#ln14

[storyslover]

plsss can you do one where you’ and lando are both celebs, established relationship on hot ones versus!!!! reader is good with wings and lando we clearly know is rubbish with spice!!! 😭

Heat Check

Pairing: Lando Norris x reader (both celebrities – established relationship) Setting: Hot Ones Versus Episode Genre: Humor, Fluff, Realism, Slightly Suggestive Word Count: 5.8k

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INTRO

The Hot Ones Versus set was exactly as intimidating as it looked on YouTube. A sleek black table. Two rows of sauces. An aura of chaotic pain in the air.

Y/N adjusted her mic and smirked. “You ready to embarrass yourself in front of millions, baby?”

Lando, already chewing on gum to “prep” his taste buds, gave her a look. “First of all, rude. Second of all, I’m mentally prepared. Physically, though? I’m fully expecting to cry.”

Sean Evans laughed from across the table. “This is gonna be good.”

Cameras rolled. Lights came on. The director counted them in.

“Alright, welcome to Hot Ones Versus, the show with hot questions and even hotter wings. Today we’ve got a power couple in the hot seats—Y/N, international superstar and apparently spice queen, and Lando Norris, F1 driver, known for fast laps and a weak spice tolerance.”

Lando raised his hand. “That’s slander. I never said weak, I said sensitive.”

Y/N rolled her eyes and winked at the camera. “Translation: weak.”

Sean grinned. “Let’s get into it.”

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WING ONE – “Classic Hot Sauce”

“You know what’s terrifying?” Lando said after the first bite. “This already has a kick to it.”

Y/N shook her head. “It’s literally the starter wing.”

“Exactly. And I’m already sweating.”

“You always sweat when you’re nervous.”

Lando looked at her. “I’m nervous because of you. You eat scotch bonnets like popcorn.”

Sean laughed. “So, question one—how did this power couple begin? We know you kept it low-key for almost a year.”

Lando took a sip of milk and leaned back. “It was at the Monaco afterparty, remember that?”

Y/N nodded, lips curved. “Yeah. You spilled your drink on my shoes.”

“They were white! I thought I’d ruined your life.”

“You kind of did. But in a cute way.”

He chuckled, eyes soft. “I offered to replace them. She said I could buy her dinner instead.”

“And he was too nervous to kiss me until the third one.”

“Because you’re intimidating.”

“Because I could handle jalapeños and you cried at sriracha.”

Sean held up a wing. “And now here you are. Full circle.”

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WING FOUR – “Los Calientes Verde”

“This one’s tasty,” Y/N said, licking sauce off her finger. “Limey. Fresh.”

Lando was already hiccupping. “I’m dying. Are my ears supposed to ring?”

“Only if you’re a coward.”

“Oh, that’s rich,” he wheezed.

Sean leaned in. “Y/N, let’s talk about your latest album. Critics called it your most personal work yet—how did Lando react to being... heavily featured in some of the lyrics?”

Y/N smirked. “He blushed so hard he looked like a tomato.”

“I didn’t know she wrote that song about the balcony in Ibiza,” Lando groaned.

“Oh, you knew. You just didn’t want your mum to find out.”

Y/N turned to Sean. “Let’s just say he didn’t mind the writing process.”

The corner of Lando’s mouth lifted. “I definitely didn’t.”

She gave him a loaded look. Suggestive. Playful. Dangerous.

Sean raised a brow. “Okay, the room is  heating up in more ways than one.”

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WING SIX – “Da Bomb Evolution”

Lando stared at the sauce bottle like it had personally offended him.

“This is the evil one,” he said solemnly. “I’ve seen the memes. I’m not ready.”

“Baby,” Y/N cooed. “You race at 300 km/h. This is just sauce.”

“This sauce doesn’t have brakes.”

Sean gestured dramatically. “Da Bomb Evolution. The moment of truth.”

They both took a bite.

Lando immediately made a sound between a cough and a whimper. His eyes widened. “I can’t feel my lips.”

Y/N winced slightly, but kept chewing. “That... yeah, that’s aggressive.”

Lando stood up, pacing behind the chairs, muttering, “Why is it bitter? Why does it taste like pain?”

“You okay, sweetheart?” Y/N asked innocently, fanning him with a napkin.

“I think I saw my ancestors,” he whispered. “They said turn back.”

Sean leaned in. “Lando, real talk—what’s harder: hot wings or driving through Eau Rouge in the rain?”

Lando, eyes watering, didn’t hesitate. “The wings. Every time.”

“Spoken like a man in distress,” Y/N said, smug.

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WING EIGHT – “Puckerbutt Pepper Company”

Lando was fully slumped in his chair, hoodie half off, eyes glassy.

Y/N, surprisingly composed, dabbed her lips with a napkin. “You good, babe?”

“I’m reconsidering my life choices.”

“You picked this show.”

“You said it’d be fun!”

Sean interjected, “Alright, next versus question—who’s more competitive?”

They both answered at the same time:

“Her .” “Him.”

Y/N raised an eyebrow. “You nearly flipped a Monopoly board because I wouldn’t sell you Boardwalk.”

“Because you only bought it to spite me!”

Sean laughed. “I feel like there's a running theme in your relationship—chaotic flirting and competitive spice wars.”

Y/N smirked. “That's basically our love language.”

Lando turned to her, mouth still burning. “If I survive this, I deserve a back massage. And cuddles. And like... eternal praise.”

“You already get that.”

“Not enough. I’m being a spice martyr here.”

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FINAL WING – “The Last Dab: Apollo”

Sean held up the final wing. “Tradition says we put a little extra on the last wing.”

Lando shook his head. “Tradition can go to hell.”

Y/N didn’t blink. “Load me up.”

Lando stared at her like she wasn’t human. “You’re not real.”

She leaned in. “That’s what you said last night.”

Lando choked on air. Sean nearly dropped the sauce bottle.

“Y/N!” Lando hissed.

She laughed, biting into the final wing with almost zero hesitation.

He followed, grimacing instantly. “This is... this is a hate crime.”

Sean, through tears of laughter, asked, “Final question. What’s next for you two?”

Y/N smiled through the heat. “More music. More racing. Hopefully fewer spicy sauces.”

Lando wiped his face with a napkin. “And if I survive, maybe a vacation. Somewhere cold. Iceland. Antarctica.”

Y/N leaned over and kissed his cheek. “You were brave.”

He gave her a look. “You are so paying for this.”

“Gladly.”

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POST-INTERVIEW: BEHIND THE SCENES

In the dressing room, Lando collapsed dramatically onto the couch, still fanning his mouth.

“I will never recover.”

Y/N sat beside him, bottle of milk in one hand. “You were cute. I think Sean’s gonna ship us now.”

He glanced at her. “You mean you weren’t already shipping us?”

“You were very dramatic,” she teased.

“I nearly died for you.”

“Oh? For me?”

He looked at her, eyes softer now. “Always for you.”

And just like that, the spice was forgotten.

Kind of.

Until he groaned again. “My stomach’s doing things. Bad things.”

She patted his leg, laughing.

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Here it is hope you like it . and my requests are open guys . just ask .

[lastofthe20thcenturygirls]

she gave it to her friend with the belief it will return itself to her. she is SO logical but when it comes to jinshi she could go metaphysical

[maboroshi-no]

Hamefura LN14 Extra Comic

[tangentiallly]

random lihaku thoughts i've been having from reading some nwer LNs and also rereading older ones

pairin, due to her job and appetite, has to take on various customers, but he never complains about it, and while he's smitten with her he doesn't seem the possessive type. he's very understanding that that's her job as a courtesan. he never tries to tell her that she shouldn't do it or anything like that. this might be one of my favorite things about him

even though he wants to buy out pairin, he's also writing to let her know, ask her opinion on it. he doesn't just want to decide for himself. he respects her, more than just being smitten with her beauty. and i love how he's planning to defend her honor to jinshi when he was wondering if jinshi might insult her. even if it might cost him his head.

the detail of when maomao was home for 3 days, lihaku and pairin were in pairin's room for 3 days has me cackling. oh my god. very impressive. maomao also notes how he doesn't seem tired afterwards ..... no wonder maomao approves of him for pairin lol.

we don't see a lot of actual scenes of them interacting directly and mostly we heard from their individual conversations with maomao, but LN14 had a flirting scene so i was surprised. their flirting was hilarious to me but also i feel for maomao who's somewhat annoyed that he brought her all the way and then pairin was not really hurt and they had to flirt in front of her.

maomao and lihaku are such bros i love their friendship. he's observant in some ways but also is willing not to pursue too deep into secrets, which is helpful sometimes.

i also love how they went from mutually beneficial agreement to genuine friendship. also how this doesn't stop him from thinking that anyone who wants to buy her out must have somewhat weird taste, nor her from thinking he's like a mutt every time she meets him. they both have Opinions about each other lmao. he also commented the way she would size people up. and they're just so completely uninterested in each other romantically, but very good friends. i love them.

[sparklingmusicofstars]

Hamefura theory : Why Geordo is the one who will most likely end up with Catarina ?

As you may know I have already answered this question a few times before but this time I will develop some arguments.

Monkey girl died in her previous life because she spent all night trying to make Geordo fall for the protagonist.

