From the morning, carriages and luggage were busily prepared in front of the duke’s mansion.
Adeline was set to recuperate at a nearby villa for a week, starting today.
Thinking she was going alone, Adeline blinked in surprise when she saw Cassius.
“No need for knights since I’ll be there. We’ll just increase the number of guards around,” he said.
“Yes. The chef and maid will serve food at designated times and then leave,” someone confirmed.
“That’s appropriate,” Cassius agreed.
But listening to his conversation with Gwen, Adeline had a feeling something was amiss.
She approached the duke stiffly.
“Your Grace, are you planning to come along?” she asked.
Cassius turned to her voice, his gaze settling heavily on her.
“Why ask? Did you think I’m so heartless to send you, pregnant with my child, to recuperate alone?” he asked.
The surrounding servants’ eyes turned towards them.
“It’s okay for me to go alone. You’re busy, Your Grace.”
“No need to worry about me. Let’s depart.”
Exclamations erupted from the surrounding maids.
They gathered, whispering and watching the couple.
“Did you hear? The cold duke himself is going with Lady Adeline for her sake.”
“Our duke has such a romantic side.”
“It seems he really loves Lady Adeline.”
Overhearing the maids’ conversation, Adeline felt a headache coming on.
She had hoped for a chance to be apart, but it had all ended.
Cassius had skillfully portrayed this retreat as an act of love in front of everyone, leaving her no reason to leave him behind.
Cunning indeed.
She knew he was a calculating man, and Adeline felt nauseous again.
Could she never escape his watchful eye?
The carriage door opened, signaling their departure.
Cassius entered first and extended his hand to Adeline.
“Catch.”
“Thank you,” she replied.
As she boarded the carriage, her brow furrowed slightly.
Did he just smile?
It might have been her imagination, but it seemed like he was smiling as he sat down.
Adeline leaned against the wide-open window, lost in thought.
She gazed at the mountains, colored with shades of red and orange amidst the greenery.
The villa, surrounded by mountains, overlooked a clear blue lake.
Despite being well past the start of autumn, the air was still pleasantly warm with the windows open.
Cassius had once said this was his favorite place. She deeply understood why now.
The peaceful scenery and warm sunlight.
Everything could have been perfect, if not for Cassius’s presence.
“Why such a face, when you wanted to come here?” Cassius asked, having approached her.
Adeline met his gaze, noting his dissatisfaction.
“I intended to come here alone to rest.”
“Alone?” he asked, furrowing his brows.
“It’s a retreat.”
“Yes. Isn’t that why we’re here?”
“I feel more comfortable without you,” she blurted out, frustrated by their miscommunication.
At her words, Cassius’s expression darkened.
He uncrossed his arms and stepped closer, whispering, “Then I’ll disappear, the unwelcome guest, so you can comfortably recuperate.”
“Then I, the unwelcome guest, will disappear, so you can recuperate comfortably.”
Possibly offended by Adeline’s words, Cassius did not return.
After a long silence, Adeline stood up from the window frame.
Cassius wasn’t a man to say one thing and do another. Perhaps he wouldn’t return.
As Adeline turned her gaze, she noticed the outside growing dark.
Should I read a book?
Unable to bear the boredom, Adeline approached the bookshelf.
The books seemed to belong to the era of Cassius’s youth.
‘That fairy tale… I used to read it a lot.’
While scanning the titles, Adeline stretched on her tiptoes to reach a familiar one.
Just then, a candlestick on top of the shelf toppled over.
Seeing the flame, Adeline instinctively reached out to catch it.
“Ouch!”
The sharp edge cut her hand.
Then, crash! Objects fell, echoing through the villa.
Suddenly, the door burst open, and Cassius appeared.
“What are you doing? Ah… I can’t take my eyes off you even for a moment.”
He strode angrily towards Adeline and sat her down on the sofa.
Searching for something, Cassius then approached her again.
He pulled a chair next to the sofa, facing her.
“The cut is deep, does it hurt?”
“Ow… yes, it hurts.”
As Cassius pressed a gauze towel against the bleeding wound, Adeline’s face contorted in pain.
A long cut marred her pale palm.
“…Your Grace!”
Adeline tried to wriggle her hand free from the sharp pain.
But he grasped her hand with his other, holding it still.
“Need to stop the bleeding, bear with it.”
After a few minutes, Cassius eased his grip, thinking the bleeding had stopped sufficiently.
His eyes darkened at the sight of the wound nestled in her pale flesh.
“It’s deeper than I thought. We should call the physician.”
Adeline was incredulous.
It was just a cut from a candlestick, a mere graze.
“It’s fine! Who calls a physician for such a wound?”
“These things here have been used since I was young. We don’t know how they could be infected…”
“I know my body. Just some ointment will do, please.”
Cassius sighed softly, looking at Adeline’s injured hand.
He then pulled her hand towards him.
“I can do it…”
“How can you with your right hand in that condition?”
He began applying ointment to the wound.
The man before her was the Iron Duke, Thorpeio, known for braving battlefields.
Though expected to be rough, his touch was surprisingly gentle and careful not to hurt Adeline further.
Adeline felt a surge of emotion, reminiscent of someone’s touch.
…
Silence ensued between them.
Initially resistant, Adeline found herself observing Cassius.
He unrolled a gauze bandage from a basket and began wrapping her wound.
“Be careful in the future. You’re not alone now.”
