“Shade is my bodyguard. He has been protecting me all along.”
“I have never seen him before…”
“He’s not meant to be seen. He doesn’t reveal his appearance casually.”
With a stern face, Franz bit his lip.
“The appearance of Shade means…”
Douglas couldn’t finish his sentence.
[Dash] Crash!Since a real assassin appeared by breaking the atelier window.
Even after the meal was over, I couldn’t recover from the shock.
‘What if it’s known that Franz has the phoenix? What if the villains come looking for that child?!’
A ominous premonition slowly crawled up.
Franz surrounded by thugs.
Franz crying out for mercy.
Franz falling, bloodshed.
Why does only such a figure come to mind?
“Are you willing to endanger your son for a meal?”
Thud, the sound of the table being slammed down.
Nikolai wiped his mouth with a napkin.
The silver plate that had contained strange dishes was now clean and empty.
“Nutrition intake and health maintenance are also the Emperor’s duties.”
“Congratulations. You’re impressive, both in responsibility and robust digestion.”
“Bones in your words, aren’t there.”
“Aren’t you worried about Franz?”
“I’m extremely worried.”
A dry, low sound echoed in the dining room.
I clenched my fists and sulked like a twisted teenage girl.
“Wow. I had no idea. Impressive.”
“Does being helpless here help Pinch? If so, I can do it as much as you want.”
Nikolai replied without batting an eyebrow.
“If you hadn’t given the phoenix, there would be no need to worry, right?”
“There was something I needed to confirm.”
A brief sense of guilt passed through Nikolai’s turquoise eyes.
“Are you testing the Crown Prince’s aptitude?”
“No, I am testing Cares.”
The Cares I knew?
For a moment, I felt breathless, and an unpleasant headache rushed in.
‘Cares is the only servant Nikolai trusts? Incompetent as a sycophant, yet more capable and loyal than anyone else…!’
Unable to overcome the shock, I swallowed a sigh.
How would Nikolai feel testing his closest aide?
I asked with a slightly softened voice.
“Did Cares betray you?”
“I sensed subtle changes.”
“It must be a misunderstanding. What could he gain by betraying Your Majesty?”
“That’s what I’m trying to confirm.”
Nikolai’s lips tightened.
Something hot pounded in my chest.
“So, you risked Franz for that?”
“I trust Franz. So does Shade.”
“Selfish trust.”
“I may not want to trust Cares. That Cares won’t harm Pinch. It’s all just my illusion…”
Nikolai stared at the flickering candlelight with unfocused eyes.
Silence fell.
Resentment and ambivalence towards Nikolai intertwined.
‘Nikolai wouldn’t pick on me for no reason. When did he last tempt Cares?’
I periodically used magic on Cares.
Even after the expiration of the magic’s effectiveness, Cares remained friendly towards me.
However, dealing with petty requests and betraying the master were entirely different matters.
‘What if I command him to reveal the truth after generously sprinkling magic? Would there be a chance of him revealing it?’
As I was pondering, Nikolai rose from the table.
“I need to get some fresh air.”
“Are you going to capture Cares?”
“Elizabeth. People sleep at night.”
Nikolai mocked with a pitiful tone.
Outside the window, darkness was draped like a curtain.
‘Are we spending tonight together with Nikolai again…’
Like light watercolor spreading in clear water, an inexplicable sense of relief filled the chest.
Subtle excitement followed.
However, I immediately raised my head and regained composure.
‘Isn’t it pathetic for Franz to be left alone? Having strange thoughts at a time like this, there’s no time for lewd fantasies!’
Although I hadn’t made overtly explicit imaginations or detailed thoughts, I felt pricked for no reason.
Well, maybe I did think a little.
“I should take a break too!”
Feeling embarrassed for no reason, I stood up abruptly.
“That would be a good idea.”
“I asked Akanso to prepare the best room for you.”
“The great saint sleeps there, so it’s only right.”
Nikolai threw a dart with a sarcastic meaning.
I wrinkled my nose as if to say, “Do it quietly.”
“I asked for the Emperor’s sake. If you can’t sleep on a soft bed, what will you do?”
“It’s not necessary.”
“I’ll let it pass, so don’t refuse. You couldn’t sleep yesterday either.”
“No need to let it pass. You can share a room with me.”
Due to Nikolai’s shameless and bold statement, my heart sank with a thud.
The term “one room” sounded like it was implying something more.
‘Has a real lewd demon possessed him?’
Suppressing my fluttering heart, I spoke as coolly as possible.
“Sharing a room with a young woman without consent. Quite daring.”
“A few times. It’s about time you got used to it.”
Nikolai lowered his head slightly and raised the corners of his mouth.
A metallic sound escaped between his lips.
“If anyone hears, they might think we sleep together every night!”
“If anyone hears, they might think we’ve never shared a bed.”
With a relaxed face, Nikolai returned my words.
My cheeks turned red.
“D-Don’t tell me you’re suggesting…!”
“Could it be that you’re thinking of something other than… something else, Elizabeth?”
Nikolai’s eyes narrowed.
His gaze pierced through with a sensuous look that could be felt as provocative.
Every time he approached, my heart throbbed as if it would burst.
Raising the corner of his lips, he chewed on his dry lips.
‘How did he know I had such thoughts?’
My heartbeat quickened.
He declared that the seduction game was not over.
He even declared victory and announced an offensive.
If this is also part of the game, defeat is imminent.
Breathing became difficult even just due to his overwhelming scent.
“Take pride, Elizabeth. The woman who shared a bed with me more than once is only you.”
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.”
