But if he did that, Ru, who was kind and affectionate, would probably look at him as if he were less than a beast. Hayden had no choice but to opt for a gentle and sensible approach for an ordinary human. To do that, he had to quickly get rid of Ambassador Nirva.
To the Emperor, who cut through the clutter and went straight to the point, Felix nodded with a self-destructive feeling. Well, of course. The Emperor couldn’t possibly be unaware.
“Yes, that’s correct.”
“With the bright merchants of this door, wouldn’t it be nice to extend our reach every time a new opportunity arises?”
If you turn his words around, it would mean ‘only caring about money.’ Felix was one of those who only cared about money. He wasn’t ashamed of it, as that was the only way for a small island nation, a city-state, to survive among the great powers.
“Opening a communication channel is important. I hope Your Majesty recognizes Nirva, which has survived until now through communication.”
“Am I telling you not to do it, so you won’t?”
“I will deliver the message.”
But it meant not to expect anything.
“I always respect Nirva.”
He wasn’t saying not to trade with the Kaleta Empire. Well, now that he had given notice, it was enough. No, it wasn’t enough. With a hint of anxiety, Felix quietly awaited the Emperor’s words.
“Do what you have to do. I hope for a good outcome.”
Externally, it seemed like a compliment, but Felix felt a growing unease at that moment.
However, he couldn’t stop what had already been decided by the higher-ups. Nirva was always a nation that proclaimed neutrality, and to maintain neutrality, it was necessary to engage with anyone without discrimination.
“Then, if you’ll excuse me.”
Hayden passed by Felix Keka without stopping.
The individuals high above probably had no interest, but the parents at the reception were all pestering their children.
“Go and talk to someone.”
“Is it that difficult to request a dance?”
“Well, it’s your day today.”
The ladies flocked to the Emperor like chickens being driven, and the gentlemen were pushed to talk to the Southern Sage.
In the social circles dominated by the aristocrats in the Perseita, it was still strongly perceived that all receptions were ultimately events for marriage. Engagements were made at receptions, leading to the union of families.
Sages, except for Dragonlords and non-humans, were symbolically recognized, so the aristocrats eagerly pushed their children into new marriages.
“You have a reputation, don’t you?”
The leader of the Alsmone Union, Duke Alanka, was no different. He prodded his son’s side and shoved his daughter’s back. Katherine strangely recoiled from the duke’s touch, almost to the point of not fitting into his title, and Cedric, as usual, didn’t listen to his father.
“Get a grip. What do you intend to do with the ancestors who have lived in the family for hundreds of years?”
The son who would unhesitatingly say, ‘Have you finally lost your mind?’ if touched one more time was annoying, and the daughter was somewhat manageable.
“Katherine, what are you doing? Go and greet.”
To whom, the Emperor? Katherine’s face turned pale. How could she approach the Emperor, whom she didn’t want to get close to, even recoiling from him due to his unsightly appearance? She resisted, trying to avoid him, and wanted to talk to other gentlemen who were greeting her, but she had to go. Katherine hesitated.
Father is scary. But the Emperor was scarier. Even the audacious sons who would unabashedly say such things as ‘Have you finally lost your mind?’ couldn’t dare to approach him, busy as he was meeting bureaucrats and diplomats.
Everything has its own time. But Katherine had no choice but to move forward because she could see her father’s terrifying gaze. And then she heard it. The person speaking to the expressionless Emperor.
“… Your Majesty, has left a message.”
Who was that person? Katherine had never seen him before. Probably a bureaucrat. Or maybe a diplomat. Such things weren’t important. The problem was next. Suddenly, the man began to tremble.
“Eek!”
Suddenly, all the lights went out, and darkness engulfed everything. The only thing shining was the man who was speaking in front of the Emperor. No, from that man, an unpleasant emerald light flowed, creating a figure.
“Rustica.”
As the figure gently summoned the new Southern Sage, Katherine flinched. A chilling fear swept over her.
His Majesty, the Emperor. Something was wrong. She began to gasp for breath and started to step back.
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.”
