It was an election with many twists.
Indeed, the revival of the Magistrate system itself was a significant change.
The senior members of the Duke faction had emphasized the need for the Magistrate to counter the growing influence of the Emperor’s faction.
However, they didn’t have high expectations. The factions loyal to the Emperor were expanding, and people tended to have a negative perception of reviving old systems.
But with a reckless attitude, the proposal René submitted to the council was approved.
It barely surpassed the majority. Moreover, the Emperor himself supported the proposal.
The senior members of the Duke faction guessed that it was probably to prove his leniency towards the opposing faction.
However, once they found out who the candidate he presented was, such thoughts vanished.
The Emperor planned to place his person in a position to restrain him, and it was none other than Duke Lemer, the leader of the council. It was clear that he intended to control both the council and the Magistrate.
‘A cunning person.’
The senior members of the Duke faction changed their strategy while cursing inwardly. Duke Bert, the originally considered candidate for the Magistrate, was no longer suitable.
They needed someone with more strength, recognition, and virtue as a candidate. There was only one person who fit that description in their minds.
They went to Duke Montaner.
The Duke repeatedly refused, but faced with the persistent persuasion of the senior members who had carefully laid the groundwork for the position they created, he reluctantly accepted.
At least in their eyes, it seemed like he accepted reluctantly.
The Magistrate election was conducted through a secret ballot.
Even so, it wasn’t easy to tell who voted for whom.
22 votes were certain; they were the heads of the Duke faction. And 12 votes were influential. It was because they had worked behind the scenes to sway the indecisive neutral faction.
They didn’t hope for an overwhelming vote difference. Whatever happened, they just needed the election to take place.
In the vote where only a majority of 64 was required, the Duke received the support of 35.
The fact that all 12 members of the neutral faction voted for him could be seen from the relieved smiles on their faces after the Duke’s election. However, who was the remaining one?
Who pretended to support the Emperor’s faction outwardly but secretly supported the Duke?
Doubts crept into the eyes of the Duke faction, but joy came first.
“Congratulations, Your Grace.”
“Your Grace, you are finally returning to your official duties.”
Amidst congratulatory messages directed at the Duke, the Emperor, who had maintained silence throughout, stood up from his seat.
Ishar followed suit, and finally, all his people stood up, ready to follow the Emperor one by one.
The Duke, delaying his response, approached Hersis and bowed his head.
“I apologize for occupying such an honorable position once again. It is truly regrettable from my perspective.”
With an apologetic expression, the Duke spoke.
“Perhaps it’s because everyone hopes I’ll leverage my experience from the Regency era to establish a solid foundation for the Magistrate in its early days. I also have the intention of performing only that role and passing the position to a successor when the time comes, Your Majesty, so you can rest assured.”
Hercesis subtly confirmed the rumors that he was dissatisfied with the Duke.
Everyone paid attention to Hercesis’s reaction.
“Do you think you should step down so soon?”
However, without any sign of discomfort, Hercesis held the Duke’s hand with a gentle smile.
“You should stay for a long, long time. With me.”
Those who had expected a subtle tension between the two were slightly disappointed. The conclusion was too heartwarming.
However, the Duke felt a pricking sensation between Hercesis’s two hands, as if being pricked with a needle. The resentment he felt from him was quite strong.
“Come to think of it, when my uncle was appointed during the Regency, the situation was similar to now.”
Hercesis released the Duke’s hand, as if to say that he had held it long enough, and spoke.
“Yes, it was quite a close call when my uncle was appointed back then. I seem to have a destiny to be picked for anything with a close call.”
The Duke chuckled as he spoke. In any case, it seemed like he was subtly implying that he would eventually get what he wanted.
Hercesis smiled slyly and said, “I remember what my uncle told me back then.”
“What did I… say?”
The Duke tilted his head. He genuinely couldn’t remember.
“He told me to trust only you. That you would protect me, didn’t he?”
“Ah… yes. That’s right.”
The Duke, finally remembering, spoke with a regretful expression.
“Back then, I was young and boasted a lot. I learned not to make promises I couldn’t keep. In the end, I lost you for a long time, Your Majesty.”
“That was my own choice,” he replied.
“…”
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.”
