Upon hearing her voice, Matiel felt as if someone had poured cold water on the back of his head, suddenly snapping him to full alertness.
He didn’t know why.
It just felt like his mind, which had been gradually becoming more complex while searching for Baron Lirald, was suddenly emptied clean, and he became more acutely aware of his own existence.
It was similar to the feeling of suddenly being pulled back to reality, startled by the concrete and tangible sensation when touching one’s face or body after waking up from wandering through a chaotic dream.
“Cherie.”
Matiel lightly grasped the tips of Charlotte’s outstretched fingers and made a gesture of kissing the back of her hand.
However, his lips never actually touched her glove.
“May I ask your father’s name?”
When Matiel asked, before Charlotte could answer, Baroness Lirald interjected again.
“Duke Elinak, forgive me for saying this, but please don’t trouble Cherie. She has been through a very complicated and tragic incident. How heartbreaking it must be for her to not be able to confidently present herself as a lady from a respectable family. I’m sure you understand.”
Matiel raised an eyebrow as he looked at Charlotte. Depending on how one interpreted it, the Baroness’s words could be considered highly disrespectful, but Charlotte merely stood there expressionlessly with her mouth shut, as if she had left it to the Baroness to speak on her behalf.
“A complicated and tragic incident… related to the revolutionary government, perhaps?”
Once again, it was Baroness Lirald who answered.
“Yes, something like that. Isn’t that right, Cherie?”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
Charlotte smiled faintly and bowed her head.
At this point, other people, especially men, would typically be captivated by her melancholic grace and sorrowful beauty, spouting insincere words of comfort.
Charlotte thought Matiel would do the same. And she expected that the moment he turned away, his mind would fog over again, almost forgetting about her…
“I’d like to hear the details of what happened.”
When Matiel said this, Charlotte inadvertently raised her head.
By the time she realized she shouldn’t have done so, it was already too late.
Matiel’s sharp gaze was fixed directly on her. His eyes seemed to be saying:
‘You seem quite skilled at lying, but that’s not nearly good enough.’
Damn it. Charlotte inwardly cursed as she moved closer to Baroness Lirald.
She hoped the Baroness would extract her from this situation as she had done before. But… this time, even the Baroness was of no help.
“Oh my, oh my. Cherie, go ahead.”
“Baroness, you know I don’t want to talk about my…”
“Duke Elinak, Cherie is a very delicate lady. Her heart is as tender as a newly sprouted bud. She’s also a very important guest of mine. Surely a gentleman like yourself wouldn’t hurt such a virtuous lady?”
Damn it, no!
Charlotte felt like screaming. The Baroness wasn’t just being meddlesome. Something… was off about her state.
She was strangely excited again, like before.
It was as if she was moving like a puppet controlled by some invisible force, spouting nonsense that even she herself couldn’t understand.
“Baroness, I really…”
At that moment, Matiel quickly interjected.
“Of course. I was just looking for someone to chat with for a moment. Let’s return to the party soon. I’d love it if you could offer me a glass of fine wine.”
“Why, certainly!”
Baroness Lirald jumped with joy as if Matiel had offered her a chest full of gold.
Then she leaned in close to Charlotte, her lips almost touching Charlotte’s ear.
The hot, moist breath from her rouged lips made Charlotte’s skin crawl.
“Do your best, Cherie. You never know, right? Duke Elinak might fall head over heels for your beauty and propose tonight! My goodness, if that happens, we’ll have to throw an even bigger party! The more people gather, the fuller we’ll be! Greedy Lottie, troublemaker Lottie, liar Lottie!”
Charlotte’s body froze.
After whispering these eerie words with unbelievable speed, Baroness Lirald giggled like a drunken child and ran off down the corridor.
“Stop right there!”
The act of playing ‘Cherie’ was over. Just as Charlotte was about to run after the Baroness, a large hand grabbed her shoulder.
The owner of that hand was, needless to say, Matiel.
“Let go of me!”
Charlotte violently shook off Matiel’s hand and tried to chase after the Baroness again, but she was blocked once more.
Charlotte clicked her tongue as she looked towards the hall where the buzzing noise of the crowd was coming from.
It was dangerous. Too dangerous. Something had almost completely consumed Baroness Lirald, and she couldn’t even identify what it was. Knowing nothing, she felt an overwhelming urge to strike the man blocking her path.
“Move aside.”
“And if I refuse? Where are you rushing off to in such a hurry?”
