“An invitation from the royal palace. It’s for a celebration of the duke’s marriage.”
Inside the duke’s office, Gregory had just finished reporting on pending tasks. As a last note, he added news about the party being prepared by the royal family.
“It’s also to celebrate the safe return of Emperor Sunwang.”
At Gregory’s words, Caeron, who had been flipping through documents, paused momentarily. Shade spoke, observing his subtly hardened expression.
“You returned from your honeymoon not long before Emperor Sunwang. The event must be prepared for the emperor, who couldn’t attend the ducal wedding.”
“You still have good timing.”
It had been the same then. A woman who had been staring at the distant sea every day, waiting for him, only arrived after she closed her eyes.
Caeron’s brows narrowed.
“And Duchess Katrina has started matchmaking again.”
“Don’t they ever get tired? Which family is it this time?”
“…Fleur.”
“…Ha!”
At Shade’s words, Caeron seemed to hold back a laugh. Then, a sharp light entered his eyes.
“This choice seems quite deliberate.”
After the Crown Prince stepped down from the throne, Katrina had been tirelessly trying to put her own people in the empress’ seat.
Despite constant matchmaking, Pascal had been maintaining a safe distance. Katrina must have been frustrated that he didn’t get close to any of the women from the families she suggested.
This time, it’s from the duchess’s family…
“Was it Roselin?”
Caeron asked coldly, recalling the woman who had been continuously pointing thorns towards his sister.
“Correct. She has recently been moving around the social circles, carrying Duchess Katrina on her back.”
Katrina and Roselin Fleur…
They must have been a perfect partnership since they both wanted the same thing.
Pascal, sharp as he was, probably knew their intentions, so there was little to worry about. However…
“Keep an eye on social circles. Women sometimes carry knives in their mouths.”
Caeron spoke, thinking about Idel, who was just stepping into social circles as a duchess. Shade nodded in agreement.
“Of course. You wouldn’t know how difficult it’s been attending salons and parties lately.”
Grumbling, Shade was joined by Gregory.
“You also wouldn’t know how hard I’ve been working for the duchy in your absence!”
Caeron flipped through the documents as if he couldn’t hear their complaints.
“So, did you enjoy it? Now that the work report is done, let’s hear about the honeymoon.”
Both Shade and Gregory seemed to sparkle with curiosity at his question.
“Your meticulous planning amazed me! You took her to an island. Moreover, a private island!”
Shade whispered, giving a meaningful smile.
“You must have had plenty of time alone.”
At Shade’s words, Caeron’s eyes, which had been moving over the documents, froze for a moment.
Time alone…
Indeed, that was the case. He had fully enjoyed her scent and had explored her to his heart’s content.
But… something was strange.
It felt as if no amount of time could fill the emptiness.
“Did Her Majesty enjoy Meriel Island? It was difficult to hold back when she asked about the destination.”
Caeron’s eyes darkened even more at the mention of Meriel Island by Gregory. The images of two women overlapped against the backdrop of the blue sea in his mind.
Seeing his hardened face, Shade and Gregory exchanged glances.
‘He’s bothered by it, isn’t he?’
‘Yes, it seems so.’
They nodded in silent agreement. Shade carefully spoke.
“Did you two have a fight?”
“…Fight?”
Caeron’s lowered eyes met Shade’s.
“I noticed Her Majesty didn’t look well earlier. Did you two have a marital fight on your way back?”
Upon hearing that Idel’s complexion was poor, Caeron’s face hardened even more. Shade spoke up.
“Looks like I was right. It’s common for newlyweds to fight, but don’t delay making up.”
Shade lightly patted Caeron’s shoulder.
“Honesty is always the best policy. Pride means nothing in front of love.”
Love…?
Caeron’s hand tightened, crumpling the document he was holding. For a moment, a cold sneer appeared at the corner of his mouth.
“You’re talking nonsense.”
“This is genuine advice from experience.”
“Shade Hilvern.”
Upon hearing his full name spoken in the duke’s low, pressing voice, Shade’s eyes wavered slightly.
“I made it clear from the beginning. Don’t meddle.”
“But…”
Doubt filled Shade’s violet eyes. The duke’s gaze was different from his usually jealous demeanor when telling people not to pay attention to the duchess.
“My relationship with the duchess is my business. Mind your own and focus on your responsibilities.”
His eyes, seemingly not tolerating any further interference, were like cold, solid armor.
“….Understood.”
With a rigid face, Shade left the duke’s office. Gregory, who had been restless, hesitated before finally speaking up.
“Sir Shade meant well. He’s unaware of the contract between Your Highness and Her Highness.”
“I know.”
I’m aware that Shade spoke for my benefit.
“That’s why it’s pointless.”
Male lead is a Divorced Husband
She said to him: “Tell me, what makes you like me? I’ll change it!”
Liu Changning transmigrated into a female cannon fodder character in a female-dominant novel.
After reading the first half of the novel’s plot, the first thing she did upon transmigration was to divorce the Pan Jinlian-style male protagonist she had just married.
She indulged herself, pretending to be ugly and poor.
But as time passed, the way that man looked at her became more and more unusual…
Liu Changning was dumbfounded: Tell me, what makes you like me? I’ll change!
――
This lifetime, Pei Yuanshao was rejected by the same woman twice!
The first time, she drove him away. Forced by the situation, he endured the waves of anger in his heart, yielding and humbling himself.
That person lay slanted on a rocking chair, her sallow face emotionless: “If you don’t want a divorce, go cook!”
Pei Yuanshao’s face was dark and gloomy: “You!”
The second time, after the crisis in Jinling City was resolved, the new emperor sent someone to pick him up. He turned around, stammering: “I… I have to go. If you keep me…”
That person lay on the kang bed, her back to him, as if she had long anticipated this day, crisp and clear: “Goodbye!”
Pei Yuanshao was so angry his fingers trembled: “You… you!”
The mission of family and country made him restrain himself, averting his eyes and turning to leave this broken household.
Two years later, they met again. Seeing her ethereal face, his body shook like a sieve.
“She was originally a ‘she’!”
At the Qionglin Banquet, the top scholar of the imperial examination, a talented person with exceptional speech and conduct, all the unmarried young gentlemen from aristocratic families looked at her with shy and timid eyes.
The peerless imperial official Pei Yuanshao felt the anger in his heart erupt. He pointed at the woman surrounded by the crowd at the Qionglin Banquet, his thin lips slightly curled: “Little sister, I wants that person to be the wife-master of my Mingde Prince Manor.”
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