“Please, stand up now.”
Once Cardin rose and Annette reseated herself, she felt more in control. The meeting with the Duke had left her feeling constantly off-balance.
She took a moment to breathe and calm herself. Then she faced Cardin, who sat opposite her, gazing steadily at her.
‘You said I’m someone you want to spend your life with…’
Did he really mean that?
Annette wanted to ask but couldn’t muster the courage.
‘Maybe he said that just because the Emperor was present.’
Most likely, that was the case.
She couldn’t bear the embarrassment of revealing her unwarranted hopes.
Resigned to not confront him directly, Annette found another way to probe his intentions. It might expose her more, but…
‘I was going to say this anyway.’
She took a deep breath and began.
“Your Grace, I’m embarrassed to say, but I don’t know much about politics or society. I’m not familiar with managing a household and have only lived by the sword.”
She was at her lowest when the alliance with Alkan offered her a lifeline.
“Even though I might be able to wield a sword again, there’s no telling when I’ll return to my original state. So…”
She swallowed hard.
The Empress at that time had ardently desired a second child after the birth of the crown prince. Hence, when she was rumored to be pregnant, the ministers and citizens, unaware of the truth, congratulated her, believing her wish had been fulfilled.
“If I had been a girl, it would have been better. My mother dearly wished for a daughter.”
“Ah…”
Annette’s face showed confusion, not knowing what to say.
It was hard to believe. How could an Empress of a vast empire like Alkan fake pregnancy for almost a year to cover her husband’s infidelity, and then present a bastard child as her own to the world?
“She’s a remarkable woman, isn’t she?”
Cardin asked this with a bright voice.
Annette, still with a shocked expression, slowly nodded as she studied Cardin. Despite his masked face, she could tell from his tone, voice, and aura that he wasn’t pretending to be fine.
“My mother raised me as her own child. Of course, I consider her my real mother. It would be awful not to. Contrary to appearances, she’s incredibly fierce with her children, even involving her family of origin…”
Cardin, who had been proudly talking about the Empress like a child, trailed off before changing the subject.
“Anyway, I was fortunate to have a good mother and siblings. I had a very happy childhood.”
“That’s good…”
Annette answered absentmindedly, knowing she didn’t have the right to say such things.
When Cardin confessed he was the Emperor’s illegitimate child, Annette had instantly thought of the Empress, known as his mother, and the Emperor, who was said to be exceptionally fond of his brother. She had worried whether the image of the close-knit brothers was just an act but was relieved to find it wasn’t.
Cardin smiled at Annette’s reaction.
“You’re kind, Princess.”
“Me? No, not really…”
Annette’s face flushed red instantly. Her world had been filled with people like Queen Esther and her children, so she was genuinely concerned that Cardin’s life might have been as difficult as hers.
But more honestly, she was relieved to realize that the kindness and warmth shown by the Alkan royals she met weren’t pretenses.
Cold Male Lead Became My Clingy Husband (Female-Dominant)
Feng Bai Su transmigrated into a matriarchal novel, becoming the sister of the female protagonist and the Seventh Princess of the Feng Ling Kingdom.
After working herself to death in her previous life, finally reincarnating as a princess, she only wanted to be a lazy fish who could eat, sleep, and play.
Until she met the male protagonist from the book, Wei Jing Mo, and he took a liking to her!
Wei Jing Mo is the top young man in Feng Ling City, talented in both appearance and ability, from a prestigious family, with a cold and otherworldly appearance, a figure like the bright moon in the hearts of noble ladies. It was thought that only the most powerful and talented noble lady in Feng Ling City would be worthy of such a brilliant young man. Who knew that this young gentleman would secretly admire the infamous Seventh Princess?
Short scene 1:
Feng Bai Su looked at the young man crying like a pear blossom in the rain before her, and couldn’t help but doubt her life.
Wasn’t the male lead described as a cold and otherworldly figure in the book?
Then who was this poor little thing crying with swollen red eyes and tear-stained face?
Short scene 2:
Wei Jing Mo stared intently at Feng Bai Su who was about to go out, wanting to say, “Be careful on the road.”
Before he could speak, Feng Bai Su suddenly bent down and bit his cheek.
Her peach blossom eyes were full of disdain: “Tsk! You’re so clingy!”
Wei Jing Mo: “…”
A talented fox spirit female lead with a flirtatious appearance but actually abstinent VS A cold-looking but actually naive and clingy little jealous male lead
