Admund, who had returned after finishing his meal with Odin, was very tired.
It was because he had dealt with an enormous amount of work all day today.
There was a reason why he handled his work at a faster pace than usual.
‘That way, I’ll have time left to be with Clea.’
His life was very monotonous.
After finishing work late at night, he would go straight to sleep after eating and showering.
And after waking up, he would eat again, work, and sleep.
Even in this repetitive life, he didn’t particularly feel bored or anything like that.
To begin with, he had never felt what fun was in his life.
It wasn’t that people around him didn’t try to teach him fun things.
But by Admund’s standards, none of them were that appealing. He always felt it was a waste of time.
Perhaps if something extremely stimulating didn’t appear before his eyes, Admund would have worked late into the night as usual.
That way, he could oversee his work without hindrance the next day.
‘But you are different.’
Admund thought of one person’s existence.
He hadn’t thought anything in the world was splendid, but he found splendor in silver hair bathed in moonlight.
He saw beauty in a face that seemed carelessly adorned.
It was very interesting that suddenly a different emotion was arising in him who had lived without any emotions.
Admund seemed to know more and more where the direction of his emotions was leaning.
“Will I be able to have you?”
Despite being the person who would become the emperor to have everything in the empire, Admund felt anxious for the first time in his life.
Because Clea looked like someone who would leave without regret at any time.
She looked like she could disappear at any moment if he didn’t hold on tightly.
Admund didn’t want to let Clea go.
No, he had no intention of letting her go at all.
But in front of Clea’s occasional bitter expression, Admund’s heart grew cold.
At such times, he wanted to ask her.
‘Why do you make such an expression?’
Thinking this, his footsteps quickly headed towards the Crown Prince’s Palace.
Although he could walk leisurely since he had already finished all his work for today, he wanted to spend time with her as quickly as possible.
At least when he spent time with her, his mind was at peace.
Immediately after arriving, he searched for Clea.
However, what immediately caught his eye upon arrival was the disorderly state of the Crown Prince’s Palace.
For a moment, Admund felt uneasy.
“Your Highness! It’s terrible!”
And the words that reached his ears seemed to make his uneasiness a reality.
“The young lady has disappeared into the garden!”
* * *
Having successfully found Clea, Admund walked with her to the Crown Prince’s Palace.
Perhaps because his anxious feelings had not yet subsided, Admund held her hand tightly and didn’t let go.
“Admund, please let go now.”
When they were alone, Clea called Admund by his name.
Although Admund was inwardly pleased to be called that way, his answer was a cold rebuke.
“No.”
“Have you decided not to care about others’ gazes anymore?”
Hearing his answer, Clea asked, seemingly dumbfounded, while being conscious of the gazes around them.
Even though she had no interest in this world, she had heard about it.
That the imperial palace was as lax as it was strictly secure.
It was really an absurd story, but it was true.
People were always focusing their attention on the affairs of the imperial palace.
“Then why did you wander around the palace?”
“I just came out for a moment because I felt stuffy and got lost.”
“Then next time, go out with me.”
“You’re busy, aren’t you?”
Admund is busy.
That was an undeniable fact.
Even the pile of documents seen in his office was enormous.
She didn’t want to disturb him unnecessarily when he was working, even cutting into his sleeping time.
But Admund, seemingly displeased with Clea’s answer, furrowed his brow and said,
“At least in front of you, I’m not busy.”
“Aren’t you pushing yourself too hard?”
Hearing Admund’s answer, Clea looked up at him worriedly.
As their gazes met, the cold emotions of the two people melted away.
“Spending time on you is not a waste at all.”
“If you thought it was a waste, you wouldn’t have kept me here, would you?”
Clea assessed her situation.
If it weren’t for Admund, what would she be doing now?
She wouldn’t have been wandering the streets.
Whenever Lloyd caused trouble, the Percy family had given her gifts of jewels and expensive items.
Rather than showing them off, Clea would sell them in places like the black market every time she received them.
And she had saved that money without spending a single penny.
‘Money that could support a lifetime just on interest.’
Although she had money in her possession that she had never managed to save in her previous life, she found it absurd that she would face death without being able to use it all.
Still, she tried to be satisfied with the fact that she could lead a somewhat wealthy life while she was alive.
However, when standing beside him, Clea found herself becoming increasingly greedy.