I think this one is very important because Catarina always thought that Geordo was the most difficult person to win over in the game while in the current timeline he was the first person that she won over without even trying. Especially since Catarina think of Maria as the perfect heroine so she thinks that if a girl like her had trouble making Geordo falling for her, it would be impossible for her (since Catarina really have low self-confidence) It may be the reason why Catarina always has a hard time believing that Geordo really loves her.

With his position he is the only one who can freely marry Catarina.

Catarina and Geordo are engaged since they are 8 and there is no one in the kingdom that doesn't know it. (thanks to Geordo) And Geordo doesn't hide the fact that he loves her from the bottom of his heart. Moreover Geordo is a prince and her fiancé so even if Catarina doesn't fall in love she will inevitably end up marrying Geordo

Catarina's first kiss was with him.

He is the first one to have kissed and confessed to Catarina in both of her lives so it really has a big impact. For those who love reverse harems or just romances I'm sure you can all tell that in most cases the first one to kiss the heroine is the one who will end up with her, even if other people kissed her after that. The first kiss thing is really important in all the romances.

Catarina's relationship with him

Catarina is the only one who can see when he is tired, sick or something. While before we could say it was before she knows him for 10 years now we can clearly tell that it's not the case since no one among their childhood friends can see it so it makes a special connexion between the two of them.

Geordo's obsession with her

He is so in love that it feels like he will become insane if Catarina doesn't chose him. At least there is no way that he will be able to still be happy or keep on living if Catarina marry someone else. In the game in others routes we can clearly see how sad he is when Catarina chose someone else and in the game he was less in love with her then now. And even when he agrees to that he still hasn't given up on her (he told Nicol that if he doesn't make Catarina happy he will steal her from him) No matter how you look at it we can't picture Geordo giving up on her.

Cezar's question

In LN14 Cezar asked Catarina is she hated it when Geordo kissed her, this question is an important trigger to make Catarina realize if she love someone. In the game, in Geordo's route she was asked the same question and she said that she liked it but that she wasn't able to tell if she loves him and after it helped Catarina realizing that she loves him. So this question is very important for the plot. And Cezar told Catarina that he prefers that she doesn't answer this question, I think it was because he knows that if Catarina told him that she liked it there would be no hope left for him (and the whole harem)

[the-lost-profile]

A redraw of the art from LN6, yes the one after the infamous LN5 choking epilogue. It's one of my favourite Maomao's outfits.(I really like the one from the Named Clan meeting in LN14)

[izniss]

I shared for the first time my writing on ao3 a few days ago. It was so nerve wracking but I’m so glad I did.

Seeing the kudos and view slowly going up everyday is very rewarding. I’m so happy there is people enjoying it.

It motivates me to improve my writing skills and continue to share.

And I can’t wait for LN14

[blur0se]

Ln14 spoilers

I love La clan shenanigans so much

[spock-adoodledoo]

HHHHHHH OMG bilibili novels uploaded apothecary diaries LN14 YAHOO

[storyslover]

Could you write another fic where y/n is in a Quadrant video maybe y/n is a quadrant athlete and lando is so loving and supportive of her

HI, I TRIED TO MAKE IT LIKE YOUR REQUEST BUT ADDED MY TOUCH TO IT. HOPE YOU LIKE IT.

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SPILL YOUR GUTS

 Pairing: Lando Norris x F2!driver!Reader (established relationship) Setting: Quadrant YouTube studio — a new Spill Your Guts episode Tone: Flirty, intimate, realistic, and a little suggestive Word Count: ~3,500

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“You’re gonna regret agreeing to this.”

Lando’s voice was low behind you as you sat down on the Spill Your Guts set, fake neon sushi glowing on one side of the table and bowls of unidentifiable, terrifying food on the other.

You smirked and leaned back against him slightly. “I already regret dating someone with such a big mouth.”

He gave your waist a subtle squeeze before letting go. “That big mouth’s kissed you in some pretty risky places.”

“Lando—”

“Mic’s on, by the way,” Max called from behind the camera, grinning. “Keep it down, lovebirds.”

You put your head in Lando’s neck, embarrassed. “You're evil.”

 Max, laugh at your embarrassment.

“Stop teasing her. “Lando glared at Max.

You were the guest for this episode of Spill Your Guts or Fill Your Guts—Quadrant’s beloved, unhinged food-and-chaos segment. Your title? Officially, F2 driver. Also officially: part of Quadrant’s new athlete lineup.

Unofficially? Lando Norris’s girlfriend.

Not that either of you had confirmed it—yet. But there were hints: a soft-launched ski trip. Your voice in the background of his stream. His hoodie is on your Twitch. A cropped selfie with a driver’s pass just barely showing his name on your wristband.

Subtle… but not subtle enough for the internet to miss.

So when Quadrant asked you to be in a video, you knew what you were walking into.

You just didn’t know they’d stack the questions like this.

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Round One: Max vs Y/N

Max picked up his card, his grin already too smug.

“Alright, Y/N. Question one. You’ve been in the paddock for a while now… so out of all the current F1 drivers—not counting Lando—who’s the hottest?”

The table immediately erupted.

Ria howled. Niran ducked under the table.

You leaned back, eyes wide. “That’s so dirty.”

Max laughed. “Then eat the duck tongue. Or answer.”

You looked at the plate. It looked… like someone had yanked it off an actual duck two hours ago.

You turned slightly in your seat and locked eyes with Lando, who was sitting just off-camera. His arms were crossed. A single brow was raised. Amused but clearly paying attention.

You narrowed your eyes at him, then turned back to Max with a shrug.

“Easy. Charles.”

Lando let out a dramatic scoff. “Oh, wow, okay.”

You grinned, playing it up. “Objectively speaking. Bone structure? Hair? Monaco accent?”

“You’re not helping yourself.”

Max leaned forward. “Is that your final answer?”

You glanced at Lando again, then smiled slyly. “Actually… Pierre has the arms.”

Lando stood up. “Okay, she’s sleeping on the couch tonight.” 

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Round Two: Ria vs Y/N

Ria picked up her card, practically bouncing in her seat.

“Ooooh. This one’s so good. Okay. Y/N… what’s the most scandalous place you and Lando have hooked up?”

Lando  choked on his water.

Niran smacked the table and howled. Max looked like he’d won the lottery.

Your entire face went warm.

Ria grinned. “You can tell us or eat the century egg.”

The smell hit you immediately. You gagged.

Lando, from behind the camera, said calmly, “You could just eat the egg.”

You looked over your shoulder at him. “Coward.”

“I’m protecting our dignity.”

You turned back to the table. “Alright, you wanna know?”

Turn to look at Lando behind the camera “Sorry, i can’t eat it.”

Lando rolled his eyes.

Everyone leaned in.

“The McLaren hospitality bathroom.”

The studio exploded.

Max fell out of his chair. Ria was screaming. Niran ran out of frame.

Lando covered his face with both hands, muttering, “Nooo, you didn’t—”

You grinned wickedly. “Back when I was in F3. No one knew me. We got cocky.”

Ria gasped. “So you just—”

“Used his pass to sneak in. Didn’t even lock the door properly.”

Lando groaned.

“And I’d do it again.” 

Max is dying. “I am already imagining the headlines’ Lando Norris and y/n y/l/n F2 driver get frisky in The McLaren hospitality bathroom’ and your PR teams sweating. “

I look down, embarrassed .

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Round Three: Niran vs Y/N

Niran’s question was sneakily soft.

“Okay, final one,” he said. “You’ve got everything on the line—career, legacy, reputation. If you could only choose one: the F1 seat of your dreams… or a life with Lando. What do you pick?”

The whole room went quiet.

You blinked.

Even Lando, off-camera, stopped shifting.

You exhaled slowly. “That’s not fair.”

Niran raised his brows. “You can skip it.by drinking the drink in front of you. “

You didn’t.

“I’ve worked my entire life for a seat in F1,” you said. “Since I was a kid. Every sacrifice, every night alone in hotel rooms, every injury, every sponsor meeting, every lap…”

You looked up.

“But I’d still pick him.”

Lando’s expression changed in an instant—shock, awe, something soft and deep that flickered behind his eyes like it hit straight in the chest.

“Because if I made it to the top and he wasn’t there,” you said quietly, “it wouldn’t matter.”

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Behind the Scenes

Later, when the cameras stopped rolling and the crew started packing up, you snuck off to the corner hallway near the break room.

Lando found you there—leaning against the wall, scrolling through your phone to avoid how your heart was pounding.

“You meant it?”

You looked up.

He was standing close now, his voice low.

“The F1 seat,” he said. “You’d give that up?”

You tucked your phone away and looked at him properly. “If it came down to losing you? Yeah. I would.”

Lando didn’t smile this time.

Instead, he stepped in and pressed his forehead to yours, his hands sliding down to your waist, warm and grounding.

“I’d never ask you to choose,” he murmured. “But just so you know… I’d have picked you, too.”

You let your eyes flutter shut, exhaling against his mouth.

“Good,” you whispered. “Because I’m not done with you yet.”

He kissed you then—slow but firm, like a promise.

And when you pulled back, his voice was rough.

