She was shocked to see that no one else had properly arranged their flowers.
‘Why?’
“Seems like everyone’s unfamiliar with flowers today since it’s the first day. Handling rose thorns is difficult. Next time, I’ll prepare easier flowers.”
Lehart casually commented and gestured to Etienne, urging her to hand over the arrangement. Reluctantly, Etienne handed over what she was holding.
Lehart took Etienne’s arrangement and smelled it, smiling contentedly.
“I’ll cherish your sentiment.”
“Your Highness!”
Etienne called out, feeling unjustified. It wasn’t about sentiment; it was the only decent arrangement.
“The most meticulously arranged flower was yours… The flower must have felt the loving touch. I’ll cherish that sentiment.”
Lehart referred to the sentiment towards the flower, leaving Etienne unable to argue further.
“This will need a fitting vase.”
There was nothing else to do but watch the prince take her arrangement.
The gathering wasn’t over yet, so the young nobles had an afternoon tea time. As three-tiered trays and teapots replaced the branches on the table, everyone’s expressions relaxed.
“We’ll have to handle flowers in the future too? I need to practice more.”
A girl fondled her teacup, speaking. Not used to handling flowers, she found it difficult to pluck and arrange the petals.
But since this wasn’t a one-time event, she seemed worried.
“Etienne’s lucky. Chosen by His Highness.”
“There was no choice.”
Etienne cut in. Her arrangement wasn’t chosen for its beauty; it was the only decent one.
“Why do you say it so harshly?”
The girl looked upset.
“Did you know what kind of gathering this was? Did you practice in advance?”
Someone asked. Etienne knew, but hadn’t practiced. She could do it simply because she had tried it before.
“It’s not that.”
Etienne replied briefly, avoiding a lengthy excuse.
“That’s harsh.”
As the girl pouted and murmured, Etienne almost sighed. Her image had always been like this: sensitive, prickly, inconsiderate of others’ feelings. She understood it, but it was also tiring.
“Sola, don’t be too disappointed. Next time, you can make the flowers for His Highness.”
Right. I hadn’t said that.
As someone comforted Sola, she called out their name, touched.
“Hana.”
“You were doing well for a first-timer, right? I couldn’t get the hang of it at all.”
“Right? Me neither.”
“It would be nice if flower arranging were a hobby, but showing improvement can also be charming in its own way.”
“You’re the only one, Hana.”
Soon, the two shifted their attention from Etienne to their own conversation. Etienne set down her teacup and stood up.
“I feel a bit suffocated sitting here, I’ll go for a walk in the greenhouse.”
“But you already went there earlier.”
Sola asked, probably because Etienne had used the same excuse to find Prince Lehart earlier.
“I want to see the flowers again because they’re pretty.”
Etienne replied nonchalantly and turned away.
‘I should stay away until the gathering disperses.’
With that thought, she quickly walked to a place where she could be alone. Once there, she let out a long sigh.
“I’m worried about future meetings too.”
“Because it’s uncomfortable?”
“…Fernando.”
Startled by the response to her musing, Etienne looked towards the source of the sound. Seeing that it was Fernando, she hesitated for a moment, then nodded.
“Yes.”
“You can treat them well.”
Fernando was looking at the flowers planted in the greenhouse, not at Etienne.
“You can treat them well, just like you do with me. You show your feelings clearly, so why didn’t you?”
Fernando spoke as if he knew everything, allowing Etienne to open up comfortably.
“I used to be like that, and now I want to be.”
Her statement felt somewhat off even as she said it, so Etienne smiled weakly.
But it was true. In her past life, she was too busy looking at Fernando, trying to hide her feelings to avoid seeming pitiful. She had put up a stronger front.
Now, she didn’t need to. But memories of being on the chopping block made her unwilling to conform to everyone else.
She was busy enough caring for her dear ones.
“The size of my heart is limited. Even if I divide it, it won’t be much. So, I guess I have limited people to give my heart to.”
“So, I am one of those who received it.”
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
