“If you want to see Kevin, just say that you want to see him.”
“!”
“You’re playing so well with him.”
Feeling exposed in front of Artia, Leo felt embarrassed.
“I just played with him because I was bored.”
Leo said, holding onto Kevin’s arms and legs to prevent him from falling off his shoulders.
Of course, he could have said that he wanted to see him.
But Leo’s pride wouldn’t allow it.
Since Kevin was born, everyone’s attention, including the servants, focused on Kevin.
Artia, loved as a perfect mother and woman.
Everyone was happy seeing Kevin, born from both of them.
However, Leo felt a strange jealousy towards Kevin. He had no memory of receiving his mother’s love.
Moreover, unlike his perfect brother in every aspect, Leo had nothing he excelled at.
Perhaps it was natural for him to be crooked.
To avoid revealing such an ugly feeling, Leo, like a hedgehog, set up sharp thorns to protect himself from everyone.
He picked fights over trivial matters, trying not to show his vulnerable heart.
But unlike himself, who was an outsider from the beginning, Kevin, the baby, monopolized everyone’s love from the moment he was born.
Maybe that’s why. Leo, who used to ignore any talk about Kevin, suddenly became interested when he saw Kevin sleeping in the crib.
Kevin, with his white and smooth skin, silver hair, tiny hands, and an innocent face smaller than his own.
Kevin was a child anyone could love.
“Darn it, how can I hate you?”
Leo muttered softly.
Looking at the chubby cheeks, he couldn’t hold onto any feelings of dislike.
“Sorry. From now on, this uncle will protect you.”
Leo pledged while looking at Kevin.
From that day on, Kevin became Leo’s sole focus.
When Leo opened his eyes, Artia was standing nearby.
Avoiding Artia’s gaze, Leo spoke.
“I didn’t particularly want to see Kevin.”
Considering the person who was saying this while carrying Kevin on his shoulders, it was truly a feeble excuse.
“Leo.”
Artia called Leo gently.
Leo suddenly felt unease in her voice.
“Don’t misunderstand. I’m just playing with him because I’m bored! I wouldn’t genuinely like a little kid like him…!”
Leo was still awkward in expressing his emotions. Although his words and actions contradicted, Artia could understand.
She could see that Leo cherished Kevin.
“Leo.”
Artia held Leo’s arm with one hand. Leo’s mouth naturally closed under Artia’s firm grip.
“That’s enough.”
“?”
Leo raised his eyebrows and looked at Artia.
Artia gently lifted the corners of her mouth.
“It means you don’t have to deceive yourself anymore. It’s okay to be honest now.”
“…What?”
Leo’s eyes widened at unexpected words.
“We’re family, after all.”
“Family?”
“Yeah.”
At the word ‘family,’ Leo gently lifted the corners of his mouth.
Family.
We’re family.
Artia’s words were actually what Leo wanted to hear the most.
Leo, too, felt like an ugly duckling swimming around, even though he was a member of the aristocracy.
His parents’ absence since childhood.
His only brother, even his own brother, had exchanged only a few words with him.
He never dreamed of going out or playing like others.
Everything began to change after Artia came.
“It’s not bad to be honest with your feelings. It’s certainly not embarrassing.”
Artia gave strength to Leo, who stood there silently.
“You don’t have to take Kevin out without anyone knowing, like today. You can take Kevin out whenever you want.”
Leo, who had never revealed his innermost thoughts to anyone, felt a rush of emotions, a mix of sobbing and anger, when Artia unintentionally discovered them.
But the more that happened, the more Leo wanted to hide his true feelings.
If he accidentally revealed them and people found out about his weakness…
Leo felt that his pride would be hurt beyond endurance.
“Wh-who took Kevin out!?”
Despite the forceful words, Leo’s eyes became teary.
In his bloodshot eyes, anyone could read his emotions.
However, Leo, wanting to hide his emotions even more deeply, raised his voice sharply.
“You… aren’t you worried about taking care of Kevin? Last time, I almost drowned in the river! What if something like that happens again when I take Kevin to the riverside?”
Tears streamed down Leo’s eyes.
Not wanting to be caught crying, Leo quickly wiped away the tears with his palm, turning his head.
“Leo.”
“Aren’t you worried about Kevin?”
“Of course, I’m worried.”
“What?”
Leo was at a loss for words.
“But why are you saying such things to me?”
Artia released the hand that was gripping Leo’s arm, wiping away Leo’s tears.
“For Kevin, you’re the coolest uncle in the world.”
“…”
The coolest uncle in the world.
For Leo, who thought that no one acknowledged him, that title was no different from the highest praise.
“…Embarrassing.”
Tears continued to flow from Leo’s eyes.
‘Ah, this shouldn’t be happening.’
Why do tears keep coming?
Unable to look at Artia, Leo couldn’t help but turn his head away and grumble abruptly.
“I felt it since the first time we met, but do you really know how annoying you are, Leo?”
Artia shrugged, seemingly indifferent.
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.”