“You realize the fans are going to lose their minds over this video, right?”

You grinned. “Yeah, i know “ 

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Top Comments Under the Video:

@quadrantchaos: "The McLaren hospitality bathroom." I AM ON THE FLOOR.

@wifeyofnorris: no bc the way Lando looked at her during the F1 seat question?? soulmates.

@f2babe: We all knew they were together, but THIS?? This was a RELATIONSHIP hard launch to END ALL HARD LAUNCHES.

@lan4rdo: She said Pierre has the ARMS and lived to tell the tale. queen. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------

HERE IS A NEW ONE HOPE YOU LIKE IT GUYS.

[maboroshi-no]

Hamefura LN 14 Chapter 1 Part 1 Summary

I am currently reading Hamefura LN14 and will post summaries after each chapter.

Chapter 1 is a bit long so I split it in two.

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Chapter 1: The Encounter at the Party (Part 1)

Break at Cyrus's Fields

Katarina and Maria are helping Cyrus with his fields. They are all taking a break at the moment.

Cyrus and Maria are talking about work. Katarina thinks they're so serious for talking about work during their free time. She turns her gaze away from them and looks at the fields.

Cyrus's fields have expanded since Katarina and Maria started helping. They will harvest fall crops soon. Katarina can't wait.

Katarina Would Like to Eat Rice

Katarina remembers that if she had been in Japan, it would soon be the period to harvest rice. New rice is delicious and she can't have enough of rice with dried plums and pickles.

Katarina inadvertently voices that she'd like to eat rice.

Maria asks her what she means, so Katarina explains that, while looking at the fields, she remembered that it would soon be the rice harvesting period. And then, she wished she could eat rice. 

Cyrus is surprised that Katarina would know about the rice harvesting period and realizes again how much Katarina likes Japanese food.

Katarina thinks to herself that it is only natural since her grandparents were rice farmers. She would help them with planting and harvesting rice.

Katarina remembers that in Sorcier, people eat bread and Western food, so there is no rice there. On the other hand, people eat rice and Japanese food in the neighboring country Sharma, which is similar to Japan. Incidentally, people also eat rice and Japanese food in Cyrus's region since it is bordering Sharma.

Katarina has been wanting to go to Cyrus's region since she heard they ate Japanese food there. However, she can't freely go there since it takes 4 days by carriage.

Cyrus is happy that Katarina enjoys his hometown's food so much. His parents send him home specialties after the fall harvest every year, so he offers to share some with her. Katarina jumps with joy and invites Maria to enjoy the food together. Maria chuckles and accepts.

Katarina wonders what food Cyrus will share with her. Tsukemono? New rice? She is about to ask Cyrus when she sees him make a very content smile.

Maria Has Been Tense Lately

Katarina asks Cyrus if something happened. Cyrus snaps back to reality. He whispers to her that he just felt glad since Maria has been smiling ever since Katarina invited her to help at the fields. Maria has been tense lately but she was able to calm down after coming here and interacting with Katarina. Katarina didn't know that Maria was tense.

Katarina remembers that Maria's family was attacked a few days ago. While she and Cezar were able to rescue Maria, they could only catch the thugs. They couldn't catch Sara, who was taken away by the "handsome seductive enigmatic uncle". As a result, they couldn't get any information about the organization except that they were targeting Maria. Following this, it was decided Maria's family would be protected at the Ministry and escorted by guards whenever they went out. Katarina can understand why Maria would feel tense.

Currently, Maria is not escorted by guards. Even so, she is still in the Ministry of Magic in Sorcier (the second most-guarded institution of the safest country in the world) and with Cyrus, who is a Ministry director and a powerful magic wielder, martial artist, and swordsman.

Katarina originally invited Maria to the fields to get some help for the harvest but she is glad that Maria could relax because of it.

Looking at Cyrus's happy face after Maria's smile, Katarina feels like she is third-wheeling. She turns her gaze towards the fields.

Mole Alert

Katarina notices an area of the fields where the earth is bulging. She shouts at Cyrus: "They got us! The enemy is here!"

Cyrus quickly stands up. He keeps Maria behind his back and asks Katarina where the enemy is. Katarina points to a hole in the ground. Cyrus is confused. Katarina explains that there's a mole: their natural enemy as farmers. Cyrus frowns and Maria bursts out laughing. Seeing Maria laugh, Cyrus relaxes his face a little.

Cyrus explains to Katarina that, while a mole is indeed a farmer's enemy, she shouldn't carelessly use the word "enemy" given Maria's state. Katarina realizes that she needlessly scared Maria and apologizes to her. But Maria laughs even louder, to the point she is holding her stomach.

Pondering Measures Against Moles

Cyrus inspects the hole and confirms there is a mole.

Katarina never saw a mole in her fields but she remembers that in her past life, her grandmother often had moles damaging her fields, which would make her furious.

Katarina is surprised there would be moles in the Ministry grounds. Cyrus replies it isn't so surprising given the natural setting here. He just never took measures against moles because they never damaged his fields until now.

Cyrus ponders about measures he could take against moles. Katarina also ponders about them on her side.

Katarina remembers that in her past life, her grandmother would bury some kind of nail that would make a piercing sound when it detected a mole. She eventually took it off because it became too noisy. Anyhow, it's not like she could find this kind of device in this world. 

Katarina wonders if she can leave in the fields something that would give off a pungent smell that would drive the moles away. With this line of thought, she comes up with a great idea.

Katarina's Measure Against Moles

Katarina summons Pochi. Cyrus asks her why she did. Katarina explains that she will have Pochi poop on the fields to scare off the mole. Cyrus is blank. Katarina explains that she heard that tanukis didn't get close to fields if they smelled dog poop, so she thought it might work on moles too.

In her past life, her grandmother would collect dog poop from the neighborhood and put them on the corners of her fields. Katarina couldn't help her back then because dogs hated her, but now, she can provide the dog poop since she has a dog.

Katarina orders Pochi to poop. Pochi barks in understanding and takes the posture.

Katarina loudly cheers Pochi on while he is trying to poop.

Maria shyly reminds Katarina that Pochi can't poop since he is a dark familiar. Both Katarina and Pochi are shocked after hitting upon this realization. Pochi cries in apology and Katarina apologizes to him in return for asking him the impossible. Seeing them, Maria burst out laughing again.

Cyrus reminds Katarina that it is wrong in the first place to leave dog poop on the prestigious grounds of the Ministry. Katarina thinks to herself that Cyrus still created fields on the prestigious grounds of the Ministry.

Katarina understands that it would be troublesome to leave dog poop here since it is smelly and people can step on it. Cyrus tells her it isn't that troublesome, but she still shouldn't do it. Anyhow, Cyrus tells Katarina he will think about how to put in place the measures he used in his hometown and asks her to stop thinking about measures. Katarina gladly leaves the issue to him since he is a "pro-farmer". When Pochi barks in agreement, Cyrus makes a little step backward.

Cyrus and Dogs

Katarina asks Cyrus if he feels uneasy with dogs. Cyrus tells her that's not it.

Katarina asks Cyrus if, by any chance, he'd like to get along with dogs but can't because they hate him. She is hoping to find a fellow in Cyrus. Cyrus denies it: he had a dog as a kid and often held it.

Katarina feels jealous of Cyrus, but she is glad to have Pochi now. She pets Pochi's head and Pochi seems to be enjoying it.

Looking at them, Cyrus tells Katarina that his dog would also close his eyes in contentment and wag his tail when he petted its head. He and his dog were always together, like siblings. Unfortunately, it died in an accident one day, right before his eyes. Since then, he has felt a little scared about interacting with dogs or even animals in general. Hearing this, Katarina takes Pochi in her arms and hugs him tightly.

Cyrus stays silent with a distant gaze while reminiscing about his dog. After a while, he suggests to Katarina and Maria they work a little longer and call it a day. Katarina and Maria accept without asking questions.

They all finish work and go home.

Katarina realizes upon going to sleep that she forgot to ask Cyrus what food his parents will send him.

Katarina Ponders about Cyrus's Trauma

The next day, Katarina is in the carriage and she is idly thinking about what Cyrus told her about his uneasiness with dogs.

It seems like not only Cyrus can't handle young women, he can't handle dogs either. That's a lot for one person. It is not so rare for capture targets in otome games to come with traumas, so she wonders if that's what it is.

In Fortune Lover 1, the capture targets had childhood traumas. For example, Alan suffered from always being compared to the perfect Geordo, and then Maria made him realize his strong points. Though, the actual Alan didn't end like this for some reason: he developed his talent for music and grew into a carefree person 

As for Keith, since he was unneeded by his biological parents, treated coldly by his adopted mother, and bullied by his adopted sister, he was supposed to become a distrusting frivolous man who played around with girls to satisfy his need for love, until Maria taught him about true love. But the actual Keith is the reliable son of the Claes family, gets along with his adopted mother, eagerly takes it upon himself to protect his older sister, and has grown into a pure good young man.

Katarina Talks With Keith in the Carriage

Katarina glances at Keith in front of her. His straightened back and neat clothes show that he isn't a playboy but he still exudes sexiness as a remnant of his sexy character status. Even so, he doesn't use his sexiness, which is a waste.

