Frezia handed me multiple certificates as if asking me to trust her.
“Continental Certified Interior Design License, Reihart Gardening License, Reihart Organization License, Storage Specialist…”
I had asked for an expert, but I didn’t even know such certificates existed in this world.
I stared at Frezia in disbelief, and she grinned.
“Am I qualified now?”
“Definitely. You’re a true expert.”
“I have many other skills because of my various hobbies.”
Frezia casually waved her hand, as if it was nothing.
‘Is this really okay?’
Something felt off.
But worrying about things that haven’t happened yet was also a problem.
‘Don’t get nervous, Aileen.’
What Frezia thought of Kashar was unknown to me.
Moreover, since I was officially his lover, it was odd for Frezia to approach Kashar in the first place.
“It seems like you had a reason for calling an expert. Both the garden and the castle… It’s all of Mein style, isn’t it?”
Frezia, who had been looking into the hall, touched a decorative skull and asked.
“Yes, it’s not exactly the best environment for the princes…”
“It’s emotionally unsettling?”
When I nodded vigorously, Frezia chuckled softly.
‘When a beauty smiles, it’s different.’
It wasn’t just that she looked kind; she seemed to radiate light.
Then, Frezia threw a bombshell with her pretty face.
“It’s good timing! I wanted to meet Count Vladis anyway.”
“Kashar?”
“Yes. He’s quite famous, you know.”
Her smile was enigmatic.
As I stood there dumbfounded, Frezia pointed behind me.
“Oh, he’s coming this way!”
Kashar was descending from above.
He stopped next to me and met eyes with Frezia.
It was truly a meeting of two beautiful people.
“Hello, Count Vladis! It’s been a long time since we’ve met face to face.”
Frezia greeted him with her brilliant smile.
In response, Kashar, who had been holding my shoulder, narrowed his eyes and asked.
“What brings you here?”
Wizard, professor, merchant—Frezia had many roles. Kashar was asking which one had brought her here.
“I’m here as Aileen’s friend and an interior designer!”
“Is that so?”
“Yes!”
There was a subtle tension between the two smiling faces.
‘Did they know each other in the original story?’
It certainly seemed that way from their conversation.
In the original story, Frezia was helping Elesius by siding with Michael.
So, I had thought there would be no connection between her and Kashar at this point.
After thinking it over, I came to one conclusion.
‘Could it be, first love?’
Kashar being a sympathetic man was either in the original story or a social rumor; actually, who he held dear was unknown.
‘Platonic love exists.’
Moreover, unrequited love is often more painful.
‘Look, sparks are flying from their eyes.’
They clearly weren’t casual acquaintances.
I was bewildered.
Frezia grabbed my arm and pulled me away from Kashar.
“Aileen!”
“Yes?”
“I’m confident in decorating. I’ll take full responsibility. Let’s go take a look together!”
Frezia’s eyes were purely kind.
I toured the entire castle and garden with her.
“It’s like you moved the castle from Barahan here.”
“You’ve been there?”
“Yes. There are a lot of magical ingredients in the land of darkness. The trade is also fairly easy. If I’m stronger, they even give me a better price!”
Frezia laughed cheerfully, gathering lightning in her pretty hand.
She tossed it casually, and a monster statue crumbled.
“Ah, haha. Power really is the best, isn’t it?”
“Absolutely! I’ll help you with the demolition too!”
She wasn’t surprised at the state of the castle for a reason.
“Do you have a theme in mind?”
“I’ll think about it after we remove all the Meinstyle decorations.”
Just getting rid of the scary statues and skulls seemed like it would be a big improvement.
In short, removal was the top priority.
“Would you like to see the catalog? I’ve brought some quotes because I didn’t know what you’d like.”
Freesia pulled out a booklet.
It contained the latest designs for castles, interior mansion decor, and garden layouts.
“These two seem good.”
“The cost will be covered by the duke, correct?”
“That would be the case.”
“Then I will ask about the budget!”
“What?”
Before I could respond, Freesia dashed out.
I hastily followed her, but she was already inside Kashar’s office.
The door was halfclosed, making it awkward to enter.
Instead, I peered through the gap.
“……so.”
“……indeed.”
I couldn’t hear them clearly because of the distance.
Sunlight poured over Kashar, who sat at his desk, and Freesia, who leaned against it.
They looked like beautiful protagonists.
They even seemed to be enjoying themselves, laughing.
‘Why do I feel like this?’
Was it because I was aware of my feelings for Kashar?
My heart sank just seeing him close to someone else.
Moreover, Freesia was someone I had intended to introduce to him.
Shortly after, Freesia returned to the hallway.
“Ah, did you wait?”
“Yes. What did Kashar say?”
“He said to not worry about the budget and to do as you wish, Aileen. Quite surprising, isn’t it?”
Freesia smirked.
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.”
