Tula had never seen the Empress before, but from the description and the overwhelming aura that Blanche had shared, she knew the woman before her had to be the Empress.
It would be a significant mistake if she was wrong, but if she was right, she couldn’t just stand there dumbfounded. So, Tula took a gamble.
“Your Majesty, the Empress.”
“Oh, no need to be so tense. There’s no one around to see, you know.”
Empress Liana Enjen Pendleton of the Lertail Empire smiled warmly at Tula, who quickly knelt to greet her. Despite being a person who seemed capable of easily overpowering others, her smile was disarmingly innocent.
“I heard Princess Blanche was unwell, so I came to see her. May I see her for a moment?”
Under normal circumstances, such an impromptu visit by the Empress would be unthinkable. It would be impossible due to her schedule and against etiquette.
However, Blanche had become a playmate of Melchizedek, elevating her to near-royal status.
This meant that the Empress visiting Blanche wasn’t an official schedule, and it was acceptable. Moreover, Liana wasn’t just adept with a sword; she possessed extraordinary physical abilities.
So, upon hearing that Blanche was unwell, Liana thought she might see Blanche’s face if she visited briefly before her luncheon with Count Shayegan, without any escort.
Indeed, she had dashed from the Empress’s palace to Emerald Palace, where Blanche was staying, barefoot and without shoes, in just 10 minutes.
“Yes, as Your Majesty wishes.”
Remembering Blanche’s advice during the Emperor’s visit, Tula, instead of objecting due to the princess’s illness, complied and lowered her eyes.
It seemed following Blanche’s advice was the right choice, as Liana seemed pleased.
“Princess Blanche’s etiquette is so refined. I see it’s thanks to her nanny’s teaching.”
In reality, Blanche had been the one teaching Tula etiquette, but Tula didn’t correct her.
“Is this from the Grand Duke?”
Liana, her bare feet hidden beneath her dress in a way that seemed unimaginable, elegantly surveyed the surroundings and asked. Tula answered while maintaining her lowered posture.
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“Melki really…”
Her laugh sounded like pearls rolling on a silver platter.
“Show them to Princess Blanche first, then keep as much as possible and send the rest to the Empress’s palace. I’ll take care of it.”
True to her role as the Empress of the Lertail Empire, she knew that the trouble of dealing with such a massive quantity of flowers was greater than the fact of receiving them.
It would be difficult to dispose of them, especially since they were a gift from the Grand Duke.
Realizing the situation and offering to take care of it at the Empress’s palace was a move that would have even impressed Blanche.
“I am deeply grateful for Your Majesty’s grace.”
“No, what for? The Grand Duke’s playmate is like my own younger sibling. Think of yourself as having gained a sister for the princess. Treat me informally.”
After swiftly resolving the announcement of Blanche’s new role as the Grand Duke’s playmate in three seconds, Liana strode forward.
And yet. At first, Liana was merely intrigued by a child who could speak to her without being intimidated. But the more she got to know Blanche, the more she found herself surprised and impressed by her.
Tula had never seen the Empress before, but based on the description and the dominating presence Blanche had mentioned, she was certain the woman in front of her was the Empress. It would be a big mistake if she were wrong, but if right, she couldn’t just stand there idly, so Tula took a gamble.
“Your Majesty, the Empress.”
“Oh, there’s no need to be so tense. There’s nobody around to see, you know.”
Empress Liana Enjen Pendleton of the Lertail Empire smiled kindly at Tula, who quickly knelt in greeting. Despite the Empress’s intimidating aura, her smile was disarmingly innocent.
“I heard Princess Blanche was unwell, so I came to see her. May I see her for a moment?”
Normally, a surprise visit by the Empress without prior notice would be unthinkable, both because of her schedule and etiquette. However, Blanche, now a playmate of Melchizedek, was treated as almost royalty.
This meant it was acceptable for the Empress to visit Blanche unofficially. Moreover, Liana wasn’t just a skilled swordswoman but possessed extraordinary physical abilities.
Upon hearing of Blanche’s illness, Liana had thought of visiting her briefly before her luncheon with Count Shayegan, coming alone without her escort.
Indeed, she had sprinted from the Empress’s palace to Emerald Palace barefoot, reaching in just 10 minutes.
“Yes, as Your Majesty wishes.”
Remembering Blanche’s advice from the Emperor’s visit, Tula, instead of objecting due to the princess’s sickness, obediently lowered her eyes.
It seemed following Blanche’s advice was the right decision, as Liana appeared satisfied.
“Princess Blanche’s manners are so refined, it must be thanks to her nanny’s teaching.”
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.”
