No, every maiden must have stolen a glance at Prince Kirian at least once, only lacking the courage to approach due to his cold gaze.
But Prince Kirian, who seemed harder to conquer than an ice fortress, was speaking to her. Even praising that the bracelet suited her…
Countess Lamira’s breathing naturally quickened.
“Actually…”
Kirian’s beautiful lips hesitated a bit before parting slightly.
“I was disappointed.”
“Yyes?”
Countess Lamira struggled to regain her composure. She was always a shy lady to her fiancé, but strangely, in front of Prince Kirian, she continually stumbled over her words.
Kirian only slightly twisted the corner of his mouth. A spark danced in his red eyes.
“When I heard of Countess Lamira’s engagement.”
“……”
“I was very disappointed.”
His low, falling voice was barely more than a whisper, but it resonated clearly in Countess Lamira’s ears.
Oh my goodness. Countess Lamira was on the verge of falling backward.
All this time, she had dried her mouth out telling her mother there was no need to rush the engagement with the viscount. How much she had suffered then. But it seemed she had been right all along.
Surely, if she told her parents this news, they would beg forgiveness before her, admitting they were wrong?
And the engagement to the insignificant viscount could easily be dealt with.
They were, after all, a ducal house. Nothing would be impossible.
Everything that should rightly be hers could be reclaimed.
“Me, me too……!”
Tears welled in Countess Lamira’s eyes without her willing it.
“I’m really disappointed……”
Countess Lamira slightly bit her lip.
“Even though I’m engaged today… can’t you wait a little?”
Countess Lamira poured out her words without even realizing what she was saying.
“Actually, I’ve admired Prince Kirian for a long time. I’ve worked hard to become a worthy woman, seeing your perfection, Your Highness.”
Now, genuine tears began to flow.
“I never expected it to turn out like this.”
Kirian’s smile deepened.
Countess Lamira was only entranced by his appearance. Lost in admiration, she failed to notice that Kirian’s smile was not one of pleasure.
“Young lady, first stop your tears.”
“Sniff.”
Countess Lamira thought Kirian was consoling her, and she dabbed at her tears with her sleeve, smiling softly.
“Prince Kirian, you also have a considerate side.”
“That bracelet really suits you, so I hope you’ll wear it at your engagement ceremony today.”
Kirian’s face was still adorned with a fantastic smile, but his eyes were not laughing at all.
But Countess Lamira didn’t seem to notice his stiff tone, and smiled broadly with tears in her eyes. And she carefully fastened the bracelet.
“Our symbol of love, right?”
“Yes.”
Kirian showed a bitter smile.
“I’m looking forward to it. Your grace, more beautiful than anyone else.”
[Star Icon][Star Icon][Star Icon]I looked at Countess Lamira, who appeared on the stage, with indifferent eyes.
Sitting in a place close to the stage, befitting the dignity of a ducal family, I could see the shining bracelet on Countess Lamira’s wrist at a glance.
Esmeralda, sitting next to me, took a short breath.
“That, isn’t that Princess Reina’s bracelet?”
“Oh, it is.”
“Right now.”
As Esmeralda tried to jump up from her chair, I hurriedly stopped her.
“It’s fine. She will return it after the engagement ceremony, right?”
“I know you have a kind heart, but to yield even on this matter……”
Esmeralda, sighing deeply, glanced at Lamira with furrowed eyes.
“Just looking at that smug smile makes me feel bad.”
I felt the same way, but in front of Esmeralda, I had to pretend to be good.
“It’s okay, I…”
Then Kirian sat next to me.
“You’re late. Where did you go?”
“I went to have a glass of cold water because I felt stuffy.”
Kirian answered nonchalantly to my question, but his eyes were slightly wrinkled.
“Did you get overheated?”
I looked at Kirian with concern. His pale complexion did not look good.
“Shall I lend you a fan?”
“Thanks, sister.”
Kirian smiled faintly and took the fan. He was so beautiful that I just stared at Kirian during the Count’s congratulatory speech.
Kirian was soon to become the male lead.
With a bit of bitterness in my mouth, I reluctantly turned my eyes to Countess Lamira, who appeared on the stage, and her fiancé.
“I am deeply grateful to the distinguished guests who have graced this joyful day.”
Countess Lamira, reading from a piece of paper, glanced this way. And suddenly she folded the paper and raised her voice.
“Today is a gathering to commemorate a love that has just begun to bloom. Though it’s a love just begun, I swear it will be stronger and more eternal than anything else. Because love can overcome anything.”
Although the rumor spread in the social circles that she looked down on her fiancé, a Viscount, Countess Lamira was reciting rather sincere words. Even her fiancé standing next to her looked stunned.
But Countess Lamira finished her speech calmly, without taking her eyes off this way.
“I hope that the distinguished guests gathered here will support this love.”
Kirian, who had turned pale, finally began to fan himself vigorously.
Finally, the last part of the engagement ceremony came.
It was a ritual where Countess Lamira and her fiancé lit a candle together.
During that time, Countess Lamira tried to light the air several times, looking elsewhere, but somehow her fiancé led her hand to the candlestick.
The moment the flame caught the tip of the candle. A strong wind blew from Kirian’s leisurely fanning, and the flames soared in an instant.
The fiancé and Countess Lamira stepped back hurriedly.
“Eek!”
But Countess Lamira seemed unable to avoid the flames.
The bracelet on Countess Lamira’s wrist was on fire.
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.”
