Phillip was speechless, standing still. He, looking deeply shocked, soon let out a small sigh.
“I’m sorry.”
“There’s no need for you to apologize to me.”
Of course, I benefited greatly from Phillip’s decision to dismiss Heide.
However, knowing the truth made me uncomfortable.
According to my common sense, this was unilateral oppression by an employer.
Phillip needed to apologize to Heide.
Of course, considering the social hierarchy in this world, it was almost impossible for the high-ranking noble Phillip to properly apologize to a mere gardener.
Still, seeing an attitude that seemed reflective, my heart softened a bit.
Considering that he came to see me even at this late hour and had to return like dawn, maybe I should cut him some slack.
At that moment, as if Phillip could read my mind, he spoke with a decisive tone.
“I was blinded by jealousy. I will send a formal letter of apology to Heide.”
His words were surprisingly unprecedented. At the same time, the uncomfortable feeling that had lingered disappeared.
Perhaps noticing the change in my mood, Phillip’s lips curled into a faint smile.
“Are you forgiving me?”
His demeanor felt as smooth as cream on coffee, and I couldn’t help but laugh.
“What is there for me to forgive? You’re just like my past self.”
“But you’re not the same person.”
With a broad smile, Phillip approached me and lifted me up.
“I love you, Ellen.”
About five weeks passed since Ellen returned to the estate.
‘I miss Mother.’
Wearing a light pink gown, Laila thought of Ellen. She thought of Ellen every day, and now, accompanied by a maid, she was on her way to the tea time of the concubines.
Initially, the concubines’ attitudes were endlessly kind. So Laila, thinking of building good relationships, expected their favor.
But it turned out that the concubines were kind to Laila only because the king was by her side.
As the days of the king lying unconscious in bed increased, the attitudes of the concubines became more stern.
Especially the glances towards Marboro were particularly cold.
In the concubines’ eyes, contempt, disdain, and caution were evident.
Gradually, Laila began to dislike the concubines.
But even so, when an invitation for tea time arrived, she couldn’t refuse.
Laila hoped that the concubines would not be noisy until they left the palace.
‘I just need to endure a bit.’
As she walked slowly, she soon thought of Phillip.
These days, Phillip’s atmosphere had changed a bit.
There were slight dark circles under his eyes, and his body seemed slightly thinner. He even looked a bit haggard.
Because of that, Laila and Marboro were concerned about Phillip’s health, but the public opinion around him was rather positive.
Especially the maids who saw Phillip were unable to hide their trembling hearts whenever he took a break.
Is it that even the kingdom’s most beautiful and dignified person still looks devastatingly sexy?
Of course, the maids didn’t know why Phillip’s feelings had changed.
Not even his friends, the priest Vermilion and the judge Fred, knew.
The two of them thought that Phillip was under a lot of stress, facing the impending succession to the throne. However, Laila and Marboro knew the truth.
Every two days.
When darkness fell over the capital, Phillip would ride alone and return to the estate.
And when the sun rose, he would return.
The reason was clear without asking.
Phillip was going to the estate to see Ellen.
Running tirelessly for six hours round trip was no easy feat, even for someone with an iron physique.
Laila let out a deep sigh.
“I also miss Mother, but Father goes alone every time…”
However, Laila also knew. It was challenging to handle a schedule like Phillip’s.
Laila secretly hoped that Marboro would ascend to the throne soon.
Then, it seemed like they could invite Ellen to the royal palace every day.
“Hehe, that would be so nice.”
As Laila imagined inviting Ellen for tea time, she soon corrected her thoughts.
That alone wasn’t enough.
She thought it would be better to build Ellen a boutique and a private mansion in a good location within the royal palace.
“Then you wouldn’t have to go, right?”
While entertaining various fantasies, Laila arrived at the small garden she was invited to.
Under the long shade of an oak tree, attendees were seated in front of a tea table.
There were three concubines known for their radiant ruby hair, the blessing of gold, and the color of a merciful sea – Dalena.
But today, the atmosphere was a bit strange. None of the tea time attendees rose from their seats to greet Laila.
They only shook their fans slowly with a look that seemed to say, “Why don’t you try saying hello?”
Recalling Ellen’s past, which was troublesome with these four, Laila felt somewhat bewildered.
“It was uncomfortable during tea time, but it wasn’t like this.”
Perhaps due to her delicate constitution, her heart pounded like a frightened baby rabbit. She felt a momentary pressure as if her breath was about to be cut off.
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.”
