“How did you know that?”
Lise Marsen had detected the state of the World Tree, and I found it intriguing.
Fair enough, Lise Marsen was a resident of paradise, and like the Dragon clan, she was a blessed being, but she hadn’t been granted any powers. It was up to the gods to decide who could and couldn’t wield abilities, and Lise Marsen was not chosen.
Still, over her long life, she had developed extraordinary senses beyond human capability, but that was it.
“Is it so surprising?”
Lise Marsen grinned and added,
“I may not have abilities like you, but I’ve traveled the world and learned much. One of those skills is to see through things. That’s also why I once said you tend to attract interesting beings.”
Did she say that? I couldn’t remember and showed a blank expression.
“I knew you’d make that face. You never listen when I say important things.”
Sighing, Lise Marsen pretended to wipe away a tear and crossed her arms.
“Shall we discuss the current state of the World Tree, then?”
She looked down at me and smiled.
“As you know, the World Tree is the only being promised eternal life by the gods.”
I nodded, encouraging her to continue.
“That World Tree’s punishment is to give its eternal life to all beings on this earth.”
Impossible. I scowled and looked down at the World Tree’s leaves.
“In human terms, it’s been sentenced to death.”
Lise Marsen paused, perhaps thinking I was shocked, and I soon recalled my past memories with the World Tree.
‘Why do you always appear as a tree? Don’t you want to be a person? Isn’t it uncomfortable?’
‘I like watching over everyone from here. Besides, if I leave this form, my birth as the World Tree would be meaningless.’
The World Tree had been happy that I visited it every day, unlike Yongyong, who sometimes complained.
“Are you sure?”
“Yes.”
Unlike the World Tree, which had always been supportive and never uttered a bitter word, Yongyong had been somewhat critical. I felt strange as I remembered my forgotten memories with it.
My heart felt prickly, and my eyes seemed to tremble, but I wasn’t uncomfortable or angry. It felt like sadness, but it didn’t. I couldn’t figure out how to describe this emotion.
My hand, which had been holding the World Tree’s leaf, sagged down.
“Your Majesty, are you crying again?”
“I didn’t cry.”
“Oh, how scary~.”
Annoyed, I glared at Lise Marsen, who pretended to be frightened.
“I was trying to lighten the mood with a joke. Shouldn’t you be thankful?”
“Are you insane?”
I crossed my arms and grumbled. I knew Lise Marsen was provoking me to snap me out of my funk, but I refused to show gratitude.
It was ridiculous to be grateful for something I never asked for.
“Ah, why don’t we go see the World Tree in person? You should confirm its state with your own eyes.”
Just as I thought of sending Lise Marsen away, her suggestion struck me. I snapped back to reality.
“Now? What about the maids?”
“If you say you’re somewhere else, what’s there to worry about?”
Lise Marsen chuckled and flashed her unique grin.
“Quietly, secretly, if we go and come back, no one will know. If we’re caught, we’ll manage somehow.”
Laughing gleefully, Lise Marsen gestured for me to follow, whispering the invitation.
Lillith descended into the underground space through another secret passage.
The hidden route she took with Jeff and Ashian was different and hard to see; both the entrance above ground and the one below required complicated manipulation of bricks.
‘I didn’t directly participate in the design, so this is my first time seeing such a narrow path.’
Indeed, people recognized me well. I had become arrogant due to my excellence in discovering the servants of my past life, whom I can’t even remember their faces now.
Thump, thump.
“Why did you come here?”
I spat out the question while scanning the familiar underground space. I wondered if there was a hidden path to sneak a look at the World Tree.
“The dragon who stayed above ground created a gap in the space as it left the world.”
“What? So Yongyong has disappeared?”
“Yes.”
I hastened my steps, feeling that something had gone wrong. And I was stunned by the sight before me.
‘When he appeared in the body of a squirrel, did he mean this when he said he could finally rest in peace?’
I stood dumbfounded in front of the altar.
Where once lay Yongyong’s lifeless body, drained of its energy, now there was only a warp emitting a blue light and wind; not a trace of my old friend remained.
‘Even losing his physical form and disappearing.’
I had intended to free him once dragon energy became redundant or alternative energy could be developed. It was a vague thought, but I had it because Yongyong had enriched our empire’s resources, making the nation more affluent.
‘Did this brat not tell me about his body disappearing because he thought I would care?’
I clicked my tongue overtly. Lillith, who had climbed the altar first, looked down and spoke to me.
“Your Majesty, we need to hurry.”
Without further delay, Lillith disappeared into the warp.
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.”
