My Discarded Fiancé Returned (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 16
Serena greeted the morning with an unusually gloomy expression. Normally, this would be the time of year she’d be excited and joyful for the Harvest Festival, but Lucas’s sudden arrival had left her no chance to enjoy it.
“Oh! When the wandering knight mentioned he held the Imperial travel permit, I should’ve just pretended to be sick right then and there.”
As always, regret came too late. Besides, Serena had never been good at lying.
“With Astel so prosperous and everyone brimming with joy for the Harvest Festival, it simply doesn’t make sense for the acting duke to be unwell.”
“You always say the most reasonable things, Anna.”
Serena sighed with a grumble and looked at Anna like a child. Even Anna herself didn’t know where the strength to manage an entire domain came from, given her pure face and innocent eyes.
“Well, you’re currently betrothed to His Imperial Highness the Crown Prince. Even if you were indifferent in the past, that fact hasn’t changed.”
Serena knew that too. The betrothal vows exchanged under the Pope’s own blessing in the Imperial Chapel weren’t something easily broken.
Even if that betrothal had come about because the Emperor lost a casual wager between friends to the duke and thus gained a daughter-in-law.
“I was just a penalty prize! A trivial consequence of a silly bet between men on the battlefield!”
“If you’d truly been lacking, they wouldn’t have held the engagement ceremony, no matter how much it was just a wager.”
Puffing out her cheeks in frustration, Serena looked away.
“But I still hate it!”
Now that she was officially a noble lady, far more people bowed their heads to her than in her previous life.
“It’s annoying and I hate it.”
“You can’t avoid an audience with His Imperial Highness the Crown Prince. I’ve already prepared several dresses for you last night.”
“Why?”
“Even if you didn’t know who he was at first, now that you do, you must dress appropriately for the audience.”
Seeing Anna’s earnest expression, Serena couldn’t bring herself to refuse—and she resented Lucas even more for causing this.
“Why does everyone have to be so pushy?”
Serena muttered discontentedly.
People would flatter her endlessly when they needed something, then turn cold the moment that need disappeared. In her past life, she’d suffered deep wounds from such people, yet never had the chance to speak up.
“His Imperial Highness the Crown Prince?”
“Everyone, including him! Take Grand Duke Farell, for example.”
“Oh… right.”
Anna gave a suitably responsive nod while accepting the dress-laden hanger from a young maid.
Though the dresses were far from sufficient given Serena’s status and House Astel’s wealth, they were more formal than her usual attire and, above all, beautifully showcased Serena’s natural elegance.
“I’ve prepared five for now. What do you think, my lady?”
Serena looked unimpressed at the row of dresses hanging neatly on the mobile rack.
“Which one’s the most comfortable? Nothing that cinches the waist too tightly or has an overly full skirt.”
It was a difficult request, but Anna kept her smile.
“The blue dress on the third hanger has a beautiful gradient, fading from white at the top to deep blue at the hem. Delicate silver-thread embroidery adds grace without being excessive—you’ll look stunning.”
“Hmm.”
Serena briefly glanced at the dress.
“Well, I suppose that’ll do.”
“I think so too.”
The dress was nearly white at the top, gradually deepening into blue toward the hem—a perfect match for Serena’s eye color.
Though simple in design, the subtle silver embroidery made it just right for the occasion, Anna judged.
“Shall we go with this one?”
“Yeah, sure.”
Of course, Serena had no real opinion.
“Then let me help you dress. Lily, come here and lend a hand.”
“Yes, madam.”
Lily, daughter of a long-serving retainer of House Astel, had become a maid at Anna’s request after Serena arrived.
“My lady, the dress.”
As the two women held the dress open for her, Serena reluctantly stepped into the center. The dress was quickly pulled up, and buttons fastened one by one.
“Jewelry…?”
“No need.”
Anna nodded without pressing further.
“However, you must carry a fan and gloves.”
Reflected in the tall mirror, Serena looked far more beautiful than usual in her formal attire—if only her frown weren’t spoiling the effect.
“Why?”
“It’s protocol for audiences with royalty. Every noblewoman and lady must carry both a fan and gloves.”
“It’s autumn! It’s cold enough at night—why a fan?”
“They say a noblewoman speaks not with her mouth, but with her fan.”
This time, Anna didn’t seem inclined to back down.
“…Do you already have one picked out?”
“Of course.”
Seeing Anna’s bright smile, Serena reluctantly nodded.
“I chose elbow-length gloves for formality, but if you prefer, gloves that end right at the elbow would suit you well too.”
“Yeah, that sounds good.”
Even though Serena’s reply was utterly devoid of spirit, Anna still beamed as if something wonderful had happened.
“Today, wear your hair down. I’ll place a platinum hairpin just above your left ear.”
“Oh…”
Serena still had no interest in dressing up. Yet once finished, her appearance was always their pride and joy.
“You’re breathtakingly beautiful, even with just a little effort.”
“Not ‘imposing’?”
“You’re beautiful!”
Insisting firmly, Anna made Serena smile faintly.
“But everyone keeps calling me imposing.”
“They simply don’t recognize the beauty of your tall and graceful figure.”
