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I’ll Protect the Tyrant Daddy!

September 22, 2024
Chapter 81 Chapter 80
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Our Every Moment

October 8, 2024
Chapter 50 Chapter 49
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There Is No Paradise Where I Ran Away To

September 22, 2024
Chapter 52 Chapter 51
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Date Me!

October 8, 2024
Chapter 80 Chapter 79
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The Problematic Helper

October 8, 2024
Chapter 50 Chapter 49

When Pride Falls at Your Feet - Chapter 22

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  2. When Pride Falls at Your Feet
  3. Chapter 22
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Emilia sighed inwardly as she got into the carriage. She hadn’t noticed during practice due to her concentration, but as soon as the ballet troupe’s schedule ended, she felt an ominous chill. Perhaps she was coming down with something.

Her body felt cold, yet her forehead was constantly beaded with cold sweat. The only fortunate thing was that her ankle didn’t hurt like it had in the morning, but of all days for this to happen, it had to be when she was going to meet Enrico. It felt like everything was going wrong.

She needed her body to move well, and she worried that he, being sensitive, might disapprove. This wasn’t even a personal appointment, but work.

She wouldn’t skip a performance just because she felt slightly unwell, and knowing his usual temperament, he would likely criticize her for not taking proper care of herself.

Her desire to uncover the truth about her parents as soon as possible mixed with her reluctance to be faulted by him.

‘It’s too late to say I’m taking the day off, we’re almost there anyway…’

Emilia looked out the window at the rapidly passing scenery with a worried expression. Even though it would have been fine to go slowly today, the carriage, unaware of her condition, sped along and arrived at Duke Michele’s residence in no time.

“We’re here.”

But why was Enrico standing outside the mansion? Unlike usual when he would wait in the viewing room, she was somewhat taken aback to see his smooth face as soon as the carriage door opened.

“…Duke.”

“Get out.”

Enrico held out his hand as if to help her. Emilia hesitated for a moment, but unable to do anything about him standing there, she took his hand. Feeling his touch gently grasping her fingertips, she stepped out of the carriage with mixed emotions.

‘This feels oddly uncomfortable.’

There hadn’t been much contact since that day she had embarrassingly shed tears in front of him. He hadn’t mentioned that incident specifically and had watched her dance as usual before sending her home. Too neatly, in fact.

They didn’t always have meals together, but he would usually make some conversation. His unusual silence left her feeling strangely uneasy.

It was good that he only showed interest in her dancing, but if his interest suddenly waned, that would be problematic in its own way, so she couldn’t help but worry.

‘Ah, I don’t know. Why do I have to worry about this too? Now my head hurts as well.’

Emilia stopped glancing at his profile as he escorted her, his expression unreadable, and furrowed her brow. Thinking that her head felt unusually heavy, she took a deep breath and exhaled.

‘My body needs to hold up until I finish the performance…’

What she thought was a mild cold seemed to be worsening in the chilly wind. Even after entering the warm mansion, her headache didn’t improve, and now she was starting to feel feverish.

Emilia tried to release his hand as soon as they entered, intending to go to the room where she always prepared for performances. However, her hand wasn’t easily freed, and instead, he firmly held onto her fingertips.

“Emilia.”

“Yes?”

“Look at me.”

His eyes, looking down at her as she had already half-turned away, were narrowed. She hesitated before slightly turning her head.

“Can’t we prepare for the performance right away?”

“No.”

He suddenly pulled her hand, seemingly unsatisfied. Caught off guard by the force, Emilia was pulled into his embrace. She reflexively braced herself against his chest, stopping just short of his face, but to onlookers, it would have appeared as if she was about to fall into his arms.

“Duke, what are you doing!”

“Hold still.”

He paid no heed to her sharp reaction. Instead, he lifted her chin, making her look up at him.

Her face was flushed all over, too much to be just from the cold wind. Even from a distance, he could feel the heat radiating from her.

His handsome brow furrowed.

“Are you running a fever?”

“…I tend to have a higher body temperature naturally.”

“It wasn’t like this when I touched you before.”

“That’s… Duke?”

He suddenly lowered his head. As the distance between them abruptly closed, she tried to step back, but the hand that had been holding hers was now wrapped around her lower back. Her eyes squeezed shut.

“…!”

She felt an unfamiliar sensation on her forehead. Cautiously opening one eye, she saw him with his forehead pressed against hers. At such close proximity, his downcast purple eyes were clearly visible.

“…You do have a fever.”

His cold voice snapped her back to reality. Emilia belatedly pushed hard against Enrico’s chest. Fortunately, this time he stepped back willingly, but his expression was visibly displeased. His intense gaze was so piercing that she unconsciously lowered her eyes.

