Countless eyes were fixed on the princess, a subtle mix of suspicion and incredulity.
The princess maintained a calm expression, concealing the dizziness she felt.
What should she say? Her mind felt empty, devoid of any thoughts.
If she acknowledged it, it would imply consenting to Lady Maria Etel’s absurd engagement, tolerating it. If she denied knowledge, she risked losing control over the summer banquet.
Either choice would tarnish her perfect reputation.
She should have found that foolish Maria Etel and hidden her away somewhere immediately.
Anger clenched her teeth. Though intense regret surged, she couldn’t reveal a trace of it before the nobles.
The princess had to choose her words carefully.
“Lady Etel Youngae expressed a desire to assist for the sake of my brother… No matter how earnestly she pleaded, I should have scrutinized it more carefully. I’ve caused trouble for everyone.”
Ah. Understanding finally dawned on the faces of the nobles surrounding the princess. If it was Lady Etel Youngae, who always envied Lady Madelaine’s achievements, she was more than capable of such an act.
To the nobles of the Empire who were aware of the circumstances, this was a story that made perfect sense.
Though worried about the banquet from tomorrow onwards, once they got through today, everything would be fine, especially if her mother, the Empress, persuaded Olivia Madelaine.
If only she could replace this lamentable banquet with an elegant one that she desired immediately.
“I present Her Imperial Highness, the Princess of the Empire.”
That moment.
“Thank you for inviting me to this splendid banquet. I am Duke Kewell, the representative of the diplomatic mission from Heperti.”
A well-dressed man with outer glasses bowed politely to the princess. Following behind him was Marquis Madelaine.
“Since we are from Heperti, I couldn’t follow the conversation. If it’s not too impolite, may I ask the relationship between the princess and the lady who left earlier?”
The princess momentarily closed her mouth. Everyone had awkward expressions.
Amid today’s events, Viscount Etel was already a castaway in the Imperial family. There was no need to reveal the relationship between Maria and the prince to a foreign country.
However, the discourtesy toward the foreign country had already begun at the previous banquet. The princess carefully navigated the situation.
“…As a noble at the heart of the Empire, it is only natural to think of supporting His Highness, the Prince. Thank you for your words. Your Highness. I’ve heard rumors that Your Highness excellently oversees everything at the summer banquet in Heperti. As for Lady Etel who left earlier, she was a close confidante that I could trust. She was somewhat impulsive.”
Confidante.
In that simple word, the nobles of the Empire momentarily raised their heads. There was a distinct difference in gossip among the nobles.
“Well, Your Highness didn’t have a fondness for Lady Maria Etel, did you?”
“That’s true. Despite your fondness for Viscount Lieberohn Youngae, you haven’t shared any information about the banquet with her. How did you suddenly become so close?”
“Oh, even if you don’t know Viscount Lieberohn Youngae, do you remember who she used to be? Why did Your Highness suddenly lead a carriage procession during the summer banquet after restoring the Retail Territory during the spring courtship period? I heard someone took over the banquet for a while then.”
“Oh, right. Lady Madelaine.”
When someone casually responded, the princess’s face turned pale. Within the nonchalant murmurs, keywords were mixed that could unveil the truth.
The princess quickly scanned her surroundings. This murmur had to disappear.
Count Lieberohn Youngae, who seemed to be looking at her with a somewhat troubled expression, could change it.
Now, the urgent matter was the sudden appearance of Olivia Madelaine, the half that could change the course of the story.
If only that wretch wasn’t here, the flow of the story could be altered…
The princess’s thoughts, which she had been comforting herself with, came to a halt. Not far away, sitting on a plush sofa as if watching an opera, was a group of people, and among them was Olivia Madelaine.
The mockery was evident in her emerald eyes, as if she could see through everything.
The princess had never received such scorn from anyone before. In an instant, her emotions swayed.
Fear and anxiety about her reputation—everything that constituted the foundation of the princess—shook to its core. If Olivia were to step forward here, it would be the end of everything.
Her fingertips trembled.
The princess, who had lost control over herself, desperately tried to eliminate any gaps for Olivia to intervene.
So, she responded in any way she could.
“I-It’s not like that. It’s not possible. She just, as everyone knows, wanted to stand formally by my brother’s side. So…”
“Your Highness.”
From somewhere, Lady Ruhas, the governess, called the princess. Startled by the urgency in her gentle voice, the princess looked around.
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.”
