At the Rose Garden Gala, I saved the cold and distant Lord Chancellor after he fell into the lake. “I am in your debt, my lady.” “Then let me see your legs.” “I shall reward you handsomely.” “I want to see your legs.” “You have a favor from me, whatever it may be.” “So, can I see your legs?” From that day on, everyone in the Capital knew that the simple-minded girl from House Thorne had latched onto the kingdom’s most powerful man. The day the King decreed our marriage, Alistair Sterling’s face was a mask of ice. He praised my “cunning.” But in the end, he accepted the betrothal. “Fine,” he’d said with a sigh. “You’re so simple. No one else would have you.” Then, he saw the Crown Prince coaxing me with sweets. “Lina, my dear,” the Prince murmured, “would you like to play that kissing game from the storybooks?” 1 Alistair Sterling had fallen into the water. The moment I heard the news, I dove into the lake like a shot. I couldn’t let anyone beat me to it. By the time I dragged him ashore, the gaggle of noble ladies who had been watching were shielding their faces and scurrying away. Alistair was dressed in fine, thin silks, which were now soaked through and clinging to his body, the front of his tunic half-open. The older matrons, however, watched with great interest. I watched with great interest, too. “Ahem… Thank you, Lady Lina, for your assistance.” He cupped his hands in a formal gesture of thanks, his voice as crisp and cool as a winter stream. “I have no way to repay you.” Alistair Sterling was blessed with a handsome face—deep-set eyes, a perpetually furrowed brow, and a pair of dangerously charming, almond-shaped eyes. I propped my chin on my hand and let my gaze drift down past his stomach. “Then let me see your legs.” He froze, the crimson mole at the corner of his eye trembling. His face went a shade paler. He quickly changed his offer. “My gratitude, my lady. I will reward you handsomely.” “I want to see your legs.” I was so anxious I could have scratched my own bottom. The thin, wet silk clung to his thighs, offering the faintest hint of their shape. The tips of Alistair’s ears suddenly flushed red. He pressed his lips into a thin, tight line. “Then… consider me to owe you a favor?” “Yes, that’s fine.” I nodded eagerly. A favor was good. My lady mother used to say that a favor was the most expensive thing in the world, and I loved expensive things. He wiped the droplets of water from his forehead, seeming to let out a quiet sigh of relief. My eyes, however, remained fixed on his legs. “So, can I see your legs?” His eyes flew wide in disbelief. “You… you… you…” He sputtered for a moment before finally spitting out two furious words. “You may not!” My gaze fell, and I felt a pang of disappointment. “Fine, if you won’t, you won’t! I won’t look at your legs, then!” I pouted, then brightened. “Hehe, can I see your waist instead?” Thump. Alistair Sterling promptly fainted. And I… I ran for ten miles, my heart soaring. My lady mother always said that if a man falls for a woman, it means he likes her! And fainting is a kind of falling. Therefore, Alistair Sterling liked me! 2 I scurried home, bubbling with joy, to tell my father the wonderful news. “Father, Father, I’m going to have a husband!” He spewed a mouthful of tea, probably overcome with excitement himself. “A husband? Where did a husband come from?” “I fished him out of the water! A fine, big husband, and very handsome!” He listened, then narrowed his eyes in a smile. “Lina, my dear, don’t tease your old father.” He didn’t believe me! Seeing him still smiling, I spun around in frustration. “Alistair Sterling! My husband’s name is Alistair Sterling!” After hearing my tale of heroic rescue, my father shot to his feet, his teacup crashing to the floor. The fat around his waist trembled. “Oh, we’re doomed!” he wailed. “Lina Thorne, you are truly my daughter!” I giggled. “Oh, Father, you praise me too much.” He suddenly whipped a feather duster out from behind his back, his voice grim. “Praise you? You little rascal, I’m going to tan your hide!” I shrieked and ran, my father shrieking and chasing right behind me. In the distance, I saw my elder