Hersis’s action of tapping his palm with parchment abruptly stopped.
Ishar’s gaze, which had been focused on the parchment all along, finally turned towards Hersis upon hearing his name.
“Ishar.”
Hersis’s eyes glared with anger.
“Why did you decide that on your own?”
“Huh? Well…”
Ishar had a reasonable explanation.
That day, in the evening after returning from Mariard Square, Hersis’s letter to him stated that he had the authority to make decisions arbitrarily regarding the urgent matter of leaving the capital immediately and heading to the temple. He had only exercised that authority! However… now he couldn’t say that.
It might become a spark throwing a hand grenade into Hersis’s anger.
“Damn.”
Hersis spat out a curse. Now, Ishar was relieved.
He knew that Hersis’s swearing meant acknowledging that he had no choice but to accept this situation, even though he strongly disliked it.
“Provide a residence.”
Hersis said in a commanding tone.
“In the farthest corner of the palace.”
Ishar sighed and nodded. Since Jayden had also requested accommodation, and Hersis didn’t specify, it wasn’t breaking the promise.
It seemed to be settled. There seemed to be nothing more to discuss.
Ishar now thought of returning and taking a break.
“Well, then, I’ll be going…”
“This time, you seem no different from ordinary men.”
Hersis’s words, just as Ishar was about to get up, were unexpected.
Ishar widened his eyes and asked, “What do you mean?”
“It means you know how to harbor feelings for a woman. I thought maybe your taste was different because you seemed so wooden.”
That remark pricked Ishar’s conscience again. He wondered if Hersis still held onto that matter in his heart.
“No matter how many times you scold me, I have nothing to say. If you wish, you can demote my status. As long as I can apologize…”
“Marry.”
“…?”
“I mean, become the queen.”
For a moment, Ishar couldn’t understand what he had heard.
“What… become?”
“Why are you so surprised? It’s natural for a king to take a queen.”
Hersis extended the parchment he had been holding and playing with to him.
Ishar took it in confusion and unfolded it.
“In the year 726 of the Continental Era, on the 12th day of Parnos, the Duchy of Valdemion is elevated to an independent kingdom. Lucensia pledges to Antea, the goddess, that it will not interfere in the internal affairs of the Kingdom of Valdemion henceforth.”
Ishar lifted his head from the document. Then Hersis grinned and said, “It won’t tear easily because it’s parchment.”
“Your Majesty, I don’t deserve to accept this…”
“It’s more than enough, Duke of Valdemion. You prevented the rebellion of the Duke, you are the first hero.”
Hersis did not give Ishar a chance to object.
At that moment, the office door opened, and Clowin entered with a lawmaker.
Hersis instructed the lawmaker to wait for a moment and called Clowin closer.
“As soon as it gets bright, head to the inner palace. Prepare for the coronation ceremony.”
“When you say coronation ceremony…”
“The coronation ceremony of the King of Valdemion.”
Clowin’s black eyes briefly rolled towards Ishar and then turned back towards the Emperor.
Suppressing curiosity, he asked, “When will that be?”
“As soon as possible…”
“Your Majesty!”
Ishar, who had just regained his composure, urgently interrupted.
“Announcing the kingdom’s independence abruptly in this chaotic situation will likely face resistance from the vassals. Even if you decide to do so, it would be more prudent to take some time and proceed gradually.”
“If we keep waiting, it will never happen.”
Hersis firmly stated, “If you don’t plan to do it, now is the right time. Paradoxically, dealing with sensitive matters during chaos makes it easier to smoothly overcome them.”
Hersis’s words were not without logic. While Ishar was contemplating for a moment, Hersis turned to Clowin again and commanded.
“In four days. Deliver the message to the inner palace.”
“F-Four days? Is that really necessary?”
Ishar said with a bewildered expression.
“Is it too slow for you?”
Hersis tilted his head.
“How about we do it in three days?”
A further objection would have sounded like an immediate coronation tomorrow. Ishar remained silent.
Hersis signaled to the lawmaker with a satisfied expression. Upon receiving the signal, the lawmaker approached and began treating Hersis’s wounds with various tools he took out.
Throughout the process, the lawmaker’s eyes glanced briefly at Ishar.
It was to capture the face of the resurrected king, the newly appointed monarch of the ancient kingdom, for a long-lasting memory.
Moonlight scattered a faint light into the room through the iron grating.
The gloomy gray bricks shimmered with a faint silver color in the darkness.
The Duke could now see them little by little. The sound of subordinates’ clothing brushing against the stone floor started to echo. Consciousness was returning.
It felt truly unwelcome. He would rather stay in the dreamlike hazy unconscious state. And…
“Damyang.”
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.”
