In fact, the horse racing event was merely a platform for wealthy participants to flaunt well-bred horses and engage in transactions. No one had any interest in horse racing itself.
People gathered there to socialize, cheer for handsome jockeys, arrange marriages, and make eye-catching connections. Most importantly, the fact that nobles from the central, western, and northern regions, who did not attend the wedding of Duke Nualis and the ball of Viscount Svenya, were expected to clash with the eastern nobility, made everyone excited.
Most intriguingly, the fact that Countess Plache, the formidable Iron Lady, participated in the Empress’s War, and all the nobles present here had to align themselves somewhere, added to the excitement. Everyone was part of the war, and they all had to decide which side they belonged to.
Of course, for Jane Tellot, the chief clerk who was currently on vacation, this was not a story that applied at all.
“You’re considering it, right? Seriously, thinking of pushing your daughter in.”
“Aren’t you a Southern Sage? Is it legally possible for a sage to marry the Empress?”
“Well, isn’t she a famous and influential sage? The South is strictly separated, you know.”
“But Her Majesty married again this time. Because of that, the Eastern nobility near her is having a hard time.”
Belua was renowned as the finest vacation spot. Nobles seeking refuge from the heat crowded the racetrack, and Jane Tellot, the chief clerk, overheard various stories while enjoying an ice cream soda.
The thrifty aunt did not spare money on vacation, and most importantly, she was very generous when it came to her beloved niece’s eating. As long as it wasn’t a meal in the dismal cabinet blue, she didn’t mind anything.
By the time Jane ordered her second ice cream soda, the discussion in the hotel’s rear lounge became more concrete. It happened when Lady Alanka appeared with a parasol.
“What do you think will happen? Will the Viscountess Svenya become the Empress, or will that lady become the Empress?”
“Why are you only talking about the Eastern nobility? What about the Countess Plache? From Turington, the Empress personally took care of that lady and escorted her.”
The people sitting here were all nobles who traveled around various countries, enjoying life with the profits from hefty trusts. Jane was able to join them purely thanks to her aunt, Lady Godier. Her aunt had acquaintances with these nobles thanks to past connections.
‘Aunt is quite unique.’
Lady Godier was still calmly listening, seamlessly inserting herself into the conversation.
“All sorts of rumors suggest that Lady Alanka is falling behind. Don’t forget Lady Negrette either.”
Jane glanced at her aunt. Her aunt just smiled calmly. As expected, since that name came up, everyone asked Lady Godier.
“On the Negrette side, you’ll obviously support the lady, right?”
“Well, you know, it’s not important what others think. Ironically, because each house has one lady to marry, it’s become even noisier.”
Lady Godier answered with a smile. Hmm, a very formal smile. Jane sat quietly, waiting for a new ice cream soda. Other than that, there was nothing else that interested Jane.
“Now, the nobles from the East should start consolidating candidates together. Competing like this among themselves will only lead to losses.”
“So, Viscountess Svenya…”
“What’s the use of talking among ourselves? The one deciding the Empress is the Empress herself.”
“Well… the Empress probably has thoughts as well.”
The slow-speaking middle-aged gentleman’s words meant, ‘The Emperor will probably propose conditions that suit him, and the lady will accept and marry.’
Jane glanced at Lady Alanka, who wore a white parasol and gazed at the beautiful scenery from afar. She was a typical Eastern beauty with a delicate and graceful figure and rosy cheeks.
‘Although she’s the type to willingly pledge allegiance to men who promise to protect her, she’s not interested herself.’
To Jane’s eyes, which had seen many people in various circumstances, it was quite clear.
The lady looked outside for a moment, then turned around at the sound of someone calling her. There was a gentleman with ash-colored beard gesturing to her.
‘Viscount Alanka. It’s been a while.’
Those in the house had already met the investigators investigating the case of the deceased son Manuel Langberg. If they meet an investigator who couldn’t find out why their son died while investigating on vacation, it might be uncomfortable. Jane recalled the stack of case-related documents on her desk.
“Catherine.”
“Oh, yes. It’s time for your medicine. Just a moment.”
Catherine, with a sincere, affectionate, and gentle attitude like a daughter, nodded her head and left to get her father’s medicine.
Lately, she had been skillfully overcoming the mother’s urging and the father’s pressure. She gathered medicine, obediently followed her father’s words, accompanied her parents wherever they went, and became a fairly good companion.
Male lead is a Destined Young Husband (Female-dominant)
One-sentence summary: Wife-master, listen to my explanation!
Li Ruantang, a young lady from a prestigious family, stumbled and fell. When she woke up, she saw a noble and beautiful young man sitting by her bedside, wiping away tears.
The young master had slightly reddened eyes, and his every move exuded charm.
The sight made Li Ruantang’s eyes hot and her heart flutter. After all, she had made a bet with the young master Meng from the neighboring family. If she couldn’t marry a husband before the end of the year, she would have to admit defeat and give up the jade she had worked so hard to obtain.
Outside the window, the flowers were in full bloom.
Rather than losing the bet, the jade, and her face, Li Ruantang calculated that it would be better to seek marriage with the young master in front of her, killing three birds with one stone.
…
Meng Jun never thought that an accident during a spring outing would lead to them rolling down a cliff and into a river, yet still survive.
Now they were trapped in an unknown village, and Meng Jun had overheard that the family who had rescued them had their own intentions.
After all, it was Li Ruantang who had lost her mind and sought marriage first. He was only trying to protect himself!
Glancing at Li Ruantang, who was listing her own merits, the young husband’s voice softened, and he blushed as he lied, “W-wife-master, Wife-master, don’t you remember me?”
The young husband’s voice was clear and handsome, coaxing Li Ruantang’s heart to be soft and sweet, and she spared no effort to protect him.
It wasn’t until they returned to the capital that Li Ruantang suddenly remembered.
When they had fallen off the cliff, in order not to implicate Wei Yunruo, whom he secretly admired, the young husband had instead pulled her, who was slightly farther away, down the cliff with him…
Short summary by Yuushi L: Initially, the male lead (ML) liked another girl, while the female lead (FL) liked the ML. Both fell off a cliff. The FL temporarily lost her memory, and the ML, fearing others might take advantage of him, claimed FL was his wife while they were staying in a village. Later, when they returned home, the FL regained her memories and remembered that the ML liked someone else, so she kept her distance from him. However, during their time living together in the countryside, the ML’s view of the FL had completely changed. From this point, his pursuit of the FL begins.
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