Soon, we reached the stone steps leading to the northwest garden. The old stone steps were cracked and uneven.
As I always did, I prepared to hop down the steps by clutching the hem of my skirt.
That’s when His, who had already stepped down one stair, naturally extended his hand.
“It’s a rough path, let me help you.”
His manner was always astonishingly natural. Surprised, I placed my hand on his palm.
“Thank you.”
I caught a glimpse of Kirian’s eyes narrowing as he watched us from the side.
Just as I was leaning on His’s hand to take the first step, my body lifted effortlessly, and in the blink of an eye, I was at the bottom of the stairs.
Dumbfounded by what had just happened, Kirian lightly set me down.
“Why take the stairs one by one?”
Kirian grumbled at His.
“Nuna, tell me when you want to go down the stairs. I’ll do it all for you.”
“Mmm. Okay.”
It was a wonder how someone shorter than me could lift me up.
“Nuna, let’s go quickly.”
Kirian, pulling my hand and glancing back at His, who was still coming down the stairs.
Soon to be captured again by the Duchess, Kirian was eager to get to the garden.
“No, I have to go with the prince.”
I spoke firmly, and Kirian’s lower lip jutted out, but he did not argue.
Kirian had urged us to start walking first, but I waited for His to come down the stairs.
“Thank you for waiting.”
Even at Kirian’s sudden behavior, His showed no sign of displeasure.
“Shall we go, Lady Reina?”
With a gentle smile, His extended one arm. I naturally placed my hand on his arm, arm in arm.
There was no match for it. But His’s courteous manners never felt oppressive.
“Let’s go, us.”
I pointed to the walkway close to the mansion.
“This path is my favorite.”
Fortunately, Kirian had not yet figured out my big picture and obediently followed me.
“We have to go a little further inside to see a truly beautiful place.”
Hastening my steps to head towards the reception room window, I felt Kirian’s watchful eyes on us.
I had a sudden fear that he had noticed my plan, as his gaze followed me persistently.
In the end, I was the one to ask first.
“Why are you staring at me, Kirian?”
Kirian stopped abruptly and stared up at me. I gulped.
Had he noticed that I had tried to hand him over to the duchess? Indeed, it was an acute insight, befitting the novel’s protagonist.
But Kirian, whom I thought would interrogate me at any moment, just stood silently.
Then, with eyes subtly expecting something, he extended his arm to me.
I blinked at his outstretched arm.
“Is your arm hurting?”
Kirian pressed his lips together, then hesitantly opened his mouth.
“Arm……”
Was his arm in pain? Kirian’s arm, as far as I knew, was strong enough to break a sword, which was indeed a worrying thing.
“Hold my arm too……”
“You mean…… arm wrestling?”
Kirian nodded his head vigorously with a serious expression.
“Heh.”
I tightened my stomach to keep from laughing. I barely answered between clenched teeth, holding back laughter.
“Okay.”
I wanted to pat Kirian’s cheek right away, saying, ‘Oh dear, Kirian wanted to do it too, didn’t you?’ but for now, my life was precious.
As I inserted my hand into Kirian’s arm, he smiled contentedly and resumed his walk.
But I had to stop our walk again after just a few steps.
“Um… Kirian?”
Kirian’s face was already dark, as if he had anticipated my words.
It was because I had to walk awkwardly, bending in half to match Kirian’s height.
“It seems arm wrestling is a bit difficult, right?”
“Hmm……”
Kirian obediently released my hand. Then his eyes caught on Hiss, who was taller than me by a head.
“Wait a little, Nuna.”
Kirian looked up at me with serious eyes.
“My father said I would be as tall as him.”
I bit my tongue again to hold back my laughter. I could see Hiss’s mouth twitching too.
“Alright. Grow up soon.”
“You have to wait for me until then, okay?”
The surprisingly sharp Kirian took my hand in his.
I gave an awkward smile.
“Yes. I’ll wait.”
Finally, we arrived in front of the reception room window. As expected, the curtains were wide open to enjoy the sunny weather. The adults inside, engaged in lively conversation, were clearly visible.
“That tree over there is my favorite tree.”
I deliberately pointed to a distant place to divert Kirian’s attention away from the window, circling around it.
But no matter how much I loitered in front of the reception room, the adults did not look out of the window, engrossed in their serious conversation.
I glanced anxiously at Kirian, who was still glaring at Hiss. His mind was still elsewhere, but it was only a matter of time before Kirian noticed the duchess’s presence.
“I’ll be back soon. I need to go to the restroom.”
I finally left the two of them and headed towards the mansion.
I was worried about leaving Kirian and Hiss alone, showing obvious hostility towards each other. But I didn’t think anything would happen.
I still didn’t know Kirian well.
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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