Their first encounter wasn’t ordinary, but he didn’t do anything to leave a bad impression.
In the case earlier, he had helped her.
Thinking of it, he felt aggrieved.
“Duke Hart, welcome.”
As soon as he entered the VIP room set up behind the party hall, Emperor Arhen waved his hand and greeted Duke Hart.
The duke approached the Emperor and bowed his head politely.
“Your Majesty, what is the reason for your call?”
The Emperor furrowed his deepset brow.
“A monster has appeared in the eastern desert again. I called you because it might be the monster we missed last time.”
At the word ‘monster’, Duke Hart’s expression momentarily hardened. But soon he smiled slowly.
“It’s unlikely. People often mistake the mirages of the desert, don’t they?”
“Still, wouldn’t it be better to send a subjugation team to the desert? It could be that big snake that appeared before.”
Duke Hart was silent for a moment, then nodded his head.
“If Your Majesty is so anxious, I will order the Knights’ Captain to organize a subjugation team.”
“Yes, that seems to be a good idea.”
The Emperor seemed to recall something, shuddering.
“Because of the monster I saw before, if it’s a snake, it’s disgusting.”
“I know. You were almost seriously injured because of that monster.”
Duke Hart moved behind the Emperor and massaged his stiff shoulders.
The cold gaze of Duke Hart reached the nape of the Emperor’s neck.
It was a chilly look, as if it would tear the frail flesh at any moment, but from his mouth, an endlessly gentle voice flowed.
“Do not worry. I’ll pay more attention to ensure the monsters cannot set up.”
The Emperor dropped the hand that was stroking his arm, as if his tension was relieved.
“It’s really fortunate that the Duke is here. I’ve been so worried about Carlos that I couldn’t pay attention to anything else.”
“I understand. Your Majesty should focus on His Highness the Crown Prince for the time being.”
Enthralled by the bewitching gentle voice, the Emperor nodded his head.
“If you’ve finished speaking, may I return to the hall? There are still many people I need to greet.”
“So be it. You’ve caught a busy man.”
The emperor chuckled. His face showed much less worry compared to when he had called Duke Hart.
“Then I will see you later, Your Majesty.”
Duke Hart bowed once and then left the VIP room behind the party venue.
When the duke stepped out, the coldness that had been on his face disappeared, and only a gentle aura remained.
He had someone in mind.
As soon as he was alone, the duke sought Nelia again. Fortunately, he was able to find Nelia without much delay.
Now that he recognized her face, she immediately caught his eye.
Looking at Nelia with a happy heart, the duke’s brows furrowed with confusion.
He had felt it earlier, but her walk seemed a bit strange.
Like she was wearing extremely uncomfortable shoes.
‘It looks as if a newborn fawn is walking awkwardly.’
It felt terribly dangerous and uneasy.
Duke Hart eventually took a step and followed behind Nelia.
He intended to watch her from a distance for now.
And if she stumbled or showed signs of falling, he planned to catch her.
The place where Nelia arrived was the catering table.
The sight of her passionately picking up cookies brought an involuntary smile to his face.
She was so focused on eating, it seemed she didn’t notice him lingering nearby.
‘She really loves desserts.’
How long had it been since such a light laughter bubbled up within him.
However, the smile didn’t last long.
Stagger.
The sight of Nelia bumping into a passerby’s shoulder and falling.
Without a second thought, he moved to catch Nelia from behind.
Nelia looked surprised at first, but then she asked with a worried face.
“Is your foot…okay?”
He was different from ordinary people, so of course he wouldn’t get hurt by something like this.
Of course, Nelia didn’t know this fact.
‘No.’
He could take good advantage of this point…
A picture quickly formed in Duke Hart’s mind.
And the day he visited Nelia’s home was a few days later.
[This is the time separator]
Duke Hart, having finished his recollection, stared at Earl Clint.
“So, what are you curious about?”
“Do you think Miss Nelia can really understand and accept your true form?”
Just a day together and how could she know.
All he had was a faint hope, seeing her kneel for others, taking on their sins.
The reason he asked her to be a maid was also because of this.
He wanted to know more about her.
“I’m not sure yet.”
Earl Clint frowned at Duke Hart’s lukewarm answer.
“Is that so…? That’s a shame.”
“But it won’t take long.”
She may be wary of him for some reason now, but nothing was easier than relaxing someone’s tension and tempting them.