“Trying to escape from an arrogant duke who speaks informally upon first meeting. Move. This is my last warning.”
“A warning, is it?”
Matiel let out a chuckle and suddenly pulled Charlotte’s waist towards him, as if embracing her.
Before she could even scream, she felt something cool against her back. It was the wall.
Charlotte looked alternately at Matiel’s arms blocking her on both sides, then smiled as sharp as a blade.
“Isn’t this a rather outdated approach? Didn’t it die out along with the revolutionary government? Do you think there are still women these days who pretend to be helpless and get excited by such rough escorting methods?”
The corner of Matiel’s mouth curved up in a sneer.
“You seem to be under some misunderstanding, Cherie. Though I doubt that’s your real name, it doesn’t matter. I’ll find out eventually. What I’m curious about is who you are. What’s your name, and which family do you belong to? What’s this tragic incident in your family? If it’s a lie about not wanting to mention something from the revolutionary government era, don’t even think about bringing it up. I remember every noble family that fell victim under the revolutionary government’s rule, and I know not only the direct descendants but also how many hidden illegitimate children there were. Tell me. Who are you?”
Charlotte stared intently at Matiel’s face. It was strange.
Usually, when someone was this close, and she focused her power to look at them, their mind would become hazy.
They would typically start rambling incoherently, trying to gain her favor, and then suddenly turn away as if they had remembered something to do…
But Matiel was different. His consciousness seemed to be becoming clearer rather than hazier.
Charlotte was genuinely perplexed. Seeing her eyes waver, Matiel grinned.
“What’s your purpose for sticking close to Baroness Lirald? Are you just trying to hook a handsome nobleman? Or are you trying to extract something from the Baroness?”
“Whatever my purpose is, it’s none of your business. If you don’t let me go right now, I’ll scream. I’ll shout to everyone that you tried to rape me in the corridor. Wouldn’t it be quite a sight to brand the noble and elegant Duke of Elinak as a rapist?”
“Go ahead.”
Charlotte’s lips parted slightly. She was so dumbfounded that she couldn’t even manage a sarcastic laugh. The most astounding thing was that Matiel seemed to be completely serious.
Matiel said:
“Go on, try it. Shout that I tried to rape you. Then I’ll say a word too. That you’re an unidentified, suspicious person, a woman who has snuck in among the nobles and might do who knows what. Then you won’t be able to attend not just Baroness Lirald’s parties, but any gathering at all. Especially not with that face, that hair, those eyes.”
You might think so. Charlotte bared her teeth in a fierce grin.
“I don’t think so. After I disappear from here in tears, people won’t even properly remember what my face looked like. That goes for you too, Duke Elinak. All that will remain is the brand on your forehead. The brand of a scoundrel who tried to rape a poor, helpless woman.”
Caught off guard by this unexpected response, Matiel flinched for a moment, and Charlotte’s shoulders and chest swelled greatly.
Charlotte took a deep breath… It was time to scream. You could look forward to it.
“He–!”
Charlotte’s eyes widened to the point of almost popping out.
Matiel’s palm covered her mouth, almost restraining her as he hid their bodies between two pillars in the corridor, in a spot that wasn’t easily visible.
What’s going on? Charlotte’s heart raced rapidly.
Her head spun and her vision flashed white. But in the next moment, an unfamiliar noise brought her back to her senses.
A squeaking sound, Charlotte realized it was the noise made by iron hinges.
The dark interior of an arched entrance to a separate room came into Charlotte’s view.
Simultaneously, a painting that had seemed to be fixed to the wall suddenly moved, revealing a pitch-black floor that had been shrouded in darkness.
Charlotte’s heart tightened as she saw two heads popping out unexpectedly.
“Don’t make a sound.”
It was Matiel. She considered biting his fingers but decided to focus on the two figures moving carefully in the darkness first.
Instead, she made sure to press down hard on Matiel’s instep with the solid heel of her shoe. A low groan was heard.
“The work needs to be finished by tonight.”
It’s Baron Lirald, Charlotte thought. The thin, grating voice like a squeaking mouse was undoubtedly that of Baron Lirald. Then another voice was heard.
“It’s such a large piece. Not only is it a task to divide it up, but the craftsmanship is no small matter either.”
“Just pay the price for it, won’t you!”
What conversation is this? Charlotte’s brows furrowed. However, Matiel understood their conversation precisely.
Lady Rogers’ diamond necklace, it was Baron Lirald who had stolen it, and as suspected, he planned to have it reworked and disposed of under the table.
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.]
