When the Cruel Dark Lord Tenderly Seduces (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 14
Nellia, unable to comprehend the Duke’s words, slowly blinked her eyes.
‘……Is he asking me to feed him right now?’
As his words gradually sank in, a startled Nellia jerked her upper body backward.
“But… why?! Fine, I’ll accept your injured foot—but your hand is perfectly fine!”
“It’s hurt.”
His monotone voice didn’t sound like that of someone injured at all.
‘Liar.’
Nellia glared at Duke Hart with distrustful eyes. In response, he lowered his long eyelashes and explained.
“It’s true. Last night, while climbing the stairs, I tripped… and sprained my right hand.”
“If only my foot hadn’t been injured, that wouldn’t have happened…” Duke Hart trailed off at the end of his sentence.
Nellia looked at Duke Hart’s right hand with discontent.
‘Could it really be true…?’
Until now, he’d occasionally asked her to hold his hand or lean on her body—but this was the first time he’d ever asked her to feed him.
She couldn’t be certain whether it was genuine or not, but since she herself had caused his foot injury—and any resulting accidents stemmed from that—she accepted his request without much resistance.
This time was no different.
‘Well, feeding him isn’t exactly difficult.’
Instead, she’d keep a sharp eye out to see if he actually used his right hand today.
Nellia lifted a pie and held it before his lips. He took a bite, and half the tart vanished in one go.
The Duke chewed the pie slowly. Though unexpected, the subtle movement of his jaw somehow looked elegant.
“Is it tasty…?”
“It’s not bad.”
Still, watching him eat was visually pleasing.
‘How can even his eating look so graceful?’
Nellia truly believed Duke Hart was the epitome of aristocracy.
Every gesture of his—like someone rigorously trained in etiquette—exuded refinement and dignity.
Usually, it was he who watched her eat; this reversal was unprecedented.
Nellia briefly observed his expression as he savored the food.
Then their eyes met.
“…….”
Unlike her, who looked startled like a thief caught in the act, he smiled sweetly like a fox hypnotizing its prey.
Perhaps only Duke Hart could remain so refined while smiling mid-bite.
The palm-sized apple pie quickly disappeared.
‘Sharing a meal so amiably with the mastermind behind everything…’
It did feel a little surreal.
Although her negative perception of him had greatly faded, she hadn’t intended to become close friends with him.
Reflecting recently on her relationship with the Duke, Nellia suddenly realized something odd.
‘…Wait, is this what you’d call being close?’
Thinking about it, it felt more like he was raising her as a pet…?
She was grateful he always brought delicious food, yet she couldn’t shake the suspicion that he might gobble her up once she’d grown plump.
Still, there was one comforting fact: Nellia’s possessed body had a constitution that never gained weight, no matter how much she ate. So maybe she didn’t need to worry about being devoured after all.
Nellia sighed, realizing how ridiculous her own imagination was.
“What are you thinking so hard about, Nellia?”
He asked curiously, and Nellia shook her head.
“Nothing.”
Her gaze landed on his face. His pale skin appeared even paler than usual today.
“Your Grace, you seem unwell today.”
“I stayed up late due to work yesterday, so I’m a bit tired.”
That made sense.
From her vantage point beside him, Duke Hart’s workload was truly overwhelming.
Not only were the documents piled high on his desk, but daily visitors also stole away his precious time.
“Don’t worry about it. It happens sometimes.”
Duke Hart smiled, yet even that expression seemed somehow pitiful.
‘Hang in there… gearwheel of the Empire…!’
Nellia felt determined to support him wholeheartedly today.
Time passed quietly as usual.
Tap.
The only difference from ordinary days was perhaps the sound of rain tapping against the window.
Andrias Empire usually enjoyed clear skies, but by afternoon, raindrops had begun to fall steadily.
And just like the gradually darkening weather, Duke Hart’s complexion grew increasingly worse.
