“Are you certain about that?”
“Yes…!”
Layton replied loudly. The man’s gaze seemed to be fixed on Layton, as if scrutinizing him.
“I’ll give you one last chance. If you confess now, I won’t ask for compensation.”
Layton clenched his fists and glared at the man.
“I told you it wasn’t me…!”
The man pointed to a corner of the ceiling.
“There’s a magical device monitoring this place up there. Perhaps the records would reveal who did it.”
Nelia began to question the man’s identity.
‘Who could he be…?’
He seemed to know this place like the back of his hand, and spoke as if he had the authority to decide on the compensation for the necklace.
As curiosity about his identity mounted, the man stepped forward.
When he stepped out of the bright light, not only his face, but even the color of his hair became clear.
His ashcolored hair looked as if it was dyed in a stark monochrome, and his eyes were as black as the night sky.
Nelia realized at that moment.
The man was Carlos, whom she had so desperately not wanted to encounter.
‘This is crazy.’
Upon realizing her opponent was Carlos, the one she wanted to avoid at all costs, Nelia became momentarily stunned, until she heard Layton’s voice.
“What, what’s this?!”
Layton seemed utterly bewildered by the mention of a device recording the place.
And he was visibly flustered.
Like someone about to cause some trouble.
Nelia became anxious.
The man was Carlos, the male lead of this world and the Crown Prince.
But Layton didn’t know this yet.
Nelia glanced at Layton.
In a tight corner, Layton clenched and unclenched his fists, as if he were a lawless man about to throw a punch at any moment.
Nelia looked at Layton as if hoping he wouldn’t. Then Layton gestured with his eyes and slightly moved his lips.
‘I will knock him out, let’s run.’
Nelia was horrified. She didn’t know Layton was so reckless.
‘Damn.’
The opponent was a formidable swordsman who had reached the rank of a Swordmaster.
However, Layton, who only knew how to idle at home, couldn’t possibly knock out Carlos.
Of course, he shouldn’t either!
Suddenly, she recalled what Carlos had said.
“I will give you one last chance. If you tell the truth now, I won’t ask for compensation.”
Although she didn’t think his words were valid at the moment, she couldn’t just stand by and watch Layton waste his time.
Sigh.
‘Layton, that man. I will kill him someday.’
Nelia, prepared at heart, clenched her eyes shut.
And then,
Thump!
She knelt on the floor.
“I’m sorry.”
Nelia looked up at Carlos slowly.
“In truth… It was me.”
She bit her lip in frustration.
Why did she have to take the blame for something she hadn’t done?
However, it was better than Layton charging at Carlos and causing havoc in the house.
Carlos gazed at Nelia.
“So you’re saying, it wasn’t her, but you?”
“Yes, I touched it because it was too pretty and then…”
She could feel Layton looking at her in surprise with his mouth agape.
However, she also knew that he wouldn’t step up.
“Do you know how much that necklace is worth?”
She knew it was incredibly expensive. Nelia just clenched her lips shut.
“Even if you sell all the royal belongings, you won’t be able to afford it.”
The prince’s cold gaze was fixed on her.
“I made it clear earlier that I would let it pass if you confess willingly.”
“…I’m sorry.”
Nelia bowed her head.
‘Is it too late now?’
Then, someone was heard coming down the stairs.
As the sound of footsteps echoed in the space, everyone’s gaze turned upward.
Nelia looked at the person entering, eyes wide open.
‘…!’
The person leisurely descending the stairs was undoubtedly Duke Hart.
The duke, who had approached without her noticing, looked down at the fallen necklace.
“Oh, I dropped my necklace earlier, and it seems I’ve garnered some spectators in the meantime.”
The prince furrowed his brows.
“What do you mean by that, Duke Hart?”
“I had gone to call someone because I accidentally dropped it.”
Duke Hart, surprisingly relaxed, answered with a light smile.
‘…What?’
What is this situation?
Layton had definitely dropped the necklace.
And she had confessed in place of Layton.
But now, Duke Hart, who had suddenly appeared, was claiming that he was the culprit who dropped the necklace.
Nelia, Duke Hart, Carlos, Layton.
In this confusing situation, the gazes of the four individuals were intertwined.
Carlos was the first to speak, his eyebrows furrowed.
“This woman has already confessed to touching it because it was pretty and dropping it.”
“The necklace was originally broken, and it seems she mistakenly thought it broke because she touched it.”
Duke Hart, who had calmly replied to Carlos, turned his head and reached out a hand to Nelia.
‘Does he want me to take it…?’
As Nelia blankly stared at Duke Hart, he extended his hand and helped her up. It was brief, but his gesture was extremely polite and affectionate.
With a flustered expression, Nelia glanced at the Duke, then dropped her gaze. The current situation was overwhelmingly confusing.
Surely, Layton had dropped it, resulting in the necklace breaking… right?
“Isn’t that right, my lady?”
While she was contemplating, Duke Hart asked. Caught off guard, Nelia nodded.
“Yes? Yes…….”
Duke Hart gave Nelia a small smile as if praising her.
She knew now wasn’t the time to admire his face, but up close, his smile was truly enchanting.
Even in such a serious situation, it was deep enough to feel. He is indeed dangerous in many ways.
The duke retracted his gaze from Nelia and looked at Carlos.
“I tried to fix the necklace immediately because it seemed disheveled, but I made a mistake and dropped it.”
“…….”
“I know a good craftsman, I will entrust it to them to restore. Luckily, it seems that the gemstone was not damaged.”
Duke Hart suggested a solution, but Carlos still looked displeased.
“It has to be restored exactly the same.”
“Of course.”
Duke Hart answered with a gentle smile.
Even though he is the villain, it was impressive to see him handling the crown prince with such composure.
Carlos glanced at the three of them with a terrifying look in his eyes and then disappeared.
As soon as Carlos hid, Layton grumbled.
“Wow, that disrespectful jerk. Who the hell is he to act like that…….”
“That gentleman is Crown Prince Carlos.”
Duke Hart answered on his behalf.
Only then did Layton realize that he had been speaking informally to the crown prince, raising his voice.
“Ththat…….”
Layton’s face turned pale.
“Thankfully it ended like this. This place should normally be locked, seems the guard made a mistake.”
Makes sense.
It didn’t make sense that Elena’s relic, the royal treasure, was just anywhere.
‘So that’s why Nelia in the original work made such a mistake.’
Nelia was lost in thought for a moment, then raised her head at the touch on her shoulder.
She saw Layton, his face had turned pale.
“Nelia……I’ll go in first.”
Nelia hastily grabbed Layton to stop him, then quietly whispered while watching Duke Hart.
“Just going? Shouldn’t you at least say thank you to the duke, if not to me……!”
The necklace is getting restored on your behalf!
But Layton, who had come to realize that he had almost caused a big problem by talking back to the crown prince, seemed like his spirit had already left.
Layton didn’t reply, he slipped out of Nelia’s hand like a zombie, opened the door and disappeared.
“…….”
“…….”
In the end, only Duke Hart and she were left.
‘……I guess I should say thank you on his behalf.’
Duke Hart may not know what kind of scheme he had made for me, but since it was me who was on my knees, he would think that I was the culprit.
Nelia raised her head to say thank you to Duke Hart.
His silver eyes were staring at her intensely, it was somehow intimidating.
Male lead Asks for a Divorce Every Day
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]
[Touch the gear icon in the bottom right corner of the screen to move to the next chapter if you want.]
