'But isn't this, in its own way, a kind of ploy?'
Smelian had been at Duke Lu Xia's Mansion for a long time. He had always been an observer, watching how Graces and Duke Lu Xia interacted. It would be impossible to say he hadn't noticed or learned anything from it all.
He had long since seen through her. Lu Xia was the type who responded to softness, not force—a person who felt sympathy for the weak and was easily moved to compassion.
That was why he pleaded so humbly and analyzed himself so earnestly. It was all just to make Lu Xia's heart soften and get her to spare a little attention for him.
And as it turned out, his gambit was effective.
'I don't think there's anything shameful about this,' he thought. 'Males are born with a flawed nature, inherently greedy. It would be one thing if an opportunity never arose, but now that one has, how could I not fight for it?'
Besides, Lu Xia was such a wonderful female. No one could refuse the chance to stay by her side.