“I simply can’t go on.”
By afternoon, Duke Hart finally surrendered.
Nellia approached him. Up close, his face looked pale.
“Is there anything I can help you with…?”
Duke Hart fumbled in the drawer beneath his desk.
He pulled out a small glass vial containing pills.
‘The first time I came here, I saw Marquess Clint handing this kind of pill to the Duke…’
As Nellia stared silently at the pills, Duke Hart spoke up.
“Could you bring me some water?”
“Oh, yes!”
Nellia hurriedly moved, poured water from the pitcher on the table, and brought it to him.
“Here.”
“Thank you.”
Duke Hart swallowed a pill along with the water in one gulp.
Even after taking the medicine, he remained motionless, clutching the empty glass and staring blankly like a computer frozen by an error.
‘I’ve never seen him like this before.’
He was always so composed and unhurried.
“…Nellia, I think I need to rest my eyes for a bit.”
“Yes, that sounds best.”
In his current state, he probably couldn’t even recognize a single character clearly.
“Shall I escort you to your room?”
“No. I’ll just nap at my desk for about ten minutes.”
Nellia nodded.
“I’ll wake you up in ten minutes.”
“Thank you, Nellia.”
Duke Hart gave a weak smile before closing his eyes and leaning his head onto the desk.
The soft sound of his breathing confirmed he’d fallen asleep.
‘He must be really exhausted.’
His usually neat hair seemed disoriented today, straying in every direction.
Unconsciously, Nellia reached out and gently stroked Duke Hart’s hair.
‘So soft.’
His silver strands resembled delicate spider silk—so tempting to touch.
Just as she’d imagined, they felt silky smooth.
For a while, Nellia sat quietly beside him, chin resting in her hand, gazing down at the Duke’s tranquil face.
.
.
.
Although the Duke had asked to be woken after ten minutes, Nellia didn’t rouse him even after the promised time had passed.
Seeing his peaceful sleeping face made her feel she shouldn’t disturb him.
But soon, his eyelashes fluttered, and his voice reached her as he awoke.
“…Nellia?”
Nellia stood up from her seat.
“Your Grace, are you awake?”
The Duke smiled with a still-drowsy expression.
‘This look is kind of unfair…’
He appeared so harmless it made her question whether this truly was the same Duke Hart known for his malicious cunning.
Usually, he was like a fox enchanting people—but right now, he resembled a gentle puppy.
“Did I sleep for long?”
He seemed unaware she’d stroked his hair, likely because he’d slept deeply despite the short duration.
Nellia silently exhaled in relief and answered calmly.
“No, only about fifteen minutes.”
“It was brief, but I feel well-rested. It’s been a while since I woke up feeling this refreshed…”
Indeed, as he said, his complexion looked far better than before.
The Duke rose from his seat.
“Maybe it’s because Nellia was beside me.”
Back to being a fox again after briefly appearing as a puppy.
That man could charm others as naturally and routinely as breathing.
‘So that’s why Marquess Clint…’
Nellia shook her head.
Better not pry into others’ private lives.
“Actually, I suffer from insomnia and rarely sleep well.”
Duke Hart spoke while gazing out the window.
Between the patter of rain, his voice sounded unusually low.
“Especially on days like this, when it rains. I feel utterly drained.”
Nellia was surprised he’d shared such personal details with her.
“What do you usually do on rainy days, then?”
“I finish work early and shut myself in my room, waiting for the rain to stop.”
I see.
Perhaps because of the gloomy weather, Duke Hart’s back, as he looked toward the window, seemed unusually lonely.
Now that she thought about it, the Duke lived alone in this vast mansion without family.
‘His father died by the Emperor’s hand, and his mother remained in their estate.’
How exactly had Duke Hart’s father ended up killed by the Emperor…?
Given the Emperor’s friendly attitude toward Duke Hart, he apparently didn’t know he’d caused the Duke’s father’s death.
