“Commander, how could you do this! Without a single word of consultation with me, the expedition commander!”
“What should I do when we haven’t properly completed the verification of the long-range magical tool and need to supplement it from time to time during the expedition? It’s right that the knights should receive accurate training to properly use the magical tool.”
“If the magical tool hasn’t completed verification, do we really need to use it on this expedition? It’s not like it’s our first time exterminating magical beasts, so why must we…”
“Hey, Leon. You know it too, don’t you? This time will be different from the magical beast exterminations we’ve done before.”
“So, that’s why you allowed a civilian who’s not even a trained warrior to accompany the expedition?”
“You think I wanted to do that? Look, Leon. Lady Lyuschino is practically the only person voluntarily offering help for this expedition!”
“…What does that mean?”
“Everyone has taken a step back and is watching us carefully, Leon.”
“……”
“Everyone is on high alert about our success and failure. In this situation, is it really a rational decision to turn away someone who’s willing to help us without any conditions? Moreover, the capabilities of that so-called magical tool seem to be quite significant. Isn’t that something you know best?”
“Commander.”
“Leon. I may be a cowardly old man, but I still have eyes to discern good from bad. Lady Kasha Lyuschino doesn’t seem like someone who would betray others for her own benefit.”
“……”
“There must be a reason why Lady Kasha didn’t discuss it with you beforehand. Honestly, seeing how you usually are, it’s not very surprising to me. I bet you didn’t have a single discussion with Lady Kasha about this expedition, right?”
“Isn’t that obvious? It’s clear as day that this expedition will be dangerous…!”
“That’s why Lady Kasha wants to accompany you even more, not letting you go alone!”
“……”
“Enough talk, time to set off! You need to reach the next destination before the lady gets tired!”
Swaying on the horse running at a steady speed, Leon mulled over his last conversation with Alex.
He could understand Alex’s feelings. The very existence of the Holy Knights might be at stake in this expedition. As well as the lives of each and every knight that Alex and Leon had devoted themselves to raising.
He must have wanted to grasp at straws. Leon felt the same way.
The problem was that the straw happened to be Kasha.
A long sigh escaped Leon’s mouth.
“Kasha, you are always reckless, and I am forever powerless and at a loss before you, as always.”
Throughout his life, he had only played the role of protecting someone. Shielding those he had to protect from upcoming hardships and enduring the pain alone had now become a sort of habit for him.
But Kasha never once tried to be protected by him. She didn’t seem to even entertain the thought that she could be protected by him. Sometimes to the point of hurting his pride.
Was he really just a long-term chess piece that was briefly needed to get closer to her goal? An unprecedented feeling of helplessness enveloped him.
Leon shifted his gaze slightly towards the rear, pretending to check the procession.
However, her figure was not easy to find due to the long stretching line.
‘Is she following well? This must be her first time riding a horse for so long.’
Riding a horse all day long for a beginner is close to self-discipline. Moreover, since the matter was so important for this expedition, they had to move the arrival forward as much as possible, making it impossible to leisurely adjust one’s condition.
It was a long journey that would take more than half a month even if they hurried. To make matters worse, it was expected that rough journeys through forests, deserts, and cliffs would continue throughout.
‘Of course, I can occasionally restore her with holy power, but I can’t stick by her side all the time since the subordinates will be watching from all directions.’
Given the nature of the expedition consisting of Holy Knights, he could have the other knights help with her recovery.
‘The problem is, I’d rather die than do that.’
Leon frowned in annoyance. Just imagining other guys putting their hands on Kasha’s forehead made murderous energy well up from his core.
‘Get a grip.’
How could he, the commander of the Holy Knights who invokes the name of God, harbor murderous intentions towards his subordinates?
‘This is going to be a difficult journey.’
Looking up at the sun burning red above his head, Leon sincerely thought so.
[This is the timeline separator]On the evening of the first day of the expedition.
Upon hearing that they would have to camp out in the fields as there was no estate nearby, Kasha slowly dismounted from the horse with a calm expression.
The moment she landed on the ground, the bones and muscles all over her body rattled and cried out in pain. Especially her thighs, buttocks, and lower back were numb.
In fact, she had been in that state constantly since about two hours after leaving. She had gritted her teeth and endured, managing to safely complete the day’s journey, but the problem was yet to come.
‘Can I continue traveling for more than half a month in this state without being a burden to the expedition?’
Perhaps it would have been better to just send the magical tool to the expedition’s side and stay in the capital herself from the start. The desire to complete the long-range magical tool and change the tide of this war had made things spiral out of control.
‘The journey has already begun. Don’t lose heart.’
Kasha steeled her resolve with that thought and tried to look around for a spot to set up camp.
“…?”
But what was this situation?
The knights gathered around her were building something in unison. When she tried to step aside to make room for them, they hurriedly ran over and stopped her.
“Please rest for a bit! It will be done soon!”
“What… are you talking about?”
“What else would it be? It’s the tent where Lady Kasha will be staying.”
Karim, the good-natured adjutant, explained with a chuckle.
“The tent… where I’ll be staying? That’s… I can set it up myself. I don’t want to trouble you.”
“No, no. It’s alright. We have been ordered to do our utmost to serve Lady Kasha so that you won’t experience any inconvenience during your accompaniment.”
