As Edit toured the palace under the pretext of visiting the garden, she was able to gather quite a bit of information. Among the information she acquired today, what left the most impression was how the Empress was treated in the palace.
‘I heard that the Empress stays in a separate palace rather than the main one.’
Given the situation with the vacant seat of the Emperor’s companion, if the Empress had the power to contend with the Emperor, she would have stayed in the main palace or a separate palace nearby designated for the Empress. However, Patricia, the Empress, had her residence a bit away from the main buildings of the palace.
‘If she’s not the child of the previous Emperor, she probably wouldn’t have received such treatment.’
Although Edit couldn’t judge the interior decorations from a distance, there were no extravagant decorations around Patricia’s separate palace. Only a few small statues were placed alongside well-kept roses that didn’t wither due to magical treatment.
“Thank you for the tour.”
After finishing the tour, Edit greeted the Emperor’s retinue who had guided her and got off the carriage. She planned to wait near the building where Helen was attending to her official duties, receiving protection from Balthar and Cacius.
At that moment, Balthar, who remembered the Emperor staring at Edit for quite some time, inquired as if he had been waiting.
“By the way, the Emperor seemed more elegant than expected.”
However, unaware that this was Balthar’s leading question, Edit responded positively.
“Yeah, honestly, I was a bit surprised. Even from a man’s perspective, don’t you think?”
“…”
Walking a step behind them, Cassius had to bite the flesh inside his mouth to keep from bursting into laughter. Balthar’s eyes began to gleam.
“Is it part of the plan to work in the palace, taking into account the Emperor’s favor?”
Only now did Edit sense his jealousy and casually nodded.
“Yeah, it’s somewhat like that. It wouldn’t hurt to have some extra welfare, right?”
“…”
Cassius suppressed his laughter once again. It seemed like mocking and ridiculing were things only Balthar could do, but now Edit seemed to be resembling him. The saying “People become similar when they like each other” seemed to hold true.
“It’s a bit regrettable. If there were a Crown Prince or a Prince who inherited the blood of the Emperor, they would have been exceptionally handsome.”
Balthar responded with the sentiment of wanting to challenge the imaginary Crown Prince and Prince to a duel.
“It must be disappointing that there isn’t one, very much so.”
Having a trivial conversation, they gradually headed towards where Helen was finishing her work. However, someone appeared in front of their group.
‘Who is this?’
Lady Gray taught her proper etiquette and provided small portraits along with the faces and names of key figures. However, the woman in front of her was not in that material, indicating that she was not of a higher status.
“Lady Portrian seems inexperienced in etiquette.”
However, the woman acted as if not adhering to proper etiquette was rude. Edit briefly contemplated whether to lower her head, but she chose not to. Even now, she refused to bow to someone who seemed to look down on her.
When she didn’t respond, the woman spoke first, as if implying, “Don’t you know who I am? I am Lady Carter.”
“Ah…”
Upon hearing the name, Edit remembered reading about her in the newspaper. Lady Carter, left alone after the sudden death of her husband. Although Lady Carter had no children, and her husband’s death seemed similar to Edit’s situation, seeing her now, she seemed like a completely different person.
“Edit Portrian. Nice to meet you for the first time.”
Edit had no intention of bowing deeply to Lady Carter, who shared her status. It was unnecessary to observe proper etiquette for someone who lacked understanding of the law.
Lady Carter’s stiff attitude irritated her. Why would the Empress, who had always coveted the position of a lady-in-waiting, give it to such an ignorant, country woman?
“It seems that you are entirely unfamiliar with the social scene of the capital.”
“I only maintain the necessary etiquette because we are both ladies.”
“What did you say? The Portrians and Carter from the provinces?”
“Titles are granted by His Majesty, not determined by the scale of the family.”
If they had achieved some extraordinary academic or military accomplishments, Edit might have shown extra respect. However, the woman in front of her did not have such credentials. Having been hardened through Sofia’s numerous harassments, Edit now faced this situation with a nonchalant expression.
Lady Carter, confronted by Edit’s unwavering demeanor, was left speechless.
‘Why is this person’s mental strength so strong?’
Usually, when she cornered someone like this, they would be pressed down by the momentum and lower their heads. However, Edit seemed calm as if she had already experienced countless trials.
“Lady Carter, do you have any business with me?”
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.”
