Surprisingly, Suckrell knew some dining etiquette to a certain extent. Since it’s something you don’t learn separately, I raised an eyebrow.
“You eat beautifully.”
“Oh! Thank you for the compliment. I want to look pretty in front of Your Majesty.”
As Suckrell chuckled, Shopen Kyeong showed discomfort again. Such a type was quite awkward within the Knights.
But, when we were halfway through the meal, a light sparkled in the air, and a letter gently descended.
“Your Majesty, it’s dangerous!”
Having witnessed the unfamiliar scene, Shopen Kyeong widened his eyes, gripping his sword in a reaction that resembled facing an assassin rather than a letter.
However, I already knew who the sender of this letter was.
“It’s done. The Duke of Silver Rose sent this letter.”
“…The Duke of Silver Rose, does that mean the magician?”
“That’s right. Oh, now that I think about it, you stayed at the palace this time. You met the Duke on the cruise.”
Briefly explaining, I elegantly extended my hand, indicating that I wanted the letter knife.
“I’ll open it for you, Your Majesty.”
However, before Shopen Kyeong went to get the letter knife, Suckrell stepped forward.
“There’s no letter knife?”
“There’s an unused knife.”
“A fresh idea. Okay, go ahead and open it.”
Such a thought reversal stems from the difference in status. Nobles believe that only a letter knife should be used for letters. However, Suckrell, having any knife with a sharp blade, thought that it was enough.
No need to go around pretending.
I quite liked that aspect.
‘Now, why did Shailo suddenly send a letter through such an informal route?’
After returning to the capital, I hadn’t heard any news about Shailo.
He said he would briefly go to the north and come back.
Reading the gracefully written letter, I soon folded it. A smile appeared on my lips.
“Call Fybel and clear my schedule.”
Upon saying that, Shopen Kyeong revealed his curiosity.
“What does he say?”
“He says he’ll visit with autumn in about a week. Quite romantic.”
Good. If I show him this letter, my words will gain more credibility.
Tapping my lips with the edge of the letter, I checked the time.
It was time for Duke Ahillo, whom I had called through Charlotte yesterday, to arrive.
The well-built Duke Ahillo arrived at the Imperial Palace exactly at the time I had called him, a little before noon, around 11 a.m.
This was the time when nobles usually woke up, so I had called the Duke in a bit early.
‘This way, even if Derek says something strange or has already said something, I can overlook it.’
Starting today, there would be no neglecting paperwork, so while I was working, I greeted the Duke with a smile.
“Father.”
“Your Majesty. How is your health?”
“Of course. Welcome.”
Pride and satisfaction were evident in the Duke’s eyes as he looked at me. Along with a slight hint of unease.
The Duke now considered me an adult who had truly received a divine revelation.
And just in case… if the emperor were to commit tyranny or let go of the state affairs, the Duke thought I might become the emperor.
The title of the emperor changing to Duke Ahillo!
It was such a sweet dream for the Duke.
A dream that he simply didn’t want to let go of.
“I called you here to show you this.”
“What is it?”
In response to Duke Ahillo’s question, I silently handed him the letter.
The Duke understood better than I did how crucial the contents of this single piece of paper were.
“This is… Shailo Silver Rose, isn’t it! Why is he deeply in love with your daughter?”
The Duke’s mouth gaped in great surprise.
I took back the letter and neatly folded it.
“The Duke has a wish. To reopen the era of sorcerers.”
“Hmm.”
“Whether it will work or not, we don’t know, but magic is a very convenient power. An increase in sorcerers is good for the national interest. It’s much more useful than divine power.”
“Well, that’s true… but can we believe it?”
In response to the Duke’s question, I nodded.
“If I promise to give what you want, it will definitely be in your favor.”
“Well, supporting the opening of the era of sorcerers… it’s not something I can do even if this emperor dies.”
“That’s right. But I can do it.”
Becoming the one in control is familiar and natural to me.
The most incomprehensible thing in the long history of humanity is that the empress has never tried to become the emperor.
Isn’t it instinct to want to pull down someone who is above you?
Even though she is praised by all kinds of people, she still lowers and humbles herself in front of the emperor.
In the long history of humanity, the most incomprehensible thing was that there was never a time when the empress tried to become the emperor.
Someone who was above you, wouldn’t the instinct be to pull them down?
Even if she is praised by all sorts of people, she still lowers and humbles herself in front of the emperor.
‘Perhaps it’s the harm of fixed ideas.’
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.”
