When the Cruel Dark Lord Tenderly Seduces (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 8
“If there’s anything in the dessert, I won’t eat it.”
“……Thank you.”
Without a hint of suspicion, he casually took the tart and ate it.
‘His ears seem slightly flushed.’
Had her action just now been too rude? But it was already too late to regret it.
Since he didn’t say anything, she decided to enjoy the tart with peace of mind.
Nellia began eating the tart.
Chew, chew.
It’s delicious, no matter when I eat it.
Then, she subtly glanced at Duke Hart sitting across from her.
“We have plenty of time, so please take your time.”
“It’s not that… Duke, aren’t you having any?”
She suddenly realized she’d been eating entirely on her own. After offering him the first bite, she’d already finished more than half of the tart herself.
“Yes, I’m fine.”
“……Then I’ll eat it all.”
He gave a faint smile and nodded.
The tart soon disappeared.
Nellia took a loud sip of her refilled jasmine tea and lifted her face.
She realized Duke Hart had been watching her eat the entire time, as if he were an audience member watching a mukbang.
Feeling awkward, she hurriedly put down her fork.
“I’m done.”
As soon as Nellia signaled she was finished, Duke Hart rose from his seat with a strangely unaccustomed but lovely smile.
“I think I’ll need to handle some work at the mansion today. Would you mind helping me a bit?”
As he finished speaking, Duke Hart smoothly extended his hand.
‘What…? Now that I’ve eaten the tart, is he asking for money or something?’
Nellia just stared silently at his outstretched palm, until Duke Hart spoke again.
“I meant for you to take my hand.”
For a moment, Nellia’s eyes widened in surprise.
“Y-yes?!”
“It’s a bit difficult for me to walk.”
She nearly nodded automatically at Duke Hart’s calm words, but quickly caught the flaw in his statement.
“If it’s so hard for you to walk, how did you manage to come here alone?”
Nellia shrank back like a herbivore and demanded an explanation.
“I walked here with difficulty.”
Ah… I see.
It was a clear and logical answer.
“I nearly fell twice just walking from the carriage to here.”
Duke Hart smiled gently and extended his hand once more.
“Do you perhaps need another reason?”
“No….”
Nellia’s small hand settled onto Duke Hart’s. His long fingers curled around the back of her hand.
Startled by the cold touch, Nellia instinctively looked up at Duke Hart with wide eyes.
As if knowing why, the Duke explained softly.
“My hands tend to be a bit cold.”
Nellia stared at the large hand covering hers.
‘Could he have cold hands and feet…?’
So even the mastermind behind everything suffers from such minor ailments. At least that makes him somewhat realistic.
Duke Hart tugged gently on Nellia’s hand and said,
“Shall we go now?”
His hand closed firmly yet smoothly around hers—
like a trap that had successfully caught its prey, never intending to let go.
Nellia walked along as Duke Hart led her. Truthfully, it felt less like supporting him…
‘It’s more like… we’re just holding hands while walking.’
He leaned slightly more toward her when climbing stairs, but Duke Hart seemed perfectly capable of walking on his own.
Nellia glanced up at him skeptically. Each time she did, as if sensing it instantly, he leaned subtly toward her.
“It’s truly fortunate that Nellia came as my lady’s maid.”
He repeated the same words every time.
In any case, they safely arrived at the study together with Duke Hart.
“Thank you, Nellia.”
She had merely held Duke Hart’s hand and led him to the study, yet he looked at her as if she’d accomplished something extraordinary. It felt a bit strange.
‘Never mind. At least I got one task done.’
Now Duke Hart would start working, and she could go take a rest somewhere.
After all, a lady’s maid didn’t do housework like the maids did.
Just as Nellia, having successfully completed her first duty, was looking for the right moment to leave, the Duke spoke.
“That is where I handle my work at the mansion.”
He pointed to a desk positioned with a wide window behind it—bathed in bright sunlight, a lovely spot.
And beside it sat another small desk.
‘Whose desk is that?’
Perhaps, since Duke Hart held a chancellor’s position, he had an aide’s desk at home as well?
While she wondered, Duke Hart’s voice reached her.
“That one is Nellia’s desk.”
He had already walked over and lightly tapped the small desk.
“My desk…?”
“I’ll need some simple assistance from you.”
…Of course.
She had foolishly thought being a lady’s maid might be an easy job, but clearly, it wasn’t.
Since she was acting as his chief maid, it was obvious her duties wouldn’t be limited to just helping him walk.
“What should I help you with?”
Having quickly resigned herself to it, Nellia obediently sat down at the desk beside Duke Hart.
“You just need to place the documents I hand you into the correct format. And…”
The Duke explained the tasks beside her. His calm explanation settled clearly into her ears.
“Do you think you can manage? If anything is unclear, feel free to ask me anytime.”
With those kind words, Nellia began working at her desk.
She hadn’t expected a lady’s maid to handle clerical tasks, but as the Duke said, it wasn’t difficult work.
As she repeated the tasks, Nellia quickly adapted.
No matter how much she wished to be a carefree grasshopper, it seemed her nature was simply that of a diligent ant.
Surprisingly, time passed swiftly and uneventfully.
Nellia placed the final dot on the last sheet of paper and glanced sideways at Duke Hart.
