Karaaf’s appearance closely resembled the former emperor, but there was one distinct difference.
It was his hair.
Because black hair was never an honorable symbol in the imperial family, her mother had even forbidden the painting of her only son’s portrait.
Seeing Aisha’s expression darken, Sijongjang spoke as if he remembered something.
“Still, on the day of Crown Prince Chaekbong-sik’s victory, there may be a painting left as a memorial. It was a glorious day when Your Majesty first achieved victory in war and returned.”
Sijongjang searched the room and soon came out with a portrait.
There, Karaaf was depicted wearing armor.
Although it was during his younger adolescent years, the imperial qualities emanated from his dignified stance with armor and a composed face.
Upon inquiring about that time with Sijongjang, Karaaf went to the battlefield from a very young age to stand out for the Empress.
Because being the black rose, he had no other means to bring honor to her.
No, perhaps it was not such a grand reason, but he just wanted to hear a word of praise from his mother, maybe.
Behind his cold and arrogant face seemed to lurk a deep loneliness.
Aisha raised one hand and gently stroked the portrait.
It was like a comforting touch for him during those times.
Sijongjang silently watched him from behind.
After a while, Aisha quietly asked him.
“…Can I keep this painting? I like it.”
“What?”
Sijongjang was surprised, but after a moment of thought, he said.
“Then, keep it secretly from Her Majesty. She really hates that time. Of course, Her Majesty won’t even know that this portrait exists…”
This room was so neglected and ignored by Karaaf that even if one painting disappeared, it was highly likely that it would go unnoticed.
Aisha smiled and said, “Thank you.”
With this one painting, Aisha wanted to help Karaaf erase the stigma attached to the black rose and support him in becoming a truly magnificent emperor.
Sijongjang came out of the warehouse, holding the portrait himself and following her.
However, lost in deep thought, Aisha suddenly bumped into someone in the corridor.
“…No, isn’t this Lady Bannet-sa?”
He spoke with a wrinkled brow, impolitely, and he was Viscount Frisia.
It seemed like the noble dinner was already over.
Aisha spoke gracefully, “You are Viscount Frisia.”
“You recognize me! What an honor!”
He looked genuinely surprised, but Aisha sensed that he was sneering inwardly.
As if a small ethnic group who had recently stepped foot in the capital had studied the ways of the nobility.
Through long experience, their inner thoughts could be understood without needing to ask.
However, Aisha casually smiled and accepted.
“If you don’t even know the name of the flower in the empire, should I write it down for you?”
“That’s right, haha. But I heard you couldn’t attend the banquet because of your health. You seem to be a bit better now, roaming the palace in such good health.”
Viscount Frisia chuckled and made a pointed remark.
“Yes. I was taking a walk because I wasn’t feeling well, but I’m a bit better now. Thank you for your concern.”
Aisha didn’t want to continue the conversation for too long, so she politely greeted and tried to pass by. However, he grabbed her wrist and stopped her.
Aisha couldn’t tolerate this impoliteness of daring to touch the Empress’s body and, this time, frowned, expressing her discomfort.
“What kind of rudeness is this?”
Viscount Frisia quickly released her wrist and said, “Oh, I apologize. In fact, when I meet Lady Bannet, there was something I really wanted to ask, but because I was too impatient, I ended up being impolite.”
Aisha looked at him intently, wanting to quickly get rid of the annoying matter.
“What do you want to ask me?”
“Well, our family is planning to start a perfume business soon. How, uh, likely is it to succeed? I heard that Lady Bannet has the ability of prophecy. So, they say that even at the banquet, you knew in advance that an assassin would harm Her Majesty.”
Aisha felt somewhat tired, but she responded casually.
“Unfortunately, starting a perfume business in the Frisia family doesn’t seem like a good idea. I’ve heard stories that the Frisia family started a perfume business in the past, but there hasn’t been any mention of success among the nobility.”
Aisha did not attend social gatherings very often, so she did not know the details, but even if it had become really famous, she would have heard about it.
However, he seemed displeased with Aisha’s words, and his expression hardened.
“That remains to be seen.”
He did not give up and pulled out a luxurious case of perfume from his pocket, offering it to her.
“Since we’ve met, I’ll give you this as a gift. I heard that Lady Bannet showed no interest in any of the numerous tribute items on the day of the tribute ceremony except for that gray horse. I hope this perfume can capture Lady Bannet’s heart more than the man dedicated as tribute on that day.”
He finished speaking and smiled slyly.
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.”