Katarina inadvertently voices, "What a shame". Keith asks her what is. Katarina explains that she thinks it's a shame that he exudes so much sexiness but doesn't use it.

Keith is wide-eyed for a moment, then frowns and makes a deep sigh. He agrees and tells her he was told the same thing several times. Keith looks dejected, so Katarina apologizes. Keith says it's fine.

Keith reminds Katarina that they are on their way to an important party. Katarina realizes that it is indeed not the time to think about Cyrus or the game.

Keith insists that Katarina should ready herself for the party. Katarina begs him to let her idle until they arrive. She promises she will focus and conduct herself properly during the party. But she will exhaust herself if she keeps being focused, so she needs to idle and she can only do it when they're alone together. 

Keith is choked up for words. He finally accepts since "she can only do it when they're alone together".

Katarina looks out the window. There's such a nice weather. She wishes she could have farmed today and indulged in sweets after work.

The Sorcier Kingdom Founding Anniversary Party

Today, the Sorcier Kingdom Founding Anniversary Party is held. A lot of foreigners have been invited. The atmosphere is similar to the International Assembly, but unlike it, it is not meant for socializing with people, but for everyone to enjoy this Sorcier celebration. It also lasts only one day, contrary to the International Assembly.

A lot of foreign emissaries will be there, so unlike in Sorcier-only parties, Katarina will need to walk around and greet everyone. She has been told to be careful of her surroundings since the dark magic organization might sneak in. People are thoroughly checked at the entrance but it is still possible. Katarina needs to be cautious while not acting rudely. 

The party is held in the largest hall of the castle. Out of respect for the customs of the other countries, ladies don't need an escort for this party.

Katarina and Keith enter the venue together.

There are a lot more people compared to the International Assembly. They are dressed in various kinds of clothes: Japanese style, Arabian style, Chinese style… There are also a variety of skin, hair, and eye colors. Even so, everyone talks in the same language. 

Katarina feels amazed by this sight. Keith tells her that such a variety of people is expected since more countries have been invited to this party compared to the International Assembly. Katarina is amazed that Keith guessed exactly what she was thinking. Keith chuckles and tells her it is normal since he has been her brother for 10 years already.

Keith reminds Katarina to be careful not to cause trouble. After recalling what happened during the International Assembly, Katarina replies that she will.

Keith and Katarina greet the Sorcier nobles, along with the foreign nobles they met at the International Assembly. Katarina is surprised she hasn't seen her friends yet, not even Geordo who always rushes to see her.

Katarina is thirsty, so she tells Keith she will go have a drink. Keith says okay while reminding her with his eyes not to eat or drink too much.

Encounter at the Buffet

Katarina goes to the buffet and is amazed by all the gorgeous food prepared for the anniversary party. She originally intended to just have a drink and go back but she thinks it wouldn't hurt to enjoy the food a little as long as she doesn't overeat. She picks up a lot of food and starts eating. After emptying her plate, she picks up some more food.

Katarina suddenly hears "You're eating too much". She startles and looks towards the voice. She realizes the words weren't aimed at her: a man she doesn't know is scolding a woman who has picked up a lot of food like her. Katarina feels an affinity with the girl.

The two people are dressed in kimono-like clothes so they probably come from Sharma, the neighboring country with a Japanese-like culture.

The man tells the woman that a lady shouldn't eat so much at a place like this. His scolding reminds Katarina of when Keith scolds her for the exact same reason. The woman retorts she just doesn't want to miss out on the banquet of the great country Sorcier. She will hardly have other opportunities like this. The two people appear to be siblings. Katarina deeply agrees with the sister and can't help silently cheering her on.

The sister notices Katarina and they make eye contact. Katarina notices the sister has black hair and eyes, and that she's beautiful. The sister notices Katarina's plate full of food, just like hers. At this moment, the two girls feels like they understand each other despite coming from different countries: enjoying a banquet is more important than lady etiquette.

The brother makes a deep sigh and tells the sister he wasn't telling her not to eat, just not to eat too much. His words also remind Katarina of Keith. The sister retorts that she can't avoid filling her plate since there is so much food. But it is not like she will eat everything at once she will just take a little of everything. Katarina silently agrees, it is exactly what she was doing. The sister notices Katarina's agreement and also nods to herself. Katarina feels like she could greatly get along with the sister.

The brother replies that, in that case, it would be more proper to just take a little of one or two dishes she likes. Katarina feels revolted by the brother's words and feels like she can't get along with him.

The sister feels revolted by her brother's thinking and feels like they will never understand each other.

The brother tiredly tells her they will talk about it later. She reminds her that the King will come give his greetings soon, so she must put her plate away. Hearing this, Katarina feels like she would rather eat all her food than put her plate away. She starts gulping down her food. The sister thinks the same thing and starts gulping down her food too. The brother is shocked to see his sister rushing to eat her food rather than putting away her plate. He is even more shocked to see Katarina doing the same thing.

Katarina and the sister have both finished their plates. When they put away their plates, they both smile and nod their heads at each other.

The King's Greetings

Trumpets announce the King's coming. The King appears with the Queen at his side, and the four princes behind them.

The King makes a speech, thanking everyone for coming to the party held for the 300th anniversary of the founding of the Sorcier Kingdom.

After the speech, the foreign attendees go to greet the royals. The Sorcier nobles stay back since they were told beforehand they didn't need to greet the royals for this party.

Katarina starts picking up food again but the sister is dragged away by her brother to greet the royals. Looking at her reluctantly leave, Katarina says "Do your best" in her direction. While she isn't sure the sister heard her, she feels like she said "Yes" in response.

Katarina would like to talk with the sister again and become friends with her if the opportunity arises.

Katarina Talks With Cezar

Katarina suddenly hears someone say "You're eating too much". When she turns around, she realizes that it's Cezar.

Katarina thanks Cezar again for helping her when she lost control of her dark magic. Cezar is glad to see she is well. After all, the last time he saw her, she had fainted.

Katarina remembers what happened at that time. Cezar visited her the day after they rescued Maria, and when she thanked him for his help, Geordo suddenly appeared, became jealous, and gave her an adult kiss in front of Cezar. Because she was so inexperienced with love, she felt overwhelmed and fainted.

Katarina feels embarrassed after remembering this. She starts explaining to Cezar that it wasn't because she was unwell that she fainted, but because she wasn't used to kissing. Midway, she feels panicked about explaining how inexperienced she is about love.

Looking at her, Cezar chuckles and realizes again that both Katarina and Geordo are still very young. Katarina is confused by his reaction.

Cezar asks Katarina if she hated it when Geordo kissed her. Katarina is confused: she felt embarrassed at the time but she can't tell whether she liked it or not.

Looking at her pondering so hard, Cezar changes his mind and tells her she doesn't need to answer him after all. He would prefer she didn't. Then he lightly strokes her head. Katarina is confused and wonders if Cezar doesn't want to talk about it anymore.

Cezar feels a threatening look piercing his back and decides to stop at this. He advises Katarina not to move out alone since there are a lot of people. He will go call her family for her, so he asks her to wait here.

After Cezar leaves, Katarina realizes that she has dropped her guard again after seeing the gorgeous food.

Katarina wonders if Cezar will be able to find Keith in this huge crowd. Especially since she knows where Keith is. She decides to join Keith once she has finished eating.

Keith's Lecture

Katarina suddenly hears someone say "You're eating too much". It is Keith.

Keith scolds her for not going back despite telling him she would just go have a drink. He was worried and couldn't seem to get out of the conversation. Fortunately, Cezar spoke to him and told him where she was. Katarina is amazed that Cezar could find Keith so quickly in this huge crowd.

Keith tells Katarina she should pull herself together since she caused trouble to Cezar. Katarina sincerely apologizes. Keith ends his lectures.

Katarina eats the rest of her plate with Keith's permission.

A Look Towards the Royals

Katarina notices that the number of people has decreased. Keith doesn't agree: it only looks that way because all foreigners have gone to greet the royals.

Keith shows Katarina the long line of people waiting to greet the royals. It is way longer than in usual parties. At the end of the line, the royals are repeatedly greeting people with a smile.

Katarina can see that Alan is starting to tire out since he is not good at socializing. Next to him, Geordo must also be tired even if he doesn't show it.

When Katarina looks at Geordo, she has the feeling their eyes met for an instant. It startles her. Keith asks her what is wrong. Katarina explains that she felt like Geordo and her made eye contact even though she was mixed in the crowd. She thinks it was probably her imagination. Keith pretends to agree while thinking to himself that it was probably not her imagination.

Cyrus and Maria

Mary calls Katarina. There are also Sophia, Nicol, Maria, and Cyrus with her.

Katarina is surprised to see Cyrus with everyone. She asks them if they all came together. Mary replies that she, Sophia, and Nicol came together, then they saw Cyrus and Maria together at the entrance, and then they all stayed together.

Katarina is shocked that Cyrus and Maria went to the ball together. Cyrus kept saying until now he was too embarrassed to ride in a carriage alone with her or talk alone with her, but he finally did it. Katarina feels so happy and proud that Cyrus has finally reached grade schooler-level maturity in terms of romance.

