because she was interacting with him?
Emotions welled up inside her strangely.
‘Will this man seriously listen to my story?’
She had decided to endure his coldness to some extent.
And to keep her real secret hidden.
Yet, despite that, Hestia felt resentful towards Aslan.
‘I know better than anyone that we are not close enough to feel such emotions…’
Why couldn’t she control these feelings?
With trembling hands, Hestia raised them to her face, trying to hide her crumbling expression.
“I just…”
“Hm?”
With eyes tightly shut, Hestia spoke, her voice sounding extremely weary.
“Do you really need to be sarcastic about everything I do?”
Despite her rational mind repeatedly telling her not to speak, her lips involuntarily opened.
Aslan, hearing her words, seemed to mull over them.
“Hmm.”
It appeared he was trying to understand her intentions, the reason behind her words.
His persistent gaze seemed to probe her face, but it soon withdrew, perhaps because Hestia continued to cover her face.
“Not particularly.”
His short response soon turned into a cold sneer.
“But whatever I say, you never shed a tear, so it seems like a challenge.”
Hestia bit the inside of her mouth hard.
After composing herself, she lowered her hands from her face and firmly met Aslan’s gaze.
“Then I guess I should also return a ‘not particularly’.”
“What do you mean?”
As Hestia inhaled, her delicate chest heaved.
“It doesn’t matter how you treat me. But at least be mindful of your behavior in public.”
Aslan snorted.
“I thought you were expecting some sort of special treatment.”
“It’s not that…”
Hestia slightly furrowed her brows, about to clarify, but Aslan didn’t seem interested in listening.
“Dismissing everyone just to nag me, impressive.”
“Duke.”
“But you know, Princess.”
Aslan’s voice suddenly turned icy.
“Don’t you think you should be the one apologizing before expecting such behavior from me?”
Confused, Hestia tilted her head, narrowing her eyebrows.
“An apology from me to you?”
As she reacted, Aslan’s face hardened.
“Your response makes it clear. All this time, you’ve lived without any remorse or hesitation.”
He took a deep breath, as if trying to suppress his anger.
“It was a conversation not even worth having. A waste of time.”
He roughly clicked his tongue and carelessly ran his hand through his hair.
“I’ve said it before, who’s going to reprimand me for my insolence? Even His Majesty doesn’t dare say a word. Ah.”
He paused and let out a wry laugh.
“Or perhaps he doesn’t?”
His slow words were laced with self-mockery.
Hestia couldn’t deny it.
Aslan was right.
He gave the bare minimum of courtesy to Yorgos, nothing more. Despite lacking respect and admiration, Yorgos never really reprimanded Aslan for his impertinence.
If Aslan’s temper was provoked and he ceased to be the shield blocking the North, Yorgos would have to bear all the consequences.
Moreover, Aslan was the perfect scapegoat to cover Yorgos’s own incompetence, hence the tendency to deliberately leave him be.
“Or perhaps, as everyone says, I really am a barbarian who doesn’t understand manners.”
Aslan added bitterly, twisting his lips.
“Anyway, I have no intention of showing you any courtesy, not even the slightest bit.”
Aslan seemed eager to end this conversation quickly.
“If you don’t like it, let’s just continue as before. You avoid me, and I avoid you.”
He clicked his tongue shortly, putting emphasis on each word as if chewing on tough meat.
“Isn’t it better for both of us that way?”
Aslan’s golden eyes glared at Hestia with anger, then decisively averted his gaze.
“I think it’s best to leave now. It seems like having a constructive conversation between us was doomed from the start.”
Aslan turned his back after pouring out sarcasm and anger, leaving Hestia in a state of confusion.
“Wait a moment. Duke, my story isn’t over yet.”
In fact, she hadn’t even started the main point. Desperate to stop him, she stepped forward, but his stride was much larger, making it impossible to catch up with the increasingly distant Aslan.
“Duke!”
Hestia’s voice grew urgent, causing Aslan to abruptly stop in his tracks.
However, he still didn’t turn around.
Hestia raised her voice again, desperately trying to regain Aslan’s attention.
“I want to get married!”
Male lead is a clingy little husband
One-line summary: The male lead is initially an arrogant, noble, love-deprived brat, later a cute, clingy, scheming little jealous one.
Introduction:
One day, Lu Yuner’s soul transmigrates into a female-dominant world. She enters the Imperial Academy and takes up the position of a doctoral instructor, teaching classes and grading schoolwork.
One day, she encounters the young prince Su Qingwan secretly skipping class from the male academy.
As a result, Su Qingwan is punished.
From then on, Su Qingwan sees Lu Yuner as a “thorn in his side”.
But before long, this “thorn” becomes the person he cherishes most, and he goes to great lengths to win Lu Yuner’s affection.
Mini scene 1:
One day, the sun is high in the sky but Su Qingwan still hasn’t gotten up for class.
Servant Xiaoyuan: “Young prince, it’s time for class. You’ll be late otherwise.”
Su Qingwan says arrogantly: “I’m not going. I am the esteemed prince, my status is so noble, why should I suffer this hardship? Besides, isn’t learning all this just to please women? Hmph, they’re not worthy!”
Mini scene 2:
After Su Qingwan falls for someone, he completely changes. He no longer skips class and diligently learns how to be a good husband and father. But he discovers that Sister Yuner is always surrounded by admirers.
Drunk and overcome with jealousy one day, he clings to Lu Yuner, crying beautifully like a pear blossom in the rain.
Su Qingwan: “Qingwan likes Sister Yuner.”
Lu Yuner: “Young prince, you’re drunk.”
Su Qingwan: “Qingwan isn’t drunk. Qingwan likes Sister Yuner, likes you so much, likes you to bits…” Before he can finish, Lu Yuner’s eyes flash with emotion and she leans in closer.
[Reading Guide]
1. The female lead is gentle, gracious, humble and polite but not weak. The male lead is initially an arrogant, noble, love-deprived brat, later a cute, clingy, scheming little jealous one.
2. 1v1, a bit torturous in the beginning but definitely sweet later on.
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