“Surprise…”
The trembling voice undoubtedly conveyed sincerity.
When did such warm sunlight start growing in those empty red eyes?
Even the hand Aston lent me was remarkably warm, making it feel like a hand warmer, and I wanted to hold onto it continuously.
“…What am I thinking?”
“Ddalkkung.”
“Ah, it seems like you’ve recovered from the symptoms of hyperventilation now.”
“Really?”
“Yes. Although the details need to be examined by Zero or a doctor… the crisis is over.”
“Huuu. Thanks… I’ll definitely repay this favor later.”
“That’s okay. Since Duchess Kitten is safe, that’s enough.”
Aston nodded and went back to his place.
“…Ddalkkung.”
I watched Aston, who was moving away, holding a glass in a daze. Zero hopped onto my forehead, shoulders, and hands, shaking off the dust.
“What’s wrong? When did this happen? Were you in a lot of pain? Or did you get too stressed because of the zombies, resulting in a mental shock? Huh?”
“Uh, Zero. Ddalkkung. I’m okay, so could you please tell me slowly? Everyone is busy toasting and getting drunk, so they won’t notice.”
Luckily, the noisy people were each enjoying the moment, unraveling their own bundles of stories, so they didn’t pay much attention to my side. I didn’t want to pour cold water on the lively atmosphere, but thanks to Aston’s unexpected consideration, my abnormal behavior went unnoticed.
“But still… It seemed like you were in a lot of pain. Shouldn’t you take a break?”
“Hey now. Who was the one who forced me to work for him even after giving me a quest? Wasn’t that the infamous wicked guardian angel? Well, that’s what you call it, right?”
Applying the term guardian angel that came up earlier, Zero blushed and said, “Eek.”
“It’s somewhat similar to a guardian angel. Although there are limits to what a probationary archon can do… Still, I consider us quite well-matched partners now, even if you ended up here due to an error. So, don’t worry. I’ll take care of you, even if something happens.”
“Even so… It felt like you were in so much pain. Shouldn’t you take a break?”
“Hey, listen. Who dared to impose work on me by issuing quests? That would be the supposedly wicked guardian angel, right?”
As the talk about angels came up, Zero blushed and responded with a red face.
“Y-Yeah. It might be similar to a guardian angel. Although there are limits to what a trainee archon can do… still, I think we’re a pretty good match now. Even if you ended up here due to an error, I consider you a fortunate partner. Until the day you leave after filling in the gaps of twisted stories, I want to do my best for you.”
“Oh…?”
What’s going on? Even though Zero hadn’t been drinking, he unexpectedly brought up all the things that had been bundled up inside him.
“Although we got involved due to an error, I like you. Possessor. Even if you leave after fixing the cause and effect of your twisted story, I want to do my best for you.”
“I never expected you to think like that while always joking around and teasing… It’s like a dream.”
As I, who had stopped hiccupping, sipped champagne and nibbled on a sandwich, Zero approached and hugged my hand, intertwining his fingers.
“Don’t be in pain, Possessor.”
“…”
“If what happened just now was because your mind became unstable and a gap was opening up, it’s dangerous. Souls from different worlds are hard to repair once they’re broken.”
Zero said that if my soul were to be shattered while fighting zombies, even if it were a soul that had fallen off due to an error, there would be no way to rescue it.
“As I am not a probationary god but a major deity of this empire, if I had the status and power of Adel, I could have supported you wholeheartedly… but that’s not possible.”
The small hamster-shaped deity lowered its head.
“So don’t be in pain. I’m sorry that this is all I can say.”
“…Do you know that a serious look really doesn’t suit you?”
“Oh, really. I told you not to spoil the mood! Am I really serious?”
Zero shouted a burlesque sound, burst into laughter, and resumed eating quietly as if nothing happened.
In the crowded hall of the mansion, where everyone was busy drinking and eating, Zero’s voice, expressing concern for me, was as vivid as if highlighted with a fluorescent marker.
“It’s okay. I’m quite robust. I just had some useless thoughts a moment ago; it’s like a screw got loose.”
“Tighten the screw more securely. Don’t worry me.”
“Yes, yes.”
As I put my hand next to my head and turned the screw, Zero chuckled strangely, ate again, and then burst into laughter.
Those who were intoxicated by the lively atmosphere cheered for the Kitten Duchess’s family name again.
“Kitten! Kitten! Kitten!”
“For the future of the Kitten Duchess!”
“…For the future.”
As we quietly raised our toasts, I fervently prayed inwardly.
Please, may this awkward but magnificent peace not be disrupted.
The simple yet grand party continued until late at night, and I used tiredness as an excuse to go to bed early.
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.”
