I had suggested to Marianne earlier to try on a beautiful hat, but actually seeing it on her made me feel awful. Idrish finally looked back at her.
“What is it?”
At the sound of his deep voice, hearts popped into Marianne’s eyes.
“Take off the hat.”
“I don’t want to.”
Idrish curtly dismissed her. His tone, voice, and demeanor all suggested that he had no intention of obeying her.
But who was standing in front of him? It was no ordinary person; it was Marianne.
“Don’t want to?”
Marianne chuckled.
Earlier, just because I’d placed the lemon muffin closer to him, Idrish had shown his anger. Now, he was even using informal speech but she only found it amusing.
Is it because he’s handsome? Seriously.
“You’re funny. I like that.”
Then Marianne reached out and popped off Idrish’s hat.
As the hat fell, his black hair scattered in the wind, revealing his stern features that clearly showed his displeasure. The young aristocrats behind him silently admired Idrish’s beauty.
And it seemed Marianne was no different in her admiration.
“Are you a member of this ship? If you belonged to our estate, I would’ve noticed by now. Hmm? Aren’t you going to say anything? You’re really reticent.”
Idrish’s face increasingly crumpled. That was the expression he’d shown when initially captured in a cage like a hedgehog.
He seemed to find even the fact that Marianne was speaking to him irritating and annoying.
“Why not have a cup of tea with me?”
Marianne cajoled, sounding like an old hag. Idrish opened his mouth to say something, but before he could speak, his gaze suddenly locked onto me.
How did he know I was standing here? I was hidden among the crowd.
His glaring eyes seemed to ask for my permission, like a large dog waiting for its owner’s command.
I swallowed. The answer I should give was obvious.
Go and find out where the fangs are while having tea with Marianne.
But unlike in the cabin earlier, I couldn’t bring myself to say it this time.
I didn’t want to see Marianne and Idrish together. I didn’t want to see Idrish in discomfort either…
But ultimately, this was to save Idrish and the world. I can’t ruin things because of petty emotions.
I clenched my fist and signaled to Idrish.
Go. Extract information.
Idrish’s eyebrows quivered minutely.
I felt that Idrish was angry with me. I avoided his gaze.
I have no choice. I don’t like it either…
With a face that looked like a prince of a ruined country dragged in after the war, Idrish sat down next to Marianne. Jacob had already been chased away long ago.
Idrish sat leaning back aloofly. Even in his ragged sailor’s clothes, he emanated an aristocratic aura.
The tea party resumed, but Marianne seemed to only have eyes for Idrish sitting next to her. Eventually, she even turned her body towards him. I pretended to distribute cookies in the not-so-distant place while eavesdropping on their conversation.
“What’s your name?”
“Idrun.”
“Idrun, what a pretty name. Have you been doing this for long? Your hands are quite delicate.”
Marianne lightly touched Idrish’s hand.
What? Where is she touching?
Witnessing such ridiculous physical contact made my blood boil in reverse.
“Using those nice hands for rough work will ruin them. Those hands should be used for something better. Like for me, perhaps?”
Marianne chuckled. The young nobles behind her chuckled along.
Are they crazy?
The cookies in my hand crumbled into powder and fell.
Idrish seemed to share my sentiments as he harshly shook off her hand. He fumbled around his clothes as if searching for a handkerchief, then realizing he was in a sailor’s outfit, wiped his hands on his clothes.
“It hasn’t been long.”
“I see. How about quitting and working at our estate then?”
“I don’t want to.”
“Mom, why? This could be a lot more fun? Just be my friend.”
Idrish’s face momentarily crumbled, then regained its composure. He too seemed to be exercising considerable patience.
“Such a costly friendship.”
Marianne also seemed displeased as she leaned back.
“Answer my question and I’ll consider it.”
“Question? What is it? Just say it.”
Marianne sat close to Idrish again. For the first time, her assertive demeanor seemed to pique his interest.
Isn’t that too close?
“Is it true that the Wolf Clan keeps the fang of their founding leader as a family heirloom?”
Idrish asked the question straightforwardly.
Even I, who was distracted by how close Idrish and Marianne were, was taken aback.
To ask that so openly? It’s too suspicious!
But contrary to my worry, Marianne answered readily.
“Wolf Clan? Yeah, that’s right. You’re not a wolf therianthrope, are you? Though you don’t look like one considering your size. What therianthrope are you? Surely you didn’t come from Agila. What therianthrope are you?”
It’s clearly rude to ask what therianthrope someone is.
Well, what does Marianne care?
“Neither wolf nor eagle. Then have fangs from our clan ever been found in another?”
“Well, not likely. They’re just like heirlooms; no one would steal them. What meaning would our clan’s fang have in another clan? But why do you ask?”
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.”