Since Nellia hadn’t read the original story to its conclusion, she had no idea what had truly happened.
“Shall we get back to work?”
Duke Hart smiled gently. The earlier loneliness had already vanished from his expression.
Nellia forced an awkward smile, pushing his complicated situation from her mind.
“Yes.”
After Duke Hart regained his composure, work progressed smoothly.
Before she knew it, the clock hands pointed to six in the evening.
‘No visitors came today.’
As if out of consideration for Duke Hart’s poor condition.
Knock.
But hardly had the thought crossed her mind when someone knocked on the door.
A voice came from beyond it.
“It’s me, Clint.”
Ah, Marquess Clint…
Nellia began tidying up her things, thinking she should quickly make herself scarce.
Duke Hart, however, subtly frowned at Marquess Clint’s unexpected arrival.
Soon, the door opened without permission.
“If you’re inside, why didn’t you answer—Ah, Miss Nellia. Good evening.”
Marquess Clint’s tone instantly softened the moment his eyes landed on Nellia.
“Didn’t I tell you not to come at this hour?”
“I had no choice—it’s urgent.”
True to his words, Marquess Clint did seem unusually hurried.
Nellia tactfully stood and bowed her head.
“I’ll take my leave now.”
“Take care, Nellia.”
“See you next time, Miss Nellia!”
Phew, that was lucky.
Ever since overhearing that awkward conversation last time, Marquess Clint hadn’t visited the Duke’s mansion again.
From just now’s exchange, it seemed they had arranged private meetings.
‘Could it be… the two of them are secretly meeting…?’
Ah… no, better not dwell on it.
Nellia shook her head and looked up at the sky.
Outside, the rain continued to pour refreshingly.
As if swallowing everything whole.
Meanwhile, back in Duke Hart’s study after Nellia’s departure. Once she was gone, Duke Hart rested his chin in his hand, looking weary, and spoke.
“What brings you here?”
“You said the pills are losing their effect, right? With the total lunar eclipse coming soon—is it worse than before?”
“It’s not completely out of control, but I’ve had to double the dosage.”
Marquess Clint’s gaze fell to Duke Hart’s feet.
“Good thing you used your injured foot as an excuse. It’s dangerous to be entering the Imperial Palace during times like this.”
“Still, I can’t keep staying confined in this mansion forever. I need to find a way somehow.”
Duke Hart’s expressionless face looked shadowed and grim.
“I’ll hurry to find a solution, so until then, be careful not to reveal your true identity to anyone.”
Marquess Clint held out a glass vial filled with pills.
“Especially not to Miss Nellia. I know you’re placing hope in that young lady, but this involves your entire house. You must proceed with caution.”
Duke Hart’s eyes turned toward the night sky, obscured by dark clouds.
“…I know.”
A deep sigh seemed embedded in the Duke’s silver eyes.
Male lead is a Love-Obsessed Merman
When he discovers she has gone, he risks everything to pursue her on land, enduring agonizing pain to transform his tail into human legs…
One-line summary: Male lead chases female lead. The male lead’s love is a bit sick, an invincible love brain.
Synopsis
During a voyage at sea, Jiang Yang accidentally captures a merman.
Servant: I heard that mermen are fierce and brutal.
Jiang Yang looks at the merman obediently rubbing her palm like a puppy: “You call this fierce and brutal?”
Servant: I heard that mermen have no human nature.
Jiang Yang looks at the merman with wet puppy eyes, obsessively calling her ‘A Yang’ like a childish infant: “You call this having no human nature?”
With great difficulty, she releases the merman back into the sea and returns to shore.
Who would have thought that in less than half a month, the merman, who should have been freely wandering in the South China Sea, would shed his scales, endure the pain of losing his tail, transform into human legs, and come ashore to find her?
He kneels at her feet, rubbing her palm, with merman tears rolling down: “A Yang, don’t abandon me.”
_____
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