He truly worked without a single break.
He hadn’t left his seat once, staring only at documents for hours.
And it wasn’t just that.
He had to secretly devise schemes behind the Emperor’s back, fall in love with the heroine, and fight the male lead.
Now that she thought about it, she seriously doubted he even had time to hold a grudge against a minor side character like her—just for stepping on his foot.
“Shall we take a short break?”
At that moment, Duke Hart’s voice reached her.
He seemed to have sensed the moment she finally had some breathing room.
“Yes…!”
As soon as she answered, Nellia closed her eyes briefly.
Sitting still, a gentle breeze slipped in through the window.
Just as she thought how nice it felt—the breeze brushing past her hair—Duke Hart asked,
“Is there anything difficult about the work?”
“Not so far.”
Nellia answered, recalling the tasks she’d done. Then something suddenly came to mind.
“Oh, there’s one thing I’m confused about.”
“What is it?”
“Did you say to draw the Chancellor’s Office seal like this?”
Nellia drew a wavy line on a blank sheet of paper to show him.
One of her tasks was to add the Chancellor’s Office seal to documents after Duke Hart reviewed them. It was simple work, so she’d saved them all to do at once.
She just remembered she was supposed to ask during breaks.
“That’s correct, but you should make the lower part a bit more angular.”
Following the Duke’s instruction, Nellia quickly redrew the line with her pen.
Then she held up the paper.
“Like this?”
“No. Make it a bit more fluid than that.”
Hmm… this is tricky.
Nellia moved her pen diligently once more.
“Is this what you meant?”
But the crooked seal still didn’t seem right. Eventually, Duke Hart rose from his seat.
He came up behind her and stood so close it felt like he was embracing her from behind, then gently wrapped his hand around her right hand.
“Relax your grip.”
At his gentle command, Nellia unconsciously began releasing the tension she hadn’t realized she’d been holding.
Duke Hart slowly guided her hand.
“Like this.”
Following his fluid motion, a beautiful seal appeared on the paper.
But at that moment, Nellia’s mind wasn’t on the seal at all.
‘…He’s way too close.’
While her hand relaxed, her body gradually stiffened. They were pressed together far too tightly.
“Shall we try once more?”
Contrary to her expectation that he’d step away immediately, he moved to guide her hand again.
His cold body temperature and low voice suddenly brought to mind a line from the original novel.
“Your life would be easier if you had no tongue.”
At the same time, the vivid image flashed in her mind—Duke Hart calmly cutting out a thug’s tongue.
Reflexively, Nellia pushed his hand away.
“I’m fine!”
She jumped up from her seat and quickly stepped back a pace.
“…I think I can manage on my own.”
The Duke was briefly expressionless at her sudden reaction, but soon smiled as usual.
“Understood.”
He returned to his seat and, as if nothing had happened, resumed reviewing documents just as before.
Nellia looked down at her own hand with a dazed expression.
‘Was I overreacting?’
But this reaction had been instinctive. Her danger signals had warned her not to forget the Duke’s true nature.
She forcibly calmed her mind and sat back down,
wishing for the day to end quickly.
“Nellia.”
At sunset, Nellia lifted her head at the sound of her name.
His call shattered the quiet, reigniting the tension she’d nearly forgotten.
“Yes…?”
“It’s time to clock out.”
Ah… time to leave. Glancing at the clock, the hands pointed exactly to six.
Unlike maids, lady’s maids could commute in and out.
Although Duke Hart’s previous chief maid had lived in the mansion, Nellia’s own home wasn’t far, so there was no need.
“You’re welcome to stay anytime if you’d like.”
When the Duke had visited her home, he’d suggested it with a smile—but Nellia had refused in horror.
Staying at the mastermind’s house until evening? Even if it resembled a palace, she’d absolutely refuse.
“Nellia, hurry home before sunset.”
“Yes, then… I’ll be off.”
Nellia slowly rose from her seat.
‘He really means it, right…?’
Papers still piled thickly on the Duke’s desk.
She checked the mastermind’s expression, but his face didn’t resemble that of a boss testing a subordinate.
Nellia walked to the door and grasped the doorknob. Just one more step, and the day would be over.
‘Phew.’
She’d worried she might suffer some terrible fate over something as trivial as stepping on his foot, and horrifying scenarios had occasionally popped into her mind.
But fortunately, he wasn’t nearly as terrifying as she’d imagined…
“Wait a moment.”
No sooner had the thought crossed her mind than Duke Hart’s voice came from behind.
When she turned around, he was already standing right in front of her.
And slowly, he reached out his hand…
toward her face…
“Ugh.”
Instinctively frightened, Nellia squeezed her eyes shut.
‘Is he finally showing his true colors…?!’
But to her relief, his hand passed her face and touched her hair instead.
“There was some dust.”
His gentle voice instantly loosened her tensed body.
“Oh…”
Nellia slowly blinked her eyes open.
“…Goodbye!”
Then she swiftly turned and dashed out the door, her chestnut hair fluttering as she vanished in an instant.
Only Duke Hart remained alone in the study.
He looked down at the empty space where Nellia had been and murmured,
“So you really are…”
His eyes, half-lidded, held a trace of loneliness.
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.]
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