“You’re being rude.”
For a moment, Adel’s gentle eyes hardened. She struggled to free her wrist from Oscar’s grasp. The more she resisted, the tighter his grip grew. Leaning in, he met Adel’s gaze with a sneer.
“The rudeness isn’t for me to address, but for those below us.”
“…”
“You’re called a duchess, yet you wander around draped in this ragged attire as if it’s a mockery.”
His eyes were full of pity, as if wondering what kind of noblewoman would be treated this way.
“Adelheit. Are you truly content with this?”
Indeed, Adel’s life was unlike that of other noblewomen. She didn’t have new dresses for every season, nor did she host social gatherings, and even warm meals were rare.
Outwardly, it was self-imposed hardship while the duke was on campaign, but in reality, it was a coerced choice, pushed by subtleties and pressure.
“…”
Yet, she couldn’t readily admit this in front of Oscar. Even if trampled and belittled, this was her last shred of dignity…
Adel merely nodded.
“Of course, it’s my choice, and I’m content. Steward Herman is fair, and…”
“Lies.”
Oscar abruptly cut her off, forcefully lifting her wrist. The grip was so painful, but Adel managed to suppress her moan.
“Fear or pain should not be shown, for they become weaknesses.”
“In rags unfit for servants, worn-out shoes, out-of-season coats…”
“…”
“Even the exalted duchess suffers such indignities, and yet not a single knight stands to protect her.”
“Let me go, or else…”
Oscar laughed dismissively at her threat.
“Or else what? Call your feeble maids?”
“…”
“This scene, it will surely become a scandal.”
Tears welled up in her pale green eyes, overwhelmed by helplessness. Grita always denied it, but Adel was nothing more than a high-born prisoner.
Whether a maid, a guard, or a mere knight, no one would stand up against a blood relative for mere Adel.
“Naive Adel. It’s better if you understand how men view you.”
She was aware. The guards had been eyeing her maturing body for months. Only the thin veneer of respect for the duchess of Anschar protected her…
Oscar observed her realization with a peculiar look. Adel stiffened under his blatant gaze.
“So, don’t wander alone. Always accompany Grita.”
He roughly rubbed her pale lower lip with his thumb. Breathless, Adel realized what Oscar wanted.
Fear and submission.
She pushed against him with all her might, but he didn’t budge. He seemed a different man from the one who used to flee at his brother’s shadow.
“Your Highness!”
Urgent footsteps approached. Oscar flinched, looking up. People were coming down the hallway. He quickly released Adel, stepping back.
“Your Highness. We’ve been searching for you.”
Steward Herman, leading a group with a few guards, bowed respectfully to them. He seemed to quickly grasp the situation. His eyes briefly twisted in understanding.
“And, Sir. A notice of your return would have ensured a proper welcome.”
The interaction ended there, with Oscar retreating and Herman attending to a shaken Adel.
“Why bother? This is my home; I can come and go as I please.”
Oscar shrugged nonchalantly. Steward Herman turned his head away as if he hadn’t heard Oscar’s words. Then, with minimal courtesy, he asked Adel.
“Your Highness, you look unwell. Are you alright?”
“Of course, I’m… I’m fine. Just a little startled, that’s all. But what brings you here?”
“A messenger has just arrived from Nortoven.”
Nortoven. That name was familiar to Adel, who quickly recalled its significance.
“Nortoven… that’s where the Duke is on the battlefield, isn’t it?”
“Yes. Last week, the front line was pushed to the Janu River. After swapping Renal and Barta, a truce was agreed upon. It’s a victory.”
During Herman’s announcement, Oscar had stepped back into the corridor’s shadows. He wore a twisted smile, as if already knowing the news, which unsettled Adel.
“And…”
Adel sensed the real news was yet to come. Herman hesitated for a moment before continuing.
“The Duke has fallen in the final battle.”
Adel momentarily couldn’t comprehend his words. The Duke, her legal husband.
“Fallen in battle?”
Barely grasping the reality, Adel’s green eyes widened in shock.
“How can that be? What do you mean…”
Her instinctive denial was immediately met with a firm reply, delivered as if to someone slow to understand.
“The messenger from the battlefield confirmed it repeatedly. Valentine Carjou Albrecht von Anschar, the Duke, is deceased. This blood-stained sword is his relic and evidence.”
Adel took the Duke’s bloodied sword from Herman’s hand, trembling.
“The coffin will arrive within three days. Proper funeral arrangements must be made according to…”
Adel barely heard half of what Herman was saying, her mind frozen in shock. She felt Oscar’s intense gaze from the shadows, savoring the situation.
‘Smile, Adel.’
His eyes were sticky,
Breath.
‘It’s good news for us, isn’t it?’
When scheming men desperately battle for her favor in the male harem
This one’s also on my reread list! The rivalry, scheming between the men in the imperial harem are just as intense and thrilling as in classic palace drama novels, where concubines fight to the death. Give it a read, girls! I promise you won’t be disappointed.
Synopsis:
“I am not worthy of her… but I still want to be by her side, even if only as a loyal dog…”
Those were the painful whispers of Yue Guanyi – the proud Crown Prince of the Great Qi, who was torn between deep love and a guilty conscience. Despite holding the supreme power of the Imperial Guard, he still could not forget the dark past when he was sold into a brothel.
Fate played a cruel twist when Qiu Shuzhi – a young female official who had just passed the imperial examinations with top honors – stepped into his life. She did not know that she was the one who had saved him from a tragic fate many years ago. And now, her heart was the target of pursuit for both Yue Guanyi and the powerful Empress Dowager Qin Qing.
While Yue Guanyi only dared to silently care for and protect the one he loved from afar, the Empress Dowager Qin Qing openly expressed his feelings and did not hesitate to take advantage of his power to approach Qiu Shuzhi. The covert struggle between the two most powerful forces in the imperial court began…
Trigger warning: All men in this novel are yandere style.
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