The actions he took now, as well as his attitude and expressions toward himself and Charlotte, were completely different.
A deflated voice flowed from Charlotte.
“I’m sorry… I didn’t consider Nelia’s preferences.”
The Duke nodded his head.
“Yes, you’ve guessed wrong, Charlotte. Nelia is a person after all.”
A crack formed on Nelia’s forehead for a moment.
Why does the Duke keep stating the obvious, that she is a person?
Charlotte gradually hung her head, looking as if she would soon shed tears. Nelia spoke clearly once more.
“No, Charlotte. I like all kinds of cake!”
“Really…?”
“Yes, really.”
Only then did a shadow lift little by little from Charlotte’s face.
Nelia looked down at the fragrant cake and thought to herself.
‘I don’t really like nuts, but…’
It’s not that she couldn’t eat them.
She must keep this a secret from Charlotte forever.
“Shall we have some tea now?”
“Sure.”
Upon Nelia’s question, Charlotte nodded her head immediately.
She seemed less listless and passive than when Nelia had seen her before. Had they really grown closer after just a few meetings?
Soon a maid brought out teacups and tea leaves.
Nelia was about to brew the tea, but the Duke stopped her.
“I’ll do it.”
Nelia handed over the teapot without hesitation. It would be much better for everyone if the Duke brewed the tea.
She had once brewed tea and added too many leaves, making it incredibly bitter.
She had no choice but to throw out the tea, which tasted like medicine.
She had thought it was as simple as adding hot water to the right amount of leaves, but it was a more delicate task.
Later she learned that different teas required specific brewing times, temperatures, and quantities of leaves.
The teapot moved along with the Duke’s elegant gestures. The tea in the cup ebbed gently.
“Here you are.”
The Duke handed teacups to Nelia and Charlotte in turn.
Nelia savored the fragrant aroma of the tea.
‘Hmm… the Duke really knows how to brew tea.’
Charlotte also brought her teacup under her nose and smelled the aroma calmly.
However, she did not drink right away, looking alternately at the Duke and Nelia.
As if she had something curious on her mind.
“What is it, Charlotte?”
Charlotte hesitated as if she had something to say, then finally spoke.
“Um… may I ask what kind of relationship the two of you have…?”
Nelia almost dropped the cup she was about to drink. She never expected Charlotte to ask such a question. Despite her usually dull demeanor, she was surprisingly perceptive.
“The Duke and I…?”
“Yes… it doesn’t seem like a typical employeremployee relationship.”
Nelia looked at the Duke, flustered.
The Duke, smiling, looked as if he were enjoying this situation.
In the meantime, Charlotte continued speaking.
“I may not know much about the customs of the nobility, but it’s rare for a master to brew tea… and above all else…”
Charlotte glanced at the Duke.
“The way the Duke looks at Nelia seems a bit special.”
Nelia was again surprised by Charlotte’s keen observation.
The Duke usually maintained a certain distance when others were around, for fear of people gossiping about an unmarried young lady appearing too close to a Duke.
So she’d never had anyone comment on their relationship, except for Carlos.
Nelia wondered how to explain this awkward observation when the Duke spoke first.
“Actually, Nelia and I have promised each other a future. We have postponed our wedding due to certain circumstances.”
The Duke lied effortlessly.
He was so convincing that Nelia almost believed they had actually made such a promise.
“…Is that true, Nelia?”
Charlotte’s voice was quite serious.
Both the Duke and Charlotte looked at Nelia.
If she denied it now, Charlotte would find it strange. And the Duke, who lied, would look strange as well.
At the crossroads, Nelia finally nodded her head.
“……Yes.”
The Duke smiled in satisfaction and pressed his lips to Nelia’s hair.
Then, with his eyes closed gently, he looked at Charlotte.
“But it’s a secret, Charlotte. No one knows about us yet.”
Charlotte blinked and nodded.
“Yes……”
Something about her seemed drained, puzzling Nelia.
Their conversation continued for some time, but Charlotte remained as wilted as a trampled dandelion.
Eventually, Charlotte slowly rose from her seat.
“I should be going now.”
“So soon?”
Today, too, her departure seemed rushed.
She hadn’t come on a whim this time, so Nelia thought she would stay longer.
“Yes…… I plan to tour the capital this afternoon.”
Daydreaming like that, she might get hit by a carriage again. Nelia was extremely worried about Charlotte roaming the city alone.
After some thought, Nelia impulsively suggested.
“Would you like to tour the capital with me?”
Charlotte’s eyes widened like a rabbit’s for a moment, but then they dropped wearily.
“Isn’t Nelia busy……? You have to work as a maid……”
That’s true. If she wasn’t careful, the Duke would transform into a snake……
My Ex-Girlfriend Is The Regent In The Female-dominant World (Male lead transmigrates to the matriarchal world)
Two years ago, Gu Sui picked up a homeless woman in ancient costume from the street.
Apart from occasionally claiming to be a princess from a female-dominant country due to illness, her figure, appearance, intelligence, and martial arts skills were impeccable.
Naturally evolving from roommates to girlfriends, as time went on, Gu Sui found it increasingly difficult to tolerate her queen syndrome.
“Mu Jiulu, can you stop controlling me inside and out? Let’s break up.”
Gu Sui made a breakup call, and since then, he couldn’t find any trace of her.
A year later, Gu Sui, who was planning to move, woke up the next day and found himself in a different place.
“Young Master, today is the day you choose your Wife-master through martial arts competition at Jade Dew Pavilion. Please get up quickly.”
Gu Sui: Who am I? Where am I? What am I doing?
As the only son of a general’s mansion in a female-dominant dynasty, the young empress personally issued a decree allowing Gu Sui to select his Wife-master through martial arts competition. Whoever could defeat him could marry him.
Gu Sui: “……”
He didn’t inherit the original owner’s martial prowess, so anyone could defeat him! And what the hell is a Wife-master?
Forced to come to Jade Dew Pavilion, the densely packed women below made Gu Sui’s agoraphobia act up, and his face was full of resistance.
Until he saw the Regent sitting on the second floor, with a smile on the corner of her lips, her eyes wicked and nonchalant.
Hmm… she looked a little familiar.
It turned out that the Regent also found him a little familiar.
Mu Jiulu fiddled with her bone clasp, her deep gaze locked on the man who was out of place in this world.
“Finally, I found you.”
Male transmigrates into female-dominant world
One-sentence summary: What goes around comes around, taking turns in the crematorium