“Were you planning to perform in this condition?”

“It’s just a slight fever. It won’t affect my dancing. I’m fine—”

“Emilia.”

At his chilling call, her mouth automatically closed.

“I have no need for anything less than perfection.”

Her eyes rose to meet his again. His impassive face, devoid of any hint of a smile, was clearly reflected in her trembling eyes. His ominous demeanor left her speechless. The thought that he might terminate the contract right then and there crossed her mind, and her head began to ring as if she were hearing tinnitus.

A suffocating silence stretched between them for a moment. It was broken when Enrico, who had been looking down at Emilia arrogantly, turned his back.

“This is why dealing with living things is so troublesome.”

His cynical tone pierced her heart. She felt like a mere animal performing tricks in front of him. She had been prepared for this all along, but facing it now, she was certain.

Enrico really would discard anything that didn’t meet his standards without hesitation. And perhaps he might even terminate the contract for the crime of displeasing him.

Emilia blankly watched his retreating back as he gave some instructions to the butler. Her eyes had become empty, as if all emotion had been erased.

Chandeliers and candles, like stars in the night sky, illuminated the dark stage. Enrico, seated in a red velvet chair, gazed silently at the stage. In the space filled with stillness, only the ticking of the watch on his wrist could be heard.

He listened quietly to the sound of the watch. Though he enjoyed being alone, ironically, he disliked spaces enveloped in silence. Even now, if not for the sound of this watch, he would have turned on music despite his reluctance.

He wasn’t sure when it began. Perhaps it had been that way since birth. Though he was the son born late to the previous king and queen, there was never anyone around him.

The previous queen, whose health had rapidly deteriorated after childbirth, never left her room, and the previous king who only stayed by her side. Naturally forgotten due to their indifference, Enrico was accustomed to being alone, with only the occasional servants who cared for him and waited outside.

‘Enrico, you are your brother’s shadow. Just stay quiet, and don’t think of doing anything.’

It was an environment where he could have everything except for one thing, but his surroundings were always quiet.

The previous queen occasionally allowed visits, but mostly only when Matthias Treano, the current king, was present. Then, she would always warn him, as if brainwashing, in front of him.

To soothe the firstborn’s anxiety, and for the second son who might dare to covet the position determined even before his birth. Unable to eliminate the king’s offspring conceived by chance, she who had been forced to give birth at a late age cared only for Matthias.

Therefore, this brainwashing continued until just before the previous royal couple passed away.

Whether the previous queen’s soothing had an effect or not, even after the previous king’s passing, Matthias didn’t try to keep Enrico in check, but he had no intention of becoming close brothers either.

He merely received reports on Enrico’s activities at regular intervals, and upon hearing that he was mostly alone or occasionally showed interest in artworks, he gradually lost interest.

‘Your Grace, I have purchased the paintings and porcelain you mentioned. However, you may need to consider expanding the exhibition hall in your residence.’

‘Send the old ones to the territory.’

Artwork was initially a way to show the king his disinterest in politics, as he had no interest in the throne to begin with, and it was the only interest that held his gaze for long, so he began collecting.

Beautiful things could satisfy his heart for a moment, and even if he quickly tired of them, he could continuously fill the void with something else.

So he endlessly bought artworks that appealed to him even slightly, but the problem was that he had no particular desire to possess them.

‘Find out about that woman.’

But then, for the first time, something he wanted to see repeatedly appeared before his eyes.

Emilia Este, it was her.

Never before had a living thing caught his eye. So a stronger curiosity arose, and he didn’t hesitate to acquire her. Though he might tire of her quickly, if she could satisfy his heart even for a moment, he thought it worth investigating the Este Viscount couple’s incident, which he had ignored before due to the troublesome nature of getting involved in unnecessary affairs.

And that contract was quite satisfactory. Though unexpected situations occasionally arose since she wasn’t an object without a will, it didn’t particularly upset him. His doll dancing solely for him, rather than seen in crowded places, evoked a strange sense of satisfaction.

Though he was starting to wonder how to deal with the bothersome Giorgio Este.

‘He hopes to cut off the sponsorship, does he.’

The remaining of this chapter has been hidden to reduce the risk of translation theft. Click here to reveal full content.

*

Save yourself from story hunger — the novel below will blow your mind!

[su_service title=”My Husband Asks for a Divorce Every Day (Female-dominant)” icon=”icon: star-o” size=”16″][/su_service]

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]

Link to read

[Touch the gear icon in the bottom right corner of the screen to move to the next chapter if you want.]

 

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