On the billiard table, the highestgrade ivory ball spun violently, colliding with the other balls. Watching the spectacular trajectory, Shade softly whistled.
“I knew I couldn’t win against you.”
Caeron, who had finished the winning stroke, stood up with his cue stick. Shade handed him a glass of whiskey from the table.
“To the coldhearted Duke who doesn’t even spare a friend who has returned after a long time.”
At Shade’s playful words, Caeron chuckled and took the whiskey glass.
At the Hillvern Duke’s townhouse, a welcome back party was held for the Viscount Shade Hillvern, who had just returned from his grand tour.
Knowing Caeron’s aversion to noise and his particular temperament, the two were unwinding in a separate billiard room after a long time.
“You haven’t changed before and after the tour.”
“Nothing changed? I learned a lot. Especially that the world is wide and there are many beautiful women.”
Shade smirked and squinted his eyes. The heir of the Hillvern Duke was a sophisticated and attractive man, but also famous as a playboy who never held back in the social circle.
“It seems like the Duke’s white hair is also increasing in proportion to the attention you pour on women.”
“My father is too proper, that’s the problem. Anyway, tell me in detail about the news that made me return in a hurry during the tour. Your Highness.”
Shade couldn’t contain his curiosity about the prospective Duchess who captivated his longtime friend. Unlike him, Caeron had no interest in women. He even coldly rejected women who approached him, causing onlookers to shudder.
Considering his already sufficient position and wealth, there was no need for him to arrange a marriage for political reasons… unless he wanted an heir, he was expected to live a single life forever.
When the news of the Duke’s marriage reached the Lyssandro Empire, where he was touring last, he couldn’t believe it and doubted his own eyes.
The next day, he hastily packed his bags and decided to return to the Eupheter Empire. Although he liked the social scene in the Lyssandro Empire…
‘That young lady was somewhat regretful…’
Shade couldn’t help but feel regretful when he thought about the Lyssandro Empire’s Viscountess with unusually soft skin. The woman, who behaved like a docile cat, turned into a sharp panther on the bed, which was quite stimulating and entertaining.
“I heard you left a woman you cherished in Lyssandro because of the sudden news of your marriage.”
“Do you think such women only exist in Lyssandro? There must have been in every country you passed.”
“Haha. I’m originally a philanthropist. Unlike me, I’m curious about who captivated the Duke, who is a terrible egoist.”
The first daughter of the Fleur Viscount family, whose face is not even known… The name Idel was different from the Fleur Viscountess he knew.
Shade recalled the Fleur Viscountess who made her debut at the National Foundation Day ceremony two years ago before his grand tour.
The sixteenyearold lady was as fresh as a newly bloomed rose, just like her name, Roselin. He hadn’t met her since he left the Eupheter Empire, but he heard she had grown and established herself as a flower of the social world.
“I only know one Fleur Viscountess, a woman named Roselin. The prospective Duchess is her older sister, but why haven’t I seen her in the social circle?”
“The Viscountess said she’s very shy. Probably because she didn’t want it herself.”
“She’s shy? Is she… reluctant to go out because she’s not pretty?”
Maybe… The Duke, who is a perfect creation, also had excellent artistic sensibility. There was a reasonable suspicion that his eyes were too high, and there were no women coming in other than himself.
“Speak up! I’ve been really curious since not a single photo was published in the newspaper.”
“Don’t bother.”
Caeron sharply cut off Shade, who was nagging. Seeing his attitude, Shade narrowed his eyes and stroked his chin.
“Hmm…… It’s the first time I’ve seen His Highness so defensive.”
‘Defensive.’ There wasn’t a word that suited the duke less.
Shade had been with Caeron since his days as the emperor. He knew better than anyone how powerfully Caeron had reigned as a top predator among his peers since his boyhood.
He had never lost at horseback riding and shooting, which the male nobles usually liked to compete in, let alone billiards, chess, and even trump.
When he became an adult, he didn’t even participate much, perhaps bored of winning every time. He only reluctantly played with a face full of annoyance when pressed.
‘Really curious. The prospective duchess.’
It was strange to see Caeron, who had lived without knowing what ‘defense’ was, react sensitively even to the small interest shown by the prospective duchess. As if he was thoroughly trying to protect his own.
Shade decided to visit the duke’s residence for the first time in a long time, to give a wedding gift soon. Of course, he grinned thinking that a time when Caeron conveniently left home for work would be appropriate.
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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