Belia finished her work and headed to Khalid’s office. Somehow, her steps seemed urgent.
The usually calm and gentle Belia, who always walked leisurely, rushed through the long corridor, surprising the servants working in the Second Prince’s palace, and they all looked at her.
“Oh, Princess!”
“Where is he?”
“He’s in the training grounds right now…”
Upon hearing that he wasn’t in his office, Belia didn’t bother to listen to the rest and quickly turned around, leaving the palace.
Was the training ground on the left?
Belia, who was hurrying towards the training ground, stopped abruptly when she spotted Khalid from a distance.
“Hah, hah.”
She was slightly out of breath from moving a bit faster.
Belia bent her body, resting her hands on her knees, took a few deep breaths, then calmly straightened up, running her hand through her disheveled hair. It was a bit embarrassing to show her excited appearance in front of him.
“Phew…”
Alright.
Belia approached Khalid with composure, as if she hadn’t run at all.
“Khalid.”
Khalid, swinging his sword, paused for a moment at the sound of her clear voice calling him. He turned his head, and Belia, with a bright smile, shook hands with him. The silver hair sparkled in the sunlight.
Seeing her, Khalid wiped the sweat from his forehead, grinned, and laughed. Perhaps due to intense training, his shirt was already soaked and clung to his skin, revealing his well-defined muscles.
‘Why is he wearing clothes like that…!’
Although there were only Khalid and a few knights in the training ground, Belia didn’t want anyone to see him in such a state.
Khalid handed the sword he was holding to a knight nearby and approached Belia.
“Did you come running? Even though your body is not in good condition yet.”
After looking at Belia’s face, Khalid spoke with a worried tone.
Belia tried to deny it at first.
“It’s just a bit warm.”
At this time of year, close to winter.
Realizing her words sounded unreasonable, Belia brushed it off with a fan in her hand, trying to hide her embarrassment. She thought it wouldn’t be noticeable, but she was caught immediately.
Belia quickly changed the subject.
“Khalid, I need your strength.”
“…Here?”
What does that mean?
Looking at the puzzled Belia, Khalid made a playful expression and calmly said.
“Uh, even in the palace, it’s a bit…”
“Yes?”
What…?
“Ah?”
…No way?
Surprised, Belia stretched out both hands and covered Khalid’s mouth.
“Say one more word!”
As soon as Belia’s face turned red again, Khalid burst into laughter.
“You really don’t know shame… Haha!”
Khalid, expressing dissatisfaction, looked at Belia for a moment, then unable to endure it, he embraced her as she was and then put her down.
Due to the recent training, his body emitted a strong scent of sweat. However, instead of feeling uncomfortable, it seemed to cause an inexplicable warmth.
“Haha. So, what’s the matter?”
“Ah…”
Responding to Khalid’s question, Belia, who suddenly regained her composure, whispered in his ear.
“The antidote development is complete. Do you remember what I told you before?”
Khalid nodded.
“Don’t worry. Everything is ready.”
Exiting the theater, Ellyn, dressed in a beautiful dress, casually bumped fists with Raul.
Recently, as Raul and Ellyn spent more time together, such light skinship became more familiar.
“How was today’s performance, Your Highness?”
“The actor’s performance was excellent.”
Moreover, today’s performance held at the main theater was something Raul had personally requested to see with Ellyn.
To Ellyn, all of this felt like a dream. Just Raul making an effort for her made her heart flutter.
Having exchanged a few words about the performance, Ellyn asked about a recent story she had heard.
“Come to think of it, I heard a story that Lady Kinetra stayed at the royal palace not long ago. It was quite a topic in social circles. Have you met Lady Kinetra, Your Highness?”
“Oh, yes.”
A smile appeared on Raul’s lips.
Ellyn’s expression briefly stiffened as she smiled brightly, recalling someone, but she quickly recovered and asked, “How was she? I heard she’s a very charming lady.”
“Charming… Well, I suppose one could think so.”
“You don’t think so?”
Ellyn’s curiosity was clearly written on her face.
There was a time when stories about Lady Kinetra circulated in social circles, especially after Princess Belia invited her to the royal palace. Ellyn had also tried to find out more about Lady Kinetra. However, it was intriguing how a noblewoman managing a mere flower farm had received an invitation from Princess Belia.
After contemplating for a moment, Raul chuckled lightly and muttered, “Certainly, she was charming, but… there is someone even more charming.”
Ellyn was now confident that the person Raul referred to was Princess Belia. No matter how much Raul tried to avoid it, rumors persisted that he still couldn’t forget Princess Belia.
So, without realizing it, my expression hardened.
Raul, noticing her discomfort, stopped walking and faced Ellyn.
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.”
