“What’s the difference between a toothless old tiger and a puppy pretending to be a tiger? The old tiger doesn’t know it and still acts like a tiger.”
“Is that so? Still, a tiger is a tiger; can a puppy pretending to be a tiger compete? It’s a good time to live, isn’t it? A rogue becoming a tower master? Haha.”
At Count Ermeintz’s hearty laugh, Gibnen also snickered and retorted. Standing next to him, Gibnen’s assistant Sakman was deep in thought, watching the verbal battle.
“I hope you have a good time. Don’t overdo it at your age.”
“Of course! Be careful yourself. Beautiful women are eyeing you hungrily. Be mindful at your age of lust and vigor. Even so, if rumors spread until the day of the reception… how tired your subordinates must be! Haha!”
Although it seemed like an unfitting comment coming from a man who couldn’t manage his household and turned it into chaos, Gibnen calmly smiled and nodded.
“Be careful, Count Ermeintz. In this world where even my master was killed, can’t an old tiger with missing teeth kill a single one?”
“Heh, I’ll keep that in mind.”
As soon as Count Ermeintz left, Salk began to grumble.
“He has no manners at all. Can you believe someone like that?”
“Leave it, trash will never change. No matter how much you dress it up, it’s still trash.”
The laughter that had greeted Count Ermeintz was gone, and Gibnen, who had been mumbling with a cold expression, greeted another person with an angelic smile as soon as they approached.
How could his expression change so quickly? Salk wiped his forehead, feeling faint, and stared in awe at his boss’s brilliant reception skills.
He must have reached the level of a top host. He would have been a great success even if he had been an actor.
While Salk was gaping at his brilliant reception skills, Gibnen greeted the arriving guests skillfully.
His natural eloquence and attitude proved that he was the star of the party and made him stand out even more. With just a brief information about the counterpart that Salk had heard, he led the conversation smoothly.
Even in front of people who would be impressed just by hearing their names, he was unafraid and naturally engaged in conversation. There was nothing to criticize about his skill.
He greeted numerous guests, talked about recent events, and even talked about tower management and related business. He spent his time frantically.
And then a brief break came to him. Gibnen did not miss it.
“I’ll cool my head for a moment and come back, so please take care of the guests.”
“You may go.”
Gibnen loosened his tightly fastened necktie and unbuttoned a couple of buttons. Now his breath was a little easier. With his tired face evident, he hurried away.
He needed a rest, even if it was just for 5 minutes. There had to be time to calm his bursting head in order to continue the next reception.
He promptly got on the teleporter and pressed the top floor without hesitation.
Nothing was better than relaxing and watching the stars from the top of the tower.
But as soon as he arrived at the top of the tower, he couldn’t help but frown.
“Don’t, don’t come any closer!”
Why was the space, which was supposed to be quiet, so noisy? Desperate cries from a woman, that also sounded like screams…
“Why are you so resentful when we’re going to get married anyway?”
A familiar and unpleasant voice came to his ears.
A voice that he could recognize immediately by sound alone.
(This is a time separator.)
“Where did he go?”
“He went to the top floor of the tower.”
“Alone?”
“Yes.”
The news reached Count Ermeintz that Riley Eardalin had headed to the top of the tower alone.
With a moment’s respite, Count Ermeintz thought it was a good opportunity to talk to Riley alone.
“I’ll go to the top floor. You wait here.”
Count Ermeintz headed to the top floor, partly expecting something.
He wanted to have a deep conversation with Riley. He liked her that much. Despite knowing that she was the second daughter of a lowly noble family, he had decided to marry her because she resembled his first love.
He also liked her gentle and introverted personality. He thought that if a woman was fierce, she would try to overpower her husband. Count Ermeintz, having learned this from several failed marriages, particularly disliked women with strong opinions.
That day, young Riley was quite mature for her age.
Now that she had grown more since then, her maturity and beauty must have ripened even further.
“You were here, Riley.”
“How, how did you get here…”
“I saw you heading somewhere and slipped out at the right moment.”
As Count Ermeintz tried to approach Riley with a smile, she clung to the railing in terror.
“Don’t come any closer!”
Count Ermeintz’s eyebrows furrowed.
“Why are you like this? I just came to talk.”
“I have nothing to share with you.”
“Aren’t we soon to be married? I thought the discussions were already over?”
“The discussions with my father might be over! I do not… want to marry you.”
Riley, who had resolved to die, had nothing to fear. Thus, she expressed her honest feelings. Then, Count Ermeintz responded in disbelief.
“Why?”
His reaction was genuinely puzzled.
“Why would you refuse when someone of my noble lineage offers to personally take the daughter of a ruined baronet into my home? What exactly do you dislike?”
“How can I possibly like a madman who wants to take me as his wife when I’m just a child and he’s older than my father? How can I possibly like an old man?”
“…What? What insolent words are these. Do you know who I am to dare to speak like that? What are you to dare?”
“It’s horrifying, disgusting. Rather than marry someone like you, I’d prefer to die.”
“Ha! Did you come here to die? Is marriage to me that bad?”
Count Ermeintz was genuinely scornful.
“No matter how I’ve changed, now it seems even the stars above are looking down on me.”
“Don’t come closer!”
“I wish. Why be so hostile when we’re going to marry? Let’s relax and enjoy each other’s company.”
“I told you I’m not marrying!”
“So? Whether you jump from here or not because you won’t marry me, I don’t care. But if you’re going to die, maybe holding you once will cool my anger.”
At that moment, Count Ermeintz approached Riley.
Something appeared behind the Count and overtook him, blocking Riley’s path.
Count Ermeintz raised his head to identify the insolent person who blocked his way. Then he paused.
“…You.”
“I don’t know what this disgusting situation is.”
Gibnen, who had blocked Count Ermeintz’s way, looked at him askance and warned with his arms crossed.
“Enough.”
It was an unexpected intervention.
Male lead fell into her trap — and shattered when she walked away
This is also on my reread list!
This one is a slow burn, but when it burns, it burns hard.
Definitely worth a read, y’all!
The story follows a thousand-year-old seductive spirit who, on a bet, sets out to charm the male lead—a once-promising but unfortunate cultivator.
But just when she succeeds in making him fall for her, she heartlessly leaves, driving him to madness.
Determined to find her at all costs, he captures her, keeping her by his side no matter what, even if she hates him.
I love this kind of trope—I enjoy watching the male lead suffer in agony.
The ending drags a bit with unnecessary filler, but that’s fine.
As long as I enjoy the beginning, I’m good.
Intro
As an enchantress, Su Heng possesses captivating eyes and charming beauty, easily manipulating the joys and sorrows of living beings at her fingertips.
But to enchant a god, making him taste the bitterness of love’s separation, long-lasting resentment, unattainable desires, and inability to let go…
Do you dare?
Su Heng assists a divine lord in his cultivation, aiming to make him experience all the sufferings of love, so that he can attain the Great Dao.
Only after being chased down from the heavens by the divine lord, confined and completely possessed by him, does she realize how successful she has been.
The once gentle and polite youth has transformed into someone she no longer recognizes.
[Touch the gear icon in the bottom right corner of the screen to move to the next chapter if you want.]
