As if it had never been tainted.
“Why would I run away? Thanks to your whim, I woke up in a warm room, had a delicious meal, and am living through today.”
“Your words are as sharp as shards of glass.”
“Maybe they stuck to me from the broken vase. Excuse me, I must go and get that dry cloth, Your Grace.”
I freed my wrist and stepped aside to let Laches pass. I couldn’t dare turn my back on the master of this castle.
“Such a polite dismissal leaves me speechless.”
Laches laughed and walked through the path I made. Only then did I relax from the sharp tension and exhale in relief.
But then, Laches, as if remembering something he had to check, turned back.
“Wait, I almost forgot something I meant to ask you.”
“To me?”
“Yes. Is it true that Ronan rejected you, as the rumors say?”
Why am I hearing this from him? Why did such rumors spread about me following Ronan?
“He didn’t reject me.”
“You were following Ronan, weren’t you?”
“That’s…”
That was the problem. If I deny it, and he asks why I was following Ronan, I’d have nothing to say.
“… Let’s just say he rejected me. I followed him and got rejected.”
“Didn’t expect that to be your type.”
“He has a handsome face.”
“Ah, so external factors matter to you.”
“What else do I know about a knight? But why do you care about the castle’s scandals?”
“They keep bothering me once they start.”
His tone was irritable again, for reasons unknown.
“I better go get that cloth before the butler scolds me…”
“If Ronan rejected you, why not follow me this time?”
“… What?”
“Is there anyone in this castle more attractive than me?”
Laches leaned in confidently, almost touching my face.
“… Is this another whim?”
“Can’t it be?”
He smiled weakly, his face enchanting. Rash and mischievous.
Is he still wondering if he should have killed me, even now as he smiles so mischievously?
“…I don’t want rumors saying I was rejected twice after following someone.”
Why can’t I read this man’s mind? No one is more difficult to understand.
“Are you sure?”
“About what?”
“That this time, rumors of being rejected won’t spread?”
As I stepped back, Laches moved closer with his agile approach, still deceiving me.
“You’re too playful.”
I pushed his shoulders away with both arms extended and turned my head aside.
“That day. The day I was sick and you took me to my room. Do you remember what you said to me?”
“What did I say?”
“You asked me to save you.”
“…!”
My hand on his shoulder tensed. My face, pretending to be calm, flushed with shame.
“That was just…”
“So, follow me. Maybe if you cling and beg…”
“Are you telling me to cling and beg?”
I unintentionally cut him off. He paused, took a breath, then smiled as he looked at my flushed face.
“I was going to ask if you’d follow me if you cling and beg.”
My face grew even hotter. Who would say such a thing to a maid? An utterly unpredictable man.
“Soon, Count Deverti and Lady Palo will arrive.”
At the mention of those two names, I unwittingly bit my lower lip hard. A soft finger slipped in, preventing me from biting it.
“You look troubled. But please, make sure the guest reception goes smoothly without any mistakes. And don’t break any more vases.”
“…Yes.”
“Of course, my light whim could also excuse you from working today.”
“…”
“How about it? Are you inclined to follow me now?”
Laches chuckled softly, caressing my lower lip before withdrawing his hand.
He was the ruler of the North, a sovereign. Everything hinged on his every word.
He knew this very well and knew how to use it.
Instead of responding, I bowed respectfully. Laches continued on his way, smiling.
“Greetings to the Duke of Violenthus.”
Deverti and Delia had arrived. I stood in the second row, bowing and waiting.
“Please feel free to relax until your carriage is repaired.”
“Thank you for your kindness.”
Deverti’s attire seemed modest. I had heard his investments had been recovered, but the impact must have been significant.
Usually, he wouldn’t wear the same outfit twice and only wore clothes tailored by famous designers.
“The castle is so beautiful! The North still has snow in some areas. It’s already warm in the capital, and there’s no snow. If time allows, I would love to take a tour. Could I ask for a guide later?”
Delia was the same as ever.
Bright and seemingly thoughtless.
“I can’t escort you personally. I’ll assign someone to you, so feel free to explore whenever you wish.”
“Ah…”
“However, I recommend not exploring. As you know, beasts roam in the North, and it’s not uncommon for people admiring the scenery to be eaten by them.”
“What, really?! You’re not joking? I thought those were just stories to glorify the guardian families… So, people really die from beasts in the North?”
Delia laughed innocently. Her naive questions startled some and made others try to hide their sadness.
Laches remained silent, his smiling face turning rigid.
My fist clenched tightly, veins bulging on the back of my hand.
“Ugh… That’s scary.”
A startled Delia flailed her arms in fright. Seeing his opportunity, Deverti, who always felt inferior to Laches, wrapped his arm around Delia’s shoulder and laughed triumphantly.
“Don’t be scared of such beasts. Don’t worry, Delia. If a beast appears, I will protect you.”
Deverti’s overconfidence made Laches pretend to scratch his chin while covering his mouth. Clearly, he was mocking Deverti’s trembling shoulders.
“Ahem. Have you eaten? Let’s not linger here; please head to the banquet hall.”
“I’m actually quite hungry. Oh, but may I change into a different dress first?”
“Of course. I will have someone guide you to your rooms. Take your time, and we’ll meet at the banquet hall.”
Laches, barely concealing his sneer, signaled the butler to escort them.
The two followed the butler, exploring the vast castle.
After the guests left, the maids at the entrance dispersed to resume their duties.
I quietly watched Deverti and Delia’s departing figures. I knew their lives wouldn’t change whether I was dead or alive.
Knowing this in thought and seeing their shameless faces in person were two very different things.
“I personally don’t see what’s so handsome about that face.”
As I clenched my fist, a calm voice interjected.
“I heard Count Deverti is renowned for his looks in the capital. Lady Niriel of the Niriel family was also smitten by his appearance. What do you think?”
Laches, stroking his chin, asked seriously.
“Am I more handsome, or is Count Deverti?”
“What significance would my answer hold?”
I didn’t want to choose either. Giving a noncommittal answer, Laches suddenly grabbed my shoulder, spun me around, and pushed me in another direction.
“A maid who doesn’t answer that her master is more handsome must be punished by tending to the garden immediately.”
Sent outside on a cold night. Such a cruel man.
But, as a maid who couldn’t refuse her master’s orders, I simply nodded and walked away.
Walking ahead, Deverti suddenly turned around at the sound of a familiar voice. It seemed to be coming from Laches, conversing with a maid.
A master who talks so freely with the lower staff.
As Deverti’s gaze turned towards the maid’s face, Laches abruptly pushed her away, making it impossible to see.
“…”
Laches’ cold eyes, standing alone in the darkness, fixed on Deverti.
It was the look of a dominant male, raising his head to guard his possession from an outsider.
Just a maid, and yet.
Chilled, Deverti scoffed and turned away.
Male lead says he’s pregnant — and it’s female lead’s child
Something seems a bit off about this world.
Wang Zhao thought as she watched a pregnant man walking towards her…
Intro
Female lead finds herself in a world where the men who possess the ability to bear children.
As she navigates this unfamiliar reality, she is caught off guard by the sudden appearance of her boyfriend, who reveals that he is pregnant.
Is this truly her boyfriend?
Why can’t she recall any details about their time together?
She begins to doubt whether the child her boyfriend is carrying is even hers.
Is there a hidden reason behind her amnesia, or could it be a side effect of her sudden arrival in this strange new world?
Just when it seems the protagonist’s life couldn’t become any more entangled, her ex-boyfriend makes an unexpected appearance, raising questions about the protagonist’s past.
__________
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