He rarely showed up at social parties, but even occasional appearances like a unicorn caused rumors to abound about Duke Hart’s politeness and kindness.
He was so humble, contrary to his title as the Empire’s second person, that people couldn’t help but praise him.
However, Nelia saw it a little differently.
While natural character played a part, the main reason was to disguise his insidious intentions, feigning innocence on the outside.
In fact, Duke Hart in the original story played the emperor like a tongue in the mouth, disarming him to swallow him whole.
“Nelia?”
When Duke Hart called her name, Nelia realized she had been staring at the tea cup lost in thought.
Nelia reached out for the tea cup a little belatedly.
“Thank you. I’ll enjoy it.”
When she lifted the tea cup, the scent of jasmine spread out.
“It’s jasmine tea. I heard you requested it from Ton yesterday.”
“Yes, you’re right. It’s my favorite tea.”
Duke Hart stood up and fetched something from under the desk.
Nelia instantly recognized it as the dessert box she had seen last time.
When the Duke opened the box with his long fingers, a strawberrytopped cream cake was revealed.
Nelia’s eyes sparkled at the tantalizing sight.
“They say this sells second best at the bakery, next to the strawberry tart. Do you like it?”
“…Yes, I do.”
Nelia nodded, seemingly ready to drool.
“I thought you might.”
Nelia looked up at Duke Hart.
A sweet smile hung on his lips, as sweet as the white cream on the cake.
The Duke was indeed a meticulous person. Even bringing the dessert for the maid himself.
Suddenly, the female protagonist Charlotte seemed amazing.
How could she resist this kind of offensive and fall in love with the intractable male protagonist, Carlos?
“Here.”
Duke Hart handed over the fork.
“I’ll enjoy it.”
The harmony of the fragrant jasmine tea and soft whipped cream cake was literally paradise.
‘Rich people have it good.’
Being able to own a wonderful bakery that makes such a cake.
People’s greed is endless.
When I evolved from a convenience store discarded strawberry sandwich to a Count’s dessert, I felt very grateful, but sneakily enjoying the benefits of the Duke’s house, I became envious of Duke Hart.
Nelia quickly finished off the whipped cream cake.
“It’s good to see you eat well.”
“Yes……. I like desserts.”
At the Duke’s words, Nelia felt unnecessarily shy.
“Perhaps,”
“Yes?”
“Do you also like acorns……? Or something like walnuts or almonds.”
Nelia blinked at the unexpected question.
“Are you talking about nuts?”
“Yes. Nuts.”
Suddenly, why was he asking such a question? Thanks to him, Nelia had to reflect on her own preferences.
‘Do I like nuts……?’
She wouldn’t refuse if someone gave it to her, but it wasn’t something she’d go out of her way to buy and eat.
She preferred something softer and sweeter.
Having concluded, Nelia shook her head.
“I don’t think I particularly like them.”
“I see…….”
Duke Hart, for some reason, wore a disappointed expression.
Nelia was curious about the purpose of this question, but she thought, ‘He’s probably taking notes for the next time he buys desserts,’ and passed it over.
“Shall we start the day’s work, Your Grace?”
“Yes, let’s.”
Today they met in the library, so there was no need to hold his hand and help him unnecessarily.
Though his foot was still heavily bandaged.
“How is your foot, Your Grace?”
He hesitated the moment he got up.
‘Huh?’
Did it hurt to stand up?
Even when he was pulling the bell cord earlier, and when he walked over to the sofa after sending away Count Clint, he seemed fine.
“Your Grace……?”
“……I must have stepped on the ground too hard, my instep is throbbing.”
Nelia quickly came to his aid.
“If it was difficult for you to get up by yourself, you should have said so.”
“That’s right, Nelia.”
Duke Hart made a weak expression and held Nelia’s hand tightly.
“For the time being, you’ll have to diligently play the role of my crutch.”
“That’s why I’m here.”
Acknowledging her mistake, Nelia safely escorted Duke Hart to his desk.
The distance from the sofa to the desk was just a few steps, but he held her hand as if it was a lifeline.
“Thank you, Nelia.”
Upon completing the mission, Duke Hart smiled. His smile felt like a reward.
His face was captivating enough just by being still, but when he smiled, it delivered another shock, like he was using his ultimate move.
‘It’ll take time to get used to.’
Nelia had to brace herself not to fall for his beauty.
Knock.
At that moment, someone knocked on the door.
“Come in.”
The maid who had served tea earlier walked in.
“A letter has arrived from the palace.”
As the maid placed the letter on the desk and left, the Duke opened the letter.
From the lack of any significant change in his expression, it seemed like it was nothing serious.
Duke Hart had many visitors.
Not just letters, several guests visited in the morning.
Thanks to that, Nelia had to strenuously support the Duke, flitting him from his desk to the sofa located close by.
Upon seeing that sight, the guests wore worried expressions.
“Ah, it seems you’ve injured your foot quite severely.”
“It’s just a bit inconvenient to move, I’m fine.”
Despite the duke reassuring the guests that it wasn’t a serious matter, Nelia had to struggle with guilt each time.
Most of the guests who came to see Duke Hart were there to discuss matters of work.
“Then, we will entrust the construction of the capital’s walls to you, Duke.”
“Don’t worry.”
After a noble representative had left, Nelia asked.
“Duke… when will you start going to the palace for work?”
“As soon as my foot gets better. For the time being, I asked His Majesty for permission to work from home.”
Nelia had to reflect on how much of a burden she had placed on the empire.
Duke Hart was as busy as the cogwheel of the empire, and since she had caused such a person inconvenience, the cogwheel of the empire would likely turn rigidly for a while.
But there was no use in worrying. All she could do was diligently carry out her given tasks.
“Nelia, here.”
Nelia received the documents that the Duke was handing over.
Duke Hart had requested the same tasks as yesterday. The amount of work he gave in a day was neither too much nor too little. Just enough to not be bored, perhaps?
And then, a guest arrived in the afternoon.
The person, clad in a splendid silver armor, was unmistakably a knight at first glance. His distinct appearance compared to the previous guest caught her attention.
The knight, who likewise noticed Nelia sitting next to the Duke’s desk, glanced at her and asked inquisitively.
“That young lady…”
“She’s my new maid.”
“I see.”
Whenever a guest came, they would curiously look at her like that.
“It’s unexpected. I didn’t think the Duke would hire a maid. Weren’t you not accustomed to having male servants around?”
“There were circumstances, so I hired a new one.”
Duke Hart smiled leisurely.
However, there was a subtle sense that his mood was not pleasant.
“If you keep looking, Nelia might feel uncomfortable. Shall we start the conversation?”
As the Duke said this and slightly turned his body, Nelia was subtly obscured.
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.]
