(This is a time separator.)
Queen Rose Brenden hosted a tea party in the Lilac Garden.
Of course, queens of lowly origin were not invited.
Only the queens from the four prominent families could enjoy tea in the Lilac Garden, served by maids.
Flicking her auburn hair back, Rose flaunted her diamond bracelet.
However, no one acknowledged the new bracelet.
Queen Shinsia Blackford was seriously reading a book.
Queen Freya Lymen was lost in the scenery of the garden, and Queen Emma Pipe was nervously observing her surroundings.
‘Bookworm, soulless doll, timid fool… The only candidate to become the Empress is me!’
With a satisfied smile, Rose bit into a butter cookie.
“Thank you for coming despite being busy.”
“Thank you for inviting me, Rose. The pastries are really delicious today.”
The only one being polite was Emma.
Though she was a timid, squirrellike woman, she was better than the selfabsorbed Shinsia or the daydreaming Freya.
“Emma’s cook is excellent too. They bake lavender jam cakes so well.”
Rose salivated.
Lately, her corset had become uncomfortable due to weight gain.
But she couldn’t give up her sweet treats.
It was the only joy in her prisonlike life in the palace.
“If we’re only going to talk about food, I’ll leave. I have a debate to attend.”
Shinsia slammed her book shut.
Tucking the book under her arm, Shinsia stood up, her dark brown hair flowing freely.
Speaking on behalf of the bitinglipped Rose, Emma said,
“Please stay, Shinsia. It’s the host’s sincerity.”
“Emma. You don’t need to please Rose, especially if you know the fate of the Brenden Duke family.”
Rose flared up at Shinsia’s words.
“Isn’t that a bit harsh, Shinsia?”
“Isn’t it all over the high society and even the streets that your brother is dueling that woman?
Tension filled the air at the words “that woman.”
The name Elizabeth was practically taboo in the palace.
The emperor’s favor leaning toward her was disgraceful to the harem.
Especially so for the four queens aiming to become the empress.
“Good that the rumors are spreading. Our family will be the leading authority in the empire!”
“Fools do not know suffering. Old sayings are never wrong.”
Shinsia squinted her eyes.
Rose was irritated by Shinsia’s skinny physique and protruding collarbone more than usual.
Though she wanted to slap her right then, she had to maintain her dignity as a future empress.
“Shinsia. Pretending to be smart is useless. Once that woman is ousted, Hart’s heart will be mine.”
“According to the law, the daughter of a criminal cannot become the Empress.”
“What did you say?!”
“That woman was kidnapped. She’s unfortunately returned alive. Who do you think is the culprit?”
“Are you insinuating our family is behind this?!”
“If you calculate who benefits from kidnapping her, the answer is obvious.”
“This is absurd!”
“Now that the criminals have been caught, it’s only a matter of time before the charges are confirmed. I’ll pray that Rose isn’t imprisoned for the crime of abduction. Not that I’m sure my prayers will be answered.”
Leaving those chilly words, Sinshiya left.
Unable to contain her anger, Rose stomped her foot.
“When I become Empress, the first one I’ll get rid of is that Sinshiya!”
Emma tried to comfort her.
“Don’t worry, Rose. His Majesty wouldn’t unjustly persecute the Duke of Brendon without evidence.”
“Why would I be worried? I haven’t done anything wrong!”
“That’s not what I meant…”
“It must be that woman’s onewoman show. She must have strained herself to get His Majesty’s attention with her miserable self.”
“She already has His Majesty’s attention, why would she need to do that?”
At Emma’s words, Rose blinked rapidly.
“Whose side are you on, Emma? Have you forgotten that we have to join forces to eliminate that woman?”
“Calm down, Rose. Don’t make unnecessary suspicions.”
“What suspicion?”
“That, well…”
Emma hesitated, unable to reply.
Freya, twirling a leaf in her hands, chimed in.
“You suspect Duke Brendon is behind the kidnapping, don’t you?”
“Freya!”
“Don’t yell. It’s public opinion. I don’t know who created this opinion, though.”
“You really have no manners.”
“So what? There’s no one I need to please.”
Freya idly played with her curly blonde hair.
Despite her rude behavior, her beauty shone like the sun.
While the other queens were also beautiful, Freya’s beauty was uniquely breathtaking.
The beautiful Freya.
The wise Sinshiya.
The dignified Emma.
The passionate Rose.
Rose couldn’t agree with the nicknames of the other queens.
She didn’t like her own nickname either.
Her red hair had become a symbol for Elizabeth, not her.
‘That woman took everything from me. My father told me to keep quiet, but I can’t ignore it!’
Just then, a maid whispered in her ear.
Elizabeth was currently walking in the gardens of the prince’s palace with some girl.
“I’m sorry, but I’ll have to end the tea party here. An urgent matter has come up.”
Without a trace of regret, Rose announced.
Today was the day she intended to trample on Elizabeth’s pride.
Unaware of what would befall her.
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.”
