Christine and Adel, descending the stairs, paid their respects to the emperor and empress seated in golden chairs.
Throughout the event, the empress had not hidden her displeasure. However, the emperor spoke cordially with a moderate smile and gestured to the chief servant behind him.
“Bring it.”
People nervously observed the situation, imagining the chief servant handing the emperor a knife and then beheading Adel with it. Some of those who envied Adel wore expressions as if they truly wished for it to happen.
However, what the chief servant brought was a document stamped with the emperor’s seal.
Yan rose from his seat and spoke as if for all to hear.
“Adel Grills. By the emperor’s authority, after this time, you will be expelled from the house of Duke Oswald. Do you object?”
At that moment, Adel’s face brightened.
Even while preparing for her engagement to Christine, she had been the Duchess of Oswald. A title that had followed her like ghastly shackles.
But now she could escape the ghostlike name of Oswald.
Adel.
She had reclaimed her name.
“No, Your Majesty.”
Adel responded to the emperor with tearful eyes.
“And this is my gift, Miss Adel.”
Yan extended a small, ornate gift box along with the document. Inside the box was a single key.
“It’s the key to the palace in the south.”
Christine’s expression hardened at that moment. It meant that Adel would be kept as a hostage within the palace.
“I have already prepared a residence for my fiancée, Your Majesty.”
Yan smiled with a face full of grace.
“Don’t. The captain of the guard must live practically in the palace from now on. Could we part young lovers in their prime? Please, do not refuse my heart.”
Many nobles looked on, eyes sparkling, gauging Christine’s and the emperor’s reactions.
To anyone’s eyes, Yan had already conceded much and was being considerate. If he was refused the gift here, the emperor would have to draw his sword to keep his authority.
Moreover, since he had freed Adel from the Oswald family, Christine could hardly refuse.
Yan must have known this, as he confidently extended the key.
“Come, take it at once.”
Yan offered the box with the key to Adel, urging her.
“Thank you for your deep consideration, Your Majesty.”
As Adel graciously accepted, Yan smiled contentedly and raised his glass.
“To Vice Count Bais and his beautiful fiancée!”
Those who had anxiously watched for Adel’s beheading were somewhat deflated, but all hid their true feelings as they followed the emperor in raising their glasses.
“To them!”
As Christine and the emperor brought the glasses to their lips, their eyes met.
“You’ve checked the blank document well. I will keep my promise and allow you to be engaged to the woman you want.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty.”
“If you betray me, she will pay a terrible price.”
“A wolf does not serve two masters. If Your Majesty does not harm her, I and the White Ghost Knights will pledge loyalty.”
They confirmed their exchanged words once again with a look.
(This is a time separator.)
“It’s really surprising. I naturally thought it would be April’s engagement.”
The person approaching the emperor and empress was a blackhaired elegant woman.
“Have you arrived? Lady Isabel.”
Yan greeted her courteously.
She was Isabel Valencia.
The previous empress, Yan’s sisterinlaw. Had it not been for a war emergency, the emperor would now be her son. Besides, her father was Duke Rodwell, the leader of the senior nobility.
Currently, one of the most threatening individuals to Yan.
Her appearance made people’s faces curious once more. Her reason for being here was obvious, as she rarely attended even the New Year’s parties.
“Could it be that our April has lost to the wicked woman of Calais?”
Isabel’s voice was filled with laughter, as if she was delighted.
The empress reacted with a change of color.
“That cannot be. Our April is too young to meet men.”
“Well. There were rumors that she’s a wellbehaved cat. Quite a dishonorable rumor for a virgin girl, is it not?”
April, who was with the Emperor and Empress, looked as though she might cry at any moment.
Adel then cautiously stepped forward to greet them.
“Gossip is originally a way to bring down those who are envied. And in the end, gossip cannot beat the truth.”
Isabel’s eyes sharpened as if she was offended by Adel’s audacity.
“You seem to feel guilty for stealing April’s man, don’t you? What a pretense.”
April then stepped forward maturely.
“It seems Your Highness misunderstands. The Count is like a brother to me. Adel is my friend. I can’t believe you would trust the strange rumors spread by people who like to make things up.”
Adel also took April’s side again.
“It’s the social world, where strange rumors come out even if it makes you feel sick.”
“That’s right. If you cough, there will be rumors that you are dying of a serious illness. Then, we will take our leave.”
After politely saying goodbye to Isabel, April turned around with Adel.
The people watching were bewildered.
Male lead reborn without memories — but he still falls for her.
The person he finds displeasing in this life turns out to be his cherished wife-master in previous life…
Xie Zhi and Fang Xianxing who had known each other for less than three days through a blind date sat in the same car in front of the civil affairs bureau. They had a disagreement and failed to get married.
Xie Zhi immediately took out his phone, slid through his contacts, and randomly selected the next marriage candidate.
The woman snatched his phone and hung up. Looking at his phone wallpaper, she awkwardly changed the subject: “An ancient painting, eh? It looks pretty good, it’s just that the person in the painting looks a bit like me.”
When he heard this, he sarcastically mocked her for being so delusional, completely unaware that, the person in front of him was the reincarnation of Wen Ru, the famous prime minister of Yuan Shun whom he most admired…
The female CEO who doesn’t want to get married with a divorce agreement in hand × The male archaeological researcher who will only get married if he’s sure he can get divorced
