“What are you thinking about so deeply?”
Suddenly, Fernando was by his side. Etienne stared blankly at him for a moment.
‘Fernando called me.’
“Just… about flowers?”
It wasn’t entirely false, as he was thinking about the past triggered by the flowers. But it wasn’t just about the flowers.
Etienne picked up a finished rose, trying to appear nonchalant, and casually placed it into the basket. Fernando then ceased to initiate further conversation.
‘It’s not easy to talk and smile with Fernando today.’
It was challenging to interact with him casually as memories from his previous life kept resurfacing, despite having been friends with this changed version of Fernando.
“You were late because of some work, right?”
Lehart, sensing Etienne’s discomfort, initiated a conversation. Fernando’s gaze shifted from Etienne to Lehart.
“We discovered a Mitril tree.”
Fernando spoke calmly, as Duke Supraher had not kept it a secret. However, the topic was significant enough to elicit surprise from everyone.
“So that’s why you were late.”
“A sword made of Mitril is incomparably stronger than ordinary ones…”
“I saw one of those swords once. A wooden sword shining in silver, quite remarkable.”
The men sitting around Fernando chimed in, their faces showing curiosity, familiar with swords from daily practice.
When the conversation seemed sufficiently focused on Mitril, Lehart subtly steered it.
“But there’s something else that comes to mind with Mitril, isn’t there? I wonder if it’s true?”
“What are you referring to? Oh…”
As someone trailed off, all eyes turned to him.
“The story goes that near Mitril, there’s a space that seems artificially excavated, right?”
He looked at Lehart for confirmation, who nodded with a smile.
“Right. That’s what I wanted to talk about. I’m curious if it’s really there.”
As Lehart spoke, Etienne gripped the rose in his hand tighter.
‘Now it begins.’
Depending on what is said next, they could discern if someone is the person Lehart is looking for.
“That… might just be a rumor, right?”
The heir of Count Pigment spoke first. Although he seemed hesitant and observant of others, he was quick to express his thoughts, seemingly eager to withdraw from the discussion.
“Indeed, how could such a thing exist? It’s probably just what those desiring Mitril say, as an excuse to approach it. After all, cutting the trunk can make a fine sword.”
Someone spoke loudly, obviously wanting to catch the prince’s attention.
“But if there’s really nothing, why would such a rumor exist?”
Another person offered a contrasting opinion.
“To be sure, we need to see it ourselves. In that sense, I think forming an investigation team from our duchy seems reasonable.”
Yet another suggested verifying it.
“I think it exists.”
Hana cautiously voiced her opinion.
Lehart’s gaze turned to Hana, who smiled awkwardly under his attention but didn’t lower her head.
‘Hana will be included.’
The rumor of a hidden space near Mitril was just that—a rumor. It originated centuries ago, and although documented, no one had confirmed it.
‘Not a cave, but a cavern-like space.’
Long ago, someone approaching Mitril reportedly discovered a concealed space nearby.
It was said to be virtually indistinguishable from a cave, but its too-neat formation led to speculation that it might have been man-made.
However, not every Mitril tree had such a cave nearby. Therefore, people regarded the story as unreliable.
Yet, this time, near the Mitril tree discovered in the duke’s territory, there indeed seemed to be a cave-like space, seemingly excavated by someone.
Most people didn’t pay much attention to it, as entering the space didn’t guarantee finding anything, but Lehart used this to his advantage.
After everyone had given their input, only Fernando and Etienne were left. Lehart then asked Etienne.
“Etienne, what do you think?”
“I think… it would be good to check it out.”
Etienne gave a safe answer and avoided Lehart’s penetrating gaze.
‘After all, I know the answer. If I say there’s nothing, I’d only arouse the prince’s suspicion, so I chose a moderate response.’
“Really? Then…”
“Hmm?”
Etienne looked at Lehart with a puzzled expression.
‘Why isn’t he asking Fernando?’
Sensing her question, Lehart answered with a smile.
“I don’t think it’s likely.”
Lehart gave an answer only Etienne could understand, not clarifying further for the others.
“I should probably move on to the other side. Enjoy your time, everyone.”
Lehart got up with a smile, and Alex, who had been filling his seat, stood up too.
Before leaving, Lehart turned back as if he had forgotten something.
“May I have this?”
Lehart pointed precisely at a flower arrangement done by one person. Everyone looked where Lehart pointed, and Etienne saw her own arrangement.
“This one?”
“It’s a flower arranging gathering, after all. Can’t leave empty-handed.”
‘Why mine, when there are others’ arrangements too…’
Etienne glanced reluctantly at the others’ arrangements.
But then…
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.”
