“Let me say this again. It’s been a while, Celly.”
Franz smiled, putting emphasis on each syllable of the word ‘been a while’. When I first saw him, I was captivated by his good looks and only thought his smile was dazzling, but after seeing him a few times, I could start to notice the thorns hidden behind that artificial smile.
In a hurry, Mueller led Franz to the reception room where he had been with Layla just moments ago. As he entered the mansion, his demeanor was as familiar and natural as if he were strutting around his own home. Just how often did he come here? I felt uncomfortable.
“What brings you here?”
As always when a guest arrived, Mueller brought out tea. He placed a cup in front of Franz and slowly filled it.
Ah, such a waste of that precious flower tea.
“My, my. I’m hurt, Celly. We’re not the type who need reasons to seek each other out. If you’re deliberately trying to distance yourself, please don’t.”
I asked because I was genuinely curious. His tone was gentle as if coaxing a child, but there was an intimidating quality to his voice that I couldn’t quite place.
“First of all…”
I wondered what he was trying to say. Franz smiled and hid his smile behind the teacup.
“I heard you’re getting married? Congratulations, Celly. I can’t believe our Celly is getting married.”
“Excuse me, but…”
Our Celly this, our Celly that. It was quite unpleasant to hear.
“Why do you keep calling me Celly? Were we really that close for you to do that?”
Franz’s eyebrows twitched.
“Did you really lose your memory? Or do you just want to pretend you lost it?”
“Why would I bother with such a tiring pretense? I lost my memory. That’s why I’m asking because I really don’t remember.”
Celeste’s memories may be gone, but do her emotions remain? I couldn’t figure out where this strangely uncomfortable feeling came from whenever I saw Franz. I think it’s also because of this feeling that words keep slipping out.
Although not in my memory, the emotions Celeste must have felt towards Franz in the past were definitely not on the positive side.
“You must have hit your head pretty hard, Celly. Judging by how cheeky your tone is.”
The smile that had been hanging on the corner of his lips throughout disappeared. It was the first time I had seen the man make such a stiff face. I couldn’t believe the person from moments ago and the man in front of my eyes now were the same person.
“Well, I guess… You want to pretend not to know about our relationship using the excuse of losing that memory. I understand that sentiment, Celly. Like all slaves in the world, you must want to escape from your master and find freedom.”
Slave? Master? What the hell is he talking about? Every word he chose was quite unpleasant.
“But you shouldn’t, and I came personally to let you know that, my dear Celly.”
“I’m not sure what you’re talking about, Your Grace the Grand Duke.”
I remembered what I had learned in the imperial history class. Things like how Franz and his mother, who had no backing, were able to build up enough power to oppose Karl to this extent, and why and how the Louisette family was entangled with Franz.
Now that I knew that, I could understand why Franz was making these threats and warnings disguised as smiles.
Since I said I was marrying Karl, his enemy, he must have been worried that I would use that as a shield to sever ties with him. Judging by the fact that he visited here in person instead of sending subordinates like last time, he must have been quite anxious.
“You can’t say you’ve forgotten the terms of the contract. Even if you didn’t make it directly, as the owner of the Count’s family, you can’t be free from that contract.”
He seemed to be referring to the contract Marina had made, promising the Count’s family exclusive rights to mine, process, and distribute magic stones. The contract that had allowed the Louisette family to maintain its position as the wealthiest to this day.
However, not only did I not know the exact contents of that contract, but I had not the slightest interest in the benefits the Count’s family gained through the contract. On the other hand, I was a little curious about what the detailed contents were that made Franz so heated, but that was about it.
“That contract… What happens if it’s not kept?”
It was a pure curiosity. I had no interest whatsoever in the benefits gained by keeping the contract, but I became curious about what losses would come from violating the contract. What kind of terrible things were promised to make him threaten me like this?
“Celly. Stop it, this isn’t funny anymore. Enough with the acting.”
Franz seemed convinced that I was putting on a detestable act, not believing that I had no memories of Celeste.
What more can you say to someone who has arbitrarily made up their mind about you? I decided to keep my mouth shut out of frustration.
“If you break the promise, all that follows is death. Isn’t that the basis of all black magic contracts?”
Black magic contract? This is the first I’ve heard of it. Wasn’t the contract between Celeste’s father and Franz’s mother just a typical written contract?
“Above all, we mustn’t forget that we are accomplices.”
Franz continued to say more and more incomprehensible things. Not only do I not understand the sudden mention of black magic, but what does he mean by accomplices?
“Accomplices…?”
“And yet you’re going to marry that bastard Karl? Anyone else might be fine, but you and your family must not get involved with him. If he knew the whole truth, tears of blood would flow from his eyes. Ah, but that in itself would be fun to watch.”
Franz’s appearance as he spoke with a snicker truly looked wicked. How could he make such an evil expression with such a kind-looking face?
