“Y-You… What are you doing here…”
“I woke up from sleeping.”
Unlike Melly who looked bewildered enough to go crazy, Edric replied calmly.
His voice cracking slightly and sounding languid at the end made it clear that he had indeed just woken up as he said.
“Did you just come in? Isn’t it dark? Should I turn on the light for you?”
“No! Don’t!”
Melly shouted urgently. Edric withdrew his hand that had been reaching for the candlestick.
“What on earth are you doing here?”
Melly asked while hastily gathering up her clothes in the darkness.
“I told you. I fell asleep waiting for you.”
“Why were you waiting for me?”
Melly asked again as she managed to wrap her skirt around herself and was putting her arms through the sleeves of her blouse.
“To see how your blind date went.”
“Ah…”
Putting it on, she realized it seemed to be inside out and she had to take it off and put it on again.
During that time, she kept glancing towards where Edric was, wondering if his eyes had adjusted to the darkness by now and if he could see her naked body. Fortunately, there was no sign of that yet.
“It was… just okay.”
“Just how was it?”
Finally the clothes were on properly, and now it was time to button them up.
Focused on fumbling with the buttons, she had no time to pay attention to Edric’s somewhat persistent tone.
“He didn’t seem like a bad person.”
Just not very compatible with me. She didn’t have time to add that.
She had to tuck the loose blouse tails into her skirt.
“That’s good. So now you just need to set a wedding date?”
“Maybe…”
Melly didn’t even know what she was saying right now.
“So are you happy?”
“Huh? What’s happy…”
Finally with her clothes neatly arranged, she was able to focus on his words, but another situation was making her head spin.
“I asked if you’re happy about getting married.”
Edric had suddenly approached and was now looking down at her right in front of her eyes.
Perhaps due to the darkness, he looked especially huge. Was that why? An inexplicable sense of pressure made Melly’s body tremble slightly.
“Are you angry? That I went on a blind date on my own?”
Melly asked cautiously.
Saying it out loud, the nuance sounded strange.
As if we were dating or something?
“Ah… I mean…”
“There’s no reason for me to be angry.”
Edric cut off Melly’s excuse with a low laugh.
“Why would I be angry about you meeting a good person and getting married? Right?”
“…”
“I’m just worried about one thing.”
Edric reached out his hand.
Melly suddenly found it hard to breathe.
Because his hand touched the front of her chest.
“That you might get hurt. You don’t know men.”
His hand undid one of Melly’s shirt buttons.
“You can’t think that what you see is everything. Women believe men are simpler than them, but…”
Another shirt button came undone in his hand.
“There’s no animal that calculates as meticulously as men when choosing a mate. Liking or love is just an occasion that makes you want to put this person on your scale.”
“…”
Edric’s voice resonating softly in the darkness, coupled with what he was doing, made Melly’s senses even more sensitive.
Her heart was pounding so hard it felt like it might burst, and a tingling sensation spread through her lower abdomen.
But soon Melly wanted to hide in a mouse hole out of shame for the lewd thoughts she had momentarily harbored.
Edric’s hand didn’t go any lower. He was merely trying to properly fasten the buttons that had been incorrectly done.
She hadn’t realized that in her haste to button up in the dark, her shirt buttons were misaligned.
“Th-Thank you for the advice. I’ll keep it in mind.”
Melly hurriedly distanced herself to avoid letting him hear her pounding heartbeat.
“Advice? I just said that because I’m worried about my innocent friend.”
Edric’s voice was gentle and caring as ever.
“Well then, get some rest Melly.”
“Okay…”
As Edric brushed past Melly, he lightly ruffled her hair.
That touch was something she had always received. So the feeling in that touch must have been the same as always. Of course.
“Melly.”
Reaching the door, Edric suddenly turned back and called to her.
“I hope Mr. Blair really is a good man like you said.”
“…”
“Sleep well.”
After giving her a sunny smile like spring sunshine, he left the room.
Melly’s legs gave out and she collapsed right where she was.
‘That was dangerous.’
She had nearly revealed her feelings.
It seemed she needed to do something.
Melly hugged her knees to her chest, rested her chin on them, and decided to start thinking about something she had never considered before.
Marriage to Lord Blair, that is.
