The Crown Prince? His…?
“Is there someone named Pablo here?”
As if responding to my question, His appeared through the chaos.
His face had become much sharper since the last time I saw him. The faint smile that always lingered and the gently relaxed eyes were no longer traceable.
Even the green eyes that were always as fresh as leaves now sparkled more like hard emerald gems than soft leaves.
I froze on the spot.
Why is he here? My mind couldn’t function properly. Even though he wore a hood and distorted his voice, if the hood were to come off, his identity would be exposed instantly.
However, running away hastily now would only raise suspicions. Observing the situation would be the best course of action. Just in case, I tightly gripped the spell pouch hidden within my deep robe.
“Are you Pablo?”
The owner remained composed even in front of the Crown Prince. Taking another sip of his pipe, he casually pointed at the still lying Pablo.
“That guy there.”
With the owner’s words, the police officers immediately began to drag Pablo away.
“Dad! Let our dad go!”
Pablo, who was already unconscious, showed no signs of movement, but Matt, teary-eyed, clung to him.
“I will ask a few questions and let him go.”
As Matt tried to rush forward upon His’s explanation, I had no choice but to step in and stop Matt myself.
Only then did His’s gaze fall on me.
“Who is this person?”
I became tense, afraid that His might recognize me. I couldn’t answer His’s question, as I feared he might discover my identity from my tone or something.
“Guest.”
Fortunately, the owner answered boldly on my behalf.
“Do you know Pablo well?”
“No.”
The owner nodded towards Matt, who was still crying as if he might stop breathing at any moment.
“Just a guy with a surprisingly weak heart for children.”
His seemed to accept it, nodded, and then turned back to me.
“But why not speak directly? Why did the owner answer for you?”
“Ah…”
Only now did I find my voice. Due to the enchanted hood, my voice came out as deep as expected, but I still spoke as firmly as possible.
“The child was crying, so I stopped.”
His’s face softened for a moment. Then, an old affectionate smile briefly flashed and disappeared.
“The child’s father will be sent back without any injuries in a few days, so comfort the child well.”
Nodding without saying a word, I tried my best not to let my legs wobble as His walked away.
“Thank you.”
I stiffly thanked the owner.
The owner nodded.
“It’s only natural to provide this level of service to a VVVIP.”
Pablo had been gambling, borrowing money from various gambling dens, not only from Madame Poupon. After I settled his debts all at once, I maintained a somewhat reasonable relationship with these gambling dens.
“Sip[dash]. Ha… By the way.”
The owner looked at me with an unreadable expression.
“Pretending to be affiliated with the royal family. Ant, you’re a more dangerous character than I thought.”
Not knowing how to react, I remained silent, and the owner chuckled, brushing off the dust from my shoulders.
“Crazy guy.”
The voice in my mind finally slipped out.
“Lately, there have been rumors that you have a keen interest in the Marquis Magnier’s debutante ball. If you need help, let me know.”
The owner chuckled again while opening a box of non-tobacco items and refilling his pipe.
“Since our guys are supposed to go as card dealers for Marquis Magnier’s debutante party.”
“Don’t worry. If Pablo doesn’t return within a week, I’ll break through the police station gates and rescue him.”
I continued to comfort Matt, who was still sobbing.
“Is that true? Huhuhu.”
“Yeah. Your dad, even if he gambled, never harmed anyone, so he’ll be released soon.”
If it was merely due to gambling, there was no reason for Crown Prince His to come looking for him. However, I did my best to console Matt by packaging it as positively as possible.
“Huhuhu. Our dad, huk! We must save him!”
I looked down at Matt, who was clinging to my arm.
“Yeah. We’ll make sure of it.”
Matt seemed to regain some strength and smiled faintly. Only then could I apply ointment to his palms and knees, which were badly bruised.
“Tsk tsk. Be careful even if you’re in a hurry.”
“How can I? Our dad was about to get hurt.”
Matt, who didn’t care about anything when it came to Pablo’s affairs, even if it meant gnawing at his own bones, continued to resist.
I had no choice but to yield in the end.
“Aren’t you resentful towards your dad?”
“I’m resentful.”
To my surprise, I blinked my eyes. I had always thought Matt would unconditionally take Pablo’s side whenever it came to his father’s matters.
With a tight grip on his small fist, Matt mumbled softly.
“He’ll get better, he’ll get better, thinking like that. But when I see Dad, who doesn’t change no matter how long I wait, I can’t help but feel resentful.”
“But why…”
I looked down at my knees, which were still not fully healed.
“He’s family.”
Matt forced a slightly tired smile. It wasn’t the expression a child should wear.
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.”
