The duke’s mansion was bustling from early morning. It was the day of the noble’s banquet dinner, as arranged by the duke.
Countless servants scurried about, making the estate noisy throughout the day.
Adeline occasionally glanced outside her bedroom at the sounds coming from outside. Then, she straightened up, feeling the strong force cinching her waist.
“Is it uncomfortable? But this design emphasizes the waist.”
The maid assisting her with the dress gave Adeline an awkward smile. It was the dress sent by Madame Violetta after making adjustments.
“It’s fine, continue,” Adeline replied, prompting the maid to tighten the corset laces again.
The reflection in the mirror was markedly different. The dress, which had been half-revealing before, now looked suitable for going to a convent.
The only difference was its silhouette-enhancing design, despite no exposure.
The beige dress flowing down Adeline’s curvaceous body was made of a very luxurious material. Instead of exposure, the fabric’s opulence was enhanced by layers of lace and Swarovski crystals embedded in each layer.
As Adeline moved, the dress glittered and swayed.
But, since it was less revealing, it was bearable.
Having worn such dresses even while at the marquisate.
‘Should I be thankful?’
To the man who changed the design of the dress but left another scandal in his wake?
Thinking of Cassis inevitably brought a sigh. However, Adeline composed her expression, not wanting to become gossip fodder among the maids.
“You’re all set, Lady Adel. The dress looks splendid on you.”
“Really? How’s the banquet going?”
“The nobles have started arriving. It’s the perfect time to go down. Duke Cassis has also headed to the dining room.”
Adeline nodded to the maid, feeling a bitter taste in her mouth.
‘No escort, typical.’
At a noble’s party, her partner, Cassis, should have escorted her to the banquet room.
But he headed to the dining room alone, without accompanying Adeline.
She hadn’t expected any romantic gestures from him.
‘Truly… you’re no longer Mel.’
Yet she couldn’t rid herself of lingering feelings.
A slight shadow crossed Adeline’s face, soon disappearing altogether.
She didn’t want to reveal her emotions. She refused to be unsettled any further.
“Lady, take my hand, and we’ll go down.”
Following the maid who offered her hand, Adeline headed to the dining room.
Once Adeline left the bedroom, the maids began to whisper.
“Isn’t the concubine too flashy? Even the changed dress is so extravagant. She acts as if she’s the duchess.”
“Well, she needs to be flashy. Who knows how long she’ll last, being a flower with an uncertain future.”
They spilled words they dared not say in front of Adeline.
Then, one maid murmured, “Imagine if such a woman gets pregnant and becomes the duchess…”
The chatter ceased at the thought, their expressions hardening as if it were a terrible notion.
The banquet that evening featured courses prepared by a chef specially invited from the capital.
Despite the luxurious meal, Adeline found it hard to swallow anything. The soup and the meat in front of her felt like chewing sand.
‘Dining with the maids might be better.’
Eating under the maids’ watchful eyes seemed slightly more comfortable.
If only Cassis had introduced her to the men there.
However, Cassis didn’t introduce Adeline to the other nobles, even as she entered the dining room and the meal began.
Adeline was initially taken aback by Cassis’s blatant disregard for her presence at the dinner.
However, her fluctuating emotions soon calmed down. She was determined not to be swayed by his whims and feigned composure.
She picked at her food, but the men around her had different attitudes.
“As you can see, I am well,” Cassis remarked, prompting hearty laughter from everyone except Adeline. The atmosphere at the dinner, excluding her, was warm and lively.
“Haha, indeed. We were worried when rumors spread that the duke had fallen ill.”
“Come now, would our Iron Duke really be so easily affected?”
The noblemen eagerly responded to Cassis’s humorless comments.
Men are indeed creatures attuned to power dynamics.
They appeared to be listening to Cassis, occasionally sneaking glances at Adeline. Unable to openly gaze at the concubine in front of them, they stole furtive looks.
Of course, there were men who stared blatantly at Adeline with lustful eyes.
“Indeed, the concubine is quite beautiful.”
At these words, Cassis’s knife halted mid-air.
Locking eyes with the nobleman who had just mentioned the concubine, Cassis lifted his head.
“I’ve heard she wears dresses fit for a brothel, but she looks different today. I was looking forward to this evening.”
The nobleman’s smirk and lecherous gaze swept over Adeline’s neck, collarbone, and chest area.
His gaze was exceedingly blatant.
Until now, no one had dared to mention Adeline during the meal. They all waited for Cassis to introduce his concubine.
The nobleman’s remark seemed to open the floodgates, and other nobles began to speak.
The Villainous Demon Lord Laid an Egg for Her (Female-Dominated)
Several months after transmigrating into a book, Yu Wu found herself facing the demon lord Li You, who could no longer conceal his dragon horns. With one hand on her aching waist and the other gripping a sharp sword, she stared at him.
The demon lord’s eyes were red with fury:
“This is all your doing! Today, I won’t rest until I kill you!”
Yu Wu rubbed her temples. Putting aside the taboo against bloodshed during pregnancy, wasn’t it this very man who willingly walked into her trap that day?!
Warnings:
- Male pregnancy.
- Height ratios are set to mirror typical male-female height proportions.
- Characters include a foot-loving demon lord and an eldest daughter from an immortal family’s concubine lineage.
