Ariana is engulfed in emotions that are difficult to name when Lancer suddenly draws his sword. His cautious ashen eyes gleamed sharply.
“There is someone.”
At the straightforward warning, Ariana tensed. Straightening her back and looking around, a black figure appeared behind Lancer.
Swish [Dash]
The swiftly drawn sword cut through the air. Ariana had no idea what was happening.
All Ariana could see was Lancer’s sword aimed at Cyrus’s neck, who stood leisurely behind him. Despite the sharp gleam of the sword, Cyrus remained calm enough to smirk.
“Did I surprise you?”
“Your Highness, if you hide in this mansion, you will be attacked.”
“Indeed, I didn’t expect you to notice my hiding so quickly. Fortunately, you are strong. You don’t need to worry about the princess’s safety.”
“Your Highness’s safety is not your concern.”
As a knight, Lancer should have known how strong Cyrus was, yet there was no sign of him stepping back.
“It seems His Highness the Crown Prince values the princess greatly. Attaching such a strong knight as her escort. Are you the captain?”
“Vice-captain.”
Ariana was surprised. She didn’t know that Lancer held the position of vice-captain. Typically, guarding the Imperial Countess was assigned to knights without rank.
“Vice-captain as a guardian knight. Any dissatisfaction?”
“Being honored to serve the princess is beyond my expectations. Since I am now guarding the person most precious to the lord, it is a matter of pride for me to obtain the position everyone desires.”
Ariana stared blankly at Lancer, who spoke with sincerity.
Does he really think like that?
“Princess.”
At Cyrus’s call, Ariana snapped out of her thoughts.
“Please instruct the princess’s guard to sheathe his sword.”
“Ah.”
After confirming that it was Cyrus, Lancer didn’t sheathe his sword. Wondering why, Ariana asked him to step back for a moment. It seemed that the order had to come from the owner. As a wandering knight or a mercenary, they were all found and assigned as escorts as they pleased. Ariana didn’t know such rules.
“Lancer, you can sheathe your sword.”
When Ariana’s command was given, Lancer lowered his sword. When Ariana asked him to step back for a moment, Lancer, after briefly glancing at Cyrus with vigilant eyes, said, “I will be where the sword reaches,” and left.
After Lancer left, the two walked side by side in the garden.
The garden, where flowers bloomed generously due to the warm weather, was not large but beautiful and cozy. The sky with passing fluffy white clouds was dazzling, and the occasional breeze was refreshing, making it a perfect day for a stroll.
For the first time, or perhaps after a long time, Ariana felt a sense of liberation.
Whether it was because they successfully concluded the custody trial and hurriedly left for Seoryeong, or because Cyrus was by her side, Ariana couldn’t tell.
“Your expression has improved.”
“Shall I make a sketch?”
“No, it’s good to rejoice freely when you’ve won a victory.”
“Victory…”
Yes, this sense of liberation might be the joy of victory.
Although it’s not the end, it provided a bitter sense of defeat to Seojehu and Rachel. If this defeat reached the Bronthe Mansion, Helena and Victoria would have been furious.
“Just the fact that I became a princess would make Helena and Victoria jealous to the point where they wouldn’t know what to do. They will try their best to keep the lady in the court.”
Ariana, drifting away from her thoughts, asked Cyrus.
“Why didn’t Louis come with you?”
“The princess seems to have wanted to see Louis more than me.”
“The beauty of the Crown Prince is excessively dazzling for me.”
“You know how to speak sweetly.”
“I do it when necessary. And…”
Ariana glanced sideways. Cyrus, with a slightly chilling smile on his lips, was gazing straight ahead.
His profile was truly like a beautiful sculpture. His flawless contours without a single flaw seemed like the most well-crafted artwork in the world.
Staring at the sharp nose falling sharply from the even forehead and the perfect jawline, Ariana spoke honestly.
“Thank you very much, Crown Prince.”
“For what?”
“This time, it was really dark ahead. If the Crown Prince hadn’t appeared at the right time, I would have been engulfed in darkness.”
“Impossible.”
Cyrus turned to look at Ariana.
“Even if the Crown Prince hadn’t appeared, the princess would have found her way out of the darkness. Only, her body would have been severely damaged.”
A faint wrinkle appeared between Cyrus’s eyebrows. He stopped walking and approached Ariana.
“That’s not good, such methods. Someday, it will inevitably lead the princess to death.”
“A warrior does not fear death and wields a sword for victory. Didn’t you call me a warrior?”
“But stabbing your own ship without hesitation, just because there’s only one way? A warrior’s sword faces the enemy, not himself.”
“But when there’s only one way, isn’t wielding your sword without hesitation to obtain what you want a true warrior’s act?”
“You don’t need to follow such a method, princess!”
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.”