[This is the timeline separator]The meeting with Lord Blair, which she thought would be in two or three days, took place the very next day after going to the opera.
Being older and valuing time like gold, he seemed to want to get it over with quickly.
Not long after having breakfast, she heard news that he had sent a carriage.
It was too early for a date, but Melly understood that this must have been the only time he could spare.
“Don’t worry about things here and take your time.”
With Lady Pelton’s expectations on her shoulders, Melly got into the carriage. Edric also smiled and told her to have a good time.
After riding in the carriage for about half an hour, they arrived at Lord Blair’s mansion.
His mansion was much smaller than the Pelton ducal residence, but it had a very efficient structure for a businessman like him.
He kept everything and everyone he needed close at hand, ready to use and call upon at any time.
Melly looked around various parts of the house guided by him.
It wasn’t flashy, but it was a neat and well-organized house. True to his character, there was nothing cumbersome or unnecessary.
Melly realized from his attitude towards her that he was already considering her as the mistress of this house.
“This room seems suitable for you to use.”
He said, introducing a room with good lighting and adequate space.
“It should be usable enough if you don’t fill it with unnecessary things.”
There was a bite to his words, but by now she took it as just his personality.
Still, it was good that a man with such ingrained habits of frugality was unlikely to be tempted to look elsewhere.
Thinking of her father who had no life skills and died abroad after living dissolutely, she felt this was more than good enough.
His advanced age, the noticeable gray in his hair, and his sunken cheeks that had lost elasticity didn’t matter at all.
Although she had lived more than half her life looking at Edric, Melly had never once become picky because of it.
She knew early on that one masterpiece couldn’t be the standard for judging countless other works.
Also, Melly knew her place well, so she knew this man alone was more than she deserved.
“Then I’ll get straight to the point.”
In the middle of showing her the master bedroom, Lord Blair suddenly proposed.
“How about marrying me?”
It was truly a proposal befitting him. Melly felt like laughing at the brief and efficient proposal, as if adding any more flowery words would be a waste of time.
But laughter aside.
“I’d like some time to think about it.”
Melly said carefully.
“I understand.”
Melly was a little surprised that Lord Blair didn’t press her unexpectedly.
‘He’s a man who knows how to be considerate of others, contrary to expectations.’
However, she couldn’t help but be astonished when she realized how different his concept of time was from hers.
“Think about it while I go to my office for a moment.”
“…”
Melly couldn’t close her mouth until he completely left the master bedroom.
‘He really is an amazing man.’
Melly had seen the butler lingering in front of the bedroom door earlier as if he had something to say.
It was admirable, even respectable, that he kept his mind open to work even while planning a proposal, but at this moment, she was grateful for that attitude.
If not for that, she would have had no choice but to answer on the spot.
‘How about marrying me?’
Melly thought about her answer to Blair’s proposal while taking in the neat garden visible through the window.
In fact, she had been thinking about marriage to him since before Blair proposed, staying up all night since yesterday.
It was a marriage she had considered in order to give up her feelings for Edric, but it had many good points in various ways.
She would have to do it someday anyway, and it could make the gracious Dowager Duchess happy.
Being able to live comfortably financially was also a huge advantage, and Lord Blair himself was a man with no faults other than being frugal and self-centered.
Moreover, the fact that he chose her as a potential wife when she had nothing to boast about made her think that this man really liked her. Regardless of his unromantic and brusque attitude.
Edric had said that all marriages involve meticulous calculations, but it didn’t seem to apply to this man at least.
Melly’s heart leaned considerably towards the positive.
Just then, Lord Blair appeared with busy footsteps.
Melly tried to state her decision with a resolute face.
“As you said, my lord, I accept your propo-”
“Ah, I’ve been thinking.”
Lord Blair suddenly interrupted.
“Since you’re still young, it doesn’t seem right to demand an answer hastily.”
“…?”
“I advise you to think calmly for a few days. For now, go back home, and I’ll send a carriage in a few days. I’d be very grateful if you could give me your answer then.”
Lord Blair’s words were so sensible that they felt rather unfamiliar.
‘What’s this? Why did the man who was pushing for an immediate answer suddenly change his attitude?’
Melly tilted her head in puzzlement.
Male lead is a clingy little husband
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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