Asha asked tremblingly.
“Do you like eating alone? Why are you having a meal with me?”
Karaf glanced at her, and replied.
“Are you asking because you don’t know? What can be better than a flower being with a butterfly…….”
At those words, Asha covered her mouth, coughing as if what she had just eaten was going to spurt out.
Karaf saw this, and asked, slightly frowning.
“Are you asking because you’re wondering if being by my side is that disagreeable to you?”
Asha wiped her mouth with a napkin, and spoke coldly.
“……That’s not it, but don’t we have to observe? How much sweet honey does the Imperial Black Rose have inside, and whether I dare to covet that honey.”
At that brazen reply, Karaf burst into hearty laughter.
“You are the first to openly evaluate and test me……!”
The passing servants were startled by his laughter emanating from the room but soon realized the two were sharing a sweet and enjoyable conversation like a newlywed couple, and they smiled contentedly.
Soon, Karaf stopped laughing and sent her a sultry glance.
“I understand. Work hard to earn the choice of the butterfly. Show me now how great I am. Follow me.”
Jumping up from his seat, he led the way, walking briskly, somehow looking more excited than her.
Asha followed him, her mind numbed, still dressed in her nightgown.
Soon, the two arrived at a vast dressing room.
Asha’s eyes widened as she asked,
“What on earth… what is all this?”
Karaf turned and said,
“Don’t you see? It’s all yours.”
His shoulders were raised, resembling a male peacock with its colorful feathers fully fanned.
When had he prepared all this? The room was filled with gorgeous dresses, shoes, jewelry, and gems.
Asha’s face transformed from astonishment to being completely stunned.
Karaf saw her reaction, misunderstood, and said, relaxing his eyes,
“Yes, it must be quite a surprise. This is the extent of my wealth. But you’ll have to get used to it. If you become my partner, these are all naturally yours.”
He brought a fist to his mouth, clearing his throat needlessly, and asked,
“What do you think? Isn’t this flower quite a sweet honey?”
Asha, without responding, slowly walked toward the wardrobe where a dress was hanging. Karaf could not take his eyes off her elegant back.
In the wardrobe was a completely new version of the faded green dress she had worn to tatters before.
Unaware, Asha became nostalgic, and touched the dress.
Back then, she was so scared of him, she wore such dresses at the palace to remain inconspicuous, like a dead mouse. To her, this dress was camouflage for survival.
Karaf asked immediately from behind her,
“Do you like that dress? There are other more splendid ones……”
Bad memories surfaced, and Asha quickly shook her head.
“I think a bright dress would be better.”
Asha chose a yellow dress to emphasize her being a butterfly but picked the most comfortable and simple design without much decoration.
Only then did Karaf seem satisfied, ordering the servants to help her change.
Sitting on the sofa waiting, he felt strange, like a groom waiting for his bride in her wedding dress.
Finally, when Asha pulled back the red curtain and emerged, Karaf’s eyes widened as he stared at her.
With blonde hair and a yellow dress, Asha truly dazzled, looking like a golden butterfly shining high and bright.
Karaf fiddled with his lips, hiding his trembling heart, and said,
“……Now, it’s time to choose the jewelry that goes with the dress. How about that diamond necklace over there?”
“That’s fine.”
“What?”
“Just the dress is enough. Nothing else is needed.”
Karaf was taken aback, having not expected her to refuse, but he quickly regained his composure and brought what he had prepared.
He stepped up to her and gently placed a silver crown on her head.
The crown was designed like a woven rose vine, with a ruby gem symbolizing the royal red rose embedded in the center.
Asha flinched slightly as the tall man raised his arm in front of her, but her eyes widened as she saw his satisfied expression.
Karaf gently smiled as he withdrew his hand.
“This is my heart, so please do not refuse it and accept it.”
Looking at that smile, she didn’t know why her heart felt so heavy and sentimental.
It was a painful sight to see him, who knew nothing of love, acting like a lover.
Asha muttered unconsciously.
“Why then…”
“Huh?”
“Why then… did you not treat me like this…”
Karaf looked at her in confusion, but Asha whispered like the wind and quickly bowed her head and left the room.
The wind slightly fluttered around her dress, and a desolate breeze swept between the two.
Asha now left her seat and turned her back on the emperor without permission or agreement, but Karaf could only stand in place like a stone statue.
Because he had briefly seen a tear form at the corner of her lowered eyes.
“Your Majesty…”
Duran, who had been standing like a pillar at the door, approached with concern.
Karaf spoke while looking forward.
“Duran… are women originally such difficult creatures?”
Duran blinked his eyes.
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.”
