With a soft sigh, Ruby Bluen tiptoed toward the rooftop.
She didn’t want to go down to the Courtyard because that would disturb the soldiers on duty.
Her only option was to go to the rooftop.
The rooftop was pitch black, and the chilly wind kept howling. She quickly tightened the military coat around her, imbued with the scent of Marcel Horne.
She stood at the back of the rooftop so the soldiers on duty wouldn’t be able to see her.
It was so dark all around that she could barely see her hand in front of her face.
Gazing into the dark sky above, she murmured, "Dad, Mom, how are you now? Will Glades... will he cause trouble for you? I’m sorry, I’ve been an unfilial daughter..."
By the end, her voice was filled with bitterness.
Blinking, tears slid from her eyes.
Actually, she was the one carrying the heavy burden! In love with her boyfriend’s brother, she ran away from her own wedding to be here, yet she wasn’t able to gain his affection in return. If she went back, she wouldn’t be able to quell the waves that had already been stirred up. Staying here, she still felt lost. Although she firmly believed she would eventually see the clouds disperse and the moon shine clear, and that Marcel Horne would accept her, what if he never did? She would lose the East Wall only to lose the West Wall as well.
Gradually, Ruby Bluen squatted down, her back against the railing, hugging her knees and sobbing softly.
The vast blackness enshrouded her entirely, as the bone-chilling wind swept mercilessly past her.
Her bitter mood, set against this environment, was like adding frost to snow.
A sturdy figure stood in the shadows, deep, sharp eyes watching her as she cried in secret.
After a moment, the figure turned and disappeared quietly.
The darkness grew heavier. Under the same sky, within the same kingdom, different people harbored different emotions.
The paths chosen were one’s own; whether in wind or rain, one had to bear them alone.
Groggily, Julia Bluen opened her sleepy eyes and stared at the ceiling.
A scent of cologne enveloped her.
This room isn’t mine! This bed isn’t mine!
She turned her head. The space next to her was empty, except for an additional pillow encased in a red cover embroidered with the ’double happiness’ character.
Sunlight struggled through the heavy curtains, falling dimly on the floor, yet still stinging her eyes.
Looking around the festive and spacious room, Julia rubbed her forehead as she finally remembered. Yesterday was her wedding day with Glades Horne. At the wedding banquet, due to the guests’ toasts, she’d had a couple of drinks. The alcohol was strong, and she’d gotten a bit drunk, but when she returned to the Bridal Chamber, her mind was still clear.
She remembered... then... Yes, last night she and Glades had truly become husband and wife. But Glades’s behavior towards her... hmm, she was a bit muddled, her head ached, and she couldn’t quite grasp it. Forget it, she couldn’t be bothered to think about it. Anyway, they were married, the marriage consummated in the Bridal Chamber, so what did it matter why? He was her husband now! It seemed to be getting late.
Wrapping the blanket around herself, Julia Bluen started to slide off the bed to get her clothes.
"You’re awake?" Glades Horne suddenly walked in from the balcony with a gentle smile, approaching her.
Julia Bluen paused, blinking. Her husband was still in the room?
"You’re still here?" She thought he had gone downstairs long ago. She was silently cursing him for not waking her, letting her oversleep. Today was her first day as a daughter-in-law. Because of her sister, her mother-in-law was only superficially nice to her but likely harbored resentment. Would she give her a hard time when she went downstairs later? Sigh.
How quickly a woman’s life changes. Yesterday, she was still her parents’ treasured daughter. Overnight, she had become someone else’s daughter-in-law. As a daughter, she was a treasure—pampered and cherished by her parents, who couldn’t bear to scold or discipline her. But as a daughter-in-law, whether she’d be treated as a treasure or like a weed was anyone’s guess.
"What’s wrong?" Glades Horne sat down on the edge of the bed, his dark eyes gazing at her. He asked with a faint smile, the depths of his eyes showing he had already discerned her thoughts. "Did you hope to wake up and not see me?" As he spoke, his handsome face moved closer to hers, his warm breath, carrying a hint of pressure, fanned across her delicate face.
"What time is it?" Julia Bluen gently pushed his handsome face away.
"You don’t have work today, so why worry about the time?" Glades Horne caught the hand she used to push his face away.