The dark evening at the palace.
A carriage stopped in front of the party venue. Olivia took a deep breath, suppressed her urge to make a sound, and exhaled quietly. Although she felt strangely tense when they arrived at the capital, it wasn’t as nerve-wracking as this.
“Are you very nervous?”
She wanted to hide her tension as much as possible. As Olivia tried to dismiss the affectionate concern, her gaze met Edwin’s. The words she intended to say to deny it stopped abruptly.
The gaze that looked at her as if waiting.
Dressed in a bright uniform today.
With his hair swept to the side, looking handsome and heart-fluttering.
Olivia couldn’t help but stare blankly. At that moment, somewhere, a faint jingling sound resonated. Olivia suddenly regained her composure, smiled, and removed the watch from her wrist.
“…Saying that I’m not nervous at all seems like a lie.”
Edwin, who had been silently looking at Olivia, let out a small, thoughtful sigh. Edwin, who brushed his jawline with his index finger, cast a nonchalant glance towards the party venue. Then, looking at Olivia, he playfully suggested.
“Since the Hesperity delegation is also attending the party from tomorrow, how about going on a date somewhere else now?”
It was a sweet proposal. Just enough to be slightly tempting.
“Well…I’m really tempted, but it won’t do.”
Unfortunately, Olivia saw it. Her reflection in the mirror.
“As you can see, I put a lot of effort into dressing up for this party.”
Olivia’s figure was reflected on the clean window. It sounded like boasting, but Edwin nodded seriously as if agreeing. Although Olivia felt a bit embarrassed, she didn’t back down.
“Miss, you truly look like a fairy today. No, the queen of fairies.”
Suddenly, Hanna’s admiration came to mind. Since yesterday, or rather, from the moment she arrived in Bikanader, Olivia had been proud of the efforts of those who dressed her up. Therefore, denying herself was forbidden.
“And Edwin should attend the party. Even if the delegation is from tomorrow, it’s better to get acquainted with the nobles you’ll see at the noble assembly.”
…Of course, even though she quickly changed the subject due to a slightly embarrassed feeling.
Edwin, who noticed Olivia’s intention, teasingly said.
“Then, we might have to be separated for a while?”
“Just for a moment.”
Saying it firmly. Looking at Olivia with round eyes, Edwin grinned as he bit his lip. Every time he looked at her with such trusting eyes, Edwin felt grateful yet uneasy, as if a burning ember had stuck to his chest.
Whether it was because of the people in this party venue or because of the untold story of the predecessor Olivia hadn’t revealed yet, it was unknown.
“…Just as Olivia says. It will only be for a very short while.”
Edwin grinned and leaned subtly toward Olivia. Ding— The sound of a small bell faintly echoed.
“After a short while, no matter where I am, I will return to Olivia’s side.”
His seductive voice sounded like a spell. Olivia nodded. Her heart, which had been irregularly beating due to tension, began to accelerate for a different reason.
Olivia, escorted by Edwin, approached the entrance of the party venue. The anxious-faced attendant, who bowed deeply, hurriedly greeted Olivia and Edwin.
“I, I greet War Hero Edwin Lowell Bikanader Grand Duke, and Lady of Madelaine.”
Lady of Madelaine.
As the attendant bowed deeply, Olivia pondered the title he had just mentioned.
Perhaps because she hadn’t heard it while in Bikanader. The word she had heard for fourteen years felt strangely unfamiliar, as if referring to someone else.
…As if referring to someone other than herself.
Only then did Olivia realize the part where she felt unfamiliar. Meanwhile, the attendant, standing up straight, quickly spoke.
“We will talk inside.”
“Not Lady of Madelaine.”
A graceful voice forcefully extended.
The attendant, who was rushing, came to a halt in his tracks. When he, overwhelmed by the authority underlying the gentle voice, turned around to confirm what he had heard, Olivia Madelaine, who had been addressed as Lady of Madelaine, confidently affirmed.
“‘Olivia.’ That’s how you should address me.”
Without any hesitation. In this formal setting, Olivia discarded the Madelaine surname.
For the first time, the attendant blinked for a moment. However, he soon, as if drawn by a subtle energy in Olivia’s green eyes, called out to the open door.
The laughter that had vaguely filled the grand duke’s mouth at first was very thick after they had called their names.
“The War Hero Edwin Lowell Bikanader Grand Duke and Olivia Madelaine, no, Miss Olivia, are entering!”
At the resounding voice of the attendant, everyone’s gaze turned towards the door of the party venue.
Inside the party venue, the chatter of people that had been loud disappeared in an instant.
Even the musicians, who had been immersed in playing music, looked around one by one due to the strangely changed atmosphere. The rich melody gradually disappeared, and soon the party venue fell silent.
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.”
