Aaron arrogantly spoke, feeling the emerald-flowing gazes.
“It’s a small gesture of gratitude for inviting me to dinner.”
It was indeed small.
It wasn’t a voluminous gift.
However, its value could never be small.
Just by presenting a gift to the queen, everyone in the Ioenti Kingdom could feel how much attention the Duke pays to Princess Ioenti.
But the emerald eyes of the queen looking at the gift were merely quietly submerged.
“Duke.”
The queen called Aaron in a gentle voice.
“The garden was damaged by the imperial army, so I asked for repairs. Please refrain from giving more than that.”
It was a clear refusal.
Aaron, raising his eyebrows slightly, stared at the queen with an arrogant aura.
“The level of excessiveness depends on the person giving the gift. Compared to my feelings, it may be insignificant. Please accept it. Queen Elenore.”
“If the recipient feels burdened, it’s excessive.”
In the subtle showdown between Aaron and the queen, the king and Delia looked back and forth at them.
Even the eyes of Dyke, standing between the queen and Aaron with a jewelry box, shook uneasily.
“It’s a gift made exclusively for Queen Elenore, matching the elegant design resembling emerald eyes.”
For Queen Elenore, a top-notch jewel crafted with the finest gemstones from all around, remembering the skilled artisans in Roeni, was insufficient even if thanks were expressed.
It wasn’t easy to give a gift to the noble Queen Elenore of Ioenti.
“Do you not like it? I may have to instruct them to make a new necklace.”
“That’s not the meaning. A necklace for the gods is enough for me.”
“Even if the gods wear a different necklace, they wouldn’t dislike it.”
“I would find it burdensome to wear a necklace.”
Aaron sharpened his gaze at the queen’s persistent refusal.
Aaron realized it was the time to follow Colin’s advice.
Aaron firmly stated, “Yes, it’s an burdensome gift.”
At Aaron’s unexpected words, Dyke almost dropped the jewelry box he was holding.
Contemplation spread at the commander’s misuse of Colin’s advice.
Ignoring Dyke and his desperate attempts to convey a message through eyes, Aaron continued speaking without giving him a glance.
“I’m giving it to make you feel burdened. So, please accept it and feel as burdened as possible.”
Even the composed queen, who was calmly rejecting, widened her eyes in surprise.
Despite the astonishment of everyone there, Aaron casually looked around with a calm expression.
Aaron briefly glanced at Delia’s slender fingers resting on the hem of her dress.
“That way, you’ll grant permission more quickly, won’t you?”
Having already waited long enough, I didn’t want to go back. I needed to quickly put the ring on that slender hand. If I could shorten the waiting time, the necklace would be nothing. “Just speak. I will fill the palace with more burdensome things.” The arrogant Subjugation Commander seemed to have no intention of hiding that the necklace was a bribe. Instead, he confidently uttered that he would provide an even greater bribe. The bewildered queen couldn’t find anything more to say and fell silent. A heavy silence settled on the table. Delia, who had been silently observing their conversation, slowly spoke up. “Commander, it seems you still don’t know much about the Ioenti royal family. May I offer some advice?” The atmosphere in the hall, which had been tense, softened at Delia’s clear voice. Aaron nodded his head to calm his frustrated mind. “Please do.” Delia glanced briefly at the elegant necklace in the luxurious wooden box. “Mother is not someone who will give her heart just because she receives an expensive gem.” The queen breathed a small sigh at Delia’s advice, which flowed through the candlelight. Fortunately, her daughter understood her feelings. Even if she were to accept the marriage proposal, she didn’t want to accept it as if selling her daughter over a piece of jewelry.
Delia glanced at the sophisticated necklace inside the luxurious wooden box.
“Mother is not someone who will give her heart just because she receives an expensive gem.”
The queen, following Delia’s advice flowing with the candlelight, sighed softly. Fortunately, her daughter understood her feelings. Even if she were to accept the marriage proposal, she didn’t want to accept it as if selling her daughter over a piece of jewelry.
That’s right, Del.
You shouldn’t discard the pride of the Ioenti royal family for such a trivial jewel.
The queen nodded her head slightly.
No, she tried to nod.
Until she heard her daughter’s continuing voice.
“Mother prefers art pieces like artworks or sculptures.”
Aaron let out a subtle sigh at Delia’s advice.
“Ah, is that so? No wonder she pays more attention to sculptures than trees when repairing the garden.”
“Because she has a deep appreciation for art, Mother even personally selects members of the Picheurn workshop.”
“Hmm. So that’s why.”
Aaron, thinking of the royal chief painter Perugino, stroked his chin. When he thought of the queen, that stubborn painter made perfect sense.
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.”