“Don’t be too confident. We had a little chat today, and she seemed very cautious. Just like a small animal. The light brown hair… doesn’t it look like a squirrel?”
One of Duke Hart’s eyebrows raised.
It upset him that Earl Clint had similar thoughts.
“What, why are you looking at me so fiercely?”
“…It’s nothing.”
When Duke Hart responded nonchalantly, Earl Clint quickly changed the topic.
“Silian, did you know? Because you’ve been rejecting so many ladies, there’s an interesting rumor going around.”
“I know.”
Duke Hart answered, resting his chin on the sofa armrest. Earl Clint asked, as if surprised.
“What? You knew?”
“You’re talking about the rumor that I’m homosexual, right?”
I knew it.
The gossip of the nobles naturally reached my ears even if I didn’t want to know.
Even people were planted to not miss a single detail about the Emperor.
“He seems not to care much.”
“Thanks to those rumors, troublesome matters have decreased.”
For instance, the task of rejecting marriage proposals.
Thanks to this, the number of letters matchmakers sent me decreased.
“So… you know about that too?”
Viscount Clint lowered his gaze, quietly stroking his chin, then briefly lifted his head.
“They’re linking you and me.”
Duke Hart set his expression as if he heard it even when he should not have.
“…What?”
“You look so displeased? I feel the same.”
Viscount Clint laughed as if absurd.
He thought Duke Hart would get angry, but this was beyond imagination.
“In the eyes of those spreading delusions, we’re just a beautiful pair.”
Duke Hart should have gradually relaxed his expression and let out an incredulous laugh by now, but it remained the same.
“… If Nelia misunderstands, I won’t leave it at that.”
I read sincerity from Duke Hart’s cold voice. Viscount Clint, taken aback, hastily retreated.
“I didn’t spread such rumors, that’s too much.”
But it seemed Duke Hart didn’t care who said it.
“Leave this house now. People are looking at us like that because you’re always coming and going.”
“It’s because of your medicine…!”
Viscount Clint spoke as if wronged, but it didn’t reach Duke Hart.
Duke Hart stood up, pulled the viscount’s arm, and dragged him towards the door while holding onto him.
“Ah, I can walk!”
Viscount Clint finally shook off Duke Hart’s hand. A red mark remained on Viscount Clint’s freed wrist.
Viscount Clint opened the door while rubbing his aching wrist.
“Throwing me out for such a petty rumor. How much I love you…”
Viscount Clint’s voice halted. There was a person standing at the door.
“Uh…? Miss Nelia.”
Viscount Clint called Nelia, but Nelia seemed unsure of what to do, looking confused.
“Did…did I?”
Then Nelia looked back and forth between Duke Hart and Viscount Clint with a worried face.
“Did I… interrupt both of you?”
Sigh. Duke Hart lowered his head and rubbed his forehead.
Cold Male Lead Became My Clingy Husband (Female-Dominant)
Feng Bai Su transmigrated into a matriarchal novel, becoming the sister of the female protagonist and the Seventh Princess of the Feng Ling Kingdom.
After working herself to death in her previous life, finally reincarnating as a princess, she only wanted to be a lazy fish who could eat, sleep, and play.
Until she met the male protagonist from the book, Wei Jing Mo, and he took a liking to her!
Wei Jing Mo is the top young man in Feng Ling City, talented in both appearance and ability, from a prestigious family, with a cold and otherworldly appearance, a figure like the bright moon in the hearts of noble ladies. It was thought that only the most powerful and talented noble lady in Feng Ling City would be worthy of such a brilliant young man. Who knew that this young gentleman would secretly admire the infamous Seventh Princess?
Short scene 1:
Feng Bai Su looked at the young man crying like a pear blossom in the rain before her, and couldn’t help but doubt her life.
Wasn’t the male lead described as a cold and otherworldly figure in the book?
Then who was this poor little thing crying with swollen red eyes and tear-stained face?
Short scene 2:
Wei Jing Mo stared intently at Feng Bai Su who was about to go out, wanting to say, “Be careful on the road.”
Before he could speak, Feng Bai Su suddenly bent down and bit his cheek.
Her peach blossom eyes were full of disdain: “Tsk! You’re so clingy!”
Wei Jing Mo: “…”
A talented fox spirit female lead with a flirtatious appearance but actually abstinent VS A cold-looking but actually naive and clingy little jealous male lead
