“I’m really fine, Ter. Please hurry and go to His Highness the Crown Prince. Today is an important day.”
“I’m sorry I can’t escort you.”
“Escort me on our date to make up for not being able to escort me now.”
“I understand. From now on, I will take responsibility for escorting Loa.”
“That’s right. Let’s only think about our future together. Don’t be upset about what you can’t do now. And Ter, will you accept this?”
Lorencia took out a handkerchief from her bosom and handed it to Teishar.
“I recently learned embroidery so I didn’t do it well, but please look at it favorably.”
Lorencia’s cheeks flushed slightly. She wasn’t going to give the handkerchief as a gift because she was embarrassed to show her embroidery, but Evan and Amelin emphasized that it was a handkerchief made with sincerity.
“Thank you for giving me such a surprise gift, Loa. I will cherish it dearly.”
The corners of Teishar’s mouth turned up happily at Lorencia’s unexpected gift. With a face full of emotion like someone who had received the only treasure in the world, he carefully unfolded the handkerchief. Seeing his own name, Teishar, embroidered on one side of the handkerchief, his eyes curved beautifully like crescents. The scent of the perfume he had given Lorencia could be smelled from the handkerchief.
For a long time, Teishar silently looked down at the handkerchief. He really liked it.
“To receive a one-of-a-kind handkerchief as a gift…”
“It’s not strange?”
“Not at all. Despite learning embroidery not long ago, being able to do this well means you are very skilled.”
“Really?”
“Really. I will always carry the handkerchief you gifted me close to my heart.”
Seeing Teishar so delighted, Lorencia felt a sense of accomplishment welling up inside her. Her heart pounded. Next time, she would have to embroider even more beautifully.
“I also happened to have something to give to Loa…”
“A gift for me?”
“Yes. It’s a gift I made whenever I had time, so I hope you will like it.”
After carefully putting the handkerchief Lorencia gave him in his breast pocket, Teishar took out a white handkerchief and handed it to Lorencia.
“It’s a handkerchief.”
Lorencia alternated between looking at the handkerchief she received and Teishar.
“You will see my heart in the handkerchief.”
“See your heart?”
“Yes.”
His face reddening as if embarrassed by something, Teishar disappeared like the wind with his attendant. Lorencia unfolded the handkerchief he said was a gift.
Upon seeing the unfolded handkerchief, Lorencia burst out laughing with a “pfft”. She couldn’t hold back her laughter.
“Lady Lorencia, what did His Lordship do to the handkerchief?”
“Yeah, what did he do, Amelin, Evan.”
Amelin looked affectionately at Lorencia, who was laughing with a face that looked like she was having the time of her life while looking at the handkerchief.
“I keep laughing because I love the gift from the Marquis so much. What do I do?”
“I’m glad it’s to your liking.”
“Yeah, I like it a lot.”
As Lorencia spread open the handkerchief to show them, Evan and Amelin smiled. On one side of the handkerchief Teishar gave, there was a small heart-shaped embroidery stitched with red thread.
“It’s the first time I’ve received a gift like this.”
Lorencia felt that his heartfelt gift filled her heart with a warm emotion different from the love she had received from her mother.
“What do I do? I already miss Ter.”
“Lady Lorencia, you’ll be able to see him again soon.”
-Buuung
The sound of a horn signaling the start of the hunting competition could be heard. Lorencia looked up at the darkening sky.
The Emperor’s address would follow before the hunting competition. After the address, while the men left for hunting in the forest, the noble ladies and young misses gathered in a tent prepared by the palace and had tea time centered around the Empress.
Although she had been educated by Amelin and Evan about tea time among the nobles, there were many prying eyes inside the tent. In other words, her behavior could be reported to someone. If she drank tea according to etiquette, it would immediately reach Ruans or Daniel’s ears. What she had to do was become a stupid illegitimate child.
“Let’s go in, Lady Lorencia.”
“Okay.”
As the tent flap opened and Lorencia took a step inside, the attendant announced to the people inside the tent the entrance of Lorencia, the young lady of Count Pol Heredian. From the moment she entered the tent where noble ladies and young misses were gathered, Lorencia tried to ignore the curious gazes of people looking at her and sat in a seat where a small sign read ‘Pol Heredian County’ as guided by a maid.
Lorencia looked around at the people inside the tent. She had to appear stupid here as well, just as she had shown Daniel. Because here too, there were people who would be the eyes and ears of Daniel or Ruans.
She must not reveal that she could read or had learned etiquette.
As the gazes staring at Lorencia disappeared, the sound of women’s conversations could be heard. They were talking about dresses and jewelry.
“Lady Pol Heredian, were both that dress and jewelry gifted to you by Marquis Spencer?”
“Huh? Are you calling me?”