Indeed, by modern standards, Serena was undeniably a beauty—no, more than that, she had the makings of a world-famous supermodel.
“Never mind.”
But she wasn’t that woman from her past life anymore. Back then, she’d been seen as just a big, strong girl—someone too ordinary to receive any praise at all.
“I’m sturdy. I know that much.”
Even now, Serena still hid behind those words.
Former gymnast. Former volleyball player. Former temporary physical education teacher.
‘Wow, she’s really huge!’
Her first real job had been as a temporary PE teacher at a local middle school.
‘Hey, I heard if you get hit by her spike, you’ll break a bone.’
The students had been terribly irritating.
‘No, wasn’t she a gymnast?’
‘Are you insane? With that build, doing gymnastics?’
Indeed, did talent even exist? She’d never had the chance to find out. All she knew for certain was that effort and sacrifice weren’t the same as talent.
“My lady, you’re tall and lovely—indeed, you carry an air of dignity.”
Anna’s warm words were sincere. At first, that alone had made Serena feel glad to have come to this world as herself.
“Thank you, Anna. But… most people don’t see me that way.”
Thinking about it again only made her angry—it reminded her why she considered Grand Duke Farell her sworn enemy.
“Hah, so Farell, a house famed for generations of warriors, needs a strong woman like me?”
The reason Grand Duke Farell proposed had deeply offended Serena. In fact, she’d barely managed to hold back a curse when she first heard it.
“To continue the Farell line, we need a woman as strong and sturdy as you.”
That was the very first thing the Grand Duke said upon meeting her.
“Please bear me a child as noble and imposing as you…”
Before he could finish, Serena, unable to contain herself, splashed the contents of her teacup at him—but he only laughed heartily.
“Yes! That’s exactly the kind of fierce woman we need! You’ve won my heart.”
From that moment on, Hyde’s reddish-brown eyes had followed Serena relentlessly.
Exasperated, Serena had finally sent a letter months ago, forbidding him entry to her domain as acting Duke of Astel—and that hard-won peace lasted until now.
“Hmph.”
Embarrassed by her outburst, Serena cleared her throat awkwardly.
“In any case, it’s the Grand Duke I dislike—not the trade itself. If it benefits House Astel, all the better.”
In matters of governance, Serena was a wise ruler who kept personal feelings separate. Anna nodded in agreement—it was truly the right approach.
“More importantly, my lady, your audience is soon.”
“Oh… right.”
She’d woken up feeling refreshed and carefree after a good night’s sleep, but as long as Lucas was here, that peace was useless.
“At least he requested the audience just a day in advance—that’s better than the Grand Duke.”
After Serena barred him from approaching her, Grand Duke Farell had sent countless messenger pigeons, infuriating her further.
Of course, those pigeons were now comfortably housed in cages, well-fed and plump, busy raising fine offspring. Serena believed in using what she could, regardless of her feelings.
“Then let’s go.”
Serena adjusted her uncomfortable dress hem and spoke.
“No, not yet.”
Anna smiled faintly and stared straight into Serena’s eyes.
“Just a moment—just a moment.”
From her sleeve, Anna produced a small box and gently applied its contents to Serena’s lips with her pinky.
“Lip rouge? I hate that!”
“No, it’s not that.”
Serena’s naturally pink lips now shimmered with added luster and a petal-like hue.
“It’s moisturizer.”
Anna smiled sweetly.
“It’s autumn, after all.”
“Oh, I see.”
Watching Serena nod innocently, the two women simply smiled without another word.
“Here’s your fan. You know the etiquette, right?”
Serena gave Anna an awkward look.
“Um… I’ll hold onto it properly.”
Fans were essential for noblewomen, and among them, subtle fan movements could convey messages like sign language.
“Or… should I keep it open?”
“That might carry too many unintended meanings.”
Serena, who’d never even opened a book on social etiquette, couldn’t possibly know such things. Fortunately, her audience was only with the Crown Prince—he’d likely overlook any minor faux pas.
“Uh… I’ll just keep it folded for now.”
It was shaping up to be an uneasy day.
Everyone thought so—except the two people directly involved.
Male lead reborn without memories — but he still falls for her.
The person he finds displeasing in this life turns out to be his cherished wife-master in previous life…
Xie Zhi and Fang Xianxing who had known each other for less than three days through a blind date sat in the same car in front of the civil affairs bureau. They had a disagreement and failed to get married.
Xie Zhi immediately took out his phone, slid through his contacts, and randomly selected the next marriage candidate.
The woman snatched his phone and hung up. Looking at his phone wallpaper, she awkwardly changed the subject: “An ancient painting, eh? It looks pretty good, it’s just that the person in the painting looks a bit like me.”
When he heard this, he sarcastically mocked her for being so delusional, completely unaware that, the person in front of him was the reincarnation of Wen Ru, the famous prime minister of Yuan Shun whom he most admired…
The female CEO who doesn’t want to get married with a divorce agreement in hand × The male archaeological researcher who will only get married if he’s sure he can get divorced
Dumb that’s just an excuse to speed time with you duh 🙄😒
I think it’s too late for you Serena 🤔😂😂 he took care of that
Disappointment? 🤔😏 What else was she expecting to? 😏😏😏