“The guest has arrived.”
As Cassian slightly nodded, the door gently opened.
Through it, the silhouette of a woman swayed.
The woman who sought him earlier than scheduled this time entered his domain without hesitation.
Compared to her hesitant appearance when she first stepped in here, her demeanor had changed considerably.
Finding it amusing, Cassian suppressed a chuckle.
Light gradually fell upon the woman who had stopped in the shadowy spot.
Following the undulating display of light, the woman’s form was revealed.
The woman, whom he thought only her posture had changed, had transformed in every way.
Red vitality overlaid on her once pale face.
Neatly trimmed eyebrows, rosiness embracing lips that were once pure…
Glossy red hair.
That’s just what was visible to his eyes.
From this woman who showed signs of effort put into her appearance everywhere, a strong fragrance emanated.
Like a debutante entering a ballroom for the first time.
The peach scent erased from that woman’s skin was quite regrettable.
However, the woman’s current appearance was intriguing enough to easily overshadow such regrets.
The green eyes that confidently met his face when she entered now trembled aimlessly.
Nevertheless, her gaze didn’t leave him.
Like that late summer day, in the rain-filled prison of Alfonse.
Like the day she threw off her clothes in front of him.
Like the day she looked at him intently while sobbing beneath him.
The woman approached without averting her gaze from him even once.
Her slow yet quiet steps were just like a sharpened sword piercing and shaking the opponent’s heart.
From the woman who stopped at the shortened distance, a scent of flesh wafted through the perfume.
The tickling fragrance at the tip of his nose reminded him of that night not long ago.
It’s not something to be newly surprised about.
After all, he had been recalling her repeatedly since she left.
Even without this scent wafting, even in the midst of flowing through an ordinary day with no connection.
When looking at the empty bedroom, when sitting looking at the white wall resembling that woman’s face.
When sitting looking at the blood-red flag resembling her red hair.
And… damn it.
The woman’s whimpers and sobs, arising without connection or causality.
Yet in the end, the arms that clung incessantly roamed his mind.
To the point where he seriously suspected if the woman had cursed him as if to take revenge.
What was meant to be seen only once became twice, then thrice, until reaching this point.
There was not a single thing that wasn’t ridiculous.
Yes. Now he had no choice but to admit it.
That this woman had charged at him holding a sharp spear against which no shield would be effective.
That he was the enemy soldier who was stabbed while being defenseless, not even raising a shield.
That his shield had already been destroyed before this woman’s spear.
Before meeting this woman, he always promised it would be the last time.
This time was no exception.
The problem is that such resolutions always become laughable acts in front of this woman.
Under the lamp set to the optimal temperature and color for a man and woman to roll around, the woman’s face flickered.
The seductive eyes overlaid on her pure face looked up at him.
Yes. Those eyes are always the problem.
Those damn pretty, alluring eyes.
Whether raising or lowering the corners, those cursed eyes that can’t be hidden completely enveloped the cliché word ‘beauty’.
This woman, seemingly well aware of this, looked up at him with that gaze as usual and narrowed her eyes.
Even in that clearly intentional look, a hint of wistfulness could be felt, ridiculously enough.
The woman took his hand and demurely placed it on her buttons.
At that brazen action of placing it on her chest, of all places, he was now on the verge of laughing in disbelief.
What to do.
He just watches silently.
Knowing what she wants him to do.
He, who even he thinks is crazy, is ungentlemanly until the very end.
Watching like this, vulgar curiosity stains his heart with ink, wondering what she’ll do next.
As he just watches silently, the woman’s eyes tremble for the first time, tinged with bewilderment.
As if this situation wasn’t in her predictions at all.
Her brazen appearance isn’t even funny.
In the end, the plan was changed once again.
As she pulled down the dress clinging to her body, pale skin was revealed… and over it, a piece of see-through fabric was draped.
The black lingerie boasted a breathtaking silhouette with sheer material that seemed to reveal yet not reveal what was underneath.
The problem is that this outfit, said to be worn mainly on honeymoons, is right before his eyes.
The woman who properly pulled off that quite amusing outfit was amusing.
Cassian swallowed his laughter and silently gazed at the woman.
Unlike that day, a hand reached out towards him as he stood watching quietly.
Despite the rather provocative approach, the woman was clumsy in everything afterwards.
As if knowing that makes people go crazy.
“I missed you.”
