Not long after returning to Berdura Castle, Mila learned about the events at Muege Castle. Bess, unable to contain her curiosity, had rushed over and spilled everything about the tea party in great detail.
“Princess Stella was such an outcast in her homeland. As the eldest daughter, how could that be? And it took her a month to travel to the Credion Empire because the king didn’t provide a ship, and she was sent on a merchant vessel. What’s more, the merchants on that ship were former pirates. Imagine what could have happened to the princess on that ship? Oh no, could it be that she already…”
Bess’s insensitive speculation finally exhausted Mila’s patience.
“Bess, that’s enough.”
Mila’s sharply uttered words shocked Bess into silence. Having known Mila for a long time, Bess understood that such a tone meant Mila was truly angry.
Mila rarely lost her temper, but when she did, she had a strangely intimidating presence.
“She is the one I serve. You haven’t forgotten, have you?”
“Uh, sorry.”
Bess apologized earnestly, closing her eyes and bowing her head deeply. Though she knew Bess’s apologies were sincere, Mila couldn’t shake off her anger.
It wasn’t their place to judge how a foreign princess had been treated in her homeland. Regardless of how poorly she was treated there, it was none of their business.
What mattered more to Mila was the discomfort and anger she felt. She wished she hadn’t accepted the pearl brooch.
“Don’t talk about these things elsewhere. You could get into big trouble.”
Mila was genuinely worried about Bess. Some maids exploited Bess’s gullible nature, using her to spread rumors and exaggerations.
If the issue escalated and the source was sought, those maids would conveniently disappear, leaving Bess to bear the brunt of the blame.
Mila hoped Bess wouldn’t fall victim to such schemes. After all, Bess was not malicious, just overly enthusiastic about sharing and responding to stories.
Bess had chosen the wrong profession. She should have been a teacher who could talk all day or a bard who received fervent responses with every word.
“I’m really sorry. I’ll be more careful in the future.”
Bess’s voice was subdued as she apologized.
“But who told you all this? Did someone come to you on purpose?”
Bess nodded vigorously, surprised at the question. She was grateful to colleagues who kindly explained things to her whenever something happened.
“It was Bonny and Karin who told me.”
As Mila had suspected.
“I see. Just remember, don’t spread anything you hear. It could backfire on you.”
Bess, startled by Mila’s calm explanation, covered her mouth with her hands in shock and nodded vigorously.
Bonny and Karin were closest to Sara, the maid serving Annet. It was highly likely that Sara had orchestrated them to tell Bess this information.
Mila closed her eyes, overwhelmed by a sudden wave of fatigue. She knew all too well what it meant to be isolated and friendless in a foreign land. She didn’t want to relive that experience nor did she want to watch someone else go through it.
“Then I’ll go. See you next time.”
Bess, now calmer, smiled brightly and waved her hand. Her simplicity was both her biggest flaw and her charm. Sometimes, Mila envied Bess’s ability to take things lightly and forget easily.
Mila had too many memories she wanted to forget, but her exceptionally good memory made it hard to let go. Memories etched into her very bones would resurface unbidden, squeezing the remaining emotions out of her.
She thought she had become numb to these recollections, but their resurgence again constricted her heart. Perhaps, watching Stella, she saw a reflection of her own past.
Mila resolved to avoid getting too attached to Stella, if possible.
After Bess left, Mila sat alone in her room, staring blankly at the mirror. Her hand tightly gripped the brooch attached to her dress. She could feel the smooth and rough texture of the jewel in her palm.
Intending to yank off the brooch roughly, Mila changed her mind and carefully removed it, ensuring the fabric of the dress remained undamaged.
The brooch went back into its original box, which then was tucked away deep in the drawer. Everything was back to how it was.
“I just need to do my job.”
Mila’s voice was as deep and heavy as the sea.
Standing in front of Berdura Castle, Kai couldn’t hide his dismay. He had never intended to come here.
He didn’t deliberately guide Ben in this direction. It was just where his feet led him.
“Ben, everyone seems to be asleep.”
There were no lights in the windows of Berdura Castle. Indeed, it was too late for anyone to be awake.
“Heeheeheeheeheeing.”
Ben seemed eager to go inside, fussing and whinnying.
“No, you can’t. That’s not for us. It’s not yours.”
However, Kai’s gaze, like Ben’s, was fixed on the carrot field, shimmering green in the darkness. The carrots, having grown considerably since his last visit, were now darker green with larger leaves.
The field was so lush that a few missing carrots would likely go unnoticed.
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.”
