This can't be happening right now.
Ruby Alasdair massaged her temples and took a deep breath. She sat on the edge of the bed and crossed her right leg over her left leg. When she was living as Athanasia in her previous life and creating this novel, Ruby didn't remember making Sylver Cielo like this.
Sylver Cielo is the second male lead in the original novel who has a very cold and cruel nature. The man falls in love with the female lead but decides to give up and accept the fact that the female lead and the male lead are in love. Sylver doesn't want to be an obstacle to the male lead and the female lead's love. Moreover, the male lead is the Crown Prince and his childhood friend.
In this empire, only the female lead can make Sylver Cielo smile and break down the ice wall in his heart. In this empire, only the female lead can make the cruel and cold-blooded Duke show his interest. Then, why is this man interested in her now?
Ruby didn't want to jump to conclusions but seeing Sylver's attitude at Cielo's mansion earlier when he saved her life, as well as how the Duke came to her room like this, Ruby was sure that the thirty-year-old man was interested in her.
"Did you forget that the three of you are adults?" Ruby asked in a firm tone. As firm as her pink eyes as she stared at Sylver Cielo, Reynold Alasdair, and Richard Alasdair.
The three adult men turned their faces away. Currently, the three of them are kneeling in front of Ruby Alasdair. It was as if the three adult men were being scolded by their Mother for doing things that were not right.
"I—we—want to see your condition, Ruby," Reynold said in a firm tone after he cleared his throat. "Richard even came home from the magic tower on purpose to see your condition and make sure you were okay. At first, he was angry because I told him to teleport us from Cielo's mansion to this mansion. However, when I told him that someone was trying to kill you at the Cielo family's lake, Richard immediately left his nest."
"And you?" Ruby asked Sylver.
Sylver Cielo looked at the woman in front of him while pointing at his own chest. "Me?"
"What are you doing here, Duke Sylver?" Ruby looked at him coldly. Instead of being angry, Sylver felt challenged by the cold gaze from those very beautiful pink eyes. "Do I have to tell you again that this is the room of an unmarried noble lady? I can report you to the Emperor on the charge that you want to sexually harass me, Duke. It doesn't matter if you are a Duke and still have imperial family blood, the famously wise Emperor will definitely not remain silent if he gets a report like this."
Sylver Cielo laughed and shrugged his shoulders. "Just report it, I'm not afraid. It's been a long time since I heard the Emperor's scolding. I would be grateful if you would report me to him."
Ruby stared at Sylver as if the Duke was an alien creature that suddenly appeared in front of her. A look of disdain at Sylver's words and actions.
"I'm only interested in you, Princess Ruby. You're different from the rumors I heard. I never knew you were such a challenging woman. You're the woman who succeeded in making me curious and wanting to peek at everything that's in your little head."
Ruby got goosebumps and hugged herself. Is the man in front of her really Sylver Cielo, who was created by Ruby Alasdair when she was still living as Athanasia in the modern world?
"Watch your mouth, Duke Sylver!" shouted Richard. The man stood up and pointed at Sylver's face. His attitude was as if he was belittling the Duke. "How dare you insult my little sister with those words?!"
Ruby took a deep breath and started to get dizzy with everything that was happening in front of her right now. If anyone read the original novel in the modern world, they would definitely think that Reynold and Richard were two older brothers who were cold and indifferent towards Ruby just because a few months after Ruby was born, their Mother died.
However, in the middle towards the end of the novel, there is an explanation regarding Reynold and Richard's attitude. They both really love Ruby. It's just that they don't know how to act in front of Ruby. They always protect Ruby in their own way.
Unfortunately, the original Ruby doesn't think so. The original Ruby actually thought that Reynold and Richard really hated her, making the woman sad and always crying.
"Brother Richard," Ruby called. Richard immediately froze. He looked at Ruby and looked down. The man clenched his fists at his sides.
"I'm sorry for raising my voice, Ruby. You must be scared, right?"
Ruby could see two dog ears on the top of Richard's head. The dog's ears drooped because his owner scolded him. Ruby smiled.
"No, Brother. You're acting like this because you're worried about me, right?" Ruby held Richard's hand, making the man look into Ruby's pink eyes which were similar to their Mother's eyes. "Thank you, Brother."
And now, Ruby seemed to see a dog's tail on Richard's back. A dog's tail wagging with joy. Ruby stood up and told Reynold and Sylver to stand up. She looked at Reynold, then hugged the man. Ruby also hugged Richard.
"Brother Reynold, Brother Richard, I'm fine. Wait for me in the backyard. I want to spend time with you while drinking tea and eating sweets. You guys want to accompany me, right?"
Reynold and Richard nodded obediently.
"I'll talk to Duke Sylver for a moment."
"What?!" Reynold prepared to protest. Likewise with Richard. "But—"
"It's okay," Ruby said, trying to calm Reynold. "I can handle this. Trust me, Brother."
Reynold was doubtful. But, when he saw Ruby's pink eyes, the man froze. Eyes filled with determination. Not like usual where those pink eyes would shine with fear. Reynold smiled and nodded. She stroked Ruby's golden hair.
"If something happens, scream. Richard and I will come to your rescue soon."
Hearing that, Sylver snorted and crossed his arms.
"What kind of man do you think I am?" grumbled the Duke.
After Reynold, Richard, and Shery left her room, Ruby looked at Sylver. That cold gaze was still visible, making the fire inside Sylver burn even more. Fire that showed that he was very curious and challenged by Ruby Alasdair's attitude.
"I will forgive you this time, Duke Sylver. But, if you do something unreasonable like this again, I won't stay silent. I will definitely teach you a lesson!"
"Aw, should I be afraid of threats from a little Princess like you, Princess Ruby?" Sylver asked mockingly. The Duke suddenly hugged Ruby's waist with his left hand and then gripped the woman's chin with his right hand. His purple eyes tried to enter Ruby Alasdair's small world through the woman's pink eyes. "I'm getting really excited and looking forward to what a little Princess like you can do against a Duke like me."
Ruby was silent. She swallowed hard. She knew what she was going to say in a moment was a very sensitive topic for Sylver Cielo. However, Ruby felt that was the only thing that could make the Duke stop being interested in her and think of her as a dangerous woman who he shouldn't touch.
"How is the little Duke doing, Duke Sylver?"
As Ruby expected, Sylver immediately froze. Those purple eyes were cold and sharp.
"Isn't the little Duke already five-years-old this year? If I remember correctly, his name was Theodore Cielo, right? A very handsome boy like his Father."
Yes, that's right.
The cold-blooded and cruel Duke Sylver Cielo was once married and his wife died while giving birth to his son, Theodore Cielo.