There was no reason for me to go because the person I wanted to congratulate wouldn’t be there.
“Yeah. Good thinking. And…”
It seemed like he had something else to say, but after closing his mouth, he stared at me intently.
I waited quietly until he spoke again. However, no matter how long I waited, there was no sign of him opening his mouth.
‘Why is he like this?’
Although he seemed to be thinking about something, it was challenging to discern his intentions.
“Kaern?”
Unable to hold back any longer, I called Kaern first. He let out a short sigh, ran his hand through his hair, and then spoke.
“And it’s better if you don’t come back here until you leave for the capital.”
“…What?”
As soon as I heard words I had never imagined, my mind went blank.
“…You’re telling me not to come to the duke’s estate?”
“Yes.”
I asked again, wondering if I had misheard, but his answer remained the same.
“You told me I could come anytime.”
The person who said I could come whenever I wanted was him.
“But now you’re telling me not to come? Why…”
Feeling unjust, as I was about to complain to him, I suddenly shut my mouth.
It wasn’t worth reacting this strongly just because the owner of the estate told me not to come.
‘Right, it was just a favor.’
That’s why I didn’t have the right to question him about why he was doing this, considering the kindness he had shown me until now.
“…Yes. I understand.”
I responded with a voice filled with resignation, “I understand.”
“Well, then, it seems today will be the last time we see each other. I’ll study abroad and do well. Take care of yourself and get well soon.”
Afterward, I stood up immediately, bid him a final farewell with a face devoid of any emotions, and proceeded to leave.
As I turned my body to walk towards the door, Kaern tightly grasped my wrist.
“Haah, Herena.”
Turning my head to look at Kaern, he appeared to be unable to conceal the complexity in his expression, gazing at me with uncertainty.
“I… Haah, no. You should go now.”
As if he were about to say something, he eventually stayed silent and released his grip on me.
For a brief moment, harboring a futile hope that he might reconsider his words, I left the office, feeling a sense of desolation.
After the door closed behind me, I walked alone through the corridor to exit the mansion.
Tears seemed on the verge of falling, but I somehow managed to hold them back.
I didn’t want to cry here.
No, there was no reason to cry now.
Why is this happening?
Expressing a desire for a breakup, paradoxically, left me feeling awkward and bewildered about why I was hurt by such a situation. Until when did I believe Kaern would treat me well? Did I think that affection would continue? I made an effort to discipline myself, attempting to regain composure. Then, a sudden thought crossed my mind. Perhaps soon, he might be the one to request a breakup. The advice not to attend the banquet, the instruction not to come to the mansion anymore, and the peculiar distance he maintained—all seemed to fit perfectly. Undoubtedly, there must have been some change in him during the two months I hadn’t seen him. ‘I burdened Adelia with unnecessary requests.’ If it were so easy to break up, I wished I hadn’t said anything to Adelia. My heart felt heavy, thinking I had given my friend a significant task. Amid various thoughts flooding my mind, I walked and walked. Suddenly, when I lifted my head, I realized I was heading in the opposite direction, not towards the stairs to the first floor. Pausing for a moment in my steps, I shook my head to regain focus. As I tried to redirect my steps towards the stairs, I heard voices of men coming from a slightly ajar door on the opposite side. It was a moment when I was about to pass by, as eavesdropping on others’ conversations went against courtesy.
Pausing my steps for a moment, I shook my head from side to side, trying to clear my mind. Then, I regained my focus and attempted to lift my foot towards the direction of the stairs. However, from a slightly ajar door in a nearby room, the voices of men caught my attention. It was a moment when I was about to pass by, as eavesdropping on others’ conversations went against courtesy. The words of one man, in particular, grabbed my attention.
“Sure. The Duke’s fall wasn’t an accident.”
What does that mean?
It wasn’t an accident?
To hear more, I cautiously approached the door.
And as I held my breath as much as possible, I listened to the conversation between the two men.
“So, someone intentionally did that to the Duke, right?”
“Exactly. The Duke, who had a seizure in the mountains, suddenly died as soon as he arrived at the mansion yesterday. His tongue turned pitch black.”
“Poison?”
“Most likely.”
“Have they identified what poison it is?”
“Not yet. We’re currently analyzing the saliva and fluids to determine the type of poison.”
“Daring to harm the Duke. Is there no fear?”
“That’s true, but the Duke considered that not only Adelia but also his fiancée, Rosentia, could be in danger.”
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.”
