“The Duke and Duchess have entered.”
The Duke and Duchess moved across the ballroom under the watchful eyes of the crowd, heading toward the high table. Audible admiration flowed from the mouths of those observing the couple.
Wearing a black formal suit adorned with a golden sash, the Duke was, as always, an overwhelming presence.
In contrast, the Duchess, wearing a light palegold silk dress, appeared delicate but emanated a quiet dignity in her steady stride and expression.
As the Duchess’ face became increasingly clear to him, a wave of uncontrollable emotion stirred within Reynion’s lakeblue eyes.
“Is that… the Duchess?”
With an expression of disbelief, Reynion asked blankly.
“Yes, she is the Duchess of Elyos. She’s from the Fleur family.”
“Her name is… Idel.”
“Exactly, you know well.”
At Pascal’s confirmation, Reynion tightly shut his eyes. The surreal moment didn’t change even when he opened them again. His face grew increasingly cloudy as he watched the approaching Duke and Duchess.
Meanwhile, Idel found familiar faces in unexpected moments and hid her confusion inwardly.
She was also surprised to see Roselyn standing next to Pascal again, but…
‘Reynion…?’
The man standing opposite the emperor was Reynion, whom she’d met at the imperial college and gotten to know.
She had suspected he was of noble origin, but they had never clarified their respective families. They’d met as equal students, so it was startling to meet him now as the Duchess.
It was something they would eventually have to discuss, but she had hoped to get to know him better as friends before that.
Seeing Reynion’s stiffened expression, it seemed he was also surprised to see her. However, her duty as the Duchess was now the priority.
“We greet His Majesty the Emperor and the Retired Emperor.”
“Apologies for our tardiness. Retired Emperor, may I present the Duchess of Elyos.”
At Caeron’s introduction, Reynion jolted noticeably. It felt like a second bullet penetrating an already shot heart.
Unaware of Reynion’s emotions, Idel curtsied gracefully to the Retired Emperor.
“I am Idel of the Fleur family. I apologize for my late greeting and hope for your gracious understanding.”
“So, you are the Duchess of Elyos.”
The Retired Emperor’s piercing gaze scrutinized Idel. Her posture, even her small gestures, were flawless.
This was particularly noticeable when compared to Roselyn, who had greeted him earlier. Although Roselyn had also been quite formal, the natural elegance seemed to belong only to the Duchess.
Such differences did not go unnoticed by Katrina standing beside them. Her eyes narrowed as if looking for any flaw in the Duchess.
“Late or not, congratulations on your wedding. I was curious who the Duke had married so suddenly without prior mention.”
“That was my fault. I was so taken with her that I couldn’t wait.”
Usually, nobles of the Duke’s status underwent a lengthy engagement process before marriage. But the Duke had skipped these steps, informing people as if announcing a fait accompli.
Acknowledging his uncharacteristic decision, Caeron explained, as he had previously to Pascal, that it was love at first sight.
“Love at first sight, you say?”
The Retired Emperor opened his eyes wide in astonishment. He hadn’t expected such words from the usually stoic Duke.
The surprise was not only for the Emperor. Katrina had also heard about it through Roselin, but she was startled by the Duke’s overt display of affection.
“Ha! Truly astonishing. The Duchess… I will watch with interest.”
The Emperor carefully observed the Duchess who had changed the Duke. Seemingly to divert the Emperor’s attention, Caeron shifted the subject toward Reynion who was standing nearby.
“So, Prince Reynion is here as well.”
“Ah… Greetings to the Duke and Duchess.”
At the sound of Caeron calling him, Reynion barely managed to speak. His voice was unusually subdued.
‘I was immediately smitten with her and couldn’t wait.’
Reynion’s mind was filled with this single utterance from the Duke.
He had also been immediately smitten with her. He had been waiting for the moment to naturally meet her again while preparing for his studies abroad.
But that wait had led to this unacceptable situation. Why hadn’t he approached her the moment he fell for her… He was wrapped in futile regret.
‘Prince Reynion…?’
Idel looked at Reynion with surprised eyes. She had thought he was a child from some unknown noble family… a prince?
‘There shouldn’t be anyone called a prince in the Jupiter Empire…?’
It was strange. In the Jupiter Empire, the only princes were Emperor Pascal and Duke Caeron. Her question was soon answered by Reynion himself.
“I greet you, Your Highness, the Duchess. I am Reynion, the third prince of the Lysandro Empire.”
“Nice to meet you, Prince Reynion.”
Though surprised by his newly revealed identity, Idel managed to keep her expression neutral as she greeted him.
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.”
