Belia’s expression remained cold and rigid.
Erzhe, who approached Belia as if to ignore her, glanced around and cautiously asked, “Your Highness, you seemed a bit uncomfortable earlier. Are you okay?”
It was clear that Erzhe intentionally shouted about the pond. Her attitude showed a desire to rescue Belia, who seemed to be in an awkward situation. Belia relaxed her frozen expression and lifted the corners of her mouth.
“Yes.”
“If I caused you discomfort by suggesting that we go with the First Prince… I’m truly sorry if I made you come to an uncomfortable place because of me.”
Paradoxically, the more Erzhe cared, the more uncomfortable Belia felt. “I appreciate your concern, Erzhe.” Belia forced a bright expression. “But it really wasn’t a big deal. It seems Prince Raul misunderstood something. So, you don’t need to worry about it.”
“Sure.”
Erzhe’s expression darkened slightly. She lowered her head and fidgeted with her fingers.
Belia glanced briefly to see what Raul was doing. He stood in the same spot, watching this way for a while, then turned around and left the greenhouse alone. It was better this way. Whether Raul was in a bad mood or angry, it was none of Belia’s concern.
“Do you like the greenhouse?”
Belia asked Erzhe, who nodded. Erzhe then crouched down by the artificial pond, where clear water was continuously flowing, and spoke as if murmuring.
“Magic seems truly amazing. I can’t understand how such things are possible. My knowledge about the nature of the world is just a handful, and it’s frustrating and complicated.”
“You don’t need to know everything. That’s why there are mages in the Magus Tower.”
Belia reached out and brushed away a soft leaf with her fingers. Now that Raul had left, only Belia and Erzhe remained in the greenhouse.
Even though the tension from the conflict with Raul had dissipated, the conversation with the maids before coming here couldn’t be easily dismissed. Belia sat down next to Erzhe, who was observing the pond, and quietly began to speak.
“A few days ago, I heard a story that you secretly entered Khalid’s room.”
“Oh, that…!”
Surprised by the sudden topic, Erzhe jumped up from her seat. She tried desperately to explain, but Belia continued speaking calmly.
“There were no suspicious points according to the investigation, so it must be true. However, your actions were a significant mistake that I can’t overlook, even if Raul came to the uncomfortable place because of me.”
“I’m sorry.”
Khalid had probably tried not to make a big deal out of it for Belia’s sake since she was the one who invited the guest. However, Belia couldn’t just overlook it.
“Do you like Khalid?”
“What? Wh-what do you mean…?”
Erzhe stammered, looking perplexed. Observing her sharp reaction, Belia asked again.
“I’m asking if you did those actions because you like Khalid.”
“No, no…!”
Trembling lips, uneasy eyes.
“Well, the reason doesn’t matter. It might be strange to ask you about an incident Khalid tried to cover up later. However, Erzhe.”
Belia’s voice was as cold as frost.
“I’m not a person generous enough to tolerate all of your rudeness. Please be careful with your actions so that I, who showed you kindness, won’t be disappointed in the remaining time.”
“Yes… I’m sorry.”
Belia silently observed Erzhe, who looked dejected for a while, then spoke with her usual kind face.
“It seems late. Let’s go back now.”
After leaving the greenhouse and heading back to the Second Prince’s palace.
No one, including Velia and Erzhe, opened their mouths first.
During the long walk through the central garden towards the Second Prince’s palace, in the engulfed silence, only the sound of footsteps echoed.
Erzhe walked slowly along the familiar path.
Although it was late at night with moonlight streaming in, the corridor was not too dark. The rhythmic, cheerful sound of footsteps echoed as if expressing her mood.
Soft slippers, the gentle touch of nightwear, a warm quilt, a luxurious palace, and the beautiful garden visible through the window. Everything here was as beautiful and enchanting as if in a dream.
Somehow, even the air feels different from where I live.
‘It would be really nice if I could stay here forever.’
Erzhe’s steps slowed down.
Stepping out onto the terrace where the Central Palace and the First Prince’s palace were visible, Erzhe stared blankly at the landscape while feeling the cold wind.
This place is like a fantasy. Therefore, everything happening here seemed like a dream.
Everything I enjoy here never seems to stay in my hands, like a mirage that disappears in an instant.
I keep getting greedy.
‘It’s unfair…’
Princess Velia has everything.
The kind and gentle First Prince, and the quiet but affectionate Second Prince. All the handsome princes that seem to come out of a fairy tale begged for Princess Velia’s affection.
She never dared to think that she could possess their hearts, but Velia, holding a heart she could never have, felt cruel. Today, in particular, added to her distress.
‘It’s really unfair.’
Male lead is a Divorced Husband
She said to him: “Tell me, what makes you like me? I’ll change it!”
Liu Changning transmigrated into a female cannon fodder character in a female-dominant novel.
After reading the first half of the novel’s plot, the first thing she did upon transmigration was to divorce the Pan Jinlian-style male protagonist she had just married.
She indulged herself, pretending to be ugly and poor.
But as time passed, the way that man looked at her became more and more unusual…
Liu Changning was dumbfounded: Tell me, what makes you like me? I’ll change!
――
This lifetime, Pei Yuanshao was rejected by the same woman twice!
The first time, she drove him away. Forced by the situation, he endured the waves of anger in his heart, yielding and humbling himself.
That person lay slanted on a rocking chair, her sallow face emotionless: “If you don’t want a divorce, go cook!”
Pei Yuanshao’s face was dark and gloomy: “You!”
The second time, after the crisis in Jinling City was resolved, the new emperor sent someone to pick him up. He turned around, stammering: “I… I have to go. If you keep me…”
That person lay on the kang bed, her back to him, as if she had long anticipated this day, crisp and clear: “Goodbye!”
Pei Yuanshao was so angry his fingers trembled: “You… you!”
The mission of family and country made him restrain himself, averting his eyes and turning to leave this broken household.
Two years later, they met again. Seeing her ethereal face, his body shook like a sieve.
“She was originally a ‘she’!”
At the Qionglin Banquet, the top scholar of the imperial examination, a talented person with exceptional speech and conduct, all the unmarried young gentlemen from aristocratic families looked at her with shy and timid eyes.
The peerless imperial official Pei Yuanshao felt the anger in his heart erupt. He pointed at the woman surrounded by the crowd at the Qionglin Banquet, his thin lips slightly curled: “Little sister, I wants that person to be the wife-master of my Mingde Prince Manor.”
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