It was a gaze that felt primitive, possessive, and insane, as if it would swallow up everything about me.
‘Why is he looking at me like that?’
After all, you shouldn’t have any interest in me. If I were just a target of revenge for Libertan, it wouldn’t matter whether it was me or someone else.
Unconsciously I tried to avoid his gaze and escape from his arms. But then, his arm tightened, trapping me more strongly.
When I looked up at Johan in surprise, he smiled and whispered.
“Madame. Tell me whenever you’re ready.”
His large hand settled on my forehead. A comforting feeling spread through me as if a feather was wrapping my body.
Incredibly, I fell asleep immediately.
[Star Icon][Star Icon][Star Icon]I opened my eyes to the warm sunlight.
‘Johan is not in the bedroom.’
There was no trace of what happened last night, as if it had all been a dream.
‘It wasn’t my illusion.’
Johan, who was whispering as if to seduce me. The manly and solid body visible through the gown, and even that touch. There’s no way I could have imagined all that.
‘If it’s a delusion, just as it is…’
I woke myself up by slapping my cheek so hard it made a sound and got up from the seat. I received the key from Betty last night and kept it.
‘If I go early, there will be no annoying Erich.’
Of course, since it was Johan’s study, there was also the risk of meeting Johan, not just Erich.
To be honest, the thought of seeing Johan again after last night made my cheeks hot. So, I had another reason to go when people usually don’t.
After washing lightly with the prepared wash water, I went to Johan’s study.
Unfortunately, the door was not locked today. And Erich, who I wanted to avoid, was waiting inside.
Seeing him at this early hour made Erich’s sensitive face look even more so. It would have been nice if it weren’t for his bad temper.
“I thought I had made it clear.”
Erich, who neatly tied up his long blue hair, furrowed his brows. For some reason, his azure gaze seemed a bit different from last time when looking at me.
“What are you doing in this study so early?”
“I thought I’d read a book for a while.”
At his suspicious gaze, I first brought up what I heard last time.
“For your information, I have permission. You see the key here?”
Then, Erich sighed and nodded his head.
“If so, I can’t help it. Do as you please.”
His reaction was much more benign than yesterday.
‘Is it because I apologized?’
Even though he was a person he hated so much, it seemed like his heart had softened a little with an apology. It seemed that he was a goodnatured person by nature.
‘Besides, I caused a strange accident yesterday.’
Having received permission from Erich, I was finally able to look around the study properly. The library in the annex was more like a library than a study.
At a glance, the very classical library was sparkling with morning sunlight. It seemed to be thanks to the large window in the center.
‘Ah. The sunlight is good.’
Erich, whether I was there or not, didn’t care and was organizing documents with thin glasses on. The fact that he was wearing glasses made him seem more intellectual.
‘Let’s look for the book.’
Since there were so many books, it took quite a while to find the shelf labeled ‘Magic’.
‘Dark magic, dark magic, dark magic…’
Especially, books about magic were all written in ancient language, so it was a bit difficult.
“It’s a good thing I learned Ancient Language at the Duke of Libertan’s house.”
The Duke of Libertan might not know anything else, but they certainly knew how to educate.
I think it was in order to not hear about the abuse I received at the Duke of Libertan’s house when I went outside.
So, I had to learn everything from manners to a strange Ancient Language that even the high nobles didn’t know well. Thankfully, I have a use for it now.
Unfortunately, there were no books on black magic.
So, instead, I pulled out a book on magic and glanced through it.
‘A magic that can give a painless death?’
According to the contents, magicians often go berserk because they all change the laws of nature, so when that happens, there’s a need for an easy way to die.
“What on earth are you doing in this library? You even chose such a forbidden place……”
As I was about to put the book back, Erich, who appeared suddenly, snatched the book I was holding.
Erich’s light blue eyes narrowed as he looked at the book.
“Do you know how to read Ancient Language now?”
I shrugged my shoulders.
“Do you want me to read it even though I can’t?”
His eyes were filled with even more questions.
“Can you read it?”
“Sure. Do you want me to read it now?”
I snatched the book back and opened it to any page.
“[I want to die. It seemed like there was no other way out in an unavoidable situation]”
“Stop.”
The gaze of Erich, who had snatched the book I was holding, became more intense.
“How on earth do you know Ancient Language? And why this book……”
“I just happened to know it. If I had known it was a book I shouldn’t read, I wouldn’t have read it.”
The Male lead Always Seduces Her with His Beauty (Matriarchy)
Xin Jiao Zhou is the leader of the world’s premier sect. She has just experienced betrayal from all sides, was poisoned in an assassination attempt, and faced death squad attacks while the poison was taking effect. After finally clearing out the scum from her sect, she was drugged again while trying to detoxify.
After waking up from a night of unconsciousness, she gained a “beautiful and kind-hearted” husband.
Xin Jiao Zhou: “???”
He fell ill.
She came to see him, bringing breakfast.
As she put down the breakfast and was about to leave, his hand slipped while holding the spoon. “Clank!”
She turned around upon hearing the noise.
He looked up at her, his eyebrows drooping: “My hand… has no strength.”
“Shall I… feed you?” she asked tentatively.
He opened his mouth cheerfully: “Ah—”
Thinking she was drowning, he jumped in without hesitation to save her, but nearly drowned himself. In the end, it was she who swam over to rescue him, giving him air underwater.
After emerging from the water, his ear tips turned red. He lightly brushed his cheek, tucking his sideburns behind his ear, revealing delicate, pink-tinged ear tips. He lowered his gaze, too embarrassed to look at her.
Xin Jiao Zhou: He’s truly beautiful, kind-hearted, and adorable.
A certain someone when disciplining subordinates behind the scenes: “If they don’t obey, just kill them.”
What’s that? She might already have someone she cares about in her heart? A certain someone: Find out who it is, kill them, and then there won’t be anyone.
What? She met a man by the riverside? What? That man even hurt her? A certain someone: Whichever hand hurt her, chop off his entire arm.
Love at first sight without realizing it, gradually falling in love, slowly getting closer…
Family and national grudges, schemes and desires, good and evil, crime and punishment, she and he face the future together, seeking justice with passion!
A naturally dark female lead who could accidentally destroy the world but is actually an honest person VS a weak, pitiful, and helpless but skilled fighter, beautiful white-cut black male lead
My heart is not of stone, how steadfast is your love? — Tao Yuanming “Imitating the Ancients (No. 3)”
— Reading Guide —
Cold female lead & dramatic black lotus with hidden yandere traits male lead
