“It’s been 10 years since we got married, how can feelings not develop. All this time, I lived as your wife, and you lived as my husband. It would be strange if feelings didn’t develop.”
“Riviana, you don’t know how happy I am right now.”
“If I had known you would like this, I would have done more.”
Was I always so coolheaded?
Looking back at my actions, I frowned.
Looking at my husband, who was excited like a child, I wondered if I had been living without expressing my feelings too much.
“……Thank you, Riviana. I will do better in the future.”
“You’re doing great already.”
I whispered into Bake’s ear and closed my eyes.
It was a marriage that was inevitably tailored to mutual interests.
There were no memories of us passionately loving each other.
But ten years of marriage was by no means a short time.
We had trust built up over a long time.
[This is the time separator]“It seems you really like that earring. You wear it all the time.”
“I think it suits me.”
I smiled and finished my tea.
A pair of earrings that Bake recently refined and gifted me were hanging on my earlobe.
“Where did you get it? It seems familiar.”
Margaret’s eyes sparkled.
She couldn’t take her eyes off my earrings.
“I didn’t buy it.”
“Then?”
“Do you remember? The earring Meriel found last time.”
“Ah, that.”
“It was a gift from a client, but I didn’t like the design so I planned to take out the jewel and have it reset. Since I don’t wear dangling earrings, he probably took that into account.”
I touched the earring’s gem with my fingertips, as if measuring it.
The human heart is cunning; the texture of the jewel that felt uncomfortable just a while ago was now quite pleasing.
“Well, that’s fortunate then.”
“Fortunate?”
“I know it’s between you and your husband, but I was worried….”
“Did you think Bake was cheating?”
“I’m sorry if you misunderstood! But you looked so upset that time.”
She looked like she could burst into tears at any moment.
Quietly, I handed Margaret a handkerchief.
Her eyes were already moist.
“I’m sorry for making you worry.”
“No, I was just worried you might be having a hard time…….”
Margaret bit her lip and glanced at me.
I showed her a broad smile to comfort her.
“What’s there to be hard about. It was all a misunderstanding.”
“……But, was it really a misunderstanding?”
“Huh?”
“I know His Highness isn’t like that, but you never know.”
“Bake”
“The Count of Piran has fathered a child outside.”
“……The Count of Piran? His mistress?”
Margaret quickly nodded and hurriedly continued.
“The Count of Piran said it was a mistake. He didn’t want to hear he couldn’t have a son, so he did it in a fit of anger.”
“The Count of Piran has three children.”
“They’re all daughters. It’s different from having a son who can confidently succeed. The way people see you changes depending on whether you have a solid successor or not.”
“……”
“Everyone says so. It wasn’t right for the Count of Piran, but they say he had his reasons. The issue is with his estate, what else can he do?”
Margaret dropped her shoulders weakly.
“Bake isn’t like that.”
“The Count of Piran didn’t seem like that kind either.”
“……”
“I don’t want to say this either. But after hearing about the Count of Piran, I keep worrying. Especially about you two……”
Margaret couldn’t continue and just stared at my lower abdomen, and I tightly closed my lips.
There was no need to mix words.
Margaret knew the words she couldn’t dare to say.
I could no longer bear a child.
[This is the time separator]After putting Meriel to sleep and leaving the room, she came facetoface with a surprise.
Startled, the other party awkwardly smiled back.
“Why are you here?”
“Meriel couldn’t fall asleep tonight, so I kept reading fairy tales to her. And you?”
“Of course, I came to see our princess.”
Bake revealed a bashful smile and raised both arms.
Returning immediately, he was still dressed in his outing clothes, presumably coming straight to see Meriel.
“Unfortunately, Meriel is asleep.”
“I’m a bit late. I even brought her favorite cake.”
With a cocky smirk, Bake displayed the cake box.
“Care for a drink together, after such a long time?”
“At this hour?”
“It’s been a long time.”
“……”
“Don’t you want to?”
Bake read my mood.
After a moment of contemplation, I nodded my head.
I would have refused as usual, but given recent misunderstandings, I thought it would be good to have some bonding time.
“No, I’d like that. Let’s drink.”
“Really?”
“I’ll have a word with Margaret and head straight there. I have a message to deliver.”
“Okay. But, you must come quickly.”
“Got it. I’ll be there shortly.”
“It would sweeten the wait if you gave me a kiss.”
Bake, bending at the waist, met my gaze.
His familiar scent of soap was present.
“That’s for later.”
“Why?”
“We’re in the hallway. What if someone sees?”
“There’s nobody passing by, so what’s the issue?”
Bake pouted, expressing his dissatisfaction, but I firmly pushed him away.
“Something that can’t be done, can’t be done. We have to maintain decorum.”
“Okay. I’ll be waiting.”
Bake didn’t hide his disappointed expression but he obediently backed off. Along with him, the lingering scent that had tickled my nose also disappeared.
I watched my husband’s retreating figure until it was out of sight, and then slowly lifted my foot.
Margaret’s quarters were further inside.
To meet her, I had to pass Meriel’s room.
But before I could walk past Meriel’s room, I stopped in my tracks.
“……”
When I looked back, Bake had already left.
Yet, I still found myself blankly staring at the spot where he had disappeared.
Though my husband had left, I remembered the distinct scent that lingered around him.
The moment I realized this fact, my lips became dry.
When scheming men desperately battle for her favor in the male harem
This one’s also on my reread list! The rivalry, scheming between the men in the imperial harem are just as intense and thrilling as in classic palace drama novels, where concubines fight to the death. Give it a read, girls! I promise you won’t be disappointed.
Synopsis:
“I am not worthy of her… but I still want to be by her side, even if only as a loyal dog…”
Those were the painful whispers of Yue Guanyi – the proud Crown Prince of the Great Qi, who was torn between deep love and a guilty conscience. Despite holding the supreme power of the Imperial Guard, he still could not forget the dark past when he was sold into a brothel.
Fate played a cruel twist when Qiu Shuzhi – a young female official who had just passed the imperial examinations with top honors – stepped into his life. She did not know that she was the one who had saved him from a tragic fate many years ago. And now, her heart was the target of pursuit for both Yue Guanyi and the powerful Empress Dowager Qin Qing.
While Yue Guanyi only dared to silently care for and protect the one he loved from afar, the Empress Dowager Qin Qing openly expressed his feelings and did not hesitate to take advantage of his power to approach Qiu Shuzhi. The covert struggle between the two most powerful forces in the imperial court began…
Trigger warning: All men in this novel are yandere style.
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