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“Did you come to save me?” Even though it was a question so innocent to the point of being revolting, it contained the last glimmer of hope in it. Nevertheless,...
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After facing death and going back in time, the second marriage to her ex-husband was for the sole purpose of getting pregnant. Her only hope in an unhappy marriage, the...
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View AllBecame the Final Boss in the Game
- Ch. 208🔐 {COMPLETED}3 weeks ago
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I Became the Ugly Young Lady of the Ducal House
- Ch. Epilogue : 25🍒 [ COMPLETED]1 month ago
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I Got Proposed to by my Ex-husband’s Younger Brother
- Ch. 62💫**Chapter 62** *‘He definitely said he would come to the Patriot Marquisate with Patrick. Where did both of them go? If they had decided not to attend, they would have informed me beforehand.’* Leonard casually accepted the greetings of the people around him while scanning the banquet hall once again. For some reason, he had a bad feeling. He even regretted not ending the meeting earlier and arriving sooner. He had an ominous feeling that Marquis Patriot, the Empress’s elder brother, might have plotted something together with Patrick. Unable to figure out where the two of them were, Leonard was at a loss about what to do. Just then, someone spoke to him. “I greet His Highness the Prince.” It was the young nobleman from the Baron family who had asked Azrael for a dance earlier but had been rejected by Patrick. “Are you perhaps looking for Lady Azrael?” “Yes. Do you know where she is?” “Yes. Lady Azrael became intoxicated, and His Highness the Crown Prince took her to the lounge.” “What? The lounge? Alone with him?” “Yes.” Leonard’s brow furrowed deeply. *‘So this was the reason I kept feeling uneasy.’* Without hesitation, Leonard turned toward the lounge. He increased his stride and walked as quickly as possible. The only relief was that she had not been taken to the lounge long ago. Just as he was about to enter the hallway leading to the staircase landing, Azrael appeared, her cheeks flushed red, returning to the banquet hall. The moment Leonard was about to call out to her, Patrick followed behind and grabbed Azrael’s arm. “Azrael! Wait a moment!” Seeing Patrick holding onto Azrael, Leonard narrowed his eyes. Just from the scene before him, he could clearly tell what had happened. Patrick’s hidden intentions were disgusting—he was trying to drag a drunk woman into a private lounge. The moment Azrael, whose arm was held by Patrick, was about to turn around, Leonard called out to her. “Lady Azrael!” At Leonard’s voice, Azrael turned around. Her head was already throbbing, and she had been extremely annoyed by Patrick constantly trying to stop her. She had been just about to firmly shake him off this time, but when she heard Leonard’s voice, she could not have been happier. A look of relief crossed Azrael’s face. *‘If only I had not arrived late, this would never have happened.’* Feeling unnecessarily guilty, Leonard took his eyes off Azrael and walked straight toward Patrick. Then he grabbed Patrick’s wrist and forcefully twisted it away. Feeling pain from Leonard’s grip, Patrick released Azrael’s arm and stepped back. His face distorted with pain, Patrick looked at his reddened wrist and growled belatedly. He wanted to get furious right away, but he could not afford to draw the attention of the nobles gathered at the banquet. “What are you doing, Leonard!” Watching Patrick unable to even shout properly because he was mindful of the people around him, Leonard gave a mocking smile. He opened his mouth to say something, but then he felt Azrael’s body beside him sway. Leonard quickly reached out, grabbed Azrael’s shoulder, and pulled her into his arms. She had lost her balance because Patrick suddenly released her and stepped away. Azrael looked at Leonard gratefully and straightened herself. It was not a good idea for the two men to fight here. *‘The best thing to do is leave this place quickly.’* After quickly organizing her thoughts, Azrael bowed her head toward Patrick. “I am not feeling well, Your Highness. I will take my leave now.” With Leonard having appeared as well, Patrick could no longer continue holding onto Azrael, so he had no choice but to nod. “It would be better for you to rest in the lounge for a while…… But if you truly wish to leave, I will escort you back to the duchy myself.” Even without the lounge, he could still create an opportunity to be alone with her. Comforting a drunk woman inside a moving carriage would be easy enough. *‘I should have offered to take her home when she first said she wanted to leave.’