“……”
She didn’t bother asking who gave that order. There was only one commander in a position to give orders to Karim.
Kasha gaped at the tent being completed in an instant before her eyes.
“I’m going to use this huge tent all by myself?”
“Originally, it’s the tent used by the commander, but he yielded it to Lady Kasha.”
Karim whispered, winking with one eye. Kasha waved her hands in embarrassment.
“What? But that can’t…”
“Ah, don’t worry. We have one more large emergency tent prepared, so there’s no problem at all. Please just accept it without declining. It will be more troublesome for us if you refuse.”
Karim was so adamant that she couldn’t refuse any further. Kasha let out a deep sigh, her face darkening.
‘I came along not to be a burden…’
Regardless of her concern, the knights who had quickly finished the tent swiftly withdrew.
“Then please rest well! The meal will be brought to you soon!”
“I’ll come and get the meal myse-”
“I’m telling you, we’ll be in big trouble if you keep doing that!”
Karim disappeared quickly before Kasha could say another word. He even posted a separate guard in front of her tent.
Left with no choice, Kasha entered the tent and looked inside. Somehow, a rather soft bedding, desk, and chair had been prepared.
‘Now that it’s come to this, I must complete the long-range magical tool as soon as possible and be of help to the expedition.’
Kasha’s eyes sparkled with firm determination.
She quickly finished the meal brought by the knights and immediately sat down at the desk. The moment she sat on the chair, she almost screamed from the pain in her buttocks. Her whole body ached and drowsiness washed over her, but she gritted her teeth and strengthened her resolve.
The long-range magical tool was almost complete. She just needed to adjust the distance to the target point and the firing angle, but that was proving to be more difficult than expected.
Kasha didn’t leave the desk until late into the night when the surroundings were filled with snoring sounds.
And a few hours later.
Just before dawn, someone entered her tent.
“I knew this would happen.”
The intruder sighed softly, as if whispering, upon seeing her asleep hunched over the desk.
He immediately approached her and carefully lifted her up. It was a familiar gesture.
As her head fell limply backward, completely lost in sleep, he preciously supported it and adjusted her posture.
He walked over to the bedding and gently laid her down. However, as if missing the suddenly disappeared body heat, she curled her body sideways and mumbled incomprehensible sleep talk.
At the same time, her loose shirt rode up, exposing her snow-white back and slender stomach defenseless.
That wasn’t all. Her physique, which he thought to be skinny and fragile, revealed distinct curves under the thin shirt.
“……”
The intruder, Leon, froze for a moment as he gazed at the sight, his eyes wavering helplessly.
“Why do you… always put me to the test?”
With a slight frown on his slightly reddened eyes, he quickly pulled Kasha’s shirt down. The movement was stiff like a wooden doll, but his fingertips visibly trembled.
As her bare white skin disappeared from sight, he managed to regain some focus.
Soon, golden holy power poured out from his hand. He placed it directly on her forehead. After some time, her breathing slowed down and stabilized.
After removing his hand a while later, Leon hesitated and whispered softly. His tone was faltering as if making excuses for a mistake.
“Let me make it clear, this is truly to aid your quick recovery. It’s absolutely not to satisfy any personal desire, I hope you understand that.”
“……”
“Of course, it would be proper to get your permission first, but I don’t think you would easily allow my treatment in this situation.”
As if annoyed by the noise, Kasha slightly frowned.
His hand, hovering aimlessly in the air, finally reached towards Kasha’s waist as if making a decision.
After Being Cheated On, She Picked Up a Treasure (Female-dominant)
One-line summary: The husband I married on a whim had been secretly in love with me for a long time.
On the day when Jun Shao finally obtained the imperial decree for her marriage, Lan Qu, the person she had admired for six years, defied the decree and ran away.
Her gentleness and devotion, her promise of a lifetime together, were all disregarded by him. Instead, he dreamed of entering the palace to serve the Emperor’s sister as a sixth-rank attendant.
News of this incident spread throughout the capital, and the alleys in front of and behind the Lan mansion were crowded with people who came to watch the commotion.
Jun Shao should have been embarrassed and angry.
But someone stepped in to protect her dignity.
The figure was in a miserable state, yet still possessed an undeniable elegance and handsomeness.
The young lord struggled to climb the wall of the Lan mansion and shouted to her, “If he won’t marry you, I will!”
So, Jun Shao took advantage of the situation and married the person.
She thought the young lord did it to save the Lan family from the crime of defying the imperial decree, but never imagined that from beginning to end, what he coveted was her.
*
After the wedding, Jun Shao felt like she was living in a dream.
Her Wife-master was as beautiful as a fairy in a painting, skilled in the six arts, well-versed in poetry and literature, capable of being gentle and attentive, and also grand and dignified. Most importantly, she was the only one in his heart and eyes.
Jun Shao didn’t know how Lan Shiwu, as a illegitimate son without a father and blessed with beauty, had managed to preserve his purity, recklessly escape, and use his last ounce of strength to ruin his own reputation, all because of his love for her, just to stand before her.
She could only see him gazing at her with eyes full of love, and when she bestowed a name upon him, his eyes shone like stars.
“You have come to me like a weary bird perching on a branch. I shall call you A Qi.”
