“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“Is ignoring it going to change anything?”
At Blat’s words, Elizabeth’s hand forcefully swept through the air.
Thud!
A giant boulder flew through the air and landed amongst the horde of monsters, making the ground reverberate.
The gazes that collided in midair were sharp.
Blat warned the piercing blue eyes glaring at him.
“Remember, Duchess Balrock is present.”
“You should be the one to remember. We’re in the middle of a battle.”
Elizabeth’s hand nervously swiped the air again.
Thud!
With a heavy boom, Elizabeth, who was directing the trebuchet, raised her voice.
“Soon, they’ll be back in range! Archers, prepare at your stations and wait for the signal!”
The incoming wind was sour and acrid.
Indeed, the long night was officially beginning.
Was it a problem that she had immersed herself in work, refusing all else except the most basic needs?
‘Is this too much?’
She thought she wasn’t particularly strong but didn’t consider herself weak either.
She just thought her stamina was lacking.
And yet, just a few days of hard work had drained her.
Bianca looked at her sagging, immobile body in disdain.
Lifting a hand felt burdensome.
“What is it? What can I do for you? You called for me?”
Somehow drained, she looked at her trembling hand, and Julie, who had been standing by, seemed to misunderstand and rushed over.
“Do you need water?”
“No, I’m just feeling down. Don’t worry too much.”
“Do you know how dangerous that is in this cold northern region?”
Julie reached under the blanket and checked the water pouch tucked next to Bianca.
“If you’re sluggish, you might lose body heat and freeze.”
“I know, I know.”
Bianca smiled weakly at her cute nagging.
Ever since she discovered herself unable to get out of bed this morning, Julie had been like this.
Nagging incessantly, to the point of annoyance.
Although it was because of past incidents, her nagging was extraordinary.
Yet, for the first time, it didn’t feel annoying.
“Don’t just brush it off. The Lady always says things like this, but you never listen.”
“Yeah, I’ll be careful.”
Oh, again.
Julie looked genuinely concerned as she scrutinized her.
Soft brown eyes filled with worry.
It was something unfamiliar yet always desired by Bianca.
The constant attention.
Affection.
It felt so good she couldn’t stop smiling.
“Don’t laugh it off. I’ve told you repeatedly. You should go for walks too. If you keep staring at documents, you’ll fall ill.”
“I know, I know.”
“Creta is a monster. Even if she goes days without sleep, she’s fine. You shouldn’t compare yourself to her.”
Julie tried to look stern, but it wasn’t scary; to Bianca, it was just cute. However, she didn’t laugh.
Because once, when she laughed in front of nagging Debora…
“Ah…”
She sighed softly at the name that suddenly came to mind.
“Are you in pain?”
She had completely forgotten.
Debora Elian.
Her lovable younger sister, who despite being half a head shorter, would bravely stand in front of her, promising to protect her.
How could she have forgotten such an important person?
The taste in her mouth turned bitter at her conscienceless and heartless self.
How could she forget her?
“Shall I call Mr. Benson again, ma’am?”
“No, it’s alright.”
“But your face has turned extremely pale.”
“I almost forgot someone I shouldn’t have… It startled me.”
Julie looked curious but, unlike Debora, did not probe.
It was a good attitude.
But it made her think of Debora even more, and a corner of Bianca’s heart continued to ache.
“Why are you like this? What are you stewing over alone? You can talk to me, can’t you? What did that damn—no, what did His Highness say to you? Just let it go.”
“I shouldn’t have forgotten.”
“Why don’t you write it down if it’s something you shouldn’t forget? That way, you won’t.”
Bianca, who had been frowning, widened her eyes in response to the unexpected suggestion.
“That’s a good idea. I might write a letter then… although I can’t send it.”
“Just wait a bit; you’ll be able to send it as soon as the snow melts.”
“What do you mean?”
“Huh?”
“What do you mean, ‘as soon as the snow melts’?”
“Right now, the magic sigils on the warp stones are covered by the falling snow, so…”
“No, that’s not what I mean. Are you saying I’m allowed to send letters outside?”
At Bianca’s words, Gillian’s eyes also widened in surprise.
“Am I not allowed to send letters?”
The one who was taken aback was Bianca.
I thought it was obvious that I couldn’t.
“Am I allowed to contact the outside?”
“Did the Duke prohibit it?”
No, he never did.
‘Was I dispatched as Princess Termina’s escort? Is it an escort or surveillance?’
‘I really am a duchess! I was born and raised in Barlock, but I’ve never heard of a duchess.’
‘It’s not that there wasn’t a duchess, what’s all the fuss?’
‘It’s not fuss. The two of you were never together, and then you disappeared one day. Has anyone even properly seen you? Anyway, so you’re the only escort?’
‘Is this the fulfillment of the prophecy concerning Princess Termina?’
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.”