* Patrick regretted not doing so before Leonard arrived. But it was not too late. After imagining something sinister for a moment, Patrick quickly composed his expression as if he had never been angry. Then he extended his hand toward Azrael with his usual gentle smile. However, before Azrael could answer, Leonard stepped between the two of them. “No, brother. I happen to have something to discuss with Duke Nocturne, so I will escort Lady Azrael home.” “It would be better this way. There is no need for Your Highness to trouble yourself because of me.” Azrael nodded and extended her hand toward Leonard, as if asking him to escort her. Without even waiting for Patrick’s answer, Leonard took her hand. Patrick’s eyebrows twitched as he watched the two already holding hands without asking his permission. His plan had completely fallen apart, and anger burned inside his chest. But there was nothing he could do now. Unable to reveal his true feelings, Patrick looked at Azrael with a worried expression, pretending to be helpless. “Still, I was the one who escorted you here today. Would it not be more appropriate for me to take you back?” “No, Your Highness. Since His Highness the Prince says he has business at the duchy, I actually feel more comfortable with this arrangement.” Patrick swallowed the sigh threatening to escape and maintained his gentle expression. Then he nodded. “If that is what Azrael wants, then there is nothing I can do. Leonard, I entrust Lady Azrael to you.” “Do not worry, brother.” Leonard immediately turned away after seeing Azrael frown from her headache. To leave, they had to cross the banquet hall. Azrael straightened her posture and slowly walked forward. She still looked elegant, but Leonard could feel her slightly stumbling. *‘At this rate, she might twist her ankle.’* Worried that Azrael might injure herself, Leonard wanted to simply carry her. However, because the nobles’ eyes were fixed on the two of them, he restrained himself and whispered into her ear. “You seem unsteady while walking. Why don’t you link arms with me and lean on me, Lady Azrael?” “Ah, that would be better.” Azrael had also found walking in high heels difficult. Besides, leaning on Leonard would be a good way to anger Patrick even further. Azrael linked her arm with Leonard’s and moved closer to his side. The sight made them look exactly like a loving couple. “Oh my, I thought she and Crown Prince Patrick had become close again after entering together. What is this situation now?” Beginning with one noblewoman’s comment, whispers spread throughout the hall. “That’s what I mean. She entered with the Crown Prince, but she is leaving with the Prince! What exactly is the relationship between the three of them……?” “But judging by the Crown Prince’s expression, there is definitely something going on between them, isn’t there?” At the young lady’s words, everyone’s eyes turned toward Patrick. Feeling the gazes directed at him and Leonard, Patrick smiled calmly as if nothing was wrong and moved toward his supporters. His face remained gentle, but inside, his heart burned with fury as if a huge flame had fallen into his chest. He felt as though he was going mad from anger and frustration that the time he should have enjoyed had been stolen by Leonard. --- Once they left the banquet hall and escaped everyone’s eyes, Azrael let out a long sigh. “Thank you, Your Highness.” “Thank me? I am the one who should apologize for arriving late.” Leonard cleared his throat awkwardly, looking apologetic. After sending the duke’s carriage ahead, he led Azrael to the imperial carriage he had arrived in. The scent of alcohol faintly rose from Azrael. “Just how much did you drink?” “I was only going to have one glass, but Marquis Patriot came over, and everyone kept offering me drinks, so I couldn’t refuse.” While making excuses at Leonard’s scolding, Azrael covered her flushed cheeks with both hands. She added quietly that the champagne served tonight had suited her taste perfectly, so she had ended up drinking more. Leonard, whose hearing was exceptionally sharp because he was a Sword Master, let out a hollow laugh at her words and helped her into the carriage first. When Leonard was about to climb in afterward, the coachman approached him. “Your Highness, one of the horses suddenly seems to be in poor condition, so we will need to replace it with another horse. Please wait a moment.” “I understand.” Leonard nodded at the coachman and entered the carriage. He sat beside Azrael, who could barely keep her heavy eyelids open and kept closing her eyes. Then he subtly offered his shoulder. “Your eyes look very heavy. Why don’t you sleep for a while until we arrive at the duchy?” “I’m sorry, Your Highness. Perhaps because I am weak to alcohol, I am very sleepy. If you do not mind, I will accept your offer.” Azrael covered her mouth briefly as she yawned before lowering her hand. A slight moisture gathered in her eyes.2 hours ago
- Ch. 61💫2 hours ago
- Ch. 60💫2 hours ago