Etienne was navigating through such individuals. Although it was challenging to walk confidently when she clearly knew how these people perceived her, she unexpectedly received some help.
‘When did he arrive?’
Etienne spotted Leharat looking at her from a distance, trying to hold back her laughter, she bit down on her teeth.
With her teeth tightly clenched, and when she looked at Leharat again, he winked and playfully uttered something. Her suppressed laughter was about to burst.
‘I arrived first.’
Recognizing his expression, Etienne pretended to look elsewhere and tilted her head. Although she wasn’t sure how he arrived earlier than her, there was an unmistakable expression that seemed to boast about it.
I don’t know if Leharat understood my feelings, but anyway, thanks to him, my heart has become somewhat lighter.
“Lady Etienne.”
At that moment, a familiar voice called me by an unfamiliar title. I turned my head to confirm the person. It was Fernand, who always addressed me affectionately as Etienne.
“Congratulations on becoming an adult.”
In response to his polite greeting, I made a somewhat awkward expression but nodded my head.
‘It’s probably because others are watching.’
“Thank you.”
Fernand, too, was about to congratulate me for becoming an adult.
“I wish you had looked at me….”
As his voice was too low, Etienne couldn’t hear him properly and closed the distance between them.
“I didn’t hear it just now. What did you say?”
After hearing what Fernand wanted to say, Etienne planned to offer congratulations.
“I haven’t been outside until now. What happened?”
Fernand asked with a surprised expression, then quickly added as if blaming Etienne.
“You were in pain? But why didn’t you call me?”
Seeing Fernand’s surprised expression, Etienne subtly looked around and lowered her voice. It would have been fine to say she was just sick, but she was cautious because it might be related to Claire’s secret.
“I wasn’t that sick. It was just inconvenient to go out.”
Etienne reached out to him to reassure, holding both of his hands. Their voices weren’t particularly loud right now, but judging by Fernand’s reaction, it was clear that something was amiss.
“I was thinking about why you weren’t coming out, waiting for you to call me.”
Fernand mentioned that he waited despite not contacting Etienne separately to meet today. Etienne looked at him with apologetic eyes.
“Is that all I mean to you?”
“It’s not that. I thought it would be okay since I mentioned it beforehand. It’s not about underestimating you.”
Etienne lowered her head, but Fernand seemed not to be paying attention to her words.
“What about the Crown Prince?”
“Crown Prince?”
“He knows you’re coming to meet him.”
When he mentioned Leharat, Etienne became speechless. She had said something similar to him, suggesting not to meet, but he came to the mansion anyway.
He had been by her side, nursing her throughout. To Fernand, it might seem unfair.
However, the concept of fairness did not exist in their relationship.
“Why is the Crown Prince coming here? It’s not about that, right?”
“It’s important to me.”
Fernand’s earnest voice felt strangely odd. Etienne stared at him intently. It wasn’t like him, and he seemed unusually anxious, as if he had noticed something.
“No, Fernand still doesn’t know anything, and I’m going ahead alone.”
As Etienne suppressed unnecessary thoughts, Fernand’s voice grew louder.
“Lady Etienne.”
“Fernand?”
His atmosphere changed.
“Please give me an answer to my confession now.”
“Fernand?”
Etienne blinked, looking up at Fernand. Perhaps it was the chandelier’s light casting him differently, but he seemed distinct.
“I’ve been watching you all along. Will you be my lover?”
Stunned, Etienne couldn’t utter a word as Fernand extended his hand.
“Uh…”
She never expected a confession at this moment. Etienne looked down at his hand silently, and a small whisper reached her ears.
“I don’t want to stay just as friends anymore.”
Fernand explained why he confessed right here.
“I want to interfere with everything of yours.”
Etienne looked at Fernand’s hand and then raised her head to meet his gaze. It was too painful to know that her response was already predetermined.
“I’m sorry.”
Etienne lowered her head.
The response to Fernand’s confession was a rejection. Unable to witness how much her refusal might have pierced Fernand’s heart, Etienne bowed her head.
His hand went down weakly. She couldn’t even imagine how sharp her rejection might have become, piercing Fernand’s heart like a knife.
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
