Barely dealing with how much those rumors were involved in her death, and now she was barely being swayed by such things. It was ironic that when rumors circulated about her drinking tea before, she didn’t even think about avoiding him.
“I realized I should focus on more beneficial times for myself rather than caring about those rumors.”
Leharht stared at her face, as if unexpectedly gaining insight.
“Why do you look at me like that?”
“Until just now, I thought you were quite innocent, you know?”
Etienne narrowed her eyes. Although Leharht kindly explained something she hadn’t considered, it seemed that being called innocent wasn’t meant as a compliment.
“I was planning to use the rumors, but you suggest ignoring them. So, I’m thinking about what would be a better approach.”
“If that’s the case…”
Etienne nodded. The answer to the Crown Prince’s dilemma was too simple.
“Both are good.”
Choosing the appropriate option depending on the situation is the best approach.
“Okay. Let’s do both.”
As Leharht offered the new glass to Sijong, Etienne lightly clinked her glass against it.
“Well, I should start exchanging greetings with other people. Let’s have our little party after the ball. Let’s meet tomorrow at 11.”
In response to Leharht’s subtle expression, Etienne nodded. After this ball, more than anyone else, she needed time with Leharht.
As Etienne immediately accepted, Leharht stepped back with a pleasant smile.
Curious about where he was going, Etienne, who followed his back with her eyes, spotted Prince Ludvík just entering the ballroom.
Looking directly at Etienne and approaching, Prince Ludvík was intercepted by Leharht.
“I didn’t expect you to come.”
Ludvík glanced at Leharht as if annoyed and casually replied, “I have someone to meet.”
“Is that so? Before that, can we have a conversation? I have something important to discuss.”
“I don’t really want to…”
“Then…”
Leharht said with a resigned tone.
“As the Crown Prince commands.”
“…Understood.”
Upon the Crown Prince’s order, Ludvík gritted his teeth, forcibly lowered his head.
“It’s going to be a very enjoyable conversation between brothers. Think of it that way.”
As Leharht took Ludvík with him, he secretly conveyed a smile to Etienne. He didn’t know about later, but at least for this ball, he should enjoy it…
Understanding his sentiment, Etienne smiled and gently put down her champagne glass. Now, she planned to go greet the Empress Mother and then head straight home.
“We needed a conversation at least once, right?”
To Leharht’s affectionate question, Ludvík openly sighed. Why was it so difficult to go meet Etienne? First Fernand, now Leharht, they were all hindrances.
“What conversation?”
“That I really like Etienne a lot?”
Even with Ludvík’s cold gaze, Leharht continued nonchalantly.
“Did you call me here just to say that?”
“If that’s ‘just,’ what about your actions?”
Leharht asked, wandering around Ludvík.
“You’re the one shamelessly trying to make Etienne your bride, even though you know I like her.”
“If that’s bothering you so much? I’ve been patient all this time.”
“I wanted to confront you right away, but there were so many people stopping me. There’s no need to make our fight a grand spectacle for others to watch, right?”
Ludvík sneered.
“I can’t really say that’s everything, can I?”
“Of course not, but…”
Leharht raised his head, staring at Ludvík. Perhaps because of that gaze, Ludvík averted his eyes with an irritated expression.
“Stop using Etienne.”
Leharht erased his smile and turned away from Ludvík.
“It’s better to hear it in good terms.”
Although the Crown Prince was uttering words that could befit a villain, Leharht seemed unfazed, and Ludvík twisted his lips.
Leharht, thinking it was time to return to the palace, was about to do so when:
“If it’s not using?”
As Leharht tried to grasp the meaning of Ludvík’s words, Ludvík’s smile deepened.
“You can propose to Etienne since you have feelings for her.”
Now, the initiative of the atmosphere had shifted to Ludvík. With a relaxed smile on his lips, Ludvík sent a languid gaze toward Leharht. Leharht likes Etienne. If that’s the case, he must not let it slip away.
“Watching from the sidelines until now, calling that an achievement, you’re making me laugh.”
Ludvík laughed as if he found it very amusing.
“Should have made her yours before anyone else claimed her.”
Making Etienne his wife would mean defeating Leharht. That wouldn’t be the end. At the right moment, he would kill Leharht and take the throne.
All of this would proceed step by step.
“If you want to stop me, capture Etienne’s heart first, Your Highness the Crown Prince.”
Ludvík boldly provoked him and stepped back. Left alone, Leharht pondered Ludvík’s words and shrugged his shoulders.
“I already captured her.”
When Etienne suggested keeping it a secret, it was a bit disappointing, but it was starting to become interesting.
“Did Etienne leave?”
Leharht casually walked to where Etienne was expected to be and soon spotted her greeting the Empress. He murmured quietly while watching Etienne from a distance.
“Looking forward to the days ahead.”
Isn’t that right? He asked Etienne in his heart.
The debutante ball, where everyone’s relationships got entangled, came to an end with Leharht’s slow smile.
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.]