But strangely, to me, Franz’s behavior seemed like a child deliberately picking only bad words to appear mean.
“Did you go see your mother?”
The question popped out before I knew it.
“What?”
In the original work, Franz would visit his mother, who had run away from the capital to hide her disfigured appearance, once a month or once every two months, and whenever he saw her, he would always come to see Celeste afterwards.
Franz, who had been steadily building a bond with Celeste while committing evil deeds together, had reached his limit, tired of Marina’s endless greed.
Celeste, who felt sorry for such Franz, tried to help him as much as possible, and at the same time, she was very distressed while loving Karl. That was the content of the original work.
Anyway, Franz generally vented the stress he received from meeting his mother on Celeste. But as I read that part, I thought Franz was pretending to be angry and acting like a spoiled child to Celeste, who knew all his ugly secrets.
Even in the part where he picked only bad words and spoke harshly to Celeste, it felt like a child throwing a tantrum, saying, “I’m this distressed, so please understand me.”
I asked the question absentmindedly because his current behavior of deliberately picking bad things to say seemed just like that in the original work, but as if I had hit the mark, Franz turned completely wicked.
“How do you know that?”
I had only brought up the single word ‘mother’, but the atmosphere instantly turned hostile. Franz glared at me with a terrifying face.
So this is how scary a person who’s always smiling can become when they frown and glare. I didn’t expect him to get this angry. Was talking about his mother a taboo subject that I shouldn’t have asked about? I was bewildered.
“Ah, no. I just… um… to ask how she’s doing… as a greeting…?”
“Why are you asking about my mother’s well-being?”
I couldn’t find the right words to answer. Meanwhile, Franz’s anger was intensifying.
For a moment, my stomach churned. It was more than just being startled by Franz’s angry face; it felt like something was coiling and squirming in my stomach.
“Did you have someone tail me?”
“Tail you? No…”
“Or do you mean to threaten me by bringing up my mother?”
“What are you talking about now?”
The unpleasant churning rapidly intensified. Franz, who had been angry over some grave misunderstanding, finally jumped up from his seat.
It was already extremely intimidating to look up at the large man from a seated position. Franz, who had stood up, took a big step towards me. The closer he got, the more I felt crushed by his coldness. Eventually, I started to feel suffocated.
“The memory loss was all an act, wasn’t it? You always acted cold and aloof, putting on airs like you were something special, but then suddenly you started acting like a foolish idiot, so I thought you really had lost your memory. I almost fell for it completely.”
He was always acting leisurely, smirking and saying nonsense, but now he’s charging at me as if he’s going to kill me just for uttering the word ‘mother’ once. At this point, isn’t he almost like a person with split personality?
“No matter how much you want to join hands with that bastard Karl, you can’t escape from me.”
If you just look at the lines, it could even sound like a very romantic confession, but…
“Urgh.”
At the threat filled with anger that seemed ready to boil over, I felt like I was about to throw up something from inside at any moment.
__________
My Clingy Little Husband (Female-dominant)
One-line summary: The male lead is initially an arrogant, noble, love-deprived brat, later a cute, clingy, scheming little jealous one.
Introduction:
One day, Lu Yuner’s soul transmigrates into a female-dominant world. She enters the Imperial Academy and takes up the position of a doctoral instructor, teaching classes and grading schoolwork.
One day, she encounters the young prince Su Qingwan secretly skipping class from the male academy.
As a result, Su Qingwan is punished.
From then on, Su Qingwan sees Lu Yuner as a “thorn in his side”.
But before long, this “thorn” becomes the person he cherishes most, and he goes to great lengths to win Lu Yuner’s affection.
Mini scene 1:
One day, the sun is high in the sky but Su Qingwan still hasn’t gotten up for class.
Servant Xiaoyuan: “Young prince, it’s time for class. You’ll be late otherwise.”
Su Qingwan says arrogantly: “I’m not going. I am the esteemed prince, my status is so noble, why should I suffer this hardship? Besides, isn’t learning all this just to please women? Hmph, they’re not worthy!”
Mini scene 2:
After Su Qingwan falls for someone, he completely changes. He no longer skips class and diligently learns how to be a good husband and father. But he discovers that Sister Yuner is always surrounded by admirers.
Drunk and overcome with jealousy one day, he clings to Lu Yuner, crying beautifully like a pear blossom in the rain.
Su Qingwan: “Qingwan likes Sister Yuner.”
Lu Yuner: “Young prince, you’re drunk.”
Su Qingwan: “Qingwan isn’t drunk. Qingwan likes Sister Yuner, likes you so much, likes you to bits…” Before he can finish, Lu Yuner’s eyes flash with emotion and she leans in closer.
[Reading Guide]
1. The female lead is gentle, gracious, humble and polite but not weak. The male lead is initially an arrogant, noble, love-deprived brat, later a cute, clingy, scheming little jealous one.
2. 1v1, a bit torturous in the beginning but definitely sweet later on.
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