The Aloof Swordmaster Can't Keep Up the Act

[Cold, obsessive sword master ✖️ quirky princess] [Two strong leads ✖️ both devoted only to each other] My imperial brother dumped me on the world's greatest sword master to discipline me.

They say he's cold and aloof, and looks at everyone as if they owe him money.

The first time I saw him, I thought he was handsome.

The second time, I thought he was incredibly handsome.

The third time, I decided I was going to make him mine.

But I noticed something strange. By day, this sword master scolds me with a cold expression, but at night, a gentle senior brother secretly brings me food.

The senior brother looks about seventy percent like the sword master, but he blushes when he smiles. He's much cuter.

At first, I liked the senior brother more.

Until one day, I accidentally wandered into the sword master's secret chamber and saw the walls covered in pictures of me.

The newest one was still wet with ink.

Beside it was a small line in his handwriting:

"She smiled at Senior Brother today. I want to kill myself."

I stood there and thought for three seconds. Then I understood.

What cold sword master?

What gentle senior brother?

They're obviously the same person.

I pushed the door open. He was standing outside, expressionless, his ears bright red.

"Xie Jingxue," I said, looking up at him. "Why are you putting on an act?"

After a long silence, he said something that made my heart soften: "...I think I'm too tainted."

I smiled.

I said, "Funny. I happen to like the tainted ones."