The late evening marking the end of the day.
Prince Jeffrey, having received final approval from the Emperor, announced the official position that the imperial family would intervene to resolve the issue between the Erdi ducal couple and Habertz.
It was an unprecedented situation for the imperial family to intervene in disputes between noble houses, something that hadn’t happened in decades.
However, the stance was that it could not be overlooked due to public opinion forming among the imperial citizens and the excessive nature of Habertz’s actions.
The Crown Prince’s palace issued an ultimatum, the highest level of intervention, simultaneously with the official announcement.
As this was an alert level usually issued only when judged to be a conspiracy of treason, newspapers receiving this news quickly printed stories announcing that war was imminent.
It was highly unusual to issue an ultimatum equivalent to a warning of treason, even with imperial intervention.
The imperial family explained the reasons for issuing the highest level, stating that while they were not claiming rebellion, Habertz’s barbaric and un-noble behavior in the capital, their anti-imperial tendencies,
And the actions of Habertz’s master, Aden, were unacceptable by common sense, so they wanted to resolve it as quickly as possible.
Of course, no one believed their stated reasons at face value.
Everyone knew the imperial family’s desire to reconquer Habertz and return the lands they owned to imperial possession.
50 years ago, when the Kan tribe was subjugated, an agreement was made that they would bow to the empire if only their land and clan were protected.
The empire, weary from prolonged war, accepted this, leading to a half-hearted subjugation.
They were tempted by the unknown resources beyond those lands, but unable to forcibly annex an already subjugated area or wage another war, they could only swallow their saliva.
So the current situation couldn’t be more welcome to them.
“If there’s no response to the ultimatum, you must prepare immediately to be able to declare war. Have the 3rd Corps commanders of the 1st and 2nd Commands ready to deploy within half a year, and call some of the border guards on break to the capital to handle security.”
“Understood.”
“Also, send negotiators, saying there’s still room for continued negotiations with Habertz. The core of this conflict is ultimately recovering the Duchess Erdi. Make sure to address that part clearly.”
Jeffrey, moving around with over ten officials, continuously issued directives.
As one person left, another came. This repetitive cycle was broken only when Duke Erdi, Kedilen, appeared.
“Your Highness, the Crown Prince.”
At his appearance, people dispersed, reading the atmosphere, and Jeffrey smiled, guiding him to his room.
Closing the door and the commotion fading, Jeffrey sat on the desk and nodded.
“Did you see the article?”
“Yes, I did.”
The morning paper, published earlier than usual, contained news of the war and Habertz’s atrocities across not one but three pages.
In between, it fully detailed how much suffering Duke Erdi endured, and even how Aden had tried to kill Kedilen to possess Ludmila.
Those who saw this news were outraged, and as that anger grew, the war against Habertz gained justification.
“Currently, four corps are preparing for deployment. They can deploy anytime within half a year if war breaks out. The number is roughly 40,000.”
“To recover one woman, over 40,000 soldiers move…”
Kedilen shook his head, letting out a self-deprecating laugh.
He questioned whether Ludmila was truly worth this much.
In the past, the story of Princess Olivia, who shook up two kingdoms, had already become a legend from hundreds of years ago.
Yet, such an event was about to unfold before his eyes as reality.
40,000. Not a small number of soldiers were on standby.
For no one else but to recover his wife.
In truth, everyone knew the imperial family had other hidden objectives behind this war.
Whether waging war was right or wrong was no longer important. Who had the justification. That was the key.
“But, will the Duke be alright?”
Kedilen’s gaze, which had slightly averted, returned to Jeffrey. Jeffrey tilted his chin, crossing his arms and curling his lips.
“After the war breaks out, all attention will be focused on the Erdi couple. Even more attention than before, along with numerous oppressions and restrictions will follow. They’ll try to control you just because you’re a couple reunited by their blood and sweat. Is that still okay?”
“It doesn’t matter. What I want is only one thing. Just Ludmila.”
At Kedilen’s plain answer, Jeffrey closed his lips.
A one-sided love for Ludmila. Or interest or obsession.