Adeline, who had been avoiding his gaze, looked up at his voice, sounding almost concerned.
“It’s your freedom to use your body, but the child inside is mine. A noble being born of the Thorpeio ducal bloodline.”
…
That figures.
The moment she thought his concern might extend to her seemed naive.
“I’m aware. That this child is the precious blood of the Duke’s house.”
“Good.”
With that, Cassius finished tying the bandage.
“Go to bed first. I’ll be working for a while and then join you.”
With those words, Cassius left the bedroom to work in the study for a bit.
After his departure, a silence returned to the villa’s bedroom.
Adeline sunk deeply into the sofa.
Then, she lifted her bandaged hand towards the ceiling, examining it.
“It’s the same.”
The memory from the time they spent together at Horn’s villa came flooding back.
Adeline had cut her hand on a broken window hinge, and Mel had treated it with the same cautious touch.
‘He also gets angry in the same way when I’m hurt.’
Mel, usually not one to show anger, became furious whenever Adeline was injured.
Looking at the bandage’s knot, so similar to the ones Mel used to tie, Adeline let out a wry laugh.
“…It’s inevitable.”
After all, Mel and the Duke were the same person.
Adeline covered her eyes with her hand.
Despite being the same person, the gap between Mel of that season and the Duke of Thorpeio felt starkly profound.
Mel now seemed like a being no longer of this world.
That’s why she gave up. She didn’t want to waste emotions searching for someone who no longer existed.
Perhaps it was because of the rare reminder of Mel in the Duke’s actions.
Although he was an uncomfortable and disliked man, the palm he had treated seemed to tingle.
Gradually, heat rose within her.
Adeline abruptly sat up from the sofa, fanning herself with her hand.
But it was in vain, as her face continued to burn for a long time.
Male lead Asks for a Divorce Every Day
It’s not often you come across a plot like this in the female-dominant genre — make sure to check it out!
This is a novel I’m planning to reread as well.
The male lead is strong, skilled in martial arts, and not the usual fragile type you often see in matriarchal novels.
Meanwhile, the female lead is a scientist—rational and logical. Even when she falls for the male lead, she doesn’t let her emotions cloud her decisions.
If you push through the first few chapters, you’ll gradually find the story really intriguing.
It has a mix of mystery, detective elements, and romance.
The author’s writing style is like crafting a puzzle—except they deliberately leave out a few pieces, making it hard to predict what happens next, yet keeping you hooked.
In the end, everything will come together and be explained.
One-sentence summary: Wife, stop playing with beakers and look at me!
In a laboratory accident, research scientist Zhu Wansheng accidentally travels to a matriarchal world. The original owner of the body is an eighteen-year-old only daughter of a wealthy rouge merchant, already married with a handsome young man.
Zhu Wansheng grins: Nice! She always said she was heaven’s favorite granddaughter. After a life of toil in her previous life, she can enjoy blessings in this one.
However, her joy lasts no more than three seconds as bad news arrives: the original owner’s family is about to go bankrupt, and her husband wants a divorce.
Even worse, she’s stuck with a research system full of restrictions.
Zhu Wansheng: ? Is this the destiny of a research dog?
——
Faced with this mess, Zhu Wansheng pours herself a bowl of wine to drown her sorrows. In her drunken haze, her husband arrives.
His figure is imposing, holding a long sword, with a dignified air that captivates Zhu Wansheng.
Gu Yingqing, however, looks at the alcohol-reeking Zhu Wansheng with undisguised disgust and coldly asks, “Divorce or not?” The intoxicated Zhu Wansheng mumbles vaguely, “I think… it’s not… it’s not… impossible!”
——
The next day, after sobering up, Zhu Wansheng is full of energy, rolling up her sleeves ready to make a big move. As for yesterday? She has no memory of it.
Zhu Wansheng is ambitious; a research dog fears nothing!
Upgrading rouge, extracting fragrances, producing perfumes, researching lipsticks… all shall bow to the power of modern technology!
The original owner’s dying rouge shop is revitalized. Her mother is pleased and with a wave of her hand, passes on the family business to her. As she takes control and her experimental results gain popularity, it’s the pinnacle of her life…
——
But there are always those who can’t stand to see her doing well. Jealousy, scheming, assassination attempts – they want nothing less than her life.
The person who has always kept his distance from her suddenly holds her tightly in his arms, eyes full of concern.
She is unharmed, but he falls into a pool of blood…
Zhu Wansheng feels guilty, “I can grant you one wish.”
Gu Yingqing tentatively circles his arms around her, carefully resting his head in the crook of her neck, pleading softly, “I regret it. Can we not divorce?”
Zhu Wansheng: ? When did I agree to a divorce?
[Small Theater]
The newly developed rouge is beautifully packaged, and Zhu Wansheng is eager to try it.
Gu Yingqing suddenly appears: “My lady, may I apply it for you?”
Cool fingertips lightly brush her lips. His Adam’s apple bobs as he leans in for a light bite.
Zhu Wansheng: ?
Gu Yingqing: It smells so good, I wanted to taste it…
On a warm spring day, Zhu Wansheng tries a new perfume: “Spring Night.” Gu Yingqing corners her against a wall.
Warm breath lingers on her neck.
“My lady, from now on, may I test the fragrances for you?”
[Humorous female scientist vs scheming live-in son-in-law male lead]
[Touch the gear icon in the bottom right corner of the screen to move to the next chapter if you want.]
