The banquet hosted by Duke Lexion and his daughters was so luxurious that it couldn’t be imitated by other families. Moreover, this time, Franz Lexion personally sent out invitations, and the faces of those who filled the hall were filled with some kind of pride.
“Not long ago, they hosted a social party, and less than a month later, Lexion managed to create such an event again. There’s no one else but Lexion who can do this.”
“It’s that special. The successor of Lexion, after all.”
“We’ve put so much effort into creating a place for people to see. I wonder how well Lady Portrion is being treated.”
When the conversation turned to Lady Portrion, who resided in the duke’s estate, some were surprised.
As sensitive nobles in the capital, they were aware of the contents of the recent gossip spread by someone.
Quick-witted individuals promptly managed the untimely tension.
“Well, that… It’s an absurd story, to be honest.”
“It’s not strange for Duke Lexion to present an entire mansion as a gift, considering he found Lexion’s bloodline.”
Those gathered here, being the closest aides to the duke, were well aware of his temperament.
Franz Lexion, who had an extreme love for his wife, showed no interest in any woman after her passing. Moreover, he was not a fool to create issues related to a woman now when he was about to ascend the throne.
The idea that he would give private attention to a younger woman than his daughters was absurd.
“Recently, he even called her separately to his study during a party. It’s probably because of his grandson.”
“If Lady Franz, as the granddaughter-in-law, is a person worth reaching out to, she would have a considerable support base now.”
Rather than the duke…
Among the noblewomen, a more rational imagination was taking root.
‘He resembles the duke and lady of Lexion as a stable boy.’
‘Even if the lord of Portrion’s castle is absent, the lady of Portrion won’t be bored with the stable boy.’
Although not spoken aloud, people were thinking to themselves.
If the stable boy had known in advance that he had the bloodline of Lexion, could the lady have approached him first?
For example, seducing him, who was a stable boy, to have his child.
‘If I have his child, even if I can’t become the legitimate lady, I will receive Lexion’s protection for the rest of my life.’
While no one wanted to blame the lady who had sold herself due to financial circumstances, there was no denying that it was an interesting topic.
Soon, the voice signaling the end of people’s anticipation echoed.
“Here are Duke Franz Lexion, Lady Edit Portrion, and Vice Duke Baelter Isac Lexion.”
People’s attention naturally turned to the three individuals who had just entered.
Duke Lexion, Vice Duke Lexion.
And Edit Portrion, accompanied by a knight with blue hair.
“Wow… The bloodline doesn’t disappear anywhere.”
“Our grandmother still talks about the Duke’s popularity, and I understand why.”
Even when he was a knight, Baelter was the protagonist of the secret rumors in high society. With perfect attire, standing above the crowd, he naturally aroused illicit imaginations.
Having inherited Lexion’s predatory gaze, he was busy not only imprinting the face but also delivering the gifts brought with the intention of stamping the family crest.
“Wait a moment.”
Franz personally tapped the wine glass to draw everyone’s attention. No one, not even the closest aides, could remember when he last proposed a toast before his grandson returned.
“A toast to my grandson who has returned safely and to Lady Edit Portrion, who protected him. Thanks to your meticulousness, Lexion is about to enter another heyday.”
At the end of Franz’s gaze was Edit. Adorned lavishly, her attire as the Portrion Lady was beyond compare.
“Your grace, it’s an honor.”
When she attended the banquet as the Lady Portrion, her appearance was incomparable to now, and she smiled, bringing the wine glass to her lips.
The sight of the sparkling red liquid pouring onto her lips was truly enchanting.
‘Perhaps the idea of pregnancy was just a groundless thought.’
‘The wine made on Lexion’s estate is even more intense than other wines.’
Since it was not an action fitting for a woman with a child, people withdrew their suspicions, looking at her partly empty glass.
However, Cassius knew that this was a deception planned by Edit.
‘She came up with such a performance during that time.’
When Vane asked if there was anything special to pay attention to during the party, Edit responded as if she had been waiting.
“I hope you would pour not wine but some other red liquid into my glass.”
“If it’s red liquid…”
“If it’s not alcohol, anything is fine.”
Drinking raspberry juice prepared in advance, she implanted a strong impression in people’s minds that the Lady Portrion had not given birth to a child.
This scene would spread through society and the streets through word of mouth.
Male lead is a Divorced Husband
She said to him: “Tell me, what makes you like me? I’ll change it!”
Liu Changning transmigrated into a female cannon fodder character in a female-dominant novel.
After reading the first half of the novel’s plot, the first thing she did upon transmigration was to divorce the Pan Jinlian-style male protagonist she had just married.
She indulged herself, pretending to be ugly and poor.
But as time passed, the way that man looked at her became more and more unusual…
Liu Changning was dumbfounded: Tell me, what makes you like me? I’ll change!
――
This lifetime, Pei Yuanshao was rejected by the same woman twice!
The first time, she drove him away. Forced by the situation, he endured the waves of anger in his heart, yielding and humbling himself.
That person lay slanted on a rocking chair, her sallow face emotionless: “If you don’t want a divorce, go cook!”
Pei Yuanshao’s face was dark and gloomy: “You!”
The second time, after the crisis in Jinling City was resolved, the new emperor sent someone to pick him up. He turned around, stammering: “I… I have to go. If you keep me…”
That person lay on the kang bed, her back to him, as if she had long anticipated this day, crisp and clear: “Goodbye!”
Pei Yuanshao was so angry his fingers trembled: “You… you!”
The mission of family and country made him restrain himself, averting his eyes and turning to leave this broken household.
Two years later, they met again. Seeing her ethereal face, his body shook like a sieve.
“She was originally a ‘she’!”
At the Qionglin Banquet, the top scholar of the imperial examination, a talented person with exceptional speech and conduct, all the unmarried young gentlemen from aristocratic families looked at her with shy and timid eyes.
The peerless imperial official Pei Yuanshao felt the anger in his heart erupt. He pointed at the woman surrounded by the crowd at the Qionglin Banquet, his thin lips slightly curled: “Little sister, I wants that person to be the wife-master of my Mingde Prince Manor.”
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