Etienne’s change of heart was truly impulsive. While Leharat felt sorry, Etienne distinctly saw Ludvi that day.
And when she tried to see him again, the accident happened. However, he quickly left the scene and soon reappeared as if nothing had happened. That was strange.
‘Once I’m sure he’s not the culprit, I can drop the suspicion towards Prince Ludvi.’
She thought it was the simplest solution. However, she needed to seek Leharat’s understanding first, as they had decided to be in a relationship.
“I want to meet Prince Ludvi and confirm. Whether he truly has no connection to the fountain incident.”
“That’s a good idea.”
Leharat nodded in agreement. Just after becoming someone’s lover, expressing the ambition to investigate the fountain incident before anything else was commendable.
“And your proactive attitude to personally get involved is good too. But are we really not forgetting that we’re dating?”
It was a reminder of the words he had said, asking for understanding first. Etienne responded with a bright smile.
“What’s with that smile?”
“I like that you also have secrets.”
“…I see.”
In the end, Leharat gave in. Since they had said everything they needed to, the two headed back to the carriage. During the ride, Leharat pondered over the conversation they just had.
“What’s important about being liked by you? So, if Ludvi is related to the fountain incident, we’ll find out, right?”
“Yes.”
“Afterward, we can reveal that we’re dating.”
“Yes.”
“I’ll also tell Fernand.”
“Ah…”
Etienne, who had been answering confidently, made a perplexed sound. When Etienne stopped walking, Leharat also stopped and turned towards her.
“If it’s difficult for you to say, I can do it.”
“It’s not… difficult.”
Etienne spoke in a weak voice. It seemed like an apologetic reaction towards Fernand.
“But keeping the fact that you liked Fernand in the past a secret for a lifetime?”
“Since I won’t reveal even the fact that I died and came back, of course, I’ll keep it a secret.”
“Did you never want to talk about it at least once?”
“Well, I haven’t thought about it. Well, if I happen to find out, I can’t help it, but I don’t have the intention to say it. And…”
Etienne smiled and calmly unraveled her past with Fernand. Although she once loved him, given the chance to live again, Etienne chose herself.
Leharat looked at the hand that held his.
“The present is what matters.”
Upon Etienne’s words, Leharat sighed while looking at their joined hands. It wasn’t that he disliked her holding his hand. On the contrary, he liked it.
“The slight unease from earlier is all gone now.”
Leharat confessed to Etienne first.
After Etienne boarded the carriage, she waited for Leharat. Keeping their relationship a secret, they could still go to the ball together, so she waited patiently. However, no one got on the carriage even after waiting.
“Why isn’t he coming?”
Etienne stood up from her seat to check outside, but she heard a knocking sound on the window. When she looked at the window, Leharat, who was standing outside, waved his hand.
“Why aren’t you getting on and knocking on the door here?”
“I forgot to mention something.”
“What is it?”
“You look beautiful today.”
Leharat lightly tapped the window frame. Then, as if indicating for her to come closer, he flicked his finger.
As Etienne leaned towards him, Leharat whispered softly in her ear.
“About Rudvi’s ability.”
Although she had asked earlier, it seemed like the topic was unintentionally left behind. Etienne didn’t press further since she thought Leharat wouldn’t answer.
Having heard Leharat’s whisper, Etienne nodded silently.
“Then, see you at the ball. Congratulations on becoming an adult.”
Leharat’s hand brushed Etienne’s face like a feather, and quickly retreated as he stepped back. As Leharat stepped back, the carriage moved as if it had been waiting. Etienne still had her hand on the window frame, watching him.
Entering the ballroom, Etienne found it difficult to move with the gazes pouring down on her. She wished she had held her parents’ hands if she had known it would be like this.
“It’s going to be an uncomfortable situation.”
Sighing at the attention from the people, she took a step forward nonetheless.
The Debutante Ball was an official social debut event announcing their adulthood. It was also an occasion where those who had turned eighteen requested attention and signified their eligibility for marriage.
Therefore, Rudvi had purposely arranged a private consultation after the Debutante Ball had concluded. If there were any young ladies or gentlemen whom he had been observing during the ball, it had become customary to schedule private consultations with them after the event.
However, the looks directed towards Etienne were a bit different. People were not merely gauging her as a potential match for their sons; instead, they were curious about the choice she would make, given that someone already had feelings for her.
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.”
