“It’s not like I did anything wrong, is it?”

“I know better than anyone that you’re not the culprit, Count. You’ve been down here with me since long before His Grace the Duke of Swabia was murdered. Don’t worry. Even if you’re taken into custody, I’ll testify as a witness that you have no connection to the crime. By the way…”

“By the way?”

Hannah’s gaze turned to Valerie as she paused mid-sentence.

“…I suppose His Highness the Grand Duke isn’t her biological father?”

“Who?”

“His Highness the Grand Duke.”

“What do you…”

“To be honest, I was so surprised earlier when I saw Miss Valerie standing at the Grand Duke’s feet. The two of them look exactly alike.”

“They do, don’t they?”

So it wasn’t just me who thought so.

“…”

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

“Do you really not remember?”

“Remember what?”

“Well, since her mother doesn’t remember the child’s father.”

“…I really wish I could remember, truly.”

The memories from before I became Celeste. If only I had those memories, all of this would be resolved clearly.

“Wait a minute, Count.”

“Yes?”

“If the mother doesn’t know… couldn’t we just ask the father?”

“…Pardon?”

“Didn’t you notice? The way His Highness the Grand Duke looked at our lord and Miss Valerie was quite unusual.”

“What do you…”

“I’ve learned a thing or two from marrying off five younger sisters. Things like sensing the shameless aura from the men who would take away my precious treasures, or intuition, you know.”

“…”

“The more I think about it, the more suspicious it seems. Why would His Highness the Grand Duke personally come all the way here? Even if it’s by the Emperor’s decree to find the assassin of His Grace the Duke of Swabia, someone with the second highest authority after His Majesty wouldn’t move to such a rural area in person. It’s a task that could be delegated to knights or investigators under him.”

Hannah was evolving her thoughts quite well on her own.

“I’m certain, Count. If His Highness the Grand Duke comes tomorrow, I’ll try to find out about his past with our lord.”

Her eyes look a bit strange, don’t they?

From past experience, when Hannah has this look in her eyes, no words can get through to her.

This is trouble.

* * *

As expected, my concerns became reality.

I alternately looked at the woman beside me and the man across from me. The intense battle of wills had been going on for an hour already.

“Sigh…”

At that same table from yesterday, Karl and I once again sat facing each other. We each had a spokesperson at our side.

This doesn’t look good, our numbers are too few. On our side, it’s just me and Hannah, while they have at least a dozen or so.

One, two, three, four… As I was secretly counting the knights in my head, I quickly pretended to be distracted when I caught Karl’s impassive gaze.

I don’t know why my heart keeps skipping a beat whenever I make eye contact with Karl, even though I haven’t done anything wrong.

As soon as day broke, Grand Duke Albrecht stormed into the house again with his knights in tow, nullifying all the defenses Hannah and I had prepared with a single gesture. How could he do that, you ask?

“I’ll say it again, this is a warrant bearing His Majesty the Emperor’s seal.”

It was because of that warrant. Yes, that warrant! That was the culprit that completely silenced Hannah, the genius advocate who could deflect any argument.

When it bears the seal personally stamped by His Majesty the Emperor himself, what could a mere assistant say to oppose it?

The only proof that I was here in Urentum at the time of Duke Swabia’s murder was the testimony of those around me. Thus, even the argument that I had the right not to be forcibly taken into custody lost all its power.

But Hannah was still trying to hold out until the end.

“It states that if you do not comply willingly with the investigation team’s summons, forceful execution is also authorized.”

The large man standing right next to Karl, who had maintained the same expression as his superior throughout, thrust the warrant forward. What was that man’s name again?

“It’s not that we won’t comply with the investigation. We just want to discuss the date and location…”

“Given the nature of the matter, we need to proceed with the investigation as quickly as possible. That’s why we obtained a warrant bearing His Majesty the Emperor’s personal seal.”

“That’s precisely why we shouldn’t rush. The investigation should be conducted thoroughly and carefully. Given the nature of the matter, as you said.”

Our Hannah is doing well.

Even with such a large man pressuring her so coldly and fiercely, our Hannah didn’t flinch at all.

Indeed, that physique isn’t one to cower easily. Go Hannah, don’t lose Hannah. Our Hannah is the best.

I quietly and fervently cheered for Hannah in my heart.

