Blinking, I looked at Serdis.
“Did you really ask to withdraw from the battle?”
Even the Emperor seemed taken aback, casting the same glance at Serdis.
“Why are you all looking at me like that? Is it strange that I want to help my brother?”
Yes, very much so.
For good reason. Calling him “brother” was awkward in itself. Knowing all too well that they were less than strangers, who wouldn’t doubt his offer to help?
“Are you serious?”
The question slipped out before I realized it.
Of course, he wasn’t going to help me.
But he would handle the aftermath?
“A man must keep his word. I don’t know what you think of me, but I’m not a narrowminded guy.”
“When did I say you were narrowminded…”
Although I had criticized him as a trashy male lead, I had never called him narrowminded. Seemingly a bit offended, Serdis spoke confidently to the Emperor.
“Just convincing mother will resolve the issue. I will take care of it from my end. So, please revoke the battle orders.”
Though the Emperor seemed skeptical of his son, he eventually accepted. After all, it took one concern off his list.
“If you say something else later, know that you’ll replace me in the battle.”
“I promise.”
I blinked at the sudden development.
“It’s almost like a free lunch.”
I hadn’t expected such a quick resolution. My purpose in coming to the palace was accomplished in one sentence by Serdis. Looking his way, I chuckled to myself. Then my eyes met with those of Michael, who was standing beside him.
I got a new aide, and maybe they were in on it.
“Are they going to ask for something in return? Something like that.”
Although I was grateful for the quick resolution, I couldn’t help but be skeptical.
I’ve been tricked by Serdis more than once.
“Come to think of it, I’ve also made an unsavory request of your Majesty. You must also be displeased. So let’s resolve this between the Duke and myself.”
I stepped forward to block him.
“Anette. Don’t reject the help when it’s offered.”
“Help always comes at a price. Your Majesty is good at calculations. We don’t have anything to offer you. As you can see, our fief’s resources are not abundant.”
“What do you think I expect in return?”
“Then you’re helping out of pure intentions?”
As I subtly asked, he shook his head. His face said it was obvious.
“Can you swear that in front of His Majesty?”
I deliberately mentioned the Emperor.
It wasn’t the most trustworthy, but safer to accept it this way.
“Of course. I swear in front of His Majesty.”
“If you’re going to help to that extent…”
I wasn’t entirely without doubts, but I was in no position to refuse Serdis.
“Thank you for your help.”
I wasn’t even a rat’s tail grateful, but I was courteous. After all, it resolved the issue.
Serdis showed a satisfied smile.
(This is a time separator.)
“Is this really a simple favor?”
No matter how much I thought about it, the answer didn’t come.
If Hertian were here, I would’ve consulted with him, but he didn’t appear until the matter was resolved.
The palace was still empty.
However, there was a letter on the bed. A letter stamped with a familiar seal, in familiar handwriting.
It was not a letter from Hertian.
“Casian.”
The “K” written on one side of the paper was undoubtedly Casian’s.
I immediately ran out into the palace corridor. Looking around, I felt no signs of anyone. There was no trace of anyone having been here.
“But why did this come to the palace?”
I had told Casian about marrying Hertian, but I never said I was at the palace now.
Before that, contact was cut off after discussing a meeting.
So how did Casian’s letter arrive now?
“Could he possibly be in the palace…”
I put the pointless imagination aside and opened Casian’s letter.
[Let’s meet tomorrow evening. Stay where you are. I will come.] The letter was sent knowing I was here?It was as if Cassian knew everything.
Cassian was very close by.
Somewhere that knew exactly what I was doing right now.
“Right now, finding Hertian is the priority.”
I was glad to have received a response from Cassian, but I didn’t want to meet under these circumstances.
But there was no one else to send a letter to Cassian.
I couldn’t go to the Count’s residence alone either.
I was about to put the letter in my luggage when the door squeaked open. It was the maid I saw earlier.
“Yo, Your Highness.”
Unlike this morning, one of her cheeks was swollen.
It seemed she had reported to the Empress that I had met the Emperor.
‘Did she deliberately send her after beating her?’
I offered her a thick cloth of herbs that I had prepared earlier.
“Press it against your cheek. It will subside by tomorrow.”
“Wwhy are you giving me this?”
The maid looked between the herbs and me, shocked. This was not a gesture to get along well with her. It’s just that I’d feel bad thinking she got hit because of me.
“Are you refusing?”
“Nno, I was just wondering why you’re showing me such kindness.”
“Then answer one question and take it. So you won’t feel guilty.”
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.”