“Yes. There’s only one Lady Pol Heredian here, right?”
Lorencia smiled brightly at the mocking question from the young lady who spoke to her.
“That’s right. He bought me this dress and jewelry.”
“As expected, the Spencer family’s wealth is tremendous.”
“But who are you?”
“There should be a sign in front of me with my name and family name.”
“I’m sorry. I’ve never learned to read. Could you tell me who you are? I’ll remember your face the next time we meet.”
“I’ll tell you later, Lady Pol Heredian.”
“Really? Please make sure to tell me.”
Lorencia deliberately laughed out loud. People scrutinized Lorencia’s voice and behavior. As expected, they shook their heads at her unladylike appearance as an illegitimate child.
Frankly, many people here found it dishonorable for an illegitimate child to participate. And as expected, people averted their gazes from Lorencia at her stupid-sounding voice and foolish answers.
“It seems Marquis Spencer treats you very well?”
Lorencia stared intently at the other young lady who asked her a question.
“Yes, he treats me well.”
Smiling brightly, Lorencia continued to answer the noble ladies and young misses who asked her questions in a way that seemed appropriately sloppy and stupid.
“But does Marquis Teishar have any intention of marrying Lady Pol Heredian?”
The more stupidly she answered, the more people began to cross the line one by one.
It was then. A loud clap of thunder rang out inside the tent, and people instantly fell silent.
“It looks like it’s going to rain. Hohoho.”
“The hunting competition will be halted, right?”
“It seems so.”
The sound of rain pouring down could be heard. Sweat formed on Lorencia’s hands. She glanced sideways at Charlotte. Fortunately, she was maintaining her composure well.
‘Just a little longer now…’
Along with the sound of rain, the horn signaling the halt of the hunting rang out loudly. And then-
“There’s big trouble.”
The tent flap opened and a knight hurriedly entered and knelt before Charlotte and the Empress.
“His Highness Adrian…”
“Calmly tell us what happened.”
“He’s been shot with an arrow!”
At the knight’s words, the inside of the tent became chaotic. Empress Ines’s face turned deathly pale, and despite the heavy rain, she dashed out of the tent. Charlotte sat down in her seat, her face pale white. Susanna stood by her side.
The sound of rain outside the tent seemed to resemble Ruans’s laughter.
Blinking her eyes and observing the reactions around her, Lorencia stood up from her seat. It was time to go meet Teishar.
[Timeline Separator]Adrian was waiting at the promised location with Lanslon and the knights guarding him, as planned. The sky was dark, and Lorencia’s words that it would rain were precisely accurate.
Thunder struck along with the rain, and soon heavy rain began to pour down.
And amidst the heavy rain, assassins who had been hiding in the undergrowth began to pop out from here and there.
“Sending assassins even in the rain, how diligent.”
“Your Highness Adrian, draw your sword!”
“I’ve drawn it.”
“Everyone, assume battle formation! Protect His Highness the Crown Prince!”
Lanslon drew his sword and stood in front of Adrian.
“Who sent them? Duke Graykan? Ruans? Or is it Concubine Felina? Sir Lanslon.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“Kill them all without exception. Even Graykan’s crows watching us.”
Clicking his tongue, Adrian drew his sword from the scabbard at his waist and pointed it at the assassins. As the assassins approached right in front of them, Adrian, Lanslon, and the knights each raised their swords with a flash.
“It seems they sent at least 30 people, Your Highness.”
“Escort His Highness the Crown Prince!”
“Kill the Crown Prince!”
Amidst the heavy rain, the assassins and knights who clashed swords began to fall one by one.
“Your Highness Adrian, are you all right?”
“I’m not all right, Marquis Teishar.”
Teishar belatedly joined and guarded Adrian.
Despite telling him about Adrian’s death, Lorencia wondered what Ruans couldn’t believe to the point of sending assassins, but surprisingly, the answer lay elsewhere.
“Will the plan fail like this, Marquis Teishar?”
“That’s not what’s important right now. We need to kill all the assassins gathered here.”
Teishar began killing the assassins that appeared before his eyes, moving his sword so fast that the eyes couldn’t follow.
“Arrows! Dodge them, Your Highness! Urgh.”
A knight was struck by an arrow that flew from somewhere and collapsed.
“This is crazy. They intend to send me perfectly into the arms of Goddess Ella.”
“Be careful, Your Highness Adrian.”
While skillfully deflecting the flying arrows, Adrian, Teishar, and Lanslon began to discuss their future plans.
“I thought I would fall into peaceful slumber with the arrow shot by the Marquis…”
“Your Highness Adrian, there will be no problem with you peacefully falling asleep.”
“No problem?”
Adrian made a dumbfounded expression.
“Lady Lorencia told me something in advance, so don’t worry.”
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.”
