“Should I cover the scar, Miss?”
As Regina was finishing up the makeup for the banquet, she asked.
The scar Iris left last time was vivid on Elise’s neck.
Iris, who had cast a spell on Elise, was not punished at all.
The count and countess, upon returning from their outing that day, ignored the situation even after hearing about it.
So, Elise negotiated with the count and countess.
She told them not to interfere with her outings anymore.
Worried that Elise might spread the word about what Iris had done, they readily agreed.
Elise gained freedom of movement, and Iris became docile.
‘A scar of victory.’
Elise gently stroked the scar that had scabbed over.
“Should I wear a scarf?”
She wanted to leave the scar exposed, but she was concerned about Karan’s gaze, remembering how he looked at her swollen cheek after being hit by Fraser.
Regina quickly nodded and fetched a beautiful scarf from the dressing room.
“Our Miss has such an attractive neckline; it’s a shame to cover it.”
“That almost sounds like a backhanded compliment.”
“No, not at all!”
Elise chuckled. She found Regina’s reactions to teasing amusing.
“It was a joke. We should leave now. I’ve dallied enough.”
“Yes, Miss!”
Regina escorted Elise, soothing her own heart.
The New Year’s party had begun.
The bustling streets from morning to night were vivid in memory.
Children begged their parents for candy and toys for a rare treat, while merchants saw it as an opportunity to make a substantial income from outside guests.
The New Year’s party overflowed with joy for everyone, regardless of age or gender.
A place where culture, love, and money exchanged hands.
Though it was a purely enjoyable event for everyone, Elise could not partake in the same way.
It had been years since she had participated in the street festival.
During the New Year’s party, Elise always headed to the royal palace instead of the streets.
She attended the banquet held during the party for three consecutive days, each year.
And she did so until after midnight, dealing with people at the banquet until dawn, only to return home to sleep and then repeat the cycle in the evening.
The reason was simple: to build connections helpful for Chase.
But this year, she didn’t need to do so, planning to mingle just enough before leaving.
‘Maybe this will be my last New Year’s party in Pedroca, so let’s enjoy the festival.’
The carriage carrying Elise just stopped in front of the grand banquet hall.
The front of the hall was bustling.
Even though she had arrived at a time to avoid the crowd, it seemed like it would take a while to enter.
Elise and Regina got out of the carriage and joined the long line.
“Iris must have already gone in, right?”
Iris had left 20 minutes earlier than Elise and, being close to the royal family, would have entered without having to wait in line.
Just as Elise used to do.
“Is it boring waiting?”
Regina glanced at Elise.
She thought Elise might feel slighted by the changed treatment.
“It’s nice to watch people.”
But Elise didn’t mind at all.
She was engrossed in observing the people around her.
In particular, Elise noticed the hairpins of the women.
She had already spotted two women wearing Jasmine’s new hairpin design.
It was the new design Elise had suggested, with small gems embedded for added glamor.
Jasmine’s original hairpin, focused solely on practicality, wasn’t suitable for glamorous events like banquets.
So, it had failed to capture the hearts of women.
“Why not try attaching the gems you put on nails to the hairpin? It would look splendid under the lights.”
Elise had suggested, and the result was evident.
“Your hairstyle today is unique. It looks comfortable yet elegant.”
“Really? It’s all thanks to this pin.”
The woman wearing the hairpin turned her head as if to show off her hairstyle.
“Oh my, is that the famous claw clip? Where did you get it? I want one too.”
“I got it specially from Miss Jasmine Orleans. What do you think, does it look pretty to you as well?”
Elise’s face showed a faint smile as she listened to the conversation.
Thanks to the women’s chatter, waiting in line didn’t feel boring.
However, it seemed not everyone felt the same as complaints started emerging from various places.
“Why aren’t we going in? Has something happened?”
“I’ve never had to wait this long before. It’s too much today.”
Negative emotions spread easily.
As a couple of people began to complain, soon most were voicing their dissatisfaction.
Listening to the ongoing complaints made even Elise feel less enthusiastic about waiting in line.
“Shall I go ahead and say something?”
Regina, noticing Elise’s slightly hardened expression, spoke up.
“What are you going to say, and to whom?”
“To the administrative officer managing the entrance. What else? I have to tell them that the lady is here.”
“Would that person let me in just because of that?”
Elise guessed that the entry of the VIPs was being delayed.
Normally, guests would enter a party as they arrived, but the New Year’s party was different.
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.”