sister, Cassia, approaching. I immediately dove into her arms. “Sister, save me!” Cassia shielded me, pleading on my behalf. “Father, Lina is still young! She’s just a child! Besides, she saved his life. What’s wrong with looking at his legs? The Lord Chancellor is being far too stingy…” Father roared, “You… you two just keep spoiling her!” Not long after, I was kneeling in the family chapel. I racked my brain, but I just couldn’t understand. I was so clever and bright—I’d even found a husband for myself—so why did Father still want to hit me? Lina was hurt. Lina wanted to cry. It was even worse than being called a simpleton. Ever since I was little, everyone had said I was simple. But I wasn’t simple at all. I knew you had to pick a husband who was good-looking. Because my lady mother once told me that a handsome husband with broad shoulders, a strong chest, a narrow waist, and long legs was a rare treasure, and one had to strike first to claim him. I’d asked her, how do I strike? How do I claim him? She had patted my head and laughed. “You’ll know when you’re older, Lina. Don’t worry, your mother will help you.” Later, I grew up, but my mother became a small wooden plaque on a memorial shelf. Before she closed her eyes for the last time, her voice was a broken whisper. “You must find… a handsome… narrow-waisted, long-legged… a kind husband… My Lina must… live a long and happy life…” My face was a mess of tears and snot. “Lina remembers.” After my coming-of-age, I began to dream of a husband with a narrow waist and long legs, who would play with me, buy me delicious food, and coax me to sleep. I never imagined I, Lina Thorne, would be so lucky. I’d just gone to one gala, and I’d found Alistair. He was like a seductive spirit from a storybook, and he’d turned my world upside down. It’s hard to sleep soundly in a cold chapel, but I had a dream. In my dream, Alistair took my hand and guided it over his body. He was dressed in crimson, his eyes dancing. “Lina,” he murmured. “Is my waist narrow enough? Are my legs long enough?” I smiled sweetly. 3 The next day, my father dragged me to the Sterling estate to apologize. “My Lord Chancellor, it is my failure as a father.” “My daughter is… a bit simple. Your Lordship is a man of great magnanimity; I pray you do not hold it against her.” Remembering last night’s dream, my heart tingled, and I secretly peeked at him. Alistair sat perfectly upright, his face a blank mask. Such a cool and aloof husband. He spoke, his voice flat. “Lord Thorne, are you aware of what they are saying about me and your daughter?” Father dabbed at his sweat with a handkerchief. “Mere rumors, my lord. Pay them no mind.” Alistair’s fan creaked in his grip, his eyes flicking upwards. “They are all saying that at the Rose Garden Gala, Lady Lina heroically saved me, and I, out of gratitude, showed her my legs on the spot. They say our feelings for each other were so overwhelming that we were lost in the sight of my legs, oblivious to the world!” I shot to my feet, indignant. “That’s not true! They’re lying!” Tears of relief welled in Father’s eyes as he gave me a grateful look. “Yes, yes! It’s all a misunderstanding. My daughter is not that kind of person.” I lifted my chin proudly. “He didn’t show me his legs at all! Or his waist! The stingy man!” I watched as my father swayed on his feet. “You little monster! Lina Thorne, you’ve really done it now!” My father fainted. Back at home, Cassia asked if I had done something untoward to Alistair at the gala. I scratched my head and smiled shyly. “No, no. He wouldn’t let me see his legs, or his waist. I actually wanted to see his chest more, but I’m sure he wouldn’t have let me see that either.” Cassia clamped a hand over my mouth. “My little ancestor, you are bold! Looking at his legs was enough! That’s Alistair Sterling!” “The Lord Chancellor, second only to the King himself! Our House Thorne cannot afford to offend him. The entire Capital is now saying you publicly took liberties with him and sullied his reputation. Lina, what will become of your good name?” Cassia was so distressed she began to cry. I stood there, stunned and helpless. “Sister, did