Maria explains that she actually met Cyrus at the castle. It was Sora who escorted her on the way to the castle. Cyrus proudly confirms it with a face that seems to say "Of course since I can't ride in a carriage alone with her". Katarina feels so disappointed. She wonders how Cyrus will be able to make progress with Maria at this rate.

Maria was told to attend this party since many people wanted to talk with her as a Sorcier celebrity. She doesn't seem escorted by guards so Katarina wonders if both Cyrus and Sora were assigned as her guards this time. Or maybe Cyrus was assigned as her guard but he asked Sora to escort her on the way to the castle because he couldn't ride in a carriage alone with her. This possibility seems more likely.

Katarina asks Cyrus in a low voice if he was the one who asked Sora to escort Maria on the way to the castle. Cyrus readily confirms it since he can't ride in a carriage alone with Maria. Katarina is shocked that Cyrus is okay with Sora and Maria being alone together. Katarina doesn't understand why Cyrus would be wary of Dewey but not of Sora. Sora should be a greater threat since he is good at sweet-talking women. If Sora fell for Maria, Cyrus's chance would drop to zero.

--------------

Katarina: Umm, are you okay with Sora and Maria alone together?  Sora might have feelings for Maria, you know?

Cyrus: No, Sora doesn't have feelings for Maria. Even I can see that.

Katarina: Huh? What do you mean?

Cyrus: What I mean? Well, however I look at it…

Katarina: However you look at it, what?

Cyrus: Lady Katarina, didn't you notice?

Katarina: Notice what?

Cyrus: …

Katarina: Wait, Lord Cyrus. What is it? What do you mean?

As Cyrus fell silent, I asked this with a little loud voice.

Cyrus: Lady Katarina, I see that you still are a child ignorant of love.

He said this with a little tired face.

Wh-Whaaaat~?! Cyrus, who is no better than a grade-schooler when it comes to romance, dares tell me I'm a child ignorant of love?! I don't want to hear that from YOU!!

--------------------------

Nicol Kept Being Approached By Foreigners

Katarina is about to retort something when Mary pulls her arms, offers her some sweets, and forcibly separates her from Cyrus. Katarina still wants to yell at Cyrus but she is intrigued by the sweets.

Mary tells her these sweets are probably a new creation since she has never seen them before. Katarina tastes them and finds them delicious. Maria asks if she can taste them too. Katarina accepts even though it was Mary who offered them. Maria finds them delicious. Then Sophia and Nicol taste them too and find them delicious.

Mary is glad they could finally join with Katarina. Katarina assumes it was hard to find her given the number of people. Mary replies it was not the case since she assumed they would find her at the buffet. Katarina feels dejected that people would figure her out so easily.

Maria explains it was because they kept getting approached by people and could hardly make a step. Katarina is not surprised people would ask Mary, Maria, and Sophia out since they're pretty. Mary explains it was rather Nicol who kept getting approached. Katarina is shocked. 

Sophia explains that Nicol's charm is particularly effective today given the number of foreign people. Nicol was not only approached by young women but also men and women of all ages. Some of them were high-ranking people in their primes, so they had to deal with them carefully.  

Katarina is amazed by Nicol's charm which fascinates people of all genders, ages, and countries. Even with these beautiful girls with him, he can boast about being the most popular one. 

Mary admits that Nicol's charm was so troublesome that she felt like wrapping a cloth around his face.

Even after hearing the rumors, Cyrus still can't believe the number of people who approached Nicol.

Sophia mentions that Nicol has been especially courted by large foreign men. She thinks they're probably considering loving Nicol as a woman. Nicol sharply stops Sophia. His tone is sharp but his face looks tired. Katarina doesn't know if it is because he was approached by large men, or because of Sophia's fantasies, speech, and conduct.

Cyrus Came to the Party to Escort Maria

Cyrus changes the subject. He confesses that it has been a while since he went to a party and he feels overwhelmed by the number of people here. Katarina is surprised that Cyrus doesn't go to parties but realizes that she indeed never met Cyrus at a party. Cyrus explains that he doesn't feel at ease at parties and is also busy with work, so he always rejects the invitations.

Still, Cyrus is not the only one. Many nobles at the Ministry don't go to parties, like Larna / Susanna Randall, who only goes to important parties. Ministry people are also swamped with work.

Maria apologizes to Cyrus since he had to push himself to go to the party for her. Maria seems to think that Cyrus was forced to attend the party to guard her. Katarina rather thinks Cyrus volunteered to do it. After all, Cyrus would do anything to protect Maria.

Cyrus tells Maria that he planned from the beginning to attend the party and volunteered to guard her after hearing she would also attend it…because he was worried about her. Katarina can imagine that Cyrus had to muster a little courage to say the last part.

Maria is happy to hear this and warmly thanks him for "being so concerned for his subordinate". Maria seems to have taken it as the considerate gesture of a superior towards his subordinate rather than a romantic gesture. As the heroine of an otome game, Maria seems to be dense when it comes to love. Katarina feels sorry for Cyrus.

Katarina thinks to herself that in Cyrus's place, Geordo would have clearly told Maria that he was worried about her because he loved her, not because she was his subordinate. Cyrus doesn't need to be like Geordo but he needs to work hard if he wants the dense Maria to notice his feelings.

Katarina really wonders how Cyrus could romance Maria in the game. Maybe he had a sad ending where he only married her in his dream? She can tell that Cyrus is losing to the 14-year-old Dewey and that he will just end up as a good superior at this rate. She sometimes wants to push Cyrus but he always says that he can't be alone with Maria. It is frustrating. Even today, he probably planned from the start to join with Mary and the others so he wouldn't be alone with Maria. Even though he accepted to guard Maria, he won't make any progress with her. Cyrus is just so hopeless.

[tangentiallly]

LN14 spoilers ahead

rereading this after knowing suiren is ah duo's mother is interesting. from the way maamei mentioned it to maomao and maomao wondering why jinshi hadn't told her himself and then thinking maybe he thought suiren would've told her - the way they're talking here, alone, and jinshi's internal thoughts never drifted to this fact - now i'm wondering if jinshi actually knew.

previously i was thinking that jinshi didn't seem to know about the birth-switch (i was actually conflicted about this for a very long time and i still kind of am, but hints point to this i suppose. but his remarks on how ah-duo invited him for a drink before she left rear palace really initially led me to think he knew).

that said, i assumed he did likely know that suiren is ah duo's mother when i first read that (his job as "jinshi" would probably made him aware of these details about all the consorts, even if ah duo had been the emperor's consort for far longer than he'd begin managing the rear palace). and it seemed like it's no secret that suiren served the emperor previously, and also not a secret that she has/had a daughter (ex that one time she lent maomao the old clothes of her daughter), putting all these information together combined with how ah duo and the emperor grew up together, it seemed to be at least something that could be suspected, even if no one told him outright .... plus, maamei knew as well. i think gaoshun also absolutely knew.

i guess this passage up here doesn't exactly prove that he didn't know either, hmmm. he did have other things on his mind, so even if suiren might be thinking about the life her daughter had, the life she might have led differently if things were different .... perhaps it was not on the forefront of jinshi's mind.

going back to suiren. for all she was talking about how his majesty might be thinking, for she seems to be warning jinshi against making mistakes that would leave himself in regret - and using the emperor's story as an example - she's probably thinking more about ah-duo's side of the story. her daughter. suiren came to the rear palace working as the emperor (just a prince then)'s milk mother at first, and if she hadn't taken the job, if her daughter hadn't grown up with him, and later became his consort .... she would have had a different life. a much less trapped one.

[sparklingmusicofstars]

The cover of the LN14 and the synopsis are out !

Catarina will go to Cyrus's hometown !

https://www.ichijinsha.co.jp/iris/title/hamehura-14/

[storyslover]

All This Time

Pairing: Lando Norris x Fem!Reader (Y/N Fewtrell)

Warnings: Slow burn, unrequited love, angst, heartbreak, jealousy, emotional tension, some suggestive undertones, alcohol mention, crying, happy ending.

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Growing up, Y/N always had a front-row seat to Lando’s life. Max Fewtrell’s little sister and one of Lando’s closest friends, Y/N had spent hours upon hours around him, laughing, teasing, and sharing countless memories. But there was always a part of her that wanted more. Lando was Max’s best friend, and she was just the little sister—there was no way he would ever look at her the way she looked at him.

They were inseparable, playing video games, racing around the neighborhood, and sharing the awkwardness of childhood . Y/N could never understand why her heart fluttered when Lando laughed or when his hand brushed against hers. It was just a crush, right? Just a silly crush on her older brother’s friend. It would go away eventually .

But it never went away

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As they got older, Y/N’s crush for lando continued . She watched him grow into a Formula 1 star, admired his humor, his dedication, his drive. And while she was busy making a name for herself in the modeling world, she couldn’t help but compare every guy she met to Lando. No one ever measured up.

It was one summer, just before her 16th birthday, when she realized just how much she loved himand it was not a silly teenage crush . Max had invited Lando over to their house for the weekend, and Y/N had spent the entire time just watching him. Every laugh, every word, every glance he threw her way made her feel like she was floating. But, as always, he never saw her like that. She was Max’s little sister. The one who tagged along on all their adventures, who never got a second glance.

