Countess Wickley took a sip of her tea and then calmly began to speak.
“So, what is the reason you wanted to meet me?”
Well, it’s to gain your favor for Antara and Lilian.
I smiled inwardly as I responded to her in my mind.
Of course, to someone as astute in psychological games as Countess Wickley, I must seem like a mere minnow.
What I intended was not a psychological battle but a legitimate transaction. I vaguely remembered her as a supporting character in the original novel. I took a deep breath and said,
“I would like to offer some advice regarding the illness you are suffering from.”
Countess Wickley’s hand trembled as she held her teacup. She raised her arched eyebrows and shot a cold glance at me.
“How rude. I’ve heard about your divorce, but I haven’t heard that you studied medicine.”
“I haven’t studied medicine, but humans possess wisdom about life.”
“What are you talking about?”
“The illness you suffer from is known to be an inexplicable lung disease, but in reality, it’s a skin disease, isn’t it?”
Countess Wickley gasped sharply, her eyelids fluttering in surprise.
In the original story, Countess Wickley was depicted as a malicious character who orchestrated Ethrisa’s vain death without any just deserts.
I distinctly remembered that the disease she suffered from was an inflammatory skin condition causing red, inflamed patches.
Before arriving, I was uncertain, but her requests and the veil she wore convinced me. Her meticulous demands were likely excuses to avoid revealing her skin condition. Being indoors for social gatherings and using a carriage or parasol for brief outings, she would have been severely deficient in vitamin D.
Moreover, hiding in a closed space to conceal her skin disease would have only worsened her condition, exposing her to an environment conducive to skin ailments.
Countess Wickley looked down, catching her breath. A fleeting glance revealed patches of red on her otherwise calm face.
She observed me carefully, her gaze carrying the charisma of someone at the apex of social circles.
“What must I do to keep you silent, Countess?”
“Treatment.”
“…Treatment?”
“Exactly. You don’t need to silence me. My social circle is quite limited, so there’s no one I could tell.”
“…”
“I’ll continue. First, ensure you eat plenty of fruits and meats, and spend at least thirty minutes in the sun daily. Avoid selective eating and overly hot foods. Oh, and consume plenty of grapes, especially those special to the duchy.”
Eventually, you’ll eat those grapes and find your symptoms alleviated.
“And get plenty of sleep. The inflammation might make it hard to sleep, but try using mint to cool down-”
As I rapidly continued my advice, Countess Wickley, who had been listening intently, raised her hand to interrupt.
“Did you really come here to advise me on my skin condition?”
It seemed she thought I had heard a rumor and came to insult her.
“Yes, that’s why I came.”
Countess Wickley frowned in disbelief.
“Aren’t you worried about contagion? You know I have a skin disease.”
“Sorry, but I’m more scared of my in-laws.”
“…Your in-laws?”
“Yes, they’re so vile and petty that I’d do anything to avoid them.”
“…”
Unexpectedly, Countess Wickley burst into laughter, a beat behind. She covered her mouth as she laughed, then swept her hair behind her ear with a hint of bitterness.
“You’re an odd one. Most people avoided me even after I was diagnosed as non-contagious.”
People who didn’t understand skin diseases probably found them off-putting. This would have made even the noble and dignified Countess Wickley feel ashamed and hide, as if her condition were a humiliating blemish.
Countess Wickley sat up straight and fidgeted with the handle of her teacup. Hidden behind a veil, she still looked elegant and pure, like a lily.
“Countess Vuiel, I don’t trust people easily. Especially those who lack resolve.”
She was subtly criticizing the fact that I arranged this meeting through Edmond.
Even if that was a negative point for me, meeting Countess Wickley was the only way. I shrugged nonchalantly.
“It’s my principle to use Lilian for my purpose.”
“Yes, that’s why I’m trying to understand. I like your audacious principle, Countess.”
Countess Wickley responded with grace and a faint smile.
“So, what do you want from me? You didn’t come here just to give advice.”
Her experienced gaze made it clear that beating around the bush would be futile.
I hesitated as if about to say something difficult, then spoke up.
“There is a member in your circle who doesn’t really fit its purpose.”
“You want to use me to get revenge on your in-laws?”
Oh, my cushioned approach was seen right through.
Feeling sweat trickle down my spine, I laughed lightly.
“What a scary thing to say. I’m just concerned that the reputation of the circle might be tarnished because of Countess Diene.”
Countess Wickley looked at me with determination and then smiled slyly. Her lips behind the veil drew a faint curve.
“It’s not a mundane request to join the circle. That’s good.”
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.”
