I sat in Askal’s office. As I watched his back while he prepared tea, I suddenly realized that we had been spending a lot of time alone together lately.
“I’m not sure if it will suit your taste.”
“I’ll drink it well.”
It wasn’t that I hadn’t tried his brewed tea before, but today it felt especially kind and caring.
“My lady, since it’s getting late, I’ll get straight to the point.”
He began speaking with a gentle appearance, wearing glasses and letting his bangs down.
“Please take charge of the family seal.”
He opened a box about the size of his fist and showed it to me. Inside was a seal with the emblem of the Artenbach ducal family.
“I hope there won’t be a need to use it, but I have a feeling it might be necessary.”
“You’re telling me to prepare for dangerous situations, aren’t you?”
“Yes.”
The duke picked up the seal. There was also a ring inside.
“This is the signet ring worn by the head of the family. With this ring, you can do anything in the name of Artenbach as you please.”
I was on the verge of being given a power so great it felt burdensome. But even if I didn’t want to accept it, I had no choice but to do so in this situation.
“I hope I won’t have to use this seal.”
“Indeed.”
Askal smiled bitterly. I carefully held the seal box to my chest and said,
“I’ll keep it safe, Askal.”
“I’ll trust you and go. And… please take care of Rublion as well.”
He extended his hand. Thinking he meant to shake hands, I took it, but unexpectedly, he kissed the back of my hand.
“Do you know? When I look at your face, I can tell what you’re thinking.”
“Me?”
“Yes. Right now, you seem to be feeling a bit shy.”
I was surprised by how accurate he was.
“That’s why you’re someone who can’t hide your emotions from me, at least.”
Askal gently caressed the back of my hand.
“Are you worried about me?”
“…”
“Don’t be afraid. I’ll try to return safely.”
I got goosebumps. It felt like I was being subjected to mind-reading.
“I like how honest you are.”
My heart pounded.
A gentle appearance with eyes that weren’t so gentle.
I wondered what part of this man I had found burdensome.
“Thank you. For liking me.”
That was all I could say. Surely there were other words to express my current feelings, but they wouldn’t easily come out.
“By the way, what if I get drunk on the power of this seal and start wielding it recklessly?”
Feeling awkward about the atmosphere becoming serious, I laughed and changed the subject. Fortunately, Askal played along.
“It’s fine even if you say you want to buy this empire.”
“Isn’t that treason?”
“If you wish for it, I would even commit treason.”
He was making dangerous statements while smiling. Of course, knowing it was a joke, I couldn’t help but chuckle.
“My lady, while I’m away on the subjugation, please keep a close eye on Baron Deli.”
“Father?”
I wondered why he suddenly mentioned my father.
“I hope it’s just my concern, but I have a bad feeling.”
“Yes, I’ll keep an eye on Father too.”
In life, you can sometimes meet people with exceptionally good intuition, and in my circle, that was Askal. I have good intuition too, but it’s nothing compared to his.
“The Artenbach mansion is the safest place. Even the emperor can’t touch this place.”
I nodded and smiled at his worried words.
“Alright, Askal. I’ll stay here and wait for the day you return from the subjugation.”
[This is the timeline separator]Finally, the morning of the subjugation day arrived.
After confirming the departure time of the subjugation force announced by the government office, I shook Rublion awake.
“Ugh… five more minutes.”
“Wake up, Rublion. Today’s the day the subjugation force leaves.”
At my words, the child abruptly sat up in bed, eyes barely open. His mind was awake, but his body wasn’t fully up yet, so his legs were unsteady as he staggered.
Rublion dunked his head in the washbasin I had prepared in advance to shake off his drowsiness, then spluttered as he washed his face.
And then.
“Huh?”
The child, who was wiping his face with a towel, was startled by the sound of birds and looked out the window.
“It’s not raining?”
“Yeah, it stopped at dawn.”
It was Murphy’s law after all. The idea that it would rain when people left the ground was unbelievable.
“Alright, if you’re done washing up, quickly get dressed and come to the dining room. Let’s eat something light and go.”
“Okay! This subjugation won’t be lonely because Mom is here.”
Feeling a lump in my throat, I left the child’s room. Then I took out the pocket watch from my dress pocket and repeatedly checked the time. I wanted to see Askal quickly.
After a light breakfast, we took a carriage to the government office. The main streets, including Lube, were full of people who had come out to see off the subjugation force.
‘So this was the atmosphere.’
I had only enjoyed the Artenbach festival after the subjugation force returned, but I had never seen them leaving.
So it was unfamiliar. Between the guard line that had been cleared in advance for the subjugation force to pass through and the entrance of the government office, an old woman with white hair was praying with her hands clasped among the crowd.
‘The members of the subjugation force are someone’s sons and someone’s fathers too.’
Thinking like that, I could see all sorts of people. There was a woman holding a newborn baby in one arm and tightly holding the hand of a child about five years old, and there was a young lady wiping away tears with a handkerchief.
We headed to the balcony of a building with a good view of the front. It had been prepared by Baron Tirel.
Boom. Boom boom. Boom.
When the time announced by the government office came, a loud drum sound echoed. At the same time, the doors opened and the subjugation force appeared.
At the forefront was the Duke of Artenbach. Although he was wearing a helmet, I could recognize him at a glance.
‘Askal…’
I felt like I was going to cry. I should have said goodbye one more time, wishing him a safe return. I should have made him a token for safe return.
“Mom! Father is over there!”
Rublion spotted Askal and pointed at him. I stood up and leaned my body close to the balcony.
The streets were filled with the voices of people calling out the names of their sons, lovers, and spouses.
If I shouted with all my might, maybe my voice would reach him too.
“Askal!”
