Rather, saying it out loud was a relief.
The awkwardness that had lingered all this time seemed trivial now; this moment felt as comfortable as before.
“Are you feeling alright?”
He swept his hand across my cheek. My head tilted naturally into his warm touch.
“I’m concerned. You’ve fainted twice since you’ve been here.”
“I’m really fine… this happens often.”
“Still, I’ll be sad if you lie. Please answer honestly about your health.”
He nagged like a family doctor.
“I understand.”
He came closer and lightly hugged me. Warmth radiated through his clothes.
“Your body is still cold.”
“Hertian’s body is always warm like spring.”
“Living here is harsh for a lady.”
“Still, I’ve gotten somewhat used to it.”
The cold had become bearable. If it wasn’t for Serdis acting so strangely, I wouldn’t have collapsed.
“Nonetheless, coming up here and meeting foreigners is dangerous.”
“If we have to pay money to Kursia, then that money should rightly come from them. We can’t pay for the lives of our citizens that were taken from us.”
“So you used your foresight?”
“…Yes.”
It was a hesitant reply.
It might look like Hertian was using his abilities at will.
“But… did you really start this business for fort maintenance? You don’t need any jewels or dresses?”
“It’s hard to believe, but yes. The wind is blowing so cold as if the Duke’s Castle has air conditioning on.”
“Air… what did you say?”
“Ah, never mind.”
I inadvertently let slip a word I was familiar with. Even after a decade in this world, sometimes the words just slip out.
No one understands them these days, so it’s been less frequent.
“Shall we return to the castle now?”
I gathered my things and left the warm embrace of Hertian, not noticing his face darken.
(This is a time separator.)
“Your Grace, Duchess!”
Upon our return to the castle, Violet, who had been waiting at the door, rushed out.
“I was worried since you hadn’t returned so late.”
“Why are you outside in this cold?”
“I couldn’t sleep because I was worried.”
I was equally concerned she might catch a cold.
I wanted to hold her hand and warm it, but I couldn’t.
“But Hertian, aren’t you going to put me down?”
Hertian had been holding me princessstyle all this time. Even in the carriage, he held me close, concerned I was cold. Even after arriving at the castle, he hadn’t let go.
I was comfortable in his warmth, but it was time to get down.
“We will continue like this.”
Regardless of whether Violet or the servants saw, he resolutely carried me to the room.
I nestled my head deeper into his chest. I wasn’t opposed; it was just embarrassing with Violet watching.
After a hot bath, my body began to melt in exhaustion.
I was nodding off when Hertian entered the bedroom.
“Starting tomorrow, I plan to repair the castle.”
That was unexpected news.
“But we don’t have the budget. The money I earned from my business is just enough to rescue the local residents.”
He sat across from me and met my gaze.
“I had a portion of the budget from the royal family when we got married.”
“But that money should be saved for when you need it, Hertian.”
“There’s no better use than for the castle’s repairs.”
I found myself smiling without realizing.
“Is it that good?”
“Yes. While I can dress warmly, the servants can’t. Even the water is so cold that it cracked their skin.”
I had been concerned about the cold, but seeing Bonisa’s cracked hands made me more concerned. If it was like this for Bonisa, who had only been here a short time, it would be worse for the other servants.
“It’s something I should have done as soon as I became the lord. Now I finally have the time.”
The issue could have been postponed, but Hertian expedited it considering me. I was grateful, as even if I made money, Lord Hertian had the final say.
I extended a cup that was on the table towards him.
“Hertian. Drink this.”
“What is this?”
“It’s water infused with herbs good for arrhythmia.”
It was my gesture of gratitude.
“When did you even get this…?”
“Just now.”
His face crumpled at once. It seemed he had taken a lot of medicine before.
“Can I take it later?”
“You just had an irregular heartbeat. Take it now.”
“Ah…”
Hertian drooped his shoulders like a child. I chuckled at the sight.
“Just kidding. Drink it when you’re comfortable. But don’t forget to take it at least once a day.”
“I promise.”
Hertian put the cup down and continued.
“Yesterday, there were people following my wife.”
“They were following me?”
“I saw them planning to go to the borderlands. I captured them, but all three had no tongues, so I couldn’t determine who sent them.”
“Uh…”
I was speechless.
There was only one person I suspected.
And Hertian seemed to think the same. His dark pupils blinked slowly.
“I don’t want to suspect, but it’s suspicious that he came here, did nothing, and left.”
The person he was talking about was Serdis.
“I think the same.”
I thought getting married would free me completely from the original story, but it didn’t.
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.”
