His sarcastic voice touched Adel’s painful wound.
“My marriage. What right do you have to…”
Christine leaned forward and brushed the hair that had fallen over Adel’s forehead.
“Didn’t you say you were like my own sister? So I think I have enough right to talk about this marriage?”
Adel quickly brushed his hand away.
“You want to criticize!”
His touched skin burned hot.
“If so, then you understood properly.”
Adel became emotional.
Who is this because of…?
She had just managed to escape people’s attention and live quietly, but since he appeared, her life had become complicated again.
Just being associated with him made all the nobles of Greenhill pay attention to Adel.
If they found even a small thing to criticize, they would excitedly make a fuss.
Pointing fingers and murmuring…
Although she pretended not to care, she was now sick of it.
Perhaps she no longer wanted to be entangled with him for her sake.
“I’ll invite you next time. If you’re done with your business, go back.”
“No, I want to eat apple pie today?”
“I told you I’d invite you next time!”
“Do I have to be invited? Coming to my sister’s house?”
“Chris!”
He added in a leisurely expression, leaning back on the sofa.
“I’m thinking of staying over. Since it’s my sister’s house.”
“Christine Vice Count!”
When Adel yelled nervously, Christine finally chuckled.
“Is it natural to be angry? I sent the maid away and thought I’d have some fun tonight.”
Adel was angry at the ridiculous misunderstanding.
When she was too angry, she seemed unable to get angry.
“…You’re the same.”
As she mumbled with a tearful expression, Christine looked at her, stopping.
“You see me as that kind of woman like other people. To poison my husband, to be blinded by lust with any man…”
Only then did Christine realize that he had hurt her.
From the moment he entered this house, from the moment he saw her alone with another man, his anger had overwhelmed his reason.
“I apologize if it was a misunderstanding. But what’s with that makeup? Even flowers in your hair… You can’t help but misunderstand when you’re like a madwoman.”
Only then did Adel recall that she was making a fool of herself like a rateaten madwoman. But she did not explain that she didn’t make a fool of herself willingly.
“…Yes. I wanted to look good to that man. I don’t know about having fun though.”
Christine’s breath was audible.
“Do you really think of remarrying him?”
“There’s no problem. I’m tired of being alone now.”
This was true.
Adel, who had endured horrible rumors for the past 8 years, had wished someone was there for her… Maybe even Christine at times.
The child from her happy childhood.
“You should know better that marriage can’t be salvation.”
His persistent gaze felt as if it was binding Adel.
He seemed to be asking. About her first marriage.
No matter how much she longed for a noble life, why did she have to marry an old count at eighteen?
And why is she living so miserably now?
What had happened in the meantime…?
But Adel unknowingly avoided his gaze and mumbled.
“If there’s someone to lean on, I’m satisfied. I don’t want anything more.”
“You’re getting married for just that reason?”
“What’s so special about marriage?”
Adel smiled with a resigned face.
It was true.
She had never thought of marrying Mark, but if she did, it wouldn’t be bad.
Certainly, here is the translated passage:
He would undoubtedly become a steadfast and faithful husband.
“Rather, lean on me.”
“Huh?”
When Adel looked surprised, Christine frowned.
“If you need someone to lean on for a marriage you have to do, it’s okay to lean on me at least.”
“It can’t be…”
“Why, do you still see me as a sibling?”
There’s no way.
He looks too much like a man.
“You are going to marry the princess.”
“What does that have to do with it? Is it strange for siblings to rely on each other?”
“That statement really strengthens me. But since I want to be that person’s strength as much as I rely on them, isn’t that why we get married?”
You probably don’t need to lean on me.
“Is that him?”
Just thinking about it is comforting, and he’s precious enough to make you want to suffer on his behalf.
‘There was no one else but you, Chris.’
But Adel swallowed those words deep in her heart and nodded.
“Perhaps.”
A tendon rose in Christine’s temple, but he soon got up from his seat with a cold smile.
“I’m sorry. I suddenly came and interrupted your good time.”
“It’s fine. Thanks for the invitation.”
Adel nonchalantly showed the invitation.
[Star Icon][Star Icon][Star Icon]Thump!
Christine closed the door and left.
Adel twisted the curtain of the window and watched his receding figure.
She couldn’t even blink for fear of missing him for a moment.
The carriage that carried him soon disappeared into the dark as twilight waned.
Only then did her legs give out, and she slumped onto the sofa.
‘It’s okay, I’m really okay…’
As always, she could shake it off like nothing happened with a good night’s sleep. As she’d always done, she would wake up in the morning, bake bread, chat with Mia, and forget about Christine.
She had lived well without him so far.
‘I’ve endured even more horrible and difficult things.’
Soothing herself, Adel added more logs to the dying fireplace and lit the lamp.
The house, which had been cold and dark like her heart, quickly became bright and warm. That alone seemed to lift her spirits a bit.
“Don’t lose yourself, get yourself together, Adel. This is the time to work. When will you make the desserts for the royal family’s delivery?”
She had to make desserts for the royal family’s delivery by the weekend. It was the first delivery, and she would have tea time with the princess that day. It was nervewracking just to think about it.
She got up, tied her apron, and briskly rolled up her sleeves.
“Tanya, can you bring some flour from the basement…?”
Then she remembered that Tanya was not there.
Adel hesitated for a moment.
She would have to go get it herself?
There was no other way, as there was no flour left out.
Creak.
She cautiously opened the old door beside the stairs. A sharp sound from the rusted hinge sent shivers down her spine. A chill came up along with the basement’s musty smell from behind the open door.
Adel shuddered without realizing it.
“I really never wanted to go into the basement again.”
Whew, she took a deep breath and shined the lantern inside the door. A few descending stairs appeared in the flickering light.
Although there were only a few steps, Adel carefully put her foot down, one hand on the wall, the other holding the lantern. Her legs trembled as she stepped on the stairs.
Tingting, tingting…!
Suddenly, a loud bell sound rang out.
Sometimes wild beasts from the mountains or intruders trying to harass her would be scared away by the bells hung around the fence.
Most unwelcome visitors would get scared and run away when they heard this noisy bell. The bells alone had a great effect in driving away unwanted guests.
But now the bell sound continued.
Tingting, tingting…!
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.”