I do something wrong?” She forced a smile. “Don’t worry, Lina. We will all protect you.” In just a few days, the rumors grew even more outrageous, claiming Alistair and I had been passionately entangled at the gala, lost to the world. They even reached the palace. The King, intrigued, summoned Alistair and me to court. “They all say you’re a simpleton, but I disagree. To have set your sights on my Lord Chancellor shows you have excellent taste.” The man in the golden robes, seated high on his throne, coaxed me. “Lina, would you like to see his legs every day?” Alistair’s throat bobbed. His ears were bright red. He was so handsome, his posture as elegant as jade. I was a little mesmerized. “Yes, I would,” I answered in a soft, sweet voice, which sent the King into a fit of laughter. When I left the throne room, I had a royal decree of marriage in my hands. Alistair’s face turned glacial, the red mole by his eye losing some of its color. He poked my forehead hard with his finger. It hurt. “Lina Thorne,” he hissed, “you are truly a master of manipulation. But I, Alistair Sterling, will not have a simpleton for a wife!” 4 Alistair was angry. So I woke up early and bought the most expensive, most fragrant pastries in the entire Capital. Cassia used to soothe my tempers the same way. Once the pastries were gone, so was the anger. “Alistair.” I saw his carriage just as I was leaving the bakery. He was dressed in black robes that looked exceptionally fine on him. I held the box of pastries out to him. “Something delicious. It’s very sweet.” He frowned. “Lina Thorne, are you still a child?” A mocking laugh came from inside the carriage. “Let her come up.” The voice was regal and commanding. Once inside, I realized Alistair was escorting the Grand Duchess and her daughter, Lady Annabelle, to the Great Abbey for prayers. Lady Annabelle was my age, bright and exquisitely beautiful. She reached out and patted my cheek. “Oh, Mother, she has dimples! How adorable.” The Grand Duchess looked at me for a long moment. “Hm.” At the Great Abbey, the Duchess led Annabelle to light incense. I hid behind Alistair, following his every step, treading on his shadow. “Lina Thorne, will you stop this nonsense?” His voice was cold as ice, laced with fury. I seized my chance and stuffed a peach blossom pastry into his mouth. “You—mph.” My fingers accidentally brushed his lips. They were soft and smooth, and cool to the touch. His body gave a sudden jolt, and the corners of his eyes flushed red. He chewed and chewed, thumped his chest, and finally swallowed it down with a great gulp. “Was it good?” “It… was fine. A little dry.” I was overjoyed. Now that he’d eaten the pastry, he wouldn’t be angry with me anymore. The abbot hurried over to offer blessings and interpret fortunes for the Duchess and her daughter. “Mother, when will my cousin, the Prince, return to the Capital?” Annabelle pouted prettily, earning a look of doting affection from the Duchess. “I’ve come of age. It’s time for me to be married…” “My, my, a daughter is like a guest in her own home. Don’t you want to stay with your mother a little longer?” “Of course I do~” I slowly lowered my head. Alistair’s gaze shifted to me. “What is it?” A heaviness settled in my chest. “I miss my lady mother.” My mother used to hold me just like that, cooing and comforting me. Suddenly, a commotion erupted in the abbey. Someone shouted. “Bandits!” A sharp arrow flew straight for Alistair. I froze for a second, then shoved him out of the way. A searing pain shot through my chest. Before I lost consciousness, I saw Alistair rushing toward the Grand Duchess and her daughter, his eyes filled with panic. I think I dreamed again, but this time, it wasn’t of Alistair. A pack of beasts surrounded me, their shadows tearing at me wantonly. I was crying, crying endlessly. Gradually, familiar voices drifted to me. “Lina, don’t you scare your father.” “Lina, your sister will buy you so many storybooks from now on.” “Lina Thorne, if you just wake up, I’ll give you anything you want!” I forced my eyes open. “Lina’s awake! Lina wants to see your legs!”
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