“I’m feeling a bit stifled now.”
It’s highly likely that the reaction of our family contributed to Riccardo’s feelings of frustration. Despite being shocked by his sudden declaration to take me away, everyone behaved as if it was an inevitable event.
The assistant of the awakening; probably that’s what the Empire would call me.
“When did you complete your awakening?”
It’s said that a Rochester who has awakened does so shortly after their manifestation, but Riccardo achieved it even quicker than others. I heard that countless wars in the Empire were quelled because of him, and the Empire’s territory nearly doubled thanks to him.
I believed everything had ended.
He had gained unparalleled power in a world far beyond my reach, and I, unrelated to him, would no longer be engulfed in flames.
Riccardo was silent for a while at my question, then slowly parted his lips.
“Seven years ago.”
Seven years ago meant he awoke almost simultaneously with his manifestation. I tried to avoid eye contact with him as naturally as possible as I continued speaking.
“If you have anything to ask me, please do.”
“I thought I had nothing to ask you until I met you…”
“…”
“First question, you were not appointed as my assistant for the awakening. So, how did that happen?”
It was similar to asking why I wasn’t a saint.
“Ah, that was a coincidence.”
The word ‘coincidence’ seemed to crumple Riccardo’s face.
But what could I do? It was truly a coincidental event. I later learned that the wooden sword that struck Riccardo’s head was made from a tree in the Black Forest, which no one could enter without the royal family’s permission.
Even a rotting branch on the ground in that place was not to be taken away thoughtlessly.
Once a year, the royal family would cut down the sacred trees for the altar, and some leftovers were used to make wooden swords. They were twice as solid but half the weight of regular wooden swords, thus quite expensive.
So, I guessed that Riccardo’s manifestation might have been triggered by that object.
But how could I say that I hit him hard on the forehead to cause his awakening?
Wouldn’t that seem trivial compared to the renown of the Rochesters?
“Alright, no rush. Then, the second question.”
I nodded. It was a relief if he let it go.
“The Duke of Fenell and his eldest son were executed by imperial law.”
The time from the verdict to the execution was like being alive but not really living.
With Riccardo’s sudden awakening, there was no time to prepare for escape, and much had changed. It was meaningless to survive alone, abandoning my family.
“But how did you and the remaining family members survive?”
To answer that, I needed to know something first.
“How did you find us, Your Highness?”
“It took some effort.”
Ah, he doesn’t remember that either.
“But when I decided to look again, I found you easily.”
Of course. The one who hid my family and me in this place was none other than him. I recalled a certain day from the past.
“Why are you making that face?”
When our eyes met, all the past events flashed before me. Even when he left for the ducal residence and later returned to the Fenell mansion, he looked at me with the same bewildered eyes.
Young Riccardo ultimately protected me and my family. As if to reward my irrational and illogical faith.
“What are you thinking about now?”
He loosened the tie around his neck and asked, raising one eyebrow. His resemblance to the Riccardo of the past made me inadvertently respond.
“I’m not thinking about anything.”
“That sounds like informal speech…”
“I’m sorry, please forgive me.”
I quickly averted my gaze and distanced myself from him, repeatedly telling myself not to meet his eyes. But my feeble attempt crumbled under his touch as he gently grabbed my chin, ensuring our eyes met.
“It’s not polite to touch a lady without permission.”
“…”
“You keep making me impatient.”
His inscrutable black eyes swirled only with shades of grey.
“Perhaps this is the first time I’ve ever felt impatience.”
It was his way of telling me to act accordingly.
“And earlier, in the heat of the moment… it’s very unusual for someone to speak informally to me.”
“Did we have that kind of relationship?” His voice was subtly probing, but it wasn’t a question. What must it feel like for someone who knows they’ve lost their memory? Somehow, I didn’t want to make him feel lost.
“After Your Highness left for the Empire, the Dermaier Emperor ordered the execution of the entire Fenell family.”
“I’m aware of that.”
The execution was delayed much more than expected. We were detained in the mansion, merely waiting for our execution for several months. I guessed there must have been some political reason between the Empire and the Duchy.
“Before the Dermaier Empire’s knights arrived at the Fenell mansion, Your Highness came to find me first.”
“I did?”
That time, Riccardo came to find me while I was asleep, treating me like a complete stranger.
“Yes, before the knights surrounded the house, you had us taken out first.”
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.”
