Franz, as usual, took a seat in the main building of the Duke’s mansion and read the newspaper. He usually dealt with things without much excitement, but these days, every time he read the newspaper, he felt a sense of satisfaction.
[“Death of Elizabeth Portrion and the Duke”] [“Who wielded the sword that killed Duke Portrion?”]Franz didn’t particularly like Count Turgurk, who acted as if becoming an aristocrat who expelled even the empress just because Patricia had the emperor’s child.
It was annoying enough that Elizabeth and Lady Carter, holding hands, produced ridiculous newsletters. Franz had ordered to clean up the discoveries one by one, but recently, the publication of newsletters had completely stopped.
“Bain, is the irritating newsletter finally over?”
Curious about why Lady Carter seemed to have quickly stopped her annoying behavior for some reason, Franz asked, and Bain replied with a happy expression for some reason.
“Yes. Lady Edit completely cut off the funds for producing the newsletter. I also learned about it from Cassius.”
How did Lady Carter cut off the funds used for publishing newsletters? Through Bain, Franz could hear what had happened behind the scenes.
“Helen Portrion asked Lady Edit to get a drawing of the marks left on the carriage at the time of the attack and then spread it in the newspaper.”
Cassius, who provided the funds for publishing the newsletter, spread the marks on the carriage to the reporters along with the fact that Elizabeth, after her visit, had been continuing her meetings with Gilbert Turgurk.
Now that Elizabeth, using the inheritance of Lady Carter, is using it to denounce Edit, who was also a Lady Carter, Edit’s exposure was receiving remarkable attention.
“Elizabeth must have cut off the funds to Lady Carter in surprise because of the attention from Count Turgurk, caused by her decision.”
If Edit had shouted that there were marks like this on the carriage as soon as she arrived, there would have been no ripple effect like this.
Franz was also very pleased to have the ability to calculate the optimal timing.
“Lea has always had a keen eye for people.”
Although he was slightly skeptical when she chose Valtor, who was not even a noticeable figure, as her biological father, Franz fundamentally believed in his daughter’s insight.
So today, he planned to give special support to a child whom his daughter liked.
Knock, knock—
“Master, Lady Edit has arrived.”
“Please, let her in.”
Entering the main library guided by Bain, Edit couldn’t help but doubt her eyes.
‘The atmosphere wasn’t like this when I came last time.’
Recently, when the Duke used magic on me, the atmosphere in the study was very dark. The room, with its impressively aged wooden furniture and deep-colored tapestries, was elegant and luxurious, yet somewhat eerie.
However, now the study was adorned with beautiful patterns on white marble and vibrant paintings. It seemed that not only were the heavy curtains lifted, but the interior furnishings were also completely changed to match the bright lighting.
“Ahem, when the child is born, a cheerful atmosphere would be fitting.”
“It’s bright and beautiful. The rug on the floor is soft and comfortable.”
“I’ve brought in new chairs; I hope you like them.”
Looking at the comfortable chair near the fireplace, which seemed to cost at least dozens of gold, Edit’s eyes lit up. Franz, as if it was nothing special, glanced at Bain and then looked at Edit.
“Due to private inconveniences caused by things like newsletters, I thought of introducing you to Lexion’s information department.”
“Me, in the information department?”
Surprised, when she hesitated, Franz added a few more words as if persuading her.
“Since you’ve secured the bloodline of Lexion and conceived the heir to the family, you have enough qualification to command my people.”
Before Edit could refuse with a distance, Franz left the study with a light remark.
Then, Bain brought in a few individuals whose eyes and posture seemed far from ordinary and introduced them to Edit.
“If you have any confidential tasks, please feel free to let us know.”
“Uh… thank you.”
For some reason, Edit awkwardly smiled, feeling as if she should ask for a favor like killing someone.
However, she had no intention of just letting go of the opportunity the Duke provided. Despite the slightly intimidating impressions, if it was Lexion’s information department, their abilities would likely be outstanding.
“In fact, I’ve been wanting to know a bit about Count Turgurk.”
“A good idea. There’s nothing more important than knowing your enemies.”
One of the information agents brought a luxurious document holder and laid it out in front of Edit.
Inside, everything the Lexion information agents had gathered about Turgurk was neatly organized.
‘There are illustrations too. Was it drawn by an artist?’
As Edit carefully read through the documents, she found something puzzling.
‘Is this girl, Elize Turgurk, the one Isezell mentioned?’
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.”
