In another location within the City Lord Manor, moonlight poured across a garden like flowing silver silk, illuminating every curved stone path. Petals drifted across the garden from the flowering trees and even fell on a quiet post resting at the center. Its waters were still enough to mirror the stars above.
Gentle mist hovered above its surface while luminous and rich wisps in the form of koi fish swam around.
At this mont, a black-hooded person approached the pond in silence from the shadows.
The hood covered the body, and the veil hid the face, but not even darkness could conceal the mature bosoms this person possessed.
It was a woman. Her long black hair flowed down her back like a river of ink, occasionally stirred by the cool night breeze. Her eyes carried exhaustion and lancholy that seed far too heavy for soone who held the title of City Lord Kain's first wife.
Her fingers clenched slightly around the piece of paper she had received earlier.
It was from her lover.
"Belmont…"
She softly whispered, wondering if so trouble had arisen from the earlier eting with the fourth wife today. She knew she shouldn't have co out here since it wasn't good to be seen out in the open with the Steward, but this could be an ergency, so she felt like she didn't have a choice.
"…" Suddenly, she felt alert.
Soft footsteps echoed through the garden.
She turned lightly, her expression tightening before she relaxed in surprise.
Saint Riyal ndez walked down the stone path with a smile on his face, dressed in flowing blue-white robes that shimred beneath the moonlight. His long hair was tied loosely behind him, while a jade fan rested in his hand.
He appeared startled upon seeing her.
"Madam?"
His brows rose slightly before he laughed gently.
"What a coincidence. I was rely taking a walk to appreciate the scenery. I never thought I would encounter such beauty beside this pond tonight."
The black-robed woman lowered her gaze.
"You flatter , Saint."
"I rely speak honestly."
Saint Riyal ndez approached the pond leisurely before standing beside her. His eyes reflected the moonlit waters while his voice beca softer.
"This garden is beautiful, but strangely lonely."
The black-robed woman's fingers trembled faintly.
"Yes… It is."
Far away within the shadows of a pavilion rooftop, two figures silently watched everything unfold.
City Lord's expression was dark and unreadable.
Beside him, Steward Belmont clenched his fists behind his back while trying to suppress the strange mix of jealousy and bitterness inside his chest.
What the heck was going on?
Shouldn't the one who should appear here be the fourth lady and not his lover, the first lady!?
"What's going on? Why is the first lady here?" City Lord asked, his throat hoarse.
"This… I don't know. Sothing must've gone wrong, as this isn't the instruction I gave to the maids. I'll go intrude onto the scene and break them up." Steward Belmont turned around to leave, but City Lord Davis harrumphed.
"Hmph! It doesn't matter. Let's see if the Saint is honest about his words!"
"But-"
"Don't anger now, Belmont. My patience is... extrely limited at the mont...!"
The City Lord's expression was livid, causing Steward to tremble before he shut his mouth.
Below, Saint Riyal ndez sighed lightly.
"When I first saw Madam during the banquet pouring wine for , I could already sense sorrow hidden within your eyes."
The black-robed woman smiled bitterly, "Can sorrow truly be seen so easily?"
"For others, perhaps not."
Saint Riyal ndez turned to her slowly, "But hearts that have suffered recognize one another."
Her breathing halted for a mont at that profound statent since these words pierced directly into the loneliness she had buried for years.
"I…" She hesitated before softly speaking, "I once believed my husband understood ."
Saint Riyal ndez listened quietly, not interrupting
"But my Lord only understands authority, reputation, and cultivation. Even when he looks at , it feels as though he is rely observing another possession within his estate. Even recently, he has started giving , giving us the cold shoulder and wandering off to do vile- strange things."
A faint sadness appeared on Saint Riyal ndez's face upon hearing that. His gaze shifted to the skies before he appeared elusive.
"A scrap armor has its difficulties protecting a warrior, but still manages to protect so vital spots nevertheless, but a beautiful flower watered daily within enclosed golden walls still withers without sunlight."
The black-robed woman stared at him blankly.
She felt like no one had ever spoken to her this way before.
She slowly lowered herself onto the stone bench near the pond while moonlight painted her elegant features with pale silver radiance.
Saint Riyal ndez sat beside her.
For a while, neither spoke.
The breeze stirred the flowering branches overhead, sending petals drifting onto the pond like scattered tears.
Then Saint Riyal ndez quietly spoke, "Within jade halls the phoenix cries unheard, her wings restrained by chains of silent gold. Though spring arrives with fragrant blooming words, her winter heart remains forever cold."
The black-robed woman's eyes widened slightly.
A mont later, she responded almost instinctively, "Beneath the moon the lonely waters sigh, reflecting stars that cannot ease their pain. If one kind soul would reach beyond the sky, perhaps the withered lotus blooms again."
Saint Riyal ndez looked at her with gentle admiration.
"Madam possesses extraordinary talent."
The black-robed woman smiled faintly before looking away, her cheeks blushing.
"Saint praises too much."
"No. I believe your abilities are unearthed."
His gaze softened deeply, "Besides, I believe Madam has simply never t soone willing to truly cherish her."
Their eyes t again, and her heartbeat quietly accelerated.
Saint Riyal ndez reached out gently before taking her hand into his own.
Warmth spread through her body, causing her to tremble. She knew she should have pulled away. She knew she should, yet her fingers instead tightened around his hand as though desperately clinging to the comfort she had sought for so long.
Saint Riyal ndez spoke softly, "You deserve freedom."
The black-robed woman's lips trembled slightly, tears flooding her eyes, "You do not understand how difficult that is…"
"Then allow to bear that burden with you."
His thumb gently brushed against her delicate fingers before his voice turned solemn, "I will save you from this household."
"…"
Her breathing beca uneven.
For the first ti in years, her heart raced as it had never before.
Saint Riyal ndez slowly leaned closer and whispered, "One day, I will give you a life where you no longer need to hide your smiles."
His voice beca softer still.
"A child will appear from a sacred union, so you may finally have a family built upon love instead of duty."
The black-robed woman's eyes turned moist.
Her head slowly rested against his shoulder as tears quietly slid down her cheeks.
Above the pavilion, Steward Belmont's expression grew uglier.
anwhile, the City Lord remained motionless, though the coldness around him intensified. But inwardly, he had the urge to roll on the floor and laugh out loud.
Davis had long already controlled the maids responsible for contact between Steward Belmont and City Lord Kain's first wife. Hence, he was able to make this eting happen instead of getting the fourth wife here as it was originally planned.
Now, this so-called first wife ditched the Steward for this Saint. It was truly a fitting end for a ho wrecker.
However, he still wasn't satisfied as he wanted to see a fitting end for this so-called first wife. He could feel Evelynn fuming inside him for so obvious reason. Evidently, she was pissed by soone daring to cheat twice while having the title of the first wife.
Steward Belmont was also livid, but he could in no way lash out and had to restrain himself because he had hidden his affair from City Lord Kain himself.
Little did he know that his machinations were already uncovered by the Divine Emperor of Death, who impersonated the City Lord.
'Oh? The roach has been found?'
At this mont, as the first lady of the City Lord's mansion left quickly so as to not be discovered, Davis discovered soone had intruded into the Treasury.
It wasn't he who found this intruder, but Davis's karmic identity that delved into City Lord Kain's body and soul. This body had gone ahead to look around the Treasury but had instead found the intruder that secretly slipped out during the banquet when people went to the restroom one after another after having too much to drink.
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