Then King Elmerat spoke again.
“And I’ve mentioned before that I would arrange a residence for you in the capital… However, if you intend to take in Gledon’s son, in my opinion, it would be better for Ariante, even if it’s for her sake, to live in the royal palace.”
“Your Majesty, I appreciate your words. However, I am rather concerned that if Ariante were to live in the royal palace… she might face even greater difficulties.”
“Is it because of that child’s birth?”
At the blunt and straightforward question, Cediloy’s face changed slightly.
“Yes, Your Majesty. If Ariante were to live in the royal palace, it would be noticeable to others, whether we live in the capital or not. But as for me, I want to minimize any potential trouble.”
King Elmerat, who had been lost in thought for a moment, sighed briefly. She also knew how quickly the gossip-loving nobles in the capital spread rumors.
The marriage of Vervois and Liria took place discreetly within the ducal jurisdiction. Therefore, the nobles in the capital were not aware of the fact that the younger brother of the Balternminster Duke got married, let alone that the other party was a commoner, and that both of them had already passed away.
Naturally, Ariante’s existence was not known. As Cediloy, she had done her best to protect Ariante.
“If that’s your wish, there’s nothing to be done. Well, that place has significant meaning for you as well. Then, arrange your residence as you wish. Try to reduce your visits to the capital a bit. After all, when you have two children, there will be much more for you to take care of at the ducal residence.”
“Thank you for your consideration, Your Majesty.”
“And Cediloy, let me offer one more piece of advice. Children inevitably grow up at some point. While I am well aware that you love and cherish Ariante as your own daughter, refrain from assuming that the child will remain unaware of the truth indefinitely. Do you understand my words?”
Cediloy looked at her unexpectedly for a moment. Elmerat added.
“Remember my words, Cediloy. Just as we cannot stop the passage of time, we cannot prevent children from becoming adults. Always keep that in mind.”
Finally, he nodded. The candle flickered, and deep concern and affection shone in Elmerat’s gentle eyes, then gradually faded away.
The young postman delivering mail to the Balternminster Ducal Residence didn’t particularly like Venti. When she received mail, she would first check if there was a letter from her lover.
And if there were no letters, she would vent her frustration on the unfortunate postman. Blaming him for being careless, accusing him of spilling something halfway, threatening to pull his nose if he lost it…
The boy hoped each time he went to deliver the letter that, please, someone other than Venti would come out to receive it. However, luck did not seem to be on his side today. As the boy walked, poking the fence with a twig, he saw Venti standing firm by the side gate where the servants came and went.
“Hurry up, can’t you come any faster!”
Startled by Venti’s screaming voice, the boy, who had been whistling like a broken soldier, dropped the twig he had been holding and swiftly ran towards her, muttering a few vulgar words he had learned from the older boys in the village.
“Letter’s here.”
“I know. Just hand it over.”
Chejewon took out the letters addressed to the Balternminster Ducal Residence from his leather bag. Unusually, there were quite a few today. He covered his forehead with both hands, anticipating that Venti might explode in anger and prepare to scold him.
However, Venti, who had been flipping through the letters with an indifferent look, did something unbelievable. Among them, she pulled out five separate envelopes and did the unexpected.
“Here, take them.”
Venti extended her slightly clenched fist forward. As the bewildered boy blinked his eyes, she, who had frowned at his confusion, raised her voice again.
“What are you doing? Like a fool. Hurry up and take it!”
“Uh? Oh, yes. Thank you.”
The boy extended his hands without knowing what Venti was giving him, bowing from the waist. It was a habit that had developed from dealing with arrogant servants begging for favors each time he delivered mail to noble mansions. However, as his eyes sparkled with the new silver coins on his palm, given by Venti, it seemed as if they were about to pop out.
Staring at the boy with widened eyes as if asking what was going on, Venti snorted.
“It’s a gift from the lady. She said to give it to you if you bring these replies. Understand?”
“Yes…?”
“Say thank you!”
The boy, squeezing the silver coin in his palm unknowingly, took a step back. Then, suddenly looking up at the ornate windows on the upper floor of the mansion, he shouted.
“Milady, thank you!”
“What is he doing?”
Thud! Venti’s honey-soaked bread flew. Despite the injustice of being hit again after being told to express gratitude, it wasn’t unbearable compared to receiving a new silver coin like a star.
Male lead is a Destined Young Husband (Female-dominant)
One-sentence summary: Wife-master, listen to my explanation!
Li Ruantang, a young lady from a prestigious family, stumbled and fell. When she woke up, she saw a noble and beautiful young man sitting by her bedside, wiping away tears.
The young master had slightly reddened eyes, and his every move exuded charm.
The sight made Li Ruantang’s eyes hot and her heart flutter. After all, she had made a bet with the young master Meng from the neighboring family. If she couldn’t marry a husband before the end of the year, she would have to admit defeat and give up the jade she had worked so hard to obtain.
Outside the window, the flowers were in full bloom.
Rather than losing the bet, the jade, and her face, Li Ruantang calculated that it would be better to seek marriage with the young master in front of her, killing three birds with one stone.
…
Meng Jun never thought that an accident during a spring outing would lead to them rolling down a cliff and into a river, yet still survive.
Now they were trapped in an unknown village, and Meng Jun had overheard that the family who had rescued them had their own intentions.
After all, it was Li Ruantang who had lost her mind and sought marriage first. He was only trying to protect himself!
Glancing at Li Ruantang, who was listing her own merits, the young husband’s voice softened, and he blushed as he lied, “W-wife-master, Wife-master, don’t you remember me?”
The young husband’s voice was clear and handsome, coaxing Li Ruantang’s heart to be soft and sweet, and she spared no effort to protect him.
It wasn’t until they returned to the capital that Li Ruantang suddenly remembered.
When they had fallen off the cliff, in order not to implicate Wei Yunruo, whom he secretly admired, the young husband had instead pulled her, who was slightly farther away, down the cliff with him…
Short summary by Yuushi L: Initially, the male lead (ML) liked another girl, while the female lead (FL) liked the ML. Both fell off a cliff. The FL temporarily lost her memory, and the ML, fearing others might take advantage of him, claimed FL was his wife while they were staying in a village. Later, when they returned home, the FL regained her memories and remembered that the ML liked someone else, so she kept her distance from him. However, during their time living together in the countryside, the ML’s view of the FL had completely changed. From this point, his pursuit of the FL begins.
Link to read