This was the only lie from the woman that wasn’t clumsy.
Every time that audacious lie was uttered, he swallowed it again and again.
Throughout the hundreds of times hot breaths flipped the space over, his figure was fully reflected in those emerald eyes.
That sight was quite satisfying.
He took in that scene without missing a single moment.
Every time that persistent gaze touched her, the woman smiled radiantly towards him, even holding her breath.
He smiled back at such a woman.
Wearing a smile on his lips that would probably seem quite devilish to this woman, he utters even more devilish words.
“Let’s meet here every weekend from now on.”
The woman’s gaze trembles more aimlessly than ever before.
Her lips, unable to utter any words, only quivered.
As if searching for an excuse.
“Why. You said you missed me.”
“……”
“Wasn’t that true?”
“…?”
[This is the timeline separator]Yuriel, returning to her lodgings, stood panting in front of the door.
Every weekend, he said.
It means she has to see that man’s face every week from now on.
Her legs went weak and cold sweat beaded up.
She stupidly couldn’t say a single word in front of him.
No, in fact, it wouldn’t have made a difference even if she had said something.
Because that man has already decided everything when he utters words.
Knowing that she has no choice but to follow those words.
How could she refuse now after saying she liked him, that she missed him?
She endlessly wiped away the tears that kept falling.
Promising herself to cry only until today. Yes, only until today.
The city center, past the height of winter, was still cold and chilly nonetheless.
The feeling of those red eyes piercing through her as she lay on the bed still sent chills through her body.
Belated snow began to fall from the sky, blanketing the city.
Yuriel reached out her hand and grasped the snow.
Even in her cold palm, the fine particles of snow quickly turned to water and dissipated into the air.
When the snow melts, flowers bloom, and the season comes for the earth to freeze again.
By then… everything will disappear like this.
As if it never existed.
Yuriel’s face was dry as she stared at the snow that had vanished without a trace.
Like the barren winter.
[This is the timeline separator]The everyday life that flowed by as if nothing had happened was no different from usual.
The snow covering the streets was pretty, the sky was piercingly clear, and the waterfall of Icevalley melting at the beginning of spring was simply beautiful.
People made snowmen at the Wishing Waterfall, prayed for happiness and well-being, or asked for love to be fulfilled.
The world flows by beautifully as if nothing had happened.
As always.
Pantheon, known as a tourist attraction, was crowded with people until the end of winter after becoming known to outsiders.
The sight of seemingly happy people all felt like a dream.
Would she ever be able to laugh and make wishes among those people?
She recalls her mother who saw her off this morning.
Yes. That man always managed to give her that medicine while crushing her pride every time.
This time too, without fail, her mother was granted another month of life.
Sometimes she wants to give up everything, but that one pill makes her endure it all.
It all seemed like a joke from God.
Didn’t they say God gives only as much pain as humans can bear?
There was a time when she didn’t believe those words, but now she’s starting to.
After all, it was God who gave her mother that illness and God who created that man.
God might be quite satisfied seeing her in this state.
As much as that man.
Sometimes she wishes such a detestable God would just disappear.
As if mocking such thoughts of hers, people flocked before such a God to offer prayers.
The statue in the form of God sits with a benevolent smile.
As if it would grant any prayer.
That appearance is also just like that man.
In fact, they are no different beings.
To her, that man who hands her the medicine is more godlike than that invisible, unkind God.
Thinking the statue is no different from that man, even that benevolent smile of the statue seems to be mocking her.
Just as that man looked down at her, it feels like that statue is also laughing at her.
Was that God also looking down at her with such eyes from heaven?
Eyes full of mockery, that is.
Perhaps with an expression saying she’s committing an unholy act by moving her body without heart.
It doesn’t matter even if that’s the case.
Even if God is angry at that blasphemy, he would have nothing to take away from her.
He needs to have given something to take it away.
Ah… I’ll take back these words.
Perhaps God might have some involvement in my mother’s life, however small.
And he might also have a tiny stake in that man’s heart.
I’ll acknowledge it all, You.
So this time, You help a little too.
That that man’s heart doesn’t change.
That for one year, the whole world can be mine.
So that such days can accumulate and someday be regained.
That if not happiness, at least an ordinary life can be had.
No, actually, that ordinary life is my dream and happiness.
Help me achieve that, just this once.
Yuriel, who delivered this simple yet sincere prayer, moved her steps.
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.”
