Like the meaning of the forget-me-nots, if their relationship blossomed into ‘true love,’ it would be wonderful, but that was ultimately up to them. Viare simply supported them from afar.
Not long after the new year, Gaizen’s birthday celebration also concluded successfully, marking his coming of age at eighteen.
Viare read a thank-you letter from Rosalyn for the gift and then took out the prepared gift box for her brother, placing it gently on the tea table.
‘I hope Gaizen likes it too.’
Despite the birthday celebration ending a few days ago, Viare hadn’t yet presented the handkerchief to him.
Diane, sensing Viare’s concern during their tea time, reassured her.
“Lady, I’m sure the young duke will love it.”
“I hope so.”
To Viare, becoming an adult had a special significance, and she wanted to give a heartfelt gift.
Wondering what her mother would have prepared, she decided to make it herself.
Fortunately, inheriting her mother’s craftiness, Viare quickly learned embroidery.
“Diane assures me you’ll appreciate any gift,” said Diane, comforting her lady.
“Thank you. I’ll make one for you next time.”
After a brief tea time, Viare resolved to give Gaizen his gift at dinner.
As evening arrived, she carried the gift to the dining room.
Tonight, with the duke away on trade business, they had the rare opportunity for a meal just between them.
As dinner was winding down, Viare placed the prepared gift box on the table.
“Gaizen, congratulations on coming of age.”
Expecting a regular dinner, Gaizen looked surprised and asked, “What’s this, sister?”
“Open it and see.”
At her prompt, Gaizen quickly unwrapped the box, revealing the embroidered handkerchief. His eyes reddened with emotion.
“Sister…”
“My embroidery skills are lacking… If it’s awkward to use, just keep it stored away.”
“Embarrassed? I’ll carry it with me every day, thank you.”
Viare, facing Gaizen who seemed moved by such a trivial gift, was reminded of Rosalyn’s similar reaction.
Perhaps they shared some common traits, she mused with a smile.
“No, it’s unique, so keeping it stored isn’t a bad idea.”
‘Unique?’
Worried he might misunderstand, Viare looked at her brother and clarified.
“Gaizen, I don’t think I said it was the only one.”
“What do you mean, sister?”
“I gifted the same to Lady Dantelro.”
His face suddenly darkened as if struck by lightning.
“What? The same?”
“Yes, the embroidered handkerchief.”
“Why would you… care for the lady?”
“She’s your fiancée, isn’t she?”
“……”
“You do know that father and I sent her a birthday gift in your name?”
Gaizen, neglectful of his fiancée’s gift, had left it to the duke and Viare, who had taken the initiative to prepare and send it.
“That was…”
“I understand she gifted you a brooch at your birthday party?”
“That was the family’s doing…”
“Even if it was, not everyone follows through.”
“……I get it. I’ll prepare it myself next time.”
Gaizen’s guilty response was met by Viare raising her glass.
“But we should still toast, right?”
“Thanks for celebrating, sister.”
They raised their wine-filled glasses, clinking them together.
After a few drinks, Viare glanced slyly at Gaizen, who, true to their father’s trait, seemed already out of his wits due to his low alcohol tolerance.
Viare harbored a small hope he might inadvertently reveal something desired.
“Gaizen, about the key offered to the ‘Absent God.'”
“Ah― the one father gave?”
Surprised by his easy response, she nodded calmly, “Yes, the key for the safe in father’s trade office, right?”
“How did you know that?”
Pouring more wine into his empty glass, she casually said, “Just saw it by chance.”
Sipping his wine, he grimly warned, “That key is dangerous, sister. It’s enchanted, anyone but the intended can be tracked…”
Thud― Gaizen, unable to finish his words, slumped over the table, overcome by the wine.
Viare looked at her brother with sympathy and took a sip from her glass.
Since that day, it seemed Gaizen hadn’t touched alcohol again.
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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