Perhaps because I shouted so suddenly, Rublion looked at me with surprised eyes. Then, as if he had made up his mind about something, he took a deep breath and shouted loudly.
“Father!”
I’m not sure if he could hear us. But hoping that he would look at me and Rublion, I kept calling out to the duke.
“Askal! Aska…”
As I was calling his name at the top of my lungs, his gaze lifted upwards. He had finally spotted us.
When Rublion waved his arms widely, he waved back. Why was I about to cry over this?
“Have a safe journey!”
I stood on my tiptoes and waved my hand with all my might. Even if he couldn’t hear my words, I hoped my feelings would be conveyed well.
He fumbled with a pouch attached to his saddle. Then he took something out and held it up in his hand.
“Oh? It’s the pendant!”
Rublion said with a bright smile. He was holding a locket pendant with portraits of me and the child. Then, still wearing his helmet, he kissed the pendant.
Although his lips didn’t touch it, we could tell that he was saying goodbye to us, promising to return safely.
After seeing off the subjugation force.
I stopped by Black Swan briefly to put up a sign for an extended vacation. The flower shop owner who was watching asked if something had happened, but I brushed it off, saying I just wanted to take a break.
After returning to the mansion, we went back to our daily routine. Rublion went to take lessons with the twins, and I informed Anna about Black Swan’s extended vacation.
‘I feel strange.’
All the way back to the mansion, my chest ached. I felt my strength leaving my hands, and I didn’t want to do anything.
Plop. Drip drip.
The tears I had been holding back burst forth. Because I had forcibly held them back, they now flowed freely.
‘Askal.’
He had already become such a big part of my life. So much so that I cried as soon as I felt his absence.
My heart pounded when I held his hand, and when he was out of sight, I wondered what he was doing. I enjoyed the times we ate together, and although I tried not to show it, I was happy during the times we sat face to face drinking tea.
If these feelings were love, then I probably…
‘I was in love.’
I might have been aware of it for a while. I just hadn’t acknowledged it.
I kept wiping my reddened eyes, but the tears wouldn’t stop flowing. Telling myself not to cry too much, I took deep breaths. Thinking that getting some fresh air might help, I approached the window.
That’s when it happened. Dark clouds gathered in the clear sky, and at the same time, thunder began to rumble.
“Ah, rain…”
Rain began to pour at a truly surprising timing. The tears that had just stopped started flowing again. It was because of the sky that gave me certainty that he had left the territory.
[This is the timeline separator]“We need to get her out of the mansion.”
Mabel muttered, biting her nails. She was anxious because she knew that now, with the Duke of Artenbach away, was a good opportunity to get rid of Schmidt.
“How’s the situation with Teravita?”
The knight kneeling at her feet answered.
“They say she can barely breathe even with medicine. It seems she doesn’t have much time left.”
“And the illegitimate child?”
“He’s steadily gathering forces. When the duke dies, he’ll be able to take the position of family head right away.”
“How nice that everything is going according to plan. Except for that woman.”
Mabel didn’t hide her hostility. If only she could think of a good way to get Schmidt out of the mansion.
That’s when it happened.
“I’m here to see you, Your Grace.”
One of the Silver Knights entered the greenhouse where Mabel was. She wiggled her fingers.
“I’ve finished investigating Baron Deli as you requested. He’s currently in a unit established by the Duke of Artenbach.”
“A unit?”
“Yes, it’s a new-style unit that only those in the know are aware of. They deal with marksmanship, it seems.”
“Oh ho…”
A flash of lightning struck in Mabel’s mind.
“If something unfortunate were to happen to the baron, wouldn’t the hidden mole come out too?”
She smiled brightly. It was because a good idea had occurred to her.
Male lead is a Destined Young Husband (Female-dominant)
One-sentence summary: Wife-master, listen to my explanation!
Li Ruantang, a young lady from a prestigious family, stumbled and fell. When she woke up, she saw a noble and beautiful young man sitting by her bedside, wiping away tears.
The young master had slightly reddened eyes, and his every move exuded charm.
The sight made Li Ruantang’s eyes hot and her heart flutter. After all, she had made a bet with the young master Meng from the neighboring family. If she couldn’t marry a husband before the end of the year, she would have to admit defeat and give up the jade she had worked so hard to obtain.
Outside the window, the flowers were in full bloom.
Rather than losing the bet, the jade, and her face, Li Ruantang calculated that it would be better to seek marriage with the young master in front of her, killing three birds with one stone.
…
Meng Jun never thought that an accident during a spring outing would lead to them rolling down a cliff and into a river, yet still survive.
Now they were trapped in an unknown village, and Meng Jun had overheard that the family who had rescued them had their own intentions.
After all, it was Li Ruantang who had lost her mind and sought marriage first. He was only trying to protect himself!
Glancing at Li Ruantang, who was listing her own merits, the young husband’s voice softened, and he blushed as he lied, “W-wife-master, Wife-master, don’t you remember me?”
The young husband’s voice was clear and handsome, coaxing Li Ruantang’s heart to be soft and sweet, and she spared no effort to protect him.
It wasn’t until they returned to the capital that Li Ruantang suddenly remembered.
When they had fallen off the cliff, in order not to implicate Wei Yunruo, whom he secretly admired, the young husband had instead pulled her, who was slightly farther away, down the cliff with him…
Short summary by Yuushi L: Initially, the male lead (ML) liked another girl, while the female lead (FL) liked the ML. Both fell off a cliff. The FL temporarily lost her memory, and the ML, fearing others might take advantage of him, claimed FL was his wife while they were staying in a village. Later, when they returned home, the FL regained her memories and remembered that the ML liked someone else, so she kept her distance from him. However, during their time living together in the countryside, the ML’s view of the FL had completely changed. From this point, his pursuit of the FL begins.
Link to read
