Just as I stepped out of the office, I ran into Lutz, who was on guard duty with the Royal Guards today. I informed him of the change in our afternoon schedule.
“His Highness, the Prince, will be going to the Empress’s palace after lunch. I will be accompanying him.”
“Oh, you too, Sir Müsel?”
Lutz couldn’t hide his surprise. He was always quite expressive with his emotions.
“Yes, the situation demands it.”
“Boy, the role of an aide is not easy, is it? And here I thought you only had to handle official duties.”
Lutz looked genuinely sympathetic.
I smiled faintly.
“If the Empress can have her aide, there’s no reason His Highness can’t have his. Just remember the change in schedule, please.”
“Haha, got it.”
Lutz responded cheerfully.
Soon after, our group was passing through the corridor of the Empress’s palace.
“……. ”
Klaus, walking ahead of me, remained silent the entire way.
Lutz, too, was all business, his usual easygoing demeanor gone. His face was stern, and his eyes sharp as he surveyed our surroundings.
I grew tense as well. Seeing the two so focused, and knowing I was about to face Lumi in her Lady Elfriede mode, weighed heavily on my mind.
I followed the Prince, envisioning the upcoming encounter.
Lumi’s expression would twist into a scowl upon seeing me arrive with Klaus. I would respond with a meaningful smile.
The Empress, using the excuse of wanting to spend quality time with her son while aggressively promoting the Lady as a potential bride, would be met with nothing but cold indifference from Klaus.
Given Lumi’s impatient nature, she wouldn’t be able to stand such a situation for long. She would glare at me with sharp eyes.
But I wouldn’t be intimidated. I’d meet her gaze with a ‘so what?’ expression.
If the atmosphere became too tense, then Klaus’s intervention would be needed.
“Your Highness.”
“……?”
Klaus turned around at my call.
“Lady Elfriede might take issue with my presence. If that happens, please ask both the Lady and me to leave.”
“I doubt she’d be so bold in front of Mother. But I’ll keep your words in mind.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
Good. I’m well-prepared.
The garden of the Empress’s palace is renowned for its beauty within the Imperial Palace. Unfortunately, it being winter, we couldn’t fully appreciate its splendor.
The tea table was set up in a room decorated with artificial flowers, instead of the garden. Lutz stood guard at the entrance, while Klaus and I proceeded inside.
Upon entering, I couldn’t help but marvel.
“Oh…….”
The craftsmanship of the state-certified artificial flower artisans was so exquisite, it resembled real springtime blooms. The added fragrance of flower perfumes made it feel as if we had stepped into a real garden.
The Empress and Lady Elfriede were already there, waiting for us.
“Oh my, Colin, you’ve brought Sir Müsel with you today.”
I glanced at Lumi standing behind the Empress. True to her nature, she was glaring at me with fiery eyes upon seeing me.
I wasn’t intimidated in the slightest. I had already run through the scenario in my head.
“It seemed fitting to balance the attendance, seeing as Mother has her aide.”
Klaus replied smoothly, without any change in expression.
“It’s a bit uncomfortable to have attendants of official duties at a family gathering, isn’t it?”
“Lady Elfriede is not a maid, is she? I thought Mother didn’t strictly separate work and personal attendants, seeing as she was there last time we met.”
Hmm, this wasn’t in my simulation. I hadn’t expected my issue to come up so soon.
Klaus smiled leisurely.
“If it’s truly bothersome, we can each send away our attendants. That way, we can have a genuine family conversation, right?”
The Empress looked at me with displeasure. I subtly bowed my head in response.
“It’s not too much of an inconvenience. It can’t be helped, Colin.”
Eventually, the Empress relented, though her cold gaze never left me.
“…….”
Wow, that’s chilly. This is going to be an interesting day.
I had anticipated such a reaction. However, it was crucial to prevent Lumi from recklessly acting out and meeting the same fate as the original villainess of the story.
Amidst the slightly awkward air, tea time began.
“The flood relief funds have already been collected and distributed? That was quicker than expected.”
“It’s an urgent matter. We’ve already released the initially secured budget. As the noble donors contribute without delay, the remaining funds will be smoothly distributed to the affected areas.”
The Empress’s face lit up at this.
“The largest donation came from the Mecklinger Duke. Truly befitting the empire’s most prestigious house.”
She exchanged a brief glance and smile with Elfriede, who stood behind her, her eyes radiating sheer adoration.
Meanwhile, Klaus remained expressionless as before.
“The Duke was the first to offer twice his obligatory share at the state council. He must have done as he said he would.”
“Keeping one’s word is not an easy task. Such integrity is indeed the dignity passed down through the Mecklinger family.”
Ex-husband Wants Reconciliation
One-line summary: Chasing the wife to the crematorium (making an effort to attract someone who has become indifferent), the female lead doesn’t look back, the second male lead takes the position.
Intro:
To repay the kindness of the older generation, Su Mu crossed into a female-dominated world and became a live-in daughter-in-law of the Yan family, single-handedly saving the Yan family from fire and water.
But her husband, Yan Jiyue, the eldest son of the Yan family, treated her with sarcasm and never showed her a good face.
It wasn’t until after Su Mu’s death that this pampered and arrogant young master shed a few fake tears and pretended to want to die for love.
This life’s kindness was enough. If there was a next life, she would definitely kick Yan Jiyue away.
Who knew that the heavens would be so kind as to allow her to be reborn, returning to the time when she had just married into the Yan family.
Su Mu glanced at the Yan eldest son, who still spoke coldly to her, and threw a divorce letter in front of him.
“Let’s divorce!”
***
Yan Jiyue never imagined that he would be reborn. He happily went to find Su Mu, wanting to make up for the mistakes he had made in his ignorant youth.
Wasn’t the reason the heavens allowed him to be reborn to let him reconcile with Su Mu?
But when he pushed open the door to Su Mu’s room, the person lying on the bed was another man.
Su Mu’s personal attendant, Xie Yi.
Yan Jiyue hated him so much that his teeth itched. In front of Su Mu, Xie Yi was a gentle and considerate whisperer of sweet nothings, but in reality, he was vicious-hearted and deliberately sabotaged their husband and wife relationship.
In the previous life, it was he who secretly hid in Su Mu’s coffin and committed suicide, stealing a step ahead of him to be buried with Su Mu.
Yan Jiyue’s eyes were filled with hatred as he cursed, “What kind of thing are you? Your background is lowly, what right do you have to occupy Su Mu?”
Xie Yi looked at the sleeping Su Mu and no longer pretended to be a whisperer of sweet nothings.
He proudly stuck out his belly, “I have the right because my belly is capable of giving the Wife-master a daughter.”
***
Yan Jiyue was consumed with jealousy. He spread rumors that Xie Yi had once been branded with the mark of a “harlot” on his chest.
But on the night Xie Yi cut off the flesh bearing that mark, Su Mu suddenly realized something was amiss.
“How did you know the exact moment I was poisoned? And why did you show up a month early?”
Xie Yi remained silent, blood from his wound soaking through his robes. His sapphire eyes brimmed with anguish – or was it just a flawless act?
Between a once-arrogant husband now seeking redemption, and a gentle soul willing to die for her – who truly held the darkest secrets? And could it be that Su Mu and Yan Jiyue weren’t the only ones given a second chance at life…?
[Reading Guide]
1. True divorce, chasing the wife to the crematorium, the female lead doesn’t look back, the male lead is Xie Yi.
2. The ex-husband did not cheat, he just realized too late and didn’t realize that he liked the female lead.
_____
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