‘Can’t I stay by your side just a little longer?’
Cold emotions always took precedence.
Some people pointed fingers at her, calling her too pessimistic.
At such times, Clea didn’t particularly deny it. Because it was true.
She loved the rational and logical.
She didn’t like engaging in conversations that were neither realistic nor constructive.
Perhaps due to her status compared to Aria, when she responded coldly, she was treated even more like a villainess.
But when she was by Admund’s side, even such trivial matters made her feel good.
While she only felt displeasure towards Lloyd, she felt comfortable with Admund, who tried his best to consider her feelings.
“How long will I be able to stay with you?”
“Stay by my side as long as you want.”
“Is that possible? If rumors of our relationship spread, won’t the palace try to drive me out somehow?”
A woman who has fallen to commoner status is beside the Crown Prince.
Even the Odoi background was a minus factor, and now she had fallen to commoner status.
It was obvious how other nobles would react if they found out.
They would try to separate her from his side somehow.
Admund, seeming to notice what Clea was thinking, said confidently.
“I don’t care how others view us.”
“Admund.”
“You are my top priority.”
“That’s foolish talk. But I like those words.”
Clea smiled happily, unlike her usual self.
Clearly, until just a moment ago, her condition had deteriorated to the worst due to the incident with Oberon.
However, walking hand in hand with Admund back to the Crown Prince’s Palace greatly improved her tired mind and body.
“A cool breeze is blowing.”
“Indeed.”
“And the moonlit night is beautiful.”
“To my eyes, you are more beautiful.”
‘Was he a man who could say such things?’
Clea was bothered by Admund’s continuous smooth talking, but.
‘Let’s take the good with the good.’
She didn’t mind much and sent her gaze to Admund again.
Admund, still not taking his eyes off Clea, slowly approached her.
Under the moonlight, Clea didn’t push him away as he came closer.
“So, can you promise me?”
As their lips met, she felt heat on her face.
His warmth on her cold face was so pleasant that she was reluctant for it to fade.
Admund briefly pulled away and asked.
Clea silently looked at such an Admund.
“That you’ll tell me wherever you go.”
“Where did that attitude of never letting me escape go, and now you’re pleading with me?”
Hearing his request, Clea laughed.
The arrogant behavior befitting someone who had everything until recently had completely disappeared.
Now, he looked somehow very anxious.
What could have made him so anxious?
Clea could quickly understand without thinking too long.
How she existed in his heart as well.
She thought.
‘I clearly said I would have him.’
She had the silly thought that this might rather make her become his instead.
Although various complicated thoughts arose, Clea shook her head completely.
“May I take this as a confession?”
She asked jokingly with a bright smile.
Having realized his feelings, there seemed no need to ask anything more.
But still, she hoped to hear it directly from him.
“…If so, how will you answer?”
“That’s really an unimpressive confession.”
He was scared.
In the works she had read, Admund had never shown such an appearance in front of the female lead.
The male lead always seemed resolute, fearless, and unafraid to reveal his feelings at any time.
Seeing such anxiety from him now, Clea was truly happy.
“But if I say I’m happy, would you be happy too?”
“Clea.”
Feeling strange at him calling her name, Clea, now in front of the palace they had arrived at, tried to pull away.
Admund held her tightly and didn’t let go.
“Your answer to what I asked earlier.”
His question about whether she would tell him wherever she went.
It sounded like jealousy, but it still made her feel good in its own way.
Although it was difficult to be confident about how long this relationship would last, she decided to tell a white lie.
‘If the crime of stealing your heart is like this, I should be prepared for that resentment too.’
Clea, still smiling, answered him.
“Yes, I promise.”
Despite hearing the answer, Admund couldn’t be happy seeing Clea’s smile.
Why She Is Still Unmoved (Female-dominant)
One-line summary: He uses various methods to seek her affection, but she remains unmoved.
Synopsis:
Si Qingyu is a doctor who has saved countless lives and enjoys tranquility.
Luo Shaoxuan is ruthless, deeply scheming, and the top young master in the capital. He admires Si Qingyu.
Luo Shaoxuan: I want to be the only one in your eyes and heart.
Features a cold and calm female lead vs A noble and scheming male lead.
There will be both sweetness and torture towards the male after their marriage.