At some point, Kedilen had changed into a devoted husband who loved his wife dearly and longed only for his wife.
It was hard to know where such a change originated from.
It was hard to believe he was the same man who had abused and tormented Ludmila, treating her like a slave rather than his wife.
Though it was unclear when he had cultivated his feelings for Ludmila into love, it wasn’t Jeffrey’s concern.
Using that incomprehensible love. That was all that mattered to him.
Jeffrey only needed to share a common goal with Kedilen.
Eliminating Aden. That was the core.
The only difference was that he believed Ludmila should be killed too, but there was no need to reveal that now.
Letting out a slow breath, Jeffrey turned his head and stared out the window.
A warm morning that made one think everything would go well, with golden sunlight pouring down.
[This is the timeline separator]Ludmila returned on the evening of the day the ultimatum was issued.
Noticing something amiss in the chaotic atmosphere of the castle, Ludmila immediately received a report on the situation from Salom.
Sighing deeply throughout the story, Ludmila finally let out a deep breath at the news that war preparations were underway.
After sending Salom away, Ludmila immediately summoned Barhan.
Concerned that public opinion had turned unfavorable and could overturn the business, she intended to review the contract.
Bill Edith was an experienced businessman who likely wouldn’t care much about a war stemming from a love affair, but if it became related to his business, he would surely take issue.
She wanted to firmly establish that there were no problems with the contract before he could file a lawsuit.
Fortunately, Barhan seemed to have worried about this too and was already reviewing the contract.
They decided to send a messenger to convey that the war posed no problems to the contract contents and to suggest a meeting, before Bill Edith could make the first move, concluding the business matters.
Until the next morning, Ludmila did not meet Aden.
He had left the castle, saying he needed to meet with minor feudal lords directly to prepare for war.
Aden returned around noon, just as the golden sunlight was at its peak after breakfast had ended.
Ludmila, who had been silently watching him dismount with a tired face at the main gate, approached him quietly with a smile.
“You’ve worked hard, Aden.”
Aden nodded briefly, handed his gloves to Salom, then turned to Ludmila.
“Were there any problems?”
“Thanks to you.”
A cool breeze blew between the two at that moment.
Ludmila’s gaze, tidying her windswept hair, swept across the distant sky before finally landing on Aden.
Facing the gentle air mixed with strong winds, Aden wore an indecipherable, subtle expression.
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
“…It feels like I haven’t seen you in a while.”
Along with the half-beat delayed response came an unexpectedly nostalgic remark, drawing a thin smile from Ludmila’s lips.
As she reached out to smooth his disheveled hair, Aden’s eyes trembled slightly.
Silently watching this, Ludmila smiled brightly and turned around.
“Let’s go. It looks like we can have lunch together. Would you like to join me?”
“Sure.”
With a cool assent, Aden began to walk.
As always, Ludmila took the lead and Aden followed behind.
Keeping just the right distance, not too far to follow, but not too close.
[This is the timeline separator]Aden, who had been working until dawn broke through the darkness, closed his eyes tightly and leaned back in his chair, seeming tired.
In the study where only the sound of wind could be heard amidst the silence, Aden gripped a coffee cup, feeling as if he might fall asleep at any moment.
It was then that the letter arrived.
Aden rose from his seat, staring blankly at the paper envelope that had slipped through the gap in the study door.
There was nothing written on the envelope he picked up, bending at the waist.
Looking at it with a dry expression, Aden cleared his head with coffee, then put down the cup and opened the envelope.
Inside were several photographs.
Though not as clear as those from the capital, they were not so poor in quality as to be unidentifiable.
The photos were of Beressa. She was entering and exiting the Frost Guard headquarters.
Beressa did not have permission to access the Guard headquarters. The fact that she went there anyway meant there must be another reason.
Silently staring at the photos with dry eyes, Aden put them back in the envelope and folded it carefully.
Then he turned and approached the desk, opening a drawer. Inside, several letters were already in place.
Gripping the coffee cup again, he turned his gaze.
The blue sky, now completely free of darkness, was revealing itself.
Time flows relentlessly. It meant the time to choose was approaching.
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.
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