The Duke, who had been smiling warmly at Elzer, suddenly furrowed his brow.
“A request? Typical Sesenia. You never settle for a loss.”
“I have a small wish of my own.”
“Small wish? Are you planning to compete with your sister?”
“No. I have no intention of taking over the family.”
“What then are you asking for?”
His reaction was extreme.
‘Even an adopted child would be treated more kindly than this.’
Determined to no longer play the obedient role, Sesenia looked at him coldly.
“Ever since I was young, I’ve wanted to start my own small business. Please allow me that. If you do, I won’t claim any rights over the family estate.”
“Do you think you could take over the family even if you wanted to?”
She was about to say yes but then closed her mouth quietly. Without her, the family would crumble.
As in the past, so too now. But she didn’t want to argue here. She needed the Duke’s help right now.
Her usually even lips slightly twisted.
‘Bowing down before you ends here.’
Once she got what she needed, there was no reason to wag her tail like a dog eager for love.
Waiting for that day, Sesenia nodded.
“I know. I wouldn’t dare covet such a position. I just… felt awkward asking. Father.”
“Hmm.”
Perhaps appearing meek rather than strong worked, as the Duke awkwardly nodded.
“I feel as if I’m the one in the wrong.”
If you’ve realized that, then you’re not completely oblivious.
“Never. You’re always right, Father.”
Sesenia couldn’t usually utter such sycophantic words. In that regard, she and Elzer were stark opposites. That’s why Sesenia often unwittingly incurred misunderstandings or animosity from others.
‘But for my future, and to prevent that woman from getting everything, I can do this much.’
“Hmm. Hmm. Well… if that’s what you want… what do you wish to do?”
“I want to open a small shop. It was Mother’s dream to have a small store in the capital.”
Sesenia’s mother, who passed away when she was only five due to ill health, was a humble woman. Coming from a commoner background, she often expressed her disillusionment with the aristocratic life to her five-year-old daughter, Sesenia.
She often said that once her daughters grew up, she wanted to open a small store and live as herself, not as a noblewoman.
However, the Duke, deeply in love with his wife, feared others might steal her away and ignored her wishes.
“…That’s right.”
“I want to do that. Just a small support… I want to live like Mother. To open a store named after her.”
Knowing the Duke’s sensitive spot was his late wife, Sesenia wore a sad expression.
“What, naming a store after Mother? That’s ridiculous…”
Elzer immediately objected, unable to understand such a sentiment. But the Duke slowly nodded, stopping Elzer.
“Let her be. If she wants to honor her mother’s wishes… I’d be grateful.”
“Father!”
“Why are you shouting like that, Elzer?”
“Ah… no… it’s just… Sesenia doing her own business. It just seems so absurd. And you’ve decided to leave the family to me, but to do this without consulting me…”
Suddenly, the Duke raised his voice.
“Elzer. Do you already think you’re the head of the family?”
“Are you angry at me, Father? I’m shocked…”
“Quiet! You are not the Duke yet. I am still observing who among you would be a suitable successor. Remember, I can disown you at any moment if you displease me!”
Elzer had clearly underestimated her father. Used to getting her way with coquetry, she must have thought it would work this time too. She didn’t realize that the Duke, who never easily overlooked anyone challenging his authority, wouldn’t spare even his own daughter.
Subdued by her father’s authority, Elzer pouted like a petulant child.
“…I’m sorry.”
“Good. And as for you, Sesenia, since you’re not greedy and only wish to honor your mother’s legacy, I will support you.”
“Yes.”
How could people change so much? The Duke looked at Sesenia with a smile.
“So, have you decided what kind of business you’ll do?”
“Not yet.”
“Take your time to figure it out. You’re using your mother’s name, so don’t feel too pressured. I’ll provide some financial support through the steward. It might be hard at first, but it’ll be more rewarding since it’s entirely yours.”
“Yes.”
Although he said this, the Duke had no intention of ever passing the family to Sesenia. She knew it too well, as he had never truly intended to hand it over to her from the beginning. So, Sesenia simply nodded and rose from her seat.
“I’ll take my leave now.”
“Go ahead.”
With that, Sesenia left the room. Elzer hurriedly followed her, clinging to her side.
“Sesenia, you’re acting strange.”
“How so?”
“Cajoling father with words you’d never say?”
“Cajoling? Does every man in your world need to be seduced?”
Hitting a nerve, Elzer’s face flushed red.
“How do you see me?”
“Just as you are.”
A woman who flirts with every man, even daring to interfere with her sister’s husband. And heartlessly scheming against her own sister, just for her own benefit.
‘There’s no other way to describe you, sister. You’re just trash.’
Male lead is a Divorced Husband
She said to him: “Tell me, what makes you like me? I’ll change it!”
Liu Changning transmigrated into a female cannon fodder character in a female-dominant novel.
After reading the first half of the novel’s plot, the first thing she did upon transmigration was to divorce the Pan Jinlian-style male protagonist she had just married.
She indulged herself, pretending to be ugly and poor.
But as time passed, the way that man looked at her became more and more unusual…
Liu Changning was dumbfounded: Tell me, what makes you like me? I’ll change!
――
This lifetime, Pei Yuanshao was rejected by the same woman twice!
The first time, she drove him away. Forced by the situation, he endured the waves of anger in his heart, yielding and humbling himself.
That person lay slanted on a rocking chair, her sallow face emotionless: “If you don’t want a divorce, go cook!”
Pei Yuanshao’s face was dark and gloomy: “You!”
The second time, after the crisis in Jinling City was resolved, the new emperor sent someone to pick him up. He turned around, stammering: “I… I have to go. If you keep me…”
That person lay on the kang bed, her back to him, as if she had long anticipated this day, crisp and clear: “Goodbye!”
Pei Yuanshao was so angry his fingers trembled: “You… you!”
The mission of family and country made him restrain himself, averting his eyes and turning to leave this broken household.
Two years later, they met again. Seeing her ethereal face, his body shook like a sieve.
“She was originally a ‘she’!”
At the Qionglin Banquet, the top scholar of the imperial examination, a talented person with exceptional speech and conduct, all the unmarried young gentlemen from aristocratic families looked at her with shy and timid eyes.
The peerless imperial official Pei Yuanshao felt the anger in his heart erupt. He pointed at the woman surrounded by the crowd at the Qionglin Banquet, his thin lips slightly curled: “Little sister, I wants that person to be the wife-master of my Mingde Prince Manor.”
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