That night you cried into your pillow. Because you knew.

You were in love with Lando Norris.

And he didn’t even see you.

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Then came the moment that y/n had dreaded all her life.

Lando had a girlfriend.

 Y/N had never felt more gutted than she did the day she found out that Lando and Luisa were officially together. It hit her like a wave crashing over rocks. She could feel the tears building up in her chest, but she refused to let them out. She was happy for him, of course. Lando deserved happiness. But seeing him hold Luisa’s hand, kiss her, and post about her on Instagram—it broke Y/N’s heart in ways she never thought possible.

The worst part? Max had already picked up on the change in Y/N. He knew about her feelings for Lando and, although he never directly mentioned it, the sympathy in his eyes was enough.

“You okay?” Max had asked one evening after Lando posted a photo of him and Luisa at a race.

“I’m fine,” Y/N had replied, though the lump in her throat said otherwise.

Max pulled her into a hug. “I hate seeing you like this. I’m here if you need anything.”

But nothing could ease the ache in her chest.

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Months went by, and Lando’s relationship with Luisa continued to bloom. Y/N couldn’t take it anymore. She needed a fresh start—somewhere far away from the constant reminder of her feelings. That’s when she decided to move to Monaco. She told her family it was for her modeling career—new opportunities, new clients, new everything. But deep down, it was because of him.

What she didn’t know is that lando will move to monaco two months later with luisa . she thought maybe, just maybe, she could work through her feelings by being near him. But seeing him at events, seeing him live his life with Luisa, only made things worse

Lando and Luisa split after a year and a half.

It was public—too public. Paparazzi photos. Online gossip. A few shady TikToks. You never liked how exposed he looked.

He came over to your Monaco apartment that night. You were there. He collapsed into the couch, quiet.

“I thought it was real,” he admitted. “Guess not.”

You handed him a drink. “You’ll be okay.”

He looked at you then—really looked at you. “You always say the right thing.”

You didn’t know what to say. So you just sat with him, hugging him while he cried all night .

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That summer, the group went to Mykonos. The air was warm, the sky clear, and the island pulsed with energy. It was chaos in the best possible way: days spent lounging on a yacht, the salty breeze whipping through your hair; nights filled with long, indulgent dinners that stretched into the early hours of the morning, followed by bonfires on the beach, the crackling flames dancing like they were alive.

Lando smiled more, something you hadn't noticed before, a relaxed version of him emerging under the Greek sun. You found yourself unwinding too, the stress of the past few months melting away with each laugh you shared. You danced next to him at a beach club, the music thumping, the rhythm pulling you closer. You swam together in the sea at midnight, your skin glowing under the moonlight, the water cool and inviting. And sometimes, you'd find yourselves in the quiet corners of the beach, sharing suncream, secrets, and glances that lingered a bit too long.

One night, after too many drinks, you both found a lounger at the edge of the beach, the stars above so close you could almost touch them. The warmth of the evening still hung around you like a soft blanket, and the gentle hum of the ocean filled the silence between you. Lando stretched out, his arm brushing against yours, both of you lying side by side, the weight of the world seeming to disappear for just that moment.

“I like this version of you,” he murmured, his voice low and soft, like it was just for you.

You turned your head, eyebrows raised. “What version?”

“The one who laughs more,” he said, his gaze fixed on the sky but his words aimed directly at you.

A chuckle slipped from your lips, light and airy. “Maybe I’m just getting better at hiding things.”

He turned to you then, his face a little more serious, his eyes searching yours with that familiar intensity. You held his gaze, the cool night air between you thickening with something unspoken. You thought for a moment he might lean in, kiss you right then, the chemistry between you both palpable. But he didn’t.

Instead, he kept staring, as if waiting for something. And maybe you were, too. But in the quiet of the night, surrounded by the gentle whispers of the waves, the unspoken tension seemed to stretch on forever.

For a second, it felt like everything could change—like there was something more than just friendship between you, something neither of you had fully acknowledged. You stayed there, under the stars, both of you caught in a moment that felt too big to put into words.

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After that summer it’s like nothing happened ,and like her imagination played trick on her .

Lando acted like nothing happened .

But it didn’t end there. Lando started dating Magui Carceiro. Y/N tried to be happy for him, but the sight of them together—especially when they were out with their group—was like a dagger to her heart. Max’s girlfriend, Pietra, was starting to befriend Magui, and Y/N felt like she was watching the life she had built around Lando slowly shatter

And so, she did what she always did: she put on a smile and pushed her feelings aside. If Lando was happy with Magui, then she had to be okay with it.    

One   evening, when the group was on lando yacht in Monaco , Y/N realized that it was time for her to move on. She couldn’t keep living in the shadows of Lando and his relationships.

 She started dating someone—someone who wasn’t a famous racer, someone who wasn’t in the spotlight. He was rich, yes, but he was perfect for her. He treated her with the care and attention she had always craved but never gotten from Lando.

She allowed herself to fall for him. his name was Julian, and for the first time in a long while, Y/N felt happiness without the constant ache of longing for Lando.

Lando, of course, noticed. He started to see her in a different light. Especially when her and julian joined the group in Greece during the summer break  . The group spent their summer holidays together, on yachts, going to clubs, and dinner at restaurants after a day at the beach ,and the jealousy that began to creep into Lando’s heart surprised him.but he shrugged it off . He hadn’t even realized how much he cared for Y/N until she was out of reach

It was one day during their vacation when Lando had his moment of clarity. They were all at a beach club, enjoying the sun and the sea, when he saw Y/N laughing and dacing with Julian, kissing each other and looking at each other with heart eyes. She was glowing, more radiant than he had ever seen her. And there it was—the realization hit him like a freight train. He had feelings for Y/N. He had always had feelings for her, but he had never let himself see it. Not when she was just his best friend’s sister. Not when he was wrapped up in Luisa or Magui. But now, seeing her so happy with someone else, it made him realize how wrong he had been.And He hadn’t even realized how much he cared for Y/N until she was out of reach

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Lando broke up with Magui in the middle of the summer. It wasn’t just because of you He had been feeling conflicted for a while, but he didn’t know how to put it into words. He didn’t know how to explain to her, or to anyone, that he was in love with someone else. And that someone else was Y/N.

It ended abruptly. They both unfollowed each other. Subtle likes disappeared.

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Time passed and you were always with julian.

Then one night He came to your flat, drunk . julian was away for his work .and he knocked at your apartment door , stumbling into your appartment after opening it and you where shocked but you let him in .

“Lando ?” you asked him concerned .

“I love you,” he blurted. “It’s always been you.”

You froze. the tears going up .

“You don’t get to say that now,” you yelled angry at him. “Not after everything. I’m happy. Leo makes me happy."

His voice broke. “But does he make you feel what I do?”

You turned away. “You’re too late, Lando.”

He go out of your appartment and closing the door behind him . 

When you hear the door close , you fall on you knees the tears going down and crying. 

what you didn't know is that lando heard your cries , and his heart broke that night . 

 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------

You didn’t speak for five months.

You focused on work. Campaigns. Travel. Julian held you tighter. You held on too—trying to convince yourself it was enough.

Until it wasn’t.

Julian noticed. “Your heart’s with someone else.”

You didn’t deny it.

He kissed your forehead. “Then go."

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Months passed.. And then, one night, at Max’s birthday, she saw him again. Lando was standing in the corner of the room, his eyes searching for hers. She didn’t know why, but she felt her heart race.

Lando stepped up to her. “Where’s julian?”

Y/N sighed, a hint of sadness creeping into her voice. “We broke up. He deserved better.”

Lando looked at her, his expression softening. “I’m sorry.”

Y/N shook her head, a faint smile forming on her lips. “It’s okay.”

The two stood there, the years of hurt between them, but also something new—something that felt like a promise. Slowly, they began to talk again, their conversations easy, natural as if nothing had ever happened. And this time, it felt different. Lando wasn’t just the boy she’d had a crush on; he was the man she loved, and for the first time, he was finally seeing her.

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Six months later…

The sun was beginning to set over the Monaco coastline, casting golden light across the horizon. The apartment was quiet, save for the faint music playing from the speaker in the kitchen. Y/N stood barefoot on the balcony, wearing one of Lando’s oversized hoodies, her hair messy from the long day. Her hands cradled a warm mug of tea as she looked out at the view, the soft breeze brushing against her skin.

Behind her, Lando walked up, wrapping his arms around her waist from behind and resting his chin on her shoulder.

“You’re staring like you’ve never seen Monaco before,” he teased softly.

She smiled. “It’s different now.”

He nuzzled into her neck. “Yeah?”

“Yeah. It feels like home now.”

Lando turned her around gently, cupping her face with his hands. “You’ve always been home, Y/N.”

She laughed, eyes glistening. “You’re getting cheesy again.”

“I’ve got years to make up for.” He leaned in, brushing his lips against hers. The kiss was slow, sweet, and warm—like everything they’d waited for, finally landing in place.

They pulled apart slightly, just enough for Lando to speak. “You know what I want?”

“What?” she whispered, smiling against his lips.

“A lifetime of this. A lifetime of making up for everything I didn’t say, and everything I should’ve seen sooner.”

