It was surprising but not what she had tensed up for. However, she still had doubts.
Could a maid really accompany him to the palace? Duke Hart held an important position, but he was not royal…
“If you give permission, Nelia, there’s no need to worry.”
As if reading her thoughts, the Duke answered at once. Nelia tilted her head.
“Is that really okay?”
“Yes. Other people also occasionally bring their servants, and most importantly… there’s nothing I can’t do in the palace.”
It was an incredibly arrogant and audacious statement.
However, considering the Emperor’s boundless affection and trust for Duke Hart, it wasn’t unbelievable.
The Emperor was completely enamored with Duke Hart.
“Would you like to go with me to the palace, Nelia?”
“I…”
Nelia hesitated for a moment.
Going to the palace was not something she looked forward to.
Even if her path had diverged significantly from the original work, Carlos still made her uneasy.
He was a character who sentenced Nelia to death in the original story. She wouldn’t act that way, but it was still unsettling.
However, it was hard to ignore Duke Hart in his dire situation.
After all, it seemed like he would sporadically turn into a snake when separated from her. His situation was evidently more urgent than her own.
Resolute, Nelia raised her head.
“Alright… let’s go to the palace together.”
The Duke briefly kissed Nelia’s cheek.
“Thank you, Nelia.”
Caught off guard by the surprise, Nelia touched her cheek and glared at the Duke.
She couldn’t get angry at his smiling face. However, a warning was necessary.
“You can’t do this in the palace.”
“Then, may I do it in the residence?”
Faced with Duke Hart blinking his innocent eyes, Nelia couldn’t help but shout.
“Absolutely not…!”
“I see…”
What did he mean by “I see”?
Nelia crossed her arms and looked at the Duke.
Contrary to her crumbling determination, she wanted to avoid physical contact with him if possible.
While they had once talked about marriage, their current relationship was unclear. She did not want to maintain an ambiguous attitude.
However, contrary to her firm thoughts, whenever the Duke came into physical contact fluidly, she belatedly thought, ‘I shouldn’t be doing this…!’
‘It’s my fault, isn’t it.’
No, could it be this charming man’s fault?
When Nelia snorted and looked at him, his pitiful silver eyes met hers.
“I was lonely without you yesterday.”
Seeing the Duke play the pity card like a wet puppy, her resolve wavered once again.
Just a peck and you’re being so critical…?
“The room felt too empty and vast. We haven’t even been apart for a day.”
Her voice held an undertone of melancholy. At least her current demeanor didn’t seem like another tactic to unsettle him.
‘So… transforming into a snake out of the blue must have been somewhat scary for the Duke too.’
In the end, Nelia, whose heart was swayed, cautiously reached out her hand. She then touched it to the Duke’s cheek.
The Duke appeared slightly startled, then gently closed his eyes, seemingly enjoying the touch.
“I’m sorry for leaving my place.”
Upon hearing Nelia’s calm voice, the Duke slowly opened his eyes.
“It’s okay. I’m sorry for being petulant. Whenever I look at you, Nelia, I get greedy.”
The Duke pulled Nelia’s hand from his cheek to his lips.
“I want to shower you with kisses like this.”
His voice wasn’t seductive. It was as if he was speaking the truth.
Nelia couldn’t say anything in response to the Duke’s candid expression.
Because if she continued the conversation with the Duke, she felt she would be swept away by a whirlpool of emotions.
“I may appear cruel to you, but I am sincere to you in every moment, Nelia.”
Pandora’s box that she tried to keep closed was opening itself.
Noticing Nelia’s unease, the Duke softly smiled.
“Don’t feel burdened. I’m not expecting anything from you, Nelia.”
The Duke brushed Nelia’s hair. His gesture was full of tenderness.
“It might be a bit disappointing not to be able to kiss you, but if you don’t like it, I can’t do anything about it.”
Yet, Nelia knew.
Even if she told him not to, he’d audaciously steal another kiss at some point.
“Just having you by my side is enough.”
The Duke sincerely confessed with a gentle smile.
Seeing that, Nelia secretly thought that maybe a kiss or two wouldn’t be so bad.
But she soon hid these feelings deep within her heart and called out to Duke Hart.
“Duke.”
“Yes.”
“The day of the lunar eclipse is the anniversary of the previous Duke Hart, isn’t it?”
The Duke blinked slowly.
“Yes.”
“Will you be able to be alone that day?”
The Duke responded to Nelia’s cautious inquiry with a vague smile.
“Of course. It’s a long past event, it doesn’t affect me anymore.”
“Even so…”
“Don’t worry about me, Nelia.”
Though the Duke’s voice was gentle, his meaning was quite firm.
“Alright, then…”
Nelia bid the Duke farewell and returned to her room. Since the Duke said he was fine, there was no need to worry about him anymore.
However, in the evening after finishing his work, the Duke knocked on her door again.
“Nelia.”
His expression seemed rather serious. Was he going to talk about something related to the anniversary that he hadn’t mentioned earlier?
“Yes, Duke?”
“Do you think I might transform into a snake in my sleep again if you’re not by my side tonight?”
Ah… it was about the curse.
“…Perhaps.”
Nelia immediately agreed, then hastily added,
“But even if you do turn into a snake, I can turn you back into a human by morning.”
After all, he had easily turned back into a human by a simple touch to his head; it wasn’t a big issue.
“I want to remain human.”
“Then you have to sleep with me.”
The Duke looked at Nelia as if he wanted that.
Nelia quickly gave in. Because she knew he would somehow persuade her anyway.
Perhaps she had been tamed by the Duke more quickly than she had thought.
“Come in.”
“Thank you, Nelia.”
It’s tolerable because he’s handsome.
Before lying down on the bed, Nelia had something specific she wanted to clarify.
“Duke.”
“Yes?”
As he sat on the bed, he looked up at Nelia. The opening of his robe revealed too much, making it a dangerous sight.
Ahem, diverting her gaze, Nelia continued.
“I can assist you, Duke, but it would be problematic to do this indefinitely.”
There had been a timeframe for the injury to his foot. Until the foot healed. Of course, complications had arisen.
But there was no specified time for this curse.
That meant he would have to stick around indefinitely to prevent the Duke from turning into a snake, which was no easy task.
Duke Hart seemed to agree, his expression becoming increasingly serious. Then he slowly opened his mouth.
“Nelia, I will break the curse.”
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
