“As expected, our lady of the manor is exceptional. She completely overturned the noisy public opinion.”
“…….”
“Of course, it may not be delightful news for someone.”
Ruzen lifted his head, covering the newspaper he had been reading. Margaret, wrapped in a veil, sat somewhat tensely across from him.
“……Are you going to discard it?”
Margaret, staring at the newspaper’s headlines, had trembling eyes.
Though the third-rate newspaper, filled with all sorts of gossip, was not suitable for the noble palace, rumors were circulating quietly among the aristocrats. Gossip and rumors, regardless of social status, pleased people’s eyes and ears.
Especially recently, the Crayton lady of the manor, whose whereabouts had become mysterious, wasn’t she an often mentioned subject?
‘The Duke Pieren eloped in love, in separation from the Crayton lady,’ various rumors surrounded her, and the revelation that she was actually pregnant was a new development.
If the child is born safely, and if the child is a boy, many things will change.
Just by being born, the child will inherit the vast wealth of Crayton, and everyone will have to strive to catch the attention of that small life.
“Do you think I would do that?”
Ruzen smiled. But Margaret, unable to look at that smile, lowered her head.
Bake’s wife was Rivianna. Unjustly, my child was illegitimate, and the child of Rivianna naturally took precedence. The calculating emperor couldn’t be unaware of that fact.
“Don’t worry. The promise will be kept.”
An unexpected answer. Margaret raised her head in surprise. Her tightly clenched hands were trembling.
Ruzen, in response to her appearance, smiled even more brightly.
“I like anything new.”
“…….”
“It would be nice if Duke Pieren also appeared newly to coincide with the birth of the new Crayton lady.”
“…Duke Pieren?”
“Isn’t there a famous rumor about the lady of Crayton Manor?”
Even in the absence of Calix in the capital, Maryel had a tag of suspicion attached to her. It was as clear as day how the newly reunited lovers and the child who came at the right time would generate rumors.
“Coincidentally, Duke Pieren has no children. That point will be incredibly helpful.”
“…Is that possible?”
“It became possible thanks to the information you provided me.”
Ruzen leisurely wet his head while stroking his chin. He had an incredibly satisfied expression, like a cat under the sun.
Only after confirming that fact did Margaret’s trembling hands gradually calm down.
She was no longer keeping her mouth shut for Bake’s sake. And because of that, she and the child survived.
Margaret clasped her hands tightly. Her choice was correct.
“I never thought about it. I never thought Crayton and Duke Pieren would make such plans.”
Ruzen closed his eyes leisurely.
“He was admired by many because he was a man who valued honor. However, that remarkable honor seemed inevitable in the face of the royal bloodline.”
“As the situation became unfavorable, Eden tried to secretly take away his precious ones.”
“But in the end, he failed. Thanks to you.”
“I-I just…”
“I’m not blaming you. On the contrary, it’s a joy for me. Thanks to you, I was able to deal with both of them at once.”
“Who could have expected it? One letter you took. Just that changed many things.”
Margaret reflexively recoiled.
Now the letter was not in her hands, but the sensation of it lingered even after more than a decade.
It was the letter that her foster father held until the end.
“Crayton Manor is truly insolent. To mistreat the person who did a great favor for them like that.”
“…People should be rewarded when they achieve results.”
Ruzen’s eyes drew a gentle curve.
Margaret swallowed her dry saliva. Even now, her hands were hardly trembling.
It was obvious that she would not abandon herself even in unfavorable circumstances. The emperor was different from Bake. He cherished his people and was a person who rewarded accordingly.
“It’s a pity. If Eden Crayton didn’t hand over Crayton’s letter to Crayton Manor but instead took it and acted on it himself, many things would have been different.”
“…Different?”
“You are not ambitious enough, no. Rather, you lack confidence.”
In my view, you are a person who should have more than you have now.
Brown eyes stared intently. Margaret’s fingertips twitched. When she felt it was enough, her mouth dried up when she looked into those eyes.
The eyes that said everything was fine had the power to pull out deep inner desires.
“Ambition is not a bad thing. Rather, it’s good. Ambition always creates goals and makes them achievable.”
“…”
“You can be honest. You were greedy for that letter from the moment you got it.”
“…”
“That’s why you handed the letter to Crayton Manor, didn’t you? Handing that letter to him, you had some expectations.”
“At that time, what I wanted was…”
I still remember. Although my foster father, who could no longer do even servant work due to aging, was dying covered in blood, he begged me.
Please deliver it to Rivianna, save her.
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.”