As the representatives of each side continued their verbal battle without giving an inch, Karl remained silent, observing the situation. His brow was deeply furrowed, making it impossible to guess what he was thinking.

“…When did you get married?”

The voice was so low I thought I had misheard.

“Pardon?”

Though quiet, it was enough to stop Hannah and the man mid-sentence. At this sudden question, inappropriate for the time and place, not only my gaze but also those of the knights all turned towards him.

“I don’t recall hearing any news of marriage from the Louisette County.”

It was a question with Valerie in mind.

An unkind question with all context cut out. It seemed I was the only one who grasped the core meaning behind it.

No, that’s not right. Our sharp Hannah… she also seemed to catch Karl’s intention and began to signal me with her eyes.

Asking about personal matters, and such an extremely private topic as marriage, in a place where His Majesty’s imperial order was being discussed? It might be a question because of Valerie, but to the knights who didn’t know about the child’s existence, it would seem like he was using his official duty as an excuse to satisfy his personal curiosity.

Regardless, Karl’s attention was focused on my lips. As if he was entirely concentrated on what answer would come out of my mouth.

“Ababba.”

The knights’ attention, which had gathered on me following Karl’s gaze, was suddenly disrupted.

“Bababa?”

It was because of the cute noise that didn’t fit the situation at all.

“Miss Valerie!”

Hannah quickly stood up. More than ten pairs of eyes followed her back as she hurriedly ran somewhere.

“Byabyababa. Babaa.”

A small baby, barely reaching an adult’s knee, was holding onto the doorframe with chubby hands, looking bewildered.

Valerie, who had been put to bed in a guest room on the first floor instead of the second-floor bedroom, had woken up.

I had left the door slightly ajar so the child wouldn’t be startled when she woke up, and it seems she had gotten up and toddled towards the sound without even looking for her mother.

Then, with a creaking sound, the door opened wide, fully revealing Valerie. At that moment, someone gasped sharply. Probably some of Karl’s knights.

“Oh my, when did you wake up? And you didn’t even cry, oh, you’re such a good girl.”

Hannah, who had rushed to the guest room in one breath, picked up the child. Hannah’s forearm, as big as Valerie’s face, couldn’t have looked more reassuring.

“I’m sorry. We couldn’t leave Miss Valerie alone.”

Holding the child, Hannah returned to the table and sat down. The knights maintained their silence like before, but the air surrounding them had changed significantly. Their slightly bewildered gazes busily scanned back and forth between Valerie and me.

Yes. Anyone could see we were mother and daughter.

Valerie’s and my purple hair wouldn’t leave room to consider any other possibility. After all, this purple is the symbol of the Louisette County.

Having reached this conclusion, even deeper confusion and perplexity began to spread across the knights’ faces.

“Papa, papa, papa.”

Valerie started to reach out her hands and squeal. The child’s hands were pointing towards the diagonal opposite of Hannah, that is, where Karl was sitting.

At a place they had come to arrest a suspect, the child of the supposedly unmarried suspect had appeared. It was truly unexpected.

Moreover, that baby was calling someone they never imagined ‘papa.’ Someone who, anyone could see, had the exact same features as the baby – their superior. The knights exchanged confused glances.

In the awkward and confusing silence that briefly fell…

Bang bang bang.

“Are you there? Madam!”

Someone had come.

“Madam!”

It was the detective. Of all times, at this moment.

With the sound of knocking, Karl’s movements froze for an instant. While he seemed to be considering whether to go open the door or quietly ignore it, a grim shadow fell over Karl’s face.

Of course, I couldn’t guess the reason for his anger, so I simply assumed Karl’s angry face was just an instinctive wariness towards a stranger.

“Madam! It’s me!”

Even as I watched Karl’s reaction and pondered the next move, the detective continued knocking on the door. It seemed impossible to pretend we weren’t here. It might be better to open the door and send him away, telling him to come back later.

As if reading my thoughts, Hannah nodded and stood up. I reached out to take Valerie from Hannah.

“The child’s… father.”

“Pardon?”

Karl muttered something.

It was such a small voice that I couldn’t hear properly and asked again, but Karl just closed his mouth.

*

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]

Link to read

[Touch the gear icon in the bottom right corner of the screen to move to the next chapter if you want.]