How to Tame That Gentle Male Lead - Chapter 6.8
‘Eldis has always been my ideal type.’
However, having witnessed the world’s destruction caused by Eldis through several regressions, her feelings for him had become very faint. Of course, it’s uncertain how things will turn out in the future, as Eldis is currently courting her…
“It would have been nice to have more information.”
“But when our relationship deepens, I plan to investigate then. I want to hear directly from him about the things he hasn’t told me.”
The Duke spoke to Resena with a kind gaze.
“Yes, that’s good too. Besides, if he has a knighthood, he wouldn’t be bad as the husband of the Duchess of Arnasus.”
“Thank you, Father…”
“Don’t mention it.”
The Duke continued, stroking his chin.
“Resena. But have you decided on that man?”
“Not exactly. I’m attracted to Vernas, but our feelings haven’t deepened enough to decide on marriage.”
The Duke nodded.
“Whoever you meet, I’ll support you. Of course, if there are bad rumors about that person, I’ll at least investigate to see if they’re true.”
“…Yes. That’s fine. If there are rumors about Vernas, I’ll ask him directly… But please approach the truth through your investigation, Father.”
The Duke smiled gently at Resena’s words.
“Thank you for understanding, Resena. Truth isn’t just one-sided. Half-truths are not much different from lies, so they must always be combined.”
Resena felt a smile escape her. As she met her father’s gaze, she felt a warmth in the corner of her heart. Her father also smiled gently before picking up his fountain pen again.
Indeed, the Duke of Arnasus was a father worthy of respect, at least to his family.
Not only was he seasoned in politics, but his skill in caring for Renard and Resena was also quite remarkable. Although he sometimes struggled to clean up after Resena’s reckless behavior, the current Resena, Heejin, considered even that to be admirable.
“Well, if you have nothing more to say, you may go. I called you today to ask about your relationship with His Highness the Crown Prince. Of course, if you have anything more to say, feel free to do so.”
“Yes. I have nothing more to say, Father. Take care.”
Resena hugged her father’s arm tightly before letting go, and he smiled with a gentle expression. Resena looked at her kind father before bowing her head in a silent greeting.
“Alright, Resena. Thank you for being honest with me. Take care too.”
“Yes, Father.”
After leaving the study, Resena let out a sigh of relief. Of course, her father wouldn’t oppose Vernas, but she had been worried about making a mistake with the first button, as it was the first time she mentioned Vernas as her lover.
‘But that didn’t happen. And Father accepted it well too. Father will probably tell Mother.’
Mother might even be happy to have Vernas as a son-in-law. Resena smiled as she looked at the sculptures and landscape paintings displayed in the hallway.
The Arnasus mansion was well-arranged to preserve its classic design, but being in the heart of the capital, it was far from the charm of the countryside. Because of this, Mother often filled that longing by buying and hanging paintings.
‘To that extent, she would probably agree to have Vernas’s sculptures diversely arranged in the hallway.’
Resena walked down the hallway, humming a tune. She was really looking forward to next Wednesday. Her steps stopped when she reached her room and opened the door.
“Ah. Welcome, my lovely lady.”
A man with deep blonde hair and sparkling blue eyes, wearing a black mask.
She knew him.
All too well.
“…Haha.”
Seeing Resena’s face turn pale in an instant, he rose from the windowsill where he had been leaning. The lips of his neat lower face curled up into an arc.
He walks towards her.
With each step he took closer, her body trembled with numbing fear. She tried to close the door to avoid him somehow, but an invisible force restrained her, preventing her from doing so.
In this helpless moment, Resena desperately missed Renard and Eldis.
If either of them had been here, she wouldn’t have been exposed to such a dangerous situation.
“You keep not wearing the earrings I gave you.”
Zergard’s eyes narrowed as he snapped his fingers. Suddenly, Resena’s body was pulled towards him involuntarily, and the door behind her slammed shut automatically.
“So I came to ask. Why do you keep ignoring my words? I want to know.”
“Th… That…”
Only when she was right in front of Zergard did the pulling force disappear. But she still couldn’t move properly. Resena tried to force her fingertips to move somehow, but her body was stiff and had to endure as his hand gently stroked her cheek.
‘It’s disgusting…!’
The culprit who had killed Lorona right before her eyes was smiling brightly.
Resena bit her lip and tried to squeeze her eyes shut at the spontaneous disgust rising within her. But even that was not allowed. Zergard merely traced her lips with his fingertips, as if finding her struggle amusing.
“If you bite those pretty lips, you’ll damage the skin. What a waste.”
“…”
“Hehe. If you promise not to scream, I’ll release this force. But if you make even a sound, I’ll blow away this pretty neck of yours right away.”
Resena’s eyes trembled at the chilling words. Seeing this turmoil up close, Zergard’s lips curled up again. He whispered in Resena’s ear as if pleased.
“You’re clever, so you know what to do. Please don’t disappoint me, Resena.”
“…”
“You should have understood well enough, so I’ll release the force now. …Don’t turn my expectations into disappointment. Do you understand?”
Resena’s eyes moved back and forth.
As soon as she did so, the invisible force was released.
“Huk.”
Her small heart pounded with fear.
Her limbs trembled and she sank down right there.
Her strength gave out and she collapsed right onto the carpet. Resena couldn’t control her body due to the fear coursing through her entire being. Her delicate, trembling form was too afraid even to raise her head, unable to properly face Zergard.
“My, are you afraid of me, Resena?”
He whispered gently with a clear smile, but to Resena, his voice itself was chilling.
Because of this, although Zergard’s voice seemed familiar, the assumption that he might have infiltrated her daily life was terrifying in itself.
“Don’t cry. Oh dear… I must have scared you too much.”
Huk. Resena buried her face in her hands, barely managing to suppress the sobs that threatened to burst out. Her appearance was so different from the confident Resena of before that Zergard felt an even stronger desire to grasp her in his clutches. His blue eyes, which had sparkled with interest, gradually turned greedy as he slowly stroked Resena’s hair.
“You poor thing. Don’t be afraid, Resena.”
“……”
“I have no intention of killing you now, so there’s no need to be so frightened. As long as that cute little head of yours doesn’t try to come up with any clever schemes to escape this moment, your neck will remain safely attached where it is.”
At these words, Resena couldn’t hold back her tears. But feeling that staying like this might somehow provoke Zergard’s irritation, she looked up at him with eyes brimming with tears.
‘Ah. Really…’
Truly beautiful. Zergard was left speechless at the sight of tears glistening in her pure violet eyes. As her slender body and accentuated curves were faintly revealed by her dress, he felt a surge of desire.
“Resena……”
His voice became languid as a result. He touched Resena’s chin, slowly looking her up and down. Resena was not unaware of what that gaze meant, and she shrank back slightly from him, turning pale.
‘But I can’t stay here for long.’
