Regarding her existence treated as a negative presence within the family… She had thought that they probably didn’t truly acknowledge her as a genuine Fleur.
‘Even so, Roselin has never been hostile.’
Instead, Idel had tried to understand Roselin’s feelings. Due to their different positions, the perspectives and attitudes resulting from them were bound to be different.
Even if only half, she was a sister born from the same blood. She neither wanted to hate Roselin nor wanted to be hurt through her.
‘So, I turned away and avoided…’
Intentionally, Idel had kept Roselin at a distance. Regardless of what hostile words or actions Roselin used, she had tried her best to ignore them.
‘Now, however…’
Idel, with eyes flickering from deep contemplation, looked at Roselin, who stood on the opposite side.
‘Roselin is standing against me.’
During the recent imperial gathering, Roselin had invited Idel to a gathering of the heirs of imperial families.
In that space, Roselin was mentioned as a candidate for the next empress, and she was supported by Lady Katrina, the wife of the Marquis.
Katrina and Roselin had already formed a close relationship.
That meant… Roselin was an enemy of Kaelon, and by extension, an enemy of Idel.
Even now, intentionally stimulating her position without fragrance, Roselin was deliberately thrusting it at her.
‘I can’t avoid Roselin anymore. If necessary, I have to confront her.’
Taking a deep breath, Idel, with a more focused and clearer gaze, stared at Roselin.
‘I made up my mind to protect him by Kaelon’s side.’
She needed to become stronger. Roselin should no longer be allowed to control and shake her.
In her resolute emerald eyes, there was no further hesitation.
“Sister…?”
Observing the change in the air surrounding Idel, the quick-witted Roselin sensed that something had shifted.
Unlike when her sister first visited the Fleur Territory, where she showcased her familiarity, Idel now appeared more confident. Even though she tried to hide it, Idel clearly showed a lack of wavering.
‘What sudden change in feelings is this?’
Unlike before, Idel, instead of looking dismayed, seemed surprisingly assertive. As if trying to gauge her inner thoughts, Roselin’s eyes narrowed.
Idel opened her mouth with a determined expression.
“As you said, I couldn’t bring myself to visit the Fleur Territory before.”
“…….”
“I wasn’t someone acknowledged by Fleur, like you.”
“Sister….”
Roselin’s expression stiffened in confusion. If it were before, when Idel denied her own existence, she would have surely remained silent, unable to say anything.
However, it was unfamiliar to see Idel revealing and accepting her situation while acknowledging it.
Without realizing, Idel faced Roselin, who wore a puzzled expression between her eyebrows, and asserted with confidence.
“However, now, Fleur’s recognition is no longer important to me.”
“Not important…?”
“Yeah. Now, I am the Grand Duchess of Eolios, a person of the Eolios family.”
…!”
“Thank you for guiding me to the Marquisate.”
Idel extended her gratitude with a noble demeanor and voice. The elegance characteristic of her made her presence as the Grand Duchess palpable.
“Now that the guidance is over, you can rest.”
Feeling like a guest, Roselin couldn’t conceal her resentment and bit down hard on her lower lip. Roselin’s enraged and indignant eyes blazed with anger.
‘Humph! How long will she be able to think like that… Let’s wait and see. She will surely know that the Grand Duchess is from Fleur as soon as she steps into the Fleur Territory.’
Since Idel set foot in the Fleur Territory, not only Idel but also those who came with the envoy would soon be aware.
‘Eolios Grand Duchess is an illegitimate existence never acknowledged by her own family!’
Ironically, it would be better for Idel to elevate herself as the Eolios Grand Duchess, flaunting her dignity.
‘The more she does that, the faster and deeper she’ll fall.’
Brushing back her hair, Roselin composed her expression and gracefully received Idel’s greeting.
“Yes. Since you must be tired from coming, please rest soon, Sister.”
After turning around to leave the room, as if remembering just now, she spoke with a tone suggesting it was an afterthought.
“Oh, I almost forgot! There’s something I must tell Sister.”
“Go ahead.”
“There will be a grand banquet welcoming the envoy tomorrow evening.”
“Yes, I’ve already been informed about that schedule.”
“And before the evening banquet, there will be a ‘family gathering.'”
“A family gathering?”
It wasn’t an official schedule given to the envoy. Idel expressed skepticism, hearing this for the first time.
“Yes. It’s a gathering where only members of the Fleur family come together for dinner. Sister, please ‘definitely’ come.”
Roselin handed Idel a pre-prepared invitation, emphasizing with a meaningful gaze as she added.
“After all, Sister is ‘family,’ isn’t she?”
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.”