Y/N stared at him, the ache of the past replaced with a full, glowing kind of peace. “Then we better start now.”

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hi guys, this is my favorite. i love it so much, and i have been writing it for a while. I don't hate on Magui or luisa , it's just for the story. Please give me your feedback. on anynymous or in the comment . I'd like to see what I can change in my future writings.

[tangentiallly]

i tried to make a timeline for the apothecary diaries LN. up to LN13. contains spoilers. could also contain mistakes since i didn't proofread this very diligently.

LN1: year 1 (Maomao is 17)

in ch22 Maomao visited the pleasure district. Madam said: “Not a word for ten freakin’ months?”

Maomao is mentioned to be 17 years old

LN2~LN4: year 2 (Maomao is 18)

LN2 ch2 mentions it's about a month into the new year

Loulan arrives at beginning of LN2, and it's also mentioned later that she arrived at the start of the year

in the beginning of LN4, it's mentioned that it's about 9 months since Loulan arrived

the epilogue mentioned it's almost to another new year

LN5~LN8: year 3 (Maomao is 19)

character profiles from LN5-8 all introduced Maomao as 19. (in Li's age system, people increment their age by a year at the start of the new year) (Lunar Calendar system)

LN5 ch1: It had been a month since she’d left the rear palace, and the new year’s celebrations had subsided.

LN6 ch2: The desire to avoid that was written on Jinshi’s face. He’d already been away from the capital for close to a month.

LN6 ch9: Maomao returned home. "The past month and a half clearly hadn’t dulled the madam’s stinginess one bit."

LN6 ch15: "Almost two months had passed since their return from the western capital, during which they hadn’t seen each other."

LN8 ch10: The jade, that was to say, gyoku: as in Gyokuen, father of Empress Gyokuyou. It was now more than six months since he had been summoned to the capital from his usual abode in Li’s western reaches

LN9~LN12: year 4 (Maomao is 20)

character profiles from LN9-12 all introduced Maomao as 20

LN9 ch1: Yao and En'en asked Maomao for a place to stay, and it's mentioned it's around New Year time.

LN9 ch6: Jinshi talks about leaving for the Western Capital "2 months from now"

LN11 ch22: Maomao counted on her fingers. More than five months that they had spent in the western capital.

LN12 ch12: "After more than six months in the western capital"

epilogue: "I can’t believe it’s been almost a whole year since we got here."

this is from LN13, but, in early LN 13 we got to see Lahan's brother's diary about their year at Western Capital, so i'm putting this one here. just want to mention that there are one entry called "Year-end, clear skies" and a subsequent entry "New spring, clear skies". (New spring refers to 新春, so we know they're leaving the western capital around the time of the Chinese New Year). The New Spring entry was when Maomao was originally going to inform Lahan's brother that they were heading back to Central region, but she got distracted and forgot to do that.

LN13~? : year 5 (Maomao is 21)

character profile from LN13 introduced Maomao as 21

i'm like, 3 quarters into LN14 at the moment so i'll stop here

[maboroshi-no]

Hamefura LN14 Chapter 5 (End) Summary

I am currently reading Hamefura LN14 and will post summaries as I read.

Previous Chapters: Chapter 1: The Encounter at the Party: Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Chapter 2: What Dark Magic Is: Part 1 Part2 Chapter 3: The Domain Where Cyrus Was Born and Raised: Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Chapter 4: To the Forest's Depths!

Chapter 5: Let's Go Back to the Ministry of Magic

Raphael Properly Reports About Sarah

The next day, Raphael tells Cyrus he gave a false report yesterday. He properly tells him what he knows about Sarah and that she might have run away because she felt shaken after seeing him. Katarina has accompanied Raphael because he asked her.

Cyrus tells Raphael he can understand why he felt shaken given his history and he won't blame him for that. But as a Ministry member, he doesn't think it was right for him to retain important information and give a false report. He asks him to be careful next time. Raphael replies he will.

Cyrus will process the details of yesterday's events.

Cyrus and Maria Have Become Closer

Maria tells Cyrus she has slept well and now feels considerably better. She thanks him with a bright smile for all he did yesterday.

Cyrus is still overprotective of Maria, which makes her feel obliged. 

Katarina thinks Cyrus is an overly caring person in the first place. After all, he constantly worries about her. It's just that he couldn't interact with Maria before because he was uncomfortable with women and she is his first love. But yesterday, he was so drastic as carrying Maria princess-style all the time, so he can probably interact with her now. His natural overly caring temperament is written on his face and he fussily worries about her.

He may be able to face Dewey now.

And the hardworking Maria who is not good at relying on people has started to rely more on Cyrus. Now she asks him to teach her about work more often and they are seen more together.

Since at first glance, Cyrus and Maria look good together, the household people warmly watch over them. Only Haru seems sad when she sees them.

Katarina, Sora, Laura, and Haru Help With Restoring the Fields 

Haru was originally supposed to return to her family right away, but she has offered the Lanchester family to help restore the damaged fields as thanks for looking after her. As a result, she will stay for a while.

Katarina, Sora, and Laura also help with the fields' restoration because they are bad at writing reports.

They go to the fields. They are such in a bad state that they need to till them again and clean up the half-eaten crops.

Now, they are helping a rice farmer who needs to harvest rice. Katarina is motivated not only because she knows it is a difficult job for the rice farmer, but also because she feels excited about harvesting rice for the first time in her current life.

The old rice farmer praises Katarina's skills in harvesting rice. Katarina enjoys the praise. She is glad because it is the first time she can use her experience from her past life.

Haru agrees that she is so good at it that it doesn't look like her first time. Katarina enjoys the praise again. Haru is really good at harvesting rice since she comes from Sharma.

The old farmer tells Katarina that given her skills, he'd like to ask her to help plant the new seedlings next month. Katarina instantly accepts but Sora reminds her they will probably be back to the Ministry of Magic by then.

The old farmer is sad and apologizes. He didn't think Katarina was part of the Ministry of Magic since she seemed comfortable here. He thought she was a girl from town. Katarina also apologizes: she felt so comfortable here that she forgot that she needed to go back to the Ministry. The old farmer and Haru laugh and Sora makes a shocked expression.

While holding many rice plants, Laura asks the farmer if she can carry them somewhere. The old farmer says yes.

The old farmer dazzlingly gazes at Laura carrying so many rice plants. He is glad that he could get their help this year. There are no young people in the area so farmwork is always so difficult.

Katarina tells him it is a shame since there is abundant nature and the food is delicious here.

The old farmer is happy that Katarina feels that way. When he was young, he also found the countryside boring because there was nothing there, but once he went to the city, he missed the region and ended up returning here. He likes the abundant nature and the kind people here.

Katarina thinks young people would understand the good sides of the region if they came here. But she wonders what could bring them here.

Katarina thinks the farmers should spread the region's food products a little more. After all, she became addicted to Sharma food after tasting it for the first time here. They should determine the region's selling points and appeal to people with them.

Laura overhears the conversation and agrees with Katarina. She would like them to appeal the region's food and if possible, spread it to the royal capital.

The old farmer blinks his eyes in surprise. He is so used to the food here that he didn't think about it. He will bring it up to the farmers association next time.

Katarina is looking forward to the day Japanese food arrives in the royal capital.

The old farmer tells everyone they can stop here and thanks them. He will have some rice delivered to them once he has finished processing them.

Katarina is happy that she will get new rice.

Sora tells Katarina the paperwork and the restoration of the fields are mostly finished, so they will probably leave for the Ministry tomorrow or the day after.

Katarina is disappointed.

To make her feel better, Laura tells her nothing has been decided yet.

Haru feels sad that they will leave soon since she had fun restoring the fields with them.

Katarina asks Haru if she will stay in Victoire a little longer.

Haru replies she will indeed stay a little longer and then go back since her family is worried.

Katarina tells Haru she will have a feast prepared for her if she comes to the royal capital again. 

Haru looks forward to it.

Katarina and Haru exchanges their addresses so they can send each other letters.

Last Evening At Cyrus's Home

Katarina, Sora, and Laura return to Cyrus's home.

Just like Sora has anticipated, Cyrus tells them they have finished the paperwork and fields' restoration, so they will return to the Ministry of Magic tomorrow. Katarina feels dejected that she won't have her new rice.

Since it is her last meal here, Katarina is stuffing herself during dinner. She doesn't care if she will have to rush to the bathroom afterward.

After dinner, Katarina rushes to the bathroom. After she is done, she sees Cyrus discreetly inviting Haru to go to the terrace. 

Katarina wonders why she always sees people on the terrace after going to the bathroom. Maybe people often uses it and she only notices them when she goes out of the bathroom?

Cyrus Rejects Haru

Cyrus tells Haru he has someone he loves despite what he told her at the party. While he isn't in an intimate relationship with the person, he can't get engaged and even less marry another woman.

Cyrus has firmly looked at Haru when he said this.

Haru tells Cyrus she already knows. She has realized who he has feelings for after watching him in the manor.

Katarina isn't surprised Haru knows. Haru has always looked so sad when she watched Cyrus and Maria. Maria told Haru the night before they arrived in the domain that she would support her, but Maria seems to have forgotten about it because of the mission. Haru didn't go to Cyrus herself and has just been watching them with a sad look.

Cyrus is shocked that Haru has known about his feelings.

Haru replies she knew and thus understood that she couldn't be the one. 

Katarina expects Haru to get mad at Cyrus for lying to her about not being in love with anyone, but…

Haru (dignified tone): I am praying for you to marry and be happy with the one you love.

Haru's words seems to be her true feelings.

Haru dignifiedly leaves in the opposite direction from Katarina. She looks beautiful but Katarina can't help feeling pain in her chest.

Katarina thinks Haru was most likely the rival character in Cyrus's route. She said the same words Mary said in Fortune Lover 1. Katarina found these words beautiful and cool when she played the game, but when they come from a real person, they feel sad and painful.

Katarina looks at Cyrus. He also seems pained while gazing outside from the terrace.

Katarina returns to her room in a sad mood and goes to sleep.

The Departure

The next day, everyone comes out in the garden after finishing the preparations for their return trip. Cyrus's family and Tylor are seeing them off. Haru is not here.

Cyrus's mother has prepared lots of food and sweets for Katarina to bring back as souvenirs. Katarina is incredibly happy. But the amount is too much for the carriage, so Katarina sadly has to reduce it.

The new rice for Katarina couldn't be prepared on time. Cyrus's mother promises Katarina to send it to her in the royal capital no matter what. Katarina happily thanks her. Cyrus's mother is happy that Katarina enjoys their food so much. She tells Katarina she will send food to her through Cyrus. Katarina is overjoyed but Cyrus has mixed feelings about this.

Everyone departs in the following groups: Maria, Cyrus, and Raphael in the first carriage, and Katarina, Laura, and Sora in the second one.

While gazing at the scenery, Katarina sees a woman in the fields waving at her. It is Haru. Katarina shouts good bye at her from the window and waves at her with all her might.

Back to the Ministry

The next day around noon, everyone has safely arrived at the Ministry. As usual, the whole gang is here to welcome Katarina. Katarina is glad her friends always make time to welcome her after her missions despite their busy schedules.

Katarina would like to catch up with everyone but Cyrus tells her "Report first!" and starts dragging her to Larna's office. The gang tells Katarina they will wait for her.

It is now report time with Larna. Katarina expects the report to be short since Cyrus has probably prepared their report. Unfortunately, Larna is extremely curious about the dragons and keeps firing questions about their sizes, their moves, etc. As a result, the report takes more time than Katarina expected.

After everyone has become worn out after Larna's questions, Cyrus asks Larna to stop for today and continue tomorrow. Larna is a bit dejected.

When everyone leaves her office, Larna discreetly moves towards Katarina and tells her she will create an opportunity to talk about "the story from the other day" once things calm down.

Katarina deeply nods in understanding.

Katarina Tells Her Friends How She Defeated a Dragon

When Katarina leaves Larna's office, her friends are rushing to her. They have borrowed a room and prepared sweets and tea for her there. They can all enjoy a tea party since Katarina will have the rest of the day off, but they can't stay for too long since they are busy with work.

Katarina tells everyone with gestures how she defeated the dragon.

Geordo is shocked by Katarina's dangerous actions.

Keith tells Katarina she should think before acting.

Alan is amazed by Katarina's actions.

Mary is shocked by Katarina's dangerous actions.

Sophia tells Katarina she was like a knight in a story.

Nicol is glad Katarina could come out safely of the mission.

After Katarina has finished her story, everyone has tired and dejected expressions on their faces. They make a big sigh.

Geordo can't believe Katarina even though he told her so many times not to put herself in danger or be reckless before she left.

Keith thinks Katarina's definition of reckless might be different from theirs.

Alan agrees since it appears she doesn't consider it reckless to fight a dragon alone.

Mary is so glad Katarina is unharmed.

Sophia wished she could have seen Katarina fight the dragon.

Nicol asks Sophia not to add to it else it will become troublesome.

Katarina can tell her friends are worried about her fighting a dragon alone.

Katarina tells everyone she had no choice but to fight the dragon. Besides, Raphael properly protected her with his wind magic.

Geordo sharply reacts to it: if Raphael protected her, does it mean she really was in danger?! She said before there was no danger!

Katarina explains the dragon breathed out dark mist at her at the very end. 

Everyone is horrified.

Keith wonders how Katarina could tell there was no problem during the mission. He really wonders what is inside her head.

Alan can't believe she said there was absolutely no danger. He is amazed by her optimistic thinking.

Mary asks Katarina to be very careful. She doesn't understand how Katarina can be so reckless.

Sophia would have loved to see the dragon breathe out dark mist… wait, no, Katarina was undoubtedly in danger. 

Nicol tells Katarina she should really think about her actions if even Sophia says it was dangerous.

Katarina apologizes to everyone for making them worried.

Geordo tells her with a black smile that if she keeps acting recklessly and putting herself in danger, he will confine her in a room.

Katarina feels a shiver running down her spine.

Katarina tells everyone she will be careful.

Everyone lectures Katarina. Everyone's stand is "We understand that it couldn't be helped since it was a mission from the Ministry. But because you didn't recognize danger, you happily thrust yourself into it and then told the story like a heroic tale." In other words, Katarina needs to properly recognize danger and act accordingly. She will be careful next time.

Katarina properly tells everyone "I am home". Everyone tells her "Welcome back" in return. Katarina feels like she has really returned home.

Everyone enjoys the tea party. They end it after about an hour since some of them need to leave because of work.

Geordo Wants to Ride in the Same Carriage as Katarina

Geordo: Why are Mary and Sophia riding in the same carriage as Katarina?

Geordo's lips are twitching.

Mary (elegant smile): Oh? Since we are returning home as well, we will ride together for part of the way. Prince Geordo, Prince Alan, Lord Nicol, you still have work to do, don't you? Please get into your carriages and go to work.

Geordo: In that case, I will also ride with her for part of the way and go to work.

Mary: Oh? But the carriage won't hold so many people.

Geordo: Alright. Then Keith, please get off.

Keith: Huh, why would I?! This is the carriage home to Claes Manor, I can't not ride it! So, no.

Mary: Lord Nicol, Prince Alan, Prince Geordo appears to feel lonely if he rides alone in a carriage, so please ride with him.

Geordo: Eh, what are you talking about, Mary?! This is not…

Nicol: Oh, is that so? I understand, Geordo. Let's ride in the same carriage.

Geordo: W-Wait! That's not it! Nicol, and you too Alan, why are you grabbing my arms?!

Mary: Prince Alan, please take him away.

Alan: …Okay.

Geordo: Alan, how much did she discipline you?! Wait! Katarina is my fiancéeeeee…

Geordo says this while being taken away. 

Katarina, Keith, Mary, and Sophia ride in the carriage going to Claes Manor.

Mary is making a triumphant face.

Katarina continues talking about her trip inside the carriage.

Katarina feels exhausted and starts dozing off. Mary offers to lend her shoulder so she can sleep. Katarina gladly accepts and falls asleep.

Fortune Lover 2 Dream

Katarina is dreaming about Acchan playing Fortune Lover 2.

Acchan is playing Cyrus's route. Katarina finds it timely since she has just returned from Cyrus's hometown.

Maria is telling Cyrus she can defeat "it" with light magic.

Cyrus tells Maria he will protect her so she won't have a single scratch.

Katarina figures it must be a battle scene. Cyrus and Maria are saying mostly the same things as during the Cezar scene before.

FL!Katarina appears and tells the two that Cerberus will crush them.

FL!Katarina makes a dragon appear.

Katarina is surprised to see the dragon they defeated a few days ago.

There is only one dragon, but Cerberus is on the enemy side.

The dragon and Cerberus attack Maria and Cyrus. Maria fires light magic at them.

Katarina recognizes the spell Maria used to fight the dragon. She saw that scene in reality.

Maria defeats Cerberus and the dragon with her light magic. FL!Katarina is arrested.

Katarina realizes their mission in Victoire was the Cyrus event just before his happy end.

Katarina wakes up shouting "Aaah, it was close~". Mary, Sophia, and Keith are surprised and ask her is something is wrong. Katarina replies she was just sleeptalking.

Katarina realizes that without her knowing, a doom flag was awaiting her during her mission. She has neglected thinking about her doom flags because of the dark organization. Things could have turned ugly. She needs to brace herself since she still has doom flags awaiting her.

Katarina shouts that she will do her best. Keith, Mary, and Sophia suggest that she go to sleep early because she is undoubtedly tired.

Katarina parts with Mary and Sophia.

Katarina has returned to the manor. She initially planned to have a mental meeting to think about measures against her doom flags, but since she is tired, she decides she needs to rest first.

Katarina goes to bed and instantly falls asleep.

??? POV

T/N: This scene is really unclear to me because I really can't tell who the person is or what they are talking about. 

The POV person hears lots of distant screams. They regain consciousness in the darkness.

When they look around, everything has changed. They guess a lot of time must have passed. They wonder how much time has passed since they were asleep, and also what happened to "that".

They will gather their consciousness and fill their body with it. 

They will return to the surface / this world to confirm what happened to "that" and what these screams were about. To keep their